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

AN: Thank you for all the reviews and such. Now to the Shooting of Oliver Queen. Enjoy!

Chapter 20: Lightening through the Knight

SUNDAY 9:06 P.M 16 minutes to the shooting of Oliver Queen

"That's a big gun Lex." Oliver said sidestepping and mirroring Lex's own movement. The two billionaires rounded each other like predator and prey. "Compensating for other shortcomings besides your lack of humor?"

"I'm as humorous as I need to be, you know you shouldn't be insulting the one that has a gun pointed at you." Lex returned the insult.

"You're not going to pull that trigger. You have no reason to and there's a room full of witnesses downstairs. Even being who you are, you could never get away with murdering Oliver Queen." He took another swig of his wine acting oddly relaxed for someone that had a gun pointed to his at him.

"Maybe not Oliver Queen, but I'm sure I'll be commended for shooting the Green Arrow after he broke into this study and threatened my life." He was right not many people were big fans of the Green Arrow.

"Green Arrow really, is that what your gonna go with?" Oliver kept up the facade of ignorance about the matter but inwardly was ready to beat the viper to a bloody pulp until he forgot his own name, the anger he felt for the Luthor was unimaginable. "Oh your saying you think I'm the emerald archer, is that what your telling me? You're serious…Well okay then. Before you shoot me and go to prison for the rest of your life at least tell me how you came to this conclusion."

"You're not as careful as you think you are Arrow. You left bread crumb's everywhere, I have all the proof I need in these folders." Lex threw his evidence on the desk between them without taking down the gun. Putting down his wine glass Oliver picked up the offending objects examine its contents.

"So I physically resemble the Robin Hood wannabe. That proves nothing, only that I could double as his stand in." Oliver threw the folder back on the desk and smiled humorously like the whole thing was ludicrous, even though it was the truth. "You might as well put down that gun now Lex. I'm not this Green Arrow guy. No amount of security reports can change that."

"Do you really think that's all I have? There are other things to make people believe me for example the fact something very valuable was just stolen from this very room not an hour ago and you've been mysteriously missing from the party for that hour." He smirked like he had his prey cornered in a trap he wouldn't be able to slip out of.

"Your incompetent security aside, I can assure you I'm not the one who broke in here. And if you want to know where I really was just ask Ms. Sullivan why she left a lipstick stain on my collar." Pulling up the collar of his shirt to show the evidence of his whereabouts and feeling the corners of his mouth tug up in a smirk Oliver stood his ground.

"I don't know what you told Chloe to let you use her to weasel your way in here, but I wouldn't feel too devious about it if I were you. That girl has always been easy to manipulate." The remark did not settle Oliver's growing need to physically harm the bald viper and as he clenched his fist ready to tear Lex apart verbally a commotion could be heard coming from the ball room. Oliver turned to run and see what it was about with Lex behind him gun still in hand.

SUNDAY 9:20 P.M 2 minutes to the shooting of Oliver Queen

This was not going to be fun at all, how he was convinced to dress in green leather and impersonate his fellow hero Clark couldn't figure out. He was far too trusting and as he swung into the party on the zip line he was thankful that he was invulnerable. This was not safe for a normal human being, but he wasn't human. The room was in a commotion and he spotted his target. Running up to his best friend Clark pulled the expensive necklace off the petite blonde not pulling to hard as not to her hurt her and then turned to run out, but sadly for him his path was blocked.

Not wanting to use his powers and expose them to a room full of the rich and arrogant Clark did the only thing he could think of, he took a hostage. Grabbing the bow from its place Clark took an arrow out of the quiver stringing it on the bow and pointed it towards the crowd. It wasn't an expert with a bow like Oliver but his father had taken him bow hunting a few times.

"It's the Green Arrow everyone run." He heard Oliver's voice finally catching sight of the real emerald archer and Lex who was standing next to him. Clark turned the arrow towards them and decided to add a second act to their plan, he had to make this believable.

"I warned you Queen." Was all he said and was surprised at the way his voice sounded with the distorter, he released the arrow intent on making it hit the wall behind Oliver. The next few seconds were a blur as the projectile hit his fellow hero going through his shoulder and pinning Oliver to the wall. Oops, he missed. Within seconds using the distraction as cover Clark sped out regretting ever putting on the green leather. What if he had killed his newest friend?

SUNDAY 9:37 P.M minutes after the shooting of Oliver Queen.

"Are you okay?" Clark asked as he took a seat next to Chloe in the small ambulance.

