Fic: Start Over (3/?), PG, Chloe/Oliver
Fic: Start Over (3/?)
Rating: PG (may be subject to change)
Summary: What if Oliver had been a supporter of Senator Kent from the very beginning of his campaign?
Character/Pairing: Oliver/Chloe, Clark, Lois, Martha, Jonathon.
Spoilers: 5.12. Some parts of the episode have been changed. When Clark rewinds the day again it will be the scene were Oliver’s in the Talon again, ok?
A/N So this is unbeta’d again, just so you know, and I like constructive criticism. I also planned to update earlier but this hasn’t been a good week for me and I won’t bore you to tears with it but I am sorry it’s taken so long to get this done.
Anyway Enjoy and feel free to comment!!
Chapter 1 Chapter 2
Oliver was sure he was bugging the waitresses in the Talon but he couldn’t help but pace as she bustled around him, trying to serve customers and prepare for Jonathon’s election party. As far as he was concerned he had voted and going into the office would just be one big waste of time, seeing as there was no way he would be able to work under these conditions. Pulling out his phone he placed a call.
“Hey, are there any exit polls for the 39th yet?... I realise it’s still a bit early but patience isn’t my string suit... Okay, call me back when you get some ok?... Great.” Oliver said hanging up. He had hoped that the call would settle his nerves but it didn’t seem to be helping at all.
“You know if you keep pacing you’re going to wear a hole through the floor.” Spinning around he was greeted with the smiling face of Chloe, “And I don’t think even you’re billions of dollars will not make Lex happy about that.”
Oliver gave a nervous chuckle, “I can’t help it. It’s what I do when I’m nervous.”
“Well we all need our coping mechanisms.”
“Yeah but mine means new floors every couple of years.”
“You get nervous that often?” Chloe asked as she accepted her coffee from a waitress.
“Yeah, business deals tend to make me this way,” Oliver replied with a chuckle realising how odd that was, “So what are you doing here? I would have thought you’d be at the Daily Planet, waiting to relay the winner of the election.”
“I’m supposed to be there in four hours but for some reason Lois demanded my help here before I make the trek to Metropolis.”
“Well as long as there is a purpose to your visit.”
“Coffee is enough of a purpose as far as I’m concerned but not the sole purpose today.”
“Ah,” Oliver replied, “Well maybe you could leave early and I’ll help Lois, that way it’s a win-win situation. You get to work and I get to rescue the fair maiden.”
“Well I hope you’re talking about Lois because I’m no damsel in distress.”
“I never doubted that for a second but you could have indulged me for just a second.”
“Please if I had done that then your ego wouldn’t fit through the door and you know it.” Chloe replied with a laugh, “But thank you anyway. I’ll leave you to tell Lois now that I’m no longer helping. Beside I think she’ll take the news easier from you than me.”
“I think I can do that,” Oliver replied with a grin, “But before you go are you going to be here tonight?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Chloe said before backing out. Keeping his eyes on her until she had left, amazed that she only turned back once, and couldn’t believe that there was a person like her in the world. Whenever she was around all he wanted to do was smile and laugh and just have fun. It made him forget that he was the CEO of big company and just that he was a kid. Well not a kid but as if he didn’t have this big responsibility on his shoulders.
Heading up the stairs and knocking lightly before opening the door he wasn’t shocked to find Lois repeating the same words he had been saying earlier.
“Hey, are there any exit polls for the 39th yet?... I realise it’s still a bit early but patience isn’t my one of my virtues... Okay, call me back when you get some ok?... Great.”
Chuckling Oliver knocked a little louder.
“God Oliver! Don’t do that to a girl.”
“Well I did knock before,” Oliver replied with a chuckle, “I’m here to take on Chloe’s duties since she had to get to work and I’m annoying the staff downstairs with my pacing.”
“Great!”Lois cheered, “You’re first order of business it get the box of cookies from up there.”
Oliver chuckled, “Ok but why do you keep them up there if you want them.”
“It saves me from having it on days I’m not stressing out majorly,” Lois replied with a nod, “It’s a girl thing. You should get use to it.”
“I doubt that this is something I’ll ever get use to.”
***********
Chloe sat to the side, as far out of the way as possible, trying to be as invisible as she felt. She was happy for Clark and Lana, she really was, but at the moment she felt as though she was going to fade further into the background then she already felt she was. Sure with Lois around she couldn’t be all that invisible but at moments like these, with a crowd around and no one constantly seeking her out it was easy to pretend otherwise.
“So, one more district and Jonathon will have to commute to Topeka,” Oliver said as he approached her. Looking him over she couldn’t help but be glad she had meet him. Even though she was reluctant to have any form of relationship with him she was glad to have him around. It stopped the invisible feeling. “So why are you wallowing in the corner?”
