Chapter 34- Why Won't You Understand???
"What were you thinking?" Clark shouted walking into Lex's study.
"What are you talking about?" Lex asked not looking up from his paper.
"Chloe is lying in a hospital bed right now because of you," Clark growled.
"Oh, that," Lex said in a disinterested tone.
"Yes, that! You did it, Lex. You sent her to the hospital. You broke her wrist. You put those yellow bruises on her arms and back. You! This time you can't blame it on her," Clark shouted.
"How is she?" Lex asked looking up at Clark.
"She's sleeping, but she'll be okay," Clark replied.
"Then what's the problem?" Lex asked.
Clark wanted to scream. "You pushed her down the stairs!"
"Your point?" Lex asked.
"What's wrong with you? Did you not hear me? I had to take Chloe to the emergency room because you beat her," Clark shouted.
"Stop screaming. You said she'll be fine," Lex pointed out.
"Physically maybe, but not mentally. You have no idea what you're doing to her! How can you do this and be okay with it?" Clark asked amazed.
"She's bringing it on herself," Lex explained.
"All you're doing is living up to your father's expectations. You tried so hard to get past that, and now you've become even worse," Clark said trying to control himself. "Chloe should have just let you kill yourself from the inside out!"
"What do you mean 'let?' This was inevitable," Lex said.
"No. You're wrong. That's just what your father wants you to believe. Chloe had faith in you and how do you repay her?" Clark asked. "By sending her to the emergency room."
"Calm down," Lex pressed.
"I can't calm down. The best part of my life is now in the hospital with broken bones and huge bruises that the person I called my best friend put there," Clark said.
"I'm still your best friend," Lex insisted.
"No, Lex is my best friend. You're not Lex. All you see now is the Luthor. You're not Lex anymore," Clark said waling out of the room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Clark? What is it, man?" Pete asked as Clark stormed into the Talon.
"Lex!" Clark fumed.
Lana rushed over to Clark as soon as he came in. "Did he hurt her again?"
"He doesn't care, you guys," Clark said.
"What are you talking about?" Pete asked.
"I went to talk to him about Chloe. He didn't even care. He said as long as she's okay, then nothing's wrong," Clark said.
"Does he know how badly he hurt her?" Lana asked.
"Yes, I made it perfectly clear," Clark said.
"And he still doesn't care?" Pete asked.
"He says that she brought it on herself. He says that what he is becoming is inevitable," Clark said.
"Hey, guys," Chloe said happily. She stopped short when she saw Clark. "What is it?"
Clark immediately softened when Chloe walked in. "Nothing. How are you?"
"I'm fine. A little stiff, but fine," Chloe said stretching her back. "There's something wrong, I know it."
"Clark went to talk to Lex," Lana blurted out. Clark shot her a dirty look.
"And?" Chloe asked sitting next to Clark.
"And it doesn't seem to bother him that he sent you to the emergency room," Pete said ignoring Clark's expression.
"I didn't figure it would. He's never cared before," Chloe said.
"He's never apologized for hurting you?" Lana asked.
"He did the first two times. But when he slapped me he didn't. He didn't even look sorry," Chloe admitted.
"Then why go back to him?" Pete said becoming angry.
"Look at what's he has become. I am trying to save him from himself," Chloe said.
"Come with me," Clark said.
"Where are we going?" Chloe asked.
"We're all going back to talk to Lex," Clark said.
"Clark, is that such a good idea?" Lana asked.
"As long as we're all there Chloe will be safe. He has to see what he did to her," Clark said.
"I'm with you," Pete agreed.
"Clark, I'm not so sure about this," Chloe said.
"You'll be safe, Chlo," Clark assured her.
"That's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried that we'll do more damage than good," Chloe admitted.
"Chloe, he threw you down the stairs after beating you against a wall, how much more damage can he do?" Pete said excitedly.
"Don't ask," Clark warned.
"We can take my car," Pete offered.
"Let me go clock out," Lana agreed.
They were all silent on the way to Lex's. Clark walked into Lex's study first.
"What this time?" Lex asked.
"This," Clark said as Chloe walked in followed by Lana and Pete.
Pete and Lana flanked Chloe in a protective manner.
"Look at her," Clark demanded.
"Yes?" Lex asked.
Clark took Chloe's injured arm. "Look at her arm. You did this," Clark told Lex.
"I'm aware of that," Lex said coolly.
"See the bruises on her face? You did that, too," Clark pointed out tracing the marks on Chloe's face.
"Is there a point to this little shenanigan?" Lex asked.
Clark pulled up Chloe's sleeves. "See these deep bruises on her arms? Three guesses to who did that and the first two don't count."
