Luthor Mansion, Kansas
An embracing, warm fire accompanies Tess' in Lex's office, who's sitting comfortably on the sofa with a glass of wine at her side, eyeing Bette San Souci's file that's laid on her lap. She's quite enjoying the tranquillity of the moment when she's interrupted by someone opening the door and entering the room.
"Did you find her?" Tess asks her visitor, not taking her eyes off the file and with a sense of frustration in her voice.
"She's gone off the grid again," the man replies, standing with his hands behind his back.
"Well, don't come back until you do," she replies, still not looking away from her reading. There's an awkward silence, causing Tess to finally look away from the report and stare up into the man's piercing eyes, her eyebrows rising, "Is there something else?"
"The girl's dangerous," he responds matter-of-factly, "We tried to approach her on the bus and she blew it up just by touching it," he takes in a deep breath before continuing, "Mr. Luthor would have had us terminate the problem on site."
A little chagrined at his back-talk Tess shuts the folder and places it on her lap, "I'm your boss now and since we've never worked together, I can't trust that you'll see this through to my satisfaction. Bring her to me. I shall handle her." She leans forward a little, "End of story." She then returns to her reading as though he's not even there.
The man stands there for a second, mentally cursing at her, before nodding and then leaves her to her tranquillity. Tess then looks up when he's gone, wondering about his loyalty to her.
Metropolis General Hospital
Through the yellow double doors, a bunch of flowers appear and holding them is none other than Lois Lane with Clark following behind as they sneak to the records room.
"Lois, you can't just walk in and steal the file. It's a crime, you'll go to prison," Clark points out but doesn't stop her from her mission.
"I've got a plan Clark," she then shoves the flowers in his face which he takes reluctantly.
"Well, do you have to share it? I'm having doubts," he wavers, taking a moment to gaze at the flowers which make him smile, thinking about his "date" with Ollie later tonight.
Lois spins on her heels and reaches into her handbag, "When in doubt, charge it." She then shows him her purses and fishes through it for a particular card, "City Hall…13th Precinct…15th Precinct." She doesn't notice Clark's bewildering look as he wonders how she got so many cards. Finally she fishes out the one she's looking for, "Ah ha! Metropolis General." She then slides it through the key-card slot, both hearing it beep signalling that it's worked.
"If only I could get mileage points on this things, I'd see the world."
Clark shows off a half-smile at her remark before she disappears into the office, "Cover for me Smallville."
Sighing at what's he doing here and still holding those flowers, he doesn't notice that Davis, that paramedic who has a certain crush on him, is coming down the corridor reading his reports of the day. They nearly collide as Clark leaves the small injunction in the corridor, the flowers nearly in Davis' face.
"Whoa, the flowers are nice but I prefer roses," Davis grins as he notices Clark blushing a little, "You know the patients are on an entirely different floor."
"Yeah, I thought I got off the elevator a little early," Clark fibs but suddenly realizes who he's talking to, "Wait. You're one of the rescuers from the bus incident."
"I thought I recognised you. You know for a guy without a uniform, you helped a lot of people."
Clark can't help but blush again as he feels the heat radiating off his cheeks, "Oh, I didn't do anything," he's quick to react, "I mean, you're the real hero."
Now it's Davis' turn to blush a little as Clark continues to praise him, "You help a lot of people."
Clark then holds out his free hand, "I'm Clark Kent," in which Davis shakes almost instantly, "Davis Bloome. I've met your fiancée. Congratulations Clark, she's a real catch." Davis then reveals his dimpled smile that causes something to tingle inside of Clark, his heart beating a little faster than usual.
Yet Davis' congratulations causes Clark's eyebrows to crease and wonders what he's talking about, She? Fiancé? Am I missing something here?
"I'm getting married?"
"Well, I thought…I saw you and Chloe together and you seemed really close and I saw the ring on her finger, assuming that you two were engaged," Davis says in one breath before taking another.
"Chloe's engaged?"
I thought she bought that ring for herself. I had no idea that it's her engagement ring.
And all Davis can think of is Oh crap as his heart suddenly drops from his chest, watching Clark's smile transform into a small frown, obviously not knowing it from Chloe herself. He wants so badly to erase the last minute or two so that handsome smile can return but knows full well that that isn't possible.
"Oh man, this is awkward. Clark, I'm really sorry…I just assumed that's what your relationship was. Look, can you do me a favour?" Davis apologizes trying not to blush but can't seem to help it.
