Title: The Virus
Author: NickyJean
Summary: Something from Chloe's past comes back to "shock" her. It's a Chlex story. They may not get totally together but there are definite bonding issues.
Disclaimer: I own them, I own them all. Yes I have every single one of the garbage pail kids. Oh, these guys…no of course not…silly they are owned by DC and WB and XYZ,….LOL
Chapter 5
[The silver Ferrari pulled in front of the large manor he once dreaded but now adored. He once thought of this place as the punishment that his father meant it to be. At least he did until that fateful day. That day that Clark saved his life.
Now he was just grateful. Grateful to be alive. Grateful that he was there in time to save Jonathan Kent's life and finally earn his respect. Grateful for the fact that for once, on that dreadful day, he DID NOT hesitate. Not like when he 'omitted' the truth with Clark. Not like when his father was in one of the weakest moments of his life. That time there was no hesitation.
He often thought of that moment. The reporter he 'hired' must have known something to be willing to kill Jonathan. But it never entered his mind. Or it did and he didn't care. The only thing that raced through his mind was that this man, Jonathan, was the best father he had ever met. That this world didn't deserve to lose him. Not his wife, not his son and not even himself. Sure Lex meant nothing to him but Jonathan meant a lot to Lex.
He walked into the foyer as his butler Matthew took his coat. ]
Matthew: Your guest has arrived. He is in the study.
Lex: Thank you. Make sure we are not disturbed.
[Lex walking into the room expecting his prey to be put off slightly by the unexpected request of his presence but Lex's day wasn't going half the way he expected it too so why would this moment be any different.
Tom: You summoned me m' Lord. [Tom who was already standing next to the books looking through the selection. He turned and gave Luther a mock bow.] To what do I owe this benevolent honor?
Lex: I think you know but we will get to the point because I've put off enough business for today.
Tom: All work and no play…What don't you think a few companies would appreciate the reprieve of being taken over today because you were to busy playing golf or something.
Lex: I run a fertilizing plant. Hardly the means of being the swooping vulture of my father. But enough pleasantries, how much?
Tom: How much what? [He knew where Lex was going with this but he wanted to make him admit it.]
Lex: How much to get out of town and never darken our door again?
Tom: Hey, I'll undarken your door for free. Bye [and he turned to leave]
Lex: How much to disappear from Chloe's life?
Tom: Now we get to it. [Tom turned to face Lex, giving him a cold smile] How much is it worth to you. Or should I say how much is 'she' worth to you.
Lex: Name your price and we'll see.
Tom: Five thousand.
[Lex didn't even blink but reached into his desk and pulled out stacks of bills. Tom choked, but covered quickly.]
Tom: Ten thousand.
Lex: [he looked at Tom, slightly perturbed] You said five.
Tom: I underestimated her worth to me. The question is again what is her worth to you.
Lex: [He only faltered a moment before clearing out his drawer and walking to his safe and withdrawing more money. He placed it in a brief case that he retrieved from the closet.] Fine but no good byes. Just disappear into the night.
[Tom just stood there with a small smirk, shaking his head.]
Tom: What's going on here? Why are you doing this?
Lex: I have good instincts and they tell me you are trouble. I want you away from her. Far away.
Tom: [He sighed as he took the brief case] I hope your instincts are wrong this time.
Lex: With you leaving town we never really have to know do we?
Tom: [He flashed Lex an angry glare] My instincts are usually right too. They're telling me there's more to this then you're saying. What is it you want from Chloe?
Lex: I'm not about to confess my soul to a man willing to take a bribe.
[Lex's words were condescending but Tom only focused on the important bit of information.]
Tom: I didn't know a Luthor had a soul to confess. But hey, if there were a chance of one, my Clover would find it.
Lex: [refusing to remark on the insight] Thank you for stopping by. [He walked around to his desk and started working effectively dismissing him]
Tom: I know, I know. Don't let the door hit my ass on the way out. [Lex looked up in time to see the second mocking bow] By – your – leave – m'lord. [Then, Tom left the room a bit financially better off then before.
Lex worked at his desk for a moment, but it was futile. All he could think of was Chloe. He knew that once he had her, the thrill would be gone and he could go back to business as usual. Gone would be the sexual tension and they could return to the comfortable, familiar, snarking between not so friendly friends.
