Author Note: All comments and reviews are appreciated. They are my addiction, so please feed it!

A big thank you to selene2 for my fab banner and to aleishapotter for being my beta on this chapter.

Oliver stood in front of Chloe's door trying not to let his apprehension deter him from his plan.

As the team had left to tackle Merlyn he had suited up just in case things turned sour that night. He would have been able to tackle any intruders regardless, but his leathers had always improved his confidence in the face of danger before.

Now standing here with the prospect of facing a tiny whirlwind in the next room, he felt like his trusted confidence booster was lacking.

He shook his head.

This was Chloe. After explaining everything to her, he was sure that she would be pissed, but understand. Taking a deep breath he knocked on her door and waited for a reply.

And waited.

"Chloe? It's me."

Again, only silence met his response.

The same gut curling pain he felt whenever she was in danger reappeared. After speaking to her this morning, he assumed that they were okay. There was no reason for her to be ignoring him. "Let me in, Chloe."

There was the soft sound of movement from behind the door, but still no response. "Fine, I'm going to break the door down."

He backed up two steps, ready to kick the locked door when he heard the soft click of the lock, and the door opened.

Chloe stood there facing him. Her cheeks were tear stained, and her eyes were red and puffy; but there was no sadness there. Only anger.

The sight of her so upset pained him, but not as much as seeing the laptop bag slung over her shoulder and her small case in her hand. He could only stare at her, his body felt cold with the realisation of what she was doing.

Without speaking she limped past him and headed for the stairs.

He seemed to recover his motor functions and followed behind her. "What's going on?"

She didn't turn around, just responded as she gingerly made her way down the staircase. "I'm going home."

"I thought we talked about this; that we had come to an agreement."

"And I thought you had promised that you would be honest with me; Disappointment for everyone!"

He hurried past her so he could look at her face-to-face, determined to have her finally hear him out.

"Chloe, I -"

"I'm not interested, Oliver; I know all about it. I found out about your little bet, and I refuse to be treated like a trophy in your sick little game."

It felt like a punch to the stomach. This was the one way that he hadn't wanted her to find out – through her own investigating and in reality, without all of the facts.

"I tried to tell you a few times. The one time I actually managed to explain everything, you had fallen asleep."

He saw her jaw clench and her eyes harden. Bart was right – Chloe was scary when angry.

"How awful for you; Two weeks and not being able to find a single moment to tell the truth to the person you were supposedly with. I do not need your excuses."

She tried to continue her descent but Oliver refused to move from his position.

His voice rose with his frustration. "It's not an excuse, I know that, but I just wanted to keep you safe! That was my priority!"

"Keep me safe? If you were that concerned for my well-being, why agree to a challenge set by an arrow toting maniac?"

"I had no choice. He would never have stopped hunting you unless I agreed. If I kept him from you for fourteen days, he agreed to leave you alone and stay out of Star City for good."

She took a breath. To Oliver it seemed as if she were trying to brace herself. "And after two weeks, were you planning on telling me?"

"I was going to tell you today. That's why I knocked on your door." He held onto her arms as he tried to maintain eye contact with her. "I don't want anything to come between us. You; us…it's important to me."

Chloe's posture seemed to soften momentarily, before she shook her head and shrugged his hands from their grip.

"Stop it. You're not going to charm me into staying close to you. I'm not falling for it again."

"That's what you think I've been doing?" It felt as if his heart actually hurt with disappointment at her words, "I thought you knew me better than that."

She looked away from him, a bitter smirk on her face as she seemed to listen to her own thoughts. "I had a plan, you know. When I moved here I had things set straight in my mind about the kind of person that I wanted to be, and what I needed to let go. I shouldn't have let myself believe any different."

"Don't you dare do this! Do not disregard what we have just because you are angry with me."

"With everything that's happened; with the circumstances surrounding us – what else am I supposed to think!"

"That I've fallen in love with you, and that my timing clearly sucks!"

He had finally said the words, and he could see that they had had an effect on her. Her eyes dropped to the floor and he could see her fingers clenching.

"I just wanted honesty, and you knew that." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "It feels as if you manipulated me into falling for you as a trick to keep me safe, and now I don't know what to believe anymore."

He took her hands, kissing them briefly and hoping that she was starting to hear him. "I love you – believe that."

"I'm not sure what's real and what's not anymore." She finally looked up to look at him, her eyes holding tears that were yet to fall. "I need to go and clear my head."

He loved her – he had finally said the words out loud. The last thing he wanted was for her to walk out of his life, because he was sure that if he let her go, that would be the last time he would see her for a long while.

"You can't leave, Chloe. If anything, you know what's at stake now."

"I'm not a complete fool, Oliver; I have a plan of my own. If you can't stop him, then I will."

