Power Play NC17*Completed*

[AlabamaWorley]

*squees and claps*

I love it! Awesome Chlex stuff, plus cool Supes/Clark and Lois. I especially liked the way you did the part when Chloe was flying and didn't know what was going on. Come back soon!

[tiger04]

Love lex wanting to find out who is trying to hurt her. Does it have something to do with her old job-like one of them is trying to kill her becuase the are mad about the takeover?

Hope you post more soon.

AT

[zelda]

A/N Okay, just a little necessary closure in this chappie for the Chloe/Clark saga.

Chloe woke to the feeling of a hand on her forehead. She opened her eyes and blinked. Lex was looking down at her with an expression of...gentleness and concern. She blinked again. Bald head, purple shirt, definitely Lex, but the expression was definitely new.
"How are you feeling?"
"Oily," she rasped. "I need a shower." She started to sit up and Lex put an arm around her shoulders. She felt the burn in her side when she tried to use her abdominal muscles. "I forget how everything's connected."
"What?"
"In the body, I mean. You rip up a few muscles along your ribs and every other damned part of you pulls at it."
"Want some drugs."
"Marry me?"
"I'll take that as a yes." Lex chuckled and got her a glass of water from the bathroom. Then he opened the bottle of painkillers. "You've got to take some antibiotics too. Maria said you were feeling a little feverish last night, not uncommon post-surgery, but make sure not to miss a dose."
"Right, right, whatever," she mumbled, reaching for the glass. "Drugs now."
"Yes Ma'am." He held the glass for her since her hand was shaking and popped the pills into her open mouth like a baby bird. She swallowed them and finished the glass of water. "Do you want me to get Maria?"
"No, Just help me up."
Lex pushed the blankets down Chloe's legs and was pleasantly surprised to find that she wasn't wearing pajamas, just a longish t-shirt that had ridden up to her hips. Today, however, she was wearing panties.
"I know what you're thinking," she said, echoing his thoughts. "But I didn't need to make Maria's job any more uncomfortable by sleeping in the buff."
"Do you usually?" he asked, keeping his tone light. He took her ankles in his hands and swung them over the side of the bed. She only grunted in reply and gave him a cranky look. He laughed at her expression.
"God, I can't imagine how bad I must smell right now."
"I remain unoffended."
"Whatever. Bathroom." Chloe pointed in the direction of her bathroom. Her right arm wasn't in a sling anymore, but a few ace bandages were carefully wrapped around her midsection and over her arm, keeping it immobilized against her side. She vaguely remembered someone with a stethescope telling her that she'd need to keep from stretching her side until the surgical incision healed. She also had a broken rib and the less she moved her side, the better she would feel.
"As my lady commands." Lex helped her to her feet. She was shaky. "Maybe you shouldn't walk yet." He had a funny tingle in his stomach when she didn't resist him holding her injured side against his chest. He sat her back down on the mattress and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, placing his other arm under her knees. "Okay, I'll try to make this as painless as possible." He lifted her straight up, trying to keep her side and arm still against him. He knew how a healing injury could hurt.
