Secrets and Lies (NC-17) Completed

[bluemoongirl23]

“How can you not care?”

Clark’s voice was raised not in anger, but in total and absolute rage. It was not a state that Lex had ever seen the boy in. He had seen him upset, outraged and fuming. But, the venom in his voice was a new shade to him. Lex supposed that it was buried so far in his friend that he didn’t even notice he had it in him. But, one thing had brought it out.

Chloe.

Or, more accurately, Lex’s refusal to help Clark in his quest to prove that the blonde was alive and kicking.

Lex sat at his desk as Clark paced in front of him. He glared at Lex and walked to the desk. Leaning his hands on the top of it, he spoke to him. His voice was low and barely under control. “She put her life on the line for you. How can you just sit there,” he spat out the words, “and do nothing when there is still a chance that she is out there somewhere. Or, if you really believe that she’s dead, how can you not even give a damn? She had faith in you and you got her and her father blown to bits! Then, you didn’t even attend her funeral. Instead, you went running off to Paris to see Lana!”

Lex let the boy talk. Soon, he doubted Clark would ever want to have another conversation with him.
He thought it was interesting that in the course of discussing Chloe’s untimely demise Clark still found the breath to bring up Lana. Clark was selfish to the end, it was a sort of comfort to Lex. It made his next move all the more easy.

“Are you quite through yelling at me?” Lex’s voice was level and he showed no sign that Clark’s words were having any effect on him. They weren’t. Lex’s course of action was set. He had no intention of helping Clark.

Before Clark could answer, Lex said, “Good.” He got up out of his chair and walked to stand in front of Clark. He placed his hands on Clark’s shoulders and saw that his friend flinched at the contact.

“I’m only going to say this once, Clark. Keep in mind that it’s for your own good.” Lex waited to make sure that he had Clark’s full attention. “Chloe was a big girl and she made her own choice.” Clark had clenched his jaw when Lex used the past tense to speak about Chloe. “She knew what she was getting into and it got her killed. What happened was a tragedy, but you have to move on. Living in the past, investigating something that is over isn’t healthy. You taught me that.” He gave Clark a pointed look.

Neither of them had mentioned the last true conversation they had had. After Clark had gotten back from wherever the hell he had disappeared to this last time, he had immediately begun pestering Lex about finding Chloe. They had glossed over the huge fight that had occurred between them. That was fine by Lex, he didn’t need to rehash the points.

Clark viciously slapped Lex’s arms off of him. Lex could feel the dull pain travel up his arms, but he ignored it.

“This isn’t the same and you know it.” Clark glared at him, trying to make Lex be the first one to break their eye contact. He couldn’t hold out and started to look around the room. Most likely for something to bludgeon Lex to death with. Standing up straighter, Clark said, “Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

He brushed past Lex and was stopped in his tracks by Lex’s voice. “Clark, is this really about Chloe? Or about the fact that you weren’t there to save her? That you two had drifted so far apart that you didn’t even know that she was helping me?” Clark didn’t say anything and Lex had the answer he needed.

Clark turned his head and Lex could see actual hatred reflected in his eyes. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. You didn’t even *know* her.”

Lex shrugged. “If you say so, Clark.”

Clark’s nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed. He blinked quickly and shook his head while ripping his eyes away from Lex. Lex watched the show with interest. He wondered just what Clark had come close to doing just then.

“Consider this good-bye, Lex.” This time, Lex could hear the conviction in Clark’s voice. He wasn’t torn or confused about his choice.

Lex nodded. “Fine. Good-bye, Clark. I wish you the best of luck.”

Clark glared at him for another moment and then stalked out of the room. He slammed the door as he left and Lex watched disinterested as the wood cracked and practically shattered.

He was no longer obsessed with finding out Clark’s secret. He walked over to the window and watched Clark climb into his truck and speed out of the driveway.

After a few more minutes, Lex walked out of the room, careful not to get caught on any of the splintered wood that had been his door.

Once he was on the third floor, he took out his key ring and opened one of the numerous doors in the hall.

Clark would have been pleased with him. There was no evidence that the room had once been a sort of shrine to the day that Lex had met Clark four years ago. His visage didn’t adorn any of the walls. That wasn’t to say that they were barren, though.

There were numerous newspaper articles that were up all over the room.

Firstly, as he always did, Lex went to the animated board in the center of the room. He watched the scene unfold over and over. It never changed and he had it memorized by heart. He knew every nuance like the back of his hand. But, it was part of the ritual that he never deviated from.

He needed to do this first, to ground him in the science of what he was looking at before turning his attention to the board on his left.

His eyes always fixed on three of the photographs. He stared at them for an undetermined amount of time, taking them in. They had no investigative value, yet he spent more and more time looking at them every day he came in here.

They were of him and Chloe.

It was better to look at them then the house blowing up over and over. There were two skeletal figures that would fly about in the frame of the house as the explosion rocked the foundation. No matter how many times the animation ran, the two figures always perished. Lex had to look at that first to ground himself in reality. He then had to come over here to remember what he was doing this for.

The pictures were taken after Chloe had testified. Lex didn’t know where his contact had gotten them from and he didn’t care. He had paid an exorbitant amount of money for them but had given over the cash without so much as a second thought.

In the first, he and Chloe were in mid speech. She was looking up at him, concern clearly etched on her face. He thought it was when she was asking about what had happened with Clark. He knew that she was asking because she actually cared, not for some twisted ulterior motive. His hand was on the small of her back and he was bending over to hear her better.

The next was of them embracing. The hug had caught him off guard. They had always been professional with one another. Neither discussing the current that ran under all of their conversations. He had been the one to initiate all contact between them. That’s why it had taken him a moment to respond when she had thrown her arms around his neck as her ride had shown up. In the picture, Lex was putting his arms around her. Before she had released him, she whispered, “I should have done that a long time ago.”