Lex: *It's not like I would actually be using her. She would get what she wants. I would definitely be getting what I want. It will be a perfectly acceptable arrangement. Like she said I'm a born womanizer. I'll make her first time everything she dreamed it would be. Hell, I'll do the same with her second, third, fourth, and fifth. How many times it takes to get that girl out of my system.
It has to be the conquest thing. I mean that's the only explanation. I don't even know when this started. Well that's not true. It happened when we first met. She [Pause] just didn't fear me. She didn't want me. She treated me the way I truly deserved to be treated. Like a spoiled child. [He laughed at the memory]
Then I started to worry about her when she fell from my window. Even when she was held with Clark and the others at the plant. Clark, I wasn't so worried about him. He's got the luck of the Irish for not really being Irish. But Chloe, trouble seems to stalk her. That must be why she's such a good reporter. The stories find her.
Well, at least one problem is taken care of. I won't have to worry about Mr. Collins seeing Chloe again. *
~*~
Chloe: [looked at the clock 5:15] *Where the hell is he? *
[All sorts of possible disasters ran through her mind. He could have been hurt, arrested. Her eyes grew wide. He could have been killed. She got up and started to pace.
Chloe: What am I going to do? [She repeated over and over again.]
Tom: Do about what Babygirl?
Chloe: Where the hell were you? I was going out of my mind.
Tom: I got caught up making reservations. We'll talk about it after you tell me what you need.
[There was a quick explanation mostly because Tom didn't require her to go into details that she wouldn't have explained anyway. After an hour the job was completed.]
Chloe: Thanks Tom. I'm glad you came.
Tom: Don't mention it. But I have to tell you something. Completely unrelated. [He had Chloe's complete attention.] Lex Luthor paid me to get out of town.
Chloe: [Her face fell] What?
Tom: Yeah, ten thousand dollars. I think he likes you.
Chloe: Likes me? LIKES ME? He's trying to buy my friends off.
Tom: Yeah, I know for a Luthor that's some serious lovin' [he was trying so very unsuccessfully not to laugh.] What are you going to do with your share? [He laid the brief case on the table and opened it.]
Chloe: You took the money. Tom how could you? I thought we were friends.
Tom: I believe my instructions were to not even give you a good bye but disappear into the night.
Chloe: [Realization stuck] Then what are you doing here?
Tom: I don't take orders from some sniveling rich boy. [He said with a snort]
Chloe: But the money….
Tom: Is yours, except for two thousand, which I thought I might be needing, with my credit so bad. You don't mind do you? I mean I'll give it all to you if you're mad at me.
Chloe: No, not mad, confused, not mad. Why would you take the money if you weren't planning on doing what he wanted you to do?
Tom: What's he going to do sue me for breach of contract? Have me arrested for trespassing on property he apparently wants real badly?
Chloe: That man does not want me.
Tom: That man gave me ten thousand dollars. [In deep thought] How much did that Julia Roberts chick get in Pretty Woman?
Chloe: Hey, watch it…[she laughed for a moment]..I am soooo going to kill him.
Tom: Don't be too hard on him. He didn't know who he was dealing with. Not too mention, falling from the Luthor family tree he probably didn't know any better.
Chloe: I can't believe you are defending him. What is it with the men in my life? First Clark, then you and Lex. What the hell?
Tom: What about Clark?
Chloe: Don't change the subject.
Tom: Not changing we'll get back to it. Tell me about the guy you actually like.
[It all came out of her in a flood of emotion. How hopeful she was, how hurt she felt. The pain of being deserted. She was almost in tears when Tom stood up and looked at her, holding out his hand.]
Tom: Come here, I know what will cheer you up.
~*~
Lex entered the school building. The dark halls were far from inviting but it was voices that he recognized that filled him with dread. Clark, Pete, and Lana were waltzing down the hall heading toward him.
Clark: Hey Lex, what are you doing here?
Lex: I promised Ms. Sullivan a follow up interview and I came to set something up.
Pete: Funny, Mrs. Jacobs wanted me to give Chloe an assignment since she was interviewing you during she missed class.
[Lex knew Pete knew more then he was letting on but he didn't let it show.]
Lex: I took Ms. Sullivan by surprise and her notes weren't completely in order. We mostly discussed things that we both wanted to explore with a more in-depth during this interview. So what are you doing here so late?
