Oliver had awoken to cold sheets and an empty bed, and it had been a disappointment. He wasn't usually a cuddling sort of man, but after having Chloe in his arms for a day, it was something he was fast becoming used to.
Rubbing a hand over his face, he rolled out of bed and found his pants.
"Chloe? Are you in the shower?"
At the lack of response, he padded out of the room, stretching his arms as he walked. The smell of freshly brewed coffee hit him as he closed the door behind him.
He smiled at the gentle reminder of her presence. If she wasn't huddled over her laptop, her place by the coffee machine could always be guaranteed.
He walked into the kitchen, expecting to see her contented like a cat and inhaling the aroma of her favourite brew. Instead, all that greeted him was a hot, half empty mug.
"Chloe?"
Hide and seek may have been fun as a child, but as an adult, his patience for the game was near non-existent.
He searched her usual places while calling her name. The study, the living room, the pool – all were empty. It was only as he passed the front door that he noticed her purse and crutch were missing.
Picking his cell up from the now empty table, he dialled her number. He could feel the anger starting to build. After everything that had happened between them, she was still willing to be reckless, regardless of the consequences.
She answered on the third ring.
"Where are you?"
"Oliver…I'm sorry...I should have let you know, but I just had to go. I panicked."
Her voice was thick with emotion, and he could tell that she was crying.
"Chloe, what's happened?"
"It's my mom…she's dying, Ollie. The doctor said she's had a stroke…She could pass any moment now."
He felt some of the anger fade as he imagined what Chloe was feeling, but it didn't stop the apprehension of her being so far from his watchful eye.
"Pull over, I'll come get you."
"I can't Ollie, I'm almost there…She needs me."
"I'm coming to you. It's not safe. King is out there, and there's a good chance he's already found you."
"She's my mom, I couldn't leave her to die alone…I promise I'll head straight into the building and wait with my mom until you arrive. There's security present…I'll be fine."
"I'm leaving now." Oliver hung up the phone, feeling the anger return. A hospital security team would be as much use as a couple of girl scouts on patrol with a plastic baton.
He kicked the table in frustration, sending the piece of furniture crashing into the wall.
Part of what made him love Chloe so much was her ability to be there for the people she loved. She was a good friend and a great daughter. He just hoped that it didn't get her killed.
Chloe pulled up in front of the hospital's entrance, not really caring that she might return to find that the car had been towed away. She ran through the glass doors, and down the corridors that led to her mother's wing.
As she pushed through the double doors she felt a change in the atmosphere. It was as if someone had told the ward to be silent and still.
She shouldn't have been surprised. This kind of ward rarely saw unexpected death, and the staff had come to know her mother well. Maybe a sombre feel was to be expected.
"Uh…Miss Sullivan?"
Chloe spotted the nurse emerging from around the nurse's station. She walked towards her quickly, wondering if the nurse would be offended that she couldn't remember her name.
"My mom…is she..?"
The woman's eyes shifted to the side, and she put a hand on Chloe's back, gently guiding her. "Let me take you to her now. The doctor will be in to see you shortly."
"Thank you."
As she reached the closed door to her mother's room, Chloe tried to mentally brace herself.
She had no idea what she would see on the other side of the door.
She had been too young to remember Lois' mom passing. This was the first time that she had ever had to deal with the death of a family member on her own.
Opening the door, she bravely stepped forward and walked towards her mother's bedside.
"Mom?"
Chloe sat down at the chair positioned next to the bed. What she saw shocked her.
Her mother was wide awake and staring directly at her.
"Mom?"
She took her mother's hand and gripped it tightly. There was nothing wrong with her; she looked just as healthy as she had on her last visit.
There had to have been some kind of mistake. Maybe another family should have received that call instead, and a file was misplaced?
She was about to stand up and tell the nurses there had been a mistake when she felt the strangest sensation. Her mother's fingers were slowly moving over her hand.
Chloe watched, mesmerised, as her mother made the first voluntary physical movement she had in months. She watched as Moira's fingers progressed to her wrist, right up to her watch.
For once, she didn't have any words. Maybe she hadn't seen things last time. Maybe her mother really was improving.
Tears began to flow again, this time from happiness. Looking into her mother's face, she could see now that her mother's eyes were focused on hers.
Smiling, Chloe shouted for the nurse. Death was the furthest thing from her mother's condition right now.
As she continued to call out, she failed to see the glow emanating from her mother's hand.
The emotional roller coaster she had been riding seemed to stop. Nothing else mattered apart from the soft voice, familiar in her head.
Get out. Protect yourself. He is coming for you.
Chloe allowed her crutch to clatter to the floor.
She stood up, picked up the heavy chair she had been sitting on, and threw it at the re-enforced glass window.
Her body screamed in pain, but her mind overruled it. There were priorities, and survival came first.