The last picture was just of Lex. He was looking off in the distance. He knew that he was looking at the car that had taken Chloe away. He had watched it weave its way through traffic. His hands were in his pockets and his sunglasses were already in place. He looked calm and cool, but he remembered the emotions that he felt at that time. Chloe had practically jumped in the car when it pulled up, embarrassed by her actions. No doubt because Lex hadn’t said one thing to her about them. He couldn’t, he really had no idea what to say. He remembered thinking that when it was all over, he’d thank her properly not only for what she had done in the courtroom, but for what she had just told him.

But, his plans had changed. After waking up in the hospital, he had been told of the ‘accident’ that had killed Chloe and Gabe. He had taken the news in, his face and demeanor remaining passive.

When discharged, he had gone over to the prison to give his father the requisite threats and accusations that were expected of him. That task handled, he had flown to Paris.

It hadn’t been to see Lana. However, the girl being there had set up the perfect alibi for him. He had a contact in Paris that claimed to have some information on Chloe for him.

The trip hadn’t given him the information he wanted, but he had made some progress while in the city. During the day he would walk with Lana and listen to her prattle on about her new life. At night, he would meet various men who gave him false names and, it turned out, false leads. But, Lex had made sure that they were unable to make the same mistake twice.

Lex had returned to the states with a new sense of purpose. He was determined to find out the truth, no matter what the cost or how ugly it got. Chloe would have been proud.

For months, he had found nothing. Just the usual reports saying that his father was suspected in the explosion that had killed Chloe and Gabe, lab reports about the amount of C4 used in the bomb and theories as to how Lionel’s men had known where the safe house was.

Then, a man had come to Lex. He still didn’t know his real name, but that was unimportant. What was important was what he promised to deliver. Lex had been unable to get his hands on any autopsy reports. This man had promised he could get him those, and much more.

The boxes that sat on the table in the middle of the room had been delivered mere moments before Clark had shown up. Lex had been impatient to get the young man out of his house.

There were two boxes and on the front of each were a nine digit number. Lex recognized them as the case numbers for Gabe and Chloe. He opened the box with Gabe’s number first.

Lex took out a small bag which held some of Gabe’s teeth. The autopsy report concluded that he had died instantly in the explosion. He had still been cut open for procedural purposes. Lex read over everything, looking for anything that was out of the ordinary. He placed the papers and bag back in the box. After putting the top on the box, he closed his eyes and was silent.

He didn’t say a prayer for the man, he was far past that point. But, he thought Gabe deserved a moment of silence for what he had given for Lex. Without Gabe’s character and strength, Lex doubted that Chloe would have been the type of person who was guided by her principles.
Lex stared at the other box and put his hand on the top of it. He hadn’t been the one to carry it in here so he had no idea what lay within. Knowing that he was stalling, Lex promptly ripped the lid off and stared inside at the contents.

A single, white envelope lay within.

Lex picked it up and tore it open. It was a letter from his contact.

Mr. Luthor,

I’m sorry to report that I could not find any physical specimens from the Medical Examiner’s office in regards to Chloe Sullivan. There is no evidence that a dental match was run or that an autopsy was performed. Contact me again if it is necessary.

The note wasn’t signed and Lex let it drop back into the box. He was now convinced that his theory was right.

Chloe was alive.

Now, all Lex had to do was find her.

[bluemoongirl23]

The staccato sounds of heels hitting the marble floor bounced around the room. The woman was muttering to herself and hurrying along the corridor. She was pissed off. This was the fourth time that she had been summoned to this building in three weeks. What annoyed her was that no matter what was discussed, the men that she was about to meet with wouldn’t take her words into consideration. She really didn’t see the point of the meetings. They were aggravating and a waste of her time.

Time was something that she didn’t have in great abundance these days. She was enrolled in numerous courses at the university. She couldn’t decide between a major in Art History or Ancient Lit so she was going for both. As she rounded the corner, a security guard sitting at a desk glanced up at her. He was the usual guard and she gave him a polite smile.

“Ms. Fay.” He nodded at her. She had no idea what his name was and didn’t care to ask how he knew hers. Or, more accurately, the name that had been given to her after Chloe Sullivan’s death certificate was signed.

If the Wall of Weird was still in existence, she would have been front and center on it. She had seen pictures of the charred remains of the house and the crater that the explosion created. No one could have walked away from that alive. But, she had.

Unfortunately, her father hadn’t been so lucky. But, she didn’t dwell on thoughts like that. At least, not during the day time. She could keep herself busy interacting with people or doing work. The nights were the hardest for her.

She made her way to the elevator and grumbled when she saw the doors sliding closed when it came into sight. That always seemed to happen to her in this building and it made her slightly homicidal. After waiting none too patiently for another minute, the elevator returned.

Nodding at the guard inside as he immediately pushed the button for the top floor, she busied her mind with juggling her schedule for the rest of the day. When these men called, explaining that you had a hair appointment and couldn’t make it was not an option. She ran her hand through the deep red strands that needed to be dyed again.

During the first week or so after the accident, she had shut down. She had gone through the motions and signed all of the paperwork on automatic pilot. It was as if she was watching someone else do everything. Because she had been so out of it, she had little say on her name or on her new hair color. Someone had decided on brown and it ill suited her.

Once regaining the ability to think and function, she had changed her hair color. There was little she could do about the name. Angelique Fay. The legal documents had already been generated. No matter how hard she pushed, the government wouldn’t budge. The name was hers now. Though, if she ever wanted to go into stripping, at least she wouldn’t have to change her new, made up name. She actually liked her first name but when it was coupled with the last name, it sounded like a train wreck.

The elevator chimed, signaling that they had arrived at the floor. The guard motioned for her to leave the elevator and Chloe quickly walked down the hall. She knew the route well and didn’t bother knocking before entering the conference room at the end of the hall.

She wasn’t surprised to see the two men staring back at her. They were her handlers. She had to stifle a giggle when she first heard that phrase. It just sounded so dirty. When she saw the somber looks on their faces, Chloe quickly spoke up.

“Who’s dead?”

That was always the first thought she had when called to these meetings. It was silly because they usually met on a regular basis. But, whenever they needed to meet with her pronto, she always had to make sure that no one else was a causality of Lionel.

