Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville

Chapter Nine

00 rouge 00

One of the perks about being Lex's friend was the invitations to the parties, one of the downsides to that perk was the heels. Right now I was in Metropolis, attending a reception at the Metropolis Museum, and I was loving it.

The uncomfortable hairdo? Not so much.

If there was one consolation it was how uncomfortable Clark was, not knowing when to stand still and when to move forward to the next display. He was wearing a blazer, and no flannel, so I knew he was as out of place with his attire as I was with the dress.

We paused at the display of a breastplate covered in blue and red jewels, with what looked like the family crest of the house of El on the front. I wanted to think that it wasn't actually the crest, but I knew that the family had a history on Earth and no sense of discretion.

Lex walked up to us, "You know, it belonged to Alexander the Great. They say the design symbolizes strength and courage."

Yeah, it would be just El style to tell everyone their family crest symbolized that.

"Can't exactly see myself going into battle with that on my chest," said Clark dryly.

"Darker times call for darker methods. His opponents thought he was invincible."

I thought of it objectively, "I don't think it was so much darker methods as it was supersticion," at their confused looks I explained my reasoning, "You know how sports players are really supersticious? Like always wearing the same pair of socks to every game, and never washing them. I think this might have been Alexander the Great's stinky socks." I finished, gesturing grandly at the breastplate.

"Well, that's certainly a new perspective," Lex said smiling.

"I didn't know you were such a history buff, Lex," said Clark.

"I'm not. I'm interested in people who ruled the world before they were 30."

"Don't worry, Lex, you have a few years to go," said Lana, coming up from behind Lex wearing a pretty champagne colored dress that made me feel like my high-collared long-sleved one was made of feed bags.

"Lana, I didn't know you were gonna be here," I could tell from Clark's tone he was telling the truth, so I immediately pinned Lex as solely responsible.

"Didn't Lex tell you?" Lana asked, causing us all to look at him.

"Must've slipped my mind," Lex said nonchalantly. "Why don't I leave you two alone?"

I my arm into Lex's, not wanting to be stuck in the awkwardness that those two broght into every conversation. "I'll join you."

Lex led the me away and out of direct sight of the couple so that we could properly spy, "So it slipped your mind?"

Lex smirked, "It was too good an opportunity to pass up." He craned his head so that he could get a better view.

I thought back to the breastplate, "So based of the Trojan horse model, your dad was kind of into ancient wars, were you named after Alexander the Great?"

"And if I was?"

"Well, it would be largely irrelevant, there are only two Alexanders in my life that I care about, ones Alexander Luthor, the other is Alexander Harris."

Lex turned to face me, slightly disturbed, "I get put in the same category as a fictional character?"

I shrugged, "Well, neither one of you uses your whole first name, and neither of you fall back on the common nickname. Besides Xander's awesome."

Lex smiled and was about to respond when his attention was diverted, "Here comes Clark. Clark, where are you going?" Lex asked, gliding me forward effortlessly so that we could catch up with Clark.

"I'm gonna get some air."

"You know, you're never going to get her if you keep running away from your enemy."

Clark grimaced, "Whitney's not my enemy."

"Yes, he is. And the sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll find a way to win Lana. Just remember, keep you friends close and the quarterback closer."

"Always the hopeless romantic, Lex," spoke the accented voice of a pretty woman who could have worn less make up. At the sight of her I wanted to tighten my hold on Lex's arm, but as I had no logical reason for this corse of action, instead I let him go.

"Victoria?"

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting?" she asked, despite the fact that she obviously was, looking up both Lex and my brother, her eyes landed on me, before traveling down my dress and quickly dismissing me.

"Clark Kent, Clara kent, this is Victoria Hardwick, a very old friend," Lex said, his eyes never leaving the interloper.

"Hi," Clark said, shaking her hand and when the waiter came by to offer her champagne Clark whispered in Lex's ear, "How close are you going to keep her?"

"I'll catch up with you two later," Lex said.

I recognized the dismissal, and so did Clark, so we both left Lex to his foreign friend, and split up, Clark to go outside, and me to go looking for anymore alien influence in Earth's history.

I was called outside by the sound of a commotion, when I went to investigate I found a wreaked bus had stopped right infront of a sleeping homeless man and his dog, miracoulously, no one was hurt.

"Oh, Clark."

