A/N: If you're confused here, this chapter begins before the last chapter ended, but from different people's perspective, explaining why the heck Clark is bursting in and interrupting a perfectly good smut scene. Also, since I wrote this before seeing 'Prodigal', just pretend that Clark kept his job at the Talon. Ok, dive right in.
Chapter Five: Meanwhile
Gabe Sullivan was pacing back and forth in his living room, his nerves rubbed raw. It was five o'clock and he had been off work for hours, having left early because of Chloe's homecoming. She wasn't at the house, though; there was no sign of her car in the driveway, and her luggage wasn't in her room. When he had first gotten home, he hadn't thought much of it. He knew how teenagers were, and he just assumed that Chloe was out with her friends.
Now, a few hours later, he was beginning to get worried. It wasn't like her to not call and tell him where she was, but the last message he had gotