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- Part 9 -
" I love you…"
Those words swam around in Clark's head as he slowly floated back to consciousness.
The first thing he felt was pain. His chest ached painfully and his ribs protested as he took a deep breath; he felt as if he had been hit by a train. * Oww…I forgot that, even though bullets can't kill me, they could still REALLY hurt. *
Clark winced as he opened his eyes. The harsh fluorescent lights of the Smallville Savings and Loans shone down on him and he blinked rapidly. * What the…Chloe!!! *
Suddenly, everything came rushing back, the attack, the threats…Cade. As he remembered everything that had happened he began to push himself up.
Clark couldn't hear anything, save for the sound of people outside and as he looked to his left, towards the front of the building, he couldn't see anyone either. Panic welled inside of him when he didn't see Chloe right away, * Oh god, where is she…. Chloe? *
Clark turned to his right and that was when he spotted her.
She sat huddled on the floor only a few feet away from him, rocking back and forth, as her blonde head rested on her knees.
*Thank god… * Clark thought to himself, relieved that she appeared unharmed. * But…why is she huddled on the ground…and how long have I been out? *
Suddenly, a horrifying thought occurred to Clark and a lump of dread formed in his gut, * No…god, no…Cade…oh god, please let her be alright…oh god…if he…*
Clark tried to push himself up farther but a sharp pain stopped him and Clark hissed as it seared through him.
Chloe's head shot up at the sound and starred dumbfounded as Clark rolled onto his side in her direction and tried again to push himself up.
Chloe's eyes were wide as saucers as she watched Clark, * this isn't real…it can't be real…your hallucinating…it's not real…Clark's dead *
Chloe shook her head in disbelief as Clark called out to her, "Chloe! Chloe are you alright?"
Chloe continued to shake her head and her rocking became more forceful. * It isn't real, it isn't real…I watched him die…I watched him fall…*
Clark's brow knit together and he frowned in concern when Chloe lowered her head and began rocking again. * What is going on? What the hell happ… * that was when it hit Clark, * she saw me get shot…she probably thought that I was dead…oh my god… *
Clark used all of his strength to get to his knees and he almost crawled over to her as he called out again gently, "Chloe? It's alright Chloe, I'm not dead…I'm ok."
Chloe didn't respond, however, and she continued to rock back and forth as she began muttering to herself.
Clark strained to hear what it was that she was saying and he managed to make out things like, "not real…saw you die…shot…hallucinating…not real…not real…"
Clark pulled himself to his knees and kept a close eye on his friend as he gently placed his hands upon her knees to still her.
Chloe lifted her head then and Clark gasped as he saw her face. A nasty, bloody gash ran across her forehead and her eyes were red and bloodshot from crying. But what shocked him the most was the emptiness that he saw in her gaze; it frightened him. It frightened him more than Cade had. It was as if a part of Chloe was gone, part of her spark…
Clark looked her straight in the eyes then and spoke softly, but intently, "I AM alive Chloe…I'm right here, you're not hallucinating…please listen to me Chloe."
Chloe started to shake her head, "No…you're not real…I saw you die…I watched you fall to the ground…" Chloe's body began to tremble then as tears welled in her eyes.
Clark's eyes filled with tears as well as he saw the pain that his friend was in. * Damn you Kent…if you had just told her everything from the beginning, she wouldn't be like this now…she wouldn't have thought that you were dead! Look what you've done… *
Clark blinked back his tears and in a hoarse voice spoke again, "Chloe I am real, I'm right here. There was something that I should have told you before now…but I didn't…I'm sorry, I was afraid of how you might react when you found out the truth about me, about who…what I am. But, I am alive…"
Chloe starred deep into his eyes and her right hand slowly extended to touch his face.
As her palm cupped his cheek, Clark felt a well of emotion rise within himself and his heart quickened. Chloe continued to stare into his eyes for a moment before speaking, "You are a very real hallucination, aren't you?"
Clark sighed in defeat; he didn't know what he could do to shock her out of her stupor, to convince her that he was alive.
Suddenly, an idea came to him, it was a tad unconventional, but it might just work.