0000

Thankfully we were able to make it home without causing more of a scene, or linking the one Calrk had created to us. Before we had gotten to school Clark had promised to tell our parents about the bus, so I didn't have to deal with it.

I had actually made it all the way through the school day without any drama.

It was after school, working on the Torch with Chloe that the drama came.

"Another scathing editorial?" Clark asked eyeing the layout on the compuer screen.

"Is there any other kind?" asked Chloe laughing.

"Clark, what happened to you last night?" Lana asked, coming into the newspaper room, making me look up from where I was dozing on a chair.

"I wasn't feeling well. Guess I'm not much of a city guy," Clark said awkwardly.

"You can take the boy off the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the boy," Chloe said, grabbing some folders and getting up.

"Sullivan, is this your idea of a joke?" asked principal Kwan as he stormed into the room, holding up a copy of Chloe's paper. "Concerned parents have been calling all morning."

"What are you telling them?" asked Chloe.

"What the EPA and other enviormental groups said years ago: the meteor rocks are harmless."

"You'd like to think that government officials weren't so easily bribed," I said shugging.

"People have a right to know about the strange things that happen in this town!" Chloe objected.

"The Torch is a school paper. It's not your personal tabloid."

"Are you censoring me?"

"I'm requiring you to do your job, which is to report on relevant school events: Sports. Dances. Clubs. I'm releving you of your duties. The Torch is suspended until I can appoint a new editor." Principal Kwan walked out, setting down the paper he brought.

I was frozen, speechless.

Chloe turned to us, still in shock, "Okay, what just happened?"

"I think you were fired," said Pete nerviously.

"Chloe, I'm sure there's something we can do."

"Let me talk to Kwan," Lana said.

"I'm going to fill his email with spam!" I said, pulling up a chair and then hacking on.

"Not to sound ungrateful, but what can you do?" Chloe asked Lana.

"I don't know, but let me give it a shot."

I ignored the drama behind me in favor of dismantaling Kwan's spam folder than then sending him as much crap on the internet as I could.

0000

Apparently, Chloe getting kicked off the Torch wasn't all the bad news for one day. Apparently a man from Metropolis knew about Clark's powers, and had come to pay him a little visit.

"So he just dropped the generator right on top of you?" Dad asked.

"How did he know it wouldn't kill you?"

"Are we so sure he did?" I asked.

"He saw me stop the bus last night." Clark admitted bluntly, and I thunked my head on the table.

"Maybe we should call the police," suggested mom worriedly.

"He is the police. I saw his badge. Metropolis P.D."

This was getting better and better.

"Dad," Clark began,"I'm sorry I didn't mean for this to happen."

Dad sighed, "Clark, you didn't do anything wrong, okay?"

"He told me to meet him at the Beanery tomorrow," Clark said, avoiding eye contact.

Dad looked up from his coffee where he had been staring pensively, "I don't want you going anywhere near this guy. I'll talk to him, and I'll find out what he wants."

"Until then—"

"Until then, you live your life, you see your friends. Now we're not going to let this thing change us."

Clark walked out, but I remained at the counter. I knew that if this went wrong it could end up bad, and I didn't want to loose this family I had fallen into.

So, in the eventuality of dad failing, I started making a plan.

0000

Later that night, I was informed by mom that Lex had come over and was talking to Clark in the barn. I had every intention of announcing my presence when I heard then talking about the detective.

"…They don't normally send detectives to investigate traffic accidents. So I made a call. Turns out the official investigation is already closed." I heard Lex say and I shifted my body behind a beam, trying to keep quiet. Clark rearly used his advanced hearing so as long as I stayed reasonably queit they wouldn't hear me. "Clark, you really don't want Sam Phelan in your life."

"You know him." Clark said.

"Unfortunatly. I had my share of legal problems while I was in Metropolis."

"Serious?"

"Exspensive." I hear Lex walking over to Clark, "Phelan was the kind of officer my father felt he could turn to for help."

"Your saying he's a dirty cop."

"I'm saying he'll do whatever it takes to get the job done. Plant evidence. Falsify reports. Anything is fair game. And if he's got something on you, Clark, he'll use it."

I bit my lip to stay silent, as this defiantly sounded like something I would need to interfere with.

"He just wanted to talk."

"Then you've got nothing to worry about."

Yes we do.

The conversation finished, Lex decended the stairs, and I followed him silently out of sight. Once we were outside the barn I decided to alert him of my presence.

