Disclaimer: Don't own them, but the list is growing for things I could do
to a few of them.
A/N: Thank-you's to perejil_tuk (if you enjoy the humour, I think you'll enjoy chap 5, it's almost done!), HumbugGirl, Kristina, scifichick774, Millie, and NickyJean, you guys rock! To twirlwriter big thank-you!!!! To Weugene (email) thank-you for the support and the information, I really needed that!
Chapter 4: Open and shut suitcase?
Lex couldn't stop thinking about Chloe. The look in her eyes yesterday before he passed out and then when he woke up in the hospital, she genuinely cared about him. His mother used to look at him like that. She cared about him without strings, not just because he was her son, but because of the wonderful woman she was. Chloe had that same kind of heart. Honest and good.
Which made her lying to him that much harder to take. He knew she was holding something back. Of course his father had burst in the room. Lex liked Chloe, even considered her a friend. He thought she was learning to trust him. For some reason he couldn't tell, that seemed to matter to him, a lot, but was not something he was willing to dwell on.
Once home his father found out that yesterday's beating was payback for something in his past so he'd locked himself in his suite for a few hours. Not that Lex had minded the time alone, when Lionel finally emerged Lex had just mentioned his Mother's necklace would suit Chloe, Lionel then insisted on taking the necklace to Chloe at the Kent's place, personally.
Mrs. Kent had mentioned that Chloe would be having dinner with them last night when they were at the hospital. Lex understood a chance to rub the Luthor money in Jonathon Kent's face was also an attractive bonus. Lex smirked 'If only his father had learned to use his powers for good.'
A knock on the office door tore Lex from his musings.
"Enter"
"Sorry for the interruption sir, there's a Miss Chloe Sullivan wishing to see you. Should I show her in?"
The elderly servant always looked like he was afraid Lex may yell "Off with his head" at any moment. Lex couldn't remember torturing any of the staff at the manor, but that didn't rule it out, there were a couple of teenaged years that were rather fuzzy.
"Yes Stevens, and after if you could have coffee for us sent up please." The elder man nodded and then quickly retreated. Lately Lex had the urge to yell Boo! at him, but was afraid that he might actually harm the old man.
Chloe peeked in looking slightly unsure. Coming out from behind the door Lex was momentarily stunned when he saw her. She was wearing the necklace. He'd been right, it looked perfect on her. Wearing a modest dark grey skirt, and a light creme stretch knit top Chloe looked beautiful and sophisticated, hinting at the future woman she would become. Lex regained his senses, "Chloe you look lovely, is this a social call or is this business?" Chloe looked at Lex taking stock, some of the swelling had gone but the bruises still marred his face. Chloe had an incredible urge to stroke his face and kiss it better.
'Please let that be some kind of twisted maternal instinct' Chloe prayed to no one in particular asking "How do you feel?"
"Like I had the tar kicked out of me." Lex realized his mistake the moment after he'd said it.
"Tar? Oh man, that's so on my Hee Haw list of phrases you cannot say and remain cool! Lex I thought better of you."
Lex smirked at Chloe's snark and it's accompanying evil grin.
"I apologize it must be my weakened condition." Lex used what for him passed as a puppy dog look, adding a little cough for good measure.
"Nice try Luthor, I wanted to talk to you about yesterday if you felt up to it?" Chloe raised an eyebrow in mock challenge.
"I may have to lie down but I'll try to keep up." Lex crossed his fingers steeple fashion in front of himself and leaned further back into his large chair. "Please sit down Miss Sullivan, tell me what's on your mind."
"I wanted to apologize for lying to you yesterday." Chloe stared the young man right in the eyes. "I should have told the Police that I knew the license plate. The man with the beard is Colin Arbor according to Kansas DMV. I just wanted a chance to figure this out but I don't want to do it at your expense."
Lex looked at her with furrowed brows. "At my expense?"
"Colin Arbor said this wasn't over Lex, on the off chance that this is some evil twisted hayseed mind devised plot to get at your father through you I wouldn't want to keep information from you that could help protect you."
A knock at the door stopped further conversation for the moment and in came an attractive maid with a coffee tray. She walked across the room and placed the tray on the coffee table making sure to bend over while pouring and it wasn't her eyes she was flashing at Lex.
Chloe actually waited till Lex told the woman "that will be all" and she heard the door close before she proceeded to start laughing, hard. At first Lex thought Chloe was crying or having a seizure. Her shoulders started shaking, and she was attempting to place her head between her legs. She brought her hand to her mouth. Lex finally asked "Chloe are you.." That was as far as he got before Chloe slid out of the chair unto the floor. Lex who had run around the desk in his concern didn't know what to think when he kneeled down beside an almost hysterical Chloe.
She was laughing so hard he didn't know how she was getting any oxygen. He smiled at her. 'Not many people could fall to his floor in laughter and do it with such style.' Trying to breath and explain herself to Lex at the same time Chloe managed. "She grb diss Benskibpip." while losing control and laughing for another 5 minutes. Lex got comfortable and sat down leaning against his desk still watching Chloe, now with tears streaming down her face writhe around on his floor.
