Talking in Your Sleep-14/21

[bluesuedeshoes]

Author:  BlueSuede
Title:  Talking in Your Sleep
Rating: NC17
Genre: Friendship/Romance
Pairings:  Chloe/Oliver, Chloe/Green Arrow, Lois/Bruce, Lois/Clark
Summary:  Intrepid reporter for the Daily Planet, Chloe Sullivan, has her heart stolen by the masked hero, Green Arrow, but can she be satisfied with not knowing his real identity?
Warnings: There will probably be some minor spoilers, particularly for Season 6.  There will also be a ridiculously unnecessary amount of smut.  You've been warned.



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Chapter 1

Previous (Chapter 13)
Next (Chapter 15)

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Put your dreams away for another day
And I will take their place in your heart
Wishing on a star never got you far
And so it's time to make a new start.

Put Your Dreams Away
Frank Sinatra

–14–

12 Days Later

It was a gorgeous, sunny day out, and even the cold weather wasn't much of a bother for Chloe when it was so beautiful out. She unwrapped her scarf from her neck and stuffed it in her purse as she walked down the sidewalk toward the Daily Planet that morning.

She'd finally managed to get three nights of sleep in a row without having some sort of psychotic sex dream about either Oliver Queen or the Green Arrow, and the rest had done her wonders. She took a sip of her coffee while hitting the button to activate the cross walk and waited on the traffic.

Granted, she was still a little hurt that she hadn't heard from the elusive Archer for two weeks. She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but she had thought that the Green Arrow would have at least contacted her by now for help on a mission.

Oliver, at least had sent an e-mail to praise her piece on the mayor, and she'd politely thanked him, but other than that, she hadn't heard much from him either.

She took a sip of her coffee and stepped out into the street when she saw the pedestrian light come on from the corner of her eye.

"Woah!" a male voice exclaimed as a hand reached out and grabbed her, dragging her back to the sidewalk in time for a corvette to speed past an inch from her nose.

Chloe gasped, spilling her coffee by accident and clutching her heart. "Oh my God!"

"Are you all right?" her rescuer asked while Chloe attempted to catch her breath. "That guy should be arrested," he added spitefully in the direction the car had vanished.

Chloe shook herself. "I'm fine, thanks. I wasn't paying attention, I guess. I–" she looked up to thank him and paused briefly, her mouth opening just slightly in surprise. She shut it promptly and swallowed.

The man grinning at her was more than a little attractive. Tall, muscular, brown hair, and dark brown eyes with a hint of mischief in him, he was looking at her in concern at the moment, but she could tell his mouth would normally form a somewhat lopsided, roguish grin.

Suddenly she realized he'd said something to her. She snapped back into focus. "I'm sorry, what?" she asked.

He grinned and she saw that she'd been right about his potential smile. "I asked if you were all right?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. Thank you so much."

"Of course. Sorry about your coffee," he added, looking at the cardboard cup on the ground. "I'm Hal Jordan, by the way," he added, extending a hand.

She shook his gladly. "Chloe Sullivan."

He blinked. "Really?"

She gave him a weird look. "Yeaaah..." she said slowly.

He chuckled. "Sorry. No, I've just read a lot of your articles for the planet. You're a bit of a hero's crusader. Cult following," he winked.

She beamed at him and he hit the crosswalk button again, both of them having already missed their opportunity to cross. "So can I get you another cup of coffee?" he offered when the light turned green. They both made sure to check that the cars were actually stopping before crossing this time.

She hesitated at his question and glanced at her watch. She shook her head. "I'm sorry; I really can't. I'm already running late for work." She looked at him apologetically.

"You sure?" he asked.

She nodded. "Thank God there's a coffee pot in the copy room!" she joked and he chuckled. They came to a corner and she nodded in the direction she was headed. "This is me," she said when he came to a halt, obviously not going the same way.

He nodded. "Nice meeting you, Miss Sullivan."

"Chloe," she said, grinning as she walked backwards toward the Planet. "You, too!" she added before turning around and picking up a brisk pace toward her building, internally mourning the loss of her coffee.