Chloe sucked in a short breath, but made no other complaints. Lex carried her to the bathroom and set her down on the toilet seat. He was on one knee in front of her.
"You okay now?"
"Just help me with the bandages, I'll be careful not to move too much, but if I don't have my arm free soon I'm going to go crazy."
"Okay, but I'll send Maria in here to help you get cleaned up in a few minutes." Lex's hands were very gentle and efficient. He unwrapped her like a present and noted the odd patterns that the elastic bandage had left on the skin of her arm. He balled up the bandage and was about to stand up. Chloe put her hand on his shoulder.
"Wait," she said. "I wanna see where you were hit."
"You don't want to see my bruise."
"Show me yours I'll show you mine."
"I've already seen yours," Lex said with a smile. "You were unconscious for quite a while in the recovery room." He smiled when she narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm just kidding."
"Lemme see." Her small hands tugged at the bottom of his shirt. He was dressed down in casual, black trousers with a long-sleeved gray jersey. "Come on," she coaxed. "Daniel let me see his."
"What did you show him in return?" Lex's voice had an edge to it.
"Nothing, but I did agree to go with him without a fight." She tugged again with her good hand. "Come on, can't get the beads any other way. Mardi Gras special, let's go." Lex laughed at her reference to the New Orleans celebration. Women were given beads when they lifted their tops. So he complied, standing up in front of her and lifting the hem of his shirt all the way up. He had a bruise like Daniel's. Lex's was almost dead center, just slightly to the left under his pectoral muscle. Chloe brushed her fingers over it, gently. It was slightly swollen and must have hurt, but Lex didn't make any noise.
"Your hands are cold," he said. Chloe saw, with a detached amusement, his nipple bead up and tighten. She giggled and flicked it with her fingernail. He slapped her hand smartly and yanked his shirt down. "Don't get fresh, you don't have any beads to give away."
"He got you right over your heart." Chloe's face lost its humor. She pressed her palm flat over the spot and Lex covered her hand with his.
"I'm okay." He pressed her hand into him and she felt his heartbeat, strong and steady, under his ribs. He saw her eyes start to fill with tears. He'd known this was coming. The shock had worn off, and the trauma was setting in. The Oxycodone hadn't had time to goof her up yet. He pulled out a handkerchief and dadbed at her eyes. "And you're okay. That's what's important."
"What if you hadn't been wearing the vest?"
"I wear it pretty often when things get tense. This isn't the fist time somene's shot at me."
"I guess I'm the newbie." More tears fell. Lex knelt in front of her again. He cupped her face in his large hand, stroking his thumb over her cheek.
"Don't dwell on what might have happened. I've never found that to be an effective way to spend time." She looked away and he tilted her chin back to face him. "Are you having nightmares?"
"I've been having nightmares for a long time. I just have nights of quiet sleep to break them up."
"I know the feeling."
Lex left and sent Maria in to help Chloe get undressed and wash. he went to the office and suffered the inevitable questions and gestures of concern. His mind was on Chloe and how he could keep her safe.

