Chapter Three

Endless Cycle

Chloe frowned as she walked into Tess' ballroom with Clark. Chloe's hair was in a half up and half down fashion, separated by a black clip, and she was wearing a beige strapless dress with floral designs on it. "I can't believe you talked me into this," Clark groaned as he adjusted his tuxedo.

"You deserve to have some fun in your life, Clark," Chloe insisted as she looked at him.

"Tess' save-the-rainforest bash is not my definition of 'fun,'" Clark frowned.

"I need you to be my eyes and ears," Chloe insisted. "I believe that this little stunt of Tess' is nothing more than a publicity coup…" She paused as she noticed Lois standing in the corner. Lois frowned as she adjusted her long-sleeve red blouse and beige skirt. "I know someone else who needs you," Chloe smiled at Clark.

"I can't, Chloe," Clark sadly said. "Lana…"

"Would want you to be happy," Chloe smiled.

"Please do not presume what Lana wants for me," Clark frowned.

"I don't presume. I know," Chloe smiled.

"Ouch," Lois frowned as Tess walked past her. Suddenly, the woman standing next to Lois fell towards her.

"I'm sorry," the woman quickly said. "I felt a sharp sting and I…"

"It's fine," Lois quickly said; however, she frowned at Tess. "I felt a sharp sting as well…"

"I'm sorry," Tess smiled at Lois. "I guess my corsage poked you…" Tess smiled as she pointed to her white rose corsage. "You know what they say… every rose has its thorns…" Suddenly, the woman standing next to Lois groaned. "Again, I'm sorry," Tess apologized to the woman. "Trust me, it was not meant for you…"

"I'm sure," Lois frowned as Tess worked her way to the podium.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Tess smiled as she addressed her audience. "Thank you for coming tonight…"

"She could not express enough gratitude for that," Chloe whispered to Clark; however, he quickly nudged her.

"I hate to put a damper on the occasion," Tess frowned. "However, I believe that Oliver Queen and his company stole from my company…" Suddenly, Lois fainted.

"Lois," Clark and Chloe said in concern as they raced towards her.

One hour later…

"This is against my better judgment, you know," Chloe frowned as she looked at Lois, who was struggling for breath on the psychology couch of Lana's office.

"It should be your better judgment," Lois gasped for air. "If I go to the hospital and die, I will leave you with expensive medical bills…"

"Lois, I want you here," Chloe said in concern. "Even if I have to pay for a ton of medical bills…"

"Don't be selfish," Lois smiled as she struggled for air. "Think about me… I won't be able to pay all of those medical bills if I go to the hospital and live…"

"I'll help you," Chloe insisted. "Lois…" Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. "That better be Davis," Chloe said in concern as she raced towards the door.

"You called Dr. Bloome," Lois groaned.

"Yes and you are just going to have to deal with it," Chloe frowned before she opened the door. "Not a minute too soon," she smiled at Davis.

"How is she," Davis asked in concern as he raced towards Lois.

"Her health is failing," Chloe sadly said. "However, her sarcasm is just fine," Chloe forced a smile.

"Whoa," Lois said in annoyance as Davis started to examine her. "Watch the hands, dimples…"

"I'll give both of you some time alone," Chloe worriedly smiled before she walked into the receptionist room and closed the door behind her. She found Clark, who was sitting in the room worriedly. "Didn't you want to say something to Lois," Chloe asked in concern.

"Chloe," Clark sadly looked at her. "I can't say goodbye… not again…"

"Neither can I," she insisted. "We aren't going to lose her, Clark… especially if you…" She trailed off.

"Especially if I what," Clark asked her in confusion. "Chloe, we should be taking her to the hospital…"

"She didn't want to go," Chloe sadly insisted. "She worried about the potential hospital bills…"

"Lois knows that we would help her with the bills," Clark sadly frowned. "There's more to it than that…" He sat down on a bench across from Chloe.

"What do you mean," Chloe asked in confusion and concern.