The younger one spoke up. “No one is dead, Ms. Fay. Please have a seat.” They both called her by her new name now. It helped her to become used to answering to it. He gestured to the conference table but Chloe ignored him.

“I’d rather stand, thanks.” She saw that the older agent smirked when she said that. Though the two of them were in charge of her case, Chloe could sense that there was a weird balance between the two men. She had been able to figure out that the younger agent, Shaw, was technically the one running the show. Chloe thought that the other agent, Savoy, was there as a formality.

By keeping her ears open she had learned that, years ago, he was crucial in starting the case on Lionel. He was a bit of a renegade and had numerous sanctions in his file. There had been a great deal of controversy when he was allowed to remain involved with the case. Agent Shaw always seemed displeased to share his duties with the man.

“Whatever makes you more comfortable, Ms. Fay.” Agent Shaw used what Chloe had classified his ‘soothing’ voice. He was clearly trying to use the I’m your friend so help me help you tactic. She would rather just cut through the bullshit and find out what was going on.

“I would be more *comfortable* if you told me why I was ordered to come here on such short notice?” She glared at Agent Shaw and Agent Savoy quickly spoke up.

“It’s Lex Luthor.”

Chloe’s head snapped in his direction and she took a few steps towards him. “Is he ok? What’s going on? Lionel didn’t get to him, did he?” She knew that she sounded nuts and that Savoy was watching her closely but she didn’t care for now.

One of his censures had been because of her. In the beginning of her time in protection, there had been numerous interviews done with her. They had asked her so many questions about her life, friends and family that she really could barely remember how the interviews went. One, however, stuck in her mind.

All of the interviews were taped and both agents usually sat in for them. After one interview, the agents had packed up and Agent Shaw had left the room. Instead of following him, Agent Savoy had locked the door and turned back to Chloe.

“Were you sleeping with Lex Luthor?”

Chloe’s mouth had actually dropped open when she heard the question. She blinked a few times and could feel Savoy’s eyes on her, trying to gauge her reaction to the question. She heard Shaw pounding on the door and yelling, but she couldn’t make out the words.

Savoy put his palms flat on the table that separated them and leaned closer to Chloe. “No one else will ask you that question, Chloe. I don’t think that they want to know the answer. But, he’s been looking for you. He doesn’t think you’re dead and I don’t think he would be doing it unless you two were involved in that way. The rest of them,” he titled his head towards the door, “think it’s disrespectful. They also think you’re too young and blonde for him. I’m not so sure. You’re intelligent and went to the mattresses for him. I think he would be drawn to you. Even against his better judgment. I need to know what I’m up against. How far he’ll go if he thinks you’re alive.”

The whole time he spoke, Chloe had met his gaze. When he said it like that, it seemed logical that she and Lex would be involved. But, they weren’t. Chloe could see, though, that the man most likely wouldn’t believe her. The banging on the other side of the door increased and Chloe could now hear keys being fit into the door.

“No,” she said, keeping her voice and gaze level, “I was not sleeping with Lex.”

Savoy pulled himself upright and placed his hands in his pockets. He nodded. “How far off was it then, Chloe? A week, a month?”

Chloe had to look away from him. She knew that he would read into the action, but she couldn’t stop herself. The charge between Lex and she had increased with every passing conversation. If all of this hadn’t happened, she had wondered the same thing.

The door burst open and Shaw stalked in and grabbed Savoy by the shoulder. He pulled out of the younger man’s grasp and walked out of the door. Savoy had forgotten to turn off the tape recorder, though Chloe wasn’t certain that that wasn’t part of his plan, and Shaw listened to their conversation.

It had been a surprise to her when Savoy wasn’t reassigned, but he had never mentioned the conversation or asked her anything else.

That had been a few months ago and she could see that her reaction was giving Savoy even more to think about. He shook his head. “No, Lionel hasn’t gotten to him. He is fine. However, he’s been creating some problems. We’ve managed to trace a virus in our system back to a hacker who claims that Lex Luthor hired him. You wouldn’t be able to guess what Lex was looking for, would you?”

Savoy seemed almost amused at this turn of events. Shaw, however, did not share the older man’s mirth. “Ms. Fay, we need your help.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t see how I’d possibly be able to help you.”

The two men exchanged glances and Shaw sighed when Savoy made no move to speak with Chloe.

“Apparently, Mr. Luthor does not believe that you died. He had been investigating the accident for months. Our records indicate that some samples were stolen from the Medical Examiner’s office in Smallville.”

“And?” Chloe really wished he would get to the point.

“Because you did not die, there was no physical evidence from the crime scene pointing to that outcome. We believe that Mr. Luthor has made that connection and is now looking for you.”

It was inappropriate in this situation, but Chloe still smiled. She had explained this to anyone that would listen to her. That they had to be careful with the evidence that they planted or didn’t plant for that matter. Lex would comb through it all. They had smiled at her as if she were an idiot and gone about their merry way fucking everything up.

Instead of saying, I told you so, she said, “I still don’t see how I can help.”

Shaw paused before saying, “We’d like some of your teeth.”

There was silence in the room before Chloe began laughing. It was absurd.

“No way in hell.” Before Shaw could speak, she steamrolled ahead. “Are you on some sort of prescription medication? No. I explained this to you months ago and you didn’t listen. Now, you’re backed into a corner and you need some pliers to get your way out.” She shook her head. “I’ve already given up enough for you people. Figure out another way.”

Shaw had dealt with her enough to know that it was her final word on the matter. He said, “Thank you for your time,” tersely and then walked out of the room.

As Savoy made his way out, Chloe said, “You know he won’t stop, right? Until he’s found…,” she paused, searching for the right words.

“You.” Savoy nodded. “I know. The more he digs the more he puts you and himself in danger. I can’t allow that.”

Chloe narrowed her eyes. “What are you going to do?” She didn’t like the tone of his voice at all.

“Nothing at all.”

He was lying, that much was clear. But, Chloe had no idea what the man had up his sleeve. He held the door open and said, “After you.” She could see that this conversation was clearly over.

They boarded the elevator and Chloe noticed that Shaw was nowhere in sight. He had obviously already gone to the first floor. Savoy pushed the Lobby button.