Chloe knocked on Clark's door on Friday night, a full week and a half after the shooting in front of Lexcorp. True to his word, he'd made manicotti with sausage for her and, at her promise that she was finished with the painkillers, he poured her a glass of wine. They ate and talked and he asked her about her work.
"So you never really explained what it is you do for Lex." Clark regarded her over his own empty plate. He broke off a piece of garlic bread and sipped it in the remaining sauce on Chloe's plate.
"I know," she replied. "And technically, I can't. I signed a contract with a privacy clause. But I can tell you that I do work as an advisor of sorts, and I was starting to try and improve the employee morale at Lexcorp. There is still residual fear that runs deep in any employees who worked for Lionel." Chloe shivered. "Even when he was at his most charming, he always gave people a chill, and they have that same fear about Lex."
"Are you certain it's unfounded?" Clark's voice was gentle, and he seemed earnest in his concern.
"I know you two haven't been close, but you do remember when you were friends, and how caring he can be."
"I also remember how he used a teenager to trick his father with some disatrous results." Clark leaned forward. "I remember the bruises, Chloe, and I remember what Lex and I talked about afterward in the barn."
"I left, I didn't want to hear that conversation, but Lex and I made peace." She picked up both Clark's and her plate and took them to the sink. Her arm wasn't strapped down anymore, and she was feeling a lot better. She ran water in the sink over the dishes and heard Clark walk up behind her.
"Chloe, I never really asked you this, but after everything that happened, did you and Lex become lovers?"
"No. But I can't easily put a label on what we are now."
"You care about him?" Clark put his hands on her shoulders. "Dumb question, I know you do, and I know it's mutual. I just want to make sure you don't get hurt. I mean you've only worked for him for a little while and you've already been shot."
"Clark, I've had worse things happen to me because I just lived in Smallville. The world is a dangerous place, and I jsut happen to be one of those people who attracts trouble."
"Like a magnet, I know."
"Spoken from the man who pulled me out of an early grave." She turned around to face him. "I appreciate you being concerned. And I just want to say thanks for being..." She trailed off.
"What?"
"You. Just for being you." Clark smiled his beautiful smile at her and kissed her forehead. "Anyway, I should go before security comes looking for me."
"Are those guys making life difficult for you?"
"Not difficult, just a little crowded." Clark shut off the water and held her by the arms.
"I was friends with Lex for a long time, and I trusted him. For the most part, he's worthy of trust, but he's got a few weaknesses that are a little stronger than he is. I want you to remember that." Clark's forehead wrinkled. "There's a darkness in all of us, I just think lex is dealing with more than his fair share, and maybe you'll be the one to help him get rid of a little bit of it. But if you think you're in danger, just walk away."
"I'll keep that in mind." Chloe answered him, but her mind was running over a single thought. People don't walk away from Lex Luthor if he doesn't want them to.
"I love you, Chloe."
"I love you too." Chloe hugged her friend tightly. He returned her embrace gently. The words he'd said were what she'd longed to hear in highschool. Now he said them honestly, and in the way she wanted to hear them as an adult. he was her best friend, and she'd lie down in traffic for him, but her delusions of romance were long gone. Chloe Sullivan and Clark Kent just weren't suited for each other.
Chloe declined Clark's offer to walk her to the curb where her car was waiting. Lex had insisted that she be driven averywhere by one of his staff members until the person behind the attempts on both of their lives was caught. She nodded to the driver who opened her door for her and as he got back into his own seat, she looked up at the window where she saw her friend's broad silhouette.
"I understand why you had trouble trusting people," she said softly. " I just feel bad that you felt like you couldn't confide in me back then." She shook her head and got into the back of the limo. "I know you can hear me, Superman." She shut the door and the driver pulled away from the curb. On the ride home, Chloe absently rubbed the bullett wound and surgical incision. It was itching but healing rapidly now. Her muscles around the point of entry would be a little lame, but her arm was back to almost full motion without pain and Maria wasn't staying with her anymore. Chloe appreciated all of the work the woman had done, but was very glad to have her space to herself again.
At the apartment building Chloe greeted her personal security staff. One in the lobby and one on her floor down the hall from her place. She went in and immediately relaxed. Her bathroom was going to be finished the next day and she was looking forwad to Clarissa's work. She dropped her jacket over the back of her couch and walked into her bedroom. She removed her shoes and didn't bother to turn around when she heard his voice.
"When?"
"Back in school," she answered, going to her closet. She saw him in her mirror when she opened the door. Clark wasn't wearing his glasses, but he was still in his work clothes. She'd wondered if he'd change into his costume for her. "You can only show up only so many times and save the day before people start wondering where your truck is." She laughed a little. "But I don't think anyone else really figured out the details. I was the only one who'd witnessed a lot of the things you'd done and also knew about the weird timing of your illegal adoption that happened to coincide with the meteor shower." She put on her slippers. "And don't forget that there was a crop duster who'd made a statement about seeing something else fall that day. He may have been uncorroborated, but it did add up."
"No one else knew?"
"Lana was no fool, I think she may have known that you had unique gifts, but she probably attributed them to exposure to meteor rocks instead of an alien DNA."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You didn't seem to want to alk about it. Besides, I figured you would always be worrying about me and whether or not I was going to tell." Before he could ask, she cut in. "I didn't. Not to anyone."
"I believe you." He turned toward the window, the way she assumed he came in, then turned back. "You understand that I'll be looking after you."
"I never doubted it for a second."