Clark: Chloe said she needed me to pick something up and then we're all going to go to the Beanery, while Chloe puts the paper to bed.
Pete: Yeah, Chloe's going to be really busy right now. Why don't we let her know you stopped by and she can call you at a better time?
[Clark and Lana couldn't help but notice the tension between the two. It was actually worse then normal.
Whatever fight they were about to witness stopped short as they heard music floating from the editor's office.
Lana: Oh, I love this song. [Her voice was a soft whisper as she silently walked to the door. Her mouth dropped open at her view.
There was Chloe and Tom slow dancing to the song. Chloe smiling up sweetly and him smiling to he sang the words to the Lady in Red. He spun her gracefully in his arms and dipped her as she giggled slightly.
Everyone was frozen in the hall watching the two moved to the music.
After the music faded into the background, Tom looked down at Chloe and kissed her on the cheek unaware of the on lookers. Well he was until Lex flipped out.]
Lex: Get the hell away from her.
Chloe: LEX LUTHOR HOW DARE YOU COME HERE!
Lex: [ignoring Chloe's outrage.] We had a deal. What the hell are you doing?
Tom: [With a look of shock] What deal? [Lex practically sputtered and everyone else was too confused to noticed.] Oh, and by the way thank you for the lovely donation to Chloe's scholarship fund.
[Lex was speechless, (A/N that seems to happen a lot lately LOL) and just stared at the brief case.]
Chloe: Don't fret Lex, you'll get your damn money back.
Tom: Like hell, he wants to be an ass let him. But he is not getting that money back. If I have to give it to your father myself I will. Of course it would be difficult to explain.
Clark: What's going on?
Lex: [panicked] Chloe, I can explain.
Chloe: No you can't. But we are going to talk. [And she started to shove him out the door. It slammed behind her, as the others stood frozen in the room. Tom focused on Pete]
Tom: Make sure she doesn't give that money back. No matter what.
Lana: What happened here?
Tom: I'm sure you'll all find out soon.
Pete: [he just smiled] yeah, Chloe's voice carries. [True enough the conversation at least one sided drifted through the door. But Pete was wishing that at the moment he remained clueless.]
~*~
Chloe: My you've been a busy little bee, haven't you. Let's see, starting last night you made it you're business to interfere with my life. It started with you butting in between Clark and me. Then, you spying on my friend and I having a private conversation. You drive me home only to kiss me for some un-Godly reason. Next you spend the rest of the night coming up with as much dirt as you possibly can find on said friend just so you can present it my other friends. Then you pretend to be judge and jury of my friend like someone really gives a damn. Next you take the time to spy on me again with Pete. After which, you drag me off into some closet looking for your damn file. By the way Clark and Lana had it. She told me all about it. Then while in said closet you practically seduce me. Only to leave me to keep an appointment with, again, said friend to pay him off. Then finally you have the nerve to show up here like nothing's wrong, so you can take me out on some date that now sure as hell ain't happening. Did that about cover it?
Lex: Well he took the money. [He sounded almost desperate.]
Chloe: Which he gave all to me with a full explanation except for two thousand that I think he earned just for being insulted by you. TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS, what the hell were you thinking.
Lex: I just didn't want to see you hurt.
Chloe: Oh, you mean like right now, when someone I was slowly becoming involved with and starting to trust betrayed me. That kind of hurt.
[Lex swallowed hard. This was all wrong. This went very badly. And no amount of damage control or apologies were going to fix it.]
Lex: I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you some how, [He seemed like a defeated child but it didn't faze Chloe]
Chloe: This, this is not about you. There are no sorries. No explanations. This is about me. Me getting out my rant so I can move on with my life. And in part of that, I never EVER want to see you again. Not professionally for some story. Not socially when Clark's around. Not ever. If you see me coming jump in that little sports car of yours and go in the other direction. This is about me telling you to get the hell out of my life. Good bye Lex.
Lex: Chloe—
Chloe: Good bye. [With that she entered the room where her friends were standing astonished at what they had overheard and she didn't even look at them as she went to her computer and finished up the last of the paper.
Clark was red and it wasn't embarrassment at what he heard. It was pure rage. He looked at Chloe, who still hadn't looked at him or anyone else and then at Lana who just looked with sad eyes at Chloe. Clark couldn't stop himself any longer and stalked from the room slamming the door behind him. Luckily he had the piece of mind not to use his real strength or he would have torn it from his hinges. ]
Tom: What's wrong with him?
