Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or Superman characters. However, the plot is mine.

Lying Snake

Chapter Three: Nobody's Hero

Once they exited the plane, Chloe could see her father and Lois standing together in the distance. Jimmy and his new-ex-fling Kara was there as well. She slightly frowned at the sight. Chloe also spotted Lana and Mrs. Kent. What she found odd was that beside Mrs. Kent stood Oliver Queen. She turned to Lex with a puzzled expression. "What the hell is Ollie doing here?" In secret, she was glad to see that he cared.

Lex frowned as he noticed Chloe's use of Oliver's nickname. "I didn't know you and Mr. Queen were on such familiar terms."

"Well, he and my cousin were once quite the item." Chloe explained, leaving out the details of her after hours side job. "And I noticed you didn't answer my question."

"I had no idea he would be here. Perhaps he is simply showing the lovely Ms. Lane some support." Lex explained.

"Yes of course, God forbid someone to show plain me any support." Chloe snapped at Lex. She wasn't sure why, but she assumed Lex was trying to insult her.

Lex's frown deepened. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous." He sneered.

"Then perhaps you should leave the thinking to us professionals." Was her snarky reply, as she made her way to the awaiting crowd.

--

Chloe soon found herself smothered in her father's arms. "Chloe, dear God, thank you, thank you for bringing my Chloe back to me." He then looked at Lex. "And thank you Lex, for finding her." Once Chloe was released from her dad, Lois squeezed the life out of her.

"Chloe this investigating alone really needs to stop. You're always in danger. I'm glad you're home." After Lois, came Jimmy and Kara and their awkward welcome backs. Jimmy gave her a sad little smile. He seemed uncertain, as he should be. Kara hugged her, which Chloe in turn thought was her attempt at easing the awkwardness. It didn't work. Once Kara had let go Lana gave Chloe a curt hug, and then let go of her when Oliver came up beside them. Lana retreated into Lex's arms, to thank him no doubt.

"Miss Sullivan." He held out his hand. He acted all business in front of everyone, but Chloe could see the emotions clear across his face. This was anything but business.

"Mr Queen." Chloe took his firm grasp into hers and gave him her mega watt smile.

Oliver returned the smile as he moved forward and bent his head. His mouth hovered over her ear as he whispered, "Glad to have you back, Watchtower." Before Chloe could say anything, he stepped back for Mrs. Kent to hug her.

"Chloe dear, we've been looking everywhere for you. Clark and I-"

"Where is Clark?" Chloe asked, curious to know where her best friend was.

"Right behind you." Chloe turned around at the voice. She saw a very seriously fearful Clark. He looked into her eyes and pulled her into a tight nearly life crushing hug. He whispered, "I couldn't find you Chloe. Me. And I searched everywhere, and I mean everywhere." He pulled her back to look into her eyes. Their foreheads touching. "I thought I had lost you for real this time. I... I missed you... so much." Then he stayed silent for the longest. Chloe could see all the love of a best friend in his eyes and a little more. Clark Kent was actually scared of losing her. And Chloe smiled, now knowing how much she meant to him.

Everyone stared at them a little surprised. Lana seemed a little upset and so did Lex she noticed, but assumed it was because she was upset. Lois decided to break the tension. "Pink? Chlo, did they decide to torture you with pink? The horror, no offense Lana, but Chloe and pink are like an oxymoron. Let's get you home so you can change."

Chloe broke out of Clark's embrace and laughed at her cousin. "Great idea, I can't wait to be in something blue or green or red."

Lois smirked. "And about the hair?"

"I think I'll leave it long. There are so many things you can do with long hair." Her and Lois walked arm in arm back to the cars.

"Too true." Lois replied.

Clark and Gabe followed directly behind them, Martha and Oliver behind them, Jimmy and Kara behind them, and Lex and Lana ringing up the rear.

"How did you do it Lex, how'd you find her?" Lana asked so suddenly and so quietly he barely heard her.

"Just a perk from my many contacts." Lex answered indifferently. Considering there was no 'finding' her in the first place, he was already bored with the conversation. Then again, he was always bored of conversations with Lana.

"Good, because if Chloe never came back, it would have permanently broken the bond we all have. Even if I am no longer with Clark, I still hope that one day we could all be friends. And without Chloe, that could never happen."

Lex looked to Lana, abruptly interested in what she had to say. "You really think that you need Chloe to be friends with him?"

Lana looked to Lex. "You saw the look on his face. No matter how much he loved me, he would have never given me that look. Their bond is so much stronger because of a friendship forged years ago. She loves him, because he is so pure and selfless and innocent. And he loves her, because she is selfless and accepts him for who he is. Clark wants acceptance, more than anything. I admit that I was never able to give that to him fully, because he kept things from me. I needed to know Lex, but Chloe never did, she accepted that too. She trusted him and even after what she did, he trusts her as well."

"And this bothers you." Lex already knew that it did, because it bothers him as well.

"Yes, because I struggled so much with him, and it's like everything comes natural for her, because of a connection that I couldn't have." Lana pouted, and Lex couldn't help but be reminded of a spoiled little child.

'She always wants what she can't have. But I knew this already. Which is why she's so easy to manipulate.' Lex contemplated to himself, before voicing, "I see."

"I'm sorry Lex. I know I sound jealous, and maybe I am. But I know I don't want to be with him anymore, I just want to be his friend." Lana looked into Lex's eyes, but they weren't focused on her.

Lex sighed. "Yeah, I know what you mean." But Lex didn't understand what she meant. After everything that has happened between her and Clark, she still wants him in some way. She wants to stake a claim. Chloe was right, but of course he knew that. He's not back with Lana for her love, no. She has a larger purpose. He won't settle until everything is as it should be, at least in his eyes. Lex suddenly frowned as he grew deeper into thought. In all his preparations and planning, he did not calculate the arrival of Oliver Queen. One thing was for sure, if Queen was to get involved with Chloe outside of Lois, then he would become a problem. However lucky for Lex, he knows of numerous ways to solve a problem.

A/N: Love it? Hate it? Let me know.

Lex is a bit creepy isn't he. After this last season, it seems to me that Lex has finally snapped. I mean he has the crazy eyes and everything. So since he is so far gone, the only way he can probably show love is through obsession. For the reason he and Lana are together again, well, let's just say Lex always has an agenda. For those of you who are hoping for this to become a Clark/Chloe, I'm sorry, but it's not gonna happen. And it will be explained why they can never be together later in this fic. As for the apperance of Oliver, this will not have any Oliver/Lois drama, that ship has sailed. So has the Clark/Lana ship, but apparently CW didn't get that memo.

Thanks for reading and thanks for reviewing. Your words give me inspiration and help me write the new chapters faster. (hint hint) Not to mention they reduced my hours at work. Plenty of time on my hands. I'm gonna try to finish before school starts. Because then I'll be lacking time.

FYI: I thought you should know that I am updating every other day, so you don't have to check every single day. I hope that gives you peace of mind to know I'll be consistent in chapters. At least until school starts.

That's all for now.

Please Review!! Chaucito!! for now. :-)