The Longer You Run (9/29)
Sep. 1st, 2013 09:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
serafina19Author: 
serafina19
Title: The Longer You Run
Summary: On the surface, the only thing that tied together Chloe Sullivan and Oliver Queen was a story. But behind closed doors was an accidental relationship that unintentionally changed everything.
Rating: NC-17
Warning: adult content, coarse language.
Thanks to:aradira for the fabulous banner.
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7
Chapter 8
As his voicemail activated, Chloe swallowed hard, wondering what was coming over her. This was a completely normal event. In fact, this wasn’t even the first time she had encountered his voicemail, but this time she awkwardly ended the call before hanging up.
She knew he was out of town, she knew that he was busy, but she still called him. It was hard to admit that she wanted his company today, despite the fact that Chloe had functioned just fine without him before. But it was the truth, and even if he was in Metropolis, it wasn't like she could walk up to his office or go to his place. He was working on something really important and Chloe knew better than to interrupt that.
This led her back to square one, so she turned in her chair to focus back on her article, knowing that her deadline was fast approaching, but the flashing text marker seemed to be intimidating her. It didn't help that her coffee mug was empty, which gave her the perfect excuse to run out of her apartment for some fresh air.
Because it wasn't enough that she was thinking about him this much awake, as Chloe hadn’t been sleeping well lately either. Even when when she did... she often needed a cold shower in the morning.
It felt pathetic, considering all the months she had gone without sex before him, even when she was with Jimmy, as with him there was never time. Or they never made time. Probably more likely the latter.
But there was something about Oliver that stayed on her mind, including the fact that a particular slip of paper had found its way into her purse early last week. No matter how many times she said no, he still persisted on giving her a little something. And as she headed down the pavement, Chloe contemplated her scenario and decided it was time to take the blessing for what it was.
He almost couldn't believe his eyes as he stared down at his phone. What was she doing calling him now? She knew he was in Star City this week and it had to be early afternoon there.
Maybe she may be a bit more adventurous than he imagined, as phone sex came to mind, but he doubted that was the case. Regardless, he couldn't focus during the meeting while that missed call stared him right in the face. So once it finished, he immediately took the elevator up to his office to check the message, but there wasn’t one. At least, there wasn’t one besides a few quick breaths and a Sorry before the familiar click activated.
Smirking, Oliver dialled her number. He never thought that she would show this kind of vulnerability to him, and while there was a lingering feeling that likely showed on his face, Oliver tossed it aside, focusing on the fact Chloe had to know he was never going to let her off that easily. After a few rings, her voice greeted him, so he said, "You called?"
"I... right I did." Looking up, Chloe ensured that the receptionist was far enough away so that she couldn’t hear this conversation. Just in case, she stepped away from the desk, smiling as she stared out the window. "I donated your cheque." It wasn’t the reason she had called, but it was at least the truth, or at least, it would be in a few minutes.
Oliver laughed, as he hadn’t been expecting that at all. "I thought you ripped it up." Leaning back in his chair, he began to wonder why she would have hung up if that was all. But something told him that he already knew the answer to that.
"You sent three cheques,” Chloe emphasized, confidence in her voice. “I missed one and I figured you weren't going to stop, so I put it to a good cause." Technically, that was only partially true, as she felt guilty enough for actually accepting his money, so there was no way he was going to find out what she spent the money on. She didn't need his sympathy or pity on this matter.
Nodding, Oliver opened up a file folder to sign a document that he had been expecting for awhile. As the pen lifted from the page, a grin slowly formed on his face. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said genuinely.
“Well, that was it,” Chloe lied, not wanting to go into any more detail than she had to. “I guess I’ll see you a few days?”
“You bet. Take care.”
After hanging up her phone, Chloe paused as his last words rung in his ear. It was just a generic closing, but he had never said anything like that to her before. She didn’t have much time to dwell on though, as looked across the room to see her favourite receptionist had come back. Nora had manned the desk here for as long as Chloe could remember. “So we’re okay?”
She nodded. “Chloe, no one would blink twice if you used this money for yourself.”
While that was true, because she had gotten to know everyone at this care facility pretty well over the years, Chloe knew this was for the best. “I feel bad enough that I’m using this money, Nora. It might as well go to a good cause.”
Nora understood that, but when she placed the receipt down, she pursed her lips. “Well, I did a 75 percent payment plan and a 25 percent donation split instead of 50/50.” She saw Chloe open her mouth to argue, but she held a single finger up to stop her. “Don’t argue with me on this.”
Because Nora had seen it all when it came to Chloe’s life. The ups, the multiple downs, and yet, she never asked for help. This payment was by far her largest, so between that and Chloe’s reluctance to spend it, she had an idea of where it came from. However, she was glad that Chloe was loosening up a little, because even with Clark and Lois in her life, Chloe seemed determined to always be self-reliant.
