Title: The Virus

Author: NickyJean

Disclaimer: See all those before…not feeling creative right now…

A/N: Tell him, I don't know, think of something cool and tell him I said it. (Buffy in Prophecy Girl).

Chapter 10

They road in silence the rest of the way to the Kent farm. She seemed fine other then being a bit pale. They pulled up to the house and Lex hopped out. Chloe didn't even notice they had stopped until Lex had opened her door. She looked up at him with a mixture of fear and wonder.

Lex: Are you OK? [He offered his hand, reminding her that she was supposed to get out of the car.]

Chloe: Why are we here? What's going on?

Lex: Let's go in a talk OK?

[Chloe practically ran from the car to the porch as Martha opened the door.]

Martha: Chloe, honey are you OK? What's going on? [She turned her attention between Lex and Chloe trying to figure why there was so much tension between the two.

Before she could ask any further questions Clark came speeding up the drive with Lana close behind. They both parked and jumped out of the car yelling questions to each other without making much sense. Pete, with Whitney, close behind came running up to the porch.]

Pete: Are you OK, Chloe? Have you talked to your dad? Do you know where he is?

Chloe: Daddy? What the hell is going on Lex?

Lex: Everyone let's just get inside so we can figure this out.

[Everyone stared at Lex like he was crazy. They were all willing to tell him so until Martha spoke up agreeing with him. With her direction everyone was in the house, seated and waiting. Lex started first.

Lex: Chloe, I got an e-mail from your father saying that both you and he were going to be out of town because of a death in the family. I bumped into Clark and we both reasoned that isn't what happened. I sent Clark to find Mr. Collins and I came to get you.

Clark: Mr. Collins wasn't there. His stuff is still in his room. His car is still at school where Pete dropped him off last night. Most importantly, no one has seen him since last night.

Chloe: When I saw my dad this afternoon he told me he was going to a conference in Omaha because Mr. Matthews couldn't go.

Lex: OK, I going call Matthews and see what I can find out.

Chloe: Lex did you bring your laptop. [He said nothing as he went out to his car and retrieved it.

While Chloe plugged in the computer to the phone outlet and logged on, Clark explained about Mr. Collins and the Virus. She quickly typed her way in to the LuthorCorp files and found her father's e-mail account. She found the one she was looking for and it was signed by Lex. She searched some more and found the plane ticket purchase and the hotel he was supposed to be in. Everything matched the information he gave her before he left for his trip. She then clicked away on the keyboard, entering into Lex's e-mail account and found the letter supposedly by her father, confirming everything Lex had been saying.

Lex: You'll be happy to know both Matthews and your father are together, confused but fine. [Lex saw what Chloe was barely paying attention and noticed the files she had on the laptop. His private, encrypted e-mail files] What the hell are you doing?

Chloe: Don't worry. I'm not snooping. My father didn't send this message but if any hack amateur checked they would have said it came from Dad's computer at my house. I'm tracing it. [She turned seeing Lex turning pale as he realized how easily his computer system can be infiltrated by a child of seventeen. She smiled] Don't panic Lex. Not everyone can do this. I've been hacking into corporate systems since I was ten, you know.

Lex: I'm just glad you're on my side.

Chloe: Why would you believe that? [He gave her a look and caught the hint of a smile that was on her lips.]

Just as she had traced it to the source the computer beeped.

Virus: hello angle. Did you come to play? [The instant message popped up on the screen.]

Clover: What the hell are you doing where's Tom?

Virus: Now, now pretty all in good time. Let's play a game first you stop me and I'll show you where tom is. On your marks….get set ….GO.. Answer your phone…

Before Chloe could type in a response her phone rang in her purse she almost jumped slightly startled.

Clark: What's going on Chloe? [Reading the message over her shoulder.]

Chloe didn't reply as she went to and just answered her phone.

Before she spoke, he began the conversation.

Virus: At this moment I am in LuthorCorp system. I have access to the bank account. I have access to twenty million dollars. Fire wall one down. Do me a favor honey, ask Lex how many firewalls are surrounding his account, I'm only counting seven that really won't…

As he continued to talk Chole put down the phone and pulled out the head set she kept in her purse for her mobile. She jacked it in quickly and placed it on her head.

Chloe: How many firewalls do you have around the LuthorCorp bank accounts?

Lex: What?

Chloe: Virus is in your system trying to get your money. What is your password?

Lex: Are you crazy?

Chloe continued to type on the computer as the Virus taunted her with each success he completed.

Chloe: I don't have time for this, he already has four hundred thousand. [That got a gasp from the audience she had forgotten she had.]

Lex: Damn it. [He got on the phone and called the bank.]

Virus: Tell Lex that I've just disabled the cellular tower needed to make a call all the way to Metropolis.

Lex: The cell won't connect.

Chloe: I know, he's way ahead of you. Don't try the phone here cause I'm on it with the computer. He's at one million.

Lex: Fuck

Martha: Language Alexander.

Lex: [without thinking] Sorry, Mrs. Kent.

Chloe: Million five. Wait I've got him. Dog gone it, I can't reverse the transfer. It's just like….Mrs. Kent what's your favorite charity.

Lex: You can't be serious. [Martha answered and Chloe went to work and Lex knew that he was going to get hell from his father.]

Virus: Very good Chloe I knew you were the one.

Chloe: Where's Tom?

Virus: Go to this website.

She followed his instructions then typed in the password he had given her. There on the screen was Tom, tied to a chair, unconscious. Everyone in the room studied the screen. It was vaguely familiar to Clark and Pete but they couldn't place it…]

Clark and Pete: The power plant [They both announced with certainty.]

