Accident Prone (R) - Sequel to Accidents Happen

[scifichick774]

Title: Accident Prone
Author: scifichick774
Rating: strong R
Category: Romance/Humor/Smut/Supernatural (sort of)/really minimal Angst
Spoilers: Anything through the end of season 2 is fair game; and you’ll need to read the first fic ‘Accidents Happen’ if you haven’t already, otherwise you won’t know what’s going on.
Summary: Sequel to ‘Accidents Happen’. An overzealous wedding planner, Chloe is taken, and Gabe finds out that Lex has stopped the research into a cure for his and Chloe’s condition. Don’t worry; it’s better than it sounds.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no infringement intended, please don’t sue.
Feedback: YES!! REVIEW!! I’m serious. I really need a feedback fix.
Archival: Sure – just let me know where.
Author’s Note: After much begging, I’m finally getting around to writing this. I don’t know if it will end up being anywhere near as long as AH was, but here it is. This takes place a year or so after AH left off.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Lex leaned back in his chair as he listened to Jacob Lansing, son to Thomas Lansing, president of The Lansing Foundation; drone on about how pleased he was with his personal shares in LexCorp rising so high since Chloe’s article on Lionel came out.

‘Well of course profits are up,’ Lex thought. ‘That’s what happens when you take over another company.’

‘Not always,’ Chloe interrupted.

‘Allow me to rephrase,’ Lex thought, a grin now lining his lips. ‘Whenever *I* take over another company.’

Chloe snickered.

‘You’re a very good businessman, dear,’ she thought in a snide tone, causing Lex to almost lose it and start laughing.

‘Oh – he’s talking about you.’

‘Great,’ she thought sarcastically. ‘Just what I need. Another idiot thinking he can buy me off to come and work for his company.’

“Any chance I could steal her away from you, Luthor?”

Lex’s attention snapped to Jacob and he shot him a feral, warning glare. In any other situation, Lex may have considered it just a joke, which was probably how it was intended, but Jacob had a bit of a reputation and every rumor Lex had heard included the young man across from him being involved with a blonde.

“No.”

‘Uh-oh,’ Chloe thought, knowing the tone that Lex used only too well. Of course, the growl that had accompanied it would have tipped her off even if she hadn’t been paying attention. ‘What’d he say?’

‘He wants to steal you away from me.’

‘Ah. You know, he probably didn’t mean it the way it sounded.’

‘It doesn’t matter how he meant it.’

‘So, are you going to push the button to release the trap door and send him falling to his death?’

‘I don’t have one of those,’ Lex thought and then inwardly smiled. ‘Always wanted one though.’

Chloe started laughing, ignoring the strange looks from the other people in her college newsroom.

‘I’ll remember that when your birthday rolls around,’ she thought.

Only hearing Lex’s animalistic ‘no’, Jacob immediately raised his hands in front of him, adopting a defensive stance.

“Not like that,” he insisted. “You know, just to work for me.”

Lex blinked at him, too wrapped up in his conversation to remember that Jacob was even still in the room.

“No,” he repeated.

“Come on,” Jacob said with a smile, relaxing his demeanor now that Lex’s angry tone was gone and not knowing well enough to leave the subject alone. “She’s gonna get sick of seeing you at home *and* working with you. Let her come work for me and ---”

“No,” Lex said sternly and pushed himself out of his chair, making it a point to look at the clock on the wall. “And I believe our meeting is over.” Jacob rolled his eyes.

“Are you at least gonna let me kiss her at the wedding?”

Lex gave him a tight grin and slapped his hand onto the back of his shoulder to aid in getting the young man out of his office.

“If you think about it *really* hard, I have confidence that you can come up with the answer to that,” Lex ribbed. “Especially when you consider that you’re not invited to the wedding.” Jacob gave him a tight, forced grin and barely resisted rolling his eyes again.

“You know, you should seriously think about giving up that possessive streak of yours,” Jacob said. “Chlo doesn’t strike me as a woman who’s going to put up with that for long.”

‘If I tell you what he just said, will you help me kill him?’ Lex thought.

‘No – you have minions to do that for you,’ Chloe retorted.

‘Ahh, yes, but I think you’ll want to give this one the personal touch.’

‘Why? Did he comment on how much he wanted to ---’

‘Hey, hey, hey,’ Lex cut in, ‘watch it. I don’t need that imagery in my head - *ever*.’

‘Ooh, testy,’ Chloe thought. ‘You’re kind of in a mood today. What’s going on?’

‘You’re changing the subject.’

‘What was the subject?’

‘What Jacob Lansing just said,’ Lex reminded her. Chloe made a sound of disgust that Lex grinned at.

‘Asshole,’ she thought.

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Him, not you,’ she corrected.

‘Thanks for the clarification.’

‘No problem. So, what did he say?’

‘Something about me needing to get over my possessive streak.’

Chloe rolled her eyes. Despite the fact that her last treatment had been successful, Lex’s specialists had still been unsuccessful in coming up with another cure for them and Lex still suffered through periods of extreme jealousy and testosterone-charged behavior - but, it wasn’t as if they could just tell people that.

‘Okay, not nice, but it doesn’t really make me want to aid you in killing the guy,’ she thought.

‘Oh, it gets better,’ Lex thought.

‘I’m not going to want to hear this, am I?’

‘He referred to you as ‘Chlo’.’

Lex watched Jacob walk to the elevators before turning around and going back into his office, closing the door behind him.

‘Ugh. I don’t even like that when Clark and Pete do it. What makes him think *he* can get away with it?’

‘When do you get out of class?’

‘In a few minutes,’ she answered. ‘But I’m supposed to be meeting up with Clark, remember?’

‘Ye-ah,’ he strung out. ‘Why is that again?’

‘Something about Lana. He was kind of vague.’

‘Of course he was.’

‘Hey, you can’t blame the guy for not wanting me to shoot the messenger.’

‘Especially when *he’s* the messenger,’ Lex added.

‘Exactly.’

‘So, what do you think it is this time?’

Chloe groaned, but it was covered up by the sound of the bell ringing.

‘I have no idea. Honestly, I thought we covered everything. I don’t know why ---’

“Chloe Sullivan?”

Chloe plastered a fake smile on her face for the woman she had just run into. She had never met her until now, but she recognized Penelope Faust, one of the newest reporters for The Daily Planet’s society section, right away.

‘Oh, God. Help me, help me, help me.’

“What’s wrong?” Lex asked aloud, his senses going on alert at Chloe’s desperate tone.

“Yes, that’s me,” Chloe said, her cheeks hurting from the fake smile.

“Fantastic,” Penelope chirped, covertly checking around to make sure there was nobody passing by.

Chloe was expecting a barrage of questions, not unlike all of the other ones she had been receiving from various reporters who cornered her, but she couldn’t have prepared herself for what came next.

Penelope lifted a small can of what looked like hairspray, but wasn’t, and sprayed it directly at Chloe’s nose and mouth. Chloe’s eyes lolled back in her head and she collapsed into the arms of the man she hadn’t even noticed standing behind her.

“Good,” Penelope said. “Let’s get her out of here before anyone shows up. The man nodded and lifted Chloe completely into his arms.

‘Chloe?’

Silence.

‘Chloe?!’ Lex panicked when he couldn’t hear her voice in his head.

Either she had just had a relapse after an entire year of being well, or her plea for help had been well warranted.

Lex had a bad feeling it was the latter.



TBC...

[crazygirl]

Yey, a sequel *grins madly*. I just read the first part and I already love this story :wub: . I wonder what Lex is going to do once he finds out who has taken Chloe, especially with this "possessive streak" of his. But I sure can't wait to find out :biggrin: .

[krahmogh]

a sequel, a sequel, she's finally writing a sequel!!! I loved every minute of Accidents Happen. I can't wait to see what Lex does to find Chloe. Please add more soon.

:chlexsign4:

[S.Ann Smith]

YAY! SEQUEL!!!!!!!

[who?]

Accidents Happen was one of my favourite stories and i'm so happy you wrote a sequel!! :biggrin: :biggrin:

[Impress]

Ahhh the sequel has come. Good hun. Good.

[hfce]

Kris noooooo you can't leave us hanging like that. I want more..


Hope :worship2:

[Tflnbabe]

:biggrin: You have no idea how excited I am to see that you've come out with a sequel! I hoped with all my heart and it came true. Please please hurry and post the next chapter!

[bluemoongirl23]

Oh, a sequel to your previous piece of genius. It just doesn't get any better than this. And, really, those two schlubs are gonna wish they never messed with Chloe.

Blue

[hler]

*Does a little dance* Ladies and Gentlemen we have a sequal!!!!
*listens to deafening applause* Yep, it makes me happy...loving it, a little possesive Lex never hurt anyone, unless of course it's the beeyatch who just attacked Chloe....but really, who cares about her?

~Heida

[petriebird18]

YAY for the sequel, :yay: BOO for the kidnapped Chloe :crygreen:
DAMMIT, don't these people LEARN?
Now update. now.
~Deidre~
:chlexsign3:

[kidkarmina]

WOW!! I was not sure if you were going to do a sequel for AH but I'm glad you did. I got hooked already and you just started...GREAT beginning :blinkkiss:

Update soon, please??!!

[Susan S]

Yay!! Seqel!!! I want more now!

Really interesting beginning. I loved Accidents Happen and can't wait to see what happens next.

Susan S

[Queen Of Tact]

Yeah.... I know I am so going to love this.... AH was the best ans I know this will be too!!! I can't wait to read more .... Please please please please up date soon........

CC

[asharnanae]

Fantastic as always! :biggrin:

[fighterangel]

:yay: omg I loved Accidents Happen, I think the sequel will be just as good, cause that chapter was so good. :biggrin:
Update soon Pretty please!!!!!

[Gemini]

Ahhhh! It's a sequel!

*does a sparkly-chlex-dance*

Do I really need to say how glad I am that AH got a sequel? This just made my day :yay: I can't wait to see what you have in store for us.

[dsapiro]

Yay, sequel! Finnaly! It looks really good so far. :yay: :worship2: :yay: :worship2:

[vardaquareien]

:yay: :yay3: :yay3: :yay3: :yay2: :yay2: :yay3: :yay3: :yay3: :yay:

Last night I was soo excited to find a new Kris ficcy, I come back today to find yet another one!!! And not just another one but the sequal to a previous piece of brilliance!!!

Let me just say, can life get any better than this?

[drina]

What an exciting start top the sequel!!!! Can't wait!

[sabby]

Oh wow, that's not a good thing. What kinda reporter is that? Going and abducting a girl just like that! And how could people not see it? Oh Lex is going to be very very displeased when he finds out what happened. Update soon, I've waited anxiously for that sequel

hugs,
Sabby

[Blaire023]

*cuddles up with sab and her fluffy blanket to await the next chappie*


oooooooooh, this is gonna be sooooo good.

~B

[Charlie]

:dance: a sequal, finally a sequal. I loved Accidents Happen and I'm sure the sequal is just as good.

[CS(TFMLL)]

A sequel! :chlexsign3:

The last one was so great there is no way this can be bad!!

[tigerbaby]

I really like your work and I'm so glad you decided to do a sequel. I'm a big fan of chlex but so far you're the only one that has me reading stuff other than chlex.

[Sandi]

Yay....sequel!! *throws in cookies and cool drinks for the party*

[Brittany]

:biggrin: Yay! A sequel to one of the greatest and most original fics out there! Wonderful start to what is sure to be another wonderful story. I'm absoulutely sure this sequel will be just as fantastic if not more so, than it's predecessor. Waiting for the next chapter, make it fast, please! :worship2:

[lunaluthor]

yep :yay: :yay: that is what I needed after this crappy day a sequel to one of my favourite stories I love the telepathic thing


thanks :biggrin:

[scifichick774]

Gabe had the smallest hint of a frown as he tried to read the ingredients on the label of cookies he wanted to buy. Unfortunately, the words had all blurred together again. He was beginning to think it was a conspiracy – that, or Chloe had been right about him needing to get glasses. He let out a tiny sigh and held the package further away from him, his frown deepening when he saw that one of the ingredients that his doctor wanted him to cut down on was in it.

‘Well, it’s not like he’ll be coming by the house to check,’ the devil’s advocate inside him said. ‘And Chloe’s not due for a visit until this weekend; I can eat all of them by then.’

“Hey,” Lana chirped as she came up behind him, startling him enough to make him lose his grip on the cookies and send the package falling to the floor. Lana looked down at the brightly colored bag and then back up at him, her eyebrow raised in an accusatory fashion. “You weren’t going to get those, were you?”

“Uh – no,” Gabe said. “I was just reading the ingredients to see if they were okay.”

“They’re not,” Lana informed him as she dumped the things she had gotten into the cart. Gabe gave her a tight grin and bent down to pick the package up. When he stood back up, he resorted to trying to mimic Clark’s puppy-dog look.

‘How the mighty hath fallen,’ he thought to himself. “Come on, what’s a soap marathon without some snacks?” It was low and he knew it, but Gabe started to grin when Lana looked at the cookies and chewed on her lower lip.

“Well…your doctor did just say to cut down, not to eliminate it completely,” she said in a hesitant voice. “But I don’t know. Chloe will be ---”

“Chloe’s not coming home until this weekend,” Gabe reminded her as he interrupted. “And we’re catching up on the shows we’ve recorded today and tomorrow because I have the next couple of days off.” His lips slowly spread into a teasing smile. “Besides, didn’t Nell say she wanted you to put on some weight?” Lana narrowed her eyes at him and pursed her lips, but within a couple of seconds, she reached out to grab another bag of cookies.

“Fine,” she practically growled. “But if you tell her I let you have these ---” she trailed off, leaving the threat dangling in the air as she pointed her finger at him. Gabe raised his hands in mock self defense, his grin quickly fading when he saw a familiar looking man coming down their aisle.

“Dr. Robison,” he greeted with a guarded politeness. He knew the man in front of him was smart, what he couldn’t figure out was why he wasn’t smart enough to duplicate the cure for Chloe and Lex’s condition that his team had found a year ago. Granted, all of the research was destroyed in the fire, but he had to retain some of the knowledge, didn’t he?

“Mr. Sullivan,” Robison replied with a small smile, no touch of unpleasantness to his voice. “I haven’t seen you in a while. How has everything been?”

“Good,” Gabe answered curtly. “And you?”

“Good, good,” Robison said with a couple of nods of his head.

“Anything new on ---?” Gabe trailed off, giving Robison a pointed look in hopes that he would catch on to what he was asking. Robison’s demeanor changed and he shook his head as he looked down at the floor.

“We’ve done so much testing, but his condition only seems to be getting worse. He slips further and further into ---”

Lana cleared her throat and flashed the man a sickeningly sweet smile.

“I think Mr. Sullivan was talking about Chloe,” she said. Gabe gave her a thankful grin and then nodded at Robison, who blinked in surprise.

“Chloe?” Robison asked and then shook his head. “Has she relapsed?”

“No-ooo,” Gabe strung out slowly. “I meant, how far along are you in finding a cure for her and Lex?” Robison blinked again in confusion and his mouth dropped open and closed a couple of times before he finally spoke.

“Mr. Sullivan, I’m not sure what you’ve been told, but we’re no longer looking into that.”

“Excuse me?”

“Mr. Luthor – Lex – after Chloe’s last treatment worked and her life was no longer in any danger, he called off the project.”

Lana cringed, expecting Gabe to go into hysterics, though in hindsight she realized that she should have known better.

“I see,” Gabe said through gritted teeth. Robison gave him a placating smile.

“Well, I’d better be going. Good seeing you again.”

Lana had to give it to the man; at least he was smart enough to see past Gabe’s barely cool veneer to know that he was in imminent danger of being physically injured if he stayed there.

“O-kay, then,” she said, trying to put a chipper note into her voice. She reached for another bag of cookies and shot him a nervous smile. “You want popcorn too?”

~*~*~*~*~

Clark walked toward the bench where he and Chloe were supposed to meet, not at all surprised to not see her there yet. Grinning to himself, he thought nothing of it when the cell phone in his bag started to ring. He sloughed the backpack off of his shoulder and dug into it to retrieve his phone.

“Hello?” he answered, taking the opportunity to scan the area for Chloe.

“Clark.”

“Lex,” Clark said in surprise.

“You were supposed to be meeting Chloe, right?”

Clark grimaced.

“I can explain,” he said quickly. “Lana wanted me to ---”

“Are you there now?”

“Ye-ah, why?”

“Something’s wrong,” Lex said. Clark’s gut twisted when he heard his friend’s words. It would have to be something really bad for Lex to call *him* about it.

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t hear her.”

‘Shit,’ Clark thought and immediately started looking around for her more frantically. “Do you think she relapsed?”

“No,” Lex said. “She --- right before it stopped, she said something about needing help.”

“What?”

“Something along the lines of ‘Oh, God. Help me, help me, help me’. To be honest, I thought it was just another one of those reporters that’s been hounding her, but right after she confirmed who she was, I couldn’t hear her anymore.”

“You think whoever it was took her,” Clark said observantly.

“That’s my first guess,” Lex answered. “I’m on my way to the campus now; she had just left the newsroom when it happened.”

“I’ll meet you there.”

“I’m going to be at least ten minutes; there’s been some sort of accident and traffic is backed up. Think you can look around for any clues until I get there?”

“Clues? Are you sure you don’t still have Chloe in your head?” Clark joked, already on his way to where Lex said he had heard her last. Lex clenched his jaw and hung up on him, causing Clark to wince. ‘Okay, so it probably wasn’t the right time to kid around, but it’s probably nothing. He’s just overreacting like ---” Clark trailed off when he reached a section of sidewalk and recognized Chloe’s bag on the ground. “Damn.”

He bent down to pick up the oversized bag, and even reached out to grab the can of hairspray that looked like it had rolled out of it. His fingers clasped around the can and the veins in his skin jumped up with a turquoise blue tinge to them. Clark’s eyes grew wide and he dropped the can and backed away from it.

“What the ---”

The only thing that ever affected Clark that way was kryptonite, and he had never seen a blue form of the crystal, let alone in liquid form in a spray-can. He only hoped that he hadn’t been exposed to it long enough to cause any lasting effects since he didn’t know what the effects might be.

Unfortunately, it only took a little of the substance that had dripped down onto the outside of the can to set off a chain reaction in Clark’s body. His vision started to blur and he lost his balance as the world around him seemed to start spinning, slowly at first and then faster and faster.

“Clark?”

Clark blinked and tried to focus on the image that the voice seemed to be coming from. Gradually, the effects started to wear off and Clark sat down on the grass to regain his bearings.

“Clark? Are you okay?”

Clark shook his head and blinked a couple of times until his vision began to return to normal.

“The hairspray…not hairspray,” he said cryptically. Lex looked at him questioningly.

“What?”

“The can of hairspray that was lying next to her bag,” Clark started again, trying to push himself up, but still feeling a little too tired to do so. “I picked it up and I – I almost passed out, Lex.” Lex walked over to the items that Clark had stumbled away from and frowned down at the harmless looking hairspray can.

“That’s not her brand,” he said knowingly and then stole a glance at Clark, who still seemed a little out of it. “The kidnappers must have used it to knock her out, which is why I can’t hear her.” He took a handkerchief out of his jacket pocket and squatted down to pick up the can. One corner of his mouth lifted into a half-smirk when he saw Clark grabbing at his head. It served him right for making light of the situation earlier. “Good job, Clark.”



TBC...

[Czech Angel]

When he stood back up, he resorted to trying to mimic Clark’s puppy-dog look.How the mighty hath fallen,’ he thought to himself.

Gabe is hilarious here
:chlexsign2:
I LOVE YOU!!! :love:
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR MAKING A SEQUEL!
I just know it's gonna be as great as the first one.
:worship2: :worship2: :worship2:

[Gemini]

:yay: Oh wow! You've come up with yet another interesting plot, haven't you? Now where the heck is Chloe?

Can't wait to find out more. :worship2:

[Val]

YAY sequel!
I know you just posted this ch but MORE!!!! :biggrin:

[hfce]

Ok more now ;)


Hope :chlexsign2:

[Susan S]

Gabe is going to hit the roof when he finally talks to Lex and Chloe about the cure. Can't wait to see what Lex makes of the spray can and what the effects of blue kryptonite are on Clark. (snort--just got a mental flash of Clark acting on his inner drag queen personality.)

Susan S

[bluemoongirl23]

I love the thought of Gabe and Lana watching soaps together, it's priceless! Gabe go boom when he sees Lex again. And blue Kryptonite, eh?

Blue

[Calliope]

Hee! Gabe with the 'banned' cookies. I have a feeling Lex is headed for a smackdown when Gabe finds him. :biggrin:

[vardaquareien]

oooohh blue kryptonite, furious Gabe, and taboo cookies oh my! :yay3: Have I mentioned that I'm excited about this fic? :biggrin:

[Brittany]

:crygreen: That wasn't enough, I need MORE, FAST!!!

[dsapiro]

So what does blue kryptonite do? Update soon!

[sabby]

Oh interesting...now I'm really curious about that blue kryptonite thing. And I hope Chloe is gonna wake up sometime soon so she can tell Lex where she is.

The Gabe thing was funny as hell. can't wait to see what happens when he gets a hand on Lex. I'm thinking imminent throttling or something *G*

Update soon

hugs,
Sabby

[krahmogh]

I loved it!!!! Gabe knowing that the research was cancelled, Clark almost passed out, and from Blue Kryptonite no less, and Lex now has an idea of what might have happened to Chloe. Now, the rest of us need the next piece of the puzzle. Update soon please!!


:chlexsign4:

[fighterangel]

I loved it but i want more. :worship2: Please!

[Charlie]

More. More. More. PLeeeease update soon. :worship2:

[kirt30]

:chlexsign4: oh i like this fic :chlexsign4:

[lunaluthor]

yes please update soon you are killing me with all the cliffies :biggrin:

[kidkarmina]

This is definitely getting good. I know it has not been a week since you posted. But I'm hoping you will post another chapter soon :blinkkiss: ! These cliffhangers are killing me :yay: !

:chlexsign2: , I love this sign!

[scifichick774]

“Never seen anything like it.” Sergeant Murphy, a police detective with the Metropolis Police Department, dangled the clear plastic evidence bag out in front of him as he eyed the can leaking blue fluid inside. “Course, that doesn’t mean anything. They’re coming out with all sorts of stuff these days. I’ll have the guys at the lab check it out.”

Lex nodded once in agreement, but Clark frowned and squirmed in his seat.

“Something wrong, Clark?”

“No,” Clark answered a little too quickly. “Just --- worried about Chloe.”

Lex and Murphy shared a look and the man leaned forward to call Clark on his obvious lie when Clark’s cell phone rang, giving him an excuse to push himself away from the desk.

“I know he’s your friend,” the detective started, “but I think we need to consider the possibility that ---”

“He’s not involved,” Lex interrupted.

“For a guy who isn’t involved, he’s been acting awfully suspicious,” Murphy responded in a tone that almost wonder whether or not Clark Kent could have had a hand in taking his fiancée.

