Oh! Lions and tiger and bear of the smut world! Ollie knows Chloe feels for him. Chloe knows Ollie knows Chloe feels something. There's a lot of knowing and feeling going on. Can you keep up?

Chapter Seventeen; Reading The Situation

Ollie hid out most of the day, either in his office or his gym. His maid came, buzzed around cleaning and dusting while Chloe sat reading cover to cover of the book Ollie had recommended. She didn't have much more to do without Ollie or any work. But it was a nice change. To be cared for and to have no obligations. Just to let yourself relax. Not that it was easy, she started to feel guilty that she wasn't helping people or doing her own chores. So while the maid finished up the kitchen she started flicking through the files on creepy guy. Now known as Eddie Greenburg, great grandchild to Charles Feston.

Alice, the maid, was silent and speedy, finishing with a smile on her face and a cleaned home. She had gone to see Oliver then left without more than a 'Goodbye Miss' to Chloe. Chloe shrugged and started fishing for possible locations, she could let Bart scout a few of them or divide up the team. Maybe Clark could do a run around by himself if he had a few free moments. Almost like he had heard her thoughts he appeared a few minutes later stepping from the lift looking concerned and worried.

"Chloe." he greeted, his voice matching the expression. "I need you to find a location for me." He instantly jumped to business talk, not that she minded when he looked so exhausted, but usually she got a 'Hey, how are ya?' before they talked shop.

"Sure. What you got?" she asked and he placed a scrap of paper with a phone number on before her. Careful not to use Brainiac she typed in the number, seeing if she could either hack into its inbuilt gps, or trace a call.

"You find anything else out about our psycho guy?" he asked as she worked, hovering behind her back, reading the screens as they flashed. She had told him on many occasions that the hovering didn't make it go quicker and quite frankly it put her off a little because of the audience, but it never seemed to stick with him.

"We have a name, and a few thousand locations, but nothing more."

"That's progress." he complimented.

"Exactly. I was actually going to see if you could check out a few possibilities for me if you had the time." she spoke aloud, knowing he would agree anyway, so his reply shocked her.

"I don't know." Chloe turned round in her chair, seeing Clark's eyes scanning the screen, his mind miles away. Before say could say anything a beeping drew her attention back.

"The phone's off, I can't trace it till it comes on." she dutifully informed him. "Who are you looking for anyway?"

"Kara, she was meant to contact me a few days ago but still hasn't got back." That explained the worry. "Can you check and see when it was last used?" Her fingers clicked across the keyboard and into files she shouldn't be seeing.

"Last used…" She read across the screen then turned to deliver the bad news. "Clark, she hasn't used this phone number for the last two month." Clark nodded solemnly.

"She usually checks in every month or so. I just figured she forgot or was busy… Can you find out anything else?" He sat on the edge of the desk, waiting as her fingers moved again.

"Nothing." she finally concluded. "What was she doing last time she called?"

"There was a string of deaths in North America that didn't make sense. She was looking into them. But that was a while ago."

"And you haven't heard from her since." she asked, already knowing the answer. Clark was worried she had become another one of the deaths.

"Anything could have happened Chloe. She could be fine. But…"

"Well go and find out." she prompted, nudging his elbow.

"I can't just scour America for her, that could take a long time and I have no idea where to start."

"Then take some time there. Take Lois and give her some freedom from Lucy that she's probably dying for."

"And say what? 'I'm going to look for my alien cousin, wanna come along?'" she rolled her eyes. Clark could be clueless sometimes.

"Say you're taking her on a romantic vacation across a few states. You can look for Kara while Lois goes shopping and meet back later."

"As good as that idea is. I can't just leave you. Not with what's going on." Chloe smiled, this was Clark behaviour she knew very well how to deal with.

"Clark, there are 5 other super heroes in this city all dedicated to keeping it, and all the people in it, safe. If anything goes down, you'll know. I promise."

"I'll be back as soon as I can." he told her. "And you can call me if you need." Chloe smiled again. Clark deserved some relaxation as well.

