Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or any of these characters

AN: Again,warning, You may recognize some dialogue from certain episodes, I'm not trying to rewrite season six but you'll see certain plot points from some episodes.

Chapter 5:A Charred truth

Oliver woke up with a dull ache in his head. He reached over to pull the body that he was sure was there back to him but as he extended his arm across the king size bed he found it oddly empty. Chloe was gone he knew he shouldn't be too surprised. He had done the same thing to her the first time they had been together.

It all was so confusing to him, Chloe had said one thing and done another. Oliver momentarily wondered if she might have been drunk or on something. On something the drug it was in his system last night and it always caused a few memory lapses here and there, maybe his head was playing a trick on him.

"Hey. Bossman you here?" That annoying voice, what the hell was he doing here?

"Bart? Oliver said descending his spiral staircase, thankful the young speedster respected him enough not to enter the bedroom."Slacking off Impulse, you're supposed to be in Nevada?"

"The place was already cleaned out, looks like someone beat our team to the punch again. Dude what happened? You throw a party and not invite me?" Bart turned his head taking in the destruction zone that was his leader's penthouse. "Talk about slacking off… "

"Now is not the time, why are you here?" Oliver asked as he slipped his shirt over his head and watched as his younger teammate started to snoop around the mess.

"You haven't answered the team in almost two days and you know the tin man can't work without orders. Soooo... she must of been some girl. " He held up the evidence to back up his words.

"Give me those, it's none of your business. I've been out on patrol. A huge crime wave has suddenly hit Metropolis. I should have checked in with you guys." Oliver snatched the lacy undergarment away from him and started to pick up the rest of the room which included putting everything that had been on his desk back on his desk.

"Well I know from personal experience, Metropolis can be very distracting." Bart wiggled his eyebrows in a suggestive manner that made Oliver feel like vomiting."What's with the cold shoulder?"

"I'm going to pretend you didn't just do that. Tell the guys I'll make contact in a few days until then take a holiday, but lay low." Oliver figured he should give his boys a few days off. It was the least he could do. They'd been working nonstop for weeks now they deserved it. With all the time he had wasted using that drug, it was the only way he could clear his conscience.

"Yes sir." Bart mocked saluted and sped off, Oliver just shook his head, that boy was incorrigible.

As he turned to finally take in the state of his penthouse, Oliver ran his hand through his hair still astounded at the events of the previous night. He was going to go on a mission, but for what? He couldn't quite wrap his head round the fading memory. The cameras, he had a surveillance system set up. The cameras were pointed away from the Green Arrow room. But they were in just the right spot to capture anything that happen on the other side of the room.

Pulling up the video files Oliver sighed in relief, it had been Chloe but she didn't look like herself. Yes she was blond and feisty but she was dressed differently than she usually was. A corset and a short skirt was not a part of her normal wardrobe.

He fast-forwarded catching a few glimpses of Chloe escaping the disaster area that she was partly responsible for. The thing that caught him off guard was what she was wearing, one of his t-shirts and was that a pair of his boxer's. He watched on as Chloe put on her coat and then looked behind her and quickly put away all of the Green Arrow gear so no one would walk in to find it.

Oliver gazed around realizing that there wasn't a single sign that the Green Arrow had ever stepped a foot in the place, he also spotted a silver tube that he knew didn't belong in any man's bachelor pad. Oliver retrieved the offending item and examined it with a detective eye.

Opening it up he discover what it was. Lipstick, but this wasn't Chloe's color it was too red for her. She'd never wear something like this he was sure. Oliver rewound the video footage knowing he'd missed something, then he saw it between a kiss and throwing her blouse over her head, it was a split second but, Oliver's trained eye caught it.

There was a quick flash in her eyes and her lips, they glowed for a moment in time. Was she being controlled by something or someone? But what was the purpose of seducing him, Chloe already knew his secret and no one knew that he knew her.

Oliver had seen someone under control of a feign substance before, he was still slightly under the influence of RL65 for the moment, but last night was beyond anything he knew of. That was it, this little tube of war paint had to be tested and he had to talk to Chloe, and instead of waiting for her to come to him he was going to ambush her this time.

