**Author's note: If anyone read the last chapter before I edited the first author's note, I am excepting anonymous reviews again.
Clark put the truck in park after stopping in front of Lana's house. He gripped the top of the steering wheel with his right hand as he turned to look at her. There were no tears on her face, just an expression that made her look tired.
"Thanks for the ride, Clark." She opened her door and put one foot on the ground, but paused when Clark shut off the engine. "You don't have come inside, I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" He understood if she wanted to be alone, he just didn't think that she should be. "I mean I could..." He could what?
Lana shook her head. "No, that's OK. Don't worry about me." She closed the door and started to walk away, but didn't. "But you should really find out what is wrong with Chloe. She's not herself."
Clark said nothing, he just nodded and redirected his gaze to the dashboard .
She pushed off the door and straightened up. "Goodbye Clark."
As soon as Lana was inside the house, Clark restarted the truck and drove off toward his house.
***
His parents still were gone when he returned home. Clark assumed they were still at the market. He rushed over to the phone and dialed Pete's number. The phone rang three times before there was an answer.
"Hello?"
"Pete, it's Clark."
"What's up, man?" Pete was confused that Clark would call him so soon after a visit. He hoped everything was all right. "Is something wrong?"
"Get over here, Pete. Now." He hung up the phone without saying bye.
***
Clark had just dropped a bombshell on his best friend and all Pete did was look at him blankly. Clark narrowed his eyes and almost scratched his head in confusion. "You... did hear me, right?"
"I heard you. And I'm supposed to be what... surprised?" He took a sip of his orange juice and set it back on the counter. "I saw how weird Chloe was acting this morning. And we have gained an abundance of knowledge about a certain haunted house since Halloween. *And*, I also know how Chloe just can't keep her nose out of restricted affairs, even when she promises to. And..."
"Enough, Pete. I get that you get it."
Pete frowned a bit at Clark cutting him off. "But I had one more *and*."
Clark rolled his eyes and leaned back against the sink before Pete continued.
"And... I am smart enough to put two and two together. I mean really, do I seem half as clueless as I look? Don't answer that." Pete knew he practically threw that one to Clark.
"So are you as pissed as I am that she did this?" Simultaneous with Clark's last word was a knock at the kitchen door. Both of them looked toward it cautiously. "She's here."
Clark walked slowly over to the door. His anticipation had his insides fluttering about like they were as light as paper. Only two things made him feel this way, heavy concern topped with a mound of anticipation... and love. Love. He sorely missed that now. It had only been hours since he discovered Chloe was temporarily gone, but the worry wore on him like it had been years.
He had expected to be greeted with Lily's trademark smirk, but was instead greeted with an expression that was more like Chloe. She appeared bewildered and a little stunned. He didn't know who he was staring at, and he didn't want to get his hopes up. Clark could imagine Lily's endless enjoyment if she knew she'd gotten the best of him.
"Lily, are you all right?"
Chloe stood there holding her head as if trying to recover from a dizzy spell. "Clark?" She looked into his face and stumbled clumsily as she stepped forward through the door. Clark held her with a steadying hand and helped her to a stool.
Pete went to the sink and filled a glass with water. He then went around to the other side of Chloe and set it down in front of her. He did not, however, take his hand off of the glass. It was for Chloe to drink, but if this was Lily trying to mess with them, he was gonna let her have it right in the face. All eight ounces of it.
Chloe let out a breath and continued to hold her head. She felt like someone had bashed it in with a large cartoon mallet. She was utterly clueless as to why she had been rapping at the Kent's kitchen door just moments earlier. The pain in her head was starting to recede bit by bit, but her temples were still throbbing. She brought her head up slowly and peered at the room. "What... how... why? I mean..." She couldn't string two thoughts together because she didn't know where to begin. She was completely lost, in nearly every sense.
"I don't think she's joking, Clark." Pete held fast to the glass of water just in case.
"Chloe?" He took her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Chloe?" he asked again.
"What, Clark?" She was mildly irritated that he was calling her name so much and not filling her in on what was going on. He was wasting syllables for goodness sake. "I know my name." She winced a little at the pain. "What the hell is going on? I can't remember why I'm here." She let one hand drop to her knee and looked down as it brushed against a material that was somewhat unfamiliar to her. Leather, red leather. "And does somebody wanna tell me why I'm dressed like I shop at *Skanks 'R' Us*?
"They have one of those in Smallville?" Pete grinned and eased his hand from around the glass. It was definitely Chloe, all right.
She would have smiled if she was sure it wasn't going to hurt. "Don't joke with me, Pete. I have a massive headache and if you make it worse, I will plot your very painful death and carry it out at the least expecting moment."
"So I would have to watch my back, huh?"
"Damn straight." The words were a faded whisper off her lips. She closed her eyes for a moment then opened them again. "Answers. Somebody give me some answers."