"Lex!"

Lex turned to face me, "Clara, how did you enjoy last night?" he said smiling, the earilier look of suspicion wiped cleanly away.

"It was fantastic," I said, moving forward so that I was closer to him and out of sight of the house, "but that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Then what?"

"Do you know Detective Phelan's favorite beer?"

Lex was momentarily thrown by my strange questioned, but rallied quickly, "Why?"

"Do you or not?"

"I do, but why do you want to know?"

I avoided his searching gaze, "Can you get me two cases of it?"

"Why on Ear—"

"Can you get it or not?" I snapped angrily.

"Yes, I can. Clara, are you alright?" I nodded, looking down. "When do you need them?"

"Tommorow night." I said, turning away and toward the house.

"Clara! Are you going to tell me what this is about?"

I looked back to see Lex standing there in our driveway, looking completely clueless. For some reason it made me feel better.

"I might, when you give me the booze!" I called back, before running into the house.

Hopefully, I wouldn't have to use it.

0000

That day after school I stayed with Clark for support while he dug up articles on Sam Phelan on the computer.

"Hey, Clark, you okay?" asked Chloe, prompting Calrk to shut off the moniter.

"Fine, just doing a little research."

"Have you heard anything about Lana's meeting with Kwan?"

Clark stood up, "Chloe, I'm sure it'll work out."

"And if it doesn't I can put him on the sex offender website," I offered hesitantly.

"Hey," Lana said walking in, wearing a pink blazer.

"So, how'd it go?" asked Clark.

"Well, it was interesting," Lana replied.

"What exactly does 'interesting' mean?" I needled.

"Bottom line it, when can we send out the next issue?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"Cool," Chloe said smiling.

"Except…uh, Kwan made me the new editor," Lana said nerviously and I stopped breathing.

"Okay, uh, rewind. I need you to say that last part again."

"After I made my case, Kwan said that if I had that much passion, I should be in charge."

"What the hell do you know about running a newspaper?" I asked.

Chloe scoffed and I was alarmed to see the beginning of tears in her eyes, "I don't believe this!"

"Chloe, it's the only way he'd reopen the paper," Lana reasoned, and from a certain perspective I saw where she was coming from.

"So, what? Cheerleading's not enough? Maybe the editor of a school newpaper looks better on a college application." I was unhappy to notice that Chloe's voice was wavering.

"That isn't it! I figured you could ghostwrite until we got you reinstated."

"So then I would work for you."

"The paper would still be yours," stated Lana.

"Wait, wait," interrupted Clark, moving between them, "Chloe think about it. It's not a bad idea."

What are you an idiot? Don't get involved!

Chloe laughed humorlessly, "I figured you'd side with her."

"I'm not taking sides."

"Right, you're completely objective in all things Lana," she said, grabbing her things.

"Gotta go," Clark said, and I jumped up, knowing that if he ran into Phelan alone he was liable to do something stupid.

"No, please, stay!" Chloe shouted wateryly. "Take my desk!"

"Chloe, this isn't what you think," said Lana.

"You know what the weirdest part is?" Chloe asked. "For a millisecond, I almost thought you were my friend," Chloe said, and she looked so hurt I felt like punching someone, preferably lana, and then Chloe stormed out.

I looked between the now empty doorway and Clark, knowing I couldn't leave him, but wanting to go after Chloe.

Sometimes, I hated being stuck in a singular body.

0000

A little while later me and Clark we walking past the Beanery when we encountered my least favorite detective. He pulled his car in front of us, cutting us off so we couldn't cross the street.

"Hello, sweetheart," Phelan said, holding up his badge, "I need to talk to your boyfriend."

I raised my eyebrows, "Boyfriend? Try brother, creep."

Phelan smiled, "It's so nice when there are people in the know," he turned to Clark, "Get in, kid."

Clark tried to go around the car, but Phelan pulled up even closer, hitting some trash sitting on the curb.

"What do you want?" Clark asked.

"Your father came to see me," he said smirking. "He seemed like a really good man, always putting his family first. You know, if I were you, I'd start thinking lke him."

"Don't say anything, Clark. I need to have a talk with the detective." I cut in, stopping Clark from responding.

"What, are you going to threaten me?" Phelan asked laughing.

"Clara—" Clark began worriedly.

"You may have gotten through dad, but in no way are you talking to Clark before you go through me!"

