Before I lose my motivation...

Lois has almost set up her table for interviews, and Chloe interrupts her latest scoops because she needs to know who the girl was. It's a reporter's way, using connections, knowing who knows more than is only then Chloe realizes that she can't. Lois knows Clark and Clark might know… but that's not a question she can ask now, really.

Lois recovers the conversation for her easily enough though, something about a shiny bald head being anal about his super-cameras. He's the genius who invented them to capture images faster than sound speed, the entire Planet israring for the interview.

"He says he can use them to tell us who the perp is. The nature of the fire. Everything. Wouldn't it be great? Super-camera Traps Murderous Arsonist. I'm getting that on my resume."

"Do you actually know him, Lois?"

"Actually, he's in one of those vans back there. Probably the one with the body guards and the miles worth of equipment. So the question is… do I pull strings? Stalk the guy until he has to give it to me?"

"No."Chloe can't look away from the camera.

"To which one? Cuz?"

There are four camera feeds on at once, cataloguing movement. Chloe keeps seeing angled shots of a familiar face. A cloud of dark hair, a fuller set of cheekbones. Bette, who'd tried to kill her and somehow failed. That can't be her-could be her standing on the fringes of the crowd. It's too neat. Too…Hollywood. It wasn't your average fire.

"Who's getting those shots, Lois?"

"Tom over there…"

It looks like she has some Nancy Drew-ing to do. "I know her. That's Bette."

Lois balks. "She tried to kill you."

"And maybe someone else too."

Lois shifts out of her chair, undoes her gray jacket. That's it."Let's go."

"What about your hard hitting story?"

"You could use some old fashioned sister backup. Who's better for subtle than me?"

"Lois."

"Fine. Maybe not that. But in case you've forgotten, I have two black belts and a really loud voice. You know we can handle anything. "

"That's psycho spice?" Chloe doesn't remark over the cutesy nickname, only knows that they've got to stop her somehow.
They can't do anything stupid, have to keep their cover. Lois suggests the police, but Chloe knows it's useless. What can they do when they are spontaneously bursting into flame?

The scrutiny on the meteor infected would amp up even more, and she won't let that happen, knows what Clark warned her about. She needs to talk Bette down, somehow, like Clark did, though she doesn't know how.

Lois drags her through the crowd, elbowing her way past, shoving bodies and suddenly that is Bette, draped in an awkward raincoat, staring into the crackling flames. They must be on the camera feeds now. 'Possible Suspect Approached by Insane Reporters.'

Bette hasn't moved in the past minute. Maybe this is another element to her power, keeping the fires burning. Chloe can see Davis's back from here. She doesn't have time to get him and he'd know what to do. Backed into a corner, Bette will fight. She has to be kept away from the rest of them.

Lois gets there before her and Chloe knows she hasn't got a prayer of a chance. "Hey you, it's Lois Lane with the Daily Planet. I've got a few questions…"

Bette jolts a little, turns right to Chloe. There are no tell tale fighting words, no 'hey girl scout'.
Chloe can see the flash of orange in Bette's eyes before the ring of flames lights around them both. She pushes herself in. She can hear the confusion, the bodies moving back and away and the jostling crowd. Clark is out there, eyes fixed on hers in frozen horror. He couldn't protect her from this.

Lois seems caught in the moment, kicks out, but she can't protect herself from the flame. This fire is different, stings into Chloe's skin like tendrils. It's agony and she can heal. There won't be any miracle fixes if Lois gets hurt.

Chloe's still terrified, knows only that this is Lois and she has to protect her, mental breakdowns and internal psychotic memories or not. She only has to throw herself forward a few feet to grab onto Bette's skin, the glove slipping from her wrist.

Chloe expected the rush of memories, the pain, for the fire to go out. She holds onto Plastique's wrist and the girl tumbles to the ground, doesn't get up. The flames crackle higher and the smoke is so thick.

Before it all vanishes, Chloe can see, feel only two things. There's a scalding rush of air and flame across her skin. Her throat closes and her brain is slow enough that she can't keep herself from falling.

Before her eyes blink shut she sees a flash of Davis, the only clear thing in the smoke. Unnaturally quick and so there. Four cameras whir and catalogue each image. His eyes-his skin below her prevent her fall onto the hard concrete. They're in the flames together when she passes out.

Endnotes: Yes, smarmy reporter dude knows about Davis's powers now. You bet he's going to use it and it's not good.

Also next chapter, Chloe's not 'all' herself.