The window remained almost completely intact and there was only one other exit from the room – the door. Somehow she knew that it was already locked, ready for him to arrive.
She drew the curtains in the room before walking back to her purse. She picked it up and removed the handgun from inside, then stood in the middle of the room and aimed at the door.
Oliver kicked up the dirt from the hospital lawn as he skidded to a stop.
He had left Oliver Queen behind at the mansion. Tonight, the Green Arrow was here to escort Chloe home, kicking and screaming if he had to.
Using his glasses he zoomed onto the building, searching for any sign Merlyn had found her. Through the windows he saw the archer's tall, dark figure walking confidently through the hall of Moira's ward.
Oliver looked at the window of the room belonging to Chloe's mother, and saw that someone had attempted to smash through it – from the inside. All of the curtains in the room were drawn.
With a sinking feeling in his gut, he ran towards the nearest open window.
Merlyn walked confidently through the ward, smiling. The nurses and doctor were still cowering, tied and gagged, in the treatment room where he had left them. Their fear added to his adrenaline, enhancing his excitement. He was moments away from victory. His only regret would be not having the Green Arrow present to witness it.
Grinning, he stood before Moira Sullivan's door. He gently unlocked the door before standing back and readying his weapon.
Merlyn swiftly kicked the door, splintering part of the door frame. The sight he saw was not one he expected.
He barely had time to dive into the hallway before two shots were fired where his head would have been. All this time he had been underestimating the Green Arrow, when perhaps it was Miss Sullivan herself he should have expected more from.
His mind was whirring as he picked up his bow and tried to recover his thoughts.
Chloe frowned as Merlyn dived out of the way.
Get out. Protect yourself. He is coming for you.
The words repeated in her mind, over and over. If she wanted to be safe, Merlyn would have to die if he stood in her way.
Double checking that the gun was in working order, she entered the hallway, pointing her weapon in the direction Merlyn had fled in.
He was there waiting for her – she was in his sights as much as he was in hers. They both fired at the same time, hoping their shots would be the first to make contact.
Merlyn's arrow was about to make contact when it was knocked from the air, a green smoke arrow crossing its path, while emitting its obstructing cloud.
Her vision was quickly impaired, and Chloe was unable to see if her shot had landed. She could only hear the coughing from her would-be assassin.
She began to walk in the direction of the noise when she felt a strong arm grab her around her waist.
Get out. Protect yourself. He is coming for you.
She was about to turn and counteract the hold when she heard a familiar voice in her ear.
"It's me. We have to go – now!"
Get out. Protect yourself.
Oliver. He would keep her safe, he would protect her.
She allowed herself to be guided to an open window by the sluice; she was half way out of the window when she heard a cry of frustration from behind her.
"You can't hide her forever Arrow!"
She saw Oliver fire a shot into the smoke filled room, but was unable to see if it hit its mark as she was firmly pushed from the window, and out into the cool evening.
She was quickly followed by Oliver, who grabbed her arm and pulled her into a run. He didn't let her slow down until they reached his bike.
Once she was by the vehicle. she felt a cloud lift from her mind. She'd felt this strange sensation before, and her mother had been involved that time too.
It didn't take a genius to know her mom had used her meteor powers again.
"What were you thinking, Chloe? You can't leave the house like that without telling me!"
The angry outburst pulled Chloe from her thoughts, and she accepted the helmet that was thrust into her hands.
"I thought my mother was dying. Surely you can understand that!"
"No, I can't! Not when your life is at risk." Even with the hood and glasses in place, she could see the anger in his face.
"I know your rules are there to keep me safe, but I have a life, and there are people in it that I love. I can't shut everything out and hide away like you want me to!"
"It's only for a couple more days, you know that."
"And that's another thing! How can you be so precise? You're not telling me the whole story."
He sighed with defeat. "Chloe…"
She swung her leg over the bike and fastened on her helmet. "No. I'm done with waiting. If you're not going to tell me what you're hiding, then I will find out for myself."
"I just want you safe. You know that, right?"
It was Chloe's turn to sigh. She felt tired and emotionally drained. It had turned out to be a real day from hell.
She just wanted to tell him to take her home, so she could sleep the rest of the week away. So Chloe wasn't sure why her mouth decided to say different.
"You know, to me it seems like you and Merlyn are treating my safety like a contest."
Oliver's silence was deafening, and he said nothing as he got onto the bike and turned on the engine.
Merlyn had been trying to line up a shot when he overheard the conversation.
Miss Sullivan was close to the truth in her assumptions. Her knowledge of the wager was a deal-breaker. A close assumption was good enough for him.
Later that night, the silent alarm was triggered at the Queen mansion.
Oliver opened the front door, his crossbow close to hand.
There was no one within sight; only a note stuck to the door by a single black arrow. The words scrawled in black ink made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
All bets are off…