"You're going to enjoy your vacation with Lois if it kills me. Now go tell her the good news." A smile tugged at his lips and he was off again before she could blink, the papers flying out of their containers with the change in air. She sighed and started collecting again.

"Was that Clark just now? I thought I heard talking." Chloe turned around to see Oliver's head poking around the door frame.

"Yep. Kara's gone missing so we're one hero short for a while."

"Clark just left?" Ollie asked, surprised.

"No. Clark was persuaded into going with Lois and making his and her life a hell of a lot easier. Besides it's not like I'm not protected, I've got more heroes running around than I know what to do with." She stacked the papers back into their piles and folded herself back into the computer chair. "I do have some missions for them though." She tunnelled her mind to the mission rather than the bare-chested god making his way over to her. "Just a few locations we could try."

"What are these?" he pointed over her shoulder, his other hand on the back of her chair. His finger was directed at the screen showing a map of metropolis with red and green dots.

"Red are locations where our guy could work his operation in. Empty lots for the most part. Some are areas he's had interaction with, either in person or cash. Green are homes reporting missing person's." They didn't have a database for missing meteor freaks, so she was sticking with missing persons. It turned out there was a lot of people gone amiss in Metropolis.

"There are a few close by I could try tonight." he noted, pointing at three of the red dots.

"I can check with the team and arrange a meeting time." she agreed. He shook his head.

"Don't. These will be easy. No need to bother them with nothing. They could just be empty buildings."

"Ollie. It won't a bother to them."

"Chloe. I'll be fine. I've worked solo before. Of course if you're worried, I could always use a guide."

"Of course. At least that way I'll know when to call in back-up and heave your sorry ass out of trouble."

"Chloe! Have some faith. And besides, we both know my ass is in perfectly good hands." She flushed, the breath at her ear suddenly replaced by a fading chuckle as Ollie returned to the gym for his work out. Her perfectly good hands brushed back her hair with a sigh. Tonight would be fun.

Chloe crossed her legs on the computer chair, letting it swirl from side to side almost rocking her as she watched the screen where Oliver's camera feed came in. He was running back alleys at the moment reaching the next location. Staying out of sight while dressed in the hero garb. There were still two of the possible locations to scout, the first being empty. Chloe sighed, watching Ollie turn corners. Usually, she had no time to herself with the others around. Someone always needed some help, locations, triggers, locks hacking…the usual. It seemed Ollie really could take care of himself.

"Am I boring you Watchtower?" he teased. She rolled her eyes, the majority of their conversation had been teases from Oliver rather than anything to do with the activity at hand.

"I'm just enjoying the quiet."

"Face it. You're bored without people to boss around." A chuckle came through to her headset. Her scoff followed.

"I don't boss people around." she argued. "I help and guide. If anything you're the bossy one."

"Oh, your words hurt. Take them back" He faked injury from her verbal daggers. "Admit it; you're bored."

"I'll admit I thought I'd have more of a role. Maybe I do find myself with nothing to do." She shrugged, twirling on her seat while Ollie's video camera showed brick and concrete as he jogged.

"See. Was that so hard?" Chloe leant back on the chair. "But on the plus side, you have time to finish reading about your little darling Eleanor." Chloe sat bolt upright. How did he know she had been thinking of doing that? Since he left the apartment and she had been sitting waiting, her eyes had drifted to the book case. She was itching to finish it off…

"I'm not reading that."

"Are you going back on your word?"

"You did" she countered in a hiss. "But no. I'm not."

"Then why would you not want to read it? You're all alone, with nothing to do, and nobody to sneak up and scare you while you get your smut on."

"I'm n-"

"Or maybe" he interjected "You would prefer if I wasn't on the headset inside your head while you entertained your desires." She fumed, wanting so desperately to call his name in a reprimand, but doing so could compromise their identity. Instead she huffed and puffed, trying to occupy her hands with something that wasn't throwing punches at his screen. Over his laughter she took a deep breath, stood then returned with the book in hand.

