A/N: We are now back in the present…
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. I have no money. (With or without this story )
Spoilers: References to events in Nicodemus and Kinetic.
This Chapter Rated: PG for naughty words and innuendo. Oh, horrors!
Meredith glanced at her watch and decided it was time to hit the road. They had stayed in town longer than she thought, so she gave Gabe a call on her cell to let him know they were on their way. Since taking an interest in Chloe's life again, Meredith's relationship with her ex-husband had gotten much better. At least they were on speaking terms, as opposed to screaming terms. On the three-hour drive back Chloe dozed off, despite the coffee. Meredith took the opportunity to listen to the music * she * wanted to listen to. The music that Chloe referred to as "oldies." As they approached the Smallville city limits, Meri woke her daughter, and asked her if she wanted to go home, or to the Beanery.
"I guess I'll go home first. I have to grab my laptop, anyway. I'll take my own car, so you can get on your way."
"Good idea. I had a lot of fun today, Chloe. I'll see you next week?"
"Sure thing."
They pulled up to the house, and Chloe grabbed her bag and jumped out of the car. Gabe came outside to greet the two of them, but Chloe flew past him into the house.
"So, how was class?"
"Good. My legs are killing me, but in a good way. How's the job?"
"Oh, you know, same old, same old."
"Same here. Anything exciting happen recently?"
"You mean that Chloe * didn't * tell you about?"
Meredith laughed at that. "I guess you have a point. Well, I'd better be moving along. I have errands to run in Metropolis. I'll give you a call during the week?"
"Sure. You know where to find me."
Meredith got back behind the wheel and started backing out of the driveway. Chloe came back outside, having cleaned up a little more and with her schoolbag in hand. She grinned sheepishly at her father. Meredith waved to her, and Chloe waved back. As Meredith started out on her return exodus to the city, Chloe turned her attentions back to her father.
"Um…is it okay if I go to the coffee shop for awhile? I have an article and a term paper to finish for tomorrow."
"Don't I ever get to see my daughter?" Gabe asked with a dramatic sigh.
"You see me plenty. Please? It's for school. How would that look: the editor of the school paper failing English?" She flashed her father her most brilliant smile.
"Oh, all right. But try to get home at a decent hour and have dinner with me. I feel like I haven't seen you in years."
"Thanks, daddy. I will." Chloe got on tiptoe and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"All right, be careful out on the road."
Chloe threw her bag on the front seat of her car, and was on her way to the Beanery. When she got there, it was the late afternoon, and the place was fairly busy. She recognized a lot of people from school, but no one she really knew. Lana wasn't working, so of course, Clark was absent. Pete probably had a date or something, so Chloe settled down in a booth as its occupants left. She spread out her books and notes and started plugging away at her laptop…..
Finally, she had finished her English paper. Now she could get to the work she was looking forward to. She pulled out her small, "interview" tape recorder and a pair of headphones. She put in the tape labeled "Luther, 3/17 (Part 2)" and started transcribing the interview…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chloe: "Testing, testing…."
{static}
Chloe: "Alright, this is Chloe Sullivan interviewing Mr. Lex Luther at the offices of The Torch on March 17, 2002 at 5:30 p.m. Continuing interview in regards to the strange "flu/coma" that affected several Smallville citizens."
Lex: "Do you have many more questions, Miss Sullivan?"
Chloe: "Just one more, really. And more for myself than the article…what happened to Doctor Hamilton's lab?"
Lex: "I'm sorry, whom?"
Chloe: "The man you hired to research the meteors for you."
Lex: "I'm afraid you must be mistaken, Miss Sullivan. I don't have anyone by that name on my staff, and I have no ongoing projects researching the meteors."
Chloe: "Don't play games with me, honey, someone had to fund the kind of research I saw him doing out there. I know he didn't get a grant, I checked. The chance of him getting enough private donations from the good citizens of Smallville and Metropolis is slim to none. And that leaves you."
Lex: "Or my father."
Chloe: "No. Your father would only pour that much money into something if he knew for a fact he could get something out of it. You, on the other hand, might fund something in the name of scientific exploration. And to get something out of it."
Lex: "Well, you seem to have this all worked out. Were you able to ascertain all that from your 'research'?"
Chloe: "You may not believe this, but I actually spend more time listening to people that bombarding them with questions."
Lex: "Ah. And whom did you listen to that revealed so much about my business practices?"
Chloe: "You, of course. You can't suppress all your feelings. Inevitably, some leak through. You just have to be watching."
Lex: "And when did watching me become a habit of yours, Miss Sullivan?"
Chloe: "Come on, you're the only billionaire in town. What kind of reporter wouldn't be watching you?"