After all, Clark had been after Chloe himself, or at least trying to get her to break up with Lex, since the time he first found out that they were together. Was it completely infeasible that the young man may have had something to do with her disappearance?

Clark picked that moment to walk back over to the desk, earning him wary looks from both Lex and the detective.

“What?”

“Who was on the phone?” Lex asked, trying to make his voice sound as steady as possible. Clark sucked in a breath and sat down.

“Lana.”

“You told her?”

“I didn’t get a chance,” Clark said, making a disgruntled face. “She was talking a mile a minute.”

Now Lex really *was* suspicious. Although it wasn’t out of character for Lana to live in her own personal bubble, it was highly unusual that she wouldn’t take breaks in what she was talking about to gain sympathy from whomever she was speaking with.

“About?”

Murphy raised an eyebrow at Lex’s edgy tone. His shabbily crafted theory about the dark haired boy having something to do with Chloe’s abduction might actually turn out to have some merit to it.

Clark gave Lex an uncomfortable look.

“She and Mr. Sullivan were grocery shopping,” he started. The detective furrowed his brow.

“Chloe’s…brother?”

“Father,” Lex supplied.

“So, this ‘Lana’, she’s what? Stepmom, dad’s girlfriend?”

Lex snorted and then snickered into his closed hand as Clark’s face fell into a pale, horrified expression.

“N-no,” Clark stammered.

“She’s a friend of Chloe’s,” Lex said without offering any other information. He turned his attention back to Clark. “So, was this a rant about how Gabe keeps trying to buy things that his doctor told him not to?”

“No,” Clark said, shaking his head lightly to try and recover from Murphy’s statement. “They – um – they apparently ran into ---” his eyes darted over to the detective and then back to Lex before clearing his throat. “Robison.”

Lex stiffened and straightened his posture in his seat.

“I see.”

“Yeah.”

“Care to enlighten me?” Murphy asked, more than a little fed up that the two people reporting that a crime had taken place now seemed to be more focused on something that he had no knowledge about. Lex gave him a dry yet threatening look and he frowned. “That’s what I thought. Well, like I said, I’ll have the lab take a look at this and we’ll set up a tap on your home phone. If this really is a kidnapping, then you’ll probably get a ransom request within twenty-four hours.”

Lex nodded and shook the man’s hand and then he and Clark started to leave the building.

‘Great,’ Lex thought sarcastically. ‘Now not only is Chloe missing, but ---’

“When were you going to tell me?” Clark hissed once they were clear of the outside steps. Lex glanced over at him and Clark gave him the same morally disappointed look that Jonathan Kent seemed to sport on demand. “And does Chloe even know?”

“Do you think I would be able to hide something like that from her?” Lex asked wryly. Clark frowned and tilted his head a little to the side.

“I guess not,” he replied.

‘What happened?’ Chloe thought groggily. Lex stopped dead in his tracks and his eyes widened.

“Where are you?” he asked aloud, earning a surprised look from Clark.

‘Damned if I know,’ she replied, frowning when she took in her surroundings. ‘One minute I get cornered by Penelope Faust and the next I’m waking up in an all white room with no windows. All white room - shit. I’m not dead, am I?’

‘I certainly hope not,’ Lex thought. ‘And who’s Penelope Faust?’

‘New reporter for the society pages at the planet,’ Chloe informed him. ‘The last thing I remember was her spraying something at me and then I woke up here.’

‘Clark found it next to your bag; we gave it to the police.’

‘Good. It’ll have her fingerprints on it.’

‘We already know she is, Chloe.’

‘Uh-huh,’ Chloe thought. ‘But how are you going to explain that to the police?’ Lex grumbled and Chloe rubbed her eyes. ‘Besides, I have a feeling that she’s just a lackey. There’s no way a cub reporter could have access to a chemical that strong.’

‘You want me to investigate for you,’ Lex observed.

‘Would you?’ Chloe asked, too much sweetness inserted into her voice so Lex could practically picture her batting her eyelashes at him.

‘I will if you try to find a way out of there.’

‘Done and --- damn.’

‘What?’

‘I’m tied down.’

‘You just now realized that?’

‘I was coming out of the effects of the sedatives,’ Chloe argued. ‘Give me a break.’

‘Chloe ---’

‘Crap. Somebody’s coming.’

Clark resorted to waving his hand in front of Lex’s face when Lex just stopped on the sidewalk and started zoning out. He knew that Lex was talking to Chloe, and on some level that was comforting because it meant that they would know what was happening to her at all times; but the more time went on, the more Chloe and Lex both seemed to get wrapped up in their own little world – even when they were in the same room with each other. It was…disconcerting.

Lex blinked and Clark grinned at him.

“Is she okay?”

“No.”

“No?” Clark asked worriedly, his eyebrows furrowing together.

“She’s tied down and she doesn’t know where she is.”

Clark’s mouth dropped open, but he was unable to form any words to describe how he felt about the situation.

‘What the fuck?’ Chloe thought.

‘What?’

‘These people who just came in…’

‘Do you recognize them? What do they look like? Can you describe them?’

A tall, lean man with dark hair stood over the metal table that Chloe was tied down to, tilting his head to the side as he observed her.

“Who are you? Why are you doing this?” Chloe asked. “Is this about money? Because ---”

He bent at the waist, moving his mouth closer to her head to speak into her ear.

“I apologize for having to meet this way, but you were the only one I could be sure he would come for,” he said in a smooth, husky voice. Chloe frowned, but the man made no move to pull away from her, so she figured he wasn’t done talking yet. When his lips grazed her ear, she snapped her head to the side to get it away from him.

“What do you want?”

“Not *what*,” the man replied, straightening up to his full height once again and giving her a sultry, pointed look. “*Whom*.”

“Fine - *whom* do you want?” Chloe asked angrily. If she was going to be tied down to a table and probably killed in the long run, then she wasn’t going to make the time in between any easier for the guy.

‘I don’t like the sound of that,’ Lex thought, a scowl crossing his features.

‘You’d like it even less if I told you that he just tried to kiss my ear,’ she replied.

“What?!” Lex exclaimed. ‘I’ll kill him. Who is it?’

‘You know, we actually haven’t gotten around to introductions yet, but when we do, I’ll be sure to let you know,’ Chloe thought in frustration. Having her fiancé go off on a jealous fit inside her head wasn’t going to help at all when she was trying to concentrate on the man in front of her, glaring at him so he wouldn’t try anything again.

The man clasped his hands together behind his back and allowed a gentle smirk to slide across his mouth.

“I like you. You’re…passionate.”

“Flattering, *really*,” Chloe bit. “But Lex can’t come for me if he doesn’t know where I am, and ---”

“Lex?” the man asked with a questioning expression on his face. Chloe opened and closed her mouth a couple of times and tugged at her restraints.

“Hey, look – I think it’s just a case of mistaken identity here. How about you let me go and I won’t say anything to the police who could lock you away for the rest of your life?” Silently adding, ‘Or ten years – however long kidnapping sentences are these days.’

“There has been no mistake,” the man said assuredly.

“Yes, yes there has,” she argued. “Lex is my fiancé – the only guy who would come for me – so obviously you ---”

“Several surveillance pictures have been taken. There has been no error.”

“But ---”

“Kal-El will come for you,” the man said, giving her the tiniest bow of his head as a goodbye before he turned on his heel and left the room, a white door sliding across to shut the open space after he left. Chloe’s eyes widened.

‘Uh-oh.’

‘Chloe? Would you please tell me what’s going on?’

‘Lex?’

‘You were expecting someone else?’ Lex asked in irritation.

‘Don’t be a jerk. I need help.’

‘Sorry. Just tell me what’s going on,’ he half-pleaded.

‘Well, you remember that theory you had about a spaceship coming down with the meteor shower?’

Lex’s eyes darted over to Clark for a second.

‘Yeah?’

‘Looks like you were probably right.’




TBC…

[hfce]

What????? So this is about the jerk Clark? Ugh he is nothing but trouble ... :hammer: Kill clark please,.......


Hope

[sabby]

Hee Hee Hee, *breathes* ok, got my hysteria under control. This is fucking priceless! Tho I think they have the wrong girl there! They should know that if they really want to have superboy come running, they have to take the 'pretty in pink' not the fianceè of the billionaire. *shakes head* Update soon

hugs,
Sabby

[Blaire023]

*rubs hands together and cackles maniacally*

i like hope's idea...i really like her idea *wink wink*

this is brilliant...and YAY they can talk now...or think together...or whatever.

Love it.

~B

[dsapiro]

I loved this chapter. Stupid guy, but I love the Lex/Chloe stuff

[kidkarmina]

:yay: an update. Great stuff. I don't know how else to say it without coming off as demanding but....update SOON!! Okay with an addition of PLEASE!!! :blinkkiss:

[drina]

I love the twist in this plot...Chloe kidnapped because of Clark. Now i'm dying to know who that man is! :yay: Hurry!

[Val]

OMG thats yet another amazing plot! MORE! :biggrin:

[bluemoongirl23]

Even when it's not technically Clark's fault.....it's *still* all his fault. Well, at least Chloe can still communicate with Lex. And, I can't wait to see Clark try and talk his way out of this one...in that can't look away from bloody horror way.

Blue

[Dolphin1721]

Brilliant. :yay: / Update soon. I can't wait to see Lex's reaction to Clarks involvement. Maybe something involving a big big hammer. :hammer:

~Kira

[Robyn]

haha. The day is coming...sorry, just had to say that...don't exactly know why though. Neways, I love where this is going. Update soon!

Robyn :chlexsign3:

[Brittany]

:ohmy: That's so great I wasn't expecting that at all. Can't wait to see what happens next! :chlexsign1:

[lunaluthor]

It's about Mr. Boring?? :tease:

Please update soon :biggrin:

[scorpio]

Oh Clark, always causing trouble in some way or another. ;)
Kill him off and then let Chlex live happily ever after. :biggrin:

Good story. I´m paitently (or not) waiting for more. :chlexsign3:

[scifichick774]

Clark looked on as a confused expression swept over Lex’s face.

‘What is *that* supposed to mean exactly?’ Lex thought, stepping forward to slide into his car.

‘It means that, as crazy as it sounds, I think I’m on a spaceship,’ Chloe answered.

‘That chemical they sprayed on you must be making you hallucinate.’

“Shut up,” Chloe bit back, thankful that no one else was in the room to hear her. ‘Then again, if they hear me talking to myself, maybe I can plead insanity and they’ll let me go.’

‘I hate to break it to you, but it rarely works like that in kidnapping situations.’

‘I guess *you* would know,’ Chloe thought and then snickered. ‘How many times have you been taken now? Five? Six?’

“I get the feeling that you’re not taking this seriously,” Lex said sternly, bypassing Chloe’s teasing questions.

“What? How can you say that? Of course I am, Chloe is my friend,” Clark protested, thinking that Lex was speaking to him since he had voiced the previous statement aloud. Lex stared blankly at him like Clark was the biggest idiot in the world.

‘Remind me why you’re friends with him again?’

‘Who?’ Chloe asked as she pulled at her restraints. To her surprise, she was actually able to wiggle one of the metal cuffs off her ankle. ‘Yay! Go me! Of course, I can’t really do a lot with just one leg; but still, it’s the thought that counts. Right?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘I got my ankle out of the metal clamp thingy,’ she answered. ‘What were you saying before that?’

‘I was asking why you were friends with Clark.’

‘Oh. Well, at first it was because ---’

‘I know why you *started* being friends with him,’ Lex thought irritably. ‘I wanted to know why you’re *still* friends with him.’

‘Hello? Hero complex,’ she thought. ‘You have to admit the guy comes in pretty handy in those all too frequent life and death situations we seem to get into.’

‘Hmm…you’ve got a point.’

After struggling to free herself and failing, Chloe sighed and flopped her head back against the metal table.

“I’m never getting out of here,” she said to herself in a defeated tone.

‘Of course you are. And if you don’t --- look on the bright side – you’ll have an exclusive story of how you got married on a space ship.’

‘There are two things wrong with that statement,’ Chloe thought. ‘First, if I can’t leave the ship, then I can’t write the story. And second – no, I shouldn’t tell him that.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Nothing,’ she lied.

“Chloe,” he said warningly.

‘At least he can’t hurt you while you’re here – but he can yell – lots and lots of yelling,’ she conversed with herself.

“Chloe!”

Chloe sucked in a breath before continuing.

‘And second, who would I be getting married to? Because I’m pretty sure they’re not going to come get you if they’re using me as bait to get some other guy.’

‘That’s not funny.’

‘It wasn’t supposed to be.’

‘You’re not marrying anyone but me,’ Lex thought with a growl.

Clark winced when he saw his friend’s knuckles turning white with rage as he gripped the steering wheel tighter. Whatever Lex and Chloe were talking about, it wasn’t a good thing.

‘I’ll be sure to notify my alien captors of your position on that,’ Chloe thought with frustration. ‘Like it’s my fault that I was kidnapped? Fuck that!’ The words flit through her mind on their own accord and Chloe groaned immediately after thinking them. ‘Shit. Sorry, Lex. I’m just a little stressed out.’

‘Understandable,’ he responded. ‘And I’d try to take care of that for you, but Clark’s in the car – and I’d rather not do that in front of him.’

Chloe closed her eyes as a silent chuckle shook her body.

‘Leave it to you to bring up sex at a time like this.’

‘I can’t control my thoughts,’ Lex thought teasingly with a smirk – a look which soon fell when he remembered something she told him. ‘You said they were using you as bait?’

‘Yeah. Nice, huh?’ she thought sarcastically.

‘And the prey would be ---?’

‘Some guy named Kal-El. The man who was in here earlier said something about being positive that he’d come for me, that they had surveillance pictures of the two of us together.’

‘Really,’ Lex said dryly.

‘Not like that – you’re the only guy I’ve ever been with,’ Chloe reminded him. ‘And I’m pretty sure you’d have *heard* if you weren’t.’

‘True,’ Lex conceded.

‘Now, about that mind sex thing…’

‘Clark is still in the car,’ he inwardly grumbled.

‘So kick him out – it’s not like it’ll hurt him.’

‘Evil – I knew I loved you for a reason.’

A few minutes later he pulled his car over to the side of the road and motioned to the Metropolis Public Library with his head. Clark looked at him questioningly and it was all Lex could do not to take Chloe’s joking suggestion and push him out of the vehicle. Instead, he gave him a quick, lopsided grin.

“Chloe’s apparently not being held for ransom,” he said.

“What? How do you --- oh yeah. But, then why?”

“She’s being held as bait for some guy she doesn’t even know,” Lex said. Clark furrowed his brow skeptically.

“But ---”

“Chloe wants you to see what you can find on someone named ---” Lex paused. ‘What was his name again?’

‘Way to blame it on me,’ she thought.

Lex pictured himself kissing her, running his tongue into her mouth and letting it tangle with her own until breathing became a very real issue. Chloe smiled as the familiar arousal began to course through her body and projected an image of her lying down on the table, her limbs in restraints; but instead of the gown she had apparently been dressed in, she pictured herself naked and waiting for him.

Lex swallowed hard and closed his eyes.

“Come on, you guys. Don’t do that in front of me,” Clark whined. Lex’s eyes snapped open to fix a strong glare on his friend.

‘Name – give me a name, Chloe,’ he thought in desperation.

‘Kal-El…I think.’

“Kal-El,” Lex finally said, finishing his statement to Clark.

Clark’s eyes widened almost comically and his heart started beating faster with fear. Lex raised a suspicious eyebrow at Clark’s reaction.

‘Chlo-e,’ he strung out slowly. ‘You said they had surveillance photos?’

‘So the creepy guy claims, but I haven’t seen any of them. I honestly just think it’s a case of mistaken identity,’ she thought.

Lex cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at a panicked-looking Clark Kent.

‘Maybe not,’ he thought and then frowned. ‘What’s more important? Learning that Clark is an alien or having…mmm…’ his mind trailed off as he pictured himself hovering over the image of herself that she had shown him earlier.

Chloe blinked and erased the scene altogether.

‘Hey!’ Lex objected.

‘Hey *what*? Clark’s an alien?!’

‘Either that or he knows one,’ Lex said dismissively.

‘Lex ---’

“I know, I know, ask him,” he said.

‘Uh, *yeah*.’

“Ask me?” Clark asked nervously; sweat starting to bead along his brow.

“Are you an alien?” Lex questioned him blandly.

Any other time he would have been just as interested to know the truth as Chloe was, but he was having trouble coming down from the somewhat painful state of arousal that Chloe had put him in and could only think of dumping Clark off and getting home as quickly as possible so the paparazzi wouldn’t have a field day with him climaxing in the middle of Metropolis.

“And if so, could you tell the guys who took Chloe to give her back so we can get back to our normal lives? The wedding is coming up soon, you know,” Lex said.

In a fluster, Clark opened and shut his mouth a few times before settling on one of the things that was wracking his brain.

“Aliens took Chloe?”

“So it would seem,” Lex answered. “And like I said, they’re using her as bait for some---”

“For me,” Clark said quietly. Lex narrowed his eyes. “They’re using her as bait for me.” Clark raised his eyes to meet Lex’s and then let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I was told I was the last one. I – I should have told you. I’m sorry.”

Lex nodded once in acceptance of Clark’s ramblings and then squared his jaw.

“You’re my friend, Clark, but I don’t think I need to tell you what will happen to you if they hurt her,” he said.

Clark drew in a large breath and then released it slowly, fully aware that Lex would do anything in his power to find a way to torture and kill him if Chloe was injured in any way. In that moment, Clark realized that Lex wasn’t asking for him to trade his life for Chloe’s; he was demanding it.





TBC…

[Val]

:huh: They know! :huh:
I want more!!!! NOW! :yay:

[hler]

In that moment, Clark realized that Lex wasn’t asking for him to trade his life for Chloe’s; he was demanding it.
Damn straight!!! Chloe's worth ten Clarks.......
Me likey a lot! More!!!
~Heida

[dsapiro]

Heehee, they know. And since its Clarks fault that she got kidnapped, the least he can do is get her out of it.

[hfce]

Yes you go Lex tell clark the real deal. :clap:


Hope :lol:

[bluemoongirl23]

I feel like the horse with a carrot. You know, I'm walking/reading through this chapter, see car mind sex/carrot, continue reading on and then nothing! Ok, not nothing, Lex casually asking if Clark's an alien was great. Off to mutter to self now.

Blue

[Brittany]

:biggrin: More, More, More!!!! Sorry too tired to give a better review. :chlexsign1:

[sabby]

Hee that was hilarious. Leave it to Lex to brush over that whole 'Clark is an Alien' fact when he's horny *g*

Now gimme more! But don't you forget to update deserted, I am waiting for more on that one, too!

hugs,
Sabby

[lunaluthor]

I want that mind sex thing too in my life
and of course they know about Clark's secret identity not everyone is as clueless as Clark and Lana
go on and update soon :yay: :yay:

[shailafter]

great story so far! yay! :yay:

[Queen Of Tact]

I'm back and what a great ch to come home to!!!! I so love this story.... Please please please post more soon....

CC

[scorpio]

Hm. This sounds interesting. :) Please continue soon. I´m off to read the prequel.

[fighterangel]

More please please please please!!!!!!!!

[scifichick774]

A/N: Sorry I’ve been so lazy about updating my happier fics, but my muse just hasn’t been leading me there lately. Hopefully this tidbit will make up for that.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“What do you mean ‘she’s missing’?” Lana asked incredulously. “Have you talked to Lex? They do have that whole psychic thing, you know?”

Clark grumbled something under his breath, thankful that Lana couldn’t see him roll his eyes over the telephone.

Some things about Lana had become unsettlingly clear over the last year. The first was that she had a tendency to tip any conversation so that it ended up being about her or her problems. The second was that she regarded him, or at least treated him, like he was a complete idiot – even when he hadn’t screwed up.

“I *mean* she’s been *kidnapped*, Lana. And they’re not psychic, they’re telepathic – and only with each other.”

“The kidnappers?”

“Chloe and Lex,” Clark responded in aggravation. Lana giggled.

“I knew what you were saying, Clark. I was just teasing you.”

“Oh.”

“Now, where is she really? The bridesmaid dresses came in and – ugh. They’re not even close to the shade of pink that I was *finally* able to talk her into. They’re not even pink at all – more of a lilac ---”

“Lana!”

“What?”

“Chloe – has – been – kidnapped,” Clark reiterated, pausing between each word for emphasis.

“Oh – oh, my God! Is she alright? Have the kidnappers made any demands?”

‘Yeah – me,’ Clark thought sourly, but thought it best not to mention that. “I don’t know. I think she’s okay, but she told Lex that she’s tied up.”

“Maybe she just meant that she was busy.”

“She didn’t.”

“Oh. And they haven’t said what they want yet? That seems strange. Seems like with all of Lex’s money they would have planned it out a little better. Of course, I guess they could be making him sweat.”

Clark ran a hand around the back of his neck.

“I guess. And I haven’t heard anything about what they want,” he lied, mentally adding, ‘At least not from *them*.’

“Well, be sure to keep me posted, okay?”

“I will. Bye Lana.”

“Bye.”

Gabe mildly scowled at Lana as he walked into the living room.

“Was that Chloe?” he asked.

“Clark,” she replied, still a little in shock over the news that Clark had given her.

“Oh,” he said, his expression softening ever so slightly.

“Um…” Lana started, chewing nervously on her bottom lip. Gabe’s face transformed into a forgiving and almost humored look.

“I already know that Lex stopped the research, remember? There’s not a whole lot else you can say that’s going to upset me more than that.” Gabe paused for a second and grinned at her. “Unless, of course, you say she’s pregnant…she’s not, right?”

Lana shook her head.

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

“Um…I’m not sure how to say this, but Chloe’s been taken.”

“Taken,” Gabe repeated. “Do I want to know the context in which you’re using that word?”

“She was kidnapped,” Lana clarified.

“Please tell me you’re joking.”

Lana shook her head again and her eyes started to water.

“I’m sorry.”

“Shit! I knew something like this would happen if she kept hanging out with him.” Gabe drew in a breath to calm himself and ran a tired hand over his face. “What have they asked for ransom? And so help me, Lex had better pay it or ---”

“It doesn’t sound like they’ve asked for anything yet,” Lana interrupted. “And you know that Lex loves Chloe. I’m sure he’ll pay whatever it takes to get her back.”

“He’d better.”

~*~*~*~*~

Lex pictured himself naked and practically hovering over Chloe’s bare and bound form, his mouth causing delicious sensations to course through her body.

“Lex,” she breathed. Lex’s image smirked against the soft skin of her stomach.

‘It almost sounded like you said that out loud,’ he thought teasingly.

“I did,” she informed him. “Do *you* give a fuck whether these alien bastards hear me or not?”

‘Only if they get off on it.’

Chloe scoffed.

“Let them. Maybe it’ll improve my chances of getting out of here alive.”

