Quick notes about this chapter this set as if it's in season five but it's like an AU of season six. For example, going back to Tomb, Lana and Lex were good friends, so were Chloe, Lana, Lois and Clark. Any questions drop me a line, don't forget to R&R! Don't forget, the usual disclaimers!

Chapter Six: Cold Feet?

Chloe walked down the streets, checking her reflection in passing windows and looking behind her every few seconds. She knew what she was doing was wrong, she knew she should turn back, and she also knew all she had to do was scream and Clark would be right there, standing directly in front of her, in most cases yelling at her for sneaking off and then taking her home before she could blink.

She continued to walk down the streets, a little faster, from power walking to light sprinting. Before she knew it, all the signs and senses around her were flying past her as she ran as fast as she could down the horribly dank streets. Chloe ran further down the street, passing houses, parks and construction, she didn't know what she was running from, but she knew she needed to get off the street. It didn't feel safe, the only thing that had made her feel really safe was when Clark held her tightly after he rived her late yesterday, all her memories were scrambling because her heart was thudding and her eyes were spilling in tears, she couldn't control her mind- it was controlling her. She stopped at the end of the sidewalk, just before she needed to cross the road. She held onto one of the light poles near her and held on panting, utterly exhausted.

"Chloe! Chloe"

She whirled around in a daze, Clark was running towards her at normal human speed- but damn was he fast. He moved with such control but his feet pounded the pavement hard.

"Chloe." He said with more urgency as he caught up to her. "Thank God I found you."

Chloe didn't react, she didn't smile or leap into his arms she just looked at him blankly.

"Chloe, what has gotten in to you? I know that everyone has their secrets, but I though you and I were finally on the same page."

Chloe couldn't look at him as he continued; somewhat calm but his tone was becoming sharper.

"Chloe, I know there is something wrong here. But, you've gotta be honest with me."

Chloe didn't answer and this frustrated him more than anything else could ever have. He stalked over towards her, placed a firm grasp on her upper arms and held her so she couldn't look away from his face.

"Look, Chloe," He warned, "I am not going to let you run away this time." He held her tighter so she fully understood he was serious She couldn't escape his grasp even if she tried.. There were some times were being stronger than your average human could have its advantages.

Cars passed by honking and just simply rushing by them. But Clark did not care. He was going to talk some sense into her damnit- even if he had to shake her up a bit. He never wanted to hurt her, God; he wanted to hold her more than anything but she was being stupid wasn't she? So, he had every right to be more than a bit ticked off, more than a little bit hurt.

"Chloe…"

Chloe blinked repeatedly, she raised her hand to her forehead and breathed in slight pain. She seemed to be getting quite a few headaches ever since she began daydreaming- bad ones. She never said anything to Lois, or Clark or even Lana, but she wanted to. She wanted to tell them how every time she had a day dream how real it felt and how afterwards she felt so bad she would almost and sometimes pass out. That was the reason she sunk underneath the water of her bathtub, she let herself relax and by letting her guard down, she day dreamed. Thank God Clark saved her. That boy always knew how to and she also knew if Clark was here right now, he'd be shaking some sense into her. Just like in her day dream, he'd be holding her tightly and shaking her angrily. Maybe he would even slap her to talk some sense into her. She didn't know, and she probably wouldn't find out right now. Straightening herself, Chloe crossed the road and decided to take a shortcut in the next alley. She pulled out the map she had printed out on Google Maps- thank goodness it's not much further, I'm freezing out here- and continued to walk briskly, rubbing her upper arms as she went in effort to warm herself.

Clark had rummaged through Chloe's draws, under her bed and now through her zip drives. He didn't have a choice; he had to find out where she was so he could bring her home and get her proper help. He was beyond frustrated, he clacked on the all the keys on Chloe's keyboard. He tried her birthday, her first crush, her favourite book, ice-cream and even words from krypton, but he could not crack Chloe's password to get into her zip drive's files. He groaned in exasperation and mentally snapped. He felt like grabbing her computer and hurling it out the window. But that would be stupid, not only would Chloe kill him but he wouldn't have any leads. He ran his hands through his dark hair frustrated just as Lana Lang entered the small Talon apartment. Lana was dressed in loose fitting jeans and a grey baggy jumper, her hair tied up in a high ponytail- she had no idea what was going on in Clark's head right now.

Lana smoothed her dishevelled hair back and then gave a smile.