“Who says I’m wallowing?’
“I’m guessing by the look on your face.” Oliver replied taking a seat next to her, “So do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
“Clark got engaged,” Chloe whispered.
“I didn’t realise that farm boy was seeing someone.”
“Yeah, he is and now there engaged and it’s not that I’m not happy for them, cause I am, I’m over the moon but they’re my two best friends and I... I just feel...”
“You do realise it’s good to feel right?”
Chloe giggled, “Yeah. I just feel invisible at the moment, to both of them, and if that’s how I feel now then how am I going feel when there married and popping out kids,” she sighed.
“Chloe, no one has the right to make you feel inferior.”
“Are you trying to quote the princess diaries to me,” Chloe said, raising an eyebrow.
“Depends, is it helping?”
“Maybe a little bit.”
“Well that was the plan. Anyway I will always see you, ok?”
“I guess that better be ok. It’s not every day that a billionaire tells you that they don’t think you’re invisible. Anyway there are few people who really know what they want and are willing to risk everything for it and I’m really glad Clark was one of them.”
“Even though you’re feeling this was?”
“Yeah, if there are to people who are meant to be together it would be Lana and Clark.”
Oliver smiled and opened his mouth to speak but before he could Lois called out from the balcony, “Everyone! Everyone!” whistling everyone stopped and turned to her, “I just got the heads up from the newsroom and ladies and gentleman, you are currently looking at our new senator.”
Standing up Chloe joined the group as they clapped and cheered for Mr Kent. Before she even realised what happened Oliver swooped her into a hug. Hugging him back she couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit safe in his arm. Hanging on for a second longer than necessary she pulled back to glance into his eyes seeing a question there she wasn’t ready to answer.
Turning to the television she smiled as the man in the news confirmed Lois’s news, “With the 40th district now reporting, Kent culled a tightly contested Lowell County senate race. Jonathon Kent has just been elected to the Kansas State Senate in a staggering upset over corporate mogul Lex Luthor.”
Smiling even harder she was felt overwhelmed by the support that was being given to Mr Kent. Her smile faulted when she felt Oliver’s hand on her chin, turning her to face him.
“No matter what I’ll always see you,” Oliver whispered, stroking her cheek with one hand before leaning in and placing a soft kiss on her lips.
“Oliver,” Chloe whispered.
“I just think I’m willing to risk everything, for you, if that’s ok.” Oliver replied, “You don’t have to say or do anything,” he continued before walking away to congratulate Mr Kent.
Bringing her hand up subconsciously to her lips she couldn’t help but run them across her lips. She hadn’t expected that. Sure Oliver was a really easy guy to fall for, especially after the coffee that they’d had the other day, but never in a million years had she expected him to do anything like that, ever. Before she could contemplate it further though Lois was sweeping her up in a hug and pulling her into some meaningless task.
*********
“Figured I’d find you here”
“Well this place is just so Lana,” Chloe whispered quickly wiping her tears away so Oliver wouldn’t see them.
“Yeah,” Oliver replied, stepping forward and placing a hand on her shoulder.
“She convinced Lex to change this place from a movie theatre into a coffee shop.”
“Well it seems fitting. How are you holding up?”
Chloe nodded, “I’m holding in there.”
“Chloe, Lana was your best friend and now she’s dead. It’s ok for you not to be ok. You can even be sad.”
“I will be, when Clark doesn’t need me anymore.”
“That’s silly,” Oliver cried, stepping forward to place a hand on her check, “You’re allowed to feel. Trust me, you’re allowed to cry.”
Chloe nodded looking away and trying to get herself under control. Truthfully all she wanted to do was crawl up into a ball cry for a week straight but that wasn’t possible. Clark’s heart was breaking at the moment and he needed her more than the need to wallow in her own grief. There would be time for her grief but now her best friend needed her and that seemed more important than anything else.
“Look, I know you want to be there for Clark but you can’t at the moment cause he’s not here so why don’t you let me be here for you now.”
Chloe sighed, “Please Oliver, I’m barely keeping it together.”
“I know and being an orphan I can tell you that these things are easier to deal with if you let it out.”
Chloe squeezed her eyes shut. His words made sense but that didn’t seem to help her let go. When Oliver pulled her into his arms though she went easier than she thought she would and before she knew it she was ruining his shirt with her tears, not really caring about the fact that she should be there for Clark instead.
