Reaching out to dl_greenarrow.

[chloesullivan]

Chloe wasn't sure how many hours had gone by since they got back to the Clocktower, the apartment was much lighter now so she knew the sun was up, but she hadn't moved from her position since Oliver laid down on his bed and she wasn't planning on doing so.

She could have sat down on the chair by his bed or even on his bed, but she didn't want to get comfortable and risk falling asleep so she picked a spot on the floor, leaning back against the door frame and watching the bed.

Although she couldn't see him from where she was beyond the covers and the fact that he was obviously under there, this was enough for her. She wanted to be able to give him some space and still keep an eye on him since she absolutely refused to leave him alone even for a second, she wasn't going to risk it, not after what had almost happened.

And every time she thought about that she had a hard time not breaking down, she couldn't stop from thinking what it would be like if she had suddenly woken up to find that his body had been found outside his property.

To say she was freaked out and scared didn't even begin to cover it, but this wasn't about her, this was about him and her doing everything she could to make sure she helped him in every possible way.

Comments

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He hadn't slept. As badly as he wanted to, the only thing he could see when he closed his eyes was blood. Blood everywhere. People he loved covered in blood, innocent people covered in blood. Blood on his hands.

He let out a breath, staring blankly up at the ceiling. He just wanted to sleep without dreaming.

Chloe had been silent since they'd come back. Silent enough that if he hadn't known better, he would have thought he was alone in the penthouse. But she was there, in the room, even if he wasn't looking at her. He could feel her there the same way he could feel the blood on his hands even though he was looking at neither.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

He hadn't been moving at out so as far as she knew, he was sleeping. She had been making an extra effort just to stay quiet and let him rest because she wasn't sure when the last time he slept had been.

And she had managed the silence until she heard whining coming from the guest room she'd been staying at.

Chloe stilled, her eyes widening and in a second, she was up and walking down the hallway toward the source of the noise, hopefully before it disturbed Oliver.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

The faint whining pulled him out of his thoughts and he blinked a few times, sitting up slowly in bed, and wincing as his back ached. He stretched a little, rubbing a hand over his face and looking toward the now-empty doorway.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

She opened the door and quickly pulled the dog in her arms, shushing her. She had forgotten about Nellie completely in the past few hours and now she felt bad that she had but she wasted no time in rushing back toward Ollie's room to check on him, stilling when she saw him sitting up.

"I'm sorry she woke you up," she whispered, her eyes a little wide as she stared at him.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't asleep." He shrugged a little, not looking up at her, but focusing on the pup in her arms instead. "She's cute."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"Oh," she said quietly, her face falling at the information but she slowly stepped further into the room, "thank you, I wasn't sure if you would mind her being here but I couldn't leave her and Lois is allergic..." she explained, knowing she was babbling but at least talking about the dog was easier than everything else.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"It's fine. I don't mind dogs," he said, shrugging once more and letting out a breath as he rose to his feet.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"Where are you going?" She asked, frowning when he stood up.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He blinked a couple of times and glanced at her. "To the bathroom?"

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe blinked at his words, raising her eyebrows as she watched him closely, "what do you think is not true?"

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He gave her a look, raking a hand through his hair and picking Nellie up gently, setting her on her feet and motioning her toward Chloe without responding.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Her chest clenched at that and she shook her head a little, not really looking at the dog as she stepped closer to her, "I didn't say anything I didn't mean last night, Oliver," she said sincerely, her stomach turning slightly, "I can't fault you for not being ready to hear it, I wasn't ready for it when you told me either, but I do mean it."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver rose to his feet, breaking eye contact immediately and moving to the sink, washing his hands and starting to rummage through the cabinets. "Macaroni and cheese? Or would you rather order in?"

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe blew out a breath and her face fell, she looked down at the dog, she knew it wasn't going to be easy, she just didn't expect it to hurt that much.

"Whatever you want."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"I'm not hungry," he responded. "So it doesn't matter to me."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

She took a deep breath and rubbed her hands over her face, trying to pull herself together, "mac and cheese is fine," she told him, standing up and patting the dog a little, at least making food would keep him busy for a little while.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"All right." He pulled out a box of it, studying the instructions for a moment before moving to grab a pan and filling it with water.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe blew out a breath and nodded, pulling away from him and picking up two plates, "go ahead and sit down," she told him quietly.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

He rubbed a hand over his face, moving to grab the milk from the fridge and carrying it to the table, as well.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe plated the mac and cheese for both of them and set the plates on the table along with silverware and a couple of glasses, glancing at him every now and then, she kept expecting him to tell her to leave him along and she wasn't entirely sure that the fact that he wasn't doing that was a good or a bad sign.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver let out a breath and began to eat, despite the fact he wasn't hungry. It just didn't matter.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

She poured milk in both their glasses and watched him, she wasn't hungry either, she wasn't even sure what time it was, but she was going to make an effort to eat, maybe then he would make an effort too.

"Have you been eating?" She asked quietly.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"Enough," he said with a slight shrug. "Have you?"

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," she told him, she had, occasionally, when she remembered.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver nodded a little, falling silent once more, taking a drink of milk.