Lex: "Hmm…well perhaps I should start keeping a closer eye on you, for my own well-being."
Chloe: "I can see the headlines now: 'Peeping Lex: Luthor Son Caught Ogling Minors'"
Lex: "All right, all right. Next topic."
Chloe: "You're not going to answer my question. Are you?"
Lex: "How's the arm?"
{static}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chloe pulled off her headphones, and sighed. Never could get a straight answer out of the man. At least he had seemed genuinely concerned when he asked how she was doing. She remembered how shaken up he had been when she'd gotten hurt. For awhile, she thought he was just trying to cover his ass, but Clark had told her that Lex had often asked him about her. She smiled to herself; it wasn't often that she enjoyed people talking about her.
She stretched out her arms and neck and cracked her back. Her left arm was still, admittedly, a bit weak and sore, but the yoga was helping. She made sure to save her work, and e-mailed it to herself just to be safe. She was just about to start packing up her things when she heard a familiar voice. She looked up, and saw the back of a very pale, smooth head at the counter. Out of habit, her eyes made a quick scan of the rest of the form. Shoulder blades moving gracefully as he picked up his order and paid. He put a few dollars in the tip jar, and then he shifted his body weight to one hip, his pants clinging to the subtle curve of his right cheek as he turned…
" * Stop it! * Lex Luther can not turn around and see me staring at his ass!" Chloe thought to herself.
When he did turn, Chloe caught his eye, and he made his way over to her. A few patrons watched, but most were like herself: students absorbed in homework.
"Miss Sullivan, do you mind if I join you?"
"Not if you don't mind my mouth."
"Maybe it's that mouth that makes me come." He looked her dead in the eye.
Chloe tried not to react outwardly to his statement, and gestured for him to sit down.
"You're in an unusually sassy mood. Has his lordship acquired some new tract of land, or perhaps he has vanquished his father in worthy combat?"
"You know, not that many people would refer to a Luthor as "sassy."
"Well, I feel special, then."
"To answer your question…"
"Do my ears deceive me?!" Chloe cut in, with a laugh.
"I swear, dear lady, they do not. To answer your question, my mood has nothing to do with business. In fact, just the opposite, I am going to the opening of the new wing at the Metropolis Modern Art Museum on Wednesday. I've already spoken with Clark, Lana, Whitney, and Pete, and they're all going with me. I was wondering if you'd like to go as well. It would make a nice story, and your company would be appreciated."
"Really? Absolutely, I'd love to! Thank you, Lex." She couldn't stop herself from grinning broadly at him. It was a struggle to keep her voice down, she was so excited.
"No problem. It should be fun. There's a small reception before they open the wing, then we'd all get to see the new works."
"Great! OK, I know it sounds corny, but what should I wear?"
"Something classy. You can do classy, can't you, Miss Sullivan?" His eyes twinkled at her.
"Mr. Luthor, I can do it all. But seriously, call me Chloe. 'Miss Sullivan' sounds like a schoolmarm from 'Little House on the Prairie.'"
"There's the mouth I was talking about."
"Oh, you like sarcastic, caffeine-deprived teenagers?"
"No. I like witty, interesting women. And it's not for me to say what you're deprived of."
"Right now, I'm deprived of gas money. How is everyone else getting there?"
"I've arranged for a couple of cars to take all of us. One will come pick you up at your house at 4:30 on Wednesday. Will that be enough time for you?"
"Plenty. Speaking of time, I've got to run. I promised dad we'd have 'family dinner' tonight."
"Do you need a ride?"
"I've got my wheels. But thank you, anyway."
Chloe packed her laptop, recorder, and headphones back into her bag. She got out her keys, and stood. She was a bit surprised, though, when Lex helped her put on her coat. When she turned around, he was almost smiling at her.
"Lex, thank you again for the invite. You know, you can be downright personable when you put your mind to it."
"If you spread that around, I'll sue you for libel."
"Wednesday night, then?"
"I'll see you then. Goodnight, Chloe." He murmured as he settled back into the booth, and nursed his forgotten coffee.
Chloe walked out to her car, and started out for home. She called her dad to let him know she was, indeed, coming home at a decent hour. She was feeling jittery and excited about the opening. It would make a terrific story for the paper, and would probably get Kwan off her back for at least another month. She started to think about Clark in a tux, but had to stop for the safety of other drivers. As she pulled into her driveway, Chloe was mentally going through her closet, trying to think of something "classy" to wear.
"Hmm…I have 'spunky', 'funky', and 'sexy', but 'classy'….? This sounds like a job for a 'Sophisticated Older Woman-Friend!'" Chloe thought as she walked inside.
It didn't even strike her as strange that she thought of Meredith as a "friend" rather than "mom."