A flash of anger swept through him at the thought of her putting herself in danger again, and all through a lack of faith in him. It was stupid, and she knew better. "Hopefully, in a couple of hours, you won't feel the need to save yourself. The guys are closing in on him as we speak,"

She said nothing; she just stood there looking into his face for any sign of dishonesty.

"Just give me until the end of the day. If we don't have him then I'll take you home and we'll do things your way."

He could see the internal debate playing across her features. Anger and pride were the only reasons for her to walk through the door, and out of his life at this moment. Oliver tried not to hold his breath as he waited for her to come to realise that.

While he waited for her decision, a beep in his ear notified him of an incoming communication. He touched his earpiece to activate it.

"Arrow, online."

"He located the device. It was on a courier's bike!" Victor's voice was rushed.

"Get back here now. He'll use this to his advantage, and probably try for her while there's a chance she's not as protected. He knows that with all bets off that we would all be coming for him."

Chloe's head snapped to attention at his words.

"We're on our way."

The communicator cut out, and Oliver turned off the ear piece.

"He's coming for me?" Her words were soft, and she suddenly seemed so much smaller.

"Yes," The light soft the mansion flickered repeatedly before cutting out completely. "and I think he's already here."

He put his glasses on, grateful for their night vision. He then took Chloe's bag from her hand and cast it aside, before sweeping her up in his arms and running down the stairs towards the panic room.

"What's with the lights?"

Fear seemed to have calmed her earlier anger, and the lack of argument gave him hope that at least on some level she still trusted him. It might not be with her heart, but trusting him with her life was a good start.

"Victor's perimeter sensors have been tripped. It's part of the program to give us warning and make you harder to find."

They were by the panic room in record time, and he swept her through the open door.

"Under no circumstances do you open this door."

He could see her open her mouth ready to protest, so he quickly hit the lock for the door to close shut. He just needed to know she was safe. If they both survived then she could yell all she wanted.

Chloe screeched in frustration as the door closed on her, the metal receiving her anger instead of the leather clad hero.

Turning back into the room that she was quickly becoming familiar with, she made her way to the monitors and switched on every piece of equipment in the room. Screens flickered to life and drawers unlocked.

Reaching into the dearest draw she picked out an ear piece similar to the one Oliver was using that night. The computer system in the room told he that it was connected to the team's frequencies. After tapping away at the keys she patched into Oliver.

Up on the monitor she could see him sneaking out of an upstairs window, before firing a line up to the roof and ascending.

Chloe had no idea the mansion's security cameras had this much coverage. She could see every inch of the grounds and everywhere inside the house, accept for the bedrooms. The fact that even the pool was under observation made her cringe, and she desperately hoped that the cameras were only activated during security breaches.

She scanned the screens for movement, and saw Oliver make a safe landing.

She saw a fox run across the front lawn, bold as brass.

She also saw the roof from a different angle, and a rush of movement before the camera died.

"Arrow! He's on the roof!" She yelled into the earpiece.

Chloe watched as Oliver crept quickly across the roof, without the slightest flicker showing that he had heard her.

"Arrow! Do you copy?"

The lack of response had her bringing up the communications array. The signal from her comm was unable to leave the room; jammed by the structure of the panic room. If they all got out of this, she and Victor would be having words.

She threw the useless piece of technology across the small room and watched as Oliver placed himself in harm's way.

This had to have been the only time Oliver's mind was completely focused on the task at hand. Chloe was safe, and he was confident that she would stay put. Without the chance of her being in the line of fire, he was confident he would finally bring Merlyn down.

Ducking behind a chimney, he looked at the other brick structure on the opposite side of the roof. Using his glasses, he was able to zoom and focus on the object. There at the edge saw a sliver of metal that was not supposed to be there.

His heart sped with adrenaline – he had found him first.

He quickly lined up his shot, and fired an arrow at the small part of Merlyn's jetpack on show. The canister gave a satisfying hiss as it was pierced, and gas flooded the roof. It obstructed his view, but he remained in place, waiting for Merlyn to make his move.

Oliver watched as the jetpack was swiftly hurled to the ground below.

"Impressive! But it will take more than that to put us on a level footing!" Merlyn happily shouted, now completely hidden by brickwork and the dissipating gas.

Oliver held his tongue, not wanting to give away his position, and strained his eyes, trying to find another shot. He waited until the canister gas had almost completely cleared before making his next move. He pulled an arrow loaded with a sedative gas and fired it towards Merlyn's location.

Seconds after the shot landed, Merlyn was immediately up and running, before jumping from the building onto the soft ground below.

Upon hearing glass shattering, Oliver chanced a look over the edge. A window on the lower level was shattered, leaving an easy entry into the building.

Too easy.