"You know to the outside world it could look like I'm involved in some form of torture against you."
Really concentrating Chloe drew in and out slowly. Once her breathing returned to somewhat normal and she felt safe that she wouldn't lose control again Chloe tried to explain herself with out looking like a complete fool. Or at least not a bigger one. "I know this will seem weird but have you ever watched Benny Hill?"
"Are you referring to the old British comedy show with the little old bald guy that Benny Hill used to pat on the head while chasing down voluptuous women who always seemed to lose articles of their clothing?"
Chloe gave out a little chuckle. "Yeah that's the one, had a vision of your father patting that little guy that showed me in on the head, and don't forget Miss Subtle that just left. I hope she was wearing panties, but I so do not want that confirmed or denied. How do you deal with that whole Master and servant game?"
Lex's mask of cool indifference slipped quickly in to place. "Master and servant isn't a game for me, it's my life." Lex quickly got up and crossed to the bar pouring himself a small measure of Scotch into a tumbler. Sipping the bitter amber liquid and sinking into it's bite he was a little surprised to find Chloe right behind him when he turned around.
"Lex please don't give me the closed door treatment. I'm sorry if I said something to offend you but I certainly never meant to. I judge you on your own merits Lex, I'd like the same courtesy. You need to stop taking everything so personally, at least when it comes to me. You know I speak before I think." Chloe looked Lex in the eye.
Lex looked into eyes that saw him as he really was. Just a young guy trying to define himself and create an identity separate from his father. Like most men his age. His father's arms length treatment of Lex had left scars that were long and very, very deep. Ones that unknowingly most could easily reopen. Chloe's words were like a healing salve. "I'm sorry too Chloe, I knew you had lied to me yesterday. Your index finger on your left hand twitches when you fib." Lex smiled widely.
"Then you tell me what you already know and we can call it even." Chloe smiled back at Lex and took the tumbler from his hand.
Lex expected her to take a sip, surprised when she poured it back into the decanter.
"It's too early and anyways we're having lunch with your father in like ten minutes so you might want to get the Colin Arbor file from your desk quickly."
Lex tried to feign innocence, and then threw his hands up in the air and walked back to his desk and picked up a fax which he handed to Chloe. Chloe took the papers and started reading them.
Lex chuckled "How'd you know?"
Chloe didn't even glance up from the fax. "Oh, I could come up with something smart I heard off of Law and Order, but I really just saw his name on a piece of paper on your desk." Chloe finally looked up at Lex, "What does this mean?" Chloe looked to Lex for answers.
"It means Miss Sullivan that after lunch you'll have to go home and pack, we're going on a road trip."
A/N: Thank-you's to perejil_tuk (if you enjoy the humour, I think you'll enjoy chap 5, it's almost done!), HumbugGirl, Kristina, scifichick774, Millie, and NickyJean, you guys rock! To twirlwriter big thank-you!!!! To Weugene (email) thank-you for the support and the information, I really needed that!
Chapter 4: Open and shut suitcase?
Lex couldn't stop thinking about Chloe. The look in her eyes yesterday before he passed out and then when he woke up in the hospital, she genuinely cared about him. His mother used to look at him like that. She cared about him without strings, not just because he was her son, but because of the wonderful woman she was. Chloe had that same kind of heart. Honest and good.
Which made her lying to him that much harder to take. He knew she was holding something back. Of course his father had burst in the room. Lex liked Chloe, even considered her a friend. He thought she was learning to trust him. For some reason he couldn't tell, that seemed to matter to him, a lot, but was not something he was willing to dwell on.
Once home his father found out that yesterday's beating was payback for something in his past so he'd locked himself in his suite for a few hours. Not that Lex had minded the time alone, when Lionel finally emerged Lex had just mentioned his Mother's necklace would suit Chloe, Lionel then insisted on taking the necklace to Chloe at the Kent's place, personally.
Mrs. Kent had mentioned that Chloe would be having dinner with them last night when they were at the hospital. Lex understood a chance to rub the Luthor money in Jonathon Kent's face was also an attractive bonus. Lex smirked 'If only his father had learned to use his powers for good.'
A knock on the office door tore Lex from his musings.
"Enter"
"Sorry for the interruption sir, there's a Miss Chloe Sullivan wishing to see you. Should I show her in?"
The elderly servant always looked like he was afraid Lex may yell "Off with his head" at any moment. Lex couldn't remember torturing any of the staff at the manor, but that didn't rule it out, there were a couple of teenaged years that were rather fuzzy.
"Yes Stevens, and after if you could have coffee for us sent up please." The elder man nodded and then quickly retreated. Lately Lex had the urge to yell Boo! at him, but was afraid that he might actually harm the old man.
Chloe peeked in looking slightly unsure. Coming out from behind the door Lex was momentarily stunned when he saw her. She was wearing the necklace. He'd been right, it looked perfect on her. Wearing a modest dark grey skirt, and a light creme stretch knit top Chloe looked beautiful and sophisticated, hinting at the future woman she would become. Lex regained his senses, "Chloe you look lovely, is this a social call or is this business?" Chloe looked at Lex taking stock, some of the swelling had gone but the bruises still marred his face. Chloe had an incredible urge to stroke his face and kiss it better.
