Chapter Text
Her heart was racing and her eyes were wide as she backed up into a corner. She knew she couldn't call for Clark or he would hurt him, she couldn't call for anyone and there was really nothing she could do anymore since the kryptonite hadn't worked. As Brainiac's hands turned into black, metallic looking tentacles, she gasped.
But a second later, they were attached to her head and even as she felt weaker, she distantly heard herself screaming loudly in pain.
A second after that, the door burst open and three arrows lodged themselves into Brainiac's face.
Chloe saw a faint glow surrounding her right before her eyes closed and she hit the floor, unconscious.
Brainiac screamed, turning into liquid matter a second later and sliding from under the apartment door.
In three steps, Oliver was across the room, crossbow secured on his back once more as he knelt down at Chloe's side, gently brushing the hair back from her face, his eyes wide with worry. "Chloe?" When she didn't answer, he carefully lifted her into arms, cradling her against his chest and rising to his feet once more. His heart was beating quickly in his chest. Had he gotten there fast enough? Was it already too late? he wondered, staring down at her for a long moment.
He forced himself to take a deep breath, and shook his head a little. He had to get her out of there, and quickly. And as much as it worried him that she was unconscious, he knew it would probably be easier because of it. Shifting her in his arms, he carried her out the door and down the stairs, glad that the Talon was closed. At least something was working in his favor.
Halfway down the stairs, Chloe shifted in his arms and groaned quietly but didn't open her eyes.
"Shh," he murmured, heading out the front door and to his car, his heart still beating quickly. What he was about to do was criminal. A felony. And sure, he'd broken a lot of laws over the years, but he'd never done what he was about to do to someone he worked with or called friend.
Lois was going to kill him.
Clark would kill him for sure.
And Chloe might never forgive him.
But he had no choice. He carefully opened his car door and laid her down in the backseat, staring at her for a moment before moving to get in the driver's seat.
He could only hope that he wasn't already too late.