Lex growled and allowed his dream self to savagely attack Chloe’s neck, ravaging it with his tongue and teeth, causing Chloe to tug at her restraints as she arched her back.

“Oh --- God ---”

‘Ready for me, baby?’

It was a little inappropriate, but Chloe couldn’t help the snicker that escaped her lips.

“What?” Lex asked aloud, put off by the fact that she had essentially laughed at him.

“Nothing,” Chloe lied. ‘You just sounded like a bad porno movie with that line.’ Lex opened his mouth to retort, but Chloe beat him to it. ‘And before you start objecting, I should remind you that this is only mind sex, so *technically* I don’t need to be ready.’

Lex let an evil grin slip across his mouth.

‘Is that so?’

“Lex ---” Chloe warned, not liking the devilish tone of his voice.

‘So, *technically*,’ he started, positioning his image between her legs, ‘I can just take you anytime I want to.’

‘Well, I wouldn’t say ---’

Lex pushed into her, eliciting a gasp from deep in Chloe’s throat. Fantasies were great, but this felt…real.

Chloe’s eyes sprung open to make sure that the man she had met earlier wasn’t taking advantage of the situation.

No one was there.

And yet, she still felt Lex’s stiff cock inside her, thrusting in and out, stroking her inner walls with the fine-tuned precision he knew it would take to get her to climax quickly.

“Lex ---”

“Chloe,” Lex moaned, not even realizing that she had stopped contributing to the daydream.

“No – Lex – I --- unh,” Chloe tapered off with a keening whimper.

Her stomach tightened and Chloe screamed his name as her body started to shudder with release. Lex panted for breath, letting out a groan of pleasure while Chloe’s orgasm squeezed his own out of him.

“God, I love you, Chloe,” he said, letting a lazy smile crawl across his lips. ‘That was incredible.’

“Lex, something’s wrong,” she said, squirming on the table.

Lex furrowed his brow as he settled his head onto one of the pillows on the bed.

‘You can’t tell me you didn’t like that,’ he argued. ‘It felt almost like the real thing.’

‘And therein lies the problem.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I could *feel* you.’

‘And?’

‘*And* usually I can’t. My fertile imagination just fills in the blanks.’

‘So we’re getting better at the mind sex thing. I, for one, don’t see a problem.’

‘Well, how’s *this* for a problem?’ Chloe snapped. ‘I can feel your semen oozing out of me.’

“What?” Lex asked, his body springing up to a sitting position.

“Yeah.”

‘That’s not possible,’ Lex argued. ‘Shit! That bastard didn’t ---’

‘No one else was in the room, Lex.’

‘Interesting.’

‘Yeah, really interesting,’ Chloe said sarcastically. ‘If this is more than just a one time freak occurrence, then you’re going to have to start picturing yourself wearing a condom when we have mind sex too.’

“Fuck.”




TBC…

[Brittany]

:biggrin: Interesting twist, will she get pregnant?
Please say yes!
Anyway that was a great update, can't wait for the next one! :worship2:

[shailafter]

oh hmm.. very interesting! i want to find out why that's happening!! so update as soon as possible!!! :biggrin:

[hfce]

That was good :clap:


Hope :biggrin:

[dsapiro]

:lol: So, whats going on, is there something different about it now? Does it have to do with the aliens that took her? More soon!

[Carina]

Hmm, interesting. Is this some kind of astral projection side effect of their telepathic connection... where only certain parts of the anatomy project? :goof: Loving this story and I look forward to the next chapter.

[Blaire023]

*g*

now THAT is what i call a good ole fashioned probing.

LOL

I so needed that

~B

[sabby]

*snickers* Sorry, I just picture the alien coming in and finding a ravished Chloe tied to the table, and doing the whole Spock with arched eyebrow thing saying 'Fascinating'. *shakes head*

Anyway great chappy and I can't wait for the next one, this is gonna be very very interesting indeed *g*

hugs,
Sabby

[Val]

That was good!
I'm confused as to why thats happened but I guess it has to do with the kryptonite thingy?

[bluemoongirl23]

Ok, the connection getting strong or is it alien related? Hmmm....interesting twist. Give us more soon....like now


Blue

[vardaquareien]

*shudders* OK the only thing in my head now is - invisible alien!

[happy bunny]

Interesting twist there. Does that mean Chloe's going to get pregnant?? Because pregnant Chloe = not so happy Gabe.

Can't wait to find out how this is gonna turn out. (Here's a hint; it should be happy. I've been reading way too much angst for my own good. I need happy!!)

Please continue soon!!

[Sunny]

Originally posted by happy bunny@Aug 18 2003, 12:13 AM
Does that mean Chloe's going to get pregnant?? Because pregnant Chloe = not so happy Gabe.


Yeah, I agree... Poor Gabe... and Poor (?) Clark.... with Lex and the aliens against him he has no chance!
Update soon please! :yay: :chlexsign3:

[scifichick774]

A/N: Many apologies for the late update. Real life has been…ugh, for lack of a better word.

~*~*~*~*~

“Kal-El?”

Clark’s head whipped around at the sound of the voice and his eyes narrowed on the young woman standing in front of him.

“Who are you?”

“Oh – um – that’s not important,” she stammered, suddenly taken aback by the fact that Clark was much larger than he appeared in the pictures she had been shown. She shoved what looked like a thin piece of metal at him and he reached out hesitantly to take it.

“What is this?”

The woman looked around to make sure no one was within earshot before answering.

“The kidnappers’ demands.”

Clark’s spine stiffened and he glared at her.

“Who are you?” he asked again. “Why are you doing this?”

“Hey – it’s just a job to me, man. You want reasons then you’ll need to ask the guys behind it.”

“They must be paying you a lot for you to risk being caught for assisting a kidnapping,” Clark said as he looked down at the Kryptonian language on metal sheet.

“They’re not paying me anything,” she shot back. Clark gave her a disbelieving look.

“Yeah, because I’m sure that you’d be helping them commit a crime and risk being sent to prison for nothing,” he said sarcastically.

“Who said for nothing?” she retorted. “I get the best story possible and will be taken off the society pages.”

Something in Clark’s brain clicked together.

“You’re the reporter Chloe was talking to when she was taken,” he said accusingly.

“How’d you know that?” Penelope asked in a startled voice. “Oh, my God! You really are connected to her in some way, aren’t you? Are you sleeping with her? Oh, man. This is just too good! ‘Lex Luthor’s fiancée having affair with real life alien!’ I wonder if I can get anybody except the tabloids to buy it…”

Clark tucked the metal sheet of demands under his t-shirt and supersped behind her. With a quick hit to the back of her head, she passed out cold.

Clark frowned and picked her limp body up in his arm, no idea of where to go from there.

He could take her back to his dorm room, but he’d have to come up with a clever lie for anyone who saw them. Clark inwardly vetoed the idea. Clever lies had never been his strong suit.

He could take her back to the farm, but when she woke up, he’d be risking further exposure of his family and his home, and he had half a suspicion that his dad would forgo his moral platitudes and just tell him to bury the body somewhere.

Or he could take her to Lex, who would undoubtedly try to kill her. But at least with Lex, as long as he was in the room, then he could restrain him from doing anything rash.

At least he hoped he could.

~*~*~*~

“God! Would you stop it?! I’m not a fucking lab rat!” Chloe snapped.

‘Why do I not like the sound of that?’

‘I can’t imagine.’

‘What are they doing to you?’

‘Nothing worse than my annual check up. Which reminds me – I’ll need a new skirt. They cut through the one I was wearing.’

“What?!”

‘What? I told you it was ---’

‘I didn’t think you meant *that* kind of annual check up.’

‘Well, now you know.’

‘Can’t you kick at him or something?’

‘Gee, let me try,’ Chloe said sarcastically and then started to struggle against the metal restraints. ‘Nope. Still no super powers to bust through the *metal cuffs* around my ankles ---’ Chloe trailed off as she felt a sharp pinch between her legs. “Ouch! That hurt! Knock it off!”

The man in the room raised an eyebrow at her tone, but made no move to stop the examination he was performing.

“It’s…remarkable,” he finally said. “I’ve never seen the chemical have this affect on anyone before.”

‘Well, lucky me,’ Chloe thought sarcastically. “Go around abducting a lot of helpless victims, do you?”

“I would hardly consider you helpless,” he replied, finally standing up and spreading a blanket over the lower half of her uncovered body. “Our testing has shown that you have exceptional telepathic abilities with your mate and the dimethykryptoic compound has only seemed to raise that to an astroplanic level. It’s truly unique.”

“My mate ---”

‘That would be me,’ Lex cut in.

‘Ya think?’

‘Just clarifying in case he still thinks you’re dating Clark.’

‘He can’t hear you,’ Chloe pointed out.

‘You could tell him.’

Chloe gritted her teeth and glared at the man looming over her bedside.

“So, does this mean you’ve finally given up that ridiculous idea of me and Clark being together?” she asked.

‘Well put.’

“Because, if so,” Chloe continued, trying to ignore Lex’s interjection, “you could just let me go now.”

“Kal-El will still come for you,” the man replied with certainty in his voice. “Regardless of whether or not you are his mate, he cares for you. He will come.”

“You’re delusional,” Chloe said, the words pouring out of her mouth before she had a chance to think about them. Lex let out a small groan and rubbed his eyes.

‘What did I tell you about pissing off the kidnappers?’

‘You’d prefer that I just bend to their will?’ Chloe sharply shot back. ‘Because the way this guy is looking at me, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.’

‘Forget I said anything.’

‘Technically, you didn’t.’

‘Fine. Forget I *thought* anything.’

It was an old joke between the two of them by now, but it still brought a smile to Chloe’s face. The expression quickly fell though once she saw the man arching a questioning eyebrow at her.

“I don’t suppose you’re going to let me out of these restraints anytime soon, are you?”

“That would not be a wise decision on my part.”

Chloe gave an overly dramatic roll of her eyes and let out a suffered sigh.

“Then do you mind? I’m trying to have a conversation here,” she said. Lex couldn’t help the guttural laugh that sprung from his throat and Chloe smiled again, this time with pride that she had been able to get him to lighten up a little. ‘Found that funny, did you?’

‘You may have had something there with annoying them into letting you go,’ he responded wryly.

‘Would you?’

‘Would I what?’

‘If you didn’t know me and were the bad kidnapper guy, would you let me go if I drove you crazy?’

Lex’s face transformed into a scowl. He knew only too well how Chloe’s banter made him feel, how it had always made him feel even before they had gotten together, and he didn’t relish the idea of any other male reacting that way to her – especially not one who currently had her back against a table and all four limbs indisposed.

‘Leave him alone.’

‘I beg your pardon?’ Chloe asked, an indignant tone in her head.

‘Chloe --- God, I can’t tell her that,’ he thought.

‘And once again, a reminder that I can hear *everything* you’re thinking.’

Lex frowned.

‘You know how we are when we argue,’ Lex started, hoping that it wasn’t just a one-sided reaction on his part.

‘What’s that supposed to me--- oh.’

‘Oh?’

Chloe pictured the two of them exchanging a series of snide, witty comments and Lex could literally feel the familiar tingling warmth spread throughout his body, settling between his legs where it made his flaccid cock start to twitch to life.

“Chloe,” he half-moaned out and then sucked in a breath to try and restrain himself. ‘Is he still there?’

‘Of course. And he’s looking at me like he’s never seen a girl get turned on before,’ Chloe said, the last part coming out a little uncomfortably.

The man tilted his head a little to the side and narrowed his eyes somewhat quizzically.

“What?” Chloe asked, her voice tweaked with a mixture irritation and discomfort.

“Does your species not have immediate knowledge of when you’ve conceived?”

[scifichick774]

Chloe’s eyes grew wide and her heart started to race in panic.

“Why?”

“You were about to mate again, were you not?”

“Um…” Chloe paused and tried to force the color from rising fully to her cheeks. ‘This guy is getting *way* too personal.’

‘You’re just thinking that *now*?’ Lex thought. ‘What about when he was ‘examining’ you?’

‘I meant personal with his questions, not body…stuff.’

‘If he starts launching into what you call ‘bad porno lines’, then bite him.’

‘Bite him?’ Chloe asked in disbelief.

‘You said you couldn’t hit or kick him – it was the only other thing I could think of,’ Lex argued.

‘I’m not biting him, Lex.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because if he’s like Clark, then I’m pretty sure my teeth would crack and fall out. And as appealing as the idea of having fake teeth at my age is, it’s not going to happen.’

‘But he’d get the message to back off.’

‘Or not. And I’d risk the chance of getting however he tastes stuck in my mouth. And he looks…icky.’

‘You’ll never be a cannibal if you’re that selective, Chloe,’ Lex teased.

‘Nor was I aiming to ever become one,’ she retorted with a slight grin.

‘Good to know.’

“The only conceivable reason I can ascertain for this is that you do not know when you’ve conceived,” the man beside her said, snapping her out of her inner conversation with Lex. She had no idea how long he had been talking for, but she definitely didn’t like the words she was hearing come out of his mouth now.

“Your --- ‘species’ – doesn’t just --- you know?” she asked.

The man gave her a humored, yet incredibly creepy grin.

“Before our home world’s destruction…yes. But now, with our numbers so few, we cannot afford such dalliances.”

Chloe gave the best understanding nod she could manage from her position. Then, an unsettling feeling clenched her gut. He had asked obviously asked the question about conception for a reason. An even worse feeling overwhelmed her. Lex hadn’t been there physically when they had mind sex earlier, and despite the alien’s comment about astroplanic abilities, the only way she could really see herself being pregnant was if they had implanted her with something.

‘And he *did* say their numbers were few…’

‘What?’

‘Nothing,’ Chloe quickly covered. ‘You just need to find Clark and fast.’

‘Chloe – if something’s going on ---’ Lex’s thought paused as he heard his doorbell ring.

He wasn’t expecting anyone, and his apartment had excellent security – so much so that any visitors would have been announced from the front desk ahead of time. Frowning to himself, he started to walk over to see who was on the other side of the door.

“Clark,” he greeted, somewhat in confusion as the younger man stepped quickly past him and carried the unconscious woman in his arms to the couch.

‘Yes, Clark. He’s the one they want, remember?’ Chloe thought.

‘He just got here,’ Lex explained.

‘Oh. Well good. So, when’s the big rescue planned?’

‘Give me a second. He brought someone with him.’

‘What?’

“Sorry,” Clark started, pulling Lex away from any further questions that Chloe was going to ask. “I didn’t know where else to bring her.”

“What happened?”

“She – she’s the reporter who kidnapped Chloe. She brought me the kidnappers’ demands,” Clark said, but didn’t reach for the metal sheet tucked under his shirt. ‘It’s not like Lex can read Kryptonian anyway,’ he inwardly reasoned.

Lex leaned his head to the side as he observed the young woman now sleeping on his couch. She couldn’t have been more than five years older than Chloe, but the heavy makeup that she probably wore to make herself look more sophisticated only served to make her look older and more run down. Though, that could have also been because of her role in getting entangled into a kidnapping scheme.

“Did you kill her?” he finally asked, his tone temperate and void of emotion. Clark’s mouth dropped open.

“What?! No, no! I just knocked her out. She started talking about writing all these articles and ---”

“What do they want?” Lex interrupted, not having the patience to put up with Clark’s moral reasons for not killing the woman. He would have been surprised if Clark had said that he killed her, but he also would have readily accepted it. This reporter brought harm to Chloe; to the only woman who ever loved him and accepted him in spite of his money, not because of it. She deserved any and every kind of punishment she had coming to her.

“Um,” Clark started, looking down at the floor and shuffling his feet nervously.

“I can pay them whatever they ask, but I need to know what it is, Clark.”

‘Wow. It sounds like you actually want me back or something,’ Chloe half-teased.

‘Of course I do. Why would you even doubt that?’

‘I didn’t – I just --- a girl likes to hear that she’s wanted every now and again, okay?’

‘Let me finish talking to Clark and then I’ll tell you how much you’re *wanted*.’

‘You’ve got a dirty mind, Luthor.’

‘And you share it, Sullivan.’

Clark raised his eyes a little, a wave of nausea sweeping through him with what he had to say.

“They want --- me.”

Lex nodded once. He had gathered as much from his earlier conversations with Chloe and Clark. The aliens wanted to meet and talk to Clark and Lex didn’t see that being a problem. After all, Clark would want to know about his origins as well. But Lex refused to believe that they would have taken Chloe and kept her bound up if talking to Clark was the only thing they were after.

“And?”

“Well…not *me* specifically, but ---”

“Clark, it’s Chloe,” Lex reminded him, not below using Clark’s deep feelings of friendship to guilt him into getting his fiancée back.

“My planet kind of…exploded…I guess. Not too many people survived,” Clark started. Lex looked at him expectantly to continue. “They want my ---” Clark paused and looked down again, running his hand over the back of his neck to try and ease his discomfort. “--- genetic material.”

The last part came out barely louder than an embarrassed whisper, but caused both of Lex’s eyebrows to rise in surprise and a small smirk to curl up the corners of his lips.

‘Well?’ Chloe asked impatiently. ‘What’s the deal?’

‘It sounds like they want Clark to be a sperm donor.’

‘That’s not funny.’

‘I wasn’t joking.’

‘Shit.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Chloe,’ Lex thought, stringing out her name warningly.

‘Well, if their numbers are so few…’

‘How did you know that? I don’t remember thinking it,’ Lex cut in as she paused.

‘The guy told me.’

‘The same guy who was giving you the examination?’

‘Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this now,’ Chloe thought as she noted Lex’s increasingly jealous tone.

‘I disagree.’

‘I’m in shock,’ Chloe said sarcastically. ‘Look, I’m pretty sure he said it just to scare me anyway, so don’t read too much into it, okay?’

‘Chloe,” Lex repeated with increased irritation.

‘He asked me if our ‘species’ was unable to tell when the moment of conception occurred or something like that.’

‘Why would he ---’

‘We were about to do stuff - *again* - when he asked me.’

‘You think you’re pregnant?’

‘No. Like I said, I think he was trying to scare me into being a little more submissive.’

‘And if he wasn’t?’

‘And if he wasn’t, then we have a serious problem.’

‘I’d rather you not refer to our child as a problem. It took years of therapy for me to get over my dad calling me that.’

‘That’s not what I meant – I mean, we use protection every time,’ Chloe thought, hoping he would get the general gist of her words so she wouldn’t have to go into explicit detail.

‘Every time but this last time with the mind sex,’ Lex pointed out.

‘I refuse to believe that you can get pregnant by just thinking about sex. If that was the case, then we’d already have a zillion kids running around. And that’s not what I was talking about.’

‘Then, by all means, feel free to elaborate, since I obviously don’t get it,’ Lex thought in a snotty tone that made him sound like a spoiled child.

Chloe sighed. Lex on the offensive was bad enough, but Lex putting up his defensive shields was even worse.

‘What if he implanted me with *something* when he was ‘examining’ me?’

Lex blinked a couple of times, counting to ten in several different languages to try to ease his temper.

It didn’t work.

“I’ll kill him.”



TBC...

[tigerbaby]

I'm so glad you got around to updating this fic. It was just fabulous.

yeah and real life does tend to get in the way but have no fear, the world will right itself

[SexInStilettos]

Please don't do this to me!!! update! Say it with me, "I will update now." :die:

[kidkarmina]

I truly understand about real life getting the way but I'm glad you are able to update. I'm so happy to read at least 3 chapters from the last time I've read/posted......I'm content :blinkkiss: !

Okay....I'm ready for another one :biggrin: !

[hfce]

Oh wow so is chloe pregnant by Lex or that alien? Please make it Lex's.... :huh:


Hope :chlexsign2:

[krahmogh]

And i hope they don't want to impregnate her with Clark's sperm either. By, the way, this fic is great and i'm glad you updated again.


:chlexsign4:

[Queen Of Tact]

Great couple of ch.... I just loved it!!!! I so can't wait to read more to see if there is going to be a little chloe and lex runing around......


CC

[sabby]

Yeah the counting to ten can only get you so far... Excellent chappies, and please let me see Lex kick some alien ass (wouldn't mind if Clark gets kicked by default). Update soon hon, I love it.

hugs,
Sabby

[lunaluthor]

alien ass kicking is in order :devil:

[Blaire023]

heeeeeeeee

[Val]

I can't wait to see Lex killing the alien and blaming Clark for everything! :devil:

[Sab_Luthor]

wow wow

i can't wait to read the next chapter. its too good. i want to see lex killing them and slowly by the way
please update more and more important soon VERY soon

[peepsRfun2eat]

i love this story well i love all your fics. but please don't have the aliens want Chloe to reproduce with clark. make the reporter, clark's baby's momma. great story please update soon :worship2:



----------------------

"God dam it Jim! You are destructive to the expanding of the mind!"
- Said after a "friendly game" of Trival Pursuit.

[S.Ann Smith]

*does snoopy dance* yay two awesome updates!!! but i agree with 'peeps' .... don't make Chloe 'clark's baby's momma'

[drina]

Oh a baby! I can't wait to see if it comes by naturally or implanted by the alien...

[bluemoongirl23]

Wonderful, beautiful updates. Two! Yay! And, I hope that Lex is allowed in the room with prying examiny guy. Would serve the guy right. And, really, who would, in their right mind, want Clark's DNA?

Blue

[happy bunny]

Originally posted by bluemoongirl23@Aug 31 2003, 02:16 PM
And, really, who would, in their right mind, want Clark's DNA?
*snorts* So right.

But please, please, I'm begging you, don't let the baby be anyone's but Lex's. If it is, I'll, I'll, I'll... cry.

[TestingFaith]

this is an awsome story...i loved the first one...i agree with the other people who were saying who would want Clark's DNA...and that I hope it is Lex's kid cause otherwise, that's just gross. ^_^

Loving it and waiting for more,
Lily M. :sunny:

[kirt30]

:wub: oh come on add the next part :wub:

[vardaquareien]

Haven't had time to come to the board for over a week and it's great the wonderful things I've found since I've come back - such as multiple updates!!! This story's getting very interesting, I can't wait to see where your gonna take this idea!

[scifichick774]

A/N: Many apologies for the lateness of this chapter. My muse has just been lagging on this story, but I think I’ve come up with a twist that will make it fun for me again. For those of you who have commented on how violent my fics have been lately – all I can tell you is that they have the rating for a reason and you’ll probably want to avert your eyes toward the end of this chapter.

~*~*~*~*~*~

‘Okay,’ Chloe thought.

‘You’re not going to argue with me? Talk me out of doing something morally wrong?’

‘Nope. Kill the slime bag.’

Lex chuckled.

‘That’s my girl,’ he thought. ‘So you’re not afraid your fiancé will be sent away for murder?’

‘Lex, you’re a *genius*. I have every confidence that you can find a way to kill a man…’

‘Alien,’ Lex corrected.

‘Whatever. My point is that you should be able to kill him without leaving any evidence behind.’

‘Have I mentioned that I love you?’

