A/N : Thanx to everyone who reviewed - psychogroupie, Dark Phoenix II, C*h*e*r*r*i*e*s, NickyJean, Merrie, Jenna, AHobbitLassRossie, DramaLexy, Bon, Cassie, jayseeca, Meredith Welling, Gemini, NeeterDilly - great to know so many people are interested in reading more of this.

Now, without further ado, here's chapter 2...

Disclaimer : (Forgot this on chapter 1 - whoops!) None of the characters belong to me.

Lex enjoyed speeding along in a fast car, he always had, but he had learnt recently to be careful, especially after his near fatal accident on the bridge about eighteen months ago. Extra care should've been taken whilst driving with the Nicodemus plant in it's glass casket strapped into the seat next to him, but speed was on Lex's mind. It was not for the thrill of travelling as fast as possible that made him do it this time though, it was fear. He knew that the original Nicodemus was dangerous and there was every possibility that this new incarnation could be even more so. He knew it had to be destroyed, he didn't know how, but it had to be disposed of before it could bring harm to anyone. The old Lex Luthor would not have cared so much. He would have had the doctor use the plant to further his research for him without worrying about any harm he caused, but he had changed. Lex was not the clone of his father that he once was. He had grown into his own man sine his father passed away in the storm less than a year ago. It had effected him so much, he was a very different person now, in many ways. Despite Lex's try at a good deed by destroying the deadly plant the forces were against him tonight.

As his Porsche rounded the corner, a figure caught his eye as it stepped out onto the road. Lex swerved sharply to avoid the person, causing his car to flip over sideways - a complete three hundred and sixty degrees - before landing with a thump the correct way up. Against all the odds, Lex had kept his consciousness but the shock pinned hi to his seat for the time being. His lack of evacuation of the vehicle was to be his downfall. The container that housed the deadly Nicodemus plant was broken, but the flower itself was very much alive. The head of the flower twitched, expelling it's poison into the air and into the unsuspecting face of Lex Luthor.

Chloe thought she was safe enough around these roads. They were normally so quiet, especially this time of day. The sun was starting to set and the dullness of the evening took over from the brightness of the afternoon. The young reporter had been checking out the site after hearing of some unusual activities nearby. Chloe knew that Dr Steven Hamilton had used a barn in this area as a laboratory and was curious to see if it was the suspect doctor creating havoc in the wilderness. She had found nothing useful or interesting at all and she was just making her way out of the woods and onto the road when some maniac had come barrelling around the corner in his Porsche and almost ran her down. She blamed herself when she saw the car swerve and flip over and realised to her horror that she knew the driver - it was Lex.

She ran over to the vehicle, calling his name as she went. He turned when he heard her voice, but did not leave the car.

"Lex, are you okay?" she checked as she reached the open window on the drivers side of the car.

"I'm fine" he told her, smiling now, "how about you?"

"I'm okay" Chloe said slowly, moving back from the door of the car so that Lex could open it and climb out. "Look I'm sorry I stepped out in front of you," she began again, "but I didn't see you coming and -"

"- and I was driving like a maniac" he interrupted her and she was surprised at this honesty from a Luthor, even though Lex had become a better man, honesty and admitting he was wrong were still not his strong points.

"Lex, did you hit your head when the car went over because your acting a little strange?" she asked him, as he continued to stare at her and smile.

"Y'know you're a beautiful young woman, Chloe" was not exactly the answer she had been expecting. She smiled uneasily and thanked Lex for the compliment before trying for a third time to find out what was going on.

'Why were you driving so fast?' was what she planned to say but she got stuck on the word 'why' and eventually changed her question entirely as Lex continued to stare at her with a look that was making her uncomfortable.

"Why, why....why are you looking at me like that?!"

"Like what?" he answered, his grin growing more playful as he tried to act the innocent.

"Okay," Chloe was not in the mood for this right now, "I'm going to start again, I don't know what is going on here and at the moment I don't care, I just want to sort out this mess, so can I borrow your cell phone?" she asked, knowing that Lex would not go anywhere without it.

"It's in my jacket" he told her trying to hide his smile, now. He made no move to get the phone for her and she was growing impatient so she went for his pocket herself - it was only Lex, what could happen?

As she moved toward him to retrieve the phone she found out exactly what could happen. Lex wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. She realised all too quickly what he was trying to do and she reacted fast. In that moment Lex learnt one new thing about Chloe Sullivan - it wasn't only the verbal kind of judo she was good at!

A/N : Please keep reviewing and I will keep updating as quickly as I can.