[lexchloe]

+ AWWWWW for Lex being so gentle with her and the continuation of the chlexy closeness and AWWWW for the Chlark. I love how she knew but didn't push him on it and how he's going to be looking out for her. Can't wait for more.

[hfce]

Aww the Chlex scene was sweet. To bad she didnt have any beads for him. :lol:



Hope

[buddyfozzy]

Aww, wonderfuul chapter Lex being gentle with her is so sweet. And I loved the part with Clark and telling him that she knows. :biggrin:

[AlabamaWorley]

I am so in love with the Chlark friendship in this fic. I so wish they'd do that exact thing on the show. The Chlex scene was cute, too.

[autumngold]

The Chlex scene is fabulous!! I love how Chloe rested her hand on Lex's heart to feel it beat!! Thank you also for having Chloe be smart enough to figure out that Clark is Superman!! Perfect!! Post more soon please!! :chlexsign4:

[zelda]

More soon...Chloe feeling very sexy, naked, in public.

[zelda]

A/N: Every woman needs to feel the power of her sexuality, this is Chloe's day to feel that. And thanks to Queen of Tact for giving me the idea for a song mentioned in here.

Chloe spent all of Saturday out of her apartment. She wanted to come home to a completely finished bathroom rather than seeing it in the deconstructed stages. She went shopping, and stopped at a day spa. Inspired with the perfect way to waste a day, she signed up for a day packace that inluded a swim in the mineral pool, a soak in the hot tub, a hot stone massage, a seaweed wrap, manicure, peticure, and something called 'Winter beauty special'.
The seaweed wrap came first with someone working on Chloe's feet, scrubbing and sloughing away the dead skin. They carefully peeled away layers of toughened callouses and clipped, filed, and painted her toes. The attendants gave her a pair of soft slippers to wear on her newly sensitive feet. After being unwrapped, they went to the warmed room set up for the hot stone massage. The masseure was a tall, lean man who looked like he might be a buddhist. Instead of orange, he wore white, cotton pants and a loose shirt. His hair was dark and cropped to almost a crew cut.
Chloe allowed him to help her onto the table and remove the sheet that she'd wrapped around herself. She told him about her recent bullet wound and he promised to use extra care around the sore area. Since he was using mostly the hot stones, and pressure points, he wouldn not be rubbing where the stitches were. As he worked on her, silently. Chloe closed her eyes and a little fantasy started in her head. A fantasy that the hands on her body weren't those of a stanger but of someone closer to her. When the massage was done, Chloe was feeling very relaxed and warm. Next, she was escorted to the 'Beauty Room' where she got her peticure and something unexpected; a bikini wax.
"Did I sign up for this?" When she saw the attendant coming toward her with the heated wax and cloth strips, she automatically crossed her legs.
"It's part of the 'Winter Beauty Package'," she'd replied. Noting Chloe's nerves, she handed her a glass of fruit juice and a couple of advil. "Take these beforehand and wait while I set up. We'll do your nails while they're kicking in. Then take them afterward." Chloe still looked skeptical. "We also use a lotion that helps to make the area less sensitive." Eventually Chloe agreed and when discussing the...thoroughness of the waxing, she was offered bikini to brazilian, she made her choice.
"Well, you can take most of it off," she said, a little uncomfortable when discussing her pubic region with a woman who was going to have her hands on it. "But can you leave me...uh..." She was lost for words and the attendant leaned forward conspiratually.
"You want me to leave you a 'landing strip'?"
"Uh, yeah." Chloe felt silly. But she hadn't been completely bald 'down there' since she'd hit puberty. It didn't turn out to be as bad as she'd feared. After beihg shot, she wasn't really certain why she'd been so chicken in the first place. With her hands massaged and nails painted she tried not to think about the woman hovering between her legs; instead she listened to the soft voices of the attendants while they chatted and giggled.
After the beauty room, Chloe was escorted to the hot tub where she soaked away any residual aches and pains. She promised herself that she'd come back here at least once a month from now on. The final stage of her visit was a swim in the mineral pool. Swimming was one of the recommended exercises to get her muscles back in working order. Her doctor thought that something low-impact might make her feel better. It did. Chloe swam a few laps in the mineral water surrounded by dim lights and candles. The room was private and the pool was narrow. The windows were frosted and there was an attendant stationed at the door to retain the privacy of the swimmer. Because, afterall, one couldn't completely relax in a mineral swim while wearing a swim suit.