‘Several times,’ Chloe thought. ‘I love you too. So, is Clark going to ---’

‘God – please don’t picture it,’ he thought, causing Chloe to burst out in laughter. ‘And he’s doing it right now. I left the apartment the second I could hear his passionate cries for Lana from the other room. I wanted to spare you from the mental image you’d undoubtedly come up with.’

Chloe snorted.

‘More like sparing yourself,’ she thought.

‘Two birds, one stone,’ Lex agreed nonchalantly.

‘So, when is this big swap supposed to go down?’

‘In about an hour. Why? Do you miss me?’

‘Don’t flatter yourself. I miss being able to go to the bathroom without a catheter.’

‘Too much information.’

‘You asked.’

‘Technically, I didn’t. I just *jokingly* asked if you missed me.’

‘No,’ Chloe corrected. ‘You asked ‘why’ first.’

‘So I did. Though, you never really answered my second question.’

Chloe smiled.

‘Of course I miss you,’ she thought.

‘Good. Make it up to me when I see you in a little while?’ Lex asked, half-teasing and half-hopeful.

Chloe laughed.

‘We’ll see.’

~*~*~*~*~*~

“I’m not so sure about this, Lex,” Clark said, earning him a pointed glare from his friend, but he sheepishly continued anyway. “I mean, what if they don’t bring Chloe and take – you know – anyway? Then I’ll have a bunch of kids out there and ---”

“You will regardless,” Lex interrupted. “And this is the only way to get Chloe back.”

Clark frowned. He had been struggling with the idea of fathering children he would never know ever since he had read the single demand that Penelope Faust had delivered to him, and to have Lex act so flippantly about it really bothered him.

Clark stopped in his tracks and narrowed his eyes a little.

“You don’t even care, do you?”

Lex gave him a sour half-smirk.

“You said they wanted you or your DNA, Clark. If you want to go with them and be a loving dad to your new offspring, then by all means, be my guest.”

Clark shook his head.

“I just don’t think ---” he trailed off with a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. “There’s got to be another way.”

Lex pursed his lips.

Truth be told, Lex didn’t relish the idea of a bunch of miniature Clark Kents running around any more than Clark did, and had devised a second, secret plan to make sure it didn’t happen. He had a strong suspicion that Clark’s ingrained morals and sense of self-preservation would prevent him from carrying through with his intentions, so the less he said the better.

“Do you have any idea what it’s been like for me since she was taken, Clark?” he asked, trying to avoid the topic of ‘another way’ and put the focus on whatever guilt he could muster from the younger man.

“You can hear each other’s thoughts – it couldn’t have been that hard,” Clark argued.

“Yes,” Lex spat. “I can hear her thoughts. Every whimper, every fear, every *scream* comes through loud and clear.”

“Oh,” Clark said uncomfortably. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

‘When did I scream?’ Chloe thought.

‘Would you like me to remind you?’ Lex asked suggestively.

‘I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count.’

‘I didn’t say what *kind* of scream it was,’ Lex pointed out.

“Hey! Watch it!”

‘Okay, calm down. I’ll…apologize to him or something,’ he inwardly grumbled.

‘Not you. This guy’s just getting a little pushy.’

Lex scowled.

‘It’ll be over soon,’ he thought, his inner tone cold rather than comforting.

‘You found a way to kill him,’ Chloe thought knowingly.

Lex sighed.

‘I know you were just joking around before, but ---’

‘It’s okay, Lex.’

‘It is?’ he asked in surprise.

‘We’ve been in each other’s heads for a year now. I think I understand your need for revenge better than you do.’

‘I’m not sure what to say,’ Lex admitted. He didn’t doubt Chloe’s love for him, but to know she accepted every part of him, even his darker side, to hear her think the thoughts – it meant more to him than he could express in words.

His emotion seemed to radiate to her and the corners of her lips curled upward.

‘Don’t go getting all sentimental. You still have to get me away from him, you know.’

“Kal-El.”

The voice jerked Lex and Clark’s attention over to a corner of the warehouse they had just entered. Even from the distance across the room, they could see that the stranger held Chloe’s arm tight and she wouldn’t be able to squirm away from him on her own.

“Let her go,” Lex demanded.

The man ignored him and kept his gaze focused on Clark.

“Will you be joining us or ---?” he trailed off as Clark frowned and held up the lidded cup he had brought with him. “I see. And the reporter we hired?”

“At the police station,” Lex answered. “Though I’m sure they’ll be transferring her to a psychiatric facility soon. Stories of alien abductions don’t generally bode well with the local authorities.”

The man nodded and looked questioningly at Clark.

“My curiosity has gotten the better of me and I have to ask ---”

“You know what they say about curiosity,” Lex started. The man looked at him blankly. “Or…maybe you don’t.”

‘Maybe you should save the clever villain lines until *after* you’re winning,’ Chloe suggested.

“What did you want to ask?” Clark asked.

“It is a conundrum to me. Why settle for loving someone else’s mate from a distance when you could so easily eliminate him and claim her as your own?”

‘God, don’t put ideas in his head,’ Chloe thought.

“You’ve got what you want. Let her go,” Lex said.

The man motioned to Clark with his head.

“Not until I get an answer.”

Clark shuffled his feet uncomfortably.

“It’s not like that. Chloe and I are just friends.”

The man shook his head and sighed in disapproval.

“Give me the cup.”

“Give me Chloe,” Lex retorted.

The man tipped his head to the side with a wry expression and Lex motioned for Clark to set the cup down. Clark walked halfway between them and placed the cup on the floor, glaring expectantly at the stranger who shared his true heritage.

The man shoved Chloe toward Lex and moved to meet Clark where he was standing. Lex kissed Chloe and then searched her eyes for permission to do what he needed to do.

‘It’s okay,’ she repeated.

Lex brushed his lips against her forehead gratefully and then released her from his embrace to stroll purposefully toward Clark and the other alien.

“I have a question for *you*,” he started, digging his hands into his jacket pockets. The man arched an eyebrow and Lex looked at him coolly. “Did you really think I’d let you get away with this?”

The man smirked, but it quickly fell as Lex removed a green meteor rock from the pocket he had lined with lead in the fabric to help conceal his intentions. Holding it in his hand to observe it, Lex’s gaze only flit to the floor briefly as he heard both Clark and the man fall to their knees in pain.

“There are a few things you should know about me,” Lex said, nearing the man and fixing a hard glare to meet his eyes. This man had dared to take his fiancée away from him, to touch her. He deserved no mercy. “I’m…possessive and…vengeful,” he said with a lopsided smirk. He stopped as the man collapsed completely to the floor, curling his body up in pain. “And I always keep my promises.” The man let out a whimpering grown and Lex crouched down beside him.

He set the rock down next to the man and the alien looked at him in utter surprise. Not only had this simple human managed to bring him a considerable amount of pain, but he most likely would bring him death as well.

Clark looked at Lex pleadingly.

“Lex…you can’t…”

Lex outstretched his hand to help his friend up, but Clark pulled away from him. If Lex was cruel enough to carry through with killing someone from his home planet with no regard to his feelings, then he wasn’t sure he wanted anything to do with him.

“You said you wanted another way, Clark,” Lex reminded him.

Clark shook his head weakly.

“Hey! What are you doing?!” Chloe yelled, running over to where Lex stood, but speaking to the man who had held her hostage.

Struggling to reach inside his pocket, the man gasped for air as he found the device that he believed would save him. Lex narrowed his eyes and placed his hand on the small of Chloe’s back as he moved to kick the device out of the man’s hand.

It was too late.

The man pushed the button and the second Lex’s foot connected with the man’s hand, the room filled with a blinding white light.

“Sorry sweetheart,” Gabe said.

Chloe and Lex both blinked in confusion, their surroundings now completely different from where they had just been.

“What the hell just happened?” Chloe asked.

Lex shook his head.

“I have no idea.”

“What are you two talking about?” Gabe asked, looking back and forth between them like they had both grown a third eye.

“Oh, my God,” Chloe said weakly, the scene around her striking an eerily familiar chord.

“You don’t think ---?” Lex trailed off, swallowing his panic as he realized that he could no longer hear any of Chloe’s thoughts.

Frightened tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes and she ran a shaky hand through her hair.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Gabe asked worriedly.

“I ---” Chloe’s words caught in her throat and she let out the beginning of a choked cry. Whatever the alien had done, it had sent them back in time to just before they had developed their abilities. That, or the chemical spill had caused one very long hallucination for the both of them. Needing time to clear her head and think about what was really going on, Chloe shook her head. “I should go. I have to go.”

“Chloe?” Gabe asked.

“Chloe – wait. We can talk about this,” Lex said.

Forgetting about the vat’s leak puddling at her feet, Chloe fell to the ground, much like the first time she had a year ago. The meteor rocks spilled from her purse and she looked up at Lex from where she now sat. Their intense stare seemed to last forever and then Lex took a chance, grinning at her and extending his hand to help her up.

“You could have reminded me about the spill,” Chloe said, a smile twitching on her mouth.

Lex nodded once in agreement.

“I could have, but…” he trailed off, his grin turning into a smirk.

Chloe rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, well, you’d just better hope you remember the formula that actually worked to save my life,” she mumbled.

Oh.

Lex hadn’t thought about that.

“So, your ill-fated attempt to run away wasn’t from me?” he asked.

“Well, you’ll never know now, will you?” she quipped, rubbing her hands on the sides of her jeans and then looking over at the sinks.

Lex shrugged, the smirk reappearing on his lips.

“Give me a half hour.”

Chloe closed her eyes and lightly shook her head.

“Have you even thought --- maybe we weren’t the only ones brought back?” she suggested, glancing down at her stomach.

“I thought you said you thought he was lying,” Lex said.

“Well, yeah – but what if he wasn’t?” Chloe asked. “If he really did send us back in time, then I haven’t graduated yet. I can’t go having an alien baby in high school!”

“Or any time,” Lex said pointedly. “But we don’t know that it’s not mine.”

“Excuse me?” Gabe asked, standing there in complete confusion before running a weary hand over his face. He wasn’t following much of his daughter and boss’s conversation and the parts that he did understand made them sound like they were crazy.

“I think you two need to get over to health services,” he said.

Lex placed a hand on Chloe’s abdomen.

“Good idea. We can have a test run there.”





TBC…

[asharnanae]

:huh: :worship2: Whaaaaaa??? You with the twist and turns again!!!!!! brilliant update!! loved it!

[beautiful N' Bruised]

Hmm, interesting :)

*Loved* this line:


‘Maybe you should save the clever villain lines until *after* you’re winning,’ Chloe suggested.

Aww.. So cute

[tigerbaby]

Kris, that was fabulous. :wub:

And a dead Clark Kent is a good Clark Kent. Yes, my violent tendencies are starting to show. Stupidity tends to bring that out in me. :devil:

[krahmogh]

:yay: :yay: That was a great twist!!!! I absolutely loved them being sent back and getting to do it all over again!!!! But is she pregnant? And is it Lex's? And what happened to Clark when they got sent back?

Please update again soon.

:chlexsign4:

[deessedelune]

Wow. What a twist!

Love, love, love this fic.

And tigerbaby: I get those rage episodes, too. You are not alone.


Originally posted by tigerbaby@Sep 24 2003, 02:13 PM
And a dead Clark Kent is a good Clark Kent. Yes, my violent tendencies are starting to show.

[Queen Of Tact]

Yeah an update, and a good one too!!!!! I so love this story Kris, I can't wait for the next ch already.... Please *down on my knees beging* don't make me wait long for the next ch.....


CC

[SexInStilettos]

[QUOTE]‘Maybe you should save the clever villain lines until *after* you’re winning,’ Chloe suggested.

that was great, please tell me u are going to write more??? is she pregnate? does clark remember???

[hfce]

WHAT????????? :huh: But they were close I dont understand...... :ohmy:

[happy bunny]

I really hope you update soon, I mean, it would be cruel not to. Just leaving us in suspense like that...

Were they sent back in time or was it all just a hallucination?? Is Chloe pregnant? And if she is, who's is it?

Loving it, just like all your fics. :wub:

[buffiy18]

:huh: Time travel or hallucination -- that's a tough one... if it is a hallucination how are you going to explain them both sharing it (unless the chemical spill is already effecting them?) and the lack of time to have it...
:huh: If it's time travel, would that mean Clark is sent back too? Not only that, but depending on the theory of time travel you choose the baby, if there was one to begin with might not be able to come with them. These were just random thoughts I had after reading your fabulous ending to this great chapter.

I am enjoying this story more than its pre-quel. Please update soon... I'm interested in knowing what path you and your muse chose.

[Leila]

[QUOTE]“You know what they say about curiosity,” Lex started. The man looked at him blankly. “Or…maybe you don’t.”

‘Maybe you should save the clever villain lines until *after* you’re winning,’ Chloe suggested.

:hehe: That was so funny. Nice plot twist by the way. But I have one question, Is Chloe pregnant or not? Come one, we gots ta know, we gots ta know!! Update soon please! :wave:

[sabby]

Hmmm, you know I like that story and the twist and the things you have planned. I hope you'll get more into this from now on, but please, don't you forget about Nightcap *whimpers* I need to see that one continued soon.

hugs,
sabby

[drina]

:ohmy: I don't know what to say...

[vardaquareien]

Originally posted by drina@Sep 26 2003, 02:57 PM
:ohmy: I don't know what to say...
DITTO!

All the questions everyone else has been voicing I also second! WoW you and your twists! I...well...just as long as there's still smut!!! :eyebrows:

[TestingFaith]

WOW!!!

Lily M. :sunny:

[Lady Candy]

This thing of the thoughts...has it left? I want to read more ;)

[buffiy18]

Please update. I want to know what happened... or didn't happen :chlexsign3:

[scifichick774]

A/N: My apologies for the delay on this, but my muse seems to have abandoned this fic. I’ll try to give you more regular updates until it’s finished, but no promises.

~*~*~*~*~*~

When Gabe finally made his way to his office an hour later, he was startled to see Lex sitting behind the desk with his head in his hands. He took a few careful steps into the room, cocking his head a little to the side as he looked at his boss.

“Lex?”

Lex looked up at him with a serious expression that made Gabe’s gut twist into a knot.

“Gabe,” he returned. “I think we need to talk.”

Gabe nodded a couple of times and took the seat across the desk from him.

“Okay,” he said. “What’s up?” He knew from Lex’s tone that it was going to be bad news, but being the plant manager, he was used to it.

Lex sighed and then frowned. He had already called Clark and it turned out that his alien friend’s future self had not been transported back to the past with him and Chloe. Either that, or Clark had become a remarkably good liar overnight and Lex knew that wasn’t the case.

He suspected that Clark not returning with them had something to do with the fact that he wasn’t in the direct line of touching the man who had the device, but it wasn’t as if he had a way to prove his theory.

“I’m not sure how to start without making you think I need psychiatric attention,” Lex admitted. Gabe’s eyebrows rose, but he said nothing; waiting expectantly for Lex to continue. “You were probably wondering about my strange conversation with Chloe back in the lab.”

Gabe nodded again.

“I was,” he said.

“We…God…it sounds crazy even to me,” Lex said. Gabe looked at him questioningly and Lex gave him the tiniest of uneasy grins. “Chloe and I just came from the future.”

Gabe gave him a tight grin.

“Of course you did,” he said with light, mocking sarcasm.

“I’m serious.”

Gabe sighed and then tiredly rubbed his temples.

“It’s been a long day, Lex. I’m not really in the mood for practical jokes.”

“That’s good, because I’m not joking.”

Gabe gave him an incredulous glare.

“You and Chloe just came from the future,” he said, reiterating Lex’s earlier words.

“Yes.”

“O-kay,” Gabe drew out. “Then how do you explain that I was there with you the whole time?”

“We were transported back into our bodies of this time. I think that’s why we couldn’t hear each other’s thoughts when we first arrived.”

Gabe arched an eyebrow.

“But you can hear each other’s thoughts in the future?” he asked in disbelief.

“It’s a long story.”

“Uh-huh,” Gabe said. “Listen, Lex, we all get stressed out, but ---”

Lex leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk.

“The chemical spill…”

“Just now? Down in lab seven?” Gabe asked.

Lex nodded once.

“The meteor rocks that fell out of Chloe’s purse changed the properties of the chemical. It got on Chloe’s hands and then it got on one of mine because I helped her up. Apparently it already was seeping into our bloodstreams through our skin before we could wash it off – hence the burning sensation.”

“There was a burning sensation?”

“Yes.”

Gabe squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. He didn’t like where this was going. Lex had clearly lost his mind; and the plant, which employed the majority of the townspeople, would either close down or be completely put back into Lionel Luthor’s hands – neither of which was something Gabe wanted. Coming to a decision, he grimaced ever so slightly and leaned forward.

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll get you into Summerholt under the pretense of exhaustion or something and then ---”

“Gabe – just listen to me, alright?”

Gabe frowned, but pulled back in his seat to signal his acquiescence. There was a pleading, desperate quality to Lex’s voice and though he still didn’t believe his story about time traveling and mind reading, he owed it to his boss and friend to at least hear him out before he called the men with the white jackets to haul him away.

“The ‘new’ chemical altered the way our bodies work. It gave us the ability to read each other’s minds…”

“Yeah? Can you tell what I’m thinking right now?” Gabe asked snidely, only half-jokingly.

Lex didn’t even crack a smile.

“The telepathy only works between the two of us,” he said. “We’re the only ones whose skin was exposed to the chemical while the meteor rocks were lying in it, and also because our skin cells sloughed off against each other or something, linking our DNA.” He eyes darted up and to the side pensively. “I never got a full explanation on that – suppose I could this time around though.”

“Lex ---”

“The point I was getting to was that the telepathy wasn’t the only side effect. It significantly raised my testosterone levels within the space of a couple of days and though I learned to control it in most situations, initially it made me act…primal. And with Chloe…” Lex paused and shut his eyes. He still couldn’t hear her and after becoming so accustomed to it, it was starting to worry him. It had definitely kicked in by that time already the last time they had gone through it.

“With Chloe…?” Gabe prodded, concern lacing his voice. He didn’t know what to make of the tale that Lex was spinning, but Lex looked pained when he said Chloe’s name and he didn’t want anything bad to happen to his daughter – especially if there was the remote chance that Lex was telling the truth.

“It, um…” Lex started, holding back the choking sound that was lingering in his throat by coughing into his hand. “It heightened her estrogen levels before combining with them to form the hormone into a completely different compound.”

“What does that mean?”

“It started to attack the part of her brain that controls unprovoked neurological responses,” Lex said and then paused again. “She technically died a couple of times before my scientists were able to come up with a cure for her condition.”

Gabe ran his hands over his face before shaking his head lightly.

“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say here, Lex. I mean…telepathy? Time travel? And with my daughter? I just ---”

“Like I said, I know it sounds crazy,” Lex said.

Gabe frowned.

“I’ve known you for…what? Almost four years now?” he asked. Lex had to adapt the time in his mind from what he was used to and then nodded once. “And I just don’t know why you’d come up with ---”

“It’s true, Gabe,” Lex interrupted. “I know there’s nothing I can say to make you believe me, but I wanted to warn you ahead of time – in case the reactions turn out the same.”

‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.’

Lex’s eyes widened.

“Chloe?”

‘Hey!’ Chloe inwardly greeted. ‘When did we start…?’

‘I heard – ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’,’ Lex thought.

Chloe groaned.

‘What is it?’ Lex thought.

Gabe furrowed his brow and turned around, but saw nobody coming toward the open office door. He turned around to face Lex again with a confused expression on his face.

“Lex, are you okay?” he asked.

Lex held up a finger to indicate that he should wait a minute.

‘Not only am I not pregnant, but apparently I’m a virgin again,’ Chloe thought.

Lex was unable to keep his jaw from dropping open.

‘W-what?’

‘Never a good sign if you’re stammering in your thoughts.’

‘You can’t be a virgin, Chloe. I mean…’

‘I know! Believe me, I was just as surprised as the doctor was when he checked me after having the blood drawn for the pregnancy test.’

Lex ran a hand down his face and then around the back of his neck.

‘So…what do you want to do?’ he asked.

‘What do you mean?’

‘I talked to Clark – and it’s his past self, or present – whatever…he didn’t come back with us.’

‘Okay,’ Chloe thought. ‘But what does that have to do with what you just asked me?’

‘And your dad is front of me right now,’ Lex continued.

‘Uh-oh.’

‘I can’t tell whether he believed me or not.’

‘You told him?!’

‘He had a right to know.’

‘I guess,’ Chloe thought begrudgingly. ‘It’s not like we were able to hide it for very long last time.’

‘Exactly,’ Lex agreed. ‘And he’s not reaching for the phone to call the psychiatric hospital, so I think we’ll be okay.’

‘Either that or he’ll trash your office the second you turn your back.’

‘We’re in his office.’

‘Oh. Well, that probably wouldn’t apply then,’ Chloe replied in a joking tone that tapered off into a sigh. ‘Okay, so you’re not in imminent danger, but you still haven’t answered my question to your question,’ she thought.

‘Your question to my question?’ Lex thought in a teasing tone.

“Lex,” she said aloud, trying to make it sound warning, but having her voice escape her lips with a giggle.

‘Call it remnants from the extra testosterone…’

‘You don’t have that yet.’

‘Will you let me finish?’

‘Sorry. Go ahead.’

‘I was just concerned that you might not want to go down the same path you did before,’ Lex thought, referring to their being together and trying to give her a way out before his hormones *did* overwhelm him and he beat any guy she even looked at to a bloody pulp.

‘Oh.’

‘Listen, I’ll give you some time if ---’

‘Well, I don’t know, Lex,’ Chloe interrupted. ‘We’ve already changed the course of history so far by going to the doctor. I don’t think it’s going to matter if our so-called first time is out in the middle of a field in your car or not.’

Lex blinked and then a smile slowly lifted the corners of his mouth as an understanding of Chloe’s misinterpretation of his words dawned on him. Well, if that’s what she thought, he sure as hell wasn’t going to correct her.

‘Where did you have in mind?’ he asked.

‘Are you seriously hitting on me while my dad is sitting across from you?’

‘It’s not like he can hear us – and how did you know that he’s ---?’ Lex trailed off as he caught a flash of movement in the doorway. He looked up from the spot of the desk he had been zoning on and smiled broadly as Chloe came into the office.

Gabe turned his head and smiled at his daughter as well and rose from his seat to greet her.

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said. “I didn’t know you were still here. How’d it go?”

“Okay,” Chloe said, giving her dad a small hug.

“Good,” Gabe said. Moving a little closer to her to speak in a hushed voice, he dipped his head to speak near her ear. “Maybe you should leave. I think Lex is ---”

Lex stood up and crossed over to where Chloe was, completely forgetting the fact that even though he told Gabe a lot of information, he hadn’t told him that he and Chloe were a couple as well.

Chloe smiled back at him and stepped away from her father, placing her hands on Lex’s chest as she rose to her tiptoes, catching his lips with her own as he leaned his head down to kiss her.

Gabe’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open, and he stood there still gaping like a fish when Chloe and Lex parted and Chloe tilted her head to the side to look at him in what appeared to be confusion.