"Happy now?" she asked sarcastically. "I'm reading the darn book." She flipped open to her placement. Ollie smiled and kept on down the alleys. He really should have taken the bike… He let the silence wash over the wire, letting her settle into her chapter. Chloe was far from loosing herself, she was too consciously aware of Oliver being connected to her. It didn't help that when the main character described her secret love affair Chloe just saw Oliver doing all those things. But where Eleanor knew every centimetre of her lover, Chloe had still exploration to do… not that she knew how to go about initiating that. Wanting it wasn't an issue… getting it might be.

"Which chapter are you on?" Without his arguments and teasing games with her, he was getting bored himself. She rolled her eyes and flicked back the previous pages to read the number.

"Chapter 24" she read then turned back to her page, not that the words were making much sense as her eyes scanned them. She had re-read the same sentence a good few thousand times.

"Has she been proposed to yet?" he asked.

"Yes." Chloe responded and re-settled.

"Did she leave him?" he continued to probe after a few more seconds.

"About a page ago."

"Ah, so you must be on the part where she goes crawling back to her love affair. Right?"

"Are you trying to annoy me to the point I start reading this aloud to you?" she jested then froze as silence came back. He was thinking about it. Oh why did she have to open her mouth?

"I actually wasn't… but that's a splendid idea. Please, go ahead. I think there's a good violent scene followed by some literary porn, as you so often refer to it."

"I'm not-"

"Gunna have to pause your loosing argument Watchtower, check my location." She huffed, but changed the screens.

"You should be right on top of them now. There's a skylight if you climb the fire escape." she informed him.

"Always good old fire escapes." he muttered and slung the bow onto his back for both hands free to climb. She watched as he pressed his body to the concrete, his head peering through the glass. "Empty as far as I can see." He scurried around, checking different angles and looking through open doors. "Nothing going on here." he concluded and scurried down. The next location wasn't far. "You can start reading now." he added in tease. He was sure her unknowingly seductive voice trailing over the words would do nothing to help the situation, but he wouldn't pass up the opportunity. Then again, wasn't it true that men worked better with testosterone pumping through their bodies? Surely Chloe's tongue twirling around a graphic sexual description would sky rocket his hormones.

"If you want to read the book, then you can read it yourself. I'm not playing some twisted fantasy game with you."

"Hmmm. See I thought you wanted to be keep things fair between us. I entertained your twisted mind in a good screw. It's only fair you indulged me with a little reading." Oh, he was going to pay for that when he got back. Chloe ground her teeth, chewing at her lips to keep the torrent of words inside. Ollie chuckled mercilessly. "Well if you're not up for talking I can always fill the silence. For instance there is a conversation we haven't breached yet. Actually there are many. We could talk about your deep emotional feelings for me you've decided to repress. Or, there's the wild hot sex you attacked me with while I was so peacefully sleeping. Then there was the shower where you-"

"'I stepped out from the taxi, possibly staring at my downfall.'" Chloe read from the book. Oliver chuckled in success. "Oh, god, I feel so stupid." she complained and set the book down on the desk, her cheeks aflame with her blush.

"Com'on, you've just stepped out of the taxi. I'm dying to know what happens next."

"Why have you slowed down?" she noted, the walls not going by as fast as they had before.

"Well I want to give you chance to finish this passage before I have to go all hero again." he replied cockily. "Com'on. Or I could return to my other conversation suggestions." he teased. Oh yes, he would be dead when he walked back in.

"I hope you get viciously mutilated by a dog." she hissed.

"Well there may be a bitch waiting at home, ready to eat me." Oh yes, he was dead!

"You better not be referring to me, or I swear I'll leave you outside all night."

"Little old me? How cruel?" he mocked. "But no, you're no bitch. If anything you'd be the little Jack Russell Terrier."

"Small and yappy?" she offered, the tone clearly labelled with a bright red warning.

"Adorable, sweet, bossy, demanding, and yet only a little more than a handful."

"Oh that's far past enough; you're staying out all night."

"Oh com'on. I'm sorry. You know I think you the best, and let's face it … you're my favourite." Chloe laughed. "Now, I believe the taxi driver is feeling quite bored frozen in motion like that. On with the story."