Clark was afraid to let go of her, she felt so fragile in his hands. "Do you remember anything at all?"
"I... I remember being in my room at night. I had just finished writing a diary entry and was about to go to bed." She tried, although not too hard, to recall something after that and came up with nothing. "So why am I fully dressed in the middle of the day, and..." A thought suddenly hit her. "I drove over here?"
Clark nodded. "Yeah, you did." He wanted Chloe to rest because obviously, she was in pain. "Why don't you lie down on the sofa. You need rest." He picked her up off the stool and began to carry her to the living room.
Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck and held onto him. She smiled faintly as she rested in his arms. "You'll get no complaints from me. Maybe I should come down with amnesia more often."
Clark didn't smile back. He wished that the case could be as simple as memory loss. "You don't have amnesia, Chloe." He set her gently on the couch.
Chloe leaned up on her elbow. "No? And what do they call it on the planet you're from?"
He knew it was only a joke, but he averted his gaze from hers anyway. He thought about letting her rest for a while, then telling her, but he didn't know how much time they had. Apparently, Lily had only been suppressed, not banished. She managed to get in Chloe's car and drive over, then something happened. Clark wished he knew exactly what.
"Clark?" He wasn't answering her. She only watched as he took her hand and held it in his. He brought it to his lips for a few seconds. A warm feeling spread throughout her when he touched her, but she couldn't help but wonder at why he wasn't responding to her questions. Chloe brought her free hand to his cheek and stroked it softly. Then she held his chin, forcing eye contact. "Talk to me, Clark."
He wished he could wait. Clark knew that once Chloe understood what had happened to her, once she knew everything, even the fact that her life could be in danger, she wouldn't take it easy. She would spring right into action and wouldn't stop until she couldn't go any further. But would that be such a bad thing?
Clark could feel the warmth of Chloe's skin again and he cherished it like never before. And there was equal warmth in those beautiful eyes of hers. The love he saw in them was already beginning to heal the damage that Lily had done. At that moment, Clark knew that no matter what, the bond that he and Chloe shared would remain stronger than the antagonism they faced from Lily. They would get through this. There was no other choice.
"Chloe, how exactly did you end up back at the manor?"
She blinked and lowered her hand from Clark's face. "I don't remember ever going back to the manor a third time." She thought she had made that clear already. "Why do you ask?"
He rubbed her hand as he spoke, hoping that the rhythm of the contact would keep her somewhat calm as he let the very disturbing truth escape him.
Chloe shook her head, which was free of pain now, in disbelief. But Clark wouldn't lie to her. The truth had been almost too scary to accept, but somehow her brain skipped the panic phase and went immediately into thinking of how to rectify the situation. "The Torch. Get me to the Torch office." She parted from the sofa and headed for the door.
Clark was right on her heels. "What do you need from the Torch office?"
"I printed out some information about a week ago on seances. I didn't read it, I just tossed it aside. I had intended on getting around to it later, but I got a little... distracted." And boy, she couldn't wait to become 'distracted' again. "We have to hurry."
They found Pete sitting out on the porch steps. Clark and Chloe didn't even notice when he slipped out to give them some privacy. He stood up from the steps and didn't even have time to ask before Chloe commanded him to come on. All three of them climbed into the truck, with Chloe sandwiched in the middle.
"Where are we going?" Pete leaned forward and held onto the dash while Clark made a sharp turn onto the main road.
"To the Torch to pick up some research materials that should tell us how to get rid of Lily for good." Chloe was pushed up against Pete as Clark made another turn without hardly slowing down. "That is if Clark doesn't get us badly injured or worse before we get there."
***
Lex let the wheels of his Porsche roll forward slowly as he waited for the traffic light to change to green. He turned the radio volume up just a pinch and clutched the gear shift as he readied to take off. The Porsche was half way into the crosswalk by the time the light turned. Lex pressed on the gas and smirked as the tires screeched on the pavement. The sound was like a symphony to his ears, plus he enjoyed making the citizens of Smallville cringe every time he did it.
The bliss didn't last too long before Lex had to slam on his brakes as a truck raced into the intersection. He would have hit it broadside if his reflexes were any slower. Lex stared after the vehicle as it sped down the street. He almost couldn't believe what he was seeing. Clark Kent accelerating down the road like a maniac, or much like Lex himself.
Not bothering to signal that he was going to do so, Lex made a right turn and sped up to follow the truck.
**Author's note: See, I listen to my readers and reviewers. You guys wanted Chloe back and I found a way to make that happen. And, you guys wanted Pete to be clued in and voila! You got it. Now tell me how you liked it or if you didn't.
Feel free to make other suggestions because the story is only completed up to this point and I'm pretty much improvising it. I usually don't start writing the next chapter until I've read the reviews I've received, so if your suggestions are seemly, I will certainly give them consideration.