"I get the picture," Lex said in a bored tone.
"I'm not done yet. Chlo, turn around," Clark said gently.
"Clark," Chloe warned.
"It's okay," Clark said gently turning her. Lana helped him gently raise the back of Chloe's shirt. Her back was covered in yellow, green, and purple bruises. "You did this too."
"Yes, yes. I know all this," Lex said tiredly.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Pete asked his temper flaring.
"Luthors don't explain themselves," Lex answered.
Lana stepped in front of the group. "Lex, why did you do this to her?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"She had to be shown that she couldn't talk to me that way," Lex replied, going against his prior rule.
Lana stepped a few steps closer to Lex. "What way, Lex? How did she talk to you?"
"Lana," Clark warned, fearing for her safety.
"Like she knew the intimate details of my life. She knows nothing," Lex sneered.
"But, she does know," Lana explained.
"No. No one knows. Not even I know," Lex said standing up.
When Lex stood Clark took Lana's wrist and pulled her back.
Lex laughed. "I'm not going to hit her!"
"That's right," Chloe said stepping forward. "Because you only hit me."
Lex laughed again.
"What's so funny? You think my bruises are funny? You think my broken arm is funny? You think it's funny that I lie awake at night tearing myself up trying to find a way to save you from yourself? You think it's funny that when I try to help you I get beaten in return?" Chloe asked close to tears. Pete put an arm around her, but she shrugged him off. "Is it funny that I love you, even though you beat me? Is it funny that I will probably never stop loving you? Is that funny?"
Lex looked shocked.
"I didn't think so," Chloe said wiping away a single tear. "I don't find it funny. Neither does Clark, or Pete, or Lana or anyone else. You know why? Because it isn't funny."
"Do you hear what she's saying?" Clark asked.
Lex couldn't speak.
"Look at how you've hurt her. Not only physically, but emotionally," Lana said.
"She's just worried about you, Lex. Afraid that you'd do something to hurt yourself. That's where she made the mistake, because you won't hurt yourself. You'll only hurt her," Pete spat the words.
When Lex took a step toward them Chloe stepped back so she was pressed against Clark. Pete and Lana stood on either side of her ready to keep Lex away.
"Do you see the fear in her eyes? Is that what you want from the woman who loves you?" Clark asked.
"No," Lex whispered.
"Do you see it now, Lex? Do you see the love mixed in with the fear and pain?" Lana asked.
"All I wanted was to keep you from your father. Just like Pamela and Lillian tried to do. That's all I wanted. Is that too much to ask? Is it too much to ask to try to protect you?" Chloe asked, her voice barely audible.
"No," Lex repeated.
"Then why do you do this to her, Lex? She loves you. I don't know why, but she does. Why do this to her?" Clark asked.
"And 'it's who you are' is no excuse," Lana added.
"I can't help it," Lex said moving closer to the group.
"Yes, you can. When you get angry, instead of throwing Chloe around and beating on her, try walking away," Pete said.
Chloe reached out her good hand to put to Lex's cheek. She didn't say a word, just looked into his eyes.
"Chloe?" Lex asked hesitantly.
"Lex, one more chance. That's all you get. I'm tired of being your personal punching bag. I'm only giving you another chance because I'm sure I can help you. I can only help you if you will calmly talk to me. Don't get upset when I talk about Lionel, Lillian, Pamela or Julian. I will try not to say things to upset you, but some things have to be said," Chloe told him.
Lex nodded and Chloe wrapped him in a hug.
"Next time you do something like this, we're calling the police," Pete warned Lex. "You won't get away with it."
"She shouldn't take you back, but she's a good person. I swear, if you touch her again," Clark said menacingly.
"Clark, let's go," Lana said putting a hand to his chest.
"No, I'm not leaving her here," Clark said adamantly.
"I'll come too, Clark," Chloe said before turning to Lex. "Think about what we said."
Lex nodded and Chloe kissed him before following her friends out of the mansion.
"Why do you keep going back?" Clark asked, his temper flaring.
"I just explained why," Chloe said putting a hand on his arm. "He needs help. If he doesn't get help he will only get worse," Chloe said remembering her dream of Lex's future. She shuddered involuntarily.
"Are you okay?" Lana asked reaching into the back seat to put her hand on Chloe's knee.
"Yeah," Chloe replied shakily.
"What were you thinking?" Pete asked.
"About Lex's future, his destiny. I can't let him turn into that monster that Cassandra saw. I can't," Chloe said shaking her head.
"You can't do it alone. Tell us what you saw," Clark pressed.
"No, not now. Maybe later. Right now it's up to me," Chloe said confidently.
Clark huffed his disapproval but said nothing.