Chloe turned to look at Lex again.

“I thought you said you told him?”




TBC...

[sabby]

*sickers* yeah this is what happens when you leave out vital information. heh Poor Gabe, he's got to be close to a short circuit not knowing what the hell is going on or what to believe. I hope Lex has some pills against migraine in his office, Gabe will need them.
Great update hon, even if it took a long time coming

hugs,
Sabby

[krahmogh]

I am so glad i found this update this soon!!! And I love that Chloe walked in and kissed Lex before knowing exactly how much her father knew. Please update again soon. I really love this story and its predecessor is still a favorite of mine.


:chlexsign4:

[Susie Q]

“There was a burning sensation?”

“Yes.”

Gabe squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. He didn’t like where this was going. Lex had clearly lost his mind; and the plant, which employed the majority of the townspeople, would either close down or be completely put back into Lionel Luthor’s hands – neither of which was something Gabe wanted. Coming to a decision, he grimaced ever so slightly and leaned forward.

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll get you into Summerholt under the pretense of exhaustion or something and then ---”


Hehehehe.......For some reason this had me giggling like a loon :lol: Glad you fiiiinalllly updated this one :clap:

[petriebird18]

LOVED THIS PART!!! :biggrin:
But is Chloe sure she's still pregnant? Because didn't thay make that mistake before?
Oh, what if it IS a mistake? And how's Gabe going to react?
UPDATE!!!!! :biggrin:
~Deidre~
:chlexsign3:

[tigerbaby]

But you gotta love Gabe. I was cracking up at the thought of him wanting to put Lex in a mental institute. I hope he doesn't react too badly tho.

[hfce]

:lol: That was great. I am so glad you updated it.



Hope :)

[SexInStilettos]

lol that was great, thank you so much for updateing.....and you know if you wan to update again I won't hold it against you ;)

[Nicki]

i loved that you up-dated and Gabe thinking that Lex was crazy. And them kissing in front of him :biggrin:

[Robyn]

“I thought you said you told him?"

Must've slipped poor insane Lex's mind. haha Love love looooooove the story. I can't wait for the next chapter. :worship2:

[autumngold]

Excellent chapter, it was definitely worth the wait! :chlexsign3: Like everyone else, I really enjoyed Gabe's reactions to Lex! Did he really think that Lex would allow himself to be committed? I can't wait to find out Gabe's reaction to the kiss!! Please update again soon! :chlexsign4:

[drina]

I've always wanted to go back in time again to fix something...don't know what they will be doing.

but it's great, and gabe is so adorable.. ;)

[SinnerSaint]

Yeah !!! I have been waiting for this story to be updated !!! I am so happy now ! And this is when I start begging for another update .....Please , please please update soon .

[celticangel]

Brilliant Update. Can't wait to see more of Gabe's reaction. :worship2: :chlexsign1:

[Queen Of Tact]

*Hugs Kris*

It's about time.... Gah u know this is like one of the stories i live off, and to go so long without it was killer, but you updated!!!! Yeah *does the happy dance*
Please please please please I'm begging u don't make me have to wait so long for the next update.....

CC

[vardaquareien]

Yay you updated!!! And a wonderful update it is too! Like everyone else I loved Gabe wanting to have Lex committed!!! :lol: Somehow I have a feeling that the two of them are gonna have much bigger problems than this to contend with now that they're back in the past!

:drool: I love the idea of them having another first time! I hope that that wasn't you just teasing us and that you'll deliver! You'd better girl! You've got me all excited!

Can't wait to see what Gabe's reaction is gonna be to the two of them!!!

[happy bunny]

Hee! Loved that last little bit; it was so funny.

And poor Gabe. Had to love his reaction though, can't say I blame him.

So glad you updated.

Can't wait to see how Gabe takes the news of Chloe and his crazy boss in a relationship. *g*

[randa]

LMAO!! and gabe didnt faint? im a little surprised :biggrin:
great update, i cant wait for more!!!

randa

[buffiy18]

Loved the chapter :wub: I'm glad Lex and Chole have their telepathic abilities back, I was worried for a little bit. I need to know what happens next... Please udate soon. :chlexsign3:

[Kit Merlot]

Great update but I have to admit to being worried. They are back in the past, so that means that Lionel is still around to wreak havoc. I hope Chloe and Lex stop him in his tracks. SOON!

Well done and write more :biggrin:

[ColumbiaBlue]

AAAHHH!!! I just read BOTH of these fics and again, I have NO idea how I missed these! This is the BEST! Lex and Chloe are soooo funny and cute together! OOh I hope you get around to updating soon!

~ Manda

[Sab_Luthor]

*cough, cough*
listen buddy
if you don't update in the 3 days and i give you only 3 i'm going to tell daddy lionel and sent you a team to track you and make you suffer till you decide it's time for you to give us this damn update ok am i clear?

[Pieper]

Love the story so far. Please more soon.
Femke :biggrin:

[gina]

I loved AH and this sequel is just as great! Chloe and Lex going back in time? Awesome twist!

Please continue soon! :)

[angelines]

:biggrin: i love the story but were's the up-date. hope it comes soon. :yay:

[KawaiiRyu]

Woohoo! Just became a member here at the lovely NS board, and I thought I'd christian my entrance with a reread of the latest chapter of this story. *cheeky grin* I'm sure you remember me, right? (Don't worry, I'm not a stalker....*shifty eyes* *grin*) Anyhoo, it's as good as I remember and I can't wait for more!

[scifichick774]

Gabe dropped his hand and buried his face in his hands to rub it tiredly.

“I *know* this is some sort of practical joke, but for the life of me, I can‘t figure out when you would have had time to plan something this…”

“Elaborate?” Lex offered.

“Insane,” Gabe corrected, lifting his head so he could glare at his boss.

“We’re not making it up, Dad. Is there anything we can say to make you believe us?”

“Believe that you’re from the future and were transported back into your past bodies or that you can read each other’s minds?”

‘When he says it like that, it makes us sound crazy,’ Chloe thought.

‘I tried to warn him that it would,’ Lex replied. ‘Think if we told him that Clark’s an alien that it would help to prove our case?’

Chloe gave him a wry look out of the corner of her eye.

“*Think*, Lex. We’re in Smallville. Don’t you remember what happened to people who crossed Clark here? He’d ship us off to the crazy house for sure.”

Lex smirked.

“The suggestion was worth it just to hear you say ‘crazy house’”

Chloe smiled and shook her head lightly.

“Well, I’m so glad you think so,” she responded with mild sarcasm. “But speaking of Clark ---”

“We weren’t.”

“We sort of were.”

Gabe looked back and forth between them as they verbally volleyed, the pressure in his head growing with every seemingly incoherent sentence. He opened his mouth to speak, but Lex, oblivious to the fact that the elder Sullivan was even still in the room, beat him to it.

“No – we weren’t. We were talking about what happened to the poor, unfortunate meteor freaks who went crazy and decided to try and kill Lana – therefore crossing Clark and reaping the consequences.”

“Same thing,” Chloe said dismissively. “And how come *we* never tried to kill Lana?”

“If you’ll remember, most of the rest of the time we were in Smallville after the accident was spent trying to keep you alive or we were ---”

Chloe cleared her throat to cut him off.

“I don’t think my dad really needs to hear about that,” she said, color rapidly rising to her cheeks.

Gabe gave her a tight grin.

“You’re right. Whatever it is – I don’t want to know,” he said, though there was more exasperation in his voice than malice. “Now, if you’ll excuse us; I need to take my daughter home and have a nice long talk with her about how it’s not nice to play jokes on her father – and then I need to have a scotch…or two. Probably two.”

Lex frowned.

“Home?” he asked aloud, though he meant to just think it.

‘Ye-ah,’ Chloe thought slowly, stringing out the word in her head. “I live at home – with my dad and Lana – in this time. Remember?’

Lex’s face fell and Chloe shot him an apologetic look.

‘But ---’ Lex’s inner argument trailed off in his mind and he stepped closer to Gabe, plastering a small, charming smile on his lips. “Chloe and I have been living together for almost a year – we’re getting married. To have her move back home with you…surely we can come to some sort of…compromise?”

“No.”

“Gabe, be reasonable,” Lex said somewhat pleadingly, but through gritted teeth.

He was close to losing his temper and hurting Gabe, which he didn’t want to do, and doubted that Chloe would appreciate. Although Chloe had been more than accepting when it came to his outbursts because of his raised testosterone levels, he had nothing to blame the oncoming eruption on than himself, and it could irreparably damage his relationship with Chloe if he gave into it.

“My daughter is only a few months away from graduating *high school*, Lex. You’re already thought of as the town pariah. Don’t make it worse,” Gabe said and then turned to look at Chloe. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

‘Shit!’

‘We can still have mind sex,’ Chloe thought consolingly. ‘That’s not what I was complaining about and you know it,’ Lex replied. ‘Okay, well, it wasn’t the *only* thing.’

‘I’ll talk to him. He just needs some time to sort this out.’

‘’I guess it was a lot to dump on him all at once,’ Lex conceded.

Gabe cleared his throat when Chloe didn’t move to follow him, but instead stood in front of Lex with her hand lovingly on his chest, unspeaking for a full minute, if not longer.

‘I say we form an escape plan,’ Lex thought only half-jokingly, ignoring Gabe for the most part and grinning down at Chloe.

‘Good idea. There’d be no evidence for them to follow,’ Chloe added in the same tone Lex had used.

Lex gave her a small nod.

‘All I have to do is pay off the right people.’

‘Actually, I meant because we’d just be making the plan in our minds.’

“Ah – but that’s what you’ve always loved about me ---” Lex said, gripping her waist with his hands and bringing her flush against him in one fast, fluid movement. “--- Follow through.”

Chloe laughed and wound her arms around his neck as she rose onto her tiptoes to kiss him.

At first Gabe looked on in irritation, but it gradually crept into suspicious disbelief, and then finally into the sinking feeling of acceptance when he realized that everything they had told him was true. There was no other explanation.

And why not? He had certainly seen stranger things since moving his daughter to Smallville, so why not this?

‘Because she’s Chloe and he’s…him,’ Gabe argued irrationally with himself.

Suddenly he was overcome with a hot wave of dizziness and a tightening in his chest. The pained gasp he let out came only seconds before his body fell to the floor and Chloe and Lex rushed over to him.

‘Oh, God,’ Chloe thought worriedly. “Dad?”

She crouched down; panic stricken as she brushed her palm over Gabe’s cool yet sweaty forehead and then ran her hand down to his neck to press her fingers against a large vein.

“Oh, God – no!”

Lex knew the instant Chloe’s fingertips brushed Gabe’s skin that the older man had no pulse, as surely as if he had physically checked for one himself; but Chloe’s horrified utterance confirmed it.

‘I’ll call for help.’

He rushed to the phone, his eyes on Chloe desperately trying to do CPR on her father. He curtly recited the information to the dispatcher on the other end of the line and then hung up the phone on its base.

All they could do now was wait.

~*~*~*~*~

Lana and Clark scrambled down one of the hospital’s hallways to get to the waiting room that Chloe told Lana she was calling from, stopping almost dead in their tracks when they saw Chloe wrapped tightly in Lex’s arms, her body shaking uncontrollably as she cried against him.

‘How could this have happened?’ Chloe thought.

‘His doctor was going to put him on a strict diet in just a few months for a reason, Chloe,’ Lex reminded her. “Maybe the extra strain of hearing what we told him pushed him over the edge early.’

‘But ---’

‘Shhh,’ Lex thought, stroking her hair comfortingly as she sniffled and tried to calm down her sobbing.

Lana shook from her startlement at the scene she was witnessing and started to move toward the couple with Clark fast on her heels.

“Chloe?” she asked to get her friend’s attention.

Lex looked up first, but to Clark’s surprise, did not relinquish his embrace of the young blonde woman once he saw that her ‘real’ friends were there.

“The paramedics said it looked like he had a heart attack,” Lex informed them, so Chloe wouldn’t have to try ad speak in a choked voice. “Seeing as how they took him into surgery, I’m guessing that they were probably right.”

Lana opened and closed her mouth, finally settling on a worried frown.

“Is he going to be okay?” Clark asked.

Chloe turned her head to face him, but remained in Lex’s warm hold, her eyes wet and red from crying.

“We don’t know yet,” she said with a surprising amount of stability, if not coolness, in her tone. ‘God, I shouldn’t blame him, but ---’

‘I know,’ Lex thought understandingly. ‘If it wasn’t for him, then we never would have met the man who sent us back here.’

‘Exactly,’ Chloe responded, frowning in partial shame because of her line of thinking.

‘We should think about distancing ourselves from him this time around – so history can’t repeat itself,’ Lex suggested.

Chloe barely nodded her head and then rested it wearily against his chest.

Clark eyed the action with heavy suspicion. As far as he knew, Chloe and Lex barely knew each other outside of their mutual friendships with him; but everything he had seen since arriving at the hospital indicated that their relationship was closer – much more intimate – than they had led everyone to believe.

He was so concentrated in staring at the couple that he barely felt Lana’s light hand on his arm.

“Maybe we should go get some coffee,” she said, looking to Chloe for confirmation of her offer.

Chloe closed her eyes and buried her head against Lex again, grateful when she felt the muscles in his body shift to nod at Clark and Lana.

‘I shouldn’t have called them,’ she thought.

‘At least now you don’t have to worry about how to handle him.’

‘I wouldn’t be so sure of that. You remember what happened last time,’ Chloe pointed out. Lex let out a tiny growl. ‘Clark’s commitment-phobic. It took me a while to figure out, but I think he only likes girls that he inwardly knows he doesn’t have a chance with – or thinks he doesn’t.’

‘That makes sense,’ Lex thought. ‘Keeping himself at arm’s length so he won’t have to expose what he really is.’

“Miss Sullivan?”

Chloe looked over to see a man in O.R. scrubs and twisted in Lex’s loosened arms to face him completely.

“Is he alright?” she asked, feeling moderately guilty that she had allowed herself the segway into a conversation about Clark instead of fully concentrating on her father’s well-being.

“It’s too soon to tell,” the man answered. “There’s a lot of blockage in his arteries, but he’s remained fairly stable so far, so the doctors are optimistic.”

“You’re not a doctor?” Lex asked, perturbed that the hospital had sent out a lackey to speak with them.

“Nurse,” the man answered. “But Sylvia just came on shift and since she’s assisted in lots of these procedures before, so she took over. The nurse at the desk just thought you might like an update.”

“How long?” Chloe asked, ignoring the nurse’s rambling.

The man sighed and ran a hand around the back of his neck.

“I wish I could say,” he said. “But the truth is that these surgeries vary from case to case time-wise.” He gave Chloe a sympathetic half-grin. “I’ll have someone let you know when it’s over.”

Chloe frowned.

‘Why do I not like the sound of that?’





TBC…

[SexInStilettos]

good update!! but please more more!!! i love this story

[hfce]

Great chapter update but poor Gab. :sad: dont let anything happen to him.



Hope :huh:

[randa]

ah, poor gabe, i just knew that was gonna happen...ok maybe not really but it was always a possiblity.
i cant wait to see where you take this cause i know its gonna be another hell of a ride!

randa

[buffiy18]

I love Lex and Chloe, but they need to learn to be more sensative... especially Lex. I don't imagine there is a father out there that loves his daughter and would allow his her to move in with an older man... especially one that to said father had no idea they knew more than just each other's name! I hope Gabe makes it through alright, 'cause Lex and Chole have some apologizing to do.

Great chapter, btw.

[Robyn]

GAAAAABE! No! :( Poor guy. (The guy who plays Gabe on SV is on the X-Files right now, and I kept pointing from tv to computer going "It's Gabe... and it's Gabe..... and Gabe. And hey look. GABE!"... sorry that has nothing to do with your story. *cough* moving on). I hope Gabe's gonna be ok. *sigh* Such a big mess! Why can't we go back to the days when Lex and Chloe did it all the time! So much more fun to read! haha jk jk. Update soooon!

[Lulucifer]

Hmmm....interesting. if something happens now, does that mean things in the future will change.....
:chlexsign4:

[gina]

Oh no! I hope Gabe is okay. :sad:

Loved the update, more soon please!

[happy bunny]

So glad you've updated this!

But poor Gabe. Please let him be okay. Still really loving this, please add more soon.

[Susie Q]

Oh no, not Gabe! :ohmy: I’m surprised Lex hasn’t yet offered to bring in the ‘best doctors from Metropolis.’ :tongue: Seriously though, Gabe has to be alright. Clark on the other hand, well, let’s just say if he tries to cause trouble I’ll..I’ll…well I don’t know yet, but it won’t be pretty. http://www.angelfire.com/emo2/emoticons0/images/Devious.gif

[asharnanae]

:ohmy: oh poor gabe!! great update! :biggrin:

[autumngold]

I'm so glad you updated! Poor Gabe, I don't blame him for having a heartattack!! I think the information that Lex and Chloe had just come back from the future would be a little hard to take! Please let him be alright!! Thank you for the new chapter!! :chlexsign4:

[nickielh]

Another great update. Gabe having a heart attack. Can't say that I blame him, all this news at once.

Nickie

[Sab_Luthor]

*happy dance* i loved this fantastic update
i'm so happy
but you gave an heart attack to gabe :nono: :nono: :nono: THAT wasn't nice so you have to update soon and fix it

[SinnerSaint]

Waaaahhhhhhh!!!!! Gabe had better pull through !! At least Lex is there for Chloe and being all supportive . He can comfort her and keep Clark the hell away from her.

[Nicki]

One bad thing about being back is Lional is still out. Can't wait till a update :yay:

[estrellalily]

[COLOR=blue] OH NO! Will LEx ands Chloe have a baby? Will every thing turn out ok? Update soon! I love this story, but i want a happy ending Damn It! :yay: please update :yay: please :yay: please

~estrellalily :wub:

[krahmogh]

I just found this update. I love the two of them still wanting to be together but i feel bad for Gabe. I hope he pulls through the surgery. It would be awful for Chloe to lose her dad like this.


:chlexsign4:

Happy New Year everyone!!!

[S.Ann Smith]

please update soon!!! poor chloe, but she has her lexy to comfort her *siggles eyebrows* don't kill gabe!!!! but besides that i love the story :)

[katspell]

:ohmy: I just found these, and not fair, I'm out of updates...
PLEASE!!! give us more....

[scifichick774]

*sigh*

Here's the thing. I really, really tried to work on a rotation system for a while so this fic would get more consistent updates, but...yeah - my muse doesn't like it. Not even with the little twists I've thrown in. It's not as smutty or funny as its predecessor and I should have never started it.

That said, I'm not deserting it. I am still working on it, but it takes me much longer to get out a sentence for this fic than it takes for any of my others. Sorry.

[scifichick774]

A/N: And this is the reason why I don't usually post responses to people's pleading. Stupid muse.

~*~*~*~*~

Clark super sped up to the barn before stopping abruptly in a dazed state.

By the time he and Lana had returned from fetching coffee, Chloe had fallen asleep; snuggled up to Lex on a couch in the waiting room. His arm was draped around her and his lips were caressing her hair with soft, loving kisses.

Clark paled, but the blood swiftly returned to his face as a strange emotion rushed through him. He inwardly tried to write it off to being protective of his friend, but deep down he knew the truth, even if he didn’t want to admit it to himself. He was jealous.

Lex wasn’t the one who had been friends with Chloe since the eighth grade; he wasn’t the one to get his first kiss from the spirited girl; he wasn’t the one to gather the courage to ask her to the spring formal…and leave her there alone after he had promised not to.

‘Shit,’ Clark mentally cursed.

He ran a shaky hand through his hair in the hopes that it would steady the part of him inside that was bubbling up to the surface. It didn’t.

He walked toward the house slowly, his feet heavy as the knowledge of what he had done weighing him down.

“Clark!”

He raised his eyes and blinked at the figure in front of him, the image of his father practically surreal as his mind reeled back to the way the darker part of himself managed to push past his normally strong defenses and take over control of his body.

“Clark,” his father said again, swallowing back the sick feeling that rose to his throat when he noticed the blood splatters that stained his son’s shirt and knuckles. “The sheriff called. She said you went crazy – completely lost it in the hospital.” Jonathan paused and frowned. He had intended to ask Clark for an explanation – for the truth - but in addition to the blood, Clark’s demeanor held a confused, far-off look that only seemed to confirm the outrageous, rambling story that Sheriff Adams had told him over the phone. “Son, what happened? Does this have something to do with the meteor rocks?”

Clark absently shook his head.

“He…she…they…” he mumbled incoherently. Jonathan looked at him expectantly and Clark met his eyes in horrified distraught. “I think I love her – or the other me does,” he continued. “And she ---”

“Whoa. Back up there,” Jonathan interrupted. “What do you mean ‘the other you’?”

Clark opened and closed his mouth, unable to come up with the words to explain what he was trying to say.

“The red kryptonite – it ---” he started, only to be cut off once again by his father.

“Ah. So, when you say ‘the other you’, you mean Kal,” Jonathan said, spitting the name with disgust.

“Yeah.”

“So…there were red meteor rocks at the hospital and Kal decided to make an appearance. Well, that explains a lot,” Jonathan said, muttering the last part under his breath.

“No,” Clark said.

“No?”

“No kryptonite,” Clark corrected. “I just saw them together and it was like something…snapped.”

Jonathan arched a weary and questioning eyebrow. When no explanation came, he finally sighed and ran a hand around the back of his neck.

“Son, we’ve talked about this before. You and Lana aren’t dating, so she’s free to see anyone ---”

“Not Lana. She just…got in the way.”

Jonathan’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

“O-kay,” he strung out. “I have a feeling I’m going to regret asking this, but who?” Clark furrowed his brow. “Who did you see together that made you…snap?”

“Chloe.”

“Chloe?”

“Chloe and…” Clark paused and a growl spilled from his lips as Kal once again began to make his presence known. Jonathan’s eyes widened as he watched his son’s personality completely change right in front of him. “…Lex,” Clark finished, his nostrils flaring as his hands clenched into fists.

His eyes slammed shut and he fell to his knees, clutching at his head and letting out a scream of pain as he tried to fight for control of his own body. Finally he collapsed in exhaustion and Jonathan ran to his side.

“Martha!”

Clark’s mother came running out of the house, gasping loudly when she saw her son lying unconscious on their dirt driveway.

“What happened?” she asked.

Jonathan moved to heft Clark’s body over his shoulder, frowning deeply and shooting Martha a sorrowful pleading look after taking a couple of steps toward the house.

“We have a problem,” he said grimly.

“Jonathan ---”

“Seems that Kal is coming back without the assistance of the red rocks,” he told her. Martha’s hand rose to cover her mouth. “Come on. Help me get him inside and…hidden…before the sheriff gets here.”

~*~*~*~

Sheriff Adams folded her arms across her chest and pursed her lips as she surveyed the damage that had been done out of one young man’s rage. Her contemplative look quickly fell into a disbelieving scowl.