"You seriously expect me to continue after what you've said. The only thing I plan on doing with this book is slapping you around the head with it; try knocking some respect and sense into you."

"Impossible. I've been slapped by far more girls than you will ever know yet I'm still held captive to my sparkling personality."

"Maybe you just haven't met the right girl. One who can actually impart something that isn't an STD into your system."

"You offering?"

"Oh, you are so dead."

"Yeah, well maybe you're prayers will be answered." His tease was dropped from his voice. Chloe watched, listening in through the silence as murmurs of voices came through. "Skylight again?" he asked. Chloe checked the overhead view, finding a glass light he could peek through. Last thing they wanted was to burst in weapons a blazing on a bunch of homeless people. Half would probably die of heart attack.

"On the left side." she confirmed, still not letting the anger drop.

"Ah…long time since I've broken a drug exchange." he commented after a few moments. "I almost miss them." he added sentimentally.

"Do you want me to call in help?"

"Seriously. It's a drug bust, not infiltrating a secret base. Most will be unconscious before they can blink." Chloe watched as Ollie found an open window in the top section and snuck in, behind the boxes and crates no doubt with merchandise in. In position he drew back the bow, an arrow filled with sleeping gas aimed at the cluster of men all discussing delivery and prices. With a silent countdown he let the projectile fly landing in the brick and meeting surprised faces. Seconds later they were down for the count. "I do enjoy the ones that go smoothly." he commented, the voice changer in place. Chloe smirked despite herself. Watching Ollie work his magic was a strong aphrodisiac that ruined all her plans of violence. Chloe watched as Ollie tied the men's hands and feet with the plastic ties they were using in their manufacturing line. Always convenient when you didn't have to use your own supplies.

"Andy! The can's blocked again." Ollie turned around, to find a muscular bald man stepping from a back room. Chloe blinked and the next thing she saw was an arrow in the man's leg. He stepped forward to balance himself. "What the fuck are you doing here?" He looked past Oliver to see his associates bound and unconscious. "Big mistake man." he warned and rushed Ollie. Chloe squeaked watched the fist fight from a first person perspective. She watched, biting her nails, as Ollie landed a kick square in the block of a man's chest and he stumbled back. Ollie took the opportunity to draw another arrow and fire it into the man's other leg. He growled, hissed and swore, but the speech started to slur. Lastly she saw two hands come at her on the screen and the view went backwards. It was follow by the breaking of wood in a crash. The air silenced as the fight closed.

"Jesus, he was a big one." Ollie complained, wiping his hand to his lips where the bastard had landed a punch.

"You okay?" She so desperately wanted him in her arms, to soothe and coddle.

"He threw me into a crate. But I'll live. I didn't think he be able to stand after the first tranq dart to be honest. Let alone shove me across the room after two." Chloe watched as Ollie pushed himself to his feet, picking shards of wood from him and inspecting his arms. He had a few grazes and cuts, but nothing major. "Geez, there's an entire pharmacy in here." Ollie noted, limping from the wood pile to the now unconscious heap of man with two arrows in his legs. He plucked the empty arrows and proceeded to tie up the gang. "Alright, calls the boys in blue and have them clean this mess up." Ollie instructed checking the scene for anything that could link back to him then ducking out the same window he came.

Chloe finished the call, and gave an anonymous tip of the location of the drug exchange. The cops would be slow checking it out, but even if the perps woke up they wouldn't be going anywhere.

"Arrow?" she called as she re-connected the link to him. "You alright?"

"Fine. Little on the limpy side and I'm going to have a bruise the size of Australia on my ass. But I'm sure I can find someone to fit a nurse's costume again." Chloe rolled her eyes. If he could tease her, he was feeling perfectly fine. It's only when the teasing stops and he gets serious that you have to worry.

"You know I still haven't forgiven you for the dog comment." she warned him. He ignored it.

"I'm still waiting to find out what happens when she leaves the taxi. Be kind to a crippled hero would you?"

"The only kindness you're going to get is time to use the shower before I beat you senseless."

"You so desperate to join me again? 'Cos, I'm going to be honest here and say you may have to wait a bit till my ass is squeeze-worthy again."