"Remember when you revived me," he sadly asked her. "There was a part of me that didn't want to be revived because… I desperately wanted to see Lana again…" Clark sadly looked at her. "And I know that Lois has the same mindset…"

"Then, help her," Chloe pleaded. "You know what she's going through. You became Superman again for my sake… become Superman again for Lois' sake…" She sadly looked at him. "Go and see Tess and question her about what happened tonight… at the very least, get her to print a retraction about what she said about Oliver… so that Lois can die happy…" Chloe sadly looked at Clark as he left.

Tess frowned as she stamped Lois' potential article with a rejection stamp. She remembered the first time that she met Oliver Queen…

Tess and Oliver smiled at each other as they rode in a boat. "Tess Mercer," Oliver smiled and asked questioningly.

"Oliver Queen," Tess smiled and asked questioningly.

"I've heard a lot about you," Oliver smiled.

"And I've heard a lot about you," Tess smiled.

"All good, I hope," Oliver smiled.

"Not exactly," Tess smiled back.

"Yeah," he laughed. "My reputation resides around yachts… and your reputation resides around charity events…"

"To each his or her own," Tess smiled.

"Who's that," Oliver asked as he pointed to the sleeping girl next to Tess.

"That is my sleepy best friend," Tess smiled as she looked at her. "Meg…"

"Meg Moreno," Oliver asked in shock. Tess nodded. "I think she's the only person that hosts more charity events than you do," he smiled. Suddenly, the boat came to a screeching halt.

"Everyone off," a rugged looking man demanded. "You," he pointed to Tess. "Come with me…"

"Whoa," Oliver said as he held up his hands. "Hold on a second… what is all of this about…"

"Her father murdered my wife," the man angrily said as he pointed to Tess.

"I don't know who my father is," she pleaded desperately. "I was an orphan…"

"Don't try to justify your family," the man hissed.

"Okay," Oliver angrily said as he walked towards the man. "That's enough." Suddenly, the man hit Oliver with a wooden plank, making him pass out.

"How is she," Chloe asked Davis as he walked into the secretarial room.

"Stable," Davis said as he closed the door behind him. "If her condition worsens, I will have to take her to the hospital." He paused. "I need to check on the other patient. Contact me immediately if anything happens…" As he left, Chloe looked after him in concern.

As Oliver slowly woke up, he realized that Tess was putting stitches in his head. "Are you trained to do that," he asked in confusion.

"Trust me," she smiled. "I'm a doctor…"

"Somehow that doesn't increase my trust," Oliver smiled. "I doubt that you had good access to anesthesia and sanitation out here…"

"The best sanitation… that I could find on a deserted island," Tess smiled and shrugged. "And the best anesthesia that a hit to the head could provide…"

"Tell me about it," he smiled. "Well, if my wound becomes infected, I'll know who to sue…"

"You are incorrigible," she smiled.

"Tell me about it," he smiled back.

"What's going on," Meg asked in confusion as she woke up.

"Well, we're on a deserted island because some revenge-bent psycho kidnapped us… and I'm stitching Oliver Queen's head," Tess smiled. "Other than that, how was your nap?"

"Tess," Clark said in concern as he raced into her office.

"Yes," Tess determinedly said as she quickly put Lois' article away.

"Do you know why Lois and that other woman collapsed tonight," Clark asked in concern.

"Should I," Tess smiled and shrugged. "I hate to break it to you, Clark, but someone passing out at a social event is relatively common… shyness, food poisoning, too much to drink…"

"None of the above," Clark determinedly said. "You know as well as I do that Lois is not shy, she had nothing to eat that night and she did not have anything to drink…"

"Then, I cannot be of further assistance," Tess frowned. "I'd suggest taking her to the hospital…"

"She refuses to go," Clark said in concern.

"That's her own fault," Tess frowned as she tried to walk away from him; however, Clark stopped her.

"Print a retraction, then," Clark determinedly said. "If Lois dies, she needs to know that the statements about her family are false… you don't have proof…"

"What if I do," Tess frowned and asked. "You don't want to see my proof…"

"I will prove that the statements are false," Clark angrily said. "If it is the last thing I do, I will see to it that Lois Queen will either happily live or happily die…" As he angrily walked out of Tess' office, Tess frowned after him.