“You sure he did this on his own?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” a hospital security guard said. “Saw the whole thing myself.”

Adams turned to glare at him.

“Then why didn’t you try to *stop* him?”

The man shook his head and gave her an incredulous look.

“He threw that poor little Lang girl *through the wall* when she tried to get in his way. Maybe I could have done something if they let us carry guns, but ---” he trailed off and shook his head again. “There wasn’t anything I could do.”

Adams grunted.

“Okay, run through the situation again,” she said, running a hand over her face as she tried to process the information she had already been told a few times.

“Like I said before, that little blonde reporter for the high school fell asleep against Lex Luthor. Kent came in and basically freaked out. Started yelling profanities and stomping toward them, the little Lang girl tried to stop him, he threw her through the wall with *one arm* and then he ---”

“Slammed Luthor’s head hard into the wall and took off with Sullivan,” Adams finished for him.

“Yes ma’am.”

Adams let out a frustrated breath. None of the situation seemed possible, let alone plausible in her mind. To her knowledge, Clark Kent and Lex Luthor were good friends; and although they had a tendency to ‘just happen’ to be around more crime scenes than they should, they were never overtly responsible for any of them.

But the gaping holes in the wall existed as evidence, and with the rise of drug traffic in Smallville…everything firmly suggested that Clark had quite possibly been on some kind of steroid at the time.

“What are you going to do? If you don’t mind me asking,” the guard said.

“Well…I called his parents and informed them of the situation. I suspect he’ll turn up there sooner or later.”

“No offense, but ---” the guard stopped talking, squirming where he stood when Adams glared at him again. “It’s just – I mean – you really think he’s stupid enough to take a hostage to his parents’ house?”

Adams snorted.

“People on drugs do funny things. And to answer your question, yes. I think if he’s stupid enough to lose his temper and do *this* in a hospital with plenty of witnesses around, then he’s capable of doing anything.”

~*~*~*~

Chloe awoke to the feeling of a sharp throbbing in her head and a nauseous feeling in her gut, but the thing that overwhelmed her and threatened what little sense of well being she had, was how very, very cold she was.

She groggily opened her eyes, only to find herself surrounded by complete darkness either way.

“Hello?!” she called out. “Is anyone there?”

She set her hand on the ground to help push herself up, but only got as far as a sitting position before she yanked her hand away from the ground that felt like solid ice.

Thoughts dizzy and disjointed, she couldn’t remember what had happened or anything that might give her a clue as to where she was and why she was there.

“Please! If anyone can hear me – please help me!” she cried out.

Sprinkles of light started to dance in the ice surrounding her, causing her to lift her arm to shield her eyes. She heard voices but couldn’t make them out, and decided to try her luck again.

“Hello?!”

The top of whatever kind of ice cage she was in lifted and she was greeted with a deep voice, distinctly male voice.

“Chloe.”

She squinted to try and make out who the man was, but could only see a heavily shadowed figure through the poor lighting and the pain pulsing in her head. Whoever it was sounded relieved though, so perhaps she was being rescued.

Chloe creased her brow as she tried to remember why she would need to be rescued, but a searing pain ripped through her and she let out a strangled groan. She curled up her knees to press her head against them and then rocked a little where she sat to try and make the pain go away.

“He hurt you,” the man said observantly.

“W-who?” Chloe asked in barely a whisper, her teeth chattering as she did so.

Her eyes cracked open when no response came and she saw the swish of what looked like a red cape before she had to close her eyes again. Still, his presence was so strong that she practically felt the movement of him crouching down beside her.

“I’m sorry, Chloe. I’m so sorry.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry that you had to go through this. I would have gone back far enough to stop myself, but I doubt that my younger self could have mentally handled seeing me in addition to everything else.”

“What?” Chloe croaked again in confusion, still trying to take a peek and make out the man’s face. She inwardly wondered if the words the man was saying made sense and just weren’t coming past the ringing in her ears properly.

“And I only just remembered where Kal put you after a hypno-therapy session. Otherwise, believe me; I would have come for you right away when I was younger – before you ---”

“Before I what?”

“Died.”

“I don’t understand,” Chloe finally said, giving up on trying to make sense of what the man was saying.

A large hand brushed some blood-matted hair away from her face.

“No. You wouldn’t,” he said. “I’m from the future.”

“Ah. And I apparently hit my head harder than I thought,” Chloe retorted, wincing at the strong ringing in her ears that seemed to be vibrating throughout her skull.

The man grinned.

“I’ve missed you,” he said.

Chloe opened her eyes to stare at him, but there still wasn’t enough light for her to make out his face. Though the outfit he seemed to be wearing was…unique.

She caught a second figure approaching out of the corner of her eye and tried to look up at them from where she sat, but the pain radiating in her head kept her from processing too many solid images that she could recognize.

‘Or I really am in an ice palace,’ she thought. ‘Because *that’s* realistic. God, I hate weird dreams.’

She did notice a female hand appear on the man’s shoulder, as if to comfort him.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” the woman asked. “There could still be another way.”

The man hung his head and sighed, and for a split second, he reminded Chloe of Clark.

“There isn’t,” he said. “Her death was the thing that threw Lex over the edge and thrust him into the darkness. And now --- I finally have the chance to possibly change that. I have to take the chance.”

The dark-haired woman nodded.

“Okay,” she said. “It doesn’t look like she can survive the cold of your fortress for much longer though, Superman. We should get her home.”

“Right, Wonder Woman,” Superman agreed, careful not to use the woman’s first name as it might give away her true identity.

“*Superman*? *Wonder Woman*?” Chloe asked, suddenly very wary of the people who were supposedly coming to her rescue. “Oh God, meteor mutants are giving themselves names now. This isn’t happening,” she said to herself.

‘Chloe?!’

The sound of Lex’s voice reverberated through Chloe’s mind, combining with the ringing in her ears to make her cringe in nauseated pain.

“Who said that?” she demanded weakly since the voice sounded different than the other two and she saw no one else around.

Superman shared a look with Wonder Woman.

“She doesn’t remember,” he said, his gut clenching with the realization of what Chloe’s last broadcast thoughts to Lex must have been like before she died in the past he knew. ‘No wonder he hates me.’

“Changing your mind?” Wonder Woman asked.

“No,” Superman said. “This is my fault. I need to put things right once and for all.”




TBC…

[asharnanae]

:biggrin: great, but woah!!! :ohmy: :worship2:

[buffiy18]

Huh?! :huh: Wow! :applause: That was the weirdest yet coolest chapter I've ever read. Loved how you wrote Superman. I hope plenty of faithful fans review and inspire your muse to come up with the next chapter soon. Will Superman's plan work? And where is Lex... :worship2: Please update this soon... this is way too cool of a twist to have to wait for more.

[tigerbaby]

Alright, what the hell just happened? This was *not* a good place to end it you know that right?

Right??

Damn you and your cliff hangers. :tease:

Damn my curiosity.

[vardaquareien]

Wow! That was a hell of a chappy!!! Absolutely brilliant!!! Even if it did leave me unsettled... :unsure: ...that whole "she doesn't remember" that didn't mean that Chloe's forgotten Lex and everything that they've been through does it? Please no!!!!

I love the whole idea of Kal taking over Clunk and what he did to Chloe being the reason that Lex has always hated him. Chloe's reaction to the two superheroes was brilliant!
“*Superman*? *Wonder Woman*?” Chloe asked, suddenly very wary of the people who were supposedly coming to her rescue. “Oh God, meteor mutants are giving themselves names now. That was just so Chloe!!! I must say that even though this chappy was not good for the Chlex, it really was a brilliant chappy! Well done!

[hfce]

Wow :huh: wow :huh: why??????? :crygreen:



Hope :tease:

[Susie Q]

Holy crap! http://www.angelfire.com/emo2/emoticons0/images/im_016.gif Now crazy Kal I was not expecting. That was just freaky the way he snapped like that and no red K to blame it on either. And to future Clark’s thoughts of “no wonder he hates me,” well no kidding! I mean slamming Lex’s head into a wall and kidnapping Chloe only to let her die all while Lex is able to feel her slipping away will pretty much guarantee you arch enemy status http://www.angelfire.com/emo2/emoticons0/images/Yahoo_20.gif. While I’m glad that future Clark has come to Chloe’s rescue, like Renee, I’m feeling unsettled by Chloe’s apparent memory loss. This is just temporary right? http://www.angelfire.com/emo2/emoticons0/images/sad12.gif

[Kit Merlot]

YEAH KRIS--YOU ROCK!! I absolutely adore this twist--I like the idea of Clark/Kal jealously realizing that he wants CHloe for himself, and, of course, Lana through the wall is a beautiful thing. But Chloe dying is not good.

I also love the addition of Wonder Woman :biggrin: She was always a favorite superhero of mine--I loved the Lynda Carter television show in the 70's. YEAH BABY!!

This is a great twist--I love this story again :biggrin:

[katspell]

:cool: Love the update. I love that fact that Chloe is getting rescued by Clark even though she doesn't know it.

I'm hoping for more!!!!!

[autumngold]

What did you mean that this is what happens when people ask for updates? :huh: I loved your new chapter!!! Ok, beyond love, I think I'm obsessed yet again with another of your stories!! Wow!! I'm going back to all of your stories and begging for more :biggrin: :chlexsign4:

[Sab_Luthor]

hu umm :huh: :huh: hu :huh: :huh:
what the hell is this
i don't understand
what the hell kal do in this story and is h superman yet
and who is wonderwoman is she chloe
DAMN i don't understand
did you have to let us like that and finish with a cliff
come back man and update

[drina]

i'm really confused...hopefully u will enlighten us soon...

[randa]

you seriously have the most amazing imagination!! :worship2:
loved it

randa

[Lady Aquitaine]

So very cool!!! Loved this chapter! Wonder Woman and Superman! :yay: Yeah! Update soon. PLEASE!!! :blush:

[SexInStilettos]

that was like...woah.....love it i dont't hink i can say any more other than update please

[BlushingRose]

Okay...first I have to say this, Kris...

IT'S 3:47 AM HERE! Finding your sequal to AH (which I didn't even know existed until tonight) has kept me up over three hours past my normal bedtime!

<--looks at empty mug...and I&#39;m out of cocoa&#33;&#33;--&#62;

<deep breath> &#39;K, got that out of my system. Now, before I fall asleep...

Great, great sequal. I&#39;m sorry that your muse is giving you so much trouble. Tell us what we should do. Chocolate always works for me...should I send chocolate chip cookies? Ghirardelli bars? Cake? You name it, I&#39;ll find it and send it...but you MUST update&#33;

Love the twist with Superman/WW from the future coming to rescue Chloe and save Lex from turning evil. Love the split personality idea of Clark/Kal. And I think I understand why Chloe was confused...not because she doesn&#39;t know who Lex is...but because she doesn&#39;t remember being mind-melded to him yet. She wakes up in the middle of an iceberg, sees these two strange people who know her that she doesn&#39;t know, and then she starts hearing voices in her head?? Yeah, that would be enough to confuse most of us, I suspect :rolleyes:

But I&#39;m rambling...good grief, it&#39;s almost 4AM, and DH is going to kill me, even if it *is* V-Day. Kris, this is great...I just hope your muse can relink with this story so you can finish it up&#33;

RoseAnn (who is really going to bed now...good grief, I can&#39;t believe I sat up this late reading...arrgh&#33;)

[gina]

How did I miss the last update? :huh: Anyways, Wow, I love this twist&#33; I really like the idea of Chloe being the one who prevents Lex from going to the dark side. I&#39;m kinda confused about what exactly Chloe doesn&#39;t remember though. I hope it&#39;s not everything that has happened with her and Lex. And thank you so much for the mental image of Lana being thrown into a wall, that was great&#33; :biggrin:

This fic rocks&#33; I hope you continue it soon&#33;

[autumngold]

I know, I know I promised not to harass you for updates, but please&#33;&#33; It&#39;s been so long&#33;&#33; I love all of your stories so much&#33;&#33;&#33; You are one of the best authors on this board&#33;&#33; Please don&#39;t let all of the stupid episodes of Smallville ruin your love for your fanfiction&#33;&#33; Please&#33;&#33; I hope you find it in your heart to update soon&#33;&#33; :chlexsign4:

[celticangel]

Please, please UPDATE&#33;&#33;&#33; :crygreen: :worship2: :worship2:

[Sab_Luthor]

c&#39;mon don&#39;t you think it&#39;s for an update :crygreen: :crygreen:

[scifichick774]

A/N: I was kind of hoping that you’d all just conveniently forget about this fic if I didn’t update it, but the barrage of pleas I’ve received lately indicate otherwise. Damn.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sheriff Adams’s mouth drew into a thin line. She was losing what little patience she had to begin with and losing it fast. She lifted her hand up and knocked on the Kents’ front door again, only to finally be greeted by a distinctive female voice calling out ‘Hold on&#33;’ from the inside of the house.

A few moments later, the door audibly unlocked and opened, revealing a flustered Martha Kent who seemed confused at the fact that there were police officers standing on her front stoop.

“Sheriff,” she greeted politely. “Can I help you?”

Adams pursed her lips in aggravation.

“Let’s skip the howdy-do’s, shall we?” she responded rhetorically. “Where’s your son?”

“Clark?”

Adams inwardly cursed at the perceived runaround she was being given, but she had to give Martha credit – she pulled off playing genuine surprise and confusion very well. In fact, if she didn’t know what a close relationship Martha and her husband had, and hadn’t talked to Jonathan on the phone herself less than an hour before, then she might have even believed it.

“Mrs. Kent,” she said with a sigh of impatience. “Martha. Let’s not play games here. I already informed you of the situation over the phone and if you’re not going to cooperate, then I’ve got a warrant to come in and take him.”

Martha stiffened, but then frowned as her body relaxed in defeat. She nodded a couple of times to Adams.

“I know what you told me, it’s just ---” she trailed off and shook her head. “I can’t believe that Clark is capable of that.”

“Well, believe it,” Adams said shortly. “We have witnesses *and* tape from the hospital’s security cameras.”

Martha’s breath hitched. How could Clark – no, Kal – have been so careless as to let himself be caught on video? Even though her son’s alter ego was more of a risk taker than he would be under normal circumstances, he was still clever enough to never get caught.

“He…he did come home, but…” she stammered absently, irritating the sheriff even further.

“But *what*?” Adams snapped. “You let him leave? After I specifically told you to keep him here? Shit. Where’d he go?”

“No, no,” Martha quickly corrected. “He’s still here, but…” she paused and drew in a deep breath before staring Adams directly in the eye. “He’s unconscious. He came home and he just…collapsed…on the driveway.” She frowned and wrung her hands worriedly. “We haven’t been able to wake him up.”

Adams let out a small breath. So it was what she thought. Clark had taken – by choice or force – some kind of drug that gave him the strength and speed to pull off the actions she had seen on the videotape. And now it seemed that the boy was paying for his rush by crashing and burning after his high. Unfortunately, even with the answer to one question settled in her mind, the answer to the other was eluding her.

“Where is the Sullivan girl?”

Martha blinked.

“Pardon?”

“Clark took her from the hospital. Where is she?”

Martha shook her head in dulled shock.

“I…don’t know,” she said. “Maybe he gave her a ride home? Or to the Talon? I know she likes to hang out there.”

Adams grit her teeth and her upper lip stiffened; the deep wrinkles that formed around the top of her mouth betraying the many years she had smoked before coming to Smallville.

“She didn’t go with him willingly, Mrs. Kent.”

Martha’s mouth dropped open and suddenly an imaginary flashbulb went off over Adams’s head. Maybe the reason Jonathan and Martha still had such a steady marriage was because he kept the more…unsavory…aspects of life in Smallville away from her. Adams reasoned that it wouldn’t be difficult since Martha was at home on the farm the majority of the time and she inwardly cursed herself for not realizing that earlier.

Martha’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she was finally able to regain the power of speech.

“Are you insinuating that he took her?” she asked in disbelief, shaking her head lightly with denial. “I don’t think you understand. Chloe is one of his best friends. I know you said that he…acted irrationally…at the hospital – which I still have trouble believing, but I *know* he’d never hurt Chloe. She’s ---”

“You believe what you wanna believe,” the sheriff interrupted rudely. “But the fact *is* that the hospital’s security tapes show otherwise. Now – I’ll ask you one more time. Where is Chloe Sullivan?”

Martha’s face fell in sympathetic apology. She understood the sheriff’s position and the pressure she was under, but she didn’t know where Clark took Chloe, and there was no way she could think of to explain how serious the situation really was without exposing her son’s secret.

“I don’t know,” she repeated. “When Clark came home, he was…alone and…rambling…incoherently. And then he passed out. If he did take Chloe…” she paused and shook her head. “He didn’t bring her here. I’m sorry.”

Adams frowned deeply. She believed her.

~*~*~*~

Superman cringed. Even without using his super-hearing, Lex’s frantic screaming was audible all the way down the hospital’s lengthy corridor. Wonder Woman’s expression mimicked his and she turned her head to shoot him a wary look.

“You’re sure you want to do this?” she asked and then motioned to Chloe’s unconscious form in Superman’s arms. “We came back to save her. And delivering her to a madman like Lex Luthor…I can’t help but think that she won’t have much of a life – *if* she lives at all.”

Superman sighed. He had been having second thoughts about delivering Chloe to Lex since the second he saw her alive in his fortress of solitude, since he picked her up and cradled her in his arms when she passed out. He had missed her so much…

Unfortunately, he recognized that his own motives for not wanting Chloe and Lex to be reunited were considerably more selfish than his friend’s. He wanted Chloe back in his life, but if it was at the cost of hundreds of people’s lives because of a future morally-bankrupt Lex Luthor, then he couldn’t bring himself to let her go free.

“She will,” Superman said, trying to convince himself as well as Wonder Woman. “Just wait and see. When we get back ---” he paused and grinned somewhat regretfully at his friend, “--- the world we knew will be different.”

~*~*~*~

Two days later…

The faint beeping sounds of the medical equipment seemed…oddly comforting, Chloe thought as she began to wake up. She knew she was in a hospital before opening her eyes and found herself letting out a small breath of relief. She couldn’t remember what had happened or how she got there, but after her many hospital stays, she couldn’t help relaxing a little in the safety the small room brought.

“And here I thought you hated hospitals,” Lex said, stroking his thumb across her hand. His words were teasing, but his tone was full of sudden repose over the fact that his fiancée, who had been returned to him in a coma-like state due to ‘overexposure to the elements’ (something that Lex still had trouble wrapping his mind around), had finally woken up.

Chloe cracked one eye open.

“Lex?” she asked in confusion. “What…?” Then she remembered the bizarre dream she had – or what she had thought was a bizarre dream at any rate – which only led her to another realization as well. She hadn’t spoken her thoughts about the hospital out loud. “You heard me.”

“Of course.”

“So, I guess the possibility of this whole thing being some whacked-out coma dream is gone, huh?” she mused more to herself than to him.

The corners of Lex’s mouth pulled up into a full smile.

“Sorry to disappoint you.”

Chloe shook her head lightly, but the pain coursing through it at the physical effort quickly nixed her display of disbelief.

“All of this…it really happened?” she asked; her cheeks coloring with a blush as she pictured some of her and Lex’s more intimate moments.

Lex’s smile, though broad, was smirking and suggestive.

“Yes,” he answered.

As fleeting as the moment came, it was gone, and Lex’s lips pushed down into a worried frown. He had almost lost her. *Again*. Despite the fact that he had the special chemical made and pumped into her veins at the fist sign of a seizure, he had been told by the doctors who informed him of her return that she had at least partial amnesia, and ‘reassured’ that it wasn’t uncommon for cases like hers.

How they came to the diagnosis that she had been overexposed to the elements when she had only been gone for a couple of hours was beyond him, but his own doctors had checked her out and confirmed the Smallville physicians’ assessments. But then, things happened in Smallville that never happened anywhere else in the world, so he assumed that was merely part of it.

‘Just another reason to leave this weird town,’ he thought. ‘Get her out of Smallville – far away so Clark can’t hurt her again…’

Chloe raised her eyebrows.

“I heard that,” she stated, her tone more observational than accusing.

“I figured,” Lex said, his lips twisted in a lopsided smirk.

“Apart from the whole ‘why you think Clark would hurt me’ thing – which we’ll definitely get into later ---”

“Great,” Lex mumbled sarcastically.

“Uh-huh. So, like I was saying, *apart* from that…do you honestly expect me to believe that we were in some kind of accident that did the Vulcan mind meld thing on us ---”

“Vulcan mind meld?” Lex asked teasingly.

“Pete’s a Trekkie,” Chloe explained, another blush rising to her cheeks.

“Ah, yes. How could I have possibly forgotten the convention in Metropolis that he forced you to go to? Especially when you brought me back those elf-looking ears.”

Chloe blinked.

“I’ve never been to a convention with Pete.”

“Not yet,” Lex said. “And, come to think of it, now that we’re back in time, you can just turn him down like you *should have* the first time.”

The corners of Chloe’s lips turned downward.

“You’re really telling me that this happened? That *everything* really happened? The accident, the engagement, the creepy alien guy that looked like my homeroom teacher from sophomore year…”

“Yes.”

“Going back in time?”

“Yes.”

“But…”

“You’re supposed to be resting, not analyzing.”

“I’m not analyzing,” Chloe protested with a tiny pout. “I’m…thinking logically – or trying to anyway.”

“You should know better than anyone that we live in a town where logic doesn’t apply.”

“True,” Chloe conceded with entirely too much seriousness for Lex’s comfort.

So, she remembered, but she didn’t believe. It was a situation that the doctors hadn’t warned him about and because of that, found himself unprepared for.

Lex Luthor didn’t like to be unprepared.

Opening his mouth to speak, he was cut off by Chloe’s voice, and a question that she spoke with an inordinate amount of softness.

“You said everything really happened…” she started, creasing the area between her eyebrows as she thought about something that was bothering her. “What about the guy in the cape?”

“Pardon?”

“I was…I’m not sure where,” Chloe admitted. “But when I woke up, I was freezing and trapped in some sort of ice cage.”

“Ice cage,” Lex repeated, his voice sounding like he didn’t believe her, though he was actually wondering if that’s what could have been responsible for her condition.

Chloe shook her head.

“Probably just a dream,” she said absently. “The flying thing really should have tipped me off.”

Lex nodded a couple of times, but he wasn’t sure he completely agreed with her. He made a mental note to ask her more about it later.

Chloe drew in a deep breath and then pushed down her embarrassment to present an emotionless mask.

“Everything really happened?”

“We’ve covered this,” Lex said with a hint of humor.

“Do you love me?”

Lex, though startled, answered immediately. “Yes.”

Chloe frowned again. She remembered her life as though she were looking at it from a bipartisan person’s point of view, like she hadn’t actually lived it or experienced anything, like she was emotionally separated from everything that had ever meant anything to her.

“Chloe,” Lex started in a soothing tone. “I know this must be difficult for you, but ---”

“I just don’t know what to think,” Chloe interrupted. “I mean…I can accept that it happened – sort of - but for some reason, I feel really disconnected from all of it. Does that make any sense?”

