Chapter 2- In The Hospital

Clark walked quietly into Chloe's hospital room. She looked so pale and fragile under the stark white sheet.

"What have I done to you?" Clark asked, willing away the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. "What have I done?"

Clark knew exactly what he had done. The exact thing he promised he wouldn't. He couldn't begin to fathom the pain that Chloe felt from Clark's betrayal. Just the thought of it left Clark feeling empty inside. If only Chloe knew. If only she knew.

Chloe stirred in her sleep, and Clark rushed to her side. He gently held her hand in his. With his other hand he traced the bandage on her forehead.

Just as Clark had no idea of Chloe's thoughts, Chloe had no idea of Clark's. The whole time he was in the twister his thoughts weren't on the task at hand. All he wanted to do was hurry up and save Lana so he could get back to Chloe. All he wanted was to be back with Chloe. When he set down Whitney's truck something flashed in the corner of his eye.

Looking to his right he saw a red car. He immediately recognized it as Chloe's. He was beyond shocked to see Chloe. His mind raced at the infinite possibilities of the danger she could come to out on the deserted road. He couldn't let her get hurt. Not his Chloe.

His thoughts were cut short as he heard her engine roar to life. His feelings quickly turned to horror as Chloe's car bore down on him. By the time he realized that she wasn't going to stop it was too late. All he could do was try to brace himself. He tried to position himself in a way so that he would take the brunt of the force, and not Chloe. His efforts had been in vain.

Clark will never forget the sickening thud as Chloe's head hit the windshield. He shook as he remembered. He raced to her door, but she was already unconscious. All he could do was bring her and Lana here and hope they would be okay.

Lana was fine. A small hit to her head, but relatively fine. She was staying overnight for observation.

Chloe moaned and opened her eyes. When she saw who was sitting of the edge of her bed she jerked her hand from Clark's and tried to move away. Clark's eyes filled with tears at Chloe's movements, but Chloe ignored them. She turned her head to the opposite wall.

"Chloe," Clark whispered. He reached out to caress her cheek.

Chloe slapped his hand away roughly, her head snapping back to glare at Clark. Chloe winced through the pain of the sharp movement. "How dare you touch me? I could kill you for what you did."

Clark lowered his head in shame. "You tried to."

Chloe laughed bitterly, her hand flying to her head. She had one of the worst headaches imaginable. "I knew it wouldn't hurt you. Not after seeing you carrying Whitney's truck out of the twister, then being mauled by that post."

Clark raised his head timidly. "Then why did you do it?"

"First of all I was quite drunk. Second, I thought it would make me feel better," Chloe said bitterly.

Clark closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Did it? Make you feel better?"

Chloe brought a hand to her face as her breath quickened. "I hit you, Clark. What do you think?"

"Chloe-" Clark started, reaching out to take her hand.

Chloe snatched her hand back. "No! Not after what you did. You can't just apologize and hold my hand and think that everything will go back to the way it was. What are you, Clark?"

Clark winced at the coldness in Chloe's voice. "I don't know."

Chloe laughed bitterly for the second time. "You're an asshole. That's what you are."

"Chloe, let me explain," Clark tried, his face twisted in agony.

"No. No more lame excuses. No more shit, Clark. I want straight answers, or are they something else that I'm not worthy of?" Chloe asked, before her voice lowered to a whisper. "I seem to not be much in your eyes, Clark. And it kills me. You have no idea how much."

"You are worthy of everything Chloe. If I could I would give you the world," Clark said softly. "I can't answer your questions right now. Later, but not right now."

"Isn't that convenient?" Chloe sneered. "You say you would give me the world, yet you refuse to give me the one thing I want the most."

Clark searched Chloe's eyes with his own. His voice came out a whisper. "What is it? What do you want? I'll give you anything. Anything Chloe."

Chloe began to cry. It took a moment for her to answer. "Your love, Clark. That's all I ask. All I ever wanted was your love."

A single tear fell from Clark's eyes. "You've had that for years, Chloe. Don't you know that?"

Chloe turned her head away, ashamed of her display of raw emotions. "You just don't get it."

Clark gently turned her head back to look her in the eyes. "I do get it, Chloe," he said, gently wiping her eyes. "I do get it."

"Then why do this to me?" Chloe asked, her voice full of desperation. "Why? What did I do to you to make you treat me like yesterday's trash? I refuse to be second best to Lana. I can't take it anymore. I can't. I can't do it."

Clark's answered Chloe by pressing his lips gently to hers. He was shocked when she roughly shoved him away.

"Stop it! You can't just kiss it away," Chloe shouted. "You already played that card once. You have to deal with this Clark. You can't just minimize it by kissing me. It doesn't work that way."

Clark took a ragged breath. "I don't know what to do. Tell me what to do."

"You can start by getting the hell out of here," Chloe said loudly, her eyes begging Clark to defy her command.

Clark's mouth fell open. "What? You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do," Chloe said, her eyes like fire. "I want you out. Now!"

Clark stood and gave Chloe one last longing look before leaving the room. As soon as he left Chloe was wracked with sobs.

Clark walked into the hallway. As he leaned against the pristine walls he lost control. The tears flowed freely as he sunk to the floor.