It was obvious, and that was the reason Merlyn wouldn't enter the building that way. He pulled a small device from his pocket; a small digital version of the mansion was displayed on the screen. A small vibration alerted him that motion detectors were triggered in a bedroom on the top floor – Chloe's room. Filled with confidence at literally having the home advantage, Oliver moved towards the opposite side of the room and descended using a zip line.

Chloe watched as Merlyn climbed up to her bedroom window. She felt sick at the ease with which he entered the secure room. Even with Oliver in pursuit, he was still hunting her.

She followed his movements from her room; his bow was drawn now and he slowly made for the direction of the staircase she had been standing on only minutes before.

Oliver was entering through the window in his room, as it was set up specifically for him to. Green Arrow walking through the front door every evening might eventually draw attention.

Once he came out of his room they could come to a head again. She wished that there was a way she could talk to him; to warn him that.

She felt sick at the idea of him walking directly into the line of fire. The thought of him taking another arrow in the chest for her made her stomach roll violently.

The feeling of helplessness never sat well with her. She had never been one to sit back and wait to see fate's outcome. The temptation was there to leave the room and provide a distraction. But would she distract Oliver too? Even if she were able to heal him, could she live with being the cause of harm?

She was still angry with him, but she loved him. That's why his betrayal hurt so much. And despite her need to take action, it would always take second place to endangering those she loved.

Thoroughly miserable with her train of thought and lack of action, she looked back towards the monitors.

Standing on the other side of his bedroom door, Oliver could just sense that Merlyn was nearby. His intuition had never led him astray before, so carefully he opened the door and made his way into the hallway.

He made for the direction for the stairs, knowing that Merlyn would be heading to the lower level. It was only a few days ago that Chloe was injured in the car accident, and Merlyn would know Oliver would have put her on the ground floor. If you needed an injured person moved from a building quickly, you kept them near the exits.

It was safe to assume that Merlyn had done his research, and vaguely knew the layout of his home. His priority would be to check Chloe's room and then to move downstairs, checking each room for her presence.

Oliver just hoped that she would do as he asked and stay put. She was obviously pissed; he hadn't heard a peep from her through the communication link yet. He resisted the urge to check on her knowing that he would only draw attention to either himself or her location.

Slowing as he approached the staircase, Oliver heard soft movement coming from the door of Chloe's room. Thankful for the night vision on his glasses for a second time that evening, he could see Merlyn scoping out the hallway.

They noticed each other at the same time, and their instincts kicked in before they could think. Both drew arrows and simultaneously shot in the other's direction. Merlyn's shot grazed Oliver's upper arm, while Oliver's knocked his adversary's bow from his hands.

Recovering quickly, Oliver fired a tazer arrow as Merlyn swept his bow from the floor, and dived –tumbling down the staircase.

Running to the stairs, Oliver set up another shot; Merlyn already recovering and returning one of his own. Ducking down just in time, the he felt the air move past his cheek. Luck was on his side tonight.

Merlyn was on the move again, limping down the hall. Ollie sprang to his feet before jumping over the rail to the lower ground, watching Merlyn fire another shot. Ollie would see it would pass him wide before it was even fired. The man's arm had been injured. There was a sense of satisfaction in knowing the man who had caused so much pain was finally feeling some of his own.

Oliver fired an arrow and yet again disarmed the man before him. The force of the shot caused Merlyn to stumble to the floor, and he forced back a grin. Without hesitation, he drew again, taking his time.

Merlyn turned on his back to look up to see the arrow pointed to his chest. A bitter grin formed as he looked up to Oliver's disguised face.

"Do it! Because I swear, if I leave here alive, she will never be safe."

"Once the police have you in custody, you will be gone from our lives for a very long time. You'll be lucky if the justice system allows you to live."

Merlyn smiled. "It's a long time between a police cell and a lethal injection. I can get to her, and you know it."

Oliver drew the string back further. He believed the man. Merlyn might be crazy, but his eyes were deadly serious. If he had nothing left to lose, he would try for Chloe again, and he might not be there to save her the next time.

His mind was racing. After all of this, there was still no guarantee that she would be safe until Merlyn was dead.

His arm began to ache with holding the position for so long. Merlyn showed his surprise as Oliver reluctantly lowered his bow and grabbed his crossbow instead.

The tazer arrow hit Merlyn square in the chest, knocking him unconscious upon impact.

Chloe had left the safety of the panic room the second she saw Merlyn fire the shot that hit Oliver's arm. She limped all the way to the entrance hall in time to see the Green Arrow binding Merlyn's hands and feet together.

With her momentum carrying her, she threw her arms around Oliver's neck. As his arms encircled her waist tightly, all of her earlier anger was forgotten. She could easily have lost him that night, and their last conversation would have been full of rage and tears.