Lex slowly nodded once. Unfortunately, it made perfect sense. The so-called specialists he had brought in to make Chloe’s life-saving formula had warned him that, because of her body’s weakened immune system from overexposure to the elements; she might very well experience a period of adjustment. A period that Lex was hoping wouldn’t end up existing, but obviously did.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ he thought. ‘She’s alive. That’s what’s important.’

“What doesn’t matter?” Chloe asked suspiciously.

Lex went on to tell her about the doctors’ prognosis, and how it might very well be up to a couple of weeks before her memories and emotions came back into check with one another, leaving Chloe giving him a sad smile. She didn’t believe him, but she was smart enough not to say or think the words.

“So, what you’re saying is, that in a couple of weeks, everything will be back to normal,” she paraphrased.

“As normal as it gets for us anyway,” Lex responded with a hopeful grin.

“What about the alien guy?”

“Clark?”

Chloe glared at him.

“Nooo,” she strung out. “The other one.”

“The one who looked like your teacher.”

“Yes.”

“What about him?”

“That’s what I was asking you,” Chloe pointed out, her lips twitching into a smile on their own accord. Bantering with Lex seemed more than familiar, it seemed natural.

“Now that we know…I think we can avoid getting caught up in the whole thing if you stop hanging out with Clark now.”

“Is that a suggestion or an order?” Chloe asked with an arched eyebrow.

“Do you want to be kidnapped again?”

“No, but ---”

“No ‘buts’. Your safety is first priority.”

“Clark is my friend, Lex.”

“Your friend? How can you call him that after what he did?”

Chloe blinked. This was new. She couldn’t remember Clark having done anything that would warrant such hostility on Lex’s part.

“What did he do?”

“I thought you said you remembered.”

“Well, apparently I was wrong,” Chloe said in aggravation. “Now, just tell me.”

Lex would have snickered at her impatience if the subject matter they were discussing had been even a trifle less serious.

“He saw us together in the waiting room – your father’s going to be okay, by the way - and went crazy. Lana tried to stop him and he threw her through a wall, I tried to stop him and…” he trailed off and motioned to the bandages that were wrapped around his head.

Chloe furrowed her brow.

“Where was *I* during all this?”

“You were asleep.”

“Oh,” Chloe said. “Guess that explains why I didn’t remember.” Lex grinned, albeit solemnly. “Wait a second. He threw Lana through a *wall*?”

Even though she emphasized the last word, Lex could tell that Chloe was still emotionally separated from anything and everything they were talking about – not that he could blame her for being feeling that way about Lana, but he knew he couldn’t allow himself to act *too* differently than he might otherwise. She may be emotionally disconnected, but she wasn’t stupid.

Lex gently shrugged with one shoulder, as if what had happened to Lana meant very little to him one way or another; but not allowing the action to tamper with his argument against Clark.

“She got in his way,” he said simply, coolly, hoping that the tone of the comment alone would be enough to spark what she should be feeling toward Clark.

Chloe shook her head. “Why would Clark do that? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Does it need to?” Lex asked seriously. “I’m guessing it has something to do with the meteor rocks…” he paused as Chloe smiled, but kept the rock-like expression on his face. “He’s not human, Chloe. And if he’s going to be prone to these irrational and violent mood swings…it’s just another reason I don’t want you around him.”

Chloe frowned pensively.

“Alien or not…it doesn’t seem like him. I’m going with your meteor rock theory,” she said, carefully side-stepping Lex’s rising jealousy.

It worked.

“*My* meteor rock theory?” Lex asked with a broad smirk.

Chloe smiled.

“Well…” she said, stringing out the word and tapering off at the end. “Great minds think alike?”

Lex chuckled, but then it struck him. He had only heard bits and pieces of what she was thinking, felt certain emotions that she let slip past when he should have been hearing and feeling everything that was going on in her head.

“Don’t get all riled up,” Chloe said. “I’m sure it’s just a side-effect of that ‘prognosis’ you told me about.” Lex raised an eyebrow. Obviously his thoughts were being broadcast loud and clear. “After all, most of what people think is in images and feelings, not in words.”

No emotional connection and yet she was still trying to reassure him, Lex mused; a tiny grin jerking at one corner of his mouth. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a long couple of weeks after all.




TBC…

[Clannadlvr]

*dies*

Kris&#33;&#33;&#33; I started reading this off your website so that&#39;s why I haven&#39;t reviewed it here before. I&#39;m so excited you updated&#33;&#33; But what is it with you and all these heartbreaking reversals in your stories?&#33;&#33; Argh&#33;

Ok, yes, so many people do have a dissasociation of emotions after a traumatic experience, but why our Chloe? *pouts*

Just make sure you don&#39;t wait too long to come back and fix this...though I have to say that I&#39;m looking forward to seeeing Lex woo Chloe&#33;

Great job and so glad you updated&#33;

[Sab_Luthor]

A/N: I was kind of hoping that you’d all just conveniently forget about this fic if I didn’t update it, but the barrage of pleas I’ve received lately indicate otherwise. Damn.


well buddy don&#39;t even count on it i will never let you quiet i will hunt you till you update and till the damn end am i clear
good

anyway i loved this chap it was a very great one
it was about time you updated but it was worth the wait
now be nice and don&#39;t let us wait till the next century for an update

[hfce]

YEAH you finally updated.:clap: I am confused as hell but yeah anyway. :lol: Moe please....



Hope :blinkkiss:

[autumngold]

Can Clark please be thrown in jail in your story&#33;&#33; :biggrin: How is Lex going to be able to keep him away from Chloe when she doesn&#39;t even realize the danger he represents? I can&#39;t even begin to thank you enough for updating this story&#33;&#33; You are incredible&#33;&#33; Thank you, thank you, thank you&#33;&#33; :wub: :chlexsign4:

[Lady Aquitaine]

I&#39;m so happy you updated&#33; Yeah&#33;&#33;&#33; :biggrin: Please, please post very soon. What is Lex going to do to Clark? Is Clark going to jail? Is Chloe going to forget the feelings she had for Lex?

Can&#39;t wait for the next update&#33;

Junice

[Queen Of Tact]

Not likely to forget this story, sorry Kris.... But we love this story and must have more......

Great Ch... Loved it...


CC

[Kit Merlot]

I&#39;m sorry Kris, but this fic ROCKS, so we won&#39;t be forgetting about it anytime soon :biggrin:

I like Superman and Wonder Woman trying to fix the past so that Lex doesn&#39;t become evil. It seems Clark has matured in his old age. He realizes that Lex needs Chloe more than he does. YEAH for the farmboy taking his head out of his ass.

WELL DONE&#33;

[gina]

I&#39;m so glad you updated this&#33;

Poor Lex and Chloe. It&#39;s sad to see Chloe all confused, I hope Lex can help her remember what they had. And I hope Clark is held responsible for what he has done.

Great update, can&#39;t wait for the next one&#33; :)

[katspell]

*Giggles* I love this fic,I&#39;m so glad you updated. can&#39;t wait to see what happens next.

[tiff]

I didn&#39;t know there was a sequel to AH&#33; And now I&#39;ve read all that&#39;s here and this hasn&#39;t been updated in a while. *hint hint* Ah, subtlety&#39;s a waste of time. Please update soon.

[scifichick774]

Jonathan folded his arms across his chest and gave his son an incredulous look fraught with displeasure. It was an expression that Clark had become uncomfortably used to seeing his father use and he shifted in the chair by the dining room table where he sat.

“You don’t believe me,” he observed. It was a statement, not a question.

Clark let out a sigh. It wasn’t as if he could blame his parents for not having the utmost faith in what he told them. If their roles had been reversed, he wasn’t entirely sure that he’d believe him either.

Jonathan drew in a long breath and then released his crossed arms so he could run a hand down his face.

“We’re just trying to understand, son,” he said. “And you’ve got to admit, your story does sound a little far-fetched.”

“I know,” Clark said. “But it’s the truth. I swear.”

The last few days had been abnormal to say the least, and that was taking the fact that they lived in Smallville into consideration.

He still only personally remembered bits and pieces of when the red kryptonite, Kal-El personality came out, but it was enough to know that he had really screwed up. And if his parents’ lectures hadn’t convinced him of that, then his own guilt trips had.

Surprisingly, he had just finished telling his parents everything that he could remember and almost everything that had happened since then. How Kal-El’s resurgence had left an emotional imprint on him; one that dreaded the thought of Chloe never wanting to speak to him again. One that wanted to beat the living hell out of Lex Luthor for stealing her away from him before he recognized that.

Then there had been the man who rescued her; though he used the term ‘man’ very loosely. Surprisingly, the stranger decked out like a superhero from one of Lex’s comic books had shown up in his barn’s loft and told him that they needed to talk. Given whom the man then claimed to be, the words proved to be an understatement.

Him. Him from the future to be more precise. And he hadn’t looked at all pleased with his younger self. He explained what he could and then stopped and waited for Clark to absorb the information before launching into a topic that neither one of them wanted to talk about.

He told him that he needed to let Chloe go. He could still be her friend, but he needed to let Lex take care of her now; be the one to look after her. Clark shook his head in denial and confusion, but his older self persisted. He said he couldn’t tell him everything that happened in the future, and that the timeline had been changed now anyway since Chloe had originally died where he had left her, but that Lex’s relationship with the young blonde woman was the only thing keeping him sane and that he needed to not make a fuss out of it.

Clark’s gut twisted as he remembered it, only placated by the sudden feeling of his mom reaching across the table to cover his hand with her own; giving it a little squeeze to reassure him that she’d still be there for him, regardless of the circumstances.

Jonathan frowned and then shook his head lightly to clear his own thoughts.

“Okay. Well, whatever happened…happened. There’s nothing we can do about it now except come up with some sort of plan for damage control,” he said grimly. “Sheriff Adams has a pretty damaging case against you. Even if the hospital’s security tapes turn up mysteriously melted, she still has witnesses. So unless ---”

Clark cleared his throat and then turned his eyes downward.

“Actually…we already came up with something.”

Jonathan arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms again.

“*We*?”

“Well…mainly Lex,” Clark admitted. “But it’s a good idea and I think it’ll work.”

Jonathan groaned.

“Do I have to remind you how angry he is with you right now?” he asked. “Clark…you kidnapped his girlfriend and left her for dead. I doubt he has your best interests at heart.”

Clark frowned, taking a small breath through his nose to give him the courage to continue. This conversation was hard enough without his father second-guessing his decisions at every turn.

“His dad has been experimenting with the meteor rocks.”

Martha gasped and Jonathan scowled.

“Excuse me?” his father growled out. “First of all, how long has he known about this? And second…this knowledge is supposed to help you how exactly?”

“Lex is going to give the sheriff the evidence – that Lionel has been experimenting with the meteor rocks and because of a strange obsession he’s developed with me, decided to use me as a guinea pig without telling me,” Clark rambled hurriedly, purposefully bypassing his dad’s first question. He didn’t know how long Lex knew about his dad. He didn’t want to know. “He’s going to tell her that Lionel had someone slip one of the experimental drugs into my coffee at the Talon while I was distracted and voila, my evil twin made an appearance.”

“But that’s not the truth, Clark,” Martha immediately protested. “I’m not saying that Lionel Luthor is a good man, but no matter what horrible things he’s done…he doesn’t deserve to be put in prison for a crime he didn’t really commit.”

She glanced at Jonathan for support, but his pensive, disgruntled look told her that he didn’t completely agree with her. She scowled at him.

“He was going to,” Clark said quietly, breaking his parents out of the staring contest that had just sprung up between them.

Martha blinked in confusion, unsure of whether she had heard him correctly.

“What?”

Clark gritted his teeth and started to bounce his knee up and down in a nervous tick-like motion.

“He was going to,” he repeated. “You should have seen it, Mom. He has this room at the castle that’s completely devoted to all of the information he’s gotten on me. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

Martha and Jonathan both appeared nothing short of horrified.

“Oh my God,” Martha whispered under her breath.

“Yeah. And he was going to try out some of the meteor rock experiments on me, but didn’t because they’re just not ready yet,” Clark explained. “If he ended up really doing it…I would have died.”

Jonathan pushed back his anger with Lionel by sucking in a breath through his teeth. Lionel wasn’t the only Luthor involved in this mess and he would be remiss if he didn’t speak his mind on the matter. If Lex knew about Lionel’s plan before everything happened, which was most likely the case, then he would want something very valuable in return for the information since he wouldn’t be able to execute the same plan himself at a later time.

“Dare I ask what Lex wants in return for helping you?”

Clark’s face fell into an expression that was something akin to despair.

“I have to stay away from Chloe,” he uttered in a hoarse whisper, rife with emotion.

Jonathan stiffened his posture and then nodded once.

“What else?” he asked.

Clark barely shook his head and swallowed down the lump that rose in his throat.

“That’s it,” he said, apparently still not having regained total use of his vocal cords, as his voice came out in a croaked whisper once again. “I can’t visit her or call to see how she’s doing…I can’t approach her if I see her in town unless she’s with other people – specifically Lex…I --- I don’t know if I can do it. She’s one of my best friends and Lex wants to just shut me out of her life. How can he do that? It’s not fair&#33;”

Jonathan’s face contorted with guarded sympathy.

“Even your - *ahem* - future self…told you not to interfere in their relationship, Clark. I’ve got to think that means something.”

“Like I said before, originally she died,” Clark said ascetically. “Because just like me, he forgot where he put her. He wouldn’t tell me too much – something to do with screwing up the timeline – but it sounds like Lex totally lost it when she died and became worse than his father has ever been.

“So, when his – my – memories were unblocked, he saw it as a chance to put things right, so he came back in time to save her. But he didn’t say to stop being friends with her,” he added vehemently. He just said not to try and take her away from Lex.”

Jonathan and Martha exchanged a look and then Martha offered Clark a wearily compassionate expression.

“Chloe and Lex…their relationship is so new right now, Clark. Given Chloe’s past…non-platonic…feelings for you, Lex probably saw you as a threat from the beginning. And then…you did kind of overreact when you saw them together…” she trailed off and grinned uneasily. “Give him some time to cool down, some time to be alone with Chloe and become secure in their relationship. I’m sure he’ll change his mind eventually.”

~*~*~*~

Sheriff Adams inclined her head smugly as she stared at the man on the other side of the jail’s bars.

“Bet you thought you were gonna get away with it, didn’t you?” she asked. She shook her head. “Your money might buy your way out of trouble in a big city like Metropolis, but here in Smallville we do things a little differently.”

Lionel resisted letting out an irritated sigh, opting to give the sheriff a charming, Cheshire grin instead.

“So I see,” he said. “How foolish I was to believe you wouldn’t falsely imprison the innocent. Kudos to you for proving me wrong.”

Adams snorted.

“You’re a long way from innocent, Mr. Luthor.”

“I’m not guilty of the crime and subsequent actions that you’re charging me with,” he replied in a smooth voice, entirely confident that his lawyers would remove him from his current predicament the second they arrived in Smallville. “I didn’t have Mr. Kent drugged, Sheriff. And since I hardly think you can prove otherwise, there’s really very little point in ---”

“Actually,” Adams cut in, “we’ve got a remarkably solid case against you.” She leaned forward and smirked. “Inside information’s a bitch, isn’t it?”

~*~*~*~

Three weeks later…

“I just don’t understand,” the petite brunette girl said, tears filling her eyes for the third time in half an hour. “Why would Clark do something like that? How could he do something like that?”

“Lex came across evidence that his dad had Clark drugged with some meteor rock thing,” Chloe lied smoothly, her tone consoling so her friend was none the wiser. “And I don’t have to tell you what the meteor rocks can do to people. Thankfully Mr. Luthor is in jail now and as luck would have it, Pete’s mom is the judge who got assigned to his case. There’s no way he’s going free.”

Lana closed her eyes and nodded once in agreement.

“Yeah,” she said. “But still…Clark has always seemed…invulnerable. You know?”

“I know,” Chloe said. “But he’s still human, Lana.”

‘Liar,’ Lex’s voice chimed in her head, causing Chloe to smile.

‘What do you want me to tell her? The truth?’ Chloe thought, her laughter ringing in her ears even though it wasn’t out loud. ‘Because I can picture how well that’d go over.’

Closing her eyes so she could focus on forming a solid mental image, Chloe barely remembered to raise a hand to rub her eyelids tiredly so Lana wouldn’t think she was going off the deep end.

“Nurse&#33; Nurse&#33;” Lana screamed, pushing down on the call button again and again in an effort to get someone to come into her room.

“Lana, calm down,” Chloe said. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting just a *teensy* bit?” she asked, holding a tiny amount of air between her thumb and index finger as a physical example.

“Chloe – you think your best friend’s an *alien*. Clearly your medication is having some side effects,” Lana replied. “You need help. You should be readmitted. Nurse&#33; Nurse&#33; Damn it&#33; Where the hell is she?&#33;”

Lex chuckled under his breath.

‘Alright. I concede that she wouldn’t take the news well, but the cussing at the end was a little unrealistic. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her use a swear word worse than ‘heck’. I doubt hearing that Clark’s an alien would miraculously add language to her limited vocabulary.’

‘You weren’t on the receiving end of all of her insane wedding planning outbursts,’ Chloe reminded him.

“Thank God,” Lex murmured aloud. ‘What do you say we leave her out of the planning this time around?’

‘What do you say we leave *everybody* out? We can just elope like I wanted to in the first place.’

Lex laughed.

‘You wish. Your dad will never allow it. Or do I need to show you the home movie of him flipping out at the suggestion again?’

‘Technically, that disc doesn’t exist yet,’ Chloe chirped happily. ‘And who says we have to tell him?’

‘I do. He’ll have another heart attack if we don’t.’

‘Okay, I’ll give you that one,’ Chloe grumbled. ‘By the way, I promised I’d stop by there for dinner after visiting Lana.’

‘Do you want me to bring anything?’ Lex asked, automatically assuming that he’d be going as well.

‘He’s still on bland, yucky food, so you might not want to come at all,’ Chloe replied. ‘I probably won’t eat there either.’

‘I should still be there, Chloe,’ Lex insisted. ‘He needs to get used to seeing us ---’

“Wow. You look really bad, Chloe. Are you sure you should have checked out of the hospital so soon?” Lana asked, ripping Chloe from her conversation with Lex.

‘Nice,’ Chloe thought with heavy sarcasm.

‘What?’

‘Sorry…Lana just said that I didn’t look good and implied that I should have stayed in the hospital longer.’

‘Ah. Well, if my opinion means anything, I’m glad you didn’t. I have a feeling that whatever the hospital was doing was keeping you from getting better.’

‘And by ‘better’, you mean remembering that I’m madly in love with you?’

‘Obviously,’ Lex thought with a smirk.

Chloe snickered and Lana gave her a strange look.

“Chloe? Are you okay?”

“Uh…yeah…yeah,” Chloe said, shaking her head. “Just tired and a little loopy because of it.”

Lana nodded.

“How’s your dad doing?” she asked.

“He’s getting better,” Chloe answered. “Kind of slow going…” Silently adding, ‘Since he’s so stubborn.’

‘Can’t imagine who you take after,’ Lex thought with a smile.

“But they expect him to make a full recovery,” Chloe continued, ignoring Lex’s interruption. “He’s actually been joking about his body having perfect timing since now he doesn’t really have to deal with the case against Lex’s dad.”

Lana giggled.

“That sounds like him,” she said. “So, how is Lex?”

Chloe grinned.

“He healed a lot faster than you did.”

“Hey&#33; I was thrown through a wall&#33;” Lana protested. “I think I need a little more recuperation time than someone who was just knocked out.”

Chloe smiled to herself, pleased that she had been able to derail Lana’s previous line of questioning. She didn’t know how much Lana suspected or was told, but from what she remembered of Clark’s previous incessant doting on her dark-haired friend, she imagined he had told her everything – save the fact that he was an alien, of course – and she didn’t want Lana getting any wedding planning ideas in her head. It had been hell enough the first time around.

“…and --- hey&#33; You never answered my question&#33;”

‘Shit.’

‘Don’t tell me you’re still visiting with her,’ Lex thought.

‘I managed to zone out most of what she was saying, but she finally clued into the fact that I side-stepped her oh-so-subtle question about you.’

‘What about me?’ Lex asked suspiciously.

‘I think she knows we’re together.’

Lex snorted.

‘What tipped her off? The fact that you moved in with me when you were released from the hospital or that I’ve been referring to you as my fiancée?’

A bubble of laughter slipped past Chloe’s lips, but it quickly died when she noticed the expectant look on Lana’s face. She let out a sigh and faked a smile for her friend.

“It’s a long story.”

~*~*~*~*~

A/N: I can’t believe you haven’t let this fic die. My poor muse. Anyway, only the epilogue is left. *smile* :yay:

[michelle_19781997]

I&#39;m so excited that you updated. Wonderful chapter as always.

[Queen Of Tact]

Kris I think you know us a lot better then to let something like that happen..... Great update.... Love this fic...


CC

[Clannadlvr]

Mwhahaha&#33;&#33; We never let beloved fic die&#33;

Great update...one question, though? Are we assuming that Chloe remembers how it feels to be in love with Lex again? I wasn&#39;t sure...

can&#39;t wait for the Epilogue&#33;

[autumngold]

I&#39;m so glad that Lionel is going to be blamed for the entire mess&#33;&#33; I guess that makes me mean, but after all he&#39;s gotten away with he deserves it&#33;&#33; Thank you for the update&#33;&#33; I&#39;m so glad that Chloe and Lex are getting along well together again&#33;&#33; :worship2: :yay: :chlexsign1: :yay:

[buffiy18]

Thanks for updating again and not totally forgetting about this fic. I miss your updates.

Looking forward to the conclusion.

:chlexsign3:

[hfce]

yeah you updated. I loved it.

Hope :)

[hickchick]

yay&#33; I&#39;m so glad you updated this&#33; it&#39;s one of my favorite fics by you&#33;

and it was such a wonderful update too&#33; I love where you&#39;re going with this&#33; I&#39;m so in love with the idea of Chloe and Lex being able to read each other&#39;s minds. I&#39;ve always wondered what&#39;s going on in their heads. And this way Lex can&#39;t hide anything from Chloe and the other way around. Well not that they would want to hide anything. Chloe and Lex are awesome as couple.

Please don&#39;t leave us waiting too long for the next update ;)

you rock Kris&#33; :)

[Kit Merlot]

My God, Kris, I almost missed this update&#33;

Excellent--I love how you had Clark/Superman being disgusted with idiotic teenage Clark. The BDA kidnaps Chloe, then FORGETS where he hid her, thereby killing her and he&#39;s actually stunned that they can&#39;t be friends anymore.

Oh. My. God. Could Clark be any dumber?