After a moment he said, “You know, the basement of this building is pretty useless.” He gestured to the one button below the Lobby one. Chloe made a noncommittal noise. Savoy didn’t often make small talk so she decided to let him chatter on.

“We don’t even have any security cameras down there. It’s a good place to hide.” Chloe smiled at the thought of Savoy going down in the basement to get away from Shaw and his superiors. The elevator chimed, signaling that they had arrived at their destination.

They were greeted by an annoyed looking Shaw when the doors opened. “We’ve been called in.” He nodded at Chloe and walked off.

Savoy turned to her and said, “I’m sure we’ll see each other soon. Good afternoon, Ms. Fay.”

Chloe watched the two men leave and thought about how she had gotten herself into this situation. In the end, it didn’t matter. She knew that she had done the right thing in helping Lex. She was prepared to pay whatever price was necessary.

~~~~~~~~
This was intolerable. Chloe had been summoned, yet again, by the gruesome twosome. She was usually angry about it but now, she was downright livid. They had just had a meeting *yesterday*. One that had lasted for a few hours. Apparently, Lex had been breaking numerous state and federal laws left and right. Shaw had again asked Chloe for her help. She had refused.

She had no clue as to what could have come up in less than 24 hours that would necessitate her presence again. Never the less on a weekend. She was especially pissed off because it was a beautiful day and she had been on her way to the Metropolis Gardens when her emergency beeper had gone off. She was decked out in a deep green summer dress. Chloe knew she looked hot and was looking forward to the appreciative glances she would get from the opposite sex.

By now, she knew not to ignore the beeper and had cursed as she changed directions on the street. The building that she had to go to was so out of the way from her destination that being called there effectively ruined her plans for the day.

Chloe knew that logically she shouldn’t complain. She was alive and being protected. Her father and numerous other people that had crossed Lionel’s path hadn’t been so lucky. But, it has been about a year since the incident and she wanted some semblance of a life. She figured she deserved that much.

Yanking the door to the building open, she stomped down the hall. She nodded at the security guard, she didn’t recognize this one, as she flashed her security clearance badge at him. He looked startled and immediately picked up the phone on his desk. Ignoring him, Chloe made her way to the elevator.

For once, the doors were open. ‘At least that’s one thing that’s gone right today.’ As she approached the doors, however, they began to slide shut. “Oh, no you don’t,” she muttered as she picked up speed. Gracefully, she slipped through the doors before they shut.

She looked up at the elevator attendant and actually gasped when she saw who was there in his place.

Lex.

He stared at her intensely and Chloe found herself unable to move. She knew she should do something about this. He wasn’t supposed to see her, no one was supposed to know that she was alive. It was one thing for him to think that she was alive but quite another thing to *know* it. It put him in far too much danger and she couldn’t do that.

But, now that she got to see him again, got to be near him, she found that she couldn’t do the right and smart thing. Instead, she leaned over and pressed the button for the basement floor. No cameras and no one would look for them down there.

Lex continued to stare at her, not saying anything. It was getting to Chloe but she just let him do it. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what he was thinking and feeling at the moment. The elevator chimed, signaling that they had reached their destination. She stepped out of the elevator and looked around.

As Savoy had told her, there was nothing in the basement. No cameras or people, not even a desk. It was empty, dark and fairly creepy. She heard Lex step out of the elevator.

Turning back towards him, she said, “Lex.”

She didn’t get any further. Lex stepped forward and enveloped her in his arms.
~~~~
Lex had been quite proud of himself when he didn’t draw her to his body the moment he saw her. Less than half an hour ago he had received a cryptic call at his home, telling him to go to an address and wait in an assigned elevator if he wanted information on Chloe.

He had waited in the elevator and was just about to leave when she walked into it. His first instinct had been to reach out to her. Instead, he let his eyes crawl over her face and her body. Taking in the familiar planes and curves that had changed slightly since the last time he had seen her. Since he had felt her.

The year had been more than kind to her and Lex couldn’t help but wonder what might have transpired between them by now if his father hadn’t gotten in the way. She’d be out of high school and no longer off limits.

During their last few meetings, he hadn’t cared about her age or their circumstances…he had just wanted her.

When they reached what he assumed was the basement and Chloe said his name, he couldn’t ignore his urges anymore. In what he hoped was a gentle manner, he pulled her flush against his body. Her arms instantly wrapped around him and he closed his eyes as he buried his face into her hair. She still smelled the same and he started to run one of his hands up and down her back as his other rested at the small of her back.

Lex felt her draw in a breath and then heard her sigh. Chloe made no move to pull away. He turned his head and whispered in her ear, “You look damn good for a dead woman.”

He allowed her to pull back so she could look up at him, but kept his hands at her waist. “Thank you.” Chloe reached up and ran the back of her fingers over his cheek. “You look damn good for a man that’s been breaking the law day and night. I thought it would get in the way of your beauty sleep.”

Lex knew that it was only a half joke. She was obviously concerned with the vigor that he had used to find her.

“Chloe,” he started.

“Don’t,” she said, “You don’t have to explain your actions to me. I just worry about you. That’s all.” He saw the honesty in her words and something else in her eyes. A look that he had noticed growing stronger every time that he had seen her.

It had taken him some time to place the look on her face. On the face of Clark’s best friend and his former plant manager’s daughter’s face. Realization had dawned when he had looked at her just as a woman. Chloe wanted him. He had ignored the look before. But now, it hit him full force.

