Disclaimer: Nope.

Chapter 25: Secrets, Lies And Betrayal.

Lex hadn't bought a word of it, Catherine could tell.  But she knew that if Lionel found that out it could ruin her chances of ever getting away from Bruce.  All she had to do was pretend until she was back in Gotham, Lionel would have to let Bruce know he had a major share in the company, there was no way that Lionel could just sit back and pretend.

The procedure hadn't taken long, but it had been very stressful, the anaesthetic had made it all seem strange, and there had been no one there when she woke up, not that she'd had expected anyone, it wasn't seemly for Lionel Luthor to hang around abortion clinics.  But it was over, it was done, and if she could hold it together for little while longer she'd be okay.

When Lex entered the room he found his sister in floods of tears.

"What's wrong?"

"You know, well you probably suspect the truth."

"You've been playing Bruce, at Dad's insistence.  Then you got pregnant, and rather than face a life with a man and child you don't really want, you got an abortion."

"That's about it.  I'm evil, aren't I?"  Catherine's tears had stopped and she was taking on her more serious face.

"But what did Dad stand to gain, that's what I don't understand?"

"A substantial amount of Wayne stock.  I had to sign my shares over to him, otherwise he would destroy the company."

"But Wayne have withstood everything he's done so far."

"No, Longridge."

"Congratulations, you're a true Luthor."  Lex said, disgust evident in his voice.

"Yeah, well that's why I have a plan to sort this whole mess out without Daddy getting pissy."

"Yeah, what's that?"

"You'll see.  But I need your help, you have to keep Bruce away until I'm feeling better, and you have to keep Dad under control so he doesn't know what I'm doing."

"If you're playing both ends against the middle you'll end up regretting it."

"I'm not, okay.  Just get me to the mansion, tell Bruce I'm sick, and loan me your girlfriend's investigative skills for a few days."  She smiled at him.

"You're going to screw Dad over aren't you?"

"If I told you it'd spoil the surprise."

Chloe had been more than a little wary of helping Catherine, as she didn't know what she felt about the other girl, especially after Lex's most recent revelation.  Still, she didn't like Lionel and if this was going to cause him trouble Chloe was more than happy to join in the fun.

Chloe spent all her spare time at Lex's helping out, she'd even convinced her father to let her stay for a few days, as company for Catherine, Gabe had agreed since Lex had to go to Metropolis on business, also known as creating a diversion.

Three days later they had enough information for the plan to work, Chloe wished Catherine luck and they said goodbye.  Then the older girl flew to Gotham to await the inevitable.