"You're a pig, you know that?"

"But a pig you constantly crave." he countered "And…I'm a pretty good looking pig. You have to admit."

"As far as pigs go, you do seem to be fairly attractive. But it would be an insult to pigs if I said you were the best."

"Oh. Now that hurt." he mocked her again. "You can always kiss it better" he offered.

"I'm kissing nothing of yours."

"I highly doubt that will last for long. Between my adorable charm and your erotica fetish I think you'll be crawling back begging in no time."

"You're just full of yourself. Especially for a man that reads chic books"

"Chic books?"

"Oh com'on, they all end with a happily ever after with a great deal of the story being romance."

"Hey. Don't knock the book choice. I have plenty of books without any romance in, that all focus on death and manly wars."

"It doesn't even out the quantity of love stories you have… even if you do disguise them with your spy obsession."

"You would be the one who knows all about obsession. When did you last think about kissing me? Three seconds ago?" he challenged, smirking.

"You know what I think. I think you hide behind all your teasing and cockiness so nobody gets close to you."

"You of all people should know: I have no objection to any kind of proximity to females." She ignored the jibe.

"Not sexually. But emotionally. I think you're afraid of commitment."

"This coming from the woman who won't admit she has feelings for me. I'm not the one hiding in denial."

"I'm not in denial."

"There you go again."

The elevator clunked to life as his screen had shown and she cut off the chat, storming into the kitchen to find some ice for his injuries as well as antiseptic. Ollie threw down the hood and pulled off the glasses. His back did not enjoy being hurled through a wood crate. At least only his arms were grazed. It could have been worse. Chloe padded back, looking flustered and… was that a hint of anger? He caught the frozen peas packet she threw at his chest then the towel she followed with. Definitely anger.

"Sit." she ordered and pulled the green bands from his bicep, trying not to get lost in the feel of his muscles. He folded himself into her desk chair, wrapping the peas in the towel and placing it against his left shoulder that had hit first. He hissed, then let them re-form around his body shape like an icy hug. Chloe tilted his head back, no care for his complaints and ran her eyes over his bust lip. Whatever she saw she declared it healthy and dropped his chin to move to his arms, disinfecting with a cotton wool ball across each graze. The room started smelling highly of ethanol. She turned the chair, checking his shoulders then sighing. She leaned across to the first aid kit and pulled out some tweezers.

"Whoa. What you doing with those sidekick?"

"Sidekick?" she questioned. "Sidekick is taking a splinter of wood from your back. Face forward." she instructed again and with a sharp tug she exacted her revenge onto a thin strip of wood that had imbedded itself in him.

"Owww. Okay, seriously. Now you're just being mean." he complained.

"No, mean would be to shove you back outside in the cold all night."

"That would be mean yes. But at least the cold could numb the pain of your black heart." She froze for a second. "Chloe I-" She could feel the apology before it came but she refused to listen, instead her hand slapped across his face. "Ow. Okay. I suppose I deserved that." he mused, rubbing his jaw.

"Oh God Ollie. I didn't mean… I'm sorry." She fluttered her hands over him, checking his cheek for any damage. She hadn't wanted to do that at all.

"No. I'm pretty sure I deserved that." He pulled her down and she sat on his one knee, his thumb stroking her cheek.

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to. Are you alright?"

"Apart from the hand print indenting my jaw bone. I'll be fine. It'll be a nice reminder to behave from now on."

"I really am sorry." She flushed. Did she have no control at all? "I honestly didn't mean to. I just lost it."

"Chloe. Not your fault. I promise." He tilted her chin up to look him in the eyes. "It was a fair hit."