*********
Oliver was sure he was bugging the waitresses in the Talon but he couldn’t help but pace as the bustled around him, trying to serve customers and prepare for Jonathon’s election party. As far as he was concerned he had voted and going into the office would just be one big waste of time, seeing as there was no way he would be able to work under these conditions. Pulling out his phone he placed a call.
“Hey, are there any exit polls for the 39th yet?... I realise it’s still a bit early but patience isn’t my string suit... Okay, call me back when you get some ok?... Great.” Oliver said hanging up. He had hoped that the call would settle his nerves but it didn’t seem to be helping at all.
“You know if you keep pacing you’re going to wear a hole through the floor.” Spinning around he was greeted with the worried face of Lois, who had her phone to her ear. Handing it over she said, “Talk to Chloe, I need to stop that waitress before she finishes what she’s doing with that ribbon.”
Putting the phone to his ear he smiled, following Lois with his eyes, before saying, “So how did you get out of being her?”
“Well the news doesn’t stop for anyone, even interns who best friend’s father is running for the senate seat.”
Oliver laughed, “Well working has got to be better than what I’m doing.”
“Let me guess, your either pacing or ordering everyone around.”
“That’s pretty good actually.”
“So how’s the floor?”
“Still intact. How’d you know it wasn’t the other one?”
“Please, I highly doubt you order anyone around.”
“Well that is true,” he replied as Lois headed back to him, “So what’s Lois want with you?”
“She just wants my help to decorate, which I’m sure you can do in my absence.”
“I might be able to let you manipulate me into taking your role but you better have a good offer for it.”
“How about, I’ll save you a dance tonight at the victory party?”
“Yeah I think that will do. I see you tonight.”
“Of course,” Chloe replied before hanging up.
Oliver handed the phone back to Lois before saying, “So, put me to work.”
*********
Moving through the crowd of people Chloe was shocked at how many people had shown up to support Mr Kent. It wasn’t that she thought that no one supported him it was just that she hadn’t expected this much of a crowd. Navigating her way through she spotted Clark and made her way over to him. She was sad that her friend was in pain but keeping his secret from Lana was putting too much pressure on their relationship. In some ways it felt like a soap opera playing out for them and in these scenarios someone always got hurt. This time it just happened to be Clark.
Noticing his smile she returned it with one of her own, “Hi. Hey.”
“Hi,” Chloe whispered in reply, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Hi, How’s it been going?”
“Good I’ve had one eye on her since she got here.”
Turning as someone turned up the television for the results she watched, waiting for the answer, “Jonathon Kent has just been elected to the Kansas State Senate in a staggering upset over corporate mogul Lex Luthor.”
Cheering erupted throughout the room and Chloe moved to hug all the Kent family before Clark pulled back with a puzzling look on his face.
“Wait something’s not the same.” He whispered before turning to glance towards the stairs. “Oh my God. Lois?”
Before she could ask what he was talking about he was going. Turning around Chloe looked to see Lana but couldn’t find her anywhere. Moving towards the back she couldn’t see her anywhere but waved to Oliver just before the lights went out.
Deciding to go for the direct approach she called out, “Lana! Lana! Where are you?”
“Call 911,” Clark called from the balcony as he made his way down the stairs with an unconscious Lois in his arms. Hurrying to her cousin she didn’t think of anything else until her cousin opened her eyes and the paramedics took her away.
“Do I really need an audience? Everyone back to the party! There’s lots of chocolate cake! Nine cases of merlot!” Lois called out.
Chloe sighed, “Lois you were out for a while. You should have someone take a look at you.”
Clark nodded, “You defiantly should.”
“Do you need to haul me off to HMO Land just for committing a serious party foul?”
“Yes they do. Goodbye Lois,” Chloe called as the paramedic shut the doors to the ambulance. Quickly turning back to Clark she whispered, “Clark, I’ve looked everywhere and I can’t find Lana.”
**********
Standing at the opposite side of the casket to Kent’s Oliver couldn’t help but feel sad at the passing of Jonathon Kent. He knew well the pain that Clark was feeling at the moment and he would never wish that on anyone. It was purely tragic to have to outlive your parents by a great number of years as opposed to a few and when it was a great parent, such as Robert Queen and Jonathon Kent were, there was no way to ever fill the void that was left. Instead there was a struggle to always be the man that they envisioned you to be and whilst he was still trying to succeed at that it was obvious that Clark was already the man that Jonathon had wanted him to be.
Turning slightly he felt Chloe run a hand down his arm before turning to leave. Joining her he paused as she looked back at the pair of grieving Kent’s, her heart obviously grieving for them before she finally turned and left with him both knowing that a piece of both Martha and Clark’s souls were in that grave with Jonathon.
And there was nothing they could do to bring him back.
chapter4.