A/N This story just sort of came to me after the season finale. I'm not sure how long it will be but I thought I should write while I felt inspired. It sort of takes its origin from Clark and Chloe's last scene together. Let me know what you think.

The other Side of Grey

Chapter One: The Ghost of Christmas Past

Why didn't you come to me?"

Two years later…

"Here you are Ms. Sullivan." The older man handed her the cardboard box and she smiled up into his face.

"Thanks Alfred!" Holding it within her arms she looked up at the tree before them and smiled. "It's coming along nicely isn't it?" She asked propping her head to the side as if to get a better angle. She had been working on decorating Wayne Manor for the past week. Christmas lights were hung, bells were tied to lamp posts, wreaths on every door which covered the place with a definite aroma of Pine. "I think I'll even have the tree finished before Bruce comes back." She remarked. Bruce Wayne was on an extended leave to close a business deal… Batman was somewhere in the Alps going through an extensive training process. Either way he had been gone for almost two weeks and it gave her plenty of time to decorate his oh not so humble abode. "It should only take me a few hours."

"Are you certain that you do not require assistance? I am sure that I can set aside some errands, perhaps help with…"

She shook her head placing a hand on his arm and giving it a gentle squeeze. "You have done more than enough. You allowed me access to the kitchen and when I burned not one, not two but three batches of Christmas cookies you were gracious enough to step in and make them yourself. I also know that you arranged for the carolers in Gotham City. Alfred I think that you should rest. I will be fine." She smiled. "Besides this is my Christmas present to our resident Dark Knight. I want to make sure I get it just right."

"I am certain that he will find this present exceeding any expectation hey may have had." He remarked softly. "You have turned Wayne Manor into a Winter Wonderland." There was a ghost of smile on his lips.

She nodded turning back to the massive greenery before her. "Well I thought it would be a nice change from the dark and gloom that you both usually live in. Besides the least I can do for Bruce is, decorate his house… it's nice to have a place to come home to for Christmas."

"I think I speak for both myself and Mr. Wayne when I say we are both delighted to have you here." She smiled softly. The Wayne Manor had become her own personal getaway. When being Watchtower became just a little too much to handle she knew that she could find refuge within these walls. It was comforting albeit a little sad when she thought about what it took to get here and what she had lost… was still losing. "I have the menu set for Christmas dinner and all invitations have been sent to the usual guests for the annual Wayne Christmas party…"

"The usual snobs and resident high class bimbos I presume." She remarked with a smirk. She never understood why Bruce continued to keep up this playboy image. She thought it was ridiculous but far be it for her to tell him how to live his double life… playboy by day… vigilante by night. It all seemed a bit much but she had come to accept him and his quirky ideals.

"They have already RSVP'D." Was Alfred's response.

"My dad is coming right?" She asked looking over at him.

"Yes Ms. Sullivan. I took the call myself." She nodded. "Is there anyone else that you would like me to invite… any friends perhaps, other family?" He asked softly.

Turning back to the Christmas tree she shook her head. "No… no one else."

There was a moment of silence that passed between them. "If that will be all I shall take my leave for the night." He stated.

When she turned to him her smile was as bright as ever seeming almost forced in nature. "Thank you… thank you very much."

"Please do not hesitate to call me should there be anything that you need." He was gone just as silently as he had entered the room and she was left alone.

Setting the box down, she placed her hands on her hips and looked around at the work that she had already completed and smiled before ripping the tape off the box and opening it. Reaching inside she began removing the ornaments within, her smile growing wider and wider with each one. She had the box sent to her a few days prior. It contained any and all ornaments that she had collected over the years since she was a child. Most of her childhood had been spent between Metropolis and Smallville. This would be the first spent in the city of Gotham.

"Why didn't you come to me?"

She swallowed hard as she held a silver ball up to the light. Perhaps it was time for new traditions.

Once she had removed the majority she got to work with decorating the tree. Stepping on the ladder she began hanging the tinsel when she stopped hearing the faint chords of Silent Night in the background. Looking up she realized that the music was coming through the in wall speakers. Her smile grew even wider if that were possible. "Thank you Alfred." She whispered with a shake of her head beginning to hum the tune to herself.