Clark leant forward, ignoring the stabs of pain the action caused, until his mouth was inches from hers and he whispered, "Can a hallucination do this?"
Then, the space was breached and Clark's lips met hers in a sweet kiss.
* Warm…his lips are so warm…shouldn't they be cold? *
Clark's heart beat wildly in his chest as his lips slowly caressed Chloe's. Her lips were silken and so soft…Clark wondered how anything could be so soft.
At first, Chloe didn't respond, too shocked, but then her lips began to move of their own accord. * Soo good…even if I am hallucinating…I don't care, because this feels soo good… *
Clark felt a need to touch more of her, to reassure himself that she was, indeed, all right, and his lips moved more fervently against hers.
Chloe matched his rhythm as he pressed more fully against her. She felt one hand rest on her shoulder, while the other traveled up her neck and buried itself in her hair.
Her golden locks where so soft against his farm hewn hands and Clark shivered at the sensation of the strands slipping threw his fingers.
Chloe's own hands started to move and soon one came to rest on his chest, just above his heart. When the slow thumping of his heart beating finally registered in her dazed mind, Chloe gasped and pulled back.
Clark's eyes, which had been closed in pleasure, sprang open.
Chloe's breathing was laboured as she finally realized the truth…* he's alive…Clark's alive… * Chloe didn't stop to analyze the how's and whys of the situation as a brilliant smile lit up her face.
Clark couldn't stop the answering smile that blossomed on his face.
Chloe's eyes sparkled as they searched every inch of his face before locking with his eyes again.
"Clark?"
Clark's smile widened as he nodded, "Yeah, Chlo…it's me."
Chloe laughed suddenly and threw herself at him. Her arms wound around him and held him close as she started crying again.
When he felt the tears start to wet his shirt, Clark became concerned, why was she crying? Wasn't she happy?
"Chlo?"
The concern in her love's voice caught Chloe's attention and she smiled into his shoulder as she replied with a muffled, "I'm fine, Clark. Just happy…very happy."
Clark frowned somewhat, confused again by the mystery that was the female psyche, but held her closer and let her cry, content to have her safe in his arms. His hand cupped the back of her head and stroked her hair lovingly as he listened to her happy murmurings.
Nothing in the world compared to the feeling of holding him again, not after she had believed that he was dead. Nothing. She was so happy in that moment that she felt as if her heart would burst.
Chloe nuzzled Clark's neck and placed a soft kiss there.
Clark felt a shiver of pleasure run down his spine as Chloe's lips met his flesh. He knew that it didn't make sense, but Clark didn't feel like trying to figure any of it out at the moment.
Chloe pulled back slowly, she met his gaze and then her mouth descended on his.
Clark's eyes widened in shock, but they soon closed again with a sigh of pleasure.
Chloe's lips slid across those of the man she loved. She might never have a chance to do it again, and she needed the reassurance that he was alive and all right.
Clark responded to her insistent kisses with those of his own.
They had been through so much in the last few hours; they needed the intimacy of the moment to heal.
Clark's hand cupped her head again and used the leverage to angle her mouth a little as his tongue tentatively snuck out to caress her bottom lip.
Chloe tensed at the feel of Clark's tongue against her closed lips, but soon relaxed again and parted them obligingly, giving him permission to enter.
Clarks tongue slid along her lips and, as they parted, dove inside.
Chloe moaned into the kiss as she felt him slid his tongue along the roof of her mouth, caressing every nook, exploring every hidden corner. Her own tongue moved to meet his and as they met, Clark let out a strangled groan and began moving his mouth more fiercely against hers.
Chloe met Clark thrust for thrust as he lifted her up until she was resting on his lap, her legs on either side of his hips.
One hand buried itself in her hair and the other fell to the small of her back and pressed her more firmly against him.
One of Chloe's hands came to rest at the nape of Clark's neck, while the other slid along the planes of his broad shoulders. She felt the play of muscles beneath her fingers and whimpered in pleasure. * I never want this to end *
Then, all thought was abandoned to the sensations they evoked in one another. It felt so good, so right, so vibrantly alive and wonderful.