For some unknown reason Clark'll do anything for that dimpled smile, "Please don't tell Chloe I mentioned anything," and with that Davis pats him on the shoulder before disappearing, leaving Clark to dwindle on the news he accidentally received.
"What would be my source?"
The Talon, Kansas
"Hey Bette," Chloe calls as she enters her apartment with an envelope in hand, "Davis, the paramedic we met on the street, came by with the paperwork. His friend wants to meet you," but instead of an enthusiastic smile thanking her, she's instead welcomed by the anxious sight of Bette packing her things.
"Change of plan Chloe. I'm leaving Metropolis," Bette announces as she shoves her clothes into her bag.
Puzzling at what's going on with Bette Chloe steps a little closer, "Well don't you think you should read this first? I mean, this place sounds really great," the concern in her voice clearly evident, a reassuring smile on her face.
Bette ties up one of her duffle bags, "Maybe it is but the city's gone sour, like way past its shelf life." She then hooks it over her shoulder before brushing past Chloe, "I've gotta go."
Following close behind her Chloe attempts to change her mind about her decision, "Look, I know what happened to Tommy was horrible, but running away is never the answer." She grabs Bette's arm, turning her around so she's facing her. To see that what she's trying to say to her is right, "Besides, it's not safe for you out there by yourself," Chloe ensures, shaking her head.
Shrugging her arm away from Chloe's loose grip she looks at her mercifully, "Do you think the streets are dangerous? Try a locked door with someone else holding the key…no thanks." She takes a step back to turn away but Chloe turns her back again.
"They're not going to lock you in," that reassuring smile plastering Chloe's lips again, "Look, I tell you what I'll call them for you."
"Chloe stop. I don't need a den mother and I won't go see those people!" Bette answers through clenched teeth.
"Then they'll come here and see you," but Bette interjects in a stern voice, "Chloe, you're not listening to me!"
"I'm just trying to help you Bette." Chloe states as she spins around and steps towards the phone but Bette's anger consumes her, using her explosive powers to blow it to smithereens.
Chloe instantly flinches with her arms out in a protective posture, before putting them back down and staring in shock, her mouth agape at the exploded phone now simmering in a little fire. She then slowly turns her head back to Bette, her brain starting to fathom out the real truth about her. Bette looks on with anxiety, "I wish you didn't make me do that," her eyes glowing yellow.
All Chloe can do is look on, secretly wishing for either Clark to make one of his daring rescues or if that fails, a miracle…
Metropolis General Hospital
Still holding the flowers but instead of thinking about tonight with Ollie, Clark's now pondering about Chloe's engagement and why she didn't tell him. I mean they've been best friends since forever. Why would she keep something like this from him? Yet his thoughts are interrupted by the return of one Lois Lane, who's found what she's been looking for but her face determines that it's not good, "There's nothing in here that says anything about a meteor infection."
"Here, let me take a look," Clark asks, passing the flowers back to Lois as she passes him Tommy's autopsy report.
"Knock yourself out."
"I'm not sure we're on the right track, Lois. Tommy's death seems suspicious." They both then turn the corner en route to the elevator.
"Well course it's suspicious, the guy blew himself up by rubbing his hands together or wrinkling his nose or whatever he did…" She replies in her own sarcastic manner.
Clark stops in his tracks and spins to face her, causing her to stop as well, "They didn't find any meteor rock in his system but they did find metal shrapnel from the barrels." He then closes the report as they carry on walking down the corridor. "Lois, if Tommy's responsible for the blast the barrels would've blown away from him, not into him right?" He deduces waving the report around.
"Don't clear his name yet, Sherlock. That kid was dangerous, a real livewire, check his rap sheet at the back."
"Armed robbery, D&E and car-jacking."
"Basically that little firecracker was a real menace in Metropolis."
"But there's no mention of any explosives in these crimes, Lois. So, if you were a criminal with these abilities, wouldn't you use them?" He asks as they push through a set of yellow double doors which leads to the elevators.
They both stop, Lois trying to deduce what Clark's saying, "So if Tommy didn't kill himself, then who did?"
Then a thought enters Clark's mind, "Bette said that Tommy blew up the bus," his eyes widen when he realizes the truth, "but she was there for both of the blasts."
Lois stares up at him, her face also full of shock, "Oh my god…my cousin's babysitting Psycho Spice," before she turns round and presses the button on the elevator to go down. At that precise moment Clark uses his super-speed to hightail it out of there to Chloe's aid before Lois spins back round, "Clark, what if…?" She finds herself on her own in the lonely corridor, "Oh, come on…"