---

"SULLIVAN! In my office, now!"

Chloe jolted in surprise, almost spilling her second cup of coffee that day. She looked up in the direction of Perry's office, where the door had just slammed shut, and raised an eyebrow.

Lois did the same. "Jeez, what'd you do?"

Chloe lifted a shoulder and dropped it. "Beats me." Rising from her desk, she shuffled a few of her things and put her computer to sleep. Then she headed over to Perry's office and braced herself for the worst. She walked straight in, not bothering to knock.

He looked up from his desk when she entered and glared. "Sullivan, your work is slipping."

Chloe's mouth fell open in protest. "My article on the mayor–" she began.

"–was almost two weeks ago. You've barely brought me anything worth reading since then."

"That's hardly true, my piece on the trial was–"

"–a follow up on the two-week-old article on the mayor. Come on, Sullivan. What happened to your stuff on the Green Arrow. Between you and your cousin, I've never sold so many papers. And then all of a sudden you decide to keep your personal romance with the guy private."

Chloe blushed in horror. "What do you mean?"

"Oh come off it, Sullivan. You're almost as bad as your cousin. The crush leaps off the page. Hell if I care–"

Chloe barely contained her sigh of relief. For a moment she'd thought he knew about her actual relationship with the Green Arrow.

"–my point is that you suddenly clammed up about him. What's going on? He pull another thief act that you couldn't spin this time or what?"

Chloe stared at the ceiling, trying to control her emotions. Once she'd reigned them in she was able to look at Perry to answer. "He didn't do anything. Literally. I haven't seen head or tail of the man since my last piece. And believe me when I say I've had my ear to the ground."

"So ask him what's going on."

Chloe laughed. "What, you think I can just conjure him up like I Dream of Arrow or something? This isn't Gotham. There's no Bat Signal to call him in."

"Sullivan, I refuse to believe you've used all of your resources to get hold of this guy."

She started to protest again but he raised a hand to stop her.

"Save it. I'm not going to ask what your real relationship with him. Like I said: I don't give a rat's ass. I'm just saying I know you're holding out on me, and I want the story. Did he hang up his tights? Is that what your trying to cover?"

"They're not tights," she interjected before she could stop herself.

"Whatever. You see where I'm going with this, right, Sullivan?"

"Yes, Boss," she said, subdued.

"Bring me a piece on the Green Arrow."

"I'll do my best."

"Good. In the meantime, I've got an assignment for you."

She perked up in surprise.

"Don't look so shocked, like it never happens or something. There's a big airshow in town sponsored by Ferris Aircraft. I want you to cover it. It opens in three days."

Chloe grinned. "Got it!"

"Good. Now get out of here. I'm tired of looking at you. And tell your cousin I'm still waiting on that car-jacking piece she promised me."

Chloe nodded and made good her exit. Back at her desk she found Clark and Lois talking about something, and Chloe smiled, pausing for a moment to study them.

About a week ago, Lois and Bruce had inexplicably ended their relationship. Lois hadn't had much to say on the subject, except that it was mutual, and Chloe had let it go only because Lois didn't seem as broken up over it as she'd expected.

Aside from that, ever since Clark had taken care of Lois while she was sick, Chloe had noticed her cousin becoming flustered and blushing whenever Clark was around. It looked like Clark was finally managing to when Lois over, and Chloe was happy for them. She'd known since the first day the pair met that they would make an excellent couple.

Before she had snapped out of her thoughts, Lois had looked up and spotted her, looking genuinely excited about something, "Chlo, guess what!"

Chloe grinned. "What?"

"The General's in Metropolis!"

Chloe blinked in surprise, grin broadening. "Really? That's fantastic, Lois. What's he doing here?" She hadn't seen her uncle in several years now.

"There's some big aircraft show in town, and I guess the General's looking at some of the planes they're testing. Either way, the he called me up tonight as a surprise and said he wants to take us both to dinner after the show's opening!"

