Author Note: All comments and reviews are appreciated. They are my addiction, so please feed it!
Just to say my laptop has died, so that is the reason there haven't been many updates from me. Once i have regular computer access my stories will be posted regularly, as normal. sorry!
Thank you to Chloesilvers for being my beta on this project. Also, another big thank you to selene2 for creating the banner for this fic (can be seen on my LJ)- this chapter is dedicated to you!
The previous night's patrol had been quiet. Oliver prevented two muggings and a potential sexual assault, yet there had been no sign of Merlyn.
It worried him that there had been no move on Chloe since they had agreed to the deal. There may have been little chance to attack her while she was here at the mansion, but there was nothing to stop him when she returned home at night, or when she left the house in the morning. These thoughts kept him restless and patrolling for longer than he intended.
Oliver had finally returned home to sleep for four hours when AC had called to let him know Chloe was already at the mansion helping out. By the time he had arrived, she had already organised the guys, and it wasn't been long before she was giving him instructions. By two in the afternoon, half of the mansion's contents were waiting on the gravel outside to be picked up.
As Chloe walked outside with two cups of coffee in her hands three large trucks pulled up. She approached Oliver and handed him one of the steaming mugs.
"Are you sure you want to get rid of all this? There has to be a lot of memories here."
"I've kept the things that matter. Besides, sometimes you've just got to move on." Oliver watched as the movers began unloading the vehicles with the new furniture to replace the old.
"Can't argue with that." Chloe said before drinking her hot latte.
"Come on, let's get inside." Oliver put an arm around her shoulders and led her towards the mansion. "I need you to show the movers where you want everything."
"Where I want everything?"
"Four guys under one roof? You're lucky we're not all sitting on bean bags and sleeping on inflatable mattresses."
Chloe couldn't help laughing. "Somehow I can't see Queen Industries' CEO sleeping on the floor. Besides, it would play havoc with that playboy status of yours."
"So you see why having you here is so important?"
"If you say so." She told him with a grin before making her way inside.
Oliver was grateful when she entered the building. He took a final look at the grounds outside before following behind her. Victor had installed motion sensors throughout the grounds two nights ago, and any reasonable cover was far away from the house, but Oliver still worried that Chloe may have been followed here. This would be one time he couldn't afford to make a mistake.
"I'm exhausted," Chloe sunk down into Oliver's new couch. "I don't think I could move from here, even if I wanted to."
"Well, you're good for at least an hour. The guys have just left to grab some take out."
Chloe groaned "Please tell me Bart isn't choosing."
"No, I think it's Victor's turn." Oliver sat beside her, before lifting Chloe's feet into his lap.
"No tofu burgers or Mexican food? Sounds good already." Chloe relaxed into the cushions, glad to be sitting down, finally. "Just don't let me fall asleep waiting for them."
"Well, I know something that might keep you awake." Oliver offered.
"Yeah?" She raised her eyebrows in curiosity.
"You know, yesterday I told you that you have no idea how much I've appreciated your help here. So…to show my appreciation, I got you this."
From behind the couch he pulled a large, flat, rectangular package. It was gift wrapped in emerald green paper, and tied off with a large golden bow. He placed it on her lap while giving her his most dazzling smile.
"Ollie, you didn't have to get me anything." She sighed.
"I know, but I wanted to. It's nothing major, just something I thought would look great in your apartment."
Chloe played with the gold ribbon, unsure if she should accept it.
"You can open it, Chloe. It isn't going to bite."
'It's just a gift between friends'. She thought to herself. Looking up, she caught Oliver's gaze. She would look like a complete idiot if she didn't accept it. Besides, how often was she ever given gifts?
With a sheepish smile, Chloe pulled the ribbon and removed the paper revealing the large wooden frame.
She felt as if her heart had melted. "Oh, Ollie." She ran her fingertips across the glass.
Her first ever headline was framed, there for everyone to see. Crisp and clean pages looked right back at her, unlike the crumpled version on her coffee table. She was at a loss for what to say. It was the most thoughtful gift she had ever received.
"It's not much, but I know that a journalist's first headline is a pretty big deal. I know you would have celebrated properly if you were still back in Metropolis, so I thought this would be the next best thing. I didn't want your big moment to pass you by without some sort of lasting memento."
"You mean aside from the arrow still buried deep into my wall?"
"Well, you can hang this right next to it."
Chloe placed the heavy frame carefully on the coffee table before lifting her feet from his lap. She knelt next to him on the couch and put her arms around his neck, hugging him close. "Thank you."