Phelan looked at me appraisingly, "What, you got powers too?"

I smiled, knowing I had him hooked, now- "Clark, go home."

"What?"

"Go home and check on dad, if I need your help I'll call," I said, not looking at him, because I most definitely would not call.

Clark grimaced, but seeing how serious I was, obliged. I watched him as he walking out of sight, and then I watch the leaves for the tell tale burst of speed. Once I saw it I turned back to Phelan.

"Lets go," I said, going around the car and getting in the pasanger seat, "I don't want anybody seeing me talking to a creeper like you."

Phelan obliged, driving us out to an abandoned lot so that we could talk.

"So, what, do you have the same gifts as your brother?" Phelan asked cockily, obviously thinking that today was his lucky day.

I fiddled with my hands, "No, I'm a lot smarter than him, though."

Phelan deflated, before once again perking up, "How much smarter?"

"Smart enough to know that if he helps you, you will just use it to blackmail him, and keep using it. Keeping him under your thumb for years. Clark doesn't see that though," I turned to see Phelan looking at me suspiciously, "I may not be as strong or as fast as Clark, but there is one thing I can do that he can't. Won't."

"What's that? And why are you telling me all this?"

I smiled at him, "Because you won't remember," I reached forward, holding him still with my left hand as my right index and middle fingers morphed, injecting them into Phelan's nack and brain stem, nocking him out before he could pull out his gun. I worked the organic metal up the brain stem and into the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory.

Initiating download.

5.3 seconds later I was out of his head and on the ground vomiting, the car door open as I layed spralyed, half in and half out of the vehicle.

Being in Phelan's head was vile, but I knew I had to go back in and erase anything about Clark or my family. I wiped my mouth and got to work. I made it seem like a blackout, like one he'd get from drinking, creating some false memories of going to a bar and then blankness. I scavenged all the revelant details of his life, and ignored some of the ones that were just plain gross.

When I was done I stuffed Phelans' unconscious body into the truck and started driving to Metropolis.

On the long drive I went over my current bahaviors and the reason behind them. Even though my creators had tried to make me more emotional, I had still been just a computer program. Computer programs were designed to prioritize their functions, like directive one must be completed before initiating directive two. My prioritization when it came to people was a little odd for a human, but not so much for a computer. I listed the ones I cared about on a clear list, with the ones that showed me kindness first higher on it. That was why being with Clark was more important than being with Chloe, and why right now, protecting Clark was more important than my parents morals.

Morals were a human construct, and while I could adhere my behavior to them, I had no problem ignoring them to reach the optimum outcome.

So I didn't think about the laws I was breaking when I cleaned out Phelan's motel room, or burned his evidence, or hacked his computer using the password I took from his head, or called in an anonomous tip that led the cops down the path of a dirty cop, but didn't implicate Lex.

I didn't even think about the body in the trunk.

All I thought about was what needed to be done, and then I did it.

0000

When I arrived at the Luthor mansion, I ignored the gaurds confused looks about the vehicle I was driving, and sat in the front seat until Lex came out with the alcohol.

"May I have the beer?" I asked in loo of a traditional greeting.

"Is that Sam Phelan's car?"

"Yes, it is, may I have the beer?" I answered automatically.

Lex looked at me consideringly, "Why are you driving a detective's car?"

"Because driving in a car is a faster way to get somewhere than walking?"

"Where is Sam Phelan?"

"In the trunk."

Lex look of shock was a balm on my nerves, but it proved insufficient as I realized what I had said.

"Care to tell me how that happened?"

I looked him long in the face before I decided to throw Lex a bone, "You were right, he did have something on Clark."

"Do I want to know what?"

"Probably, but you won't ask."

"And why is that?" Lex asked me challengingly.

"Because, if you do ask Clark'll have to lie, and Clark hates lying to his friends, And because you're his friend, you won't make him do something that he hates." I looked at him imploringly, willing him to agree.

Finally, he nodded.

"So I won't ask what Phelan got on him, but what are you up to?"

I sighed, "Covering it up," at his look I went on, "Don't worry, I've covered my tracks, all I have to do now is set up a scene and the rest will handle itself."

"So, what your doing, do I want to see it?" Lex asked curiosly.

"Come by the house, around seven, from what I'm expecting it will be quite a show." I smiled at him and drove off, avoiding looking back in my mirror as Lex's smile turn to a look of concern.

He had nothing to worry about, I had everything under control.