It was a singularly sensually exciting thrill to skinnydip in the middle of the day. Chloe felt her skin tingling and didn't know if it was because of the minerals they put in the water or because she felt decadent. This was what she imagined it would have been like to be Roman royalty. The room had a definite romanesque feel to it with its gray marble and draped fabrics in whites and gray. It took a few minutes to get past her shyness in order to float, naked, on the top of the pool. She lay her head back and allowed just her face to peek above the water. Then she kicked the bottom gently and allowed her legs to rise to the top, arching her back to break the surface with her body.
Opening her eyes, Chloe was slightly startled to see that the ceiling was covered in mirrored tiles. She hadn't really looked at herself naked like this in a long time. She stared up at herself, breasts and thighs breaking the surface of the water, the rest of her blurred by the low light on the water. This kind of thrill went beyond feeling sexy. She felt like a Goddess. Her freshly waxed, rubbed, wrapped, massaged body looked really good, she admitted to herself. And though the spa was seriously expensive, it was a luxury she was going to pay for. This feeling was too good to waste.
Chloe got dressed and, at the suggestion of the bikini waxer, left her underwear off. Sometimes the elastics could irritate the sensitive skin. Then she asked her driver to take her to a local cafe where she met Lois for an early dinner. All her cousin could talk about was Superman and her interview with him. Chloe noted the way her cousin's eyes lit up when she talked, and her pupils were dialated. Wow, she was really into aliens. Not that Chloe could blame her, after all, she'd spent a few years being into the same guy. Lois was even more high strung that Chloe, herself. Chloe decided to take her to the spa sometime and told her about the place, leaving out the details of her bikini wax.
After dinner, Chloe took her purchases home and dismissed her driver for the night, telling him she wouldn't be leaving again. The faint scent of fresh pain greeted her when she opened the door. They'd used fans and de-humidifiers to try and dry the bathroom's paint so it wouldn't smell. She didn't mind it. Turning on her cd player, she put in her Natalie Merchant disc and the soft vocals began to wash over her. The day had been heaven, and now she was ready to see her bathroom. As the soft sounds of "My Skin" washed over her, she opened the bathroom door.
Lex was in his apartment when there was a knock at the door. He answered it and saw a man dressed in a courier's uniform.
"Evening, sir," he said politely. "Delivery for Mr. Luthor."
"Isn't it a little late to be making deliveries?" he asked. The man looked at him oddly.
"My company delivers urgent packages twenty-four hours a day," he narrowed his eyes. "You're not expecting this?"
"Should I?" Lex became suspicious. he looked at the front of the package. It was a large envelope marked 'Urgent' and 'Photographs, do not bend'.
"I guess not." He asked for a signature and left. Lex kicked the door shut behind him and shook the package gently. Because of recent events, he picked up his leather gloves and put them on before opening the package. No suspicious powder fell out, and nothing sizzled or exploded so he slid out the manilla envelope inside the courier's plastic one.
Lex popped open the tab and flipped up the lip of the envelope, Then he shook out the contents. They were indeed photographs. 8X10 glossy, full color photographs. When he realized the subject of them, he grabbed his keys and cell phone before running outof his penthouse and to the stairs. The elevator would take too long. While he pounded down the stairs he dialed Chloe's number. The call didn't go through and when he tried his security personnel at her apartment, neither picked up his cell phone. Lex broke several speed records crossing town to get to Chloe's building.
When Lex arrived, he saw his security man, Ben, at the front door. The man was sitting at his post, looking unconcerned. he approached and grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Why didn't you answer your phone?"
"It hasn't rung, sir." Lex didn't bother to argue, he just ran up the stairs with the guard in pursuit. Both men had drawn their guns. On Chloe's floor, the second guard was slumped in his seat with a dart in his neck. Lex ran down to Chloe's door which stood slightly ajar. He held up a hand and told the remaining guard to watch the door. The man wisely didn't argue. Lex pushed the door open and walked cautiously into the livingroom, checking all corners for a possible assailant. he saw her shoes and several shopping bags on the floor. Most of the lights were dimmed, but he heard a faint sound from the bathroom and saw light trickling underneath.