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. I have no money. (With or without this story )
Spoilers: References to events in Nicodemus and Kinetic.
This Chapter Rated: PG for naughty words and innuendo. Oh, horrors!
Meredith glanced at her watch and decided it was time to hit the road. They had stayed in town longer than she thought, so she gave Gabe a call on her cell to let him know they were on their way. Since taking an interest in Chloe's life again, Meredith's relationship with her ex-husband had gotten much better. At least they were on speaking terms, as opposed to screaming terms. On the three-hour drive back Chloe dozed off, despite the coffee. Meredith took the opportunity to listen to the music * she * wanted to listen to. The music that Chloe referred to as "oldies." As they approached the Smallville city limits, Meri woke her daughter, and asked her if she wanted to go home, or to the Beanery.
"I guess I'll go home first. I have to grab my laptop, anyway. I'll take my own car, so you can get on your way."
"Good idea. I had a lot of fun today, Chloe. I'll see you next week?"
"Sure thing."
They pulled up to the house, and Chloe grabbed her bag and jumped out of the car. Gabe came outside to greet the two of them, but Chloe flew past him into the house.
"So, how was class?"
"Good. My legs are killing me, but in a good way. How's the job?"
"Oh, you know, same old, same old."
"Same here. Anything exciting happen recently?"
"You mean that Chloe * didn't * tell you about?"
Meredith laughed at that. "I guess you have a point. Well, I'd better be moving along. I have errands to run in Metropolis. I'll give you a call during the week?"
"Sure. You know where to find me."
Meredith got back behind the wheel and started backing out of the driveway. Chloe came back outside, having cleaned up a little more and with her schoolbag in hand. She grinned sheepishly at her father. Meredith waved to her, and Chloe waved back. As Meredith started out on her return exodus to the city, Chloe turned her attentions back to her father.
"Um…is it okay if I go to the coffee shop for awhile? I have an article and a term paper to finish for tomorrow."
"Don't I ever get to see my daughter?" Gabe asked with a dramatic sigh.
"You see me plenty. Please? It's for school. How would that look: the editor of the school paper failing English?" She flashed her father her most brilliant smile.
"Oh, all right. But try to get home at a decent hour and have dinner with me. I feel like I haven't seen you in years."
"Thanks, daddy. I will." Chloe got on tiptoe and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"All right, be careful out on the road."
Chloe threw her bag on the front seat of her car, and was on her way to the Beanery. When she got there, it was the late afternoon, and the place was fairly busy. She recognized a lot of people from school, but no one she really knew. Lana wasn't working, so of course, Clark was absent. Pete probably had a date or something, so Chloe settled down in a booth as its occupants left. She spread out her books and notes and started plugging away at her laptop…..
Finally, she had finished her English paper. Now she could get to the work she was looking forward to. She pulled out her small, "interview" tape recorder and a pair of headphones. She put in the tape labeled "Luther, 3/17 (Part 2)" and started transcribing the interview…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chloe: "Testing, testing…."
{static}
Chloe: "Alright, this is Chloe Sullivan interviewing Mr. Lex Luther at the offices of The Torch on March 17, 2002 at 5:30 p.m. Continuing interview in regards to the strange "flu/coma" that affected several Smallville citizens."
Lex: "Do you have many more questions, Miss Sullivan?"
Chloe: "Just one more, really. And more for myself than the article…what happened to Doctor Hamilton's lab?"
Lex: "I'm sorry, whom?"
Chloe: "The man you hired to research the meteors for you."
Lex: "I'm afraid you must be mistaken, Miss Sullivan. I don't have anyone by that name on my staff, and I have no ongoing projects researching the meteors."
Chloe: "Don't play games with me, honey, someone had to fund the kind of research I saw him doing out there. I know he didn't get a grant, I checked. The chance of him getting enough private donations from the good citizens of Smallville and Metropolis is slim to none. And that leaves you."
Lex: "Or my father."
Chloe: "No. Your father would only pour that much money into something if he knew for a fact he could get something out of it. You, on the other hand, might fund something in the name of scientific exploration. And to get something out of it."
Lex: "Well, you seem to have this all worked out. Were you able to ascertain all that from your 'research'?"
Chloe: "You may not believe this, but I actually spend more time listening to people that bombarding them with questions."
Lex: "Ah. And whom did you listen to that revealed so much about my business practices?"
Chloe: "You, of course. You can't suppress all your feelings. Inevitably, some leak through. You just have to be watching."
Lex: "And when did watching me become a habit of yours, Miss Sullivan?"
Chloe: "Come on, you're the only billionaire in town. What kind of reporter wouldn't be watching you?"