But not as Oliver Queen, as the Green Arrow. She'd denied Oliver Queen but she never turned down a conversation with the Green Arrow. But he would have to wait until tonight, she would be pulling one of her all-nighters again at the Daily Planet, it would be his perfect opportunity to confront her.

"What were you thinking?" Chloe turned around to stare into the angry face of the Martian Manhunter, Clark had told her to meet him in the loft today, but why was John risking the exposure?

"What am I thinking?" Chloe shot back with equal anger, what was he accusing her of? "What are you thinking Clark is going to be here soon?"

"It was worth the risk, you sent him after something that could have killed him. I had to save him and he saw me." John said bitterness still in his tone.

"Is he going to be okay? Wait, what do you mean he saw you?" She couldn't believe it, she had sent Clark into danger. How could she had been so reckless?

"Not my face, just as I was flying off. You still haven't answered the question, I told you not to send him after the dangerous ones." He was now a foot away from her imposing his full height as if threatening her.

"They are all dangerous, their criminal's that escaped from a Kryptonian Alcatraz." Chloe shrank back a little in response trying to defend her actions, but she knew she was in the wrong.

"I'm starting to think it was a mistake recruiting you. Are you aware of how close Kal-El came to dying last night?" His eyes almost were glowing now, he was angry, angry because they had almost came close to failing their mission.

"You didn't make a mistake John, but I did, and I'm Clark puts his mind to something it's hard to stop him. He feels so guilty about the Zoner problem, like he has to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. " She was now more certain of her words than ever, Chloe wanted nothing more than to protect those she loved.

"I know Chloe, but sometimes a hero needs saving even from themselves. As hard as it is to believe I didn't come here just to give you a pep-talk." John gave her an understanding smile and then frowned again. "There's something you should see, don't look at it now Kal-El is almost here."

Handing her a manila folder John made sure that he wouldn't be seen and than took off flying out of the barn. Chloe quickly stuffed it in her bag before Clark got there.

"So the was the crystal a success?" Chloe asked even though she already knew the answer.

"No, it wasn't." Clark's tone was filled with a sense of failure, she had expected this,Chloe hadn't expected it to make her feel so guilty though.

"Okay,Did the Zoner just decide to take a vacation and leave the planet then?" The zoner was dead, but she had to maintain ignorance.

"Someone else took him down. They saved my life Chloe." Clark waited for her reaction and she tried her best to act surprised.

"Whoa. Someone saved you for a change, are they on our side?" Chloe wished everything was out in the open than maybe her headache wouldn't hurt so much.

"I'm not sure. He can do things that I can only dream of." The astonishment in his voice was obvious as was the guilt he was feeling for not being good enough.

"Look, I understand that you feel like all these psychopathic space invaders are your fault," Chloe was just given a pep talk and so she decided to pass it on. "But there are other people out there who want to help you fight the good fight, and you need to let them in. Because sometimes even heroes need to be saved."

As she walked out of the barn Chloe didn't know if she was referring to Oliver and his team or John. The martian didn't seem to want to work with Clark, just protect him. But Oliver wanted him to join the team to help take down Lex. He hadn't told Chloe that he tried to recruit Clark, but it wasn't too hard for her to figure it out.

Lana took in her reflection, her health was getting worse. This pregnancy was taking a toll on her body. She'd told Lex the day after she told Chloe and he'd ask her to marry him. She had not given Lex an answer yet,but he was the father of her unborn child so why was she so hesitant? She knew in her heart as well that she wasn't ready to say yes not with out talking to Clark. Lana hated the fact that the farm-boy was still such an influence in her life,it was something that couldn't be helped could feel the urge to throw up coming back again,there was nothing left in her stomach. How was she supposed to survive this?

Lionel Luthor could hear his new daughter in-law to be, as he walked past the bathroom, the girl had not said yes yet but not many people said no to a Luthor. Her morning sickness was getting worse, good, his plan was working. The idea of faking a pregnancy was easier said than done. Injecting the young woman with massive amounts of hormones to make her believe that she was carrying a child was no simple task. Luckily Lana Lang was too trusting for her own good.