She felt his arms wrap around her waist, pulling her closer. The same warm feelings she felt yesterday resurfaced. His hands started to trace small patterns at the base of her back, and Chloe sighed at his relaxing touch. Oliver holding her felt right and it felt good. If she had a choice she would never want to move.
She was comfortable in his arms, and hugging him felt natural. Her fingers played with the hairs at the nape of his neck as he squeezed her gently. She could smell his shampoo and the faint scent of his cologne.
'What the hell are you doing smelling Oliver Queen?' Her inner voice seemed to dislodge her from her little fantasy world. She was suddenly aware of her fingers threaded through his hair and the inappropriate amount of time she spent in his arms. Abruptly pulling herself from his arms, she felt a guilty blush creep across her cheeks.
"I think I'm going to put some coffee on." Chloe scrambled to her feet and quickly left the room. She recognised those butterflies and she was not prepared to play that game.
Once in the kitchen she switched on the coffee maker and began to find plates for their take out.
"It's all in your head Sullivan. It's just the result of feeling lonely and someone showing you too much kindness." She muttered to herself, hoping to convince that inner voice what she was saying was true. After everything she'd been through, the last thing she needed was to fall for another hero.
Oliver had let Victor drive Chloe home that evening. He had left earlier, wanting to begin his patrol as the Green Arrow. The long hug with Chloe had left him feeling strange, and he wanted to burn his energy out on patrol. Whatever he had felt was not the reaction of a good friend, and that was all Chloe needed him to be right now.
The communicator in his ear let him know that Victor and Chloe were approaching her building. He had been waiting for them for ten minutes, trying to scout the area.
Oliver watched as Victor helped her out of the car and led her to the building's main entrance. She smiled at him as he offered his hand, and Oliver tightened the grip on his crossbow. He didn't like the familiarity between them; they should be concerned about her safety and not about tallying up the PDAs.
From the corner of his eye Oliver noticed movement two buildings over. It was him and he was already taking aim. He looked from Merlyn to Chloe. The panic began to rise in his chest as he realised he wouldn't be able to deflect the shot in time.
"Cyborg! He's here!" Oliver hissed into the radio as he made his way across the rooftop before drawing his own bow.
Putting his acting skills to use, Victor pretended to stumble and pushed Chloe into the building. Merlyn's arrow narrowly missed, grazing Victor's arm instead.
Oliver took his eyes from Merlyn for a second to see Victor wave goodbye to Chloe, keeping both his injury and the arrow from view. She was in the building, she was safe. The vice like grip that seemed to encompass his chest relaxed slightly.
He jumped to Merlyn's roof before being forced to stop by an arrow narrowly missing his foot.
"Her friend may not be there next time to get in the way. Pay better attention, Arrow!"
Merlyn had almost had her. If he hadn't paid so much attention on Chloe herself, he would have seen this coming. He hated that Merlyn was right. He could have lost her tonight, and it would have been all his fault.
Oliver aimed with his arrow expecting the other man to mirror his actions. Instead a flame erupted by Merlyn's back, and the Dark Archer began to float from the ground.
"You have got to be kidding me." Oliver muttered to himself.
"This was a free lesson. Next time, I'll make every shot count." Merlyn warned before flying away.
"A jetpack? This isn't a comic book, you just look ridiculous!" Oliver shouted into the night sky, knowing he wasn't heard.
"Did you get him?" Oliver heard Victor's voice in his ear.
"No. He flew off on a jetpack." Oliver wanted to kick himself. Why hadn't he thought of that.
"I don't think Chloe suspects anything, I hid the arrow from her line of sight."
"Is she okay? The arrow didn't hit her?"
"Yeah, she's fine. I'm okay too, thanks for asking. Just a flesh wound."
"Get yourself cleaned up. I'm sticking close to her tonight, just in case the 'Rocketeer' decides to make another appearance."
"You're jealous of the jetpack, aren't you?"
"Maybe." Oliver knew that Victor was completely right. There was no point in denying it. "How much do you think one of those costs?"
Victor laughed. "I'm sure you can afford one. I'm bleeding all over the sidewalk here. I'll catch you later Arrow."
Oliver watched as Victor got back in the car and drove away. He crouched on the roof for a few moments in silence. Chloe had pulled the curtains in her apartment, shielding her from view. He could see that the lights were still on but couldn't make out her silhouette. Those blackout curtains were worth every penny in his opinion, although he was kind of curious if she was wearing those shorts again.