0000

Once I had place the car and Phelan I went back to the house to deal with the fallout.

Mom, Dad, and Clark were sitting around the table, their plates were full, but no one was even trying to eat. No one was talking.

"Hi." I said quietly, although for how quiet the room was it felt like I shouted.

The all immediately shot to their feet, and mom began to fret over me, immediately noting the burns on my wrists.

"What happened? Did he do anything to you?"

I wanted to cower at their concern, but I held firm. "I handled the situation, Phelan won't be a problem anymore."

"What did you do?" asked dad.

I winced, "I'm not going to tell you," at the look on their faces I continued, "Plausible deniability."

"Did you do something illegal?"

I bristled, "And just what do you think Clark would have been forced to do if I hadn't done something! At least this way, we don't run the risk of being backmailed for the rest of our lives."

"Does anybody else know what you did?" asked mom, and suddenly I knew what if felt like to be in Clark's place.

"No, the only one who knows I was doing anything was Lex—"

"Lex! Are you out of your mind?" yelled dad.

"I trust him, besides I needed props, and that's all Lex knew, that I was doing something about Phelan and I needed something for it."

"What did you need?" asked Clark.

I winced, "Two six packs of beer."

I cursed myself for telling the truth at the resulting exsposion, after an hour of yelling later I cut them off.

"You'll find out in the morning!"

0000

The next morning the entire family was at the table before six o'clock. I walked down silently, still in my pajamahs, and grabbed the phone. Then I put on my slippers and walked out of the house and down the driveway to where Sam Phelan's car was crashed in the ditch, with it's owner sprawled ungracefully out of the passenger seat, snoring, in bad need of a shave, and surrounded by empty beer cans. Did I mention the missing pants?

I called 911 while my family went over to check on him. I stood there in my pjs while the ambulance came, and it just got sweeter when the deputy recognized Phelan as a dirty cop who's arrest warrant had come out that morning.

When Lex arrived, he laughed, though thankfully not in front of the authorites.

Mom and dad relented, after confiming that I had covered my tracks they let me go to get dressed for school.

I was feeling pretty good about myself by the time I got to school, and it only got better when I saw the Torch's headline.

"Kwan crushes freedom of speech"

When I saw it, it went to the principals office, and I didn't have to wait long to see him storm out ina huff, clutching the paper.

I followed him, unnoticed, to the newsroom.

"Lang, what is this?" he shouted at lana, holding up the paper.

"It's a news story," Lana said calmly.

"It's totally unacceptable."

"Why? It covers all of you criteria. It deals with a student and a school-sponsored club and there are no mutants in sight," in that moment I was estatic, and it was because of something Lana Lang did.

"Did you do this because you thought I'd reinstate Miss Sullivan?" asked Principal Kwan.

"I did this because it's the right thing to do. Chloe was born for this job."

"Although I do admire her passion, her reporting lacks accuracy."

"I can work on that." I turned to see that Chloe had entered the room from the other entrance.

Principal Kwan hesitated, "If you want your job back, Miss Sullivan, don't print what you can't prove. De we have a deal?"

Chloe nodded seriously, "Yeah. Thank you, Principal Kwan."

"Don't thank me. Thank Miss Lang." With those parting words, Kwan left.

"Congradulations. You deserve it," said Lana, pausing my decision to annonce my presence, mindful of yesterdays hysterics.

"Thanks. You know, Lana, I'm sorry I flipped out at you the other day. I just—You know, the paper's kind of my identity, and it's the only thing Clark and I do together. And so when I saw you here—"

"You thought I was trying to cut Clark out of your life?" asked Lana, shocked.

"Nobody ever said I was rational," and even though her back was to me I could hear the smile in her voice.

"I want to be friends with you, Chloe, but I don't want to stand between you and Clark."

"Oh, no. Don't worry, there's nothing between us. We're just good friends." I knew Chloe, and I knew when she was lying, and I knew when she was telling the truth. Right now she was telling the truth, and I could hear how it hurt her. "How about you?"

"Same thing. We're just friends."

"Good, I'm glad we got that out of the way. Now, let's see what you've messed up since I've been gone," Chloe said going over to a desk and pulling out files.

I sunk to the ground, Clark had two 'just friends' and I was the sister stuck in the middle.

This was going to blow up in all our faces, I just knew it.

And unlike with Phelan I didn't know how to fix it.