However, this was neither the time nor the place to give in to that or to talk about it.

~~~~~~
Chloe didn’t bother to hide her feelings from him anymore. She didn’t know when, or even if, she’d get to see him after this. She knew that the security guard had called someone and that they didn’t have much time.

“How did you find me,” she asked. Lex’s brow furrowed together and before he could answer, she heard a voice coming from her right.

“He had a little help.”

Both Lex and she turned towards the voice and she saw Savoy come out of the darkness. She felt Lex tense up next to her and she said, “It’s ok. Meet Agent Savoy. He’s one of the good guys. I think.”

Savoy gave Lex a measuring look. “I couldn’t have you finding her and then jeopardizing both of your lives and the case against your father. I’ve worked too damn hard for decades to let you fuck it up. Now, Mr. Luthor, we need to talk about getting you out of here unseen.”

Chloe could see that Lex was far from trusting the man in front of them. His left arm had snaked around her back and his hand was on her hip now. He brought her closer to his body. The act of possessiveness did not go unnoticed by Savoy.

“You can’t just take her out of here. I thought that you would have figured that out on your own. It’s not a smart move, Mr. Luthor, you know that.” Savoy took a few steps towards them. “The only reason I called you was because you were digging too deeply.”

“Afraid I was going to find something that you’d rather was kept hidden?” Lex’s voice came out smooth and controlled. He didn’t like anyone telling him what he could and could not do…especially when he knew that they were right.

There was no way that Chloe would be able to leave with him. Even if he decided to do something rash like take out Savoy and then run for it, he knew that they wouldn’t get far. He hadn’t planned on this happening and he knew that his father’s people were watching him closely. Any sign of something odd and Lionel would hear about it. He couldn’t put Chloe in danger like that again.

“Of course,” Savoy answered, easily. “Some of the things I did in the past may, in loose terms, be considered entrapment.” He smiled tightly at Lex. “If that came to light, some of the charges, if not all, against your father would be dropped. I don’t think any of us want that.”

Savoy looked at them both for a moment. When neither spoke he said, “I’m glad we’re agreed on that. Now,” he looked at his watch, “I’m certain that at any moment they’ll figure out how to get the elevators up and running again.”

Chloe looked at him sharply. “After the two of you stepped out of the elevator, I made sure that it, and the rest of them, would go on the fritz. Just for a few minutes, that is.” Savoy looked at his watch and then back up at Lex and Chloe. “Time’s almost up.”

Lex gripped Chloe tighter for a brief moment and then released her completely. He turned his back to Savoy and looked down at her. “I’ll see you soon.”

They both knew that it was a lie. Lionel’s trial would drag on for years. The best lawyers were working around the clock, bringing motion after motion to keep the man out of jail. The red tape was piling up and it would take an indeterminate amount of time for the legal system to plow through it all. Lex knew that he should feel some sort of peace knowing that Chloe was safe…but it was bittersweet. Searching for her had given him some other purpose apart from destroying his father. Also, now that he knew she was out there, it would be difficult to restrain himself from trying to see her.

Chloe gave him a weak smile and he could see that she was holding back her tears. She was always trying to be the strong one. “Not if I see you first.” Her attempt at lighthearted banter fell flat.

The air was charged between them and they were both doing their best to ignore it. Lex had to leave, Chloe had to get upstairs, Savoy was staring at them, it wouldn’t be right to do *anything*, it would be downright stupid….

“Oh, the hell with it,” Chloe murmured. She had made a career of denying herself what she really wanted. She had a new name, a new life and decided that a new attitude would also suit her. Before Lex could take another step away from her, she reached out and linked her hands behind his neck. She felt his hands wrap around her body and she rose up on her toes and closed her eyes.

The kiss wasn’t as frenzied as she expected. They weren’t tentative by any stretch of the imagination, but Chloe had expected something quite different. Their lips brushed against each other firmly before she parted her mouth. She felt Lex’s tongue slip expertly into her mouth and she groaned at the first intimate contact. He kissed her gently and let her go far too early for her liking.

He was looking down at her and Chloe couldn’t read the expression on his face, she said, “Lex, I…” but was cut off by his actions.

Of all of the ways he’d imagined their first contact to be, it hadn’t been anything like that. Lex had been too worried about what Chloe’s actions were motivated by to really let himself truly kiss her. When she started to talk he realized that this wouldn’t do at all. Before she could get more than two words into her sentence, he pulled her back to his body. Tangling his left hand in her hair, he tilted her head back and lowered his lips.

Chloe responded eagerly after her initial surprise and, damn, this was more like it. He didn’t bother holding back and neither did she. There was a sense of desperation and urgency as they explored each other’s mouths and swallowed moans and whimpers of each other’s name. Lex could feel Chloe rising up on her toes even more. He assumed it was to force more contact between their bodies so he was taken aback when he felt her small hand on his head.

The reaction she got was instantaneous and Chloe gasped into Lex’s mouth as he thrust against her. Why hadn’t they done this before? For intelligent people, they were incomparably dumb to deny themselves this. Chloe ran her right hand down Lex’s chest and back up again, loving the feel of the simple act of his chest rising and falling. Somehow, his hands had moved to her back and she could feel them traveling in erratic patterns.

Lex heard the sound of someone clearing their throat and ignored it. Chloe seemed oblivious to sound and that was fine by him. For once, he had forgotten about someone else in a room with him. He was always on his guard and he had dropped it in order to just enjoy this one moment. When the man started shouting both of their names, however, he could not be ignored anymore.

He broke their kiss and delighted in Chloe’s appearance. Smirking, he placed a chaste kiss on her lips before turning back to Savoy. The man looked amused by their display but Lex could give a damn. “I’ll be contacting you.”

“I’m sure you will be,” Savoy said as he slipped his hands into his pockets. Chloe hadn’t been lying to him before. From that kiss he could tell that the two people in front of him hadn’t been lovers. However, if he had just left them alone for a few more minutes, he didn’t think that would be the case. “The exit is that way, Mr. Luthor.” He tilted his chin towards a darkened corner. “You’ll find your car out there waiting for you.” Savoy looked back at Chloe.

“Time to go.” She nodded and then turned back to Lex. Savoy would have loved to give them some more time together but it wasn’t possible. He was about to say as much to Chloe when she kissed Lex and then walked to him.