Suddenly, a knife came towards Tess. Meg hurriedly stepped in front of the knife, causing it to kill her instead of Tess. "Meg," Tess cried as she knelt down beside her. As the man stepped towards her, Oliver stopped the man.

"I don't believe in killing," Oliver angrily said to the man. "Don't make me break that rule…" The man slowly nodded as he stepped away from them. "Tess," Oliver sadly said as he walked towards her.

"She was my best friend," Tess sobbed as she hugged Oliver. "She was a much better person than I could be… it was my fault… he was trying to kill me…"

"It was not your fault," Oliver sadly said.

"How do you know," Tess sadly asked.

"When my parents died, I thought that it was my fault," he sadly said. "I felt like there was nothing I could do…"

"There is," Tess sadly said. "Live a better life, Oliver… be known for more than your yachts… I know that you can live a better life…"

"I will," Oliver sadly said. "The minute I get off this island, my new life will start…" Suddenly, he sedated her.

"Well," Chloe asked as Clark returned to the secretarial room.

"Tess won't help us," he sadly said.

"I knew it," Chloe sadly said.

"However, I gathered enough evidence to print a retraction," Clark sadly said as he logged onto one of the computers.

"It's not a heart attack," Chloe suddenly said.

"What," Clark asked in confusion.

"It's not a heart attack," Chloe determinedly said. "Davis' diagnosis was incorrect…"

"How do you know," Clark asked in confusion.

"You know the white corsage rose that Tess was wearing," Chloe asked.

"The one that poked Lois and the other woman," Clark said in confusion. "What about it?"

"It's a special type of rose," Chloe insisted as she showed him the information on the internet. "One thorn poke can make someone dead…"

"Where's Davis," Clark asked in concern.

"He went to the hospital to check on the other victim," Chloe said in concern as Clark left.

"What would it take from me to get Tess and I off this island," Oliver angrily asked the man. "How much money do you want?"

"I always heard that you were shallow. Now, I know that it is true," the man angrily said. "I don't want your money…"

"Well, that's a first," Oliver shrugged. "But what do you want?"

"You can go at any time. I want to see Tess dead," the man angrily said.

"What would convince you not to kill her," Oliver asked.

"The only thing that would convince me not to kill her is if I knew that someone loved her as much as I loved my wife. However, that is impossible since she is a Luthor; however, I do know that someone loves her… if I only knew that that person loved her as well…" He looked at Oliver.

"I…" He paused. "I love Tess," he uneasily said. As he had said this, Tess woke up. Oliver knew that he had a girlfriend, Lois, back home; however, he had to find some way to get off the island. He awkwardly walked away from the man and towards Tess.

"Oliver," she weakly said. "I heard what you said and I…"

"Let's just focus on getting off the island," he whispered to her.

"Both of you are free to go," the man sadly said as he walked towards Tess and Oliver.

"Thank you," Oliver weakly said as he put his arm around Tess. As he helped her to the boat, Tess sadly smiled at him.

"I love you," Tess smiled. Suddenly, Oliver sedated her and carried her onto the boat. He sadly looked at her as the boat took off.

"Davis," Clark said in concern as he raced towards him. "Chloe said that whatever is affecting Lois and the other woman… it's not a heart attack…"

"That's impossible," Davis smiled. "I just gave the other patient medication and she's doing just fine…"

"Dr. Bloome, please go to Room 14. Dr. Bloome, please go to Room 14," a voice said over the loudspeaker.

"Oh no," Davis worriedly said.

"Hey," Chloe smiled as she gave Lois a green and thick drink. "Drink it and you will feel better…"

"What is this," Lois asked in annoyance as she looked at the drink. "It looks disgusting... this could kill me all by itself…"

"Well, we don't have that many choices, do we," Chloe smiled.

"I guess not," Lois smiled and shrugged as she sipped the drink.

"How is she," Clark asked in concern as he raced into the office.