This is a wonderful story--WELL DONE :biggrin:

[drina]

I missed this&#33; can&#39;t wait for the epilogue . :biggrin:

[kitten]

I&#39;m such a big fan. Finding your stories on Fanfiction.net is what converted me to Chlex. They&#39;re always such a good balance of action, romance, humour and suspense, and through it all you manage to keep the characters realistic and surprise your readers. I hope you get money for some of your writing because you really should&#33;

[scifichick774]

Wonder Woman glared at the alien device uneasily. Their trip back through time hadn’t exactly been a smooth one and as much as she wanted to get back home, she wasn’t especially keen on going through another bumpy, nausea-inducing ride.

Of course, the knowing smirk that Superman was shooting her wasn’t helping her mood any either, and if it came down to a choice between sucking it up and going back to the future or standing there waiting for her friend and colleague to start laughing at her reluctance to return because of the means of travel…well, it wasn’t really a choice.

“If you want a few minutes…” Superman said, intentionally leaving off the end of his sentence to let his smirk slide into a teasing smile.

“That’s not necessary. Besides, you’d never let me hear the end of it if we waited.”

“No,” Superman agreed, his smile threatening to burst at the seams now. “I wouldn’t.”

Wonder Woman gave him a tight grin.

“Fine. But if I end up losing my lunch, I’m aiming in your direction.”

~*~*~*~

Justice League of America Headquarters – 15 years later…

“Hey. Where’ve you two been?” the Flash asked, narrowing his eyes in teasing suspicion, using the same lurid tone that he always did when he tried to bait them.

‘Too bad that couldn’t have changed,’ Wonder Woman thought.

“Taking care of something,” Superman replied curtly. “Why? What happened while we were gone?”

“Nada. Zip, zilch, zero,” the Flash said with a mild sigh and a roll of his eyes. “Well…nothing that I got to go to. But, now that you’re back, you can take over guard duty of the building while I answer the low priority call we got from the Luthor family.”

“Whoa, there,” Superman said, grabbing the Flash by the arm right before he got into running position. “What’s this about Luthor?”

Although he had been assured by Mej-Ete (the New Kryptonian he had confiscated the time travel device from when the man tried to kidnap Lana) that he would gain new memories of the different past after returning to the future; it hadn’t happened yet, and his gut reaction was still to jump to the conclusion that Lex was trying to lure him into some sort of trap to kill him.

“Same thing as every year,” the Flash answered with a somewhat quizzical look on his face, wondering what had really gone on in Superman and Wonder Woman’s two hour absence that made him forget what day it was. Superman stared blankly at him and he pulled back, jerking his arm away from him. “You know – cake, balloons, ice cream…they’ve probably got a jumpy castle too.”

Superman arched an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest, causing a surprised look to pass over the Flash’s face.

“Oh man. You really forgot, didn’t you?” he asked; a smile spreading across his lips.

Ahh…payback was only a bitch if you were on the receiving end. But this? This was wonderful. Now he had something to bring up every time Supes lectured him about not remembering some stupid errand that he wanted him to run.

“It’s Joey’s birthday,” he finally said, facing Superman’s increasingly agitated and impatient look head on. “But hey, since you forgot, what d’ya say to letting me take your place this year? All that food and candy…” He trailed off for a second as his eyes took on a glazed expression. “Besides, why should you get to be the only one to go every year?” Superman opened his mouth to retort, but the Flash continued. “If it helps, I promise I’ll be good and not leer at Chloe Luthor like at the Madisons’ Christmas party. Well…not the whole time anyway.”

Wonder Woman let out a half-laugh, smothering it with her hand to keep from bursting into hysterics – but it was more because of the way Superman was glaring at the Flash rather than the comment that the younger man had made.

“Only when you’re not stuffing your mouth. Is that it?” she asked, only partially joking as she was trying to defuse the tense situation.

The Flash smiled cockily back at her.

“I’ll have you know I’m capable of doing both at the same time. I’m capable of doing lots of things at the same time,” he said suggestively. “And if you wanted to come with me because you’re jealous of me looking at other women…sweetheart, all you had to do was ask,” he finished with a wink.

Superman clasped a hand onto the Flash’s shoulder. “It’s never going to happen,” he said simply, pressing down a little harder than he needed to, reasoning that it would help get the point across. “And if anyone goes to the…party…” he paused, inwardly shaking his head at the possibility that he was really invited to what sounded like a child’s birthday party, “…it should be me.”

The Flash scoffed.

“You’re only saying that because you were the one who was invited,” he said. Superman couldn’t help but smile laughingly back at him and the Flash sighed dramatically. “Fine. Be that way. They said it’s at their place in Smallville.”

Superman nodded once and then disappeared from the building in a millisecond, leaving no trace behind that he had ever been there.

The Flash rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet; a mischievous smirk on his lips.

“Should I even ask?” Wonder Woman queried suspiciously.

The Flash’s smirk split wider. “Ten bucks says he forgets to get a present on the way there.”

Wonder Woman grinned back at him and just shook her head lightly. She may not have her new memories yet, but there was no way she was taking that bet.

~*~*~*~

He hadn’t been there in years, but he could have sworn that the Luthors’ ancestral home looked exactly the same as the last time he’d seen it. That is, until he saw the sprawling estate on the back side of the castle, heavily decorated with large helium-filled balloons and streamers that did indeed proclaim that the event being held there that day was a birthday party.

Then Superman’s eyes landed on her and a rush of memories he hadn’t known just minutes before steamrolled through his brain and forced him to touch down before he accidentally flew into one of the large stone walls or a tree and endangered whatever unlucky individuals happened to be nearby.

“Chloe,” he greeted, cursing the way his voice gave away his nervousness. It seemed like so long since he’d seen her even though his altered memories told him otherwise. Technically, he’d had lunch with her about a month ago, but the far past was still fresh in his mind; his loss that much closer to his heart.

Chloe quickly swiveled around to face him, her thousand-watt smile practically knocking the wind out of him when she beamed it at him. A few rapid steps closed the space between them and she threw her arms around him in a large hug.

“Clark,” she returned, pulling away from him almost immediately. “You’re late, but I’m so glad you came. Wally said something about not being able to get a hold of you and since you know we always tell guests the location the day of the kids’ parties to avoid the paparazzi…” She trailed off and smiled again as she lightly shook her head. “So, what was it this time? Earthquake? Volcano? Mxyzptlk?”

“Uh…”

“Well, I know it wasn’t Lois, because she’s still here…”

“Still?” Superman asked in mild confusion.

“Almost everyone has gone home already, Clark.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. So, what kept you?”

“I…I just…it’s kind of hard to explain,” Superman uncharacteristically stammered, slipping back into the bumbling farmboy personality he had grown up and away from; though if his ‘new’ memories were to be believed, he apparently always reverted to around Chloe.

But he reasoned that this time wasn’t his fault. Certainly it would be a hard thing for anyone to live through one set of circumstances, go back in time to change them, and then return to the future to see the smiling face of someone that he could still remember doing so much wrong to.

Still, Chloe looked suspicious, and since he was unprepared to give her a lengthy explanation of where he had really been and what he had been doing there, he needed to come up with something to deflect her investigative nature.

“And Lois is here? I thought you wanted to keep the press at bay?”

Chloe gave him a strange sort of look; one that showed she was still curious, but more worried for her friend and a possible threat to his mental well-being.

“She’s the only one we ever invite because she’s my cousin and insisted on having the exclusive rights despite the fact that she hates kids. You know that,” she said.

Oh.

Apparently not all of his memories had come to him yet.

“What’s going on, Clark? You know you can tell me.”

“I ---” Superman started, stopping before saying another word and sighing in defeat. Chloe had always been able to tell when he was lying. She didn’t always call him on it, but she could always tell. “I had to go on a trip,” he said evasively.

“O-kay,” Chloe strung out, shooting him a questioning look that prodded him to continue.

‘What’s wrong with him?’ Lex asked.

‘Soooo many ways I could answer that, but in the interest of time, I’ll settle for I don’t know.’

‘Well, don’t take too long trying to find out. Leo’s in meltdown and apparently ‘Dad’ just isn’t good enough.’

‘He’s been like that for the last hour,’ Chloe thought worriedly. ‘I think he had too much sugar and it’s probably giving him an upset stomach.’

‘Fantastic,’ Lex deadpanned.

‘I’ll do my best to get up there quickly, but you know how Clark is when he gets into brood mode.’

‘God,’ Lex thought in exasperation. ‘Is that what he’s doing? You shouldn’t even bother then. Just call Joey over to read his mind and have it done with.’

‘I don’t know if I want to encourage that,’ Chloe thought. ‘I know it doesn’t work on us, but…’

‘It’s a gift, Chloe. We should be supportive.’

Chloe inwardly sighed. ‘But you know what he’s like, Lex. When my dad asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said, ‘king of the world’ – and that’s exactly how he phrased it; no sarcasm or anything.’

‘So? I wanted to be that too when I was his age,’ Lex replied, smirking so broadly that Chloe saw it in her mind.

She rolled her eyes, but a snide grin lifted the corners of her mouth.

‘What do you mean when you were his age? I thought that’s still what you wanted.’

‘You know me so well.’

‘It helps that I can hear your every thought.’

‘You have to admit that it would certainly be advantageous to Joey. He could just take over when I died,’ Lex only half-joked.

‘Don’t give him any ideas.’

“Oh God&#33;” Lex yelled. ‘Eww&#33; Yuck&#33;’

‘What happened?’

‘Leo threw up on me&#33;’

‘Poor baby,’ Chloe thought sympathetically; though from her tone, Lex couldn’t discern whether her sympathy was directed towards him or their younger son. ‘Well, I guess that explains the tantruming.’

‘Yeah. Great,’ Lex thought sarcastically. ‘Now, do you think you could hurry up and dump the big dumb alien off on Joey so you can come comfort our son while I take a shower?’

‘Yeah. Give me a second,’ Chloe answered. After what she was sure her friend considered a long and awkward silence, she grinned at him. “It’s okay, Clark. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

Superman visibly relaxed and smiled gratefully. “Thanks.”

“Why don’t you go wish Joey a happy tenth birthday?” Chloe suggested. “As usual, Leo ate too much cake and ice cream, so he isn’t feeling good and I’d like to go check on him.”

‘Thank God,’ Lex thought to himself. “Don’t worry, big guy,” he told his seven-year-old, resisting the urge to give any sort of physical comfort to the boy because a hug or even a pat on the head surely would have spread some of the vomit onto the kid; which Lex guessed would probably make him sick again. “Mommy’s on her way.”

Leo, his green eyes watery and his red hair mussed, sniffled up at his father, causing Lex to give him a wince of a grin. He knew what the boy wanted; reassurance in the form of an embrace or a kiss on the top of his head – or just something that showed him that he wasn’t mad at him. Unfortunately, he also knew that he couldn’t give it to him while he was drenched in the former contents of the boy’s stomach. It simply wasn’t possible.

He vowed to make the youngest Luthor stick to eating carrot sticks and drinking juice at the next birthday party he attended.

Still, he was in charge of the boy’s happiness for the time being and he needed to do or say something to wipe pale, nauseous look off his face before he was treated to a second round of being doused with what used to be food.

“She would have been here sooner, but your Uncle Clark finally decided to show up and ---”

“He did?” Leo asked excitedly, brightening from his sick, sour disposition in a mere second’s time. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone, leaving Lex to let out a disgruntled sigh.

“I hate it when he does that.”

‘When who does what?’ Chloe asked.

“I told Leo that Clark was here ---”

‘I heard that much.’

“And it must have been a miracle, because he super-sped out of here like he’d never been feeling ill at all,” Lex continued, not caring that he was speaking aloud instead of only in his mind. There wasn’t anyone else in the castle besides the staff and most of them were downstairs or outside cleaning up the disaster area that had been left in the wake of the party.

He grimaced as he slowly made his way to the master bedroom down the hall, carefully peeling off the vomit-covered clothes he was wearing once he got there so he could take a shower in the adjoining bathroom.

Chloe laughed and Lex frowned.

‘Not funny,’ he thought. ‘He does something that he knows he could get punished for ---’

‘You can’t punish him for throwing up on you. It’s not his fault he was sick.’

‘We didn’t shove two servings of double chocolate cake and ice cream down his throat,’ Lex shot back, though not venomously. ‘Not to mention all that candy he got from the piñata. But my point was, he does something and then takes off like a bat out of hell. You want to talk about not encouraging an ability…’

‘Sad, but true. And it’s not like we can really stop either one of them,’ Chloe thought. ‘But you know, really we should be thankful that they got the abilities they got.’

‘We should be thankful that our radiation-mutated genes passed onto our kids?’ Lex asked wryly.

‘I think that was inevitable. What I meant was that they could have been stuck with crap powers like Pete and Lana’s daughter.’

‘The ability to communicate with dogs. What the hell is that about?’

‘On the upside, it taught Pete to never buy an animal from the Smallville pet store again…which really, he should have known before he bought Bingo. He should have expected that the puppy might be affected by the meteor rocks. Him ignoring that piece of instinct and Bingo biting Lulu and making her a meteor freak was all kind of his own doing in a roundabout sort of way.’

‘I still can’t believe they named the dog Bingo.’

‘There was a man who had a dog and Bingo was his name-o,’ Chloe chimed.

‘Don’t. I’ll have that stupid song stuck in my head for days and therefore in your head for days.’

Chloe laughed again.

‘Okay, okay,’ she agreed. ‘What I can’t believe is that they named their daughter Lulu. It’s like they wanted her to grow up to be the fat lady at a carnival.’

‘Well…she is kind of chunky,’ Lex snickered.

‘Alexander Joseph Luthor&#33; You be nice&#33;’

‘The full name thing only works on the kids, Chloe.’

‘Damn.’

‘And I can be nice…’ Lex smirked suggestively.

Chloe grinned. ‘Should I take that to mean that you finally made it to the shower?’

‘Mmm,’ Lex hummed in confirmation.

‘And that you want me to join you?’

‘Want to?’ Lex’s husky voice reverberated through her head and Chloe wobbled for a second as her knees literally went weak.

‘Mmm,’ she hummed back. ‘The boys have effectively cornered Clark and it looks like Lois is about to join the pack. Let me see if I can talk him into keeping an eye on them for a bit.’

‘Shouldn’t be too hard with Lois there. But if he puts up a fuss, just guilt-trip him into it.’

Chloe laughed aloud, quickly bringing a hand up to cover her mouth so the remaining party stragglers wouldn’t hear her. Clark would hear her no matter what, she knew that; but she also knew that her sons would keep him on his toes enough for him not to pay attention to too much else.

‘You know, you’re the only man I know who’d think of taking advantage of a superhero’s mood and the circumstances surrounding him just so you could have uninterrupted sex with your wife.’

‘I’m not the only one to think of it; just the only one whose thoughts you can see and hear.’

Chloe studied the scene that was over by the long table that the unwrapped gifts and the leftover food and party supplies now laid on. Clark, the man she once thought she loved, was clothed as his alter ego Superman; Lois seemed to be vacillating between mooning over him in all of his spandex-clad glory and barraging him with questions that Chloe was sure the brunette had asked a dozen times before; Leo was tugging on his arm to get his attention and then speeding to the other side of the lawn and back, pausing at each end so Clark could see how fast he could run now; and her eldest, the birthday boy, Joey, was standing there looking perfectly calm and content, his blue eyes fixed on the older man’s face.

Calm and content…

She knew better. Having seen the same look in Joey’s eyes countless times before, she knew that he was reading Clark’s mind without his knowledge or permission – and without her even having to ask him to find out what was wrong.

A pleased smile spread across her lips. Lex had given this to her. So long ago, she had practically given up on the possibility of real love existing and definitely on her ever finding it herself. But she had. Yes, in part it was thanks to a simple accident that involved meteor rocks, and then the repetition of said accident when she traveled back in time, but in the end it had all come down to her and Lex and the feelings they’d developed for each other.

If it had been anyone else that she had to end up sharing all of her thoughts with, there was no way she could see her future turning out as well as it had. Not only had Lex been supportive of her going to and finishing college, but maintaining a career as well – albeit not the one she had always dreamed of, but something else that was ultimately much better suited to her.

Then there were her kids. She suspected that Lex would have preferred to start a family sooner, but he hadn’t put up a fight about it when she said she wanted to graduate from college and start her career as a consultant for research on the meteor rocks first.

She loved him. And instead of the sight of the man she thought she loved so many years ago threatening the stability of that love, it only served to confirm it.

…just the only one whose thoughts you can see and hear…

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.



The End


A/N: As many of you know (from my constant, incessant griping), I feel that I should have never started this fic, so I’m supremely happy to have now ended it. But, in retrospect, I’m glad I wrote it, because it’s taught me the valuable lesson of never, *never* giving into people’s pleas for sequels again; regardless of how guilty they might try to make me feel.

That said, if you enjoyed this fic (for whatever reason), please drop me a line or leave some feedback. And if you didn’t…well, you’re in good company and nothing more needs to be said. LOL *smile*

[Shay]

Wonderful story. It was a wonderfully smutty ride.

Shay

[tigerbaby]

Moved at the request of the author.

[hfce]

Wonderful, fantastic I loved it.



Hope :chlexsign3:

[autumngold]

I feel so bad that you didn&#39;t like writing this story because I so enjoyed reading it&#33;&#33; If I didn&#39;t love this story so much I&#39;d feel guilty&#33;&#33; :biggrin: Thank you so much for the last chapter, and showing how happy Lex and Chloe are together&#33;&#33; I can&#39;t stop laughing though about Pete, Lana and Lulu&#33;&#33; :pclol: Heaven forbid them having any more kids, but if they do I hope Pete gets to name them&#33;&#33; :biggrin: Thanks for this great story&#33;&#33; :worship2: :chlexsign4: :worship2:

[Clannadlvr]

Great job, Kris&#33; Even if you didn&#39;t enjoy writing the sequel in the first place, you gave it a wonderful/meaningful ending. Thanks for devoting your time to this&#33;&#33;

[Janet]

This has been over for a long time, but it was great Kris&#33; :biggrin: Really enjoyed it. Chloe and Lex going back in the future... "I thought you said you told him" <- lol

Clark getting his mind read at the end... I wonder what was read.... if Chloe and Lex ever learn that Clark went back in time to fix things....

GREAT WRITING&#33; :blinkkiss:

[chril1]

oooooooh thanke thanke

love you, it, whatever

love lea
xxx

[chloedreamer]

I find this at another website and read it and I couldn&#39;t make any since out of it. Of course that was pretty much because I was jumping chapters lol. This time I start from the beginning and read all the way through and I followed the plot which was really good.

I liked how the first time line was actually Lex/Chloe being together and the second timeline was the one where Clark kidnapped Chloe and Lex turned evil because he lost Chloe. And lets not forget the third and last timeline where Lex/Chloe happily married with children.

[bunnylyn33]

I loved this story. This is one of the best sequals.

[Sidhe]

I sorry that you didn&#39;t like writing this story, &#39;cause we sure loved reading it&#33; Thanx&#33; :yay: :yay: :yay: :yay: :chlexsign1: :chlexsign2: :chlexsign3:

[darkangel]

I loved this fic especially the ending.

[arkakitty]

Contrary to you, I am really glad you wrote it.
It is a great sequel and I enjoyed reading it :)

[txalb]

Despite the fact that you despised giving in to the pleas of your readers I have to say that you did a great job on this one. I didn’t like it as much as the first one but I think that mainly had to do with the fact that it practically erased everything that happened in the first one. But I liked the ending with Clark going crazy and his future self coming and fixing everything. And I hate to say this (mainly because I fear being lynched as this is a Chloe/Lex site) but I think it would be interesting to see a Chloe/Clark version of this play out.

I thought it was really great. Thanks for writing.

txalb

[ggdoll18]

I enjoyed it also!!! Very very good

[Thaís]

Oh!!!! What a great sequel!!!!
And they're kids have powers too...
And Superman saving Chloe, and she being able to stop Lex from turning evil in the future...
Such a wonderful story... And so beautifully written...
Just keep the great work, ok!!!!

[katieandjason]

I loved this fic! It was fantastic, and I am sorry that you hated it but I loved it.

[starmoon]

i like this sequel it is cute and funny the way it ended.

[kidkarmina]

finally was able to finish reading this. it has been awhile that i had to read it from the beginning to end.

i even saw my reviews from the past when i was able to read fanfic in almost a daily basis.

now that i have done so, i was confused at first but finally made sense. i thank you for finishing this sequel knowing that it was a lot of work for you.

as always, excellent job. the ride was fun and like life, a bit of a roller coaster so thanks again. thank you very much!

[chloedreamer]

I remember reading this a few times but I haven't in a few months so glad to have find it again because the other site I read it on went down. So I'm off to go read this again.

[Alizaleven]

I just finished reading this again :D I love it so much!!!! Such awesome twists and turns in the storyline... and I absolutely ador the ending :) I love how you wrapped it up so nicely with superman/clark being good friends with Chloe and her family. Awesome story :grin3:

[maryperk]

Cool sequel. Lots of twists and turns, that's for sure.

[Tanschana]

Wonderful piece of work!
And again we could see the reason why they don't put Chloe and Lex together on the show, because they need him to become evil! I mean, look at all his wives and girlfriends :kill: who wouldn't become an evil mastermind!

[dkangel1]

I am sorry you didn't enjoy writing this, but I am glad you did.

Thank you!

[Dominique]

I love this story....looking forward to reading it again

[thewinddancer]

I LOVED THE SEQUEAL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WRITING. The last part about what happened in the future is simply wonderful! I love it. <3 <3 <3

[malugargula]

Great sequel. I didn't remember a lot about it
It's wonderful rereading :)

[HotCrossedBunny]

Great story, especially as you didn't want to write it. I loved all of the twists and turns and the meteor freak kids. I hope that Gabe survived to see his Grandkids, very angry with Lana for allowing Gabe to get that packet of biscuits after all that Chloe has done for her over the years the least she could have done was be a loyal friend and not let him have them.

[Ami Rose]

Contrary to you, I am really glad you wrote it.
It is a great sequel and I enjoyed reading it :)

Amazing sequel! The end had a great twist. Loved it! Thank you!

[RevDorothyL]

I just re-read "Accidents Happen" and then dived into this twisty but ultimately very satisfying sequel. I particularly enjoyed the idea of Lionel Luther taking the fall for Clark's mental breakdown, and Pete's Mom being the judge on his case. But most of all, of course, I loved the fact that future-Superman's trip to the past resulted in such a happy Lex and Chloe and their beloved, super-powered offspring.

So very well done!

[RevDorothyL]

I just re-read "Accidents Happen" and then dived into this twisty but ultimately very satisfying sequel.

I particularly enjoyed the idea of Lionel Luther taking the fall for Clark's mental breakdown, and Pete's Mom being the judge on his case.

But most of all, of course, I loved the fact that future-Superman's trip to the past resulted in such a happy Lex and Chloe and their beloved, super-powered offspring.

So very well done!

[TestingFaith]

First, I completely forgot about this sequel. Second, it's kind of the most amazing thing ever.

[trckyrcky]

Love the sequel. Just re-reading this again and still love it.