Waiting at the cafe she had agreed to meet Clark for breakfast, Chloe went over the events of yesterday in her head. It had been surreal, even for Chloe's standards. She couldn't let go of Lex's irritation about Superman, and more worryingly, her reluctance to disagree with him. She hadn't told Lois the real reason she was here, she wanted to talk to Clark first. And speaking with Lex yesterday had confirmed her worries.

She looked up and saw a bespectacled Clark walking towards her. Still has beautiful as ever. And really, she had to marvel at the good citizens of Metropolis for not putting two and two together, at least in Gotham the Bat wore an actual mask and stuff.

"Hey Chloe" Clark hugged her tightly. He pulled back and smiled at her. "You look fantastic, long hair looks good on you"

Chloe felt her hair, forgetting that the last time she had seen him it was still a bob. They had communicated frequently by email but something had always got in the way of them meeting for the last 5 years.

"Yeah, well, I got fed up of cutting it" she said smiling back.

"So, are you ok after yesterday? Sorry I couldn't stay and..you know, chat after the Lois thing…"

Chloe just looked at him in amusement. "Don't worry, I think that would have been too awkward, even for me"

They made some small talk and she found out that Clark still hadn't received word from the artists about her laptop. She was stalling. Small talk was her friend.

"So, how are things with you and Lex anyway?" she asked, trying to gently veer onto the subject.

Clark raised an eyebrow, "Wasn't it obvious from yesterday? Lex is more concerned about his investments and projects than the citizens of this city"

"You're right Clark. Lex is Lex. But do you think that he maybe has a point..?" She went on before he could interrupt. "The reason I came here Clark is because Jack Brown, the up and coming governor in Gotham, well I've heard from contacts that he is planning to run the campaign for his next term on an anti-Batman platform."

Clark looked confused. Chloe realised she would have to spell it out.

"He is going to say that Batman has started to put Gotham in more danger than it was before. That he attracts the crazies. And I think that someone could pull the same trick here with you, as in Lex." She stopped, checking his reaction.

"Let him try Chloe. Everyone knows that I'm trying to protect people where the police can't….or won't."

"I know Clark, its just that, is it on some level true? Lois said she has been attacked 4 times this month with people trying to get to you. I'm not agreeing with Lex but all I'm saying is that maybe he has a point, although, I know his motives are rotten."

"Look," she continued "I totally support what you do. I just don't want you to leave yourself open for these types of attacks."

"You think I'm a danger to Metropolis. I get it" was all Clark said and looked away.

Great, Chloe thought, now I've put Superman in a mood.

"Muffin?" she asked, holding out her plate to him.

Clark's cell interrupted before he could throw the innocent muffin back in her face. He turned away and conducted a monosyllabic conversation from his end.

"That was the gang that stole your laptop, they want 1 million dollars in cash tonight at the Leopard Lounge. You, Lex and Superman need to be there." Clark said turning back.

"It's a club" Clark said off Chloe's questioning look.

"Tell Lex to be there at 8. I'll come…as me and we can take it from there. I'm sure he knows how to handle the 1 million but hopefully we won't need to hand it over." Clark said getting up.

"Clark, I'm sorry, I just want you to be prepared." Chloe said

"If I worried and agonised about the rights and wrongs of what I do, I wouldn't get out of bed in the morning Chloe, and people would die. That may sound big headed but it's the truth." Clark said, and Chloe could hear the sadness in his voice.

"I'll pick you up at Lois's at 7.30."

Exit Clark.

Chloe merely looked miserably down at her muffin.

Chloe couldn't hear herself think and that was never a good sign. She was sitting with Clark in the VIP area of Leopard Lounge that Lex and conveniently rented for the night. Lois was sitting opposite after insisting that she come. Now they were just waiting for Luthor to show. And the music was very very loud.

"So where's Superman?" Lois asked looking around. "Wasn't his presence part of the deal?"

