Hidden Truths

Chapter 7

Gabe Sullivan pushed through the doors of The Smallville Medical Center, and headed straight for the Emergency Room. The nurse recognized him immediately, and waved him to Chloe's cubicle. He closed his eyes briefly, and tried to squelch the fear that had become almost second nature to him since he and Chloe had moved to Smallville.

No matter how many calls he received, his heart still nearly stopped. He should have been immune to the fear that possessed him whenever he was told that Chloe had landed in the Emergency Room again. He loved his daughter, but one day, she was going to be the death of him.

He grasped the privacy curtain and called out softly, "Sparrow, it's Dad. I'm coming in." He didn't hear Chloe respond so he tentatively pulled the curtain aside. He blew out a sigh of relief when he saw his baby girl sitting on the hospital bed with a bandage on her forehead.

She looked pale and her shirt was stained with her blood, but she appeared to be okay. When Chloe spied her dad, she smiled and said, "Hi Dad. Fancy meeting you here."

He rolled his eyes at her behavior, and asked instead, "How are you, and what the hell happened?"

Chloe's expression dimmed slightly, "I'm okay, and I was almost kidnapped."

Gabe's felt his knees start to buckle. "What do you mean, 'almost' kidnapped?"

Chloe grabbed her dad's hand. "Dad, sit down and let me tell you what happened. I was waiting for Lex at the plant when two guys tried to grab me and throw me into their van. Lex stopped them, and I got dropped on my head. Hence, 'almost' kidnapped."

Gabe winced at his daughter. "You were dropped on your head? Do you have a concussion?"

Chloe quickly shook her head, and immediately wished she hadn't. "No concussion, just a fierce headache. The doctor's getting ready to release me."

Gabe nodded, and glanced around the waiting room. "Where's Lex? I mean, shouldn't he be here, barking orders at the staff?"

Chloe looked slightly crestfallen as she answered. "He had some phone calls to make. He said he would see me back home."

Gabe saw Chloe's pained expression, and he rushed to reassure her. "Then you'll see him at home. After all, Lex has always kept his promises to you, hasn't he?"

Chloe smiled softly, but she didn't reply. Lex did keep his promises, especially to her. He would be astonished to hear that Chloe was losing faith in him.

Gabe smiled gently at her and asked instead, "So what exactly is Lex planning on doing to these would-be kidnappers?"

When Gabe pulled into the driveway, neither Sullivan was surprised to see Lex's car already parked there. Gabe got out of the car, and walked around to Chloe's side to help her out. Chloe smiled gratefully at her father when he put his arm around her to help her up the steps. Neither noticed that Lex had opened the door when he saw them pull into the driveway.

Lex surprised himself and them when he yelled, "I expected you back 20 minutes ago. Did you get lost coming home?"

Both Gabe and Chloe stepped back in shock at the irate expression on the billionaire's face. Lex frowned when he realized just how out of control his outburst was. He sighed, and ducked his head in embarrassment. "Gabe, Chloe, I'm sorry for shouting. I was just anxious for Chloe to come home. I have some news for her. But that doesn't excuse my behavior."

He looked apologetically at the father and daughter and ended his speech with a quiet, "I'm sorry."

One look at Lex's contrite expression was enough for Chloe. She walked up to him, and grabbed him by the shirtfront. "Now, how am I supposed to thank you for saving my life, when you're hollering at me?" Lex looked startled then started laughing, grateful that she had forgiven him so quickly.

They both looked at Gabe who had a thoughtful look on his face. "Lex, you saved my daughter's life. There are no words to express my gratitude." And with that, Gabe crossed the room and engulfed the couple in a hug.

After a minute, Chloe finally broke the silence. "Dad? Kind of need to breathe now." Gabe released them both, and wiped his eyes. "You two go into the living room. I'll be out with some coffee."

Lex turned to Chloe, and silently held up a manila folder. Lillian's journals. In all the excitement, Chloe had almost forgotten about them, and she was glad to see that Lex hadn't. These files could contain some evidence proving Flint's misdeeds that could also lead to Baxter being implicated.

Lex led Chloe into the living room and handed her the folder. Chloe appreciated Lex's sacrifice of not only his privacy, but his mother's. Yet, Lex had no qualms about giving Chloe his mother's personal journals. The fact that he trusted her so implicitly was a welcome change to being mistrusted at first glance because she was a reporter.

Chloe picked up the journal and she began to flip through it.

'Tuesday evening, July 6th - Dr. Flint told me to write all my thoughts down in this book, that it might help me understand my feelings regarding….it. I know that Lionel wants me to be more attentive, but I can't. It's ruining everything. I know Alexander was excited, but now he looks worried. Another person I've disappointed.'

'Friday, afternoon, July 16th - The vitamins are rather foul-tasting but Dr. Flint has assured me that they will help me have more vitality and patience with it. I know Lionel would like to have a 'more functioning family unit' but I am having trouble sleeping. My dreams are dark.

'Monday, morning, July 26th - The noise in the penthouse is overwhelming. Everyone seems to be pounding their feet while they walk. Why is everyone shouting? It is loudest of all.'

'Sunday, night, August 8th- Alexander is truly a godsend. He hates it when I say this but he is his mommy's angel. I worry for him. He is more sensitive than his father realizes. He watches over us, but he takes too much to heart. He is its only protector.'

'Thursday morning, August 19th- - Dr. Flint has increased the number of vitamins I take to help improve my strength. But all the pills seem to do is make me sleepy. Yesterday, I slept from 8pm to 6am. I must have needed it, but it kept crying, and Lionel is going to talk to the Dr. about reducing my dose.'

Saturday, September 25th. - It cried again, but it always cries. Alexander picked it up and I tripped him. Lionel shouted but I turned him off. Redness colors everywhere. I can't seem to find my dolly. The light hurts my eyes; I didn't know the moon was so bright.'

Chloe looked at the rest of the journals in confusion. "Lex, these entries don't make any sense. I don't think I understand."

Lex's expression had been grim throughout Chloe's silent reading and now he spoke up. "Chloe, these don't make any sense because my mother was drugged. The pills she was taking weren't vitamins; they were an experimental new drug that Flint was trying to get FDA approval for."

Chloe was stunned. "Doesn't a patient have to give his or her permission to be given an untested drug? Your mother seems to have believed she was taking vitamins! And how do you know for sure she was drugged?"

Lex looked sickened at what he was about to reveal. "I've had Flint and Baxter investigated so many times over the years, that I know every research grant they have ever received. At the time of my mother's death, my father gave Flint permission to use my mother has a guinea pig for his new drug. He eventually got FDA approval, but just barely. Mysteriously, Luthorcorp helped finance several of the empanelled doctors' research efforts. And Flint was on the receiving end of several of those benefits."

Chloe swallowed hard, and tried not to look too horrified. "Are you saying that your father paid Flint off to drug your mother?"

Lex sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "It certainly looks that way doesn't, it? I always knew my father was ruthless, but I thought he genuinely loved Mom and Julian. Looks like I was wrong."

Lex turned away when he said this, and tried to cover his hurt and anger. Chloe saw the pain in his eyes, and without a word, she embraced him. Resting her head on his shoulder, she silently patted Lex's back, seeking to give him the comfort he needed.

Lex placed a kiss on her hair, pulled her closer to him, and he rested his chin on top of her head. The pair stayed that way, each taking comfort from the other's presence.