Sighing, Chloe gave in, because Nora was probably right. “Fine.”
Content with her answer, Nora smiled as she finalized the transaction on their database. “Are you going to see her today?”
“Yeah, I… haven’t been here is awhile. How is she?”
“The same,” Nora replied, her head dipping slightly. “I know it’s not much, but…”
“It’s enough,” Chloe interjected. “Truly.” Because t was the truth of the situation. Things weren’t going to get better, so all she could hope was that thread would hold on over time because Chloe wasn’t ready to let go of the idea that she had immediate family just yet.
Opening the door, Chloe felt her breath hitch before she looked inside. She should have been used to this by now, but each time it was so hard seeing her this way.
“Hey mom.”
When her mother’s eyes found her, there was joy in them, and Chloe could almost feel grateful that she could at least tell her mother was happy to see her.
It still almost felt like yesterday, as most of the details of that night were still fresh in her mind. She wasn’t in the car, in fact, it was one of the first nights her parents had trusted Chloe to spend the night alone. Her father had been working to the bone lately, so they wanted a night to themselves. The good news was that they got it, but it was the last night her parents spent together.
On the way back from the restaurant, a drunk driver ran a red light, crashing into her parent’s car. Chloe knew there was more to the story, but she had blocked it from her mind long ago. It hurt enough to know that the crash killed her father instantly. Her mother survived, but she suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash, leading to over ten years of living with locked-in syndrome.
They threw out the book on the other driver, but that didn’t make it any better. That didn’t change the fact that Chloe had practically been an orphan since she was a teenager. The driver tried to apologize, but no words dried her tears, nor did they lessen the overall frustration of her loss.
However, Chloe knew that she was lucky, because Mrs. Kent had insisted that Chloe stayed at the farm until her Uncle Sam and Lois were able to pick up their lives and come to Metropolis. Chloe always figured that happened because Lois threatened to run off. Heck, even her sister Lucy claimed she would have been close behind if not for boarding school, so Chloe was thankful for the family she did have.
That never stopped people at school from looking at Chloe differently for awhile, probably showing some sick sort of pity or sorrow. But it had died down quickly and that aspect at least went back to normal. Her life as she knew it though, would never be normal again.
“You look great,” Chloe said to her mother with a smile, knowing that the words weren’t the most genuine, but there wasn’t a whole lot else she could say.
Sitting down in the same cloth chair that had been here twelve years ago, the familiar silence sank in, but in her mother’s eyes, it was as if Chloe could see everything. Eventually, she peered over to the bedside table and as Chloe looked, she saw the familiar cover photo with Oliver’s face on it.
Grinning, she picked it up, knowing that she hadn’t talked about her mother about it. Chloe wanted to, but there was always a sense of bittersweet attached to the piece while she was writing it. Now, she could hardly admit what she was doing with Oliver, but it was comforting to know now that the guy she wrote about wasn’t so far off.
If nothing else, the fact he had saved Rylan would have been enough, as Chloe only wished that she had known that before the article. He never would have let her publish it, but that was the kind of press he could have used to his advantage.
Still looking at the cover, Chloe couldn’t help but wonder if he knew the owner, if he respected the place based on what Rachel made it to be. For that was where Chloe’s true connection lay. True, there were a few hours when Chloe thought she would be a resident herself, but she never was. Instead, Chloe would always be grateful to the woman who ran the place.
She had met Rachel the night of the accident, a twelve-year-old kid opening the door, hoping the sirens in the neighborhood weren’t for her. Rachel was the one who had come to their door to ensure Chloe found peace in her darkest hours, but Chloe initially didn't want anything to do with her, or whatever ‘lies’ she was spinning.
After all, they only sent people like her to kids who had lost their parents and Chloe had just seen her parents a few hours ago. Plus, they were only at the hospital, she had thought back then, so everything was going to be alright. They would get better and they’d be a family once more, these were the words Chloe had repeated to herself and out loud a few times. But eventually, Rachel got to her and once the news sunk in, it was a terrifying thing to wonder what would have happened if she wasn’t there.
Rachel had this way with kids, probably why she set up Rylan in the first place, and she always found a way to give hope when it felt like none was in sight. Chloe never forgot the way that pit built up in her stomach and the way it would slowly lessen while they walked to the hospital.
Chloe didn’t want to go in the police car, and one of the perks of walking had been the fact it had prolonged the inevitable. The whole walk, Chloe had refused to say a word, so Rachel talked instead, telling her that she knew what it felt like to feel like the whole world was ripped away.
She explained how she had lost her husband years ago, while her only son had been killed in a car accident just a few weeks ago. However, she was quick to clarify that didn’t mean she understood what Chloe was feeling, but she understood the pain and the need for company when the time was right.