"Hey." She said out of breath as she took a big gulp of water from her water-bottle. Even with her cheeks slightly red and thin film of sweat on her face, Lana was as cute as button in her 'bumming' around clothes. Clark barely looked up from the keyboard and sighed.

"Oh, hey Lana." Clark said quickly feeling bad for not remembering Lana was coming back today. What was he going to tell her? Chloe and Lana had been very close since graduation and they were sharing the cosy Talon apartment together. Lana had been out of town for a few days with her Aunt Nell but now she was back, and judging by the look on Clark's face, that wasn't on Clark's mind right now, though he and Lana have a tight friendship since their relationship ending last spring (it was now winter). Lana dropped an armload of books onto the bed and began to untying her long hair.

"Clark, I know things between you and Chloe haven't been great lately, but don't worry, she'll come around."

Clark nodded feeling guilty, Lana had no idea Clark had seen her not a day ago and in that time; discovered she had cut herself, performed CPR on her as she fell asleep in the bathtub (of all the embarrassing and strange things Chloe could do) and was now on a mad hunt trying to find out where the hell she had gone for her so called 'treatment'. Of course, Clark couldn't breathe a word to Lana, even though they once shared every thing, he respected Chloe's wishes, and he knew why she kept it from him she was suffering. Sighing, Clark resumed searching Chloe's history and clacking on the keyboard. Lana sat down on Chloe's unmade bed with her legs crossed, dark hair tumbling loosely around her shoulders.

"Clark," She began in a more serious voice. Clark noticed and whipped his head around to face her; he knew Lana wasn't stupid, maybe she knew something.

"I uh received a voice mail from Chloe late last night." Lana said her tone anxious. "Nell and I were asleep so I couldn't get the phone in time, but, it was really late, Clark."

Clark listened closely as Lana swallowed, fear in her eyes. "I think something might have happened to Chloe." Lana handed her black Motorolla flip phone to Clark and sighed heavily. "I think you should hear this."

Clark's eyebrows furrowed in concern as he searched the message bank and pressed the call button. Carefully he pressed the corresponding prompt, set the phone on loud speaker and set it on the bed between them.

"Hey Lana," Chloe voice was shaky and uneven like she was trying to sound chirpy but failing miserably. That is not normal for Chloe as normally she can pull the wool over any one's eyes when it comes to her lying abilities. Clark thought.

"So…uh you remember that eh…that um taser Lois gave me from my birthday?" There was a pause and then clearly some rustling of papers. "I uh need it. I though…m-maybe you uh…used it on one of your dates in Grandville way back. Uh…can…can you call me back. Please?" More rustling of paper and then the sound of a zip being zipped up. "I gotta go. There was some frantic gibberish that sounded like muttering and then the line went straight to a dial tone.

Clark closed the phone in surprise, wondering how to feel next. A million thoughts were racing around at superspeed.

When did Lana have a date in Grandville?

Since when the hell does Chloe bring her taser around at all?

I didn't even know she had a license to carry those?

Is she thinking about hurting herself with it?

What about me? Is she going to hurt me or anyone that comes after her?

Oh, my God…I've got to find her before she ends up in trouble!

"Clark? What aren't you telling me?" Lana said after Clark went silent for more than minute. During the silence Clark thought hard about the events that had transpired and Chloe's frantic message and then suddenly, Clark had an idea

"Lana. I know what this sounds like. But I've got to go."

"No. Clark." Lana said defiantly. "I am not letting you shut me out of this."

"Lana."

"Clark, don't." Lana warned her tone blunt. Her hand was holding his tightly. Clark knew he could tear out of there in seconds, but he didn't want to make this friendship any more complicated than it already is. Clark sighed, Lana knew his secret but they decided after many attempts at romance-to stay friends- at least until his emotions were in check and so where hers. They both knew and respected that.

"Clark, I'm not going to let you just disappear." Lana wasn't used to his disappearing acts yet, but it sure explained a lot to her. But this time, she wasn't letting him do it to her.

"I want to help." She insisted firmly and somewhat pleadingly, "Chloe is my friend too. She's my best friend Clark."

"She's my best friend too." Clark said feeling useless all over again. He had really messed up royally for not comforting Chloe and giving her way too much space. Time alone for Chloe was normal, but if she had been staying here night after night greiving and weeping inside, he felt not only responsible for her lonliness, but extremely disappointed in himself for not looking out for her. Lana let go of his hand as he gave himself a mental guilt trip and looked up into his eyes.