They embraced again and again, passionately melding their lips together as sounds of pleasure emerged from their throats. Their hands roamed possessively over each other while their bodies moved restlessly in tandem with the tide of desire flowing through them.
Finally, after what had only seemed like a moment, the couple reluctantly pulled apart.
Both of their chests heaved as they tried to catch their breath and Clark suddenly became acutely aware of two things: one – Chloe had very nice breasts which were currently directly in front of him and two – he had became extremely aroused during the impromptu make out session and Chloe was sitting right on top of the "evidence".
Cheeks flushed and blood roaring in their veins each tried to rein in their raging hormones.
Their foreheads came to rest against one another as their breathing returned to normal.
Suddenly aware of exactly where it was that she was sitting, and whom she had just been kissing, Chloe pulled back, embarrassed. She opened her mouth to apologize, and then remembered that Clark had something to tell her that would explain why he wasn't currently a member of the six feet under club.
Clark saw the play of emotions that flickered across Chloe's face and a thought occurred to him, * She looks thoroughly kissed * and, for some reason, that thought brought with it a swell of pride and possessiveness. Her hair was tousled, her were pupils dilated, her lips were swollen from his kisses and there was a dusting of red along her cheeks.
When Chloe saw the goofy grin that appear on Clark's face she couldn't help but smile back at him as she pushed all thoughts of ripping the man apart to the background for the moment. She had nearly lost him today and she revelled in the warmth that his smile brought to her soul.
The two slightly more-than-friends stayed like that for several moments, just absorbing the simple joy of being close to one another.
The moment was broken, however, when the sound of pounding from the back of the building brought them crashing back down to earth.
Chloe turned a questioning gaze towards the back room, "What was that?"
Clark turned a concerned gaze to Chloe, "Cade?"
A shadow darkened Chloe's features at the mention of the name and she shook her head in the negative.
Clark was confused, "It could be him, Chloe. I didn't see him…he could be anywhere, we…" Chloe cut him off, "He's dead, Clark."
Clark's brow furrowed at that announcement, "Dead? Chloe how do you know?"
Chloe nodded her head in the direction of Cade's still form and when Clark turned back to question her further Chloe interrupted, "I killed him, Clark."
To say that Clark was surprised would have been an understatement, but he wisely kept silent. He didn't know what it was like to kill someone, but he had been very close to it before and he knew that she had a tough time ahead of her. For, as much as she liked to present a "tough-as-nails" exterior, she was sensitive at heart. The knowledge that she had killed someone wasn't something that would just go away.
The pounding returned and it pulled Clark from his reverie. Realization then donned on him as to what the noise was and he stood up, with Chloe still in his arms before he slowly placed her on her feet.
Chloe's eyes had grown impossible large when her once-somewhat-dorky-but-in- a-cute-way-and-couldn't-lift-anything-to-save-his-life friend, easily lifted her up and put her down again without so much as making one sound.
Clark gazed back at Chloe briefly and found her starring up at him, "What?"
"You just lifted me up as if I were a feather."
Clark's brows knit together in confusion as he replied, "And…?"
"And? Clark you couldn't even lift one of the computer monitors at school…"
Clark averted his gaze suddenly and Chloe's eyes narrowed just before she hit him upside the head.
"Owww…what was that for?" Clark looked down at his friend indignantly, even though it hadn't hurt, Clark had gotten used to reacting in that way.
"THAT was for pretending that you couldn't lift the computer monitor, that was for lying to me about something very important, which, I might add, you have yet to disclose to me AND!" Chloe held up a finger to stop Clark from replying, "And…that was for making me think that you were dead."
Clark's gaze softened and he opened his mouth to apologize when the pounding started up again, and this time it was accompanied by voices.
Chloe shook her head, angry now that she had gotten over her initial shock and relief, "Saved by the screams…" With that, Chloe marched past Clark to the back room, not sparring him another glance.
Clark took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair…he was SOO in for it. Chloe was PISSED. * And I thought Cade was scary? Huh, he had nothing on the fury of one petite blond reporter by the name of Chloe Sullivan. *
With that thought in mind, Clark prepared himself for some serious grovelling as he followed Chloe into the back room.