I’ll either sit next to you or I’ll be across the room. But even though it feels like it right now, you won’t be alone.
The whole time, Chloe had questioned her presence, thinking she had better things to do, but Rachel just shook her head. Chloe would find out later that this was part of her protocol, but she had told Chloe that it had also given her a decent distraction from her troubles. For her, seeing Chloe had been a reason for her to keep fighting for her kids, to build a true home, but it wouldn’t be until Chloe opened the paper and saw that Rylan had been saved that Chloe truly understood what Rachel meant that night.
Chloe still had that article stashed away, although she hadn’t thought about it in months, or at least, not until seeing the same article at Oliver’s. She never would have guessed that Rachel's relief came through in the form of Oliver Queen, but it hurt to realize that was something she would never know. And Chloe wanted nothing more than to tell Rachel, but she knew it was too late to do anything about that.
Because while Mrs. Kent had taken Chloe back to the farm from the hospital, that wasn’t the last night she saw Rachel. Her mom was transferred to a group home in Metropolis, making the commute harder for Chloe, but it was the best place for a person in her condition. However, that didn’t story Chloe from taking the trek from Smallville to Metropolis on the bus to see her mom.
Every now and then, Chloe would also stop off and visit Rylan, mainly because Rachel always made time for her. She also wouldn’t hesitate in accompanying Chloe to the hospital on days when Mrs. Kent or Lois weren’t available. No matter what, Rachel always had the right words to say to convince her that just because her mom couldn’t move like before, she was still Chloe’s mom. Plus, Rachel never tried to be her mother, but Chloe recognized that she always made her feel like everything was going to be okay. No matter what, Rachel always had an incredible gift with all of her kids, making them believe in themselves and being able to push on, even after everything she had lost herself.
So in the end, the high school article, the volunteer hours, it was the least Chloe could do to show her thanks until Rachel passed away due to breast cancer last year. But what mattered most was that the group home was still standing, even though Chloe hadn’t been back since the funeral.
Smiling once more to shake those memories aside, Chloe put down the magazine. “I’m sorry I didn’t mention that last time I was here. But work is pouring in now.”
With that came the reminder that Chloe hadn’t been here nearly as much as she would like, and she felt a pang of guilt, realizing that some of the time that she had spent with Oliver, she could have spent here.
Because despite everything, these talks meant something, as there was a reason Chloe never gave up on her mom. And even though she knew that right now her mom was living on borrowed time, each day she came to visit, Chloe was reminded of the little things, that no matter how many obstacles she came across, she had plenty to be grateful for. After all, her mom always saw beauty in the small things.
If nothing else, she knew that she would always have Lois, as the cousins raised themselves because Uncle Sam was always pretty busy with military matters. Lucy went out-of-state for school, so she had lost touch with her cousin, but she at least rely on a birthday card form her. And they both had a surrogate family of sorts in the Kents, even after Mr. Kent passed and Mrs. Kent succeeded in becoming Kansas’ Senator.
Her uncle even agreed to cover her mom’s costs until she graduated university, but no matter how much she had saved, Chloe could barely find a way to make ends meet. While she had been writing more lately, a large sum of the money had gone towards her student loans and it wasn't until yesterday that Chloe realized that she may not be able to make her payment here next month. That's why she had grabbed the cheque out of the drawer, as this was the only reason she could justify spending the money Oliver gave her.
One day, she would have to thank him properly, as thanks to him, she could breathe a little easier for a month or two. So for the first time in a long time, Chloe wasn’t lying when she said, “Things... might have turned around for me.”
Her mom’s eyes brightened up, the most happiness that she could show for Chloe and her news. It got Chloe thinking about all those years, the tests, the hope that maybe she would recover. But nothing came to fruition. All she had was eye movements.
However, Chloe was glad for that, because it was better than nothing, as she knew someone who had less than that. Squeezing her hand tight, Chloe could still feel the warmth in her mother’s skin, the sensation almost enough to dislodge a few tears.
Oliver’s response to the question about his parents never stopped haunting her, the way that he said that all he wanted was to say goodbye, a word she never had a chance to say to her father before he passed, a word her mother couldn’t say even if she was conscious when he did die. Tears now spilling from her eyes, Chloe tried to smile, tried to convince her mother that things were okay.
“But I’m...” she started, pushing up from her chair to hug her mother. “I’m so happy you’re here.” Holding the embrace, she added, “I love you mom.”
A few hours later, Chloe got off the bus to get to her apartment, ready to grab a protein bar for dinner and work the next however many hours on her article. As she closed the main door in her building, she turned on her phone to read a few unread texts from Lois, so she was about to call her cousin when she noticed another text on her phone.
Coming back a day early. Any way I can see you tomorrow night?
