When Clark and Lois arrived at what was left of the Planet he set her down. She was stunned. There were Planet employees wandering aimlessly through the rubble.
"Lois, go and get those people out of the way for the rescuers to come in. Take all the walking wounded at least out of harms way." He shouted. She just looked at him like he sprouted a second head, third, arm, and wings.
"But…you.." she spoke confused and then muttered under her breath, "meteor infected?"
"Lois!' he shouted. She nodded then turned to do as he asked. He looked at the huge pile off rubble that was now almost spread along 2 blocks and shook his head. He found a hole that he could squeeze himself into and went to look for Chloe and any survivors. Also arriving at the scene was Green Arrow, Cyborg, Aquaman, and Impulse. They each took a side of the building and starting peeling away debris or making entry to help with the rescue efforts.
Clark had managed to clear the basement, there was nobody down there. He started to make his way to the next level when a whole was punched through a wall. He just stared in amazement as the leather clad Green Arrow made his way to the same spot.
"Are you going to stare at me all day or are you going to help the people that are trapped?" he spoke, his voice was distorted and he sounded pissed off. He shook his head and ran past Clark up what was left of the steps up to the next level. Moans and cries of the broken starting to carry down the hall. "Boy," he heard "Get your ass up here I need your help." Arrow snapped at him again? Clark was stunned than snapped out of it to go and help the Archer.
--
Chloe managed to sneak her way into the scene. Rescue personnel had blocked everything off. She gasped when she saw the destruction. She couldn't believe it. She had gotten as far as the makeshift medical area and was certain she heard her cousin shouting out orders. Chloe went into the tent to see Lois covered in dust, tear streaked face, as she was helping to direct the walking wounded to keep them out of the way.
"LO!" she shouted. Lois turned and gasped. She ran at her cousin and wrapped her in a huge hug.
"Ohmygod,ohmygod,ohmygod, I thought you were in the building!"
"Lois seriously, need air."
"Sorry, short stuff, we thought," she sniffed, "You were in the building?"
"We?" she looked confused.
"Me and Clark!" she spoke like Chloe should have gotten that.
"Ladies, we need your help!" one of the rescuers said as a new batch of walking wounded came into the tent. Chloe and Lois nodded and went to where they were directed. Chloe set her purse down and rolled up her sleeves. They were writing down personal information, giving blankets, and trying to keep people calm. Perry White was brought past them on a stretcher.
"Chief!" Chloe shouted.
"Hold up a minute, young man." He spoke to the man pulling the stretcher along. He coughed and removed his Oxygen mask. Chloe was right next to him. "Chloe, thank god you're ok." He coughed.
"I got stuck at mid town bank, then I went for coffee, I got an interview with Queen today." She smiled.
"Atta girl, I got a phone call, some one called this…" he coughed and coughed. "in. Did I get everyone out?" he spoke still coughing.
"We have to go now, sir." The rescuer spoke and the Editor nodded as they took him to an awaiting ambulance and carted him off to the hospital. Chloe snapped out of her reverie as more victims were brought into the tent.
"Arrow this is Aquaman, my side of the building is clear." He spoke.
"Copy,"
"Arrow this is Cyborg, found 8 survivors, all evacuated, my side is clear."
"Copy."
"Arrow, this is impulse, 1 dead, 3 wounded and all have been evacuated, my area is clear."
"Copy," Arrow and Clark were on the same level still pulling at debris. They had 2 survivors that were hidden under a desk, secretaries or something."Arrow to Cyborg, if you can get over here, I have survivors that need evac."
"Got it, on my way."
--
He got to a huge piece of floor and looked through it to see a dozen people trapped together in a huge pocket. Clark came to where he was. "There's some survivors in there." He spoke. Clark just looked at him strangely.
"Why don't you go and help those over there while I get this." Clark spoke.'
"No, you go grab one end, I'll grab the other, Teamwork junior, get used to it." He hissed. Clark was starting to get pissed. That was the second time the leather clad do gooder had talked to him in a condescending tone and he didn't appreciate it. "You gonna stare into space all day?" he hissed again. Clark shook his head and then went to where he was directed; they together lifted that huge slab of flooring. The dust made visibility poor. "Go, get out of here, these are the last," Tao ordered his cousin; Clark just shook his head and left. Arrow waited to help the 12 leave the building. Vic carrying two mildly injured over each shoulder. As they neared the entrance that was made to gain entry, they stayed back while the victims escaped. Vic set down the two he had been carrying. One was a cute brunette that had been chatting him up to calm her anxiety. She kissed his cheek in thanks as she hobbled out of the rubble. Arrow just looked at him.
"What?" he spoke. Arrow was laughing at his friend, "Shut up."