- End Part 9 -
- Part 9 -
" I love you…"
Those words swam around in Clark's head as he slowly floated back to consciousness.
The first thing he felt was pain. His chest ached painfully and his ribs protested as he took a deep breath; he felt as if he had been hit by a train. * Oww…I forgot that, even though bullets can't kill me, they could still REALLY hurt. *
Clark winced as he opened his eyes. The harsh fluorescent lights of the Smallville Savings and Loans shone down on him and he blinked rapidly. * What the…Chloe!!! *
Suddenly, everything came rushing back, the attack, the threats…Cade. As he remembered everything that had happened he began to push himself up.
Clark couldn't hear anything, save for the sound of people outside and as he looked to his left, towards the front of the building, he couldn't see anyone either. Panic welled inside of him when he didn't see Chloe right away, * Oh god, where is she…. Chloe? *
Clark turned to his right and that was when he spotted her.
She sat huddled on the floor only a few feet away from him, rocking back and forth, as her blonde head rested on her knees.
*Thank god… * Clark thought to himself, relieved that she appeared unharmed. * But…why is she huddled on the ground…and how long have I been out? *
Suddenly, a horrifying thought occurred to Clark and a lump of dread formed in his gut, * No…god, no…Cade…oh god, please let her be alright…oh god…if he…*
Clark tried to push himself up farther but a sharp pain stopped him and Clark hissed as it seared through him.
Chloe's head shot up at the sound and starred dumbfounded as Clark rolled onto his side in her direction and tried again to push himself up.
Chloe's eyes were wide as saucers as she watched Clark, * this isn't real…it can't be real…your hallucinating…it's not real…Clark's dead *
Chloe shook her head in disbelief as Clark called out to her, "Chloe! Chloe are you alright?"
Chloe continued to shake her head and her rocking became more forceful. * It isn't real, it isn't real…I watched him die…I watched him fall…*
Clark's brow knit together and he frowned in concern when Chloe lowered her head and began rocking again. * What is going on? What the hell happ… * that was when it hit Clark, * she saw me get shot…she probably thought that I was dead…oh my god… *
Clark used all of his strength to get to his knees and he almost crawled over to her as he called out again gently, "Chloe? It's alright Chloe, I'm not dead…I'm ok."
Chloe didn't respond, however, and she continued to rock back and forth as she began muttering to herself.
Clark strained to hear what it was that she was saying and he managed to make out things like, "not real…saw you die…shot…hallucinating…not real…not real…"
Clark pulled himself to his knees and kept a close eye on his friend as he gently placed his hands upon her knees to still her.
Chloe lifted her head then and Clark gasped as he saw her face. A nasty, bloody gash ran across her forehead and her eyes were red and bloodshot from crying. But what shocked him the most was the emptiness that he saw in her gaze; it frightened him. It frightened him more than Cade had. It was as if a part of Chloe was gone, part of her spark…
Clark looked her straight in the eyes then and spoke softly, but intently, "I AM alive Chloe…I'm right here, you're not hallucinating…please listen to me Chloe."
Chloe started to shake her head, "No…you're not real…I saw you die…I watched you fall to the ground…" Chloe's body began to tremble then as tears welled in her eyes.
Clark's eyes filled with tears as well as he saw the pain that his friend was in. * Damn you Kent…if you had just told her everything from the beginning, she wouldn't be like this now…she wouldn't have thought that you were dead! Look what you've done… *
Clark blinked back his tears and in a hoarse voice spoke again, "Chloe I am real, I'm right here. There was something that I should have told you before now…but I didn't…I'm sorry, I was afraid of how you might react when you found out the truth about me, about who…what I am. But, I am alive…"
Chloe starred deep into his eyes and her right hand slowly extended to touch his face.
As her palm cupped his cheek, Clark felt a well of emotion rise within himself and his heart quickened. Chloe continued to stare into his eyes for a moment before speaking, "You are a very real hallucination, aren't you?"
Clark sighed in defeat; he didn't know what he could do to shock her out of her stupor, to convince her that he was alive.
Suddenly, an idea came to him, it was a tad unconventional, but it might just work.