After hitting the elevator button, a smile lit up her face before she texted him back: Text me when you land. Little did she know that the elevator had already reached the ground floor, but the person emerged from it had every intention of letting her know.
“Who was that?”
Chloe jumped on the spot, not expecting Lois to be there, but suddenly, it all came back to her that she was supposed to have dinner with her cousin tonight. Glancing at the clock on her phone, Chloe felt embarrassed. “I completely forgot Lois... I’m so sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Lois said with a shrug, having an idea of what kept her so long. “I at least know how you feel now.”
“I know I have some ice cream upstairs, how about dessert?”
“Sounds great,” Lois said as she re-entered the elevator. With Clark working overtime at the Daily Planet, she figured tonight would be a great cousin’s night anyway. However, that didn’t stop her from adding, “You know, you never answered my question.”
Chloe was facing away from Lois, a fact that she was grateful for, as her breath had clearly hitched. Scrambling her brain, she tried to find the easiest cover story because she knew her cousin had seen that dumb look on her face.
“I’ve been talking to Matt about potential new articles for me. He just told me that my pitch for the June issue is a strong contender.” Fortunately, Chloe wasn’t completely lying about that, and she always could call her friend to corroborate that story, even if it fell through. Unfortunately, that response seemed to add more confusion on Lois’ face. “What?”
Lois didn’t really know where to start, mainly because she didn’t know whether to interpret Matt was really the person who texted Chloe. For a second, Lois considered that it could be, because had timing been different, there was no doubt in her mind that things would have escalated between them. But Matt had a girlfriend, and Chloe wouldn’t step past that line.
So considering that, plus his out-of-town status, there was no way he was Chloe’s mystery man, so Lois altered her line of questioning. “That’s great, cuz. I’m glad to hear that. Is that why I got stood up tonight?”
The awkward pause had been hard to take, but Chloe was able to answer this easily. “No, I was visiting my mom, actually. I hadn’t been by in awhile and I lost track of time.”
Taking in her reaction and calm response, Lois knew that at least that was true, but her prior response was an obvious lie. Her cousin always wanted a more private life, but normally, she would at least oblige Lois’ curiosity with a little disclosure. All this pointed to Chloe was seeing someone that Lois would know, but she didn’t exactly have many guys in her life and Lois could cross off all of the ones she could think of almost instantly.
So who the heck was he?
Chapter 9
Disclaimer: In trying to emulate canon, I tried to research everything on locked-in syndrome to have a real-world situation where Moira Sullivan is in a catatonic state. I have no empirical experience, so I can only hope that I portrayed it right. If you know anything about it that is incorrect, please let me know. The last thing I want to do is offend someone.
Sera’s Scribbles: I admit, I used to really like this chapter, but now I’m not so sure. The Rylan storyline hit a minor bump last week, but because that bump, I had to practically re-write the chapter. I'm also hoping it all makes sense as I weaved between present and past tense...
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serafina19Title: The Longer You Run
Summary: On the surface, the only thing that tied together Chloe Sullivan and Oliver Queen was a story. But behind closed doors was an accidental relationship that unintentionally changed everything.
Rating: NC-17
Warning: adult content, coarse language.
Thanks to:
aradira for the fabulous banner.Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7
Chapter 8
As his voicemail activated, Chloe swallowed hard, wondering what was coming over her. This was a completely normal event. In fact, this wasn’t even the first time she had encountered his voicemail, but this time she awkwardly ended the call before hanging up.
She knew he was out of town, she knew that he was busy, but she still called him. It was hard to admit that she wanted his company today, despite the fact that Chloe had functioned just fine without him before. But it was the truth, and even if he was in Metropolis, it wasn't like she could walk up to his office or go to his place. He was working on something really important and Chloe knew better than to interrupt that.
This led her back to square one, so she turned in her chair to focus back on her article, knowing that her deadline was fast approaching, but the flashing text marker seemed to be intimidating her. It didn't help that her coffee mug was empty, which gave her the perfect excuse to run out of her apartment for some fresh air.
Because it wasn't enough that she was thinking about him this much awake, as Chloe hadn’t been sleeping well lately either. Even when when she did... she often needed a cold shower in the morning.
It felt pathetic, considering all the months she had gone without sex before him, even when she was with Jimmy, as with him there was never time. Or they never made time. Probably more likely the latter.
But there was something about Oliver that stayed on her mind, including the fact that a particular slip of paper had found its way into her purse early last week. No matter how many times she said no, he still persisted on giving her a little something. And as she headed down the pavement, Chloe contemplated her scenario and decided it was time to take the blessing for what it was.
~0~
He almost couldn't believe his eyes as he stared down at his phone. What was she doing calling him now? She knew he was in Star City this week and it had to be early afternoon there.