Clark put the truck in park after stopping in front of Lana's house. He gripped the top of the steering wheel with his right hand as he turned to look at her. There were no tears on her face, just an expression that made her look tired.
"Thanks for the ride, Clark." She opened her door and put one foot on the ground, but paused when Clark shut off the engine. "You don't have come inside, I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" He understood if she wanted to be alone, he just didn't think that she should be. "I mean I could..." He could what?
Lana shook her head. "No, that's OK. Don't worry about me." She closed the door and started to walk away, but didn't. "But you should really find out what is wrong with Chloe. She's not herself."
Clark said nothing, he just nodded and redirected his gaze to the dashboard .
She pushed off the door and straightened up. "Goodbye Clark."
As soon as Lana was inside the house, Clark restarted the truck and drove off toward his house.
***
His parents still were gone when he returned home. Clark assumed they were still at the market. He rushed over to the phone and dialed Pete's number. The phone rang three times before there was an answer.
"Hello?"
"Pete, it's Clark."
"What's up, man?" Pete was confused that Clark would call him so soon after a visit. He hoped everything was all right. "Is something wrong?"
"Get over here, Pete. Now." He hung up the phone without saying bye.
***
Clark had just dropped a bombshell on his best friend and all Pete did was look at him blankly. Clark narrowed his eyes and almost scratched his head in confusion. "You... did hear me, right?"
"I heard you. And I'm supposed to be what... surprised?" He took a sip of his orange juice and set it back on the counter. "I saw how weird Chloe was acting this morning. And we have gained an abundance of knowledge about a certain haunted house since Halloween. *And*, I also know how Chloe just can't keep her nose out of restricted affairs, even when she promises to. And..."
"Enough, Pete. I get that you get it."
Pete frowned a bit at Clark cutting him off. "But I had one more *and*."
Clark rolled his eyes and leaned back against the sink before Pete continued.
"And... I am smart enough to put two and two together. I mean really, do I seem half as clueless as I look? Don't answer that." Pete knew he practically threw that one to Clark.
"So are you as pissed as I am that she did this?" Simultaneous with Clark's last word was a knock at the kitchen door. Both of them looked toward it cautiously. "She's here."
Clark walked slowly over to the door. His anticipation had his insides fluttering about like they were as light as paper. Only two things made him feel this way, heavy concern topped with a mound of anticipation... and love. Love. He sorely missed that now. It had only been hours since he discovered Chloe was temporarily gone, but the worry wore on him like it had been years.
He had expected to be greeted with Lily's trademark smirk, but was instead greeted with an expression that was more like Chloe. She appeared bewildered and a little stunned. He didn't know who he was staring at, and he didn't want to get his hopes up. Clark could imagine Lily's endless enjoyment if she knew she'd gotten the best of him.
"Lily, are you all right?"
Chloe stood there holding her head as if trying to recover from a dizzy spell. "Clark?" She looked into his face and stumbled clumsily as she stepped forward through the door. Clark held her with a steadying hand and helped her to a stool.
Pete went to the sink and filled a glass with water. He then went around to the other side of Chloe and set it down in front of her. He did not, however, take his hand off of the glass. It was for Chloe to drink, but if this was Lily trying to mess with them, he was gonna let her have it right in the face. All eight ounces of it.
Chloe let out a breath and continued to hold her head. She felt like someone had bashed it in with a large cartoon mallet. She was utterly clueless as to why she had been rapping at the Kent's kitchen door just moments earlier. The pain in her head was starting to recede bit by bit, but her temples were still throbbing. She brought her head up slowly and peered at the room. "What... how... why? I mean..." She couldn't string two thoughts together because she didn't know where to begin. She was completely lost, in nearly every sense.
"I don't think she's joking, Clark." Pete held fast to the glass of water just in case.
"Chloe?" He took her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Chloe?" he asked again.
"What, Clark?" She was mildly irritated that he was calling her name so much and not filling her in on what was going on. He was wasting syllables for goodness sake. "I know my name." She winced a little at the pain. "What the hell is going on? I can't remember why I'm here." She let one hand drop to her knee and looked down as it brushed against a material that was somewhat unfamiliar to her. Leather, red leather. "And does somebody wanna tell me why I'm dressed like I shop at *Skanks 'R' Us*?
"They have one of those in Smallville?" Pete grinned and eased his hand from around the glass. It was definitely Chloe, all right.
She would have smiled if she was sure it wasn't going to hurt. "Don't joke with me, Pete. I have a massive headache and if you make it worse, I will plot your very painful death and carry it out at the least expecting moment."
"So I would have to watch my back, huh?"
"Damn straight." The words were a faded whisper off her lips. She closed her eyes for a moment then opened them again. "Answers. Somebody give me some answers."