He regretted having to use such tactics to keep his son in line, but it was the only way to keep Lex's attention away from Clark. Protecting Clark Kent, there was nothing else to redeem himself except for this. The last son of krypton was his last chance at redemption for his past aggressions.

Chloe sat at her desk in the bullpen of the Daily Planet hands on her face in frustration. She wasn't too far behind in her work but she was far enough that she'd have to pull at least two all-nighters this week. On top of her work she still had to talk to Oliver. She knew she couldn't avoid his phone calls forever, she could try though.

She turned her attention back to her computer screen and her article on the controversy of the 'half chance halfway house'. Thank you Lex Luthor for being a scumbag, of course she wasn't going to include anything about Lex Luthor in her work not yet anyway. It wasn't the right time to provoke the bald viper not yet.

Chloe was getting tired of waiting, it was killing her. She wanted her mother to be safe already and even more she wanted to take her revenge. It didn't feel great wanting, sadly for Chloe it was an all to familiar mind was racing a million miles a minute Chloe needed a break, coffee that's something else she needed, the brew of the gods. Coffee had become more and more of a frequent companion than usual which was starting to be a bad thing. Thank goodness for her addiction to caffeine. Getting up she headed towards the coffee maker grabbing her mug.

"Damn." Chloe voiced her frustration, having run out of her favorite beverage.

Moving stealthily around the Daily Planet was a lot easier for the Green Arrow than he thought it should be. The lack of security at such a high profile newspaper was astonishing to him. Stealing the last bit of the coffee filters from the office coffee spot was harder than he the Green Arrow, the master thief it was a simple undertaking, he focused on the task of getting his prey to where he wanted her, Chloe appeared to be in an intense thought about something, probably him he hoped.

Dr. Hamilton worked fast and within hours had the answers he wanted about the tube of ruby red Chloe left in his apartment. It was an euphoria elixir which explained a lot, Emil was also kind enough to track down the gypsy that was responsible for creating the elixir and found the antidote.

The Green Arrow had the cure of course just in case Chloe was still infected but he hadn't seen her in the past thirty six hours, but hey who was counting. Apparently once the elixir infatuation ran its course it was gone.

The supply room was a lot darker than Chloe remembered. Shaking her head she just ignored it and continued her search for the key that would help her cure her caffeine withdraw.

The room was filled with metal shelves lined up side by side the Green Arrow had no problem sneaking in shutting the door, locking it. Which itself did not go unnoticed, Chloe could feel herself being watched and knew exactly who her stalker was, that smell of leather was undeniable.

"We have a few things to sort out professor." His gloved hand was on Chloe's mouth causing her senses to be engulfed by his presence.

"You know you sure have a flare for the dramatic. Not that I expect any less from the Green Arrow." As he pulled his hand away Chloe turned and took in the sight of him.

"My theatrical talents are nothing compared to yours Chloe, first you deny the not so subtle attraction between us and then last night you seduce me for a second time." Oliver turned off the voice modifier pulled back the hood and took off the sunglasses letting her see the expression on his face.

"You're the one that seduced me first, and last night was kind of an accident." Chloe knew she sounded crazy but what else was she suppose to say.

"This is normally the part where I ask how the hell this type of thing happens, but I've spent enough time in this city not to question my good fortune." Oliver held up a metallic tube, which had become the root of Chloe's most recent problem.

"Where the hell did you find that? Good fortune?" She grabbed for the offending object ,but Oliver raised his hand just a little higher out of her reach.

"On my floor among other things, I had it tested. I know its purpose." He smirked at the thought, "You can keep the shirt by the way. Now there's just so much science can tell me."

"Honesty is a two way street Archer, I want answers first, why the hell are you taking an experimental mind-altering drug?" Chloe said making it sound more like an accusation than a question.

"I'm not gonna even ask about how you know that, but to answer your question I wanted to be able to bring justice to the world without the worry of getting killed."Oliver was about to tell her the rest of what she wanted to know when another question popped in his head.

"Oliver you do a lot of good in this world, you don't need to be indestructible to be a hero."Chloe tried to convince him of his great worth.