A few hours later…

She took a step back taking in the full image of what stood before her. The tree was huge… it reminded her of those seen in department stores. When she had asked Alfred to help her get a Christmas tree she had no idea that he would have one cut down from the forest and brought in but it had touched her heart nonetheless. She sighed looking over and noticing that it was almost three in the morning. She had been at this for hours but she didn't mind. It felt good to focus on something other than work. Being The Watchtower full time came with its own reward as well as its own set of problems. She was glad to be away from Metropolis even if it were only a week. Tomorrow she would have to head back but tonight… tonight had been all about the spirit of Christmas… it had been the escape she needed.

That's how it was now… at least for the last year… since the day she met Bruce and they became friends. He had come to be the escape that she needed when the world seemed to be too much to handle. He had offered her a lifeline when she hadn't realized she needed one and for that she would always be grateful. Their friendship had sprung up unexpectedly, completely without warning and had somehow become one of the few constant things in her otherwise, hectic and turbulent life.

She sighed deeply rubbing her palms on her jeans. She turned back to close the box and turn in for the night when the sight of red wrapping paper caught her eye. Reaching inside she pulled out one last item, neatly wrapped and tied with a golden yellow ribbon. Furrowing her brow she opened it.

"Why didn't you come to me?"

Holding the Christmas ornament up in the air she swallowed hard. A young boy and girl stared back at her. The girl was leaning over, placing a chaste kiss on the boy's cheek as he stood looking quite like a young Clark, red with embarrassment. Reading the inscription at the bottom she smiled.

Clark and Chloe Christmas of 2006

It had been a stupid joke shared between two friends who always thought couple Christmas cards were a bit ridiculous but friendship Christmas ornaments were a whole other story. He had given it to her as a gift for laughs perhaps but it had been one of the best presents she had gotten that year. It had gotten its own special place towards the top of any Christmas tree they happened to decorate. She was proud to have it… it may be the closest thing to resemble them being a couple she would ever get.

"Why didn't you come to me?"

There were unshed tears in her eyes but she refused to allow them to fall. Two years was a long time to be away from someone… but being away from Clark Kent made it feel that much longer. Grabbing a seat on the oversized couch she brought her sock clad feet up and tucked them beneath her body as she stared at what was left of her friendship with the farm boy from another planet. It seemed like such a lifetime ago that they were hanging out at the Talon, goofing off at the Torch, chasing after stories at the Daily Planet. And in many ways it was a lifetime ago.

"Clark Kent is dead…"

Yes… indeed he was. She settled into the sofa thinking back to the girl she used to be. When her biggest concern was chasing down her next story and exposing those infected with green meteor rocks. Life had been more simple then… less heartbreaking… less… everything perhaps. A small smile found its way to her lips as she leaned more and more into the comforting plush folds of Bruce's leather loveseat. Turning the key at the bottom she heard the soft keys of 'I'll be Home for Christmas' begin and before long she was asleep and all that remained were memories of a life long lost.

A while later…

She jolted awake as she felt the coldness of death seem to grip her. So startled she was that she dropped the ornament in her hands and barely had time to watch it fall from her fingertips and shatter in pieces on the wood floor. She could only stare for a moment as she felt the rapid palpatations of her heart continue and she knew that something was wrong. Something had happened. She took the elevator to the cave knowing that he was there. As the door opened she called out for him. "Bruce… Bruce where are you?"

There was movement in the distance as two figures stumbled onto the rocky platform. She knew it was him even before he turned around and when he did their eyes for the first time in over two years met.

He was standing tall holding up the other man. He had traded in his primary colors for something less conspicuous. Clad in all black he seemed like an extension of Batman's costume. She had read about him in the Daily Planet… some believed that it was a publicity stunt but she knew better. It was a way of cutting ties with her; Erasing all human influence on him and anything that he would become. She had taken the change in stride even if it did hurt more than she wanted to admit. As long as he still chose to protect those in need what did it matter what color he did it in? His hair was shorter than the last time she had seen him and he was sporting what looked to be a bit of a five-o-clock shadow. He looked all grown-up… he didn't look anything at all how she remembered.

"Clark Kent is dead."

Bruce's arm had been slung over his shoulder as he was completely supported by Clark's boundless strength. His mask had been torn revealing the chiseled angle of his chin and his high cheek bone. Blood was seeping from somewhere atop his head and more seemed to drip from somewhere along his chest staining the cement below him.

Their eyes locked for only a moment before she ran to them assessing Bruce's wounds immediately. "What did you do to him?" She asked accusingly.