Clark leant forward, ignoring the stabs of pain the action caused, until his mouth was inches from hers and he whispered, "Can a hallucination do this?"
Then, the space was breached and Clark's lips met hers in a sweet kiss.
* Warm…his lips are so warm…shouldn't they be cold? *
Clark's heart beat wildly in his chest as his lips slowly caressed Chloe's. Her lips were silken and so soft…Clark wondered how anything could be so soft.
At first, Chloe didn't respond, too shocked, but then her lips began to move of their own accord. * Soo good…even if I am hallucinating…I don't care, because this feels soo good… *
Clark felt a need to touch more of her, to reassure himself that she was, indeed, all right, and his lips moved more fervently against hers.
Chloe matched his rhythm as he pressed more fully against her. She felt one hand rest on her shoulder, while the other traveled up her neck and buried itself in her hair.
Her golden locks where so soft against his farm hewn hands and Clark shivered at the sensation of the strands slipping threw his fingers.
Chloe's own hands started to move and soon one came to rest on his chest, just above his heart. When the slow thumping of his heart beating finally registered in her dazed mind, Chloe gasped and pulled back.
Clark's eyes, which had been closed in pleasure, sprang open.
Chloe's breathing was laboured as she finally realized the truth…* he's alive…Clark's alive… * Chloe didn't stop to analyze the how's and whys of the situation as a brilliant smile lit up her face.
Clark couldn't stop the answering smile that blossomed on his face.
Chloe's eyes sparkled as they searched every inch of his face before locking with his eyes again.
"Clark?"
Clark's smile widened as he nodded, "Yeah, Chlo…it's me."
Chloe laughed suddenly and threw herself at him. Her arms wound around him and held him close as she started crying again.
When he felt the tears start to wet his shirt, Clark became concerned, why was she crying? Wasn't she happy?
"Chlo?"
The concern in her love's voice caught Chloe's attention and she smiled into his shoulder as she replied with a muffled, "I'm fine, Clark. Just happy…very happy."
Clark frowned somewhat, confused again by the mystery that was the female psyche, but held her closer and let her cry, content to have her safe in his arms. His hand cupped the back of her head and stroked her hair lovingly as he listened to her happy murmurings.
Nothing in the world compared to the feeling of holding him again, not after she had believed that he was dead. Nothing. She was so happy in that moment that she felt as if her heart would burst.
Chloe nuzzled Clark's neck and placed a soft kiss there.
Clark felt a shiver of pleasure run down his spine as Chloe's lips met his flesh. He knew that it didn't make sense, but Clark didn't feel like trying to figure any of it out at the moment.
Chloe pulled back slowly, she met his gaze and then her mouth descended on his.
Clark's eyes widened in shock, but they soon closed again with a sigh of pleasure.
Chloe's lips slid across those of the man she loved. She might never have a chance to do it again, and she needed the reassurance that he was alive and all right.
Clark responded to her insistent kisses with those of his own.
They had been through so much in the last few hours; they needed the intimacy of the moment to heal.
Clark's hand cupped her head again and used the leverage to angle her mouth a little as his tongue tentatively snuck out to caress her bottom lip.
Chloe tensed at the feel of Clark's tongue against her closed lips, but soon relaxed again and parted them obligingly, giving him permission to enter.
Clarks tongue slid along her lips and, as they parted, dove inside.
Chloe moaned into the kiss as she felt him slid his tongue along the roof of her mouth, caressing every nook, exploring every hidden corner. Her own tongue moved to meet his and as they met, Clark let out a strangled groan and began moving his mouth more fiercely against hers.
Chloe met Clark thrust for thrust as he lifted her up until she was resting on his lap, her legs on either side of his hips.
One hand buried itself in her hair and the other fell to the small of her back and pressed her more firmly against him.
One of Chloe's hands came to rest at the nape of Clark's neck, while the other slid along the planes of his broad shoulders. She felt the play of muscles beneath her fingers and whimpered in pleasure. * I never want this to end *
Then, all thought was abandoned to the sensations they evoked in one another. It felt so good, so right, so vibrantly alive and wonderful.