"Please, let me help."

Clark couldn't say no to his friend's golden irises, and she was Chloe's friend. So somewhat reluctantly and somewhat relieved, he shared with her eveything that had occured since Chloe and he met up again.

"Oh, my God, Clark." Lana said stunned as she shook her head. "I can't believe she did that."

Lana honestly couldn't believe the snarky girl she knew throughout highschool had ran sharp scissors across her perfect pale skin. Chloe. Chloe Sullivan had cut herself. Out of all the people Lana thought would go insane, it would have been herself first, overcome by grief for her loss of her parents so many years ago and her constant hole she had in her heart...or the fact she wore her heart on her sleeve, or even Lois Lane for always keeping her heart sheilded, bottling up her true emotions day after day... Or even Clark, but Lana knew his whole story now...and he definitely wasn't insane. But Chloe? The headstrong young woman she had known and had the closest friendship to throughout highschool? No, she was much to trendy and self assured to be that sad girl bleeding on Clark's sofa, but she was...it was Chloe.

"What happened afterwards?" Lana said slightly shaking, afraid to receive her answer. Clark sighed as he scooted closer towards Lana. He was sitting on Chloe's king-single bed as he relieved the last few hours or so.

"When I confronted her, she...assured me she was okay. But I know Chloe, Lana. She wasn't okay."

"Mmmm,"

"Then...we had a fight, I let her leave. I shouldn't have. I thought maybe she would feel better if she had more space."

"Clark, I'm sure what Chloe is feeling isn't your fault. You did what you thought was right at that moment." Lana insisted trying be comforting.

"I know." He sighed closing his eyes. "That's what I thought," He began, his tone deepening with seriousness, "But then, I found her, in the bathroom..." Clark turned his head towards the bathroom as Lana closed her eyes only imaginging what Clark saw.

"She...was in the bath... She...she had passed out...under the water. I panicked. I tried to pull her out." He rung his hand together as he mentally beat himself up. "She wasn't breathing, she was pale...and...God, Lana, she has lost so much weight."

Lana nodded continuing to listen as Clark continued to twist his hands together, fidgetting as he relieved and told the details of what has happened.

"I grabbed her and I thought I might not have been fast enough. I couldn't think I just did what I could. Luckily she hadn't swallowed too much water. After that...I just held her tight. I didn't know what to say to her."

"Clark." Lana said bewildered, " I had no idea, I'm so sorry I wasn't here for both of you."

"It's okay." He said with a half smile, "You had other things to deal with." He sighed and he nodded as if to say that the impact of the last memory was enough for right now.

"Clark...how much weight has she lost?" Lana asked seriously.

Clark thought hard about her lifeless form laying under the water, her blonde hair splayed out around the tub and the deep circles underneath her closed eyes. He had a really good look at her- all of her, but that was the last thing on his mind. He seemed to have a photographic memory and Lana could tell he was re-playing her image over and over. He turned to Lana, his blue eyes very apprehensive.

"I know Chloe had been walking a lot lately, but Lana, her ribcage looked ready to cave in. She was very bony and she looked so sick." He blinked the image away but it kept coming back. "I think she has been starving herself, her hair even looked lifeless. It was almost like she was dead."

"You said she feel asleep in the bath, how...how is that even possible?" Lana asked slowly, Clark swallowed.

"She had these deep dark circles under her eyes and when I held her, she went out cold. I think she has some form of insominia. I don't think she's slept properly since her mother died."

"I feel horrible, Clark." Lana said getting to her feet as tears began to roll down her cheeks. "It's been six months. I thought...maybe she would be okay. You know, she's Chloe, she's always okay."

"I know, I think we expected too much out of her. I hate myself for not making contact sooner. She didn't shut me out, it was like our friendship was on pause and she didn't feel like pressing 'play'. And...neither did I..." Clark said with a pang of guilt in his voice.

"I know, even Lois said that she's been drinking less and less coffee. She says that she spent the evening with Chloe last week, and she was like a ghost. She hardly ate and didn't even flinch when she hit her head on the car door."

"Wait, she hit her head?"

"Yeah," Lana said slowly, "Lois said when Chloe opened the door she just about knocked herself out. But, she didn't even flinch. The whole night she was just quiet."