"All right, let's get out of here." Arrow spoke. All the heroes heard his order on comm. and took off…
--
A half hour later a fleet of corporate busses pulled along the block behind the barricade. Oliver and Vic were both now in jeans and sweatshirts and headed to the triage tent. Oliver managed to get through security; people weren't sure how to respond to the billionaire. He walked up the fire chief, who was command of the scene.
"Chief." He spoke as he shook the man's hand.
"Sir, I"
"Please, it's just Oliver. I have busses to take the walking wounded to outlying hospitals for you. This is my head of security, Victor Stone. If you need anything else; he's a very resourceful guy." He smiled. The chief nodded. "Now for immediate needs of your crew, I have food, blankets, water, and coffee coming."
"Thanks so much, si…Oliver."
"You're welcome Chief." He spoke. He headed into the tent to see if he could relieve any of the workers. He took a few steps when his hearing led him to Chloe. She was sitting on a cot, arms wrapped around her self, face wet with tears. He knelt in front of her and pulled off his sweatshirt and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Hey." He spoke. She looked up and blushed. "What?"
"Why are you here?" she whispered, her voice full of defeat.
"That blast rattled my windows. Thought I should come over and help, since I have the means too." She shivered. "Look why don't you put my sweat shirt on, you're cold." He smiled. She blushed again and did. She tried not to take a deep breath and inhale that wonderfully masculine scent, but her nose was not following any of her brains commands. "Is there anything I can do or get for you?"
She couldn't articulate anything she just broke down and cried. His heart ached, he scooped her up and carried her to the main entrance. Vic put the keys to his jeep in his hand as he carried Chloe down the block. "Is your cousin alright?" he asked.
"Yeah, she went home an hour ago, I couldn't….I mean…"
"No need to explain I understand, really." He made it to he is jeep used the fob to unlock it and the gently placed Chloe onto the passenger seat. He secured the seat belt on her and then shut her door. He made his way to the other side climbed in and started it up," Where do you live Chloe?" he asked softly. She rattled off her address and he put the jeep in gear and headed to her place…
--
"Humans are so predictable." Lex spoke staring at the news feed of the bomb blast that destroyed the Daily Planet. He reached for his cell phone in his vest pocket and hit a number. "In my office now," He hung up and then called Lana.
"Hey Baby, yeah I miss you too, I got caught up at the office, I shouldn't be late tonight. Yeah, my father is still in a coma but the Doctor seems to think he'll come out of it….uh huh…ok and wear something pretty…love you."
Minutes later his aide entered his office and shut the door.
"Well?" he asked expectantly.
"No real footage,sir." The young man spoke.
"I see." Lex spoke, staring through the young man, "Alright, go home, tomorrow we start again."
The young man just nodded as if he got a stay of execution. Lex shook his head. He needed to flush out the traveler, so he could kill him, and then the planet would be his playground.
--
Oliver pulled up in front of Chloe's building, they turned to face each other. "T-t-thanks for the ride, Oliver." Chloe spoke. Oliver shook his head and smiled as he exited the driver's side of the vehicle and made his way to Chloe who had exited and stood at the door. She stared at him as if he sprouted a second head.
"Please, I was raised a gentleman." He smiled as he escorted her into the building. Chloe just shook here head, a smile creeping up on her face.
They made it to her door, and he watched as she struggled to get her key into the lock, tears were sliding down her cheeks. He put his hand on hers and took the key from her. He then unlocked her door and scooped her up and carried her inside, sobs were racking her body. He set her down on the couch, and then went to shut her door. He returned and knelt in front of her. Her face was buried in her hands.
"God, I was supposed to be in the bull pen," She moaned. Oliver just put a reassuring hand on her knee. "I was preparing for my interview with you." She laughed. "Ironic isn't it, now here I am?" She sniffled.
"Yeah here you are, not hurt and still breathing. I would say that fortune favors you."
"Perry, he told me," she paused, could she really trust him? She shook her head and shuddered.
"Told you?" he nudged.
"Someone called in a bomb threat. He tried to get everyone out…."
That news made his blood boil, Tao was surfacing with a vengeance and if he wasn't careful, he would do something to tip her off that he was more than human. "Go on.."
"Perry is a descent man. He's had some hard times and all, but, wow, he didn't deserve this."
"I'm sorry Chloe." he spoke; those words broke the last damn of her resolve. She lunged slightly at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He paused only for a second then he wrapped his arms around her. He stood and pulled her into his lap as he sat on the couch, whispering soothing nonsensical Kryptonian words against her skin.
After what seemed like an eternity, Chloe gasped as she realized she was in the arms of the billionaire and she was wearing his sweat shirt. She leaped off his lap.