'All's fair in love and war' again the quote bounced across Chloe's mind. Would this be the war it referred to? If it was, why did it feel so much like love? Chloe rested her forehead against his, her eyes guiltily looking at the reddening mark across his face. She couldn't believe she had just slapped him. Maybe he was right and he did just push her a little too far. But she'd never slapped someone before. 'You always hurt the ones you love' another quote buzzed past. Why were none of her thoughts her own? Why did they all come back to her feelings for Ollie? Her hands stroked through his hair, it was so soft, almost designed to be felt, made for a woman's touch. She let herself go, just following impulses and laid her lips against his red cheek, dipping down in slow lazy kisses to where she had assaulted moments before. Maybe she was obsessed. Maybe she was addicted to his touch, to his kiss. His hands framed her face as she tried to rein back control and he turned her lips to his. There was a slight pause then followed a gentle meeting. It wasn't an all consuming need to have each other. It was comfort, heart to heart conversing of the lips… correct her if she was wrong, but that was a lover's kiss.

The back door flew open and the lovers flew apart. Heel's clicked and Ollie stood back up, ready for action, innately guarding Chloe.

"Chloe? Oliver? You here? If you're fucking I can come back later." Chloe smiled.

"In here Dinah." she called back and settled to collect back up the first aid kit.

"Should I be closing my eyes for nudity awareness week or something?" Ollie gave Chloe a questioning glance, but nothing more. Chloe blushed.

"We're fine Dinah." She appeared into the room.

"Well, clearly one of you isn't. What did you go rough and tumble for five rounds? You look like crap." Dinah greeted Ollie and made herself at home on the sofa, her tight denim jeans and flimsy blouse clear that she was either expecting or back from a date.

"Nice to see you too Dinah." Ollie took the first aid from Chloe and took it back into the kitchen. Chloe joined Dinah on the sofa.

"So, you finally snap and take Ollie fast and hard across the carpet?" Chloe rolled her eyes.

"Drug bust gone skewy." she explained.

"A drug bust of woman right?" Chloe narrowed her eyebrows, what was she getting at? "Well unless you want to give me another explanation of how he has a handprint across his face. Have men started slapping each other now?"

"Ummm, actually…" Chloe bit her lip. But it was unnecessary. Oliver was there to share the details himself.

"Chloe slapped me." Dinah would have choked had she been drinking anything.

"Wow. Go get on the girl power. I almost feel I should sit you in the naughty corner."

"He called me a dog, amongst a hell of a lot of other things." Chloe defended herself.

"It's true. I deserved it." Oliver admitted.

"Maybe you should be sitting in the naughty corner. But I really don't want to get tangled in this web of sexual tension. So I'll be going I think, before this turns into a threesome."

"Dinah, what did you come here for?" Chloe asked smiling at Ollie's confused expression. Dinah sat back down, hearing the 'please stay' invite loud and clear.

"How did I not know Ac's got a girlfriend?" she enquired.

"Ac's got a girl?" Oliver asked. Both females ignored him.

"How did you find out?"

"You knew?" Dinah asked, unbelieving that she was the last to know. Well, she supposed she could take comfort in the fact Ollie would always be clueless.

"He got a phone call from her when he came around. Vic told me."

"Ah. Bart told me that Vic told him who Arthur had told."

"You still with Ba…" Chloe flickered a glance to Ollie. Not sure if she should spill about Dinah's extra curricular. Luckily he was miles away.

"Yeah. Well, kinda. But that's not important. Have you met her?" she probed.

"Nope. Not even Vic knows anything more than her name."

"That sucks."

"You're sleeping with Bart?" Oliver's brain finally caught up to girl speed. "Isn't he a third of your age?" Chloe gulped as Dinah stood. Bad choice of words Oliver. Very bad. A prime example of why men should think before they talk.

"I'll suppose I'll call you later." she nodded to Chloe who nodded back. "You better watch your back, or it won't just be Chloe's hand leaving a dint in your pathetically tiny skull!" Dinah stormed out past a bewildered Oliver.

"What did I do?" he asked, genuinely confused. Chloe laughed.

"Com'on Romeo, let's get you to bed before you do any more damage."

Chapter kind of got a little long there didn't it? I'd apologise, but I know you love it…

Oh bless Dinah. To say Oliver can charm the knickers off a nun, he's having awful difficulty with Chloe and Dinah.

Maybe he's loosing his talent. No! It's wrong to even think such things!

Reviews have been amazingly brilliant. Love them... [Insert own comment about how much I love you all] Xx