Lex: "Hmm…well perhaps I should start keeping a closer eye on you, for my own well-being."
Chloe: "I can see the headlines now: 'Peeping Lex: Luthor Son Caught Ogling Minors'"
Lex: "All right, all right. Next topic."
Chloe: "You're not going to answer my question. Are you?"
Lex: "How's the arm?"
{static}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chloe pulled off her headphones, and sighed. Never could get a straight answer out of the man. At least he had seemed genuinely concerned when he asked how she was doing. She remembered how shaken up he had been when she'd gotten hurt. For awhile, she thought he was just trying to cover his ass, but Clark had told her that Lex had often asked him about her. She smiled to herself; it wasn't often that she enjoyed people talking about her.
She stretched out her arms and neck and cracked her back. Her left arm was still, admittedly, a bit weak and sore, but the yoga was helping. She made sure to save her work, and e-mailed it to herself just to be safe. She was just about to start packing up her things when she heard a familiar voice. She looked up, and saw the back of a very pale, smooth head at the counter. Out of habit, her eyes made a quick scan of the rest of the form. Shoulder blades moving gracefully as he picked up his order and paid. He put a few dollars in the tip jar, and then he shifted his body weight to one hip, his pants clinging to the subtle curve of his right cheek as he turned…
" * Stop it! * Lex Luther can not turn around and see me staring at his ass!" Chloe thought to herself.
When he did turn, Chloe caught his eye, and he made his way over to her. A few patrons watched, but most were like herself: students absorbed in homework.
"Miss Sullivan, do you mind if I join you?"
"Not if you don't mind my mouth."
"Maybe it's that mouth that makes me come." He looked her dead in the eye.
Chloe tried not to react outwardly to his statement, and gestured for him to sit down.
"You're in an unusually sassy mood. Has his lordship acquired some new tract of land, or perhaps he has vanquished his father in worthy combat?"
"You know, not that many people would refer to a Luthor as "sassy."
"Well, I feel special, then."
"To answer your question…"
"Do my ears deceive me?!" Chloe cut in, with a laugh.
"I swear, dear lady, they do not. To answer your question, my mood has nothing to do with business. In fact, just the opposite, I am going to the opening of the new wing at the Metropolis Modern Art Museum on Wednesday. I've already spoken with Clark, Lana, Whitney, and Pete, and they're all going with me. I was wondering if you'd like to go as well. It would make a nice story, and your company would be appreciated."
"Really? Absolutely, I'd love to! Thank you, Lex." She couldn't stop herself from grinning broadly at him. It was a struggle to keep her voice down, she was so excited.
"No problem. It should be fun. There's a small reception before they open the wing, then we'd all get to see the new works."
"Great! OK, I know it sounds corny, but what should I wear?"
"Something classy. You can do classy, can't you, Miss Sullivan?" His eyes twinkled at her.
"Mr. Luthor, I can do it all. But seriously, call me Chloe. 'Miss Sullivan' sounds like a schoolmarm from 'Little House on the Prairie.'"
"There's the mouth I was talking about."
"Oh, you like sarcastic, caffeine-deprived teenagers?"
"No. I like witty, interesting women. And it's not for me to say what you're deprived of."
"Right now, I'm deprived of gas money. How is everyone else getting there?"
"I've arranged for a couple of cars to take all of us. One will come pick you up at your house at 4:30 on Wednesday. Will that be enough time for you?"
"Plenty. Speaking of time, I've got to run. I promised dad we'd have 'family dinner' tonight."
"Do you need a ride?"
"I've got my wheels. But thank you, anyway."
Chloe packed her laptop, recorder, and headphones back into her bag. She got out her keys, and stood. She was a bit surprised, though, when Lex helped her put on her coat. When she turned around, he was almost smiling at her.
"Lex, thank you again for the invite. You know, you can be downright personable when you put your mind to it."
"If you spread that around, I'll sue you for libel."
"Wednesday night, then?"
"I'll see you then. Goodnight, Chloe." He murmured as he settled back into the booth, and nursed his forgotten coffee.
Chloe walked out to her car, and started out for home. She called her dad to let him know she was, indeed, coming home at a decent hour. She was feeling jittery and excited about the opening. It would make a terrific story for the paper, and would probably get Kwan off her back for at least another month. She started to think about Clark in a tux, but had to stop for the safety of other drivers. As she pulled into her driveway, Chloe was mentally going through her closet, trying to think of something "classy" to wear.
"Hmm…I have 'spunky', 'funky', and 'sexy', but 'classy'….? This sounds like a job for a 'Sophisticated Older Woman-Friend!'" Chloe thought as she walked inside.
It didn't even strike her as strange that she thought of Meredith as a "friend" rather than "mom."