Pete: He was kind of hoping to get back with Chloe.
Tom: I don't think so. [His face held such disgust that Lana was taken aback.]
Lana: What do you have against Clark?
Tom: Other then he ditched her at the school dance.
Lana: He did it to save my life.
Tom: Yeah well, he's also in love with you and not Chloe so forgive me if I only want what's best for her.
[Before Lana could protest, Chloe spoke up]
Chloe: Still in the room. And I really would like you all to leave please. The sooner I get this done the sooner I will be able get home and have a carton of chocolate ice cream.
Tom: Sure honey. Listen I'm going to take the money and Pete and I will put it in a safe place.
[After everyone left the room, Chloe pushed back in her chair, as far her wheels would take her. Her hands went to her face and the tears flowed freely. ]
~*~
[Clark used all his self-discipline not to use his super speed to catch up to Lex who actually hadn't left the building. He stood in the archway looking slightly destroyed. ]
Lex: Why did you save my life?
Clark: [taken back by the question but still angry he growled] You know why.
Lex: Yes I do, it's because you are a good person. You do everything right without question. I, on the other hand have to be the second most manipulative man I know. Second only to my father. So how is it that neither of us are good enough for Chloe. I at least thought you would have a chance but God, the look in her eye whenever you walk into a room. How could you do that to her? Even if it was for the right reasons. I mean she loves you so much.
Clark: Are you saying I should have let Lana die?
Lex: No of course not. But you didn't really know she was in danger. How could you? What if you went home first? You would have been with your family. Would you have left them for some hunch?
Clark: What's this all about?
Lex: I didn't want to hurt her. I wanted to protect her. I was following my hunch and it still hurt her. And I'm so, so damn sorry and for once in my life I don't know how to fix it.
Clark: Why are you trying to fix it? You know how I feel about Chloe.
Lex: [He almost snarled at Clark] I know how you 'want' to feel about her but you really feel that way about Ms. Lang don't you. You can't love them both and you haven't stopped loving Lana yet. So don't get too self rightous. I've done nothing that you wouldn't do, given half a chance, with Lana, despite Whitney. [Clark's eyes grew wide and he was about to trottle the older man, when Lex felt immediate remorse for his words.] I'm sorry I didn't mean it. I'm just lashing out. I've hurt my best friend and I hurt Chloe. I think I should get home before my day gets any worse.
He walked into the darkness but was stopped by a hand.
Lex: Clark, don't—
Tom: I think we should talk.
Lex: [He wanted to go into a rage but he was emotionally wiped after Chloe's tirade.] I think Chloe reamed me enough for the both of you. So I'll just be on my way.
Tom: That just it. She's mad now, give her some time. She'll get over it. When you do make your move don't buy her anything. Using any of your money to do anything for her right now would just [Pause] not work.
Lex: Why are you telling me this?
Tom: I can tell you feel something for her. Just because you don't know the first step in showing it doesn't mean that you're totally hopeless. [Tom starts to leave and catch up with Pete and the others. But turns back to Lex.] One more thing. No matter what she keeps that money. She deserves to go to a good school.
Lex: Of course, Nice meeting you Tom.
Tom: You too. And may the best man win.
~*~
Tom walked to his car after Pete had dropped him off. The money was in a safe place until Chloe could finally be trusted to use it for school. The night was silent and the moon didn't provide as much light as you would expect.
Tom turned at the snap of a twig. He thought he heard more but as he waited the silence spanned. Reassured he continued. Out of no where a body collided with his and he hit the ground with a thud. A needle penetrated his skin and he felt instant grogginess.
Voice: No one takes my money and gets away with it.
Tom: Lex? [Trying to make out the figure as his eyes continued to fog over. Then all went black.]
~*~
A/N: This is dedicated to my husband Dan. The guy that sacrifices his sanity to watch soaps with me and constantly commented on the stupidity of characters…of course only those I already don't like. He's the one that constantly suggests that if someone's going to give you money to see or not see some one. Take the money and tell the other person involve. Split the money (after all its only polite) and then do what you were going to do anyway. What are they going to do sue you? Kill you? If they were going to do that they wouldn't have wasted the money…LOL LOTZ OF LUV TO ALL