"She's fine, Clark," a teary-eyed Chloe smiled. "She's going to be okay…"

"That's great," a teary-eyed Clark smiled. Chloe and Lois looked at him curiously. "I mean, I'd hate to lose my annoying neighbor…"

"Thanks," Lois sarcastically said. "I can always count on you for the sentiment, can't I?"

"Lois…" Suddenly, Clark looked concerned.

"What's wrong," Chloe asked in concern.

"Tess is in danger," Clark said in concern. "I can feel it…" He suddenly left.

"According to Caleb, the Superman/Clark can sense when people are in danger," Chloe smiled at Lois.

"Of course," Lois sarcastically groaned.

Tess frowned as she noticed that someone had punctured one of the tires of her cars. "Great," she sarcastically said. "The only question left is who to fire…"

"I was wrong," the man from the island, said as he walked towards her. "No one loves you…"

"Thanks for that lovely thought," Tess nervously frowned.

"You're alone, Tess," the man determinedly said as he walked towards her. Suddenly, Clark pushed the man out of the way; however, he escaped before Tess could see him. She frowned after them.

Chloe's eyes quickly browsed through all of Lana's patient files. As Clark walked into the secretarial room, Chloe quickly turned the computer off. "Why did you turn the computer off when I walked in," Clark asked in concern.

"I…" Chloe smiled and shrugged. "I wanted to spend time with my best friend."

"I wanted to spend time with my best friend as well," Clark said in concern. "You were able to diagnose a condition that Davis, with all his medical training, could not diagnose…" He paused as Chloe wearily looked at him. "This is because of Brainiac, isn't it?"

"After the Brainiac attack, I became smarter… and I didn't want to tell you because I was afraid that you would try to take it away from me…"

"Chloe," Clark said in concern. "You're already smart…"

"But not smart enough to save Lois," Chloe sadly said. "Clark, thanks to Brainiac's attack, I was able to save Lois. For one time in my life, a curse became a blessing. This is a gift, Clark." Suddenly, someone walked into the room.

"I hope I'm not intruding," Davis apologetically said.

"Clark was just leaving," Chloe quickly said. Clark looked at her in concern before he left.

"Trouble in paradise," Davis smiled and asked.

"Maybe," Chloe shrugged.

"I couldn't help but overhear," Davis said as he walked towards her.

"Now that Clark knows, I'm afraid that he will tell Jimmy," Chloe said in concern.

"Jimmy," Davis questioningly asked.

"My fiancé," Chloe sadly said. "I don't want him to know because I'm afraid that he'll think that we are not equal to one another… that I'm smarter than he is…"

"If he loves you, he won't think that," Davis smiled. "He will love you for who you are…"

"I'll tell him when the time is right," Chloe insisted; however, she looked sad. "I just feel like I've been hiding this huge dark secret…"

"Everyone has their dark secrets that they hide," Davis smiled. "Maybe I have some…"

"I sincerely doubt that's the case," Chloe smiled, making Troy smile.

One hour later…

The man from the island frowned in confusion as he walked towards the black limousine. Someone had bailed him out of jail, but who was it… He had no living and loving relatives left…

"Welcome aboard," Tess smiled as he opened the car door.

"You," the man nervously said as he sat down next to her. "Why would you bail me out…?"

"I think you know why," she smiled as she showed him a white rose.

"Tess," he apologetically said. "Please do not become what I became… I had a miserable existence…" Tears filled his eyes.

"Need I remind you that you were trying to kill me little more than an hour ago," Tess smiled.

"I was trying to save you from your current existence," the man sadly insisted. "I don't want you to become what I became…"

"It's a little too late for that," Tess frowned. "Driver, this is my stop," she called out.

"Oliver was just trying to save you," the man sadly looked at her.

"For you," she frowned as she slashed his wrist with the rose. The man shriveled in pain.

"Why, Tess," he pleaded.

"You made me this way," she frowned as she got out of the limousine. "Driver," she quickly said. "I believe that he's having a heart attack. Please take him to the hospital." She smiled as she walked away from the limousine; however, her smile turned to a frown.