"What?" he asked confused.
"Oh god, I got tear stains on your shirt. That probably cost more than I make in a month." Oliver just shook his head and laughed.
"Ok, first, I may have money but I'm not a snob, I got this shirt at a hockey game." He tried to tease her and anyone that knew him would have been doubled over with laughter. "I'm curious as to why you jumped off my lap like I had the plague?"
Chloe blushed furiously, "I," she let out a deep breath. "Don't even know you and when….oh god; when I get near you its like I've known you my whole life."
"Is that a bad thing?" he asked moving closer to her.
"I'm not anybody and you're you," she shrugged.
He stepped up into her personal space and cupped her face in his hands. "Here me Chloe Sullivan, you're not just anybody, and you probably do know me better than you think. You just have to be ready to hear it and feel it." He spoke. He kissed one cheek and then the other. He then kissed one corner of her mouth and then the other. She set his skin on fire, and his senses got kicked to the curb. He then kissed her on the lips and it was pure heaven. He had to pull back before he embarrassed himself. She immediately put her hand to her mouth at the surprise of the kiss bereft that it was over.
"You're so warm," she whispered; a million thoughts racing through her head. His cell phone chimed and he looked at the text message.
"I have to go," he smiled at her.
"Will I see you again?" she asked like a love sick teenager.
"Oh, I'm always around." He winked at her and turned and left, leaving her apartment feeling totally empty. Chloe stood for what seemed like eternity then flopped back down on her couch.
'His skin is so warm, and he had spoken strange words,' where had she heard those before? She shook her head and went to take a shower and then call Lois.
30 minutes later she was out of the shower and sitting on her couch was one Clark Kent his head resting on his hands, totally lost in thought.
"Well, good thing I decided to NOT run around my apartment naked." Chloe teased. Clark didn't respond, he was orbiting planet Brood and was obviously not accepting transmissions. "Earth to Clark!" she shouted and he finally looked up.
"Oh Chloe," is all he could say.
"Ok you're freaking me out. What is it?"
"The abridged version or the whole…"
"Quit stalling and tell me already." She shouted frustrated. She sat in her easy chair waiting for him to start blabbing.
"I was with Lois today," Chloe looked a little surprised. "We had had a day date planned." He sat back and rested his head on the back of the couch. "I had stopped the bank robbery and the bomb scare at the mint…"
"Oh, Clark," Chloe winced.
"We were just walking when the Planet blew. I needed to get there, so did she, she was scared for you. We started fighting kinda, I well told her to shut up, scooped her up into my arms, and um, super sped her to the seen."
"YOUDIDWHAT?" Chloe screeched.
"Well? I needed to go and she wasn't listening." He looked so pathetic.
"Oh Clark, Clark, Clark," Chloe shook her head. She moved to sit next to him and put her hand on his knee. The heat from his body radiating through his denim; she just looked at him funny.
"What?" he asked.
"Sorry, um, what did Lois say?"
"Well, let me finish before we get into that part. So I get into the building and that Green Arrow guy's show's up. He punched threw a wall!"
"That's just crazy talk." Chloe spoke going over the stuff she knew about the Arrow. It wasn't that crazy, he had to be a Meta, had to be.
"He kept addressing me as boy or Junior, like he was my superior." He closed his eyes thinking about the Arrow and Lois.
"What are you thinking Clark?"
"I need to go to the Ice Castle and talk to my Father." He spoke shrugging.
"What about Lois?"
"I don't know, maybe she'll think I'm just infected?" he spoke standing.
"Way to bury your head in the sand Clark, maybe you should just tell, her?"
"Are you crazy?" he patted her knee, "Thanks Chloe, good talk," he spoke as he zoomed out of her apartment.
--
Chloe was beat, so much to think about, Clark revealing himself to Lois, she kissed Oliver, and the Planet was gone. She had received a call from one of her co workers and Perry was out of surgery and he would be okay. Chloe fluffed up her pillow, turned off her lamp and fell asleep…..
--
Clark ran to the ice castle with a full head of steam. He got to the entrance and it was blocked. He punched, kicked, and even used his heat vision and he couldn't gain access.
"You aren't allowed in here." Jor El's voice boomed.
"What? I need your advice?" Clark pleaded
"You have put off your destiny for far too long. You will only be allowed back in here when you find the Son of Ra."
"Who is that?" Clark spoke the wind taken from his sails.
"The Son of Ra holds the key to your knowledge and your path. Find him before its too late." Then the voice was gone.
Clark shook his head, 'The Son of Ra? Who is that?' He was feeling bad before he got to the Ice Castle, and now he just felt 10 times worse. He felt a heaviness in his chest and its name was Lois. He needed to think and nothing like a run around the planet to help him do that. He was going to go home, but apparently his feet and his brain weren't communicating. He was in front of Lois' door, warring with himself about knocking.