Maybe she may be a bit more adventurous than he imagined, as phone sex came to mind, but he doubted that was the case. Regardless, he couldn't focus during the meeting while that missed call stared him right in the face. So once it finished, he immediately took the elevator up to his office to check the message, but there wasn’t one. At least, there wasn’t one besides a few quick breaths and a Sorry before the familiar click activated.
Smirking, Oliver dialled her number. He never thought that she would show this kind of vulnerability to him, and while there was a lingering feeling that likely showed on his face, Oliver tossed it aside, focusing on the fact Chloe had to know he was never going to let her off that easily. After a few rings, her voice greeted him, so he said, "You called?"
"I... right I did." Looking up, Chloe ensured that the receptionist was far enough away so that she couldn’t hear this conversation. Just in case, she stepped away from the desk, smiling as she stared out the window. "I donated your cheque." It wasn’t the reason she had called, but it was at least the truth, or at least, it would be in a few minutes.
Oliver laughed, as he hadn’t been expecting that at all. "I thought you ripped it up." Leaning back in his chair, he began to wonder why she would have hung up if that was all. But something told him that he already knew the answer to that.
"You sent three cheques,” Chloe emphasized, confidence in her voice. “I missed one and I figured you weren't going to stop, so I put it to a good cause." Technically, that was only partially true, as she felt guilty enough for actually accepting his money, so there was no way he was going to find out what she spent the money on. She didn't need his sympathy or pity on this matter.
Nodding, Oliver opened up a file folder to sign a document that he had been expecting for awhile. As the pen lifted from the page, a grin slowly formed on his face. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said genuinely.
“Well, that was it,” Chloe lied, not wanting to go into any more detail than she had to. “I guess I’ll see you a few days?”
“You bet. Take care.”
After hanging up her phone, Chloe paused as his last words rung in his ear. It was just a generic closing, but he had never said anything like that to her before. She didn’t have much time to dwell on though, as looked across the room to see her favourite receptionist had come back. Nora had manned the desk here for as long as Chloe could remember. “So we’re okay?”
She nodded. “Chloe, no one would blink twice if you used this money for yourself.”
While that was true, because she had gotten to know everyone at this care facility pretty well over the years, Chloe knew this was for the best. “I feel bad enough that I’m using this money, Nora. It might as well go to a good cause.”
Nora understood that, but when she placed the receipt down, she pursed her lips. “Well, I did a 75 percent payment plan and a 25 percent donation split instead of 50/50.” She saw Chloe open her mouth to argue, but she held a single finger up to stop her. “Don’t argue with me on this.”
Because Nora had seen it all when it came to Chloe’s life. The ups, the multiple downs, and yet, she never asked for help. This payment was by far her largest, so between that and Chloe’s reluctance to spend it, she had an idea of where it came from. However, she was glad that Chloe was loosening up a little, because even with Clark and Lois in her life, Chloe seemed determined to always be self-reliant.
Sighing, Chloe gave in, because Nora was probably right. “Fine.”
Content with her answer, Nora smiled as she finalized the transaction on their database. “Are you going to see her today?”
“Yeah, I… haven’t been here is awhile. How is she?”
“The same,” Nora replied, her head dipping slightly. “I know it’s not much, but…”
“It’s enough,” Chloe interjected. “Truly.” Because t was the truth of the situation. Things weren’t going to get better, so all she could hope was that thread would hold on over time because Chloe wasn’t ready to let go of the idea that she had immediate family just yet.
Opening the door, Chloe felt her breath hitch before she looked inside. She should have been used to this by now, but each time it was so hard seeing her this way.
“Hey mom.”
When her mother’s eyes found her, there was joy in them, and Chloe could almost feel grateful that she could at least tell her mother was happy to see her.
It still almost felt like yesterday, as most of the details of that night were still fresh in her mind. She wasn’t in the car, in fact, it was one of the first nights her parents had trusted Chloe to spend the night alone. Her father had been working to the bone lately, so they wanted a night to themselves. The good news was that they got it, but it was the last night her parents spent together.
On the way back from the restaurant, a drunk driver ran a red light, crashing into her parent’s car. Chloe knew there was more to the story, but she had blocked it from her mind long ago. It hurt enough to know that the crash killed her father instantly. Her mother survived, but she suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash, leading to over ten years of living with locked-in syndrome.
They threw out the book on the other driver, but that didn’t make it any better. That didn’t change the fact that Chloe had practically been an orphan since she was a teenager. The driver tried to apologize, but no words dried her tears, nor did they lessen the overall frustration of her loss.
However, Chloe knew that she was lucky, because Mrs. Kent had insisted that Chloe stayed at the farm until her Uncle Sam and Lois were able to pick up their lives and come to Metropolis. Chloe always figured that happened because Lois threatened to run off. Heck, even her sister Lucy claimed she would have been close behind if not for boarding school, so Chloe was thankful for the family she did have.