Chloe: Makes sense. For the equipment he's using he needs a good power source and it won't be traced out there.

Lex: Also it's a deserted location.

Martha: Clark, you should go check it out.

Lex: I'll go with you.

Martha, Pete, Clark and Chloe: No

Chloe glared at Pete then Clark, as Martha and Pete stared at her with bewilderment.

Lex: But you shouldn't go alone.

Martha: You're right. Pete, why don't you go too?

Lex: My car will get us there faster. I should go.

Pete gave Lex a dirty look, and then noticed how Lex's eyes never really left Chloe. Pete walked to Chloe and stood over her.

Pete: Right Lex. I'll just stay here with Chloe. [He placed his hands on her shoulders and started to massage them.

Chloe caught the mischievous look in Pete's eye and smiled up at him.]

Chloe: Thanks Pete, what would I ever do without you.

Lex couldn't get the keys out of his pocket fast enough. He tossed them purposefully to Pete.

Lex: Just hurry back.

[Pete smirked and Clark gave Lex a weird look, but said nothing. Pete started the car and deliberately sped off at break neck speed.]

~*~

[Pete and Clark stopped about a mile from the house.]

Pete: Super speed right?

Clark: I should be there in five minutes, since I can cut through the woods.

Pete: I'll try and keep up.

~*~

[Lex and Chloe continued to watch the monitor waiting for Clark and Pete to show up. Lex was beginning to get that weird feeling again. He stared at the monitor waiting for it to come again. Then it happened and Chloe saw it at the same moment he did. ]

Lex: It's a trap. The feed is a loop. They're walking into a trap.

[Chloe had already rose and started for the door. She grabbed Lana's keys and raced out the door. Lex saw her intent and gave chase with Whitney close on his heels.

Lex had caught up to her before she could actually reach Lana's pickup.]

Lex: What the hell do you think your doing?

Chloe: I've got to get Pete and Clark. They could be in trouble.

Lex: I'm positive that Clark and Pete can take care of themselves.

Martha: [She came rushing over.] I just talked to Pete. He's on his way back and Clark is at the power plant waiting for the police. [The look in Martha's eyes made Chloe afraid to ask.] I'm sorry honey Mr. Collins is dead. He was electrocuted.

[Chloe collapsed to the ground and Lex dropped down to hold her. Martha muttered something about getting Chloe some water but neither was paying attention. She was blaming herself and he was comforting her. Martha reappeared with water she forced Chloe to drink and held her hand while Lex hugged and rocked her.

Chloe reached her breaking point. She shook off both of them and moved toward the truck again.]

Lex: Where the hell are you going? [Lex was reaching for her but she was being aggravatingly evasive. She was inside the truck by the time he was able to get his hands on her.] You are not leaving here. [He forcefully pulled her out of the truck. Martha, Lana and Whitney were stunned by the anger flashing between the two.]

Chloe: You do not order me around. You do not own me.

Lex: In the absences of your father, I think I do.

Chloe: HA! You don't actually think I would believe for a minute that my father would allow 'you' to be in charge of me do you?

[Lex took out his cell and handed it to her.] Lex: Why don't you call him and ask.

[She threw it across the yard, it collided with the barn and shattered into a billion little pieces. But she was much too angry to be at all remorseful for her action.]

Lex: You are going to pay for that.

Chloe: Bill me. [Then started back for the truck. He beat her there and took the keys from the ignition and threw them to Whitney, standing on the Kent porch. Whitney was thankful for his reflexes otherwise those keys would have smacked him in the forehead.]

Chloe: What the hell is this Lex? I am not your girl of the week. I don't come to your beck and call.

Lex: That has nothing to do with it. You are in danger. Tom is dead and you going off and getting hurt is not a way to bring him back.

Chloe: You don't care about Tom. YOU tried to buy him off. You are nothing but a selfish spoiled little rich boy who stops his foot whenever he doesn't get his way.

Lex: And you are nothing but a spoiled, rash, impetuous little trouble maker who cares more about a story then about the people involved and one of these days you are going to get yourself killed. Well, you can just do it when I'm not around and when you are not my responsibility.

Chloe: I'm not your responsibility now.

Lex: Your father would disagree with you.

Chloe: You have no idea what you are talking about. You are the one that doesn't care about anything but yourself.

Lex: Really, I seem to care enough about you.

Chloe: Like hell you do--- [She was cut off as Lex pulled her into his embrace and kissed her thoroughly, immediately silencing her. Once he released her, their eyes locked.]

Lex: Don't ever say that. You have no idea what I'm feeling. Don't you dare tell me I don't care about you. [The words were deceptively soft and his hand stroked her check as he said them. This time when they kissed, his lips were soft against hers, not punishing like before. She willingly opened to him and their tongues dueled passionately.]

Jonathan: What the hell are you doing Luthor? [Jonathan walked out from the field just as Pete had returned. Both Pete and Jonathan were as shocked as the audience on the porch but Jonathan was the first to get his senses back and rushed over and pulled the 22 year old man away from the 17 year old girl.

Chloe regained her wits as soon as she lost the heat from Lex's body. Lex, on the other hand, was still reeling from the kiss as Jonathan shoved him toward the barn.

Martha shoved Whitney a little asking him to make sure Jonathan didn't kill Lex. Whitney may have gone through boot camp but that look in Jonathan's eyes told him nothing was going to stop him from doing what he was going to do. Martha called out for Pete too, motioning for him to follow as well and Pete did so without comment.

Lana and Martha rushed to Chloe's side pulling the stunned girl into the house. Chloe's eyes never left the barn.

Martha: Don't worry, I'm sure they will be fine. Let's get you inside so and get some hot chocolate in you.

~*~