Chapter 5

A trophy display of bruises

And I don't believe that I'm getting any better.

Any better.

--Saints And Sailors--by Dashboard Confessional

Lex woke to a horrendous pain going from his chest, to his head, and back again. He slowly slid out of bed. He knew from experience that he couldn't sleep if he was in pain, and he'd had plenty of experience. Lex slipped his black silk robe over his matching pants, and stepped into black house shoes.

Lex winced from the pain of reaching for the doorknob. With an arm around his waist, Lex slowly padded down the hall.

There was a fire blazing in the library. Enrique always seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to Lex's needs. On the end table was a bucket of ice with two water bottles nestled in it.

Lex sunk into the leather couch with a groan. He took a long swig from one of the water bottles, then laid his head back against the cool leather. He paid no attention to the sound of the door opening.

"Lex!" a feminine voice exclaimed.

Lex's eyes flew open. "Chloe, go back to bed."

Chloe rushed to his side. "Lex, you look horrible."

Lex smirked. "You look like Lana."

Chloe looked down at her outfit. She was wearing silk bright pink print pajama pants, a light pink spaghetti strap top, and fuzzy pink slippers. "I'll take that as a compliment," she said, with a laugh before getting serious. "Are you okay?"

Lex tried to sit upright and winced at the new pain. Chloe slipped a hand behind his back and used one on his shoulder as a lever to help him sit up.

"Here," she said, pulling the pill bottle out of her pocket.

"I don't need it," Lex said, taking another drink of water.

Chloe's face fell as she sat on the opposite end of the couch. "What is it with you and concussions?"

"Excuse me?" Lex asked, quirking an eyebrow at Chloe.

"A concussion? Hitting your head real hard" Chloe asked with a smile.

Lex glared at Chloe. "I know what a concussion is, Miss Sullivan."

"There's no need for hostility, Mr. Luthor. I was simply asking a question, or rather stating a fact," Chloe said, settling deeper into the couch. "Let's see. There was the time when Jeff knocked you out for not being in love with Amy. Then the whole Club Zero fiasco."

"Don't forget when your buddy Pete tried to shoot me," Lex said. A look passed through Chloe's eyes at Pete's name, but it was too fast for Lex to grasp.

"Hey, Pete was just trying to protect Clark," Chloe said. It was her turn to glare.

Lex couldn't miss the lilt in her voice at Pete's name. "What was that?" Lex asked. He was going to have some fun.

"What was what?" Chloe asked, narrowing her eyes.

"That change in your voice when you said 'Pete,'" Lex pressed.

"My voice did not change when I said Pete," Chloe insisted.

Lex smiled. "You just did it again."

"Did not," Chloe said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She looked like a pouting five-year-old.

Lex chuckled, the sensation sending shooting pain up his ribs.

"Will you take the pills now, Lex?" Chloe asked, holding up the bottle.

Lex nodded slowly, reaching out when Chloe handed him a pill.

"Good boy," Chloe said as Lex swallowed the medicine.

"Don't push it, Chloe," Lex said in a firm voice.

Chloe smiled brightly. "Think you can go back to sleep?"

"Yeah," Lex replied, trying to push himself off of the couch.

Chloe stood quickly, grabbing his upper arm to help him up. "I'm glad, because I'm tired of baby-sitting you."

"Down, Chloe," Lex said, walking from the room.

"Hey, I had to get you back for that Pete thing," Chloe explained.

"You did it again," Lex pointed out with a smile, walking a few feet ahead of Chloe.

"Did not!" Chloe insisted, hurrying after Lex.

"Goodnight, Chloe," Lex said in a humor-filled voice.

"Goodnight, Lex."