Lex had always been excellent at walking away from people he cared about, but this time was different. He would make it quick. He nodded at Savoy and then looked at Chloe for a moment. Turning on his heel, he walked towards the door. He had plans to make.

Savoy could see that Chloe was trying to keep it together so he didn’t say anything to her. He started walking towards the elevator and she followed him. As the doors slid closed she asked, “Will they really buy whatever story you’re going to feed them once we get up to the Lobby?”

He shook his head, “Probably not.”

“Will you lose your job?”

Savoy nodded. “Probably so.”

He could see the regret fill her face as she stared to apologize. “Don’t worry about me, Ms. Fay. I’m sure I can find work in the private sector.” He turned to look at her. “There are plenty of wealthy men with unhealthy obsessions. I’m sure one of them will make me part of their staff.”

When the doors to the elevator opened, numerous agents popped seemingly out of nowhere. Their attempts to immediately question both Agent Savoy and Ms. Fay were undermined by the fact that the occupants of the elevator were both laughing quite hard.

[hfce]

Ok new chapter please.... :chlexsign1:


Hope :

[staysixkid]

This is fantastic! Blue, you've outdone yourself. I love how you've taken the little bits of s4 chlex spoilers, and made a potential storyline out of it. We can't thank you enough for expanding on something the actual writers of SV, will prolly never do. :biggrin:

[sydsvaughn]

I too so love this and can't wait to read more! The passion of that kiss...

More soon please!

SaraC

[chrisrose]

I absolutely love what you've written...as I said in my previous post that was deleted, this fic will be a great comfort to me when season 4 starts, and the show inevitably disappoints me. I hope you've got a season-long story-arc planned!

[Little Miss Vixen]

You are an amazing writer and I cannot wait to read more.

[gyhardin]

Oh this is just excellent! Utterly brilliant! Now if only the SV writers would actually find time to incorporate this to the storyline...I'm sure everyone would be deliriously happy.

More please uppyeyes: ... please do update when you can.

[bluemoongirl23]

A/N: OK, be warned that I had to break this chapter somewhere. Those of you familiar with my handiwork shall not be surprised. Enjoy...as must as you can....


After bumping into yet another ass that didn’t bother giving her a second glance, never mind an apology, Chloe decided to use her shopping bags as buffers between her and the throng of Sunday morning shoppers. As if being up before 10:00am wasn’t bad enough, she now had to deal with other human beings.

Being that she had given up caffeine earlier in the month, she was quite proud of the fact that she hadn’t committed a homicide. Though, it would be fun to see if the government could cover that up. Over the past few years, she had tried to see how far she could push them before they would push back. She was pleased to discover that she could do basically anything and they would just foot the bill, actual or theoretical, for it.

Take today for example. She had woken up early and attempted to max out the government issued credit cards. But, there seemed to be a sky high limit. By now she was exhausted and the little act of passive aggressiveness struck her as a little childish. However, whenever Agent Shaw tried to strong arm her into something, an act like this was her only recourse. He had learned that immediately after Savoy had been fired.

Chloe had done as much as she could to keep that from happening. Savoy had explained to her that it was the best thing that could happen for everyone involved but Chloe knew that he had put his own life on hold for decades in order to bring Lionel down. And she thought that he should be around to see it happen. Agent Shaw and his cronies hadn’t agreed and Savoy had been shown the door.

For a week after what Shaw called ‘the incident’ Chloe had been interrogated about what had occurred down in the basement. She had stonewalled them and Shaw had tried to play good cop, explaining to her that they couldn’t protect her properly if they didn’t have all of the information. When she went a full day without saying a word, they had finally given up.

The government were fools if they thought Agent Shaw would make her crack after standing toe to toe with Lionel. She mentioned that to Shaw every chance that she got. The man, by now, hated her. But, he was too proud to ask to be reassigned. He would doggedly stick out his assignment if only to prove that he could.

Feeling pissed off and helpless, Chloe had gone to a bar the night Savoy was officially let go. Her bodyguards had come with her and watched as she had bought round after round for the whole place. When her credit card was denied, she flagged one of the agents over and told them that they had better fix the situation. It wouldn’t look good if she were thrown in jail. Her prints would be taken and then run through the system……

They had whipped out their cell phones before she had completed the sentence. In three minutes, the situation was cleared up and Chloe went back to dancing. Shaw had tried to lecture her the next day but she reminded him that if she decided she didn’t want to cooperate with them anymore, the agency would put the blame on him. She felt a wave of triumph flow through her body as she watched his face change. She could pinpoint the exact moment when he realized that she had him beat. And, as luck would have it, she just *happened* to bring her camera to that meeting. Chloe looked at that picture whenever she started to get down and it never failed to perk her right up.

If only she could see the look on his face when he got the bills for her new purchases. Chloe tried not to focus on the fact that the taxpayers had just shelled out an exorbitant amount of money on Ming vases. It was retribution for his insistence that they move her from Metropolis to somewhere more ‘low key’, as he put it.

Most of their arguments were tense conversations where neither of them raised their voices at one another. This had been an all out screaming match. It was also the first time that Shaw had mentioned the fact that Savoy had been hired by Lex.

Chloe knew that the man must have been stewing on that fact for a long time, waiting for the opportunity to broach the subject.

“I know that you think you’re smarter than I am, but do you really think that I wouldn’t find out that Savoy is working for Luthor now?” He was red in the face, being that they had already been yelling at each other for a few minutes.

She shrugged one shoulder and said, “I don’t think it’s a secret.” Chloe found that the less she said, the more it drove him crazy.

“I know that the three of you are up to something and I think it would be best for everyone if we got you as far away from *him* as possible. It’s dangerous for you to have any contact with him.” He had now slipped into the soothing voice he used when he was trying to reason with her.

Showing no emotion, she said, “What makes you think I’ve had any contact with Lex? Don’t you remember that you had the basement swept for any trace of him during one of your little freakouts?” She crossed her arms across her chest and had to suppress a smile.