"What were you thinking?" Clark shouted walking into Lex's study.
"What are you talking about?" Lex asked not looking up from his paper.
"Chloe is lying in a hospital bed right now because of you," Clark growled.
"Oh, that," Lex said in a disinterested tone.
"Yes, that! You did it, Lex. You sent her to the hospital. You broke her wrist. You put those yellow bruises on her arms and back. You! This time you can't blame it on her," Clark shouted.
"How is she?" Lex asked looking up at Clark.
"She's sleeping, but she'll be okay," Clark replied.
"Then what's the problem?" Lex asked.
Clark wanted to scream. "You pushed her down the stairs!"
"Your point?" Lex asked.
"What's wrong with you? Did you not hear me? I had to take Chloe to the emergency room because you beat her," Clark shouted.
"Stop screaming. You said she'll be fine," Lex pointed out.
"Physically maybe, but not mentally. You have no idea what you're doing to her! How can you do this and be okay with it?" Clark asked amazed.
"She's bringing it on herself," Lex explained.
"All you're doing is living up to your father's expectations. You tried so hard to get past that, and now you've become even worse," Clark said trying to control himself. "Chloe should have just let you kill yourself from the inside out!"
"What do you mean 'let?' This was inevitable," Lex said.
"No. You're wrong. That's just what your father wants you to believe. Chloe had faith in you and how do you repay her?" Clark asked. "By sending her to the emergency room."
"Calm down," Lex pressed.
"I can't calm down. The best part of my life is now in the hospital with broken bones and huge bruises that the person I called my best friend put there," Clark said.
"I'm still your best friend," Lex insisted.
"No, Lex is my best friend. You're not Lex. All you see now is the Luthor. You're not Lex anymore," Clark said waling out of the room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Clark? What is it, man?" Pete asked as Clark stormed into the Talon.
"Lex!" Clark fumed.
Lana rushed over to Clark as soon as he came in. "Did he hurt her again?"
"He doesn't care, you guys," Clark said.
"What are you talking about?" Pete asked.
"I went to talk to him about Chloe. He didn't even care. He said as long as she's okay, then nothing's wrong," Clark said.
"Does he know how badly he hurt her?" Lana asked.
"Yes, I made it perfectly clear," Clark said.
"And he still doesn't care?" Pete asked.
"He says that she brought it on herself. He says that what he is becoming is inevitable," Clark said.
"Hey, guys," Chloe said happily. She stopped short when she saw Clark. "What is it?"
Clark immediately softened when Chloe walked in. "Nothing. How are you?"
"I'm fine. A little stiff, but fine," Chloe said stretching her back. "There's something wrong, I know it."
"Clark went to talk to Lex," Lana blurted out. Clark shot her a dirty look.
"And?" Chloe asked sitting next to Clark.
"And it doesn't seem to bother him that he sent you to the emergency room," Pete said ignoring Clark's expression.
"I didn't figure it would. He's never cared before," Chloe said.
"He's never apologized for hurting you?" Lana asked.
"He did the first two times. But when he slapped me he didn't. He didn't even look sorry," Chloe admitted.
"Then why go back to him?" Pete said becoming angry.
"Look at what's he has become. I am trying to save him from himself," Chloe said.
"Come with me," Clark said.
"Where are we going?" Chloe asked.
"We're all going back to talk to Lex," Clark said.
"Clark, is that such a good idea?" Lana asked.
"As long as we're all there Chloe will be safe. He has to see what he did to her," Clark said.
"I'm with you," Pete agreed.
"Clark, I'm not so sure about this," Chloe said.
"You'll be safe, Chlo," Clark assured her.
"That's not what I'm worried about. I'm worried that we'll do more damage than good," Chloe admitted.
"Chloe, he threw you down the stairs after beating you against a wall, how much more damage can he do?" Pete said excitedly.
"Don't ask," Clark warned.
"We can take my car," Pete offered.
"Let me go clock out," Lana agreed.
They were all silent on the way to Lex's. Clark walked into Lex's study first.
"What this time?" Lex asked.
"This," Clark said as Chloe walked in followed by Lana and Pete.
Pete and Lana flanked Chloe in a protective manner.
"Look at her," Clark demanded.
"Yes?" Lex asked.
Clark took Chloe's injured arm. "Look at her arm. You did this," Clark told Lex.
"I'm aware of that," Lex said coolly.
"See the bruises on her face? You did that, too," Clark pointed out tracing the marks on Chloe's face.
"Is there a point to this little shenanigan?" Lex asked.
Clark pulled up Chloe's sleeves. "See these deep bruises on her arms? Three guesses to who did that and the first two don't count."