"Are you kidding me? You shot me Clark, with my own arrow." Oliver was not pleased.

"Well at least you're alive bossman." Victor who was driving the medical vehicle chimed in.

"I might not be if you don't keep your eyes on the road tin man." Oliver snarked back. "What went wrong Clark? All you were supposed to do was get in steal the priceless jewelry and get out. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that we had to make it believable, besides I didn't mean to hit you. I was aiming for the wall behind you." The Boyscout tried to defend his mistake and then looked at Chloe who was busy on her phone.

"Well like many other things in your life you were just a little off in your thought process on this one. Now I'm going to be laid up for who knows how long. Thanks for crippling the Green Arrow Clark." He knew it was a deep insult but, the Boyscout would recover from it. Oliver laid back on the stretcher letting Emil finish putting his arm in a sling, how many people could fit in an ambulance, at this thought he followed Clark's gaze towards Chloe. "What are you doing sidekick?"

"Working on my latest article. How does this sound too you, OLIVER QUEEN SHOT BY GREEN ARROW? " She was serious he could tell.

"This is unbelievable, here I am suffering because he can't aim and you're using my pain to further your career. Really feeling the love here Chloe." He was pouting for like the fifth time that night not something Oliver Queen was known for.

"My sabbatical from work is almost over and I need something that will blow my editors mind. Stop being such a drama queen Ollie. You're going to be fine." Chloe hushed any response he could make with a kiss like that would make everything better, not that it didn't. Clark looked away at the small display of affection and Victor just smirked as he caught a glimpse of the pair in the review mirror. They were a cute couple.

MONDAY 9:30 A.M

Chloe Sullivan watched Oliver as he read her article in the morning addition of the Daily Planet. Getting it to her editor wasn't too hard in this day and age thank the stars for E-mail. She felt guilty for writing it, but someone had to and who better than an eye witness.

"Love the article, but for some reason I feel misrepresented. Did you really have to call me a playboy? You know how faithful I am." Oliver asked at the feeling of Chloe's hands on his shoulders and neck massaging him. "That feels good, but shouldn't you be at work?"

"I'm glad you like it, thanks to your pain and my writing skills I have another week off. My editor says that I'm a rising star. " She didn't stop the massage, but took her hand away replacing it with her elbow and getting the kink out of his neck she knew was there.

"I'm happy to be helpful, in other news the society pages agree with you on my playboy status." He handed her the society page and Chloe's eyebrows knitted together in frustration as she read the headline. Billionaire playboy uses ditsy blond to crash rival Luthor's engagement party.

"I'm not ditsy…But I guess it's for the best." She sighed as she read on, no one thought that they were serious with each other, maybe it was better this way?

"Hey wait. What is that suppose to mean?" Oliver got up from the desk chair as Chloe made her way to the kitchen getting herself a cup of coffee and not taking her eyes off the newspaper."Emil said no coffee sidekick."

"You know me to well. But orange juice it means that I'm safely out of the public eye. Which means I can continue my hero work without being constantly hassled by the press as Oliver Queen's girlfriend?" He followed her into the small kitchenette leaning on the counter and grabbing an apple from the basket of them that was placed there. Chloe had noticed that Oliver seem to eat something every time he was nervous as of late. It was a far cry from his normal reaction to stress which was working out.

"But I thought you wanted the world to know I was off limits to the rest of the female population." He seemed crested fallen kind of like the time she told him they couldn't tell Clark about their coupling.

"I do, but I've been thinking it through and is it really necessary for everyone in the world to know about us? I mean those close to us know so we don't have to hide it from them. I don't look forward to all the innuendos Lois is going to make though she was awfully quiet last night, I think it has something to do with what happen between her and Clark the other day. Not my business anyway where was I…oh yeah." She stopped her verbal marathon putting down her juice and news paper coming to stand next to Oliver who didn't take his eyes off her as she made her way to him. "I don't need the world's approval to know how I feel about you. You love me and that's all I need."

She kissed him letting him pull her towards his hardened body. The kiss was innocent and full of passion at the same time. This was happening a lot lately the loving kisses to make him feel better.

"I had a good time thanks for taking me out Mr. Jone's." Moira thanked the martian as he opened the elevator gate for her allowing her to enter the penthouse first. He was really a nice man, the outing wasn't really a date. It was more like a re-acquaintance with the city she called home in her younger years.

"Please call me John, Mrs. Sullivan" He replied to the small thank you and walked into the main room of the high rise living space with her. He took her coat and as he did the duo finally noticed the audience they had.