"Cute. The hero and his damsel in distress." A slurred voice said from the floor.

As if on instinct, Oliver put his body between Chloe and the restrained man on the floor.

"It's a shame it can't last. Your boyfriend here knows that this isn't the end of our fun, Miss Sullivan."

"It is if you want your real identity to remain under wraps, King." Chloe stepped aroun Oliver to stand face to face with her would be assassin, "As much faith as I have in the Green Arrow, Star City's finest leave a lot to be desired. If you were to leave right now, I know that I would never be completely safe."

Merlyn looked up at Oliver and laughed heartily. "At last, a little respect around here; even if it is from the little woman."

"You mistake my intent. You are going to leave me and my friends alone."

Chloe pulled a small memory stick from the pocket of her jeans, and tossed it into Merlyn's lap.

"What's this?"

"Your continued stalking inspired me to finish writing. The injuries you gave me allowed me the extra time I needed to thoroughly research my piece."

"Blonde really is your natural colouring if you believe this changes anything."

Chloe rolled her eyes at the playground insult and took a step closer to the man who had made her life a living nightmare for the past two weeks.

"The difference is that it will not be published – except in the event of my death."

She saw the shock register behind Oliver's glasses while Merlyn remained perfectly still.

"Copies of the document you have in your lap are currently held by a number of trusted individuals. They are under orders to have this story distributed to every major media outlet if I die. So you had better pray that my friends and I die as old people, warm in our beds."

"That's if your story were to be believed."

She knew that the story would hold, there was no reason for it not to. "My death would only add to its credibility."

"You're smart, kid."

"So we have a deal?"

"We have an understanding this time, Sullivan." Merlyn turned his attention back to Oliver "Well played, Arrow."

A small beep in Oliver's ear notified him of an incoming transmission. Pressing the device, he opened up the channel, and Victor's voice flooded through his ear.

"Merlyn set up an ambush. Impulse was injured saving Aquaman's ass, and we've spent the last ten minutes trying to get through to you! What the hell's happened?"

Oliver looked at back Merlyn. "Just hurry back to my location. I have a package that we need to deliver to the police."

The guys had arrived shortly, aiding an injured Bart into the mansion. Victor and AC took on the responsibility of handing Merlyn over to the police while Chloe and Oliver had helped Bart patch up his injured leg and get to bed.

After checking that Bart had enough painkillers she followed Oliver to his bedroom with the first aid kit.

She watched him flop onto his bed and throwback his hood. "Your turn now, hero."

"I can do it. You should be resting that leg of yours."

Ignoring his words she unzipped the large pack next to him on the mattress. "If you won't let me heal it, then this is the compromise."

She pulled off his armbands before poring sterile water on some gauze to clean the wound.

"I'm surprised you're still here. You're safe now, there's no reason to stay." His voice was soft, almost cautious.

She concentrated on cleaning his arm, using the task to focus and keep her emotions in check. "Well, maybe things aren't as black and white as I imagined."

"The only reason I took the challenge was because he was willing to leave you alone if I beat him. A condition of our agreement was that you didn't know about it. I didn't want to keep things from you, I just wanted you safe."

"I know," She sighed and picked up a fresh piece of gauze. "And I think I overreacted. That's not to say you're completely forgiven, though."

She caught the hint of a smile on his lips before she put the bandage over his wound. "So I'm on the road to forgiveness?"

"The way I see it, neither of us have been in a relationship where there has never had to be secrets. We're both used to hiding so much that it's going to be a struggle to be open."

"Going to?"

She taped up his bandage and sat back to admire her handiwork.

"I'd like to work on my issues, and…on us. If you're still interested, that is. I'd understand if my drama queen act would put you off." She replied.

In reply he merely smiled and pulled her onto his lap, and into a tight hug. It wasn't long before she felt herself relax; glad to be close to him again.

"Can we just forget that the last two weeks ever happened?"

"How do you feel about a fresh start? Do things the way they should have happened, without the death threats."

"You mean spending time together without car accidents or near fatal shootings?"

"Sure. How about we start with a date?"

She felt him start to play with her hair as she looked up into his eyes. "A date?"

"Yeah, a real date. One where we can actually leave the house." Looking back at her, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear "I want to set any doubts you have to rest."

"Oliver, you don't-"

"I want to."

His face was so honest and open; there was no way that she could have refused him. If this was really going to be a fresh start then his suggestion was a good one, and they could only benefit from more time together.

She smiled warmly up at him. "Okay, it's a date."

His smile widened and he kissed her lips softly, and the warm, happy glow she had been experiencing over the last few days returned.

Oliver wasn't Jimmy, or Clark; she just had to have the faith in him that he deserved. And from what she was feeling right now, everything was going to be fine.