Shaw had insisted that the forensics crew give the basement a once over. He had guaranteed that they would find some trace of Lex. But, they had come up empty. Chloe had been losing a great deal of sleep over that. She hadn’t thought that Lex had touched anything, but hadn’t been sure. Gloating wasn’t very becoming, but that didn’t stop her from partaking in it when she saw Shaw after the results had come in.

The muscles above his right eye began to twitch, but Shaw didn’t say anything. After taking a few breaths he said, “I still think that something is going on and that Savoy is in on it.” He looked back up at Chloe and glared at her. “And very soon, I’ll have proof of it.”

Chloe just let him speak. There was no reason to go nuts when she had no idea what he was up to.

“Agents are searching your apartment right now.”

The sentence hung in the air. Chloe concentrated on not wrapping her hands around Shaw’s throat. Instead of answering him, she had left the room…and gone directly to his supervisor. At least, she had tried. She had only been able to get an appointment with the man later in the week.

It had been a very interesting meeting. She had shown Shaw’s superior the damage that had been done to her personal items…in order for them to have found nothing. She explained that her life had been violated once already and having the tiny amount of space that was hers torn apart by the very men that were allegedly on her side had been very upsetting.

Shaw was in the chair to her left and Gibson was sitting behind his desk, watching them both. She knew that she had to be careful in this meeting.

“I’ve been questioned repeatedly about what happened that day and have told Agent Shaw that nothing went on. Now I have to endure my private things being tossed around, it’s…”

Gibson cut her off. “I apologize for what’s been damaged and it will be replaced. I realize that Agent Shaw found nothing to back up his claim.” A small smile started to form on Chloe’s face.

“However, I do not believe you for a minute, Ms. Sullivan.” Gibson looked at her levelly. “I think that Mr. Luthor was here that day. I believe that Mr. Savoy is now helping him to get to you in some way. Furthermore, I believe that you are complicit in all of these ongoings.”
Chloe felt as if she was about to swallow her tongue.

“However,” Gibson said, “I can prove none of this.” He looked over at Shaw. “I also think that moving Ms. Sullivan is a mistake. We can surveil her more effectively in a city with a great number of agents.” He turned his attention back to Chloe. “I think you would do best to remember that, as well. You are both dismissed.”

She was livid and was now working out her anger by shopping.

Did Shaw really think that she would be so dumb as to keep clandestine meeting time and places in her apartment? Truth was, she never knew when she’d see Lex. There certainly wasn’t a specific plan or time set up for meetings. It was much more low tech than that. She had learned that the first time.

Being grabbed from behind, Chloe had started to claw at whoever it was that pulled her off the street. She questioned her insistence at having her guard detail pushed thirty yards behind her. “Chloe, relax.” The voice was familiar and when she was able to match it, her body loosened.

He released his grip on her and Chloe instantly whipped around. She was ready to give him a full out rant and it must have showed on her face. Savoy held his hands up and said, “Don’t kill the messenger.” Seeming to rethink his words, “Or, don’t kill the snatcher, to be more accurate. I’m only doing my job.”

Chloe wanted to stay mad at him, but she was too damn happy to see a familiar, friendly face. She smiled at him and succeeded in not immediately inquiring how Lex was and more importantly where Lex was. Savoy didn’t look any worse for the wear after being fired and publicly humiliated. Taking in the new suit, Chloe said, “You’re looking well.”

Savoy nodded. “Yes, I am.” Chloe rolled her eyes. ‘He was never one to mince words.’ “Though,” he said as his eyes scanned the crowd of people passing by the alley he had pulled her into, “I enjoy getting compliments from beautiful, young women, that’s actually not the reason for this meeting.”

He pulled what appeared to be a small tv out of his pocket and looked at it briefly. Chloe resisted the urge to ask what it was. Savoy didn’t like to be peppered with questions. But, her patience was wearing thin.

Turned out, she didn’t need to ask. “I’m watching your security detail watch you.” Before she could ask what he meant, Savoy went on to explain. “My last day on the job I planted small cameras in the American flag pins that all the agents wear. They aren’t taken out of the facility and are, therefore, considered secure. They would never think to check them for surveillance devices.”

Chloe was impressed, but she saw a flaw in the plan. “They may be dumb, but they’re not stupid. In another few moments, won’t they realize that I’m gone and call a code red or whatever the hell you people call it?” She was in no mood to have to explain away how and why she had disappeared.

Savoy nodded. “It would be a problem if they had lost sight of you. But,” he turned and angled the tv towards her, “you’re right there.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. She watched as a woman who looked exactly like her from the back made her way through the crowd. The hair was the same length, she was wearing the same outfit and the woman had even perfected her walk. She looked at Savoy for an explanation and he said, “Mr. Luthor picked her out personally.”

Before she had time to give Savoy little more than a glare, she heard a voice behind her say, “With that turn of phrase, I’m more than a little suspicious that you’re trying to get me killed.”

She turned around and saw Lex standing in a doorway that she hadn’t noticed before. He was leaning against the doorframe with his hands in his pockets, the picture of casualness. No matter that he was breaking numerous federal laws and that there was a team of FBI agents in the near vicinity.
Chloe had watched the news avidly for any opportunity to see Lex, but the images on the screen couldn’t compare with the real thing. She had so many questions to ask him and information that she wanted to share with him. They had a lot to talk about and she had little doubt that time wasn’t something that they had in abundance. However, that all took a back seat to her need to reach out and actually touch him.

She crossed the distance between them quickly and wrapped her arms around him. She felt him kiss the top of her head and she sighed, letting all of the tension melt out of her body.

Lex felt her relax against him and he returned her embrace. Over the top of her head, he watched as Savoy turned his back on them and walked towards the front of the alley.

When he pulled away from Chloe, he smiled down at her. “No comment about the way that I’m looking?” He quirked an eyebrow at her and feigned hurt.

“Not until you explain Savoy’s little remark,” she said sweetly and was rewarded with a full grin from Lex.

He shrugged. “I know your body better than anyone.” It was the plain truth. They couldn’t risk getting a double that would be easy to tell from the real deal. It had taken him over a month to find the perfect girl.

Though she wasn’t certain that his words were meant to cause it, Chloe’s heart sped up and she felt herself come close to gulping. That was a perfect sentence if ever she heard one.