"I know I should be thankful for the abilities I have and who I am, but what about you? Last night please tell me it was at least consensual. I mean from what I can remember it was,I didn't hurt you did I?" A frown formed on his face and Chloe realized the events of last night were more complicated than she thought.

"To tell the truth everything after I left the Talon was a blur. I don't remember how I got to your place, there are a few glimpses here and there, and then I woke up next to you. But I know you didn't hurt me too much." Chloe held up her wrist showing him the bruise that he gave her when he'd slammed against a wall in a fit of lust.

"Chloe, I'm so sorry I should have never taken that..." Oliver grabbed her wrist getting a good look at it and taking in the now healing bruise.

"It's not your fault, if anyone is to blame it's Lois." She stated watching as he still cradled her wrist in his hand and then quirked an eyebrow at her words.

Chloe told him about Lois' mission to get her a life beyond the walls of the Daily Planet and what really happen. Oliver just took it all in and laughed at the thought of a sketch of the Green Arrow tacked to a wall of the Talon apartment.

"Your cousin sure has a way of screwing with your life doesn't she? I still don't know how you live with her. I don't know whether to shoot her or thank her." Oliver's comment sounded off-handed but he didn't mean it too.

"You're taking this better than I thought you would. For some reason the awkward factor isn't as high as it should be." Chloe couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth, the whole situation was the equivalent to getting drunk and sleeping with a close friend.

"Well I've woken up not remembering the night before, and it's not like we haven't…" He didn't finish the sentence knowing she got his point. "I only hope that next time we're both sober or not about to die."

"And you're so sure of yourself aren't you?" She hadn't pulled back her wrist yet and as his grip slackened and he moved his hand to caress her cheek Chloe shuddered.

As if to answer her question without words he kissed her backing her up against one of the many metal racks that crowded the room. He pressed his body into hers and glimpses of the other night flashed within both their minds. Oliver groaned as Chloe finally gave in to the kiss running her hands through his hair grasping at the blond locks.

"I want you…" Oliver said in a haze of lust causing Chloe to pull back from him reevaluating what had just occurred. "I know you feel the same way, the proof of it is strung all over my penthouse."

"Everything in me wants to say no. That it would be better if I'd never met you, that there can never be anything between us. I could go over the whole you're a billionaire and I'm just a reporter thing and that we have nothing in common," Chloe felt him pull back a few inches but not leaving her grasp, "But, I would be lying to myself if I pushed you away again."

Chloe kissed him igniting the passion that she'd buried in the back of her mind under her urge to protect Clark and behind everything else that was always on her mind. Giving in to him was easier than it should have been, and she felt a pang of guilt. Oliver was becoming her escape from her life and all the things that pained her.

"KNOCK ….KNOCK" That sound was deafening to them both they tried to ignore it still kissing and caressing each other until it became more pronounced and was followed by a voice.

"CHLOE, Chloe are you in there?" Jimmy Olsen one of the new interns asked a bit of concern in his tone.

"Why are we always interrupted at the good part?" Oliver whispered making her giggle, he just gave her a death glare and backed away from her.

"Chloe?" The voice on the other side of the door broke through again.

"Yeah, just a minute Jimmy I dropped my cell in here." She yelled towards the door and turned back to the man inches from her. "You should go, I'll meet you on the roof in 20 minutes."

Chloe went to pull away from him fixing her clothes and hair, she felt around for her phone to back up the lie. She was almost to the door when she heard Oliver make his way out the window.

"Hey are you okay what were you doing in there?" Jimmy asked looking her up and down.

"The coffee maker ran out of beans I'm fine though, thanks for asking." Chloe said holding up a small bag of coffee beans, and walked off back to the bullpen like nothing was wrong.

AN: Yeah I know they probably got together a bit quickly, but hey I like it and for the sake of the story it works. And on the Lana plot bit,just to point out I'm not a big Lana fan,respect the Character to a degree,but not a big fan. So in this fanfic like Lois she will be playing the role of plot Thanks for the reviews and thank you for reading, Constructive criticism is appreciated.