They embraced again and again, passionately melding their lips together as sounds of pleasure emerged from their throats. Their hands roamed possessively over each other while their bodies moved restlessly in tandem with the tide of desire flowing through them.
Finally, after what had only seemed like a moment, the couple reluctantly pulled apart.
Both of their chests heaved as they tried to catch their breath and Clark suddenly became acutely aware of two things: one – Chloe had very nice breasts which were currently directly in front of him and two – he had became extremely aroused during the impromptu make out session and Chloe was sitting right on top of the "evidence".
Cheeks flushed and blood roaring in their veins each tried to rein in their raging hormones.
Their foreheads came to rest against one another as their breathing returned to normal.
Suddenly aware of exactly where it was that she was sitting, and whom she had just been kissing, Chloe pulled back, embarrassed. She opened her mouth to apologize, and then remembered that Clark had something to tell her that would explain why he wasn't currently a member of the six feet under club.
Clark saw the play of emotions that flickered across Chloe's face and a thought occurred to him, * She looks thoroughly kissed * and, for some reason, that thought brought with it a swell of pride and possessiveness. Her hair was tousled, her were pupils dilated, her lips were swollen from his kisses and there was a dusting of red along her cheeks.
When Chloe saw the goofy grin that appear on Clark's face she couldn't help but smile back at him as she pushed all thoughts of ripping the man apart to the background for the moment. She had nearly lost him today and she revelled in the warmth that his smile brought to her soul.
The two slightly more-than-friends stayed like that for several moments, just absorbing the simple joy of being close to one another.
The moment was broken, however, when the sound of pounding from the back of the building brought them crashing back down to earth.
Chloe turned a questioning gaze towards the back room, "What was that?"
Clark turned a concerned gaze to Chloe, "Cade?"
A shadow darkened Chloe's features at the mention of the name and she shook her head in the negative.
Clark was confused, "It could be him, Chloe. I didn't see him…he could be anywhere, we…" Chloe cut him off, "He's dead, Clark."
Clark's brow furrowed at that announcement, "Dead? Chloe how do you know?"
Chloe nodded her head in the direction of Cade's still form and when Clark turned back to question her further Chloe interrupted, "I killed him, Clark."
To say that Clark was surprised would have been an understatement, but he wisely kept silent. He didn't know what it was like to kill someone, but he had been very close to it before and he knew that she had a tough time ahead of her. For, as much as she liked to present a "tough-as-nails" exterior, she was sensitive at heart. The knowledge that she had killed someone wasn't something that would just go away.
The pounding returned and it pulled Clark from his reverie. Realization then donned on him as to what the noise was and he stood up, with Chloe still in his arms before he slowly placed her on her feet.
Chloe's eyes had grown impossible large when her once-somewhat-dorky-but-in- a-cute-way-and-couldn't-lift-anything-to-save-his-life friend, easily lifted her up and put her down again without so much as making one sound.
Clark gazed back at Chloe briefly and found her starring up at him, "What?"
"You just lifted me up as if I were a feather."
Clark's brows knit together in confusion as he replied, "And…?"
"And? Clark you couldn't even lift one of the computer monitors at school…"
Clark averted his gaze suddenly and Chloe's eyes narrowed just before she hit him upside the head.
"Owww…what was that for?" Clark looked down at his friend indignantly, even though it hadn't hurt, Clark had gotten used to reacting in that way.
"THAT was for pretending that you couldn't lift the computer monitor, that was for lying to me about something very important, which, I might add, you have yet to disclose to me AND!" Chloe held up a finger to stop Clark from replying, "And…that was for making me think that you were dead."
Clark's gaze softened and he opened his mouth to apologize when the pounding started up again, and this time it was accompanied by voices.
Chloe shook her head, angry now that she had gotten over her initial shock and relief, "Saved by the screams…" With that, Chloe marched past Clark to the back room, not sparring him another glance.
Clark took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair…he was SOO in for it. Chloe was PISSED. * And I thought Cade was scary? Huh, he had nothing on the fury of one petite blond reporter by the name of Chloe Sullivan. *
With that thought in mind, Clark prepared himself for some serious grovelling as he followed Chloe into the back room.
- End Part 9 -