A smirk appeared on his face when he saw the effect that the words had on her. He had intended to come here and have a quick conversation with her….but Lex did know the cliché about good intentions. Mentally shaking off the picture of them entwined in a passionate embrace, Lex tried to get down to business. However, he did let his hands wander further down her body to grip her hips and pull her a little closer.

“This is the only way that I can see you. I won’t ever arrange a meeting.” Chloe nodded, she knew that that would be too dangerous. “I don’t know how often we can see each other being that…”

“The press is all over you at the time,” Chloe finished for him. Now that Lionel’s trial was heating up, they were constantly hounding Lex for a comment or merely following him around. She couldn’t believe that she was now cursing the very profession that she had been hell bent to become a part of.

Lex nodded and said, “Exactly.”

“Plus, there’s the fact that Lionel has probably hired investigators of his own to get whatever dirt he can on you. If he goes down, you get his company and I’m sure he’d love to find some way to get control from you. No way he’d let you win without a fight.” Chloe worried her bottom lip with her teeth, thinking of all of the ways that Lionel could still reach out and wreck her life.

Lex wished that she would stop doing that. The way that she just knew what he was going to say and the fact that she was chewing on her lip was turning him on. ‘Not appropriate, Luthor.’ Then again, Chloe sure as hell hadn’t cared about being appropriate during their last meeting.

‘That’s different. You should know better.’ And, he did, that’s why he was going to leave before anything really happened. It was better that way. After that kiss that they had shared, Lex had gone a little crazy. As soon as Savoy had joined his staff, he had insisted that he see Chloe again right away. It was only because Savoy was so blunt and unafraid of Lex that that mistake hadn’t been made.

He saw Savoy signal to him and knew that their time was up. Not only did they have to make sure that they grabbed Chloe at a point when her double could be put in play without notice, they also had to make sure that she was returned at the perfect time.

“Time’s up,” Lex said. He looked down at Chloe and waited for her to step away from him…and waited….and then waited some more.

Chloe knew that he wanted her to leave. ‘More like needs you to leave if you don’t want to get found out.’ Deciding to speak her mind, she said, “Fine, but not before you kiss me.” She tilted her chin up stubbornly. She knew that Lex hadn’t expected her to be so direct. After their last kiss, though, she wasn’t into playing games.

If Lex even tried to start the whole, ‘it was a mistake and/or moment of weakness speech’, she cut him off. She wasn’t going to let him get too far with that bullshit. They had already wasted enough time back in Smallville and she had no desire to repeat that mistake.

When Lex saw the glint in Chloe’s eyes, he knew that it wasn’t an arguable point. ‘Not that you want to argue with it.’ That much was true. Her warm, lithe body pressed up against him brought back the memories of their last kiss and it was an experience he very much wanted a repeat of. Then why deny himself of something that she wanted just as much.

Lex looked back up at Savoy and was only mildly surprised when the man had already turned his back on them again. Not even bothering to verbally answer Chloe, Lex dipped his head and captured her lips.

Unlike their first kiss, there was no hesitation on either of their parts. Lex pulled her close and then moved their bodies until he had Chloe’s back pressed against the wall. She moaned his name and she slipped her hands under his jacket, feeling the material of his shirt under her palms. What she wanted more than anything at the moment was to be able to feel some of his skin. All thoughts left her brain when Lex broke their kiss and began to gently suck on her neck. She arched towards him and whimpered.

Even through the fog of lust he was feeling, Lex was careful not to leave a mark on Chloe. Though he wanted badly to do it. Instead, he reveled in the feeling of her body pushing closer to his. He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent, trying to memorize it. He felt her hands clenching around the material of his shirt at his lower back.

Not wanting to push her, he tentatively eased his knee between her legs.

Chloe threw her head back, careful not to give herself a skull fracture on the brick wall that was right behind her, as she felt Lex’s leg slide between her own. She grabbed the back of his neck and maneuvered them so they were kissing once again. She rose up on her toes, trying to get closer to Lex as her tongue slid into his mouth. She heard Lex say what she thought was her name and arched against him.

“SIR”

The loud yell caused Lex to gently release Chloe. She leaned against the wall and opened her eyes, looking up at him as she tried to catch her breath.

Without waiting for Lex to turn around, Savoy said, “She needs to go now.”

And, that had been the first time that she had seen Lex. There had only been three more since the first meeting and Chloe had begun to get restless. Not just because she wanted to maul Lex, either. The men assigned to her had been watching her closely and she suspected that they were holding out on her. She had to talk to Lex about the way that they met, it was too dangerous and there had to be a better way.

She wasn’t sure if it was because she had been giving them more lip lately or if it was due to something else. She sighed as she entered yet another store. Chloe knew that she really should stop buying needless things because she really didn’t have the space for it anymore.

‘Guess I’ll have to let Shaw know that I need a new place.’ Apartment hunting with no budget could be fun. Then again, there was that whole ‘don’t attract much attention’ caveat that went along with being in the Witness Protection Program.

When she hit the light of day again, she slipped on her sunglasses. She waited a few seconds and looked both ways down the avenue. She liked trying to pick out her ‘secret’ security detail. After the latest blowout, Shaw had assigned other agents to her. There seemed to be a rotation of about ten to twenty agents involved. Shaw hadn’t told her about them and she surmised that instead of being sent to make sure she was safe, they were sent to spy on her. She wasn’t sure how long it had been going on, but Chloe had noticed it last week.

Chloe had gotten very proficient at picking them out and flagged one of them immediately as she exited the store. They stayed closer to her than her regular detail and they might present a problem. She needed to tell Lex that before their next meeting but the only time they spoke was during their meetings. It presented a problem.

Deciding that she wasn’t going to worry about it for the rest of the day, Chloe trudged on her merry way. Her bags were unbearably heavy and she decided that hailing a cab was her best bet. ‘They’ didn’t like it when she did that, but she didn’t really give a damn anymore. Yes, it was inconvenient for them but she was sure that one of their hugeass SUVs would pick them up and they’d be able to find her.

A grin spread across her face as a taxi almost instantly pulled to the curb. Before getting into the back, she threw her bags across the seat. Her eyes on the driver’s she barked out her address.

“Someone’s pushy today.”

Chloe’s head shot to her right and she saw that Lex was sitting next to her.

[randa]

i love this fic!! it's so much fun.
thanks for the update

randa