"I get the picture," Lex said in a bored tone.
"I'm not done yet. Chlo, turn around," Clark said gently.
"Clark," Chloe warned.
"It's okay," Clark said gently turning her. Lana helped him gently raise the back of Chloe's shirt. Her back was covered in yellow, green, and purple bruises. "You did this too."
"Yes, yes. I know all this," Lex said tiredly.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Pete asked his temper flaring.
"Luthors don't explain themselves," Lex answered.
Lana stepped in front of the group. "Lex, why did you do this to her?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
"She had to be shown that she couldn't talk to me that way," Lex replied, going against his prior rule.
Lana stepped a few steps closer to Lex. "What way, Lex? How did she talk to you?"
"Lana," Clark warned, fearing for her safety.
"Like she knew the intimate details of my life. She knows nothing," Lex sneered.
"But, she does know," Lana explained.
"No. No one knows. Not even I know," Lex said standing up.
When Lex stood Clark took Lana's wrist and pulled her back.
Lex laughed. "I'm not going to hit her!"
"That's right," Chloe said stepping forward. "Because you only hit me."
Lex laughed again.
"What's so funny? You think my bruises are funny? You think my broken arm is funny? You think it's funny that I lie awake at night tearing myself up trying to find a way to save you from yourself? You think it's funny that when I try to help you I get beaten in return?" Chloe asked close to tears. Pete put an arm around her, but she shrugged him off. "Is it funny that I love you, even though you beat me? Is it funny that I will probably never stop loving you? Is that funny?"
Lex looked shocked.
"I didn't think so," Chloe said wiping away a single tear. "I don't find it funny. Neither does Clark, or Pete, or Lana or anyone else. You know why? Because it isn't funny."
"Do you hear what she's saying?" Clark asked.
Lex couldn't speak.
"Look at how you've hurt her. Not only physically, but emotionally," Lana said.
"She's just worried about you, Lex. Afraid that you'd do something to hurt yourself. That's where she made the mistake, because you won't hurt yourself. You'll only hurt her," Pete spat the words.
When Lex took a step toward them Chloe stepped back so she was pressed against Clark. Pete and Lana stood on either side of her ready to keep Lex away.
"Do you see the fear in her eyes? Is that what you want from the woman who loves you?" Clark asked.
"No," Lex whispered.
"Do you see it now, Lex? Do you see the love mixed in with the fear and pain?" Lana asked.
"All I wanted was to keep you from your father. Just like Pamela and Lillian tried to do. That's all I wanted. Is that too much to ask? Is it too much to ask to try to protect you?" Chloe asked, her voice barely audible.
"No," Lex repeated.
"Then why do you do this to her, Lex? She loves you. I don't know why, but she does. Why do this to her?" Clark asked.
"And 'it's who you are' is no excuse," Lana added.
"I can't help it," Lex said moving closer to the group.
"Yes, you can. When you get angry, instead of throwing Chloe around and beating on her, try walking away," Pete said.
Chloe reached out her good hand to put to Lex's cheek. She didn't say a word, just looked into his eyes.
"Chloe?" Lex asked hesitantly.
"Lex, one more chance. That's all you get. I'm tired of being your personal punching bag. I'm only giving you another chance because I'm sure I can help you. I can only help you if you will calmly talk to me. Don't get upset when I talk about Lionel, Lillian, Pamela or Julian. I will try not to say things to upset you, but some things have to be said," Chloe told him.
Lex nodded and Chloe wrapped him in a hug.
"Next time you do something like this, we're calling the police," Pete warned Lex. "You won't get away with it."
"She shouldn't take you back, but she's a good person. I swear, if you touch her again," Clark said menacingly.
"Clark, let's go," Lana said putting a hand to his chest.
"No, I'm not leaving her here," Clark said adamantly.
"I'll come too, Clark," Chloe said before turning to Lex. "Think about what we said."
Lex nodded and Chloe kissed him before following her friends out of the mansion.
"Why do you keep going back?" Clark asked, his temper flaring.
"I just explained why," Chloe said putting a hand on his arm. "He needs help. If he doesn't get help he will only get worse," Chloe said remembering her dream of Lex's future. She shuddered involuntarily.
"Are you okay?" Lana asked reaching into the back seat to put her hand on Chloe's knee.
"Yeah," Chloe replied shakily.
"What were you thinking?" Pete asked.
"About Lex's future, his destiny. I can't let him turn into that monster that Cassandra saw. I can't," Chloe said shaking her head.
"You can't do it alone. Tell us what you saw," Clark pressed.
"No, not now. Maybe later. Right now it's up to me," Chloe said confidently.
Clark huffed his disapproval but said nothing.