"I think he'll probably appear right on time if you know what I mean" Chloe replied.

"More to the point, where's Lex?" Clark asked in irritation.

"He's here" replied a disembodied voice behind them.

Lex appeared, as if through a puff of smoke, and sank down into one of the soft leather chairs next to Chloe.

"Nice of you to grace us with your presence" Chloe said turning to him

"Pleasure's all mine" Lex replied in a way that conveyed the exact opposite. "So, what are we expecting to happen tonight?"

"You look remarkably relaxed Lex" Chloe remarked

"Well, I'm just here for the show remember, the briefcase was empty." Lex said leaning towards the table and pouring himself a drink. He turned and held the bottle towards Chloe.

"Thanks, but I don't touch expensive Scottish whiskey. Only cheap Bourbon for me" Chloe walked around the table and sat next to Lois.

"Luthor is totally checking you out cuz" Lois whispered in her ear.

"I highly doubt that" Chloe replied, "it's probably his patented look of disgust"

Lex leaned back and took another long mouthful of the Scotch, studiously ignoring Clark whilst covertly studying Chloe. He didn't remember her ever looking this good. Maybe it was the long hair. Or the more laid back demeanour she seemed to have in comparison with her Smallville days. Or the dress. Probably the dress he thought. He wondered again what she was doing out of Gotham.

He had got the feeling from their conversation yesterday that she wasn't entirely disgusted by his insinuations that Superman was putting Metropolis in danger. He wanted to find a way to continue the discussion and see where her allegiances really lay.

He saw her making her way back to the seat next to him, with drink in hand, cheap bourbon he assumed.

Leaning in close to be heard over whatever God awful trash they were playing in this place, he said "Do you happen to know Jack Brown in Gotham? I hear he's doing some good things"

Chloe looked at him in amusement, "that's subtle Lex" was all she said.

"So I take it you don't agree with him?" he asked,

"He thinks the Bat is a danger to Gotham. I think the Bat has serious psychological problems but I don't think he is a danger. I think the danger to Gotham, and Metropolis I might add, is the corrupt police force, the corrupt politicians and aspiring politicians and the extremely corrupt businessmen" she finished, looking directly at Lex.

Lex had forgotten what it felt like to be spoken to with a complete lack of care for his position and wealth. He found it refreshing.

"I'd forgotten what a conversational joy you were Ms Sullivan" he said, releasing a small smile.

"Well, I try Luthor, I try" she winked in response.

Chloe turned to face Clark and saw that he was looking mournfully at Lois who was fiddling with her cell phone.

"Hey you" she said to get his attention." Are we ok after yesterday?"

"I know you're heart's in the right place Chloe, I'm not mad, but don't you think that I think about that stuff as well?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm really proud of what you do Clark" she said meaning it.

"What are you and Lex talking about?" he asked

"Gotham" was the only response she could give without outright lying

She felt a hand on her arm and she turned to see Lex beckoning her closer with a finger. She deliberately leaned back in her chair further away. She caught Lois's look and teasing smile and shook her head. She in turn winked at her cousin when she saw Clark making his way over to her.

Lex had leaned back in his chair now and she turned to him and asked something that had been bothering her all night, "So here's a million dollar question. Where is it?"

"It's in the manager's office, and its all fake notes."

"My laptop thanks you but is offended that you don't think it's worth the real deal green stuff" Chloe said with mock sadness

"On the contrary" Lex replies in all seriousness. He continues, "So, I hear that you know Bruce Wayne"

"I can't imagine you reading the society pages Lex" she says, surprised that he has picked up this gossip. She and Bruce went out once and it was catastrophically bad. "Anyway, it was one date and that was one too many"

"He never did know what was good for him" was Lex's only reply.

Chloe did a double take. Was that a compliment? Wait, was Lex – flirting? Before she could process this thought further, she was rudely interrupted by a swing to the head and everything fading to black.