Lex approached the door and held his breath, feeling a trickle of sweat run down his back, he tried the doorknob, it was locked. He backed up a step and raised his gun. Then he kicked the door right above the knob where the lock was located. The door gave way and crashed open. The sight that greeted his eyes mande his heart stop for a few beats.
"What the fuck!" Chloe said after she'd stopped screaming. She'd been taking a bath in her freshly re-decorated bathroom when Lex had broken down her door. "Ever heard of knocking?" She had her arms crossed over herself and fished her earphones out of the sudsy water where they'd fallen. Behind Lex, Ben jumped in the doorway with his own gun out. Chloe screamed again and threw a shampoo bottle, striking Lex in the shoulder. "Get out!" Ben backed away.
"I'll check the rest of the building."
"Do it, then come right back here. We'll be waiting."
"Fuck that!" Chloe's face was buring with rage and embarrassment. "Give me my towel and put that thing away." She pointed to his gun. Lex just stared at her with a mix of confusion and relief. She was alive. Alive, pissed and completely oblivious to what was happening. She'd been used as a warning. Someone was toying with him. Someone who could have done a lot more than just open Chloe's apartment door after drugging her guard. Lex tucked his gun into the back of his pants, then he grabbed a large towel in one hand and Chloe's arm in the other. She squealed in protest when he hauled her out of her soapy bubbles. He shoved the towel at her and she grabbed at it frantically. Then, with a slippery, protesting Chloe in tow, he dragged her across her apartment to her bedroom. When they walked in, she immediately started to fight in earnest.
"Stop struggling," he snapped, letting go of her arm. He saw a genuine look of fear in her eyes as she struggled to wrap the towel around her body. She was backing away from him. He realized how this must seem to her. "Chloe, it's not what you think." He held his palms out to her and stepped forward. She backed into her dresser. "Just get dressed, I'm taking you to the penthouse." She didn't move. "Chloe I'm not here to hurt you." He knew what she must have thought, but he didn't have time to explain things. he'd tell her once she was safely at his house. He went to her closet and opened the door, then he pulled out a brown sweater and a pair of jeans from a shelf. "Put these on."
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was a whisper. "Lex what's going on?"
"I'm just trying to keep you safe. Please trust me." She eyed him warily, but nodded. He turned around while she dried off and pulled on the clothes. He tried to call the penthouse but his phone was getting no signal. He racked his brain with posibilities. Someone could have put a digital disruptor on the roof. It would work to kill all wireless signals, cellular, satelite, everything. He picked up her land line phone. There was no dial tone, the hard line could have been cut easily. He turned back around and saw Chloe slipping her feet into her sneakers. She was opening drawers and pulling out various items of clothing. "Leave that, he said, agitated. I'll have a staff person come by and get your things for you."
"No more strangers going through my stuff," she said, firmly. It was raising his bloodpressure just to be standing here when they should be leaving.
"Look, forget about your vibrator, just come with me now." Chloe froze and stared at him. Fuck. Lex heard Ben cme back in.
"No sign of anyone still here. I'll bring the car around."
"We'll take mine, just follow us to the penthouse and increase security there for the night till I can sort this out." he didn't look at Chloe, just took her by the wrist and dragged her, since she was reluctant to go with him, out the door and down the stairs. When she saw the guard who was now lying on the floor being tended by another member of the security staff, she gasped.
"Tell me what's going on."
"In the car."
Chloe got in the passenger door of Lex's Porche. He drove over to the Penthouse, giving her the basic facts. He told her that he'd recieved some personal photographs of her, like someone had been following her, and had gone to her apartment where he'd found the unconscious guard and her door standing open.
"Someone was in my place?"
"Maybe, or they just opened the door to scare me."
"You?" Her tone was incredulous. "I'm the one with the broken bathroom door."
"Sorry, I thought you were in danger."
"Next time, knock."