"Mom? John?" Chloe asked seeing her mentor and the woman that gave birth to her step off the elevator. This was awkward, to say the least the whole of the Justice League except Clark Kent was gathered in the large room.

"Hey baby, don't mind us. I'm just gonna put my coat away and then I'm off to bed." She said it like it was the most normal thing in the world that she just had a secret date with their resident alien and was off to the guest room before Chloe could say another word to her. Chloe watched her mother leave taking the glasses and blonde wig off as she did and then looked to John who was smiling in the direction of her mother's exit.

"Is everything okay Watchtower? Do you need my help with anything?" Always the doting mentor John made his way over to where the team was meeting looking over the papers that were spread across the glass table and then to the LCD screen hanging from the ceiling.

"No I don't think so, I haven't found anything new on the phantom front. All were doing here is checking off the list of 33.1s that we think are left." Chloe happily answered his question truthfully knowing that even if she lied he'd be able to tell. "Are you dating my mom?"

"Good I believe we've taken down most of them, but Lex Luthor won't stop what he's doing until he gets the power he wants. No I'm not I just took her to the ballet, your mother has a great understanding of the performing arts and ancient human history. I had a pleasant time." Okay he was not taking this as serious as she was, for some reason the thought of her mother and her mentor together didn't sit well with her. Her mother was still technically married to her father wasn't she?

"Okay, now that that's out of the way. John I think we do need your help." Victor broke the awkward silence handing the Martian a satellite image and a few other papers. "Have you ever heard the name Veritas?"

"No I believe I have not, but I do recognize this image. It's the phantom I've been chasing that always eludes me. When and where was this taken?" The older hero seemed more concerned now more than ever.

"Yesterday about 7:13 pm in Alaska. Why?" Oliver was the one to answer the inquiry worry falling over his own features.

"John what is it?" Chloe cut in but barely got a response from the martian.

"Nothing that concerns you Watchtower, I need to go." Within seconds he was off and out the balcony doors not saying another word.

"Has he done that before? Should we go after him?" Bart piped up a light tone of concern in his tone, he had come to respect the Martian Manhunter in the last few weeks.

"Yes, it's a thing he does and he'll be fine. John can take care of himself. Now back to your earlier question. Veritas, I think I've heard that name before." Chloe tried to think where she had heard the reference to Veritas before and suddenly remembered that she had come across it when she was researching Oliver's past.

"Lana, honey is everything okay?" Lex asked he had been asking that question a lot lately. He followed the mess of clothes into the closet and saw Lana sitting on the floor zipping up a suitcase. "Early honeymoon?"

"I'm so sorry Lex, but I can't do this anymore." Lana lifted the hefty luggage and tried to make a beeline for the door, but Lex stopped her in her tracks putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Do what? I don't understand." He looked into her eyes trying to figure out what she was talking about.

"This...Live this life, I thought it would be okay after losing the baby that maybe I could live here with you and be happy. But I can't Lex, it's all just too complicated I want a simple life not one that I have to worry about vigilantes crashing my engagement party or being the victim of yet another meteor freak attack." She let the words spill out knowing that his heart was breaking with every one she said. This was it her plan had worked perfectly he was going to feel the pain of losing something that was never real that met the world to him. Lex was going to feel her pain and Lana stifled the urge to smile at his suffering.

"It's not always going to be this way. One day the meteor freaks won't be a problem anymore. Until then I can take care of you, you're protected here with me. I promise I…" She cut off his plea turning away from him acting like she didn't want to hear any more of what he was saying.

"It's not just that, it's you Lex, this place. It reminds me to much of what we had and what we lost." With her hand on her abdomen and a mournful tone she looked up at him with teary eyes, she was really laying it on thick. "Goodbye Lex."

With that she was gone out the door and on her way. Paris that's where she would go, the city was really a happy place. She should probably see Clark or Chloe before she went, no for appearances she had to go now she would call them later.

Veritas the word itself was old, he had heard it before, and he hadn't said anything to the rest of the team while they tried to figure it out. Oliver felt guilty for not letting them in on what he knew about the secret society. But it was a family secret one that he had hoped to hide. Hiding things from his team and those he claimed to love was never good. It never did end well. Hopefully Chloe would understand, unless she already knew and kept that to herself as well. Oliver was well aware that she researched him. It would have bothered him except for the fact that he knew her reasons for invading his past.

