Long nights with dl_greenarrow

[chloeas]

They were going to get them. Chloe held on to Oliver's hand as tightly as she could, they were running but it was getting so dark around them, she couldn't see the ground anymore, she was so afraid to trip, and then they would get them, they were so close and suddenly, Oliver was gone, she called out for him on top of her lungs, but her voice

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[dl_greenarrow]

The sound of a frightened scream tore through Oliver's haze of sleep and he jumped, quickly reaching out to flip on the lamp by the bed. His heart was pounding heavily against his chest as he turned to look at her. She was sitting straight up, her face drained of all color. "Chloe?" He reached out and gently rested a hand on her shoulder. "Easy," he whispered. Her eyes were wild, filled with fear. "Hey, it's okay." He shifted positions and gently wrapped his arms around her in a hug.

It had been like this for the past three nights. She'd awaken from a nightmare, either screaming or crying out for him. He wasn't sure which was more upsetting. The first night, Bart had raced into the room, afraid someone had somehow managed to get in, and all three of them had remained awake for nearly two hours after.

Now, he heard footsteps pause just outside the door. He glanced toward it. "It's all right, Bart," he said quietly, then turned his attention back to Chloe. He pressed a kiss to her temple. "It's all right, Chloe."

[chloeas]

For a long moment, she couldn't make sense of things and then, slowly she realized where she was, Chloe took deep calming breaths and leaned into Oliver, wrapping her arms around him, still shaking.

[dl_greenarrow]

He closed his eyes, gently stroking her hair as he held her. "I've got you," he whispered, kissing her forehead. After a few moments, when she finally began to relax against him, he rested his chin atop her head. "Do you want to talk about it?" His voice was quiet. Every night he asked, and every night she'd told him no.

[chloeas]

She shook her head, closing her eyes tightly again as she hid her face against his chest, "no" her voice was just a soft whisper when she spoke, the images from her nightmare still in her head and she couldn't shake off the feeling the dream had given her.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver swallowed hard, and fell silent, wishing he knew what to do. Or how to comfort her. Somehow, he had a feeling Clark would know, but he and Bart had both tried calling Clark the last couple of days to no avail. He hoped the other man was all right, but he wasn't going to send out a search party yet.

He slowly, gently rubbed his hand over her back in soothing circles.

[chloeas]

She wiped the tears that had run down her cheek, swallowing hard and trying to control herself, to convince herself it wasn't real. She hated worrying Oliver and Bart like this, the two men had been watching her closely at all times and since for safety reasons she wasn't allowed to go to the Planet, she had no choice but to reassure them every other hour that she was fine.

[dl_greenarrow]

He pulled away enough to look down at her. "Talk to me," he said quietly, tucking hair behind her ear and then gently putting a finger beneath her chin to get her to look up at him. "Please, Chloe. Let me help."

[chloeas]

Reluctantly, she opened her eyes, looking at him for a second then letting her eyes drop to his cheek. She could just tell him she doesn't remember her dreams, but she doesn't want to lie to him, she could just tell him the truth, but she doesn't want to scare him, doesn't want to worry him even more than she already has, she also doesn't want to relieve everything she's afraid of, to make it real again. Chloe shudders a little but doesn't move otherwise.

[dl_greenarrow]

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, his eyes sad. "You know, after my parents died, I had nightmares for months." His voice was quiet. "About planes crashing into the ocean. I'd dream I was there but couldn't help them. I'd...watch them sink below the surface while I was helpless on a raft." His thumb moved lightly over her cheek. "I wouldn't talk to anyone about them." Oliver paused. "Sometimes I still have those dreams," he admitted.

[chloeas]

Her face softened as she looked at him, her eyes meeting his a little and she shook her head, "I'm sorry." Her voice came out a little choked when she spoke, she held on to him as tightly as she could, ignoring the pain that shot through her broken finger.

[dl_greenarrow]

"I didn't have anyone to talk to," he said softly, gazing at her. "But you do." He swallowed hard. "If you'd rather talk to Bart, or Lois or A.C. or Clark--I have no doubt that they'd listen too. You don't have to deal with this alone."

[chloeas]

"No, Oliver," She hook her head, looking up at him still, she swallowed a little and looked down after a second, "It's not a big deal, it hasn't bothered me in a long time."

[dl_greenarrow]

Now he was confused, and his furrowed brow was proof. "Sorry, I'm not following you. What hasn't bothered you in a long time?" he asked quietly, starting to wonder if the nightmares she'd been having even had anything to do with the kidnapping.

[chloeas]

"Nightmares like that." She admitted quietly, taking a deep breath and sitting up a little, "I used to have them a lot, the context changed but they always ended the same way." She stared blankly at her lap, sighing quietly.

[dl_greenarrow]

Oliver was silent for a moment, studying her as he realized that there was still a hell of a lot he didn't know about Chloe, or her life before they'd met. He placed a hand on her knee. "What caused them back then?" he asked quietly.