Clark was afraid to let go of her, she felt so fragile in his hands. "Do you remember anything at all?"
"I... I remember being in my room at night. I had just finished writing a diary entry and was about to go to bed." She tried, although not too hard, to recall something after that and came up with nothing. "So why am I fully dressed in the middle of the day, and..." A thought suddenly hit her. "I drove over here?"
Clark nodded. "Yeah, you did." He wanted Chloe to rest because obviously, she was in pain. "Why don't you lie down on the sofa. You need rest." He picked her up off the stool and began to carry her to the living room.
Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck and held onto him. She smiled faintly as she rested in his arms. "You'll get no complaints from me. Maybe I should come down with amnesia more often."
Clark didn't smile back. He wished that the case could be as simple as memory loss. "You don't have amnesia, Chloe." He set her gently on the couch.
Chloe leaned up on her elbow. "No? And what do they call it on the planet you're from?"
He knew it was only a joke, but he averted his gaze from hers anyway. He thought about letting her rest for a while, then telling her, but he didn't know how much time they had. Apparently, Lily had only been suppressed, not banished. She managed to get in Chloe's car and drive over, then something happened. Clark wished he knew exactly what.
"Clark?" He wasn't answering her. She only watched as he took her hand and held it in his. He brought it to his lips for a few seconds. A warm feeling spread throughout her when he touched her, but she couldn't help but wonder at why he wasn't responding to her questions. Chloe brought her free hand to his cheek and stroked it softly. Then she held his chin, forcing eye contact. "Talk to me, Clark."
He wished he could wait. Clark knew that once Chloe understood what had happened to her, once she knew everything, even the fact that her life could be in danger, she wouldn't take it easy. She would spring right into action and wouldn't stop until she couldn't go any further. But would that be such a bad thing?
Clark could feel the warmth of Chloe's skin again and he cherished it like never before. And there was equal warmth in those beautiful eyes of hers. The love he saw in them was already beginning to heal the damage that Lily had done. At that moment, Clark knew that no matter what, the bond that he and Chloe shared would remain stronger than the antagonism they faced from Lily. They would get through this. There was no other choice.
"Chloe, how exactly did you end up back at the manor?"
She blinked and lowered her hand from Clark's face. "I don't remember ever going back to the manor a third time." She thought she had made that clear already. "Why do you ask?"
He rubbed her hand as he spoke, hoping that the rhythm of the contact would keep her somewhat calm as he let the very disturbing truth escape him.
Chloe shook her head, which was free of pain now, in disbelief. But Clark wouldn't lie to her. The truth had been almost too scary to accept, but somehow her brain skipped the panic phase and went immediately into thinking of how to rectify the situation. "The Torch. Get me to the Torch office." She parted from the sofa and headed for the door.
Clark was right on her heels. "What do you need from the Torch office?"
"I printed out some information about a week ago on seances. I didn't read it, I just tossed it aside. I had intended on getting around to it later, but I got a little... distracted." And boy, she couldn't wait to become 'distracted' again. "We have to hurry."
They found Pete sitting out on the porch steps. Clark and Chloe didn't even notice when he slipped out to give them some privacy. He stood up from the steps and didn't even have time to ask before Chloe commanded him to come on. All three of them climbed into the truck, with Chloe sandwiched in the middle.
"Where are we going?" Pete leaned forward and held onto the dash while Clark made a sharp turn onto the main road.
"To the Torch to pick up some research materials that should tell us how to get rid of Lily for good." Chloe was pushed up against Pete as Clark made another turn without hardly slowing down. "That is if Clark doesn't get us badly injured or worse before we get there."
***
Lex let the wheels of his Porsche roll forward slowly as he waited for the traffic light to change to green. He turned the radio volume up just a pinch and clutched the gear shift as he readied to take off. The Porsche was half way into the crosswalk by the time the light turned. Lex pressed on the gas and smirked as the tires screeched on the pavement. The sound was like a symphony to his ears, plus he enjoyed making the citizens of Smallville cringe every time he did it.
The bliss didn't last too long before Lex had to slam on his brakes as a truck raced into the intersection. He would have hit it broadside if his reflexes were any slower. Lex stared after the vehicle as it sped down the street. He almost couldn't believe what he was seeing. Clark Kent accelerating down the road like a maniac, or much like Lex himself.
Not bothering to signal that he was going to do so, Lex made a right turn and sped up to follow the truck.
**Author's note: See, I listen to my readers and reviewers. You guys wanted Chloe back and I found a way to make that happen. And, you guys wanted Pete to be clued in and voila! You got it. Now tell me how you liked it or if you didn't.
Feel free to make other suggestions because the story is only completed up to this point and I'm pretty much improvising it. I usually don't start writing the next chapter until I've read the reviews I've received, so if your suggestions are seemly, I will certainly give them consideration.