It wasn't because of their secret night they had spent together, it was because she knew it was he who had had Lex and Lana kidnapped. The woman he loved was quite the little was one of the things he liked most about her though, Chloe was smart and made being a know it all very attractive.

The past four days weren't as bad as he thought they would be, his arm had healed faster than it should have, maybe his addiction to RL65 improved his body's ability to heal. Emil just said that the physical damage must not have been as bad as he thought and recommended, though he was already healed, that the Green Arrow not make an appearance tonight. But Oliver just couldn't wait to get back out on the streets and help people. Plus the chance to get out of the penthouse was not something to give up.

Oliver's love for Chloe was true and the time they got to spend together was just amazing, but he just needed a break. Her mother was still in his house and he didn't think she was going to leave anytime soon. The woman had nowhere to go, but when and wherever she went Chloe might follow her. Then there was the baby with everything that had been happing they had barely talked about it.

Nodding his head from side to side to try and clear his mind and focus. He was not Oliver Queen at the moment he was the Green Arrow. Reminding himself that he didn't dawn his leather just to look good he pulled out his grapple pointing it towards the roof of the Daily Planet. It wasn't the highest building in the city, but it was still one of the places he frequented on his patrols one could see so much from the top of the newspaper building.

As his body swung from one building to the other, the Green Arrow caught sight of a dark figure standing on the edge of the roof looking over the city. Sirens went off in his mind for a moment that this person was going to run and scream once they realized he was there. But then he caught sight of the way the moonlight shimmered off of her blonde locks.

"Shouldn't you be at home sleeping in my bed?" The voice distorter was still on as his arms came to settle round her slender waist. Chloe leaned back into the embrace resting her own arms on his.

"Why am I not surprised you're here? Well, when you're not in it, it gets boring without you there for my entertainment?" Her seductive tone was enough to heat his blood warming him to his core even on such a cold night.

"Not that I don't understand your need to escape the ivory tower, but its 2 in the morning Chloe. What are you doing up here? " He turned her around enveloping her in a tight hug trying to warm her petite form with his own body.

"I needed to think, this place helps me focus and I knew you would be here sooner or later." Chloe smirked reaching a hand up to remove his darkened shades and push back his hood. The Green Arrow didn't object as the woman he shared his bed with revealed his brown eyes and blond hair to the night air. "Oliver we need to talk."

"This never ends well, normally after those words come out of your mouth you either break up with me or you reveal some earth shattering secret that changes our lives forever." He sighed dramatically a curious expression crossing his chiseled features and the moonlight reflecting the slight changes in his demeanor.

"Lucky for you, I'm fresh out of those." Her head was now resting on his chest her face turned to one side her warm breath on his bicep. "But you're not, I know about your family's involvement with Veritas. I understand why you didn't tell the team. It's a family secret."

"How long have you known?" Oliver happily rested his head on the top of hers leaning down just a little to accommodate for her height. Chloe wasn't wearing heels at the moment which made her a little shorter then he was use to.

"You know I've known since the day I found out that you had Lex kidnapped and Lana got caught in the crossfire. I forgive you for that by the way." From the way they stood in the loving embrace one would think the topic of their conversation would be quite different. "I found several references to Veritas when I was trying to figure out where your vendetta with Lex started. I got as far back as both your parents. "

"The Queen's and Luthor's haven't always been enemies, there was a time our families got along." He said matter-of-factly, Chloe caught the hint of sorrow in his tone at the mention of his family name. That name wasn't just his, it was his parents who were dead which met that he was the only Queen Left.

"But that time didn't last long did it?" Chloe pulled back to look him in the face again. "I understand why you didn't speak up at the meeting when Victor first mentioned it, it's a family secret and I don't know what Veritas is or how effects any of us. But I trust your judgment and whatever Veritas is I know you'll tell me everything I need to know when the time is right."

"You don't know how much it means, that you trust me." Oliver replied knowing sooner or later he would have to tell her what Veritas really was or the fact that he wasn't even sure himself. But thanks to her undying trust in him they would come to that part of his family's past when he was ready and not before.

"I think I have a pretty good idea," Chloe pressed her lips to his in a loving kiss as if trying to convey that she understood just how he felt.

"You know speaking of families Chloe, we really need to have a talk about…" Her eyes followed his down to her abdomen. He was right they had to talk about the baby. Everything from what they were going to name her to how they would raise her.

AN: Hoped you enjoyed this chapter I liked it a lot. As for Moira going out, if you notice I mention a wig and glasses. She has a lot of disguises and she is safe with John. Promise next chapter we will see More of Moira action.