He stared at her as if seeing the ghost of Christmas past and for a moment found he had no answer. He had no idea why she was here or how she had come to know Batman, A.K.A Bruce Wayne. Apparently she knew both. Her hair was longer, a little past her shoulders in length with what looked to be brown red streaks. She had lost weight, which was saying a lot seeing as how she had already been so small to begin with. She was thin but not frail and when she moved it was with purpose, confidence and poise. She moved with a grace that he didn't remember her having. She reached out and touched the other man's chin moving the mask aside… it wasn't doing much to conceal his identity anyway. Not that it would have mattered. The mask wasn't made of lead. He stared at her for a moment not sure what she meant by asking what he did to him… wasn't it clear?

"I saved him." He muttered.

"Then why does it look as if he's bleeding to death?" She snapped harshly. "Set him down over here." She motioned to the cot set to the corner while she reached for the phone. "Alfred will you come down here… I need you." She remarked and then hung up.

Turning back she found him standing there looking lost and more than a little confused. It almost reminded her of the teenager she once knew, standing in the halls waiting for Lana to notice him. The memory was fleeting and passed so quickly that she barely had time to think about it. She walked around him going to Bruce and removing his mask. There was sweat on his brow and he was mumbling what seemed to be incoherent thoughts. She ran her hand across the top of his forehead and down the side of his cheek. Pressing the back of her hand against his skin she could feel the warmth of a fever. "It's going to be okay." She whispered softly in his ear.

A moment later Alfred was there carrying a silver tray in his hands. Clark barely had time to see the syringe and a few white hand towels that were on it and what looked to be a tiny silver scalpel. "Here you are Ms. Sullivan." The butler replied. He nodded towards Clark acknowledging his presence in a polite manner but said nothing more as he grabbed one of the towels and began to dab at his master's sweaty face.

"He needs a doctor." She heard him say. He hadn't even realized he had said the words out loud until he heard the soft scoff from her lips.

"Trust me… I know exactly what he needs." She remarked not bothering to turn around to look at him. Reaching for the scalpel she cut through the leather of his suit revealing the four bullet wounds embedded in his chest. Grabbing another hand towel she wiped away at the thick dark redness covering his upper body before throwing it aside. Looking over her shoulder she stared at him. "You can go… we can take it from here."

He opened his mouth as though to say something when a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Chloe… don't." Bruce's voice was hoarse and clogged with the backflow of his own blood. She turned back to him and gave him a warm sad smile.

"What would you have me do?" She asked.

He was struggling for his words, trying to speak through the mess in his mouth. "You can't…"

"You can't stop me." She whispered. Looking up into Alfred's silver blue eyes she nodded and then without hesitation she reached out and placed both her hands over his chest. A moment later there was light coming from her palms… a bright silver blue light that looked almost akin to lightening. Tendrils of her hair began to rise off her shoulders and her skin began to glow as seconds passed to minutes. He had never seen her heal someone, only heard of her gift…a gift that supposedly had been taken from her while being tested on by Lex Luthor…

And then suddenly the light went out and she collapsed to the floor and quicker than he realized Alfred was by her side, the syringe in his hand. Turning her over he brushed the hair from her face and injected her in the side of her neck. And then she shot up, her body erect as she gasped for breath. There was blood now on her blouse. The redness of it was a stark contrast against the silky white fabric. Using his x-ray vision he could see the bullet holes now peppering her upper body and he froze. Her body trembled slightly and then she slumped down falling into Alfred.

"What's happening? What's going on?" He asked.

Her head was cradled in the older man's lap as he continued to dab at her forehead. "It will only take a moment." He whispered but the moment seemed to take forever.

Suddenly he saw the twitch in her fingers and then watched them flex and contract as she seemed to be reacquainting herself with her own body and then she was sitting up. She blinked once… twice. And then she was on her feet and back at Bruce's side as if nothing had happened. Reaching out she placed her hand on his chest feeling the smoothness of his skin. "He'll be fine. He just needs to rest." She remarked. "We should get him to his room." She turned to Alfred and the man was already on the other side helping her with Bruce as they each placed one of his arms around their shoulders and began to escort him to the elevator.

Clark stepped in their path. "I can take him."

She stared at him for a moment and the look that she gave him puzzled and confused him.

"I really needed you... why didn't you come to me?"

"Thank you but no… why don't you leave the hospitality to the humans. I believe you can find your own way out" And with that they shuffled around him and was gone.