Chloe was beaming by now, "That sounds great."

Lois nodded, "Yep. Anyway, I gotta go. I'm meeting him for lunch right now," she said, slinging her purse over her shoulder. "Later, cuz. Clark," she added, cheeks tinging pink before she turned and left.

Chloe raised an eyebrow at Clark, who blushed as well. "What?" he asked defensively.

"What was that?" she asked, gesturing between him and the place where Lois had just been standing.

"What was what?" he played dumb, sitting down to flip on his police scanner again.

Chloe snorted. "Right." She shook her head, settling back down to read the mail that had been dropped on her desk in her absence. She frowned at a blank envelope and flipped it over. No address. She sighed and opened it.

You'll pay.

She swallowed anxiously at the lone, typed phrase. Hooray for hate mail, she rolled her eyes before tossing the letter in the trash. Guess that means I'm doing my job.

---

On the other side of the world, Oliver was grinding his teeth, sitting in on yet another meeting in which his potential business partners were hemming and hawing over whether or not to sign with him.

His most recent e-mail from Hal was running through his mind on repeat.

From: ... Subject: (none)

Bummer that you're still stuck in siberia, dude. Hope you get outa there soon.

So you know that woman who's written all those GA articles for the Planet here? You'll never believe this, but I met her this morning. Dude, did you know she's a total hottie? Seriously, completely gorgeous. Asked her for coffee but no luck; she had to get to work. I'm thinking about trying again later.

Anyway, good luck with that meeting. Show 'em who's wearing the pants.

–Hal

Before Oliver knew what was happening he suddenly became aware of the fact that he was no longer sitting down and he had the vague impression that he'd just shouted something at the men in the room in Russian.

Taking a deep breath, he glared at all of them. Continuing to speak in Russian, he lowered his voice, doing his best to speak calmly and make clear his intention.

"Look, I do not appreciate the fact that all of you are wasting my time like this. My company needs me at home. I'm leaving, and I don't give a shit if that means Luthor gets the deal because frankly, I'm fed up. There is a woman in Metropolis who is about to fall in love with another man if I don't fucking get home and make her realize she's in love with me and that's more important than all the damn business ventures in the world."

And then he was walking out the door, not looking back. He flipped open his cell phone and called his pilot, telling him to be ready to leave for the States within the hour. "Oh, and do me a favor and accidentally let it slip to the media that I'm leaving. There's someone I want to know I'm coming home."

He was going home.

Oddly enough, when he got back to his hotel and started throwing his things into his suitcase, he received a voice mail from the director of the company's board.

"Mr. Queen, in forty years of working for this company, I have never once seen a display like that. Congratulations. We're signing. Any man who cares that passionately about something, especially someone he loves, is exactly the kind of person we want to do business with."

---

Two days later Chloe took a long sip of her coffee and raised an eyebrow at the many magazine covers before her. She normally didn't give much more than a passing glance at the news stand on her way to work, but this time the glossy photos and bold headlines had something that caught her attention.

"Hey, what am I, a library?" demanded the man running the stand and Chloe cringed apologetically, momentarily debating purchasing one of the mags but then quickly dismissing the idea, turning to leave the headlines in her wake.

Queen Comes Calling

Oliver Queen Seals Deal

Back in Metropolis?

St. Petersburg, Star City, Metropolis

The last one outlined his planned destinations. Now that he had left St. Petersburg earlier than anticipated, he'd informed reporters in New York while his plane refueled that he would be heading to Star City to address some business in his home office briefly before heading back for his residence in Metropolis where head "private affairs" to "take care of."

Chloe's stomach did an uncalled for little flip at the last announcement. She tried to stop herself from wondering whether he included her under the category of "private affairs."

Shaking her head, she reprimanded herself.

He's been gone for weeks. He's probably engaged to a long-lost-Russian-Princess or something by now. He's Oliver Queen for pity's sake. Who knows why I even caught his attention in the first–

"Whoops, careful!" a familiar voice said as strong hands reached out to steady her and stop her from knocking into him.

