WRITTEN OUT

Summary: Chloe is returned ten years after she was abducted during Dark Thursday. Probably Chlark / Chruce. Set Post-Freak. Connecting events as told in the movie Superman Returns.

Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville, Superman or Batman

Chapter One

"What do you hear Lois?"

"I hear nothing."

"You say the world does not need a hero but every day I hear them call for one."

I don't know how I know that voice or how I hear him so often in my head. Sometimes speaking with his mother. At times with a difficult woman who I would love to hate but I cannot. Strange. I want to talk to him and ask him. The need to ask him, why he didn't hear me was so strong but I couldn't get the words out or to get my mind to order my mouth to say it. I watch the television and he's there all the time. He seemed to have been lost for a while and now is back. I was lost too. I am aware of a time when I knew I could do so much more than blink, remember so much more than the day before yesterday or my name, believe so much more that I had more of a life than this. But it seemed so long ago and they run through my mind like the water seeping out of my hands when an orderly brings me to the pool for therapy. Somehow I feel that I know this hero that everyone keeps on talking about and ask him why he heard everyone except me, who called him by name – a name that I think is Clark although, everyone knows him by something else now. Superman. I have a feeling that I don't have much time. I wish that he would hear me now.

It was a quiet night at Belle Reve where Dr. Hawkins was reviewing a case file of a young woman who was brought some time ago. It wasn't just that the case was of interest from a medical standpoint but the manner in which she was found and given to Belle Reve is a source of curiosity as well. The young woman was found by a winged dark vigilante from Gotham and consigned to the care of the sole heir of Wayne Enterprises. She was cared for in Gotham General Hospital for over 2 years and though the medical expenses rose without much hope for a recovery, the eccentric billionaire made sure that she had the best care possible. Not even the fact that she was comatose for all of that period, did Bruce Wayne think of stopping any of her treatments. It was fodder for the rumor mills as to who she was or how she is related to Bruce Wayne. Some say the young woman was Wayne's paramour and that one night of too much partying involving some experimentation with illegal stimulants resulted in making the unknown woman no more than a vegetable dependent on the machines to keep her alive. People say that it was Bruce's guilt that kept the support coming. Romantics say that she was the love of his life – though no one has ever seen her with him before being hospitalized. But it is the more pragmatic possibility that Dr. Hawkins subscribes to. The seasoned medical expert was aware of the younger Wayne's exploits and reputation and though the woman was blonde and obviously quite attractive, she seemed to be too young to fit Bruce's "type". To the doctor, it seemed that the most plausible reason for the young man's interest are the research benefits that could catapult Wayne Enterprises ahead of its more aggressive and more insidious competitor, Luthor Technologies, and it was this that fueled his continued benevolence. It wasn't over but a year ago when the young woman woke up from her coma, the Wayne heir visited her but she was no more alive compared to her previous state. She neither talked nor showed any reaction. The hospital being hounded by paparazzis 24-7, she was almost transferred to Arkham Asylum by the hospital administration when fate once again stepped in. The young woman who remained unknown was transferred to Belle Reve under cover of nightfall by the same Caped Crusader who found her and there she remained still. Bruce Wayne has not visited her since then. Although, her savior came once every week to peer into the window of her isolation room and "borrow" her progress reports from the good doctor's office which he would almost always find returned the next day.

Dr. Hawkins was brought on the case initially because of the lure of the Wayne funding but later on conceded that it is an opportunity not to be missed. A thorough examination of the young woman has shown that she was of perfectly good health – although not completely in possession of her faculties. She seemed to be suffering from some post-traumatic stress and remained unresponsive. All known medical and psychological treatments have been tried and the case has gradually caught the attention of the medical community because of how singularly extraordinary was the young woman's condition. Though the young woman appeared to be no more than 18 years old, medical tests indicated that she was about 30 to 35 years old. So it was that Dr. Hawkins was mulling over the latest DNA results of the Jane Doe, when a nurse barged in and jolted him out of his reverie.

"Dr. Hawkins, you have to see this. It's our Jane Doe. She's… she's talking."

The good doctor hesitated for a beat and then dropped the case file he was studying. He moved towards the ward where she was kept with an agility and speed that belied his age. Not stopping to see whether the nurse was behind him, he shouted out his instructions, "Nurse Jenkins, please call for Bruce Wayne. I would imagine that he would be interested to know this."

The young woman was huddled in a corner in the dark when he got there. Dr. Hawkins made a move to open the lights but thought against it. Two burly orderlies were at the door ready to intervene should the situation prove to be more dangerous. He approached her cautiously and spoke slowly in a soothing voice, "Hello. Don't be afraid. You are safe."

A scratchy and uncertain voice issued out from the huddled figure. "Where am I?"

"You're in Belle Reve."

The woman's face shot up and wild eyes met his. She stood up and made for the door, "No you must be mistaken. I have to get away. I have to find a friend of mine. I … I can't remember who he is but he ... he needs to know something urgently."

Dr. Hawkins gently grabbed her wrist and one of the orderlies made a move toward them when he was signaled by the doctor to remain where he was. "Wait. You cannot go anywhere. You have been ill for a long time. We have to make sure you're okay."

A frightened whine came from the woman and she appeared quite agitated. She was looking furtively around and nearly broke her wrist as she wrenched it from Dr. Hawkins grasp. Holding her skinny arms around her, she started to pace away. Then all of a sudden she stopped moving. Her head was cocked to one side and her mouth wordlessly started to move about as if she was talking to someone else. Dr. Hawkins motioned for the orderly to get a shot of Thropizone from the medical cabinet that stood outside the ward. The young woman's hand shot out and grabbed the doctor and pleaded, "Look, you must think I'm crazy but you have to believe me. I lived in 4590 Stonewall Avenue, Smallville. I was a senior at Met U and my friend's name is Clark Kent. He lives in the Kent Farm with his mother Martha and his father Jonathan. Please, please can you try to contact him for me? He knows who I am and he knows that I'm not crazy."

"Okay Miss. Why don't you sit down and we'll try to find out if you have a relative or a guardian at that address. In the meantime, do you remember anything at all before you were found in Gotham?"

"Gotham? I was in Gotham City? If you don't mind Doctor…"

"Hawkins. Dr. Hawkins. I have been your attending psychiatrist since you were transferred here over a year ago."

She licked her lips and swallowed before continuing, "Uhm. Please can I have a coffee and the Daily Planet. I'm feeling kind of parched."