That never stopped people at school from looking at Chloe differently for awhile, probably showing some sick sort of pity or sorrow. But it had died down quickly and that aspect at least went back to normal. Her life as she knew it though, would never be normal again.
“You look great,” Chloe said to her mother with a smile, knowing that the words weren’t the most genuine, but there wasn’t a whole lot else she could say.
Sitting down in the same cloth chair that had been here twelve years ago, the familiar silence sank in, but in her mother’s eyes, it was as if Chloe could see everything. Eventually, she peered over to the bedside table and as Chloe looked, she saw the familiar cover photo with Oliver’s face on it.
Grinning, she picked it up, knowing that she hadn’t talked about her mother about it. Chloe wanted to, but there was always a sense of bittersweet attached to the piece while she was writing it. Now, she could hardly admit what she was doing with Oliver, but it was comforting to know now that the guy she wrote about wasn’t so far off.
If nothing else, the fact he had saved Rylan would have been enough, as Chloe only wished that she had known that before the article. He never would have let her publish it, but that was the kind of press he could have used to his advantage.
Still looking at the cover, Chloe couldn’t help but wonder if he knew the owner, if he respected the place based on what Rachel made it to be. For that was where Chloe’s true connection lay. True, there were a few hours when Chloe thought she would be a resident herself, but she never was. Instead, Chloe would always be grateful to the woman who ran the place.
She had met Rachel the night of the accident, a twelve-year-old kid opening the door, hoping the sirens in the neighborhood weren’t for her. Rachel was the one who had come to their door to ensure Chloe found peace in her darkest hours, but Chloe initially didn't want anything to do with her, or whatever ‘lies’ she was spinning.
After all, they only sent people like her to kids who had lost their parents and Chloe had just seen her parents a few hours ago. Plus, they were only at the hospital, she had thought back then, so everything was going to be alright. They would get better and they’d be a family once more, these were the words Chloe had repeated to herself and out loud a few times. But eventually, Rachel got to her and once the news sunk in, it was a terrifying thing to wonder what would have happened if she wasn’t there.
Rachel had this way with kids, probably why she set up Rylan in the first place, and she always found a way to give hope when it felt like none was in sight. Chloe never forgot the way that pit built up in her stomach and the way it would slowly lessen while they walked to the hospital.
Chloe didn’t want to go in the police car, and one of the perks of walking had been the fact it had prolonged the inevitable. The whole walk, Chloe had refused to say a word, so Rachel talked instead, telling her that she knew what it felt like to feel like the whole world was ripped away.
She explained how she had lost her husband years ago, while her only son had been killed in a car accident just a few weeks ago. However, she was quick to clarify that didn’t mean she understood what Chloe was feeling, but she understood the pain and the need for company when the time was right.
I’ll either sit next to you or I’ll be across the room. But even though it feels like it right now, you won’t be alone.
The whole time, Chloe had questioned her presence, thinking she had better things to do, but Rachel just shook her head. Chloe would find out later that this was part of her protocol, but she had told Chloe that it had also given her a decent distraction from her troubles. For her, seeing Chloe had been a reason for her to keep fighting for her kids, to build a true home, but it wouldn’t be until Chloe opened the paper and saw that Rylan had been saved that Chloe truly understood what Rachel meant that night.
Chloe still had that article stashed away, although she hadn’t thought about it in months, or at least, not until seeing the same article at Oliver’s. She never would have guessed that Rachel's relief came through in the form of Oliver Queen, but it hurt to realize that was something she would never know. And Chloe wanted nothing more than to tell Rachel, but she knew it was too late to do anything about that.
Because while Mrs. Kent had taken Chloe back to the farm from the hospital, that wasn’t the last night she saw Rachel. Her mom was transferred to a group home in Metropolis, making the commute harder for Chloe, but it was the best place for a person in her condition. However, that didn’t story Chloe from taking the trek from Smallville to Metropolis on the bus to see her mom.
Every now and then, Chloe would also stop off and visit Rylan, mainly because Rachel always made time for her. She also wouldn’t hesitate in accompanying Chloe to the hospital on days when Mrs. Kent or Lois weren’t available. No matter what, Rachel always had the right words to say to convince her that just because her mom couldn’t move like before, she was still Chloe’s mom. Plus, Rachel never tried to be her mother, but Chloe recognized that she always made her feel like everything was going to be okay. No matter what, Rachel always had an incredible gift with all of her kids, making them believe in themselves and being able to push on, even after everything she had lost herself.
So in the end, the high school article, the volunteer hours, it was the least Chloe could do to show her thanks until Rachel passed away due to breast cancer last year. But what mattered most was that the group home was still standing, even though Chloe hadn’t been back since the funeral.