Chloe looked up, startled , into the grinning face of Hal Jordan.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," he teased.

Chloe laughed. "You're right. I'm sorry. I was lost in thought. Nice to see you again, Mr. Jordan."

"Hal," he corrected. "And it's nice to see you, too. So tell me," he continued, "if I'd let you spill your coffee just now, would you have let me buy you a new one this time? Because I'd be happy to have a clumsy moment and–"

Chloe laughed.

"Is that a no?"

She smiled apologetically. "I'm afraid so. Honestly, I would, but I'm running a bit late, and I forgot my press pass at work yesterday, so I need to go out of my way to get it."

Hal glanced at his watch and sighed regretfully. "Just as well. I'm on a bit of a time crunch, myself."

Chloe quirked an eyebrow at him. "I'm flattered you offered to take time for me, then," she challenged.

He winked as he flagged down a taxi. "For true love? I always make time," he joked, making her laugh again. "And anyway, the show literally can't go on without me, so everyone else will just have to wait."

Chloe shook her head, eyes sparkling. "Whatever you say, bigshot. Nice running into you again, Hal," she raised her coffee cup to him before turning to continue her walk to the Planet, chuckling to herself.

---

Later that morning the wind blew Chloe's hair into her face as she surveyed the many experimental planes owned by Ferris Aircraft. She brushed it out of her face, just as she heard someone shout her name a few yards away.

"Chloe!"

Chloe turned, grinning excitedly toward a man in full military dress, with a cigar clenched in his teeth. "Uncle Sam!" she exclaimed excitedly, rushing toward him without registering the face of the younger man beside the General. She flung herself excitedly in his arms, carefully avoiding the smoldering cigar which he promptly tossed to the ground and stomped out before hugging her back tightly.

"How are you, my little ace reporter?" he asked affectionately, and the man standing beside them, if it were possible, raised his eyebrows even further.

Chloe grinned up at him, not letting go just yet. "I'm good. I've missed you. You didn't come home for Easter this spring."

He patted her head. "Yes, well, busy times. When's Lois getting here?" he added glancing around to make sure he hadn't accidentally missed his daughter by mistake.

Chloe shook her head as she let go. "She's coming later on closer to the show's starting time. I came earlier to take a look around and maybe snag a few interviews," she said.

"Well," the General replied pleasantly, "I've got just the man here," he clapped his hand on his companion's shoulder and Chloe blinked in surprise. "Chloe, meet–"

"Hal!" she said in surprise.

"Chloe," he greeted, finally recovering from the effect of witnessing the General's soft side, which no one would have ever guessed existed to begin with. "Good to see you again."

The General looked pleased. "You two know each other?"

"Well, not...really," Chloe said.

"We've had a couple of run-ins," Hal explained. "I'm a big fan of her work," he added.

"Hmm...yes," the General said, the line of his mouth thinning slightly. Chloe said nothing. It was no secret that her uncle didn't approve of either her or Lois's very public stances on vigilantes, and therefore, in favor of keeping visits pleasant, they avoided broaching the subject as much as possible. "Anyway," he continued. "Mr. Jordan here is Ferris's head test pilot."

"Is he?" Chloe raised an eyebrow, curiously.

"He is...I mean I am," Hal shook himself.

The General rocked back on his heels, looking between the two, clearly pleased. "I was just going to invite this young man to join us all for supper this evening. I don't suppose Lois will mind?" he asked Chloe.

Realizing what her uncle was trying to do, Chloe tried not to groan. Restricting it to an almost undetectable sigh, Chloe smiled good-naturedly, "I'm sure she won't."

"I'd be honored," Hal accepted. Hal was looking as pleased as if he couldn't have contrived something better if he tried.

So was the General.

Chloe tried not to roll her eyes. Men.

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Next (Chapter 15)

Comments

[rmaxine.livejournal.com]

I love this fic. I want to eat it like icecream. Anyway, love how you worked Hal into this, and I can't wait to see Ollie's reaction. I'm -very- excited for the next chaper.