The matter of trust

Title: The matter of trust

Author: Jusperson

Rating: M (Adult content, language)

Genre: Romance/Angst

Pairing: Chloe/Oliver

Summary: She always knew that sooner or later she would have to pay for her abilities. But she had never imagined what the price would be like that. To wake up without the memory of four years of her life married to an ex of her cousin?

Disclaimer: No, they are not mine.

Spoilers: everything up to 08.05 Commitment

A/N: My first long fanfic in English. Reviews are welcome.

Since English is not my native language there can be some mistakes. If there are any free beta readers…

Prologue.

Chloe slowly opened her eyes. Bed. She was in hospital. Ever since her first experience with her abilities she was scared to death that one day she would wake up in morgue again or even worse…

But that time it was alright. She was in hospital though she did not remember what had happened it was not so important.

"Jimmy!" Chloe smiled at the boy near her bed.

"Chloe! You're awake! Thanks God, we thought you would never make it…" Jimmy threw his arms around Chloe and hugged her.

"Jimmy, I'm so glad you are here!" Chloe took his face in her hands and kissed him.

"What the hell!!!" she let go Jimmy who for some reason tried to resist her kiss and turned to see Clark and Oliver Queen standing in the doorway. They seemed to be both shocked by what they had just seen and Chloe couldn't understand why.

Oliver was the first who came to his senses. The startled expression on his face changed into an angry one.

"Why did you kiss her?!" He went for Jimmy.

"I didn't!" said Jimmy and made a step back trying to escape. He bumped into wall almost falling to the floor.

"Oliver, calm down! I kissed him! But I don't think it should concern you in any way probably you forget that Jimmy is my fiancé…" Chloe stopped short because Oliver regained his startled state and was looking at her with wide eyes.

Fortunately at that moment Clark found his ability to speak.

"Chloe," said he carefully. "Jimmy is not your fiancé…"

"What? What are you saying, Clark?" She turned her head to Jimmy. "We are getting married…"

"No, I'm dating Kara," he took another step back and pressed himself into the wall as if afraid of her reaction.

"Chloe," started Clark again. "You are not engaged to Jimmy…"

"But… But why?"

"Well, I think it is partially because of the fact that you are married to me," said Oliver looking at her.

Against her will Chloe looked at Oliver's left hand to see a platinum marriage band on his ring-finger. Then she looked at her hand to see a similar ring on hers.

Everything turned black again.

Chapter 1. Awake

The first thing that Chloe saw when she regained consciousness was the face of a woman in her late twenties. Black hair put in a bun, green eyes looking attentively at Chloe though spectacles.

"Hi, Chloe."

"Hi, are you my doctor?"

The woman hesitated before answering that question.

"Yes, you are one of my patients. My name is Margaret. Call me just Marge. How are you feeling?"

"As if I had a very strange nightmare."

Someone snorted. Chloe did not notice that they were not alone in the ward.

"Oliver, please."

"Sorry."

The young man was standing in the shadow and Chloe couldn't see his face clearly but she did feel his intense gaze on her. Marge must have sensed her uneasiness.

"Oliver, could you please leave us?"

"You said I could stay."

"I changed my mind. Would you?" A polite request still sounded like an order.

"Fine!" Oliver stormed out of the ward.

Marge turned to Chloe and smiled at her.

"You must excuse him. He's been through a lot though it doesn't justify his behaviour. So, Chloe, I know the whole situation is very uncomfortable for you but remember I'm here as your doctor. I must have your complete trust. Please tell me what the last thing that you remember is."

"Preparation for my wedding with Jimmy," answered Chloe quietly as if it was something she was ashamed of. "We've just had our engagement party."

Marge marked something in her paper then looked back at Chloe.

"I want you to be very careful with your next answer, Chloe. How do you think how long it's been since your engagement party?"

Chloe was silent for a few seconds and then gave the answer that she knew was true. At least for her.

"A week. Our engagement party was a week ago."

The creak of the door made it obvious that their talk was not secret. Marge pursed her lips glaring at the door and then turned her attention back to Chloe.

"Are you sure?"

Chloe nodded.

"Chloe," said Marge carefully as if weighing her every word. "The events you are talking about happened almost five years ago."

"No!" gasped Chloe.

"I am sorry, but it's true."

"It's because of my ability, isn't it?" asked she biting her lips. "I… I must have healed someone and slept for four years. It's… it's hardly surprising that Jimmy is dating Kara. He got tired of waiting… But wait! Oliver says that we are married. How is it possible? He couldn't marry me if I was comatose…"

"Chloe, stop it!" said Marge in a harsh tone and as Chloe got silent she continue in a mild tone. "Firstly, it wasn't you healing ability that put you in coma. It actually saved your life. You were poisoned with unknown toxic. We tried to find the antidote but it appeared to be impossible since we couldn't figure out the nature of the poison. The only thing we managed to find out… This toxic can kill any ordinary man in a few seconds. But for your healing ability you would have been probably dead." Chloe swallowed the knot in her throat. "Secondly you weren't in coma for four years. Just one year, even less, eleven months and three weeks to be exact. But apparently the toxic has caused partial amnesia because you don't remember the events of the four years before poisoning."

Chloe tried to swallow the information.

"We didn't make it," she said at last. "I mean, Jimmy and I… our marriage was a failure?"

"Chloe, you and Jimmy were never married."

"What? But… how…"

"Chloe," Marge sighed. "I wish I could tell you everything. Unfortunately memory has very fragile nature and it needs careful treating. I consulted a few specialists in the area and we came to the conclusion that it would be better if you'll try to remember everything by yourself. Of course, we'll prescribe special treatment but nothing too string. You organism experienced a lot of stress and it doesn't need any more of it. You healing ability managed to fight the poisoning and it is likely to fight all the consequences of it."

"Why can't you just tell me what happened during these four years?"

"Chloe, we are afraid that it can cause another coma. I know, I know," Marge took Chloe's hand and squeezed it. "It is not easy. But you should be patient. Patience is a virtue. And it is always rewarded. We had been without you for almost a year. We can let you leave us again."

"We know each other, don't we? Before…" Chloe waved her hand.

"Before the accident? Yes. I hope you will remember me. But everything is in its time," Marge stood up and started for the door. "Right now I should prepare some papers. We'll run some tests to check your physical condition. And if we are satisfied with their results soon you'll be able to go home."

"Home? With Oliver?" Chloe gulped nervously.

"Yes," Marge sighed. "I must say I don't like this idea. It would be easier for us to control your condition if you stay here. But one of our specialists, if you can call him like that, said that familiar atmosphere could help you to remember. It's nonsense, of course. But Oliver jumped at the idea. I tried to tell him that he was making a mistake but he wouldn't listen… As if he knows what he is talking about… Probably, we'll make him change his mind. Alright, sweetheart, I need to go. Try to get some rest," Marge kissed Chloe's cheek and left the ward.

For long moments Chloe was lying in her bed looking at the ceiling. Soon she was coming home, the place she did not remember, with Oliver, the man she remembered as a good friend but never as a husband. Oh God…