After several minutes Clark knocked on Lois' apartment door. It was time to face the music. He heard her shuffle to the door, he saw her look through the peep hole and debate whether or not she was going to open the door. She then unlatched her locks and opened the door, not waiting for him to enter she went and sat on her couch. Clark closed the door and looked at her, she was in her blue fuzzy slippers, and Eeyore pajamas.
"Do you want to get to the yelling first or save that for later." He asked trying to break the ice.
"Snark is Chloe's bit, I just don't get it?" Lois spoke holding a pillow to her chest.
"What Lo?" unsure if he should sit down or not.
"Aren't we? Weren't we friends? If you're meteor infected, didn't you think you could trust me enough to tell me?" she spoke. Clark had hoped that she would think he was meteor infected, but the reality made him feel like a bigger jerk.
"We are friends Lo, and it's really not that simple." He spoke.
"Why not? You've heard me babble about my personal issues," She began to sniff.
"This is huge Lo. I've really had a hard time trusting anyone with this."
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"she asked.
"No, it was meant to explain,"
"Well your explanation sucks." She spoke turning to face away from him.
"Lois if I could tell you, I…"
"Save it! Go away," she interrupted. "I need time to think."
"Ok." Clark spoke turning to leave, "When you're really ready to talk and Listen Lo? You know where to find me." He spoke turning and leaving.
--
Clark managed to get to bed well after midnight and fell face first on his bed totally exhausted.
Clark heard a noise in his barn and got up to go and check it out. He entered the barn slowly and headed up to the loft. Sitting at his desk was Green Arrow. His legs stretched out and cross at the ankle. He had a stack of new paper articles at arms reach.
"What are YOU doing here?"
"You lead quite an exciting life Clark." He spoke rummaging through the papers, "The unsung hero breezing in and out in the nick of time and disappearing before any one is the wiser."
"Who are you and what exactly do you want?"
"Me?" he stood staring at Clark, "I'm about to become your worst nightmare."
"Please." Clark spoke sitting on the couch. The Arrow smirked and raised his hand and the couch and Clark levitated. "What the?"
"I'll give you 24 hours to figure this one out, and then I'm coming for you. You've wasted far to much time living in domestic bliss and not enough time doing what you need to." He spoke angrily. He gestured again and the couch was back on the floor. "How many more people have to get hurt or killed because of your apathy." He hissed. "Pull your head out of the sand or I'll do it for you."
Clark sat bolt upright, covered in a fine sheen of sweat, he shook his head. The Green Arrow was coming for him? Why? Who is that guy?
Chloe tossed and turned and finally decided to get up and get a drink of water. She made her way into the living room and paused, Arrow was sitting on her couch.
"How did you get in here?" she asked. He didn't speak. He only held his hand out to her. She scrunched her face at him and took a couple steps toward him. "Seriously how did you get in here?" He put his other index finger against his lips to signal her to silence. She frowned and then reached and took his hand. She gasped in surprise, the leather and skin was such an erotic texture. He pulled her slowly into his lap, "Are you ready to know me?" he asked his voice altered with the distorter. She rested her hands on his shoulders and his skin was soo warm, she felt her hands flex and relax against his muscles like an kneading cat. Most of his face was obscured by the hood, and his eyes were covered by dark glasses. She reached for the zipper of his vest and slid it down his chest. A charm hung around his neck and she reached for it. It was oddly beautiful. She was engulfed with light and stood in a white room, she turned to see a woman, blonde and in a strange robe.
"You must be her?" she spoke smiling at the pixie like blond
"Sorry?"
"The other half of my son's soul." She spoke.
"Your son?"
"His name is Tao, although he has probably acquired an earth name by now." she spoke a sad expression on her face.
"I'm confused."
"Love him well, he's lost greatly." She spoke and kissed the young girls cheek. The room was again hers and she was again straddling the Green Arrow. His leather gloved hands were massaging the flesh of her chest and that was making her feel like a volcano about to erupt. He nibbled her neck and whispered, "Hear me, feeeeelll me, Chloeeeeee," Chloe leaned to kiss him on the lips and was woken with a start when she kissed her pillow. She felt a burning sensation in her hand and she sat up quickly and turned on her lamp, there in her palm was the pattern of the charm that was around the Arrow's neck.
Tired of tossing and turning Chloe got up and made a pot of coffee. She then grabbed her digital camera and took a pic of the mark on her palm, then stored her lap camera. She fired up her lap top and started to do what she does best, she pulled up her favorite search engine and then bit her lip as she typed in ancient symbols and began her big dig.