'Please let that be some kind of twisted maternal instinct' Chloe prayed to no one in particular asking "How do you feel?"
"Like I had the tar kicked out of me." Lex realized his mistake the moment after he'd said it.
"Tar? Oh man, that's so on my Hee Haw list of phrases you cannot say and remain cool! Lex I thought better of you."
Lex smirked at Chloe's snark and it's accompanying evil grin.
"I apologize it must be my weakened condition." Lex used what for him passed as a puppy dog look, adding a little cough for good measure.
"Nice try Luthor, I wanted to talk to you about yesterday if you felt up to it?" Chloe raised an eyebrow in mock challenge.
"I may have to lie down but I'll try to keep up." Lex crossed his fingers steeple fashion in front of himself and leaned further back into his large chair. "Please sit down Miss Sullivan, tell me what's on your mind."
"I wanted to apologize for lying to you yesterday." Chloe stared the young man right in the eyes. "I should have told the Police that I knew the license plate. The man with the beard is Colin Arbor according to Kansas DMV. I just wanted a chance to figure this out but I don't want to do it at your expense."
Lex looked at her with furrowed brows. "At my expense?"
"Colin Arbor said this wasn't over Lex, on the off chance that this is some evil twisted hayseed mind devised plot to get at your father through you I wouldn't want to keep information from you that could help protect you."
A knock at the door stopped further conversation for the moment and in came an attractive maid with a coffee tray. She walked across the room and placed the tray on the coffee table making sure to bend over while pouring and it wasn't her eyes she was flashing at Lex.
Chloe actually waited till Lex told the woman "that will be all" and she heard the door close before she proceeded to start laughing, hard. At first Lex thought Chloe was crying or having a seizure. Her shoulders started shaking, and she was attempting to place her head between her legs. She brought her hand to her mouth. Lex finally asked "Chloe are you.." That was as far as he got before Chloe slid out of the chair unto the floor. Lex who had run around the desk in his concern didn't know what to think when he kneeled down beside an almost hysterical Chloe.
She was laughing so hard he didn't know how she was getting any oxygen. He smiled at her. 'Not many people could fall to his floor in laughter and do it with such style.' Trying to breath and explain herself to Lex at the same time Chloe managed. "She grb diss Benskibpip." while losing control and laughing for another 5 minutes. Lex got comfortable and sat down leaning against his desk still watching Chloe, now with tears streaming down her face writhe around on his floor.
"You know to the outside world it could look like I'm involved in some form of torture against you."
Really concentrating Chloe drew in and out slowly. Once her breathing returned to somewhat normal and she felt safe that she wouldn't lose control again Chloe tried to explain herself with out looking like a complete fool. Or at least not a bigger one. "I know this will seem weird but have you ever watched Benny Hill?"
"Are you referring to the old British comedy show with the little old bald guy that Benny Hill used to pat on the head while chasing down voluptuous women who always seemed to lose articles of their clothing?"
Chloe gave out a little chuckle. "Yeah that's the one, had a vision of your father patting that little guy that showed me in on the head, and don't forget Miss Subtle that just left. I hope she was wearing panties, but I so do not want that confirmed or denied. How do you deal with that whole Master and servant game?"
Lex's mask of cool indifference slipped quickly in to place. "Master and servant isn't a game for me, it's my life." Lex quickly got up and crossed to the bar pouring himself a small measure of Scotch into a tumbler. Sipping the bitter amber liquid and sinking into it's bite he was a little surprised to find Chloe right behind him when he turned around.
"Lex please don't give me the closed door treatment. I'm sorry if I said something to offend you but I certainly never meant to. I judge you on your own merits Lex, I'd like the same courtesy. You need to stop taking everything so personally, at least when it comes to me. You know I speak before I think." Chloe looked Lex in the eye.
Lex looked into eyes that saw him as he really was. Just a young guy trying to define himself and create an identity separate from his father. Like most men his age. His father's arms length treatment of Lex had left scars that were long and very, very deep. Ones that unknowingly most could easily reopen. Chloe's words were like a healing salve. "I'm sorry too Chloe, I knew you had lied to me yesterday. Your index finger on your left hand twitches when you fib." Lex smiled widely.
"Then you tell me what you already know and we can call it even." Chloe smiled back at Lex and took the tumbler from his hand.
Lex expected her to take a sip, surprised when she poured it back into the decanter.
"It's too early and anyways we're having lunch with your father in like ten minutes so you might want to get the Colin Arbor file from your desk quickly."
Lex tried to feign innocence, and then threw his hands up in the air and walked back to his desk and picked up a fax which he handed to Chloe. Chloe took the papers and started reading them.
Lex chuckled "How'd you know?"
Chloe didn't even glance up from the fax. "Oh, I could come up with something smart I heard off of Law and Order, but I really just saw his name on a piece of paper on your desk." Chloe finally looked up at Lex, "What does this mean?" Chloe looked to Lex for answers.
"It means Miss Sullivan that after lunch you'll have to go home and pack, we're going on a road trip."