Smiling once more to shake those memories aside, Chloe put down the magazine. “I’m sorry I didn’t mention that last time I was here. But work is pouring in now.”
With that came the reminder that Chloe hadn’t been here nearly as much as she would like, and she felt a pang of guilt, realizing that some of the time that she had spent with Oliver, she could have spent here.
Because despite everything, these talks meant something, as there was a reason Chloe never gave up on her mom. And even though she knew that right now her mom was living on borrowed time, each day she came to visit, Chloe was reminded of the little things, that no matter how many obstacles she came across, she had plenty to be grateful for. After all, her mom always saw beauty in the small things.
If nothing else, she knew that she would always have Lois, as the cousins raised themselves because Uncle Sam was always pretty busy with military matters. Lucy went out-of-state for school, so she had lost touch with her cousin, but she at least rely on a birthday card form her. And they both had a surrogate family of sorts in the Kents, even after Mr. Kent passed and Mrs. Kent succeeded in becoming Kansas’ Senator.
Her uncle even agreed to cover her mom’s costs until she graduated university, but no matter how much she had saved, Chloe could barely find a way to make ends meet. While she had been writing more lately, a large sum of the money had gone towards her student loans and it wasn't until yesterday that Chloe realized that she may not be able to make her payment here next month. That's why she had grabbed the cheque out of the drawer, as this was the only reason she could justify spending the money Oliver gave her.
One day, she would have to thank him properly, as thanks to him, she could breathe a little easier for a month or two. So for the first time in a long time, Chloe wasn’t lying when she said, “Things... might have turned around for me.”
Her mom’s eyes brightened up, the most happiness that she could show for Chloe and her news. It got Chloe thinking about all those years, the tests, the hope that maybe she would recover. But nothing came to fruition. All she had was eye movements.
However, Chloe was glad for that, because it was better than nothing, as she knew someone who had less than that. Squeezing her hand tight, Chloe could still feel the warmth in her mother’s skin, the sensation almost enough to dislodge a few tears.
Oliver’s response to the question about his parents never stopped haunting her, the way that he said that all he wanted was to say goodbye, a word she never had a chance to say to her father before he passed, a word her mother couldn’t say even if she was conscious when he did die. Tears now spilling from her eyes, Chloe tried to smile, tried to convince her mother that things were okay.
“But I’m...” she started, pushing up from her chair to hug her mother. “I’m so happy you’re here.” Holding the embrace, she added, “I love you mom.”
~0~
A few hours later, Chloe got off the bus to get to her apartment, ready to grab a protein bar for dinner and work the next however many hours on her article. As she closed the main door in her building, she turned on her phone to read a few unread texts from Lois, so she was about to call her cousin when she noticed another text on her phone.
Coming back a day early. Any way I can see you tomorrow night?
After hitting the elevator button, a smile lit up her face before she texted him back: Text me when you land. Little did she know that the elevator had already reached the ground floor, but the person emerged from it had every intention of letting her know.
“Who was that?”
Chloe jumped on the spot, not expecting Lois to be there, but suddenly, it all came back to her that she was supposed to have dinner with her cousin tonight. Glancing at the clock on her phone, Chloe felt embarrassed. “I completely forgot Lois... I’m so sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Lois said with a shrug, having an idea of what kept her so long. “I at least know how you feel now.”
“I know I have some ice cream upstairs, how about dessert?”
“Sounds great,” Lois said as she re-entered the elevator. With Clark working overtime at the Daily Planet, she figured tonight would be a great cousin’s night anyway. However, that didn’t stop her from adding, “You know, you never answered my question.”
Chloe was facing away from Lois, a fact that she was grateful for, as her breath had clearly hitched. Scrambling her brain, she tried to find the easiest cover story because she knew her cousin had seen that dumb look on her face.
“I’ve been talking to Matt about potential new articles for me. He just told me that my pitch for the June issue is a strong contender.” Fortunately, Chloe wasn’t completely lying about that, and she always could call her friend to corroborate that story, even if it fell through. Unfortunately, that response seemed to add more confusion on Lois’ face. “What?”
Lois didn’t really know where to start, mainly because she didn’t know whether to interpret Matt was really the person who texted Chloe. For a second, Lois considered that it could be, because had timing been different, there was no doubt in her mind that things would have escalated between them. But Matt had a girlfriend, and Chloe wouldn’t step past that line.
So considering that, plus his out-of-town status, there was no way he was Chloe’s mystery man, so Lois altered her line of questioning. “That’s great, cuz. I’m glad to hear that. Is that why I got stood up tonight?”
The awkward pause had been hard to take, but Chloe was able to answer this easily. “No, I was visiting my mom, actually. I hadn’t been by in awhile and I lost track of time.”
Taking in her reaction and calm response, Lois knew that at least that was true, but her prior response was an obvious lie. Her cousin always wanted a more private life, but normally, she would at least oblige Lois’ curiosity with a little disclosure. All this pointed to Chloe was seeing someone that Lois would know, but she didn’t exactly have many guys in her life and Lois could cross off all of the ones she could think of almost instantly.
So who the heck was he?
Chapter 9
Disclaimer: In trying to emulate canon, I tried to research everything on locked-in syndrome to have a real-world situation where Moira Sullivan is in a catatonic state. I have no empirical experience, so I can only hope that I portrayed it right. If you know anything about it that is incorrect, please let me know. The last thing I want to do is offend someone.
Sera’s Scribbles: I admit, I used to really like this chapter, but now I’m not so sure. The Rylan storyline hit a minor bump last week, but because that bump, I had to practically re-write the chapter. I'm also hoping it all makes sense as I weaved between present and past tense...
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on September 1st, 2013 04:20 pm (UTC)Chloe being nervous about calling Ollie then being happy when he returned her call. I think the tides are turning? lol
Detailing Rylan gives us more input into Chloe and just how much her and Ollie do have in common.
I'm not an expert either, but I saw nothing wrong with how you explained Moira's condition. It was very interesting to read that she could express herself through her eyes. All that matters is Chloe still having her mom around.
Awesome update as always, thank you.
Happy writing.
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on September 3rd, 2013 03:02 am (UTC)Rylan is an interesting facet of the relationship and this isn't the end of that story.
That's a good way of putting the way Chloe feels about having her mother still alive. Even though she couldn't communicate, she is still there if Chloe needs her.
Thanks for the comment!
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on September 1st, 2013 05:08 pm (UTC)no subject
on September 3rd, 2013 03:04 am (UTC)no subject
on September 1st, 2013 05:20 pm (UTC)And Lois is really curious about this mysterious guy, i love this!!!
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on September 3rd, 2013 03:07 am (UTC)no subject
on September 1st, 2013 05:33 pm (UTC)Now I understood why the Rylan thing she found out at Ollie's made her so happy.
Really great, can't wait for more
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on September 3rd, 2013 03:10 am (UTC)no subject
on September 1st, 2013 07:15 pm (UTC)no subject
on September 3rd, 2013 03:13 am (UTC)Lois will find out soon. That's all I'll say on that matter, but Oliver's back in Metropolis next chapter and you'll get to see more of her walls coming down.
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on September 1st, 2013 10:36 pm (UTC)Fantastic progression and a nice time for a break in the Chlollie for a little backstory. Thanks so much for this story, I absolutely love it. :)
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on September 3rd, 2013 03:18 am (UTC)We're back to Chlollie-time next chapter, but truly, thank you for this beautiful feedback.
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on September 2nd, 2013 11:52 am (UTC)Fave moment/lines:
“Well, that was it,” Chloe lied, not wanting to go into any more detail than she had to. “I guess I’ll see you a few days?”
“You bet. Take care.”
One day, she would have to thank him properly, as thanks to him, she could breathe a little easier for a month or two. So for the first time in a long time, Chloe wasn’t lying when she said, “Things... might have turned around for me.”
Tears now spilling from her eyes, Chloe tried to smile, tried to convince her mother that things were okay.
“But I’m...” she started, pushing up from her chair to hug her mother. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
'Coming back a day early. Any way I can see you tomorrow night?'
After hitting the elevator button, a smile lit up her face before she texted him back: Text me when you land.
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on September 3rd, 2013 03:21 am (UTC)no subject
on September 2nd, 2013 04:24 pm (UTC)The tragic fate of his parents, the guilt towards her mother for the time he devotes to herself and Oliver.
Really heartbreaking, poor Chloe.
Despite what many things were explained and I think this can be considered the best chapter so far (at least for me).
You have addressed the issue that bothered you so much with great sensitivity then I congratulate you.
I can not wait to read the next chapter, can you amaze me more each time.
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on September 3rd, 2013 03:24 am (UTC)no subject
on September 2nd, 2013 09:17 pm (UTC)I can't wait to read more.
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on September 3rd, 2013 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
on September 3rd, 2013 03:32 pm (UTC)no subject
on September 6th, 2013 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
on September 3rd, 2013 10:47 pm (UTC)That was such an emotional chapter and beautifully written. It's great to see where Chloe is coming from.
Cute how Ollie couldn't focus on his meeting =)
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on September 6th, 2013 02:48 am (UTC)no subject
on September 4th, 2013 10:41 pm (UTC)I'm glad she decided to spend the money.That was a big step for her.Very moving chapter and well written.Lovely update!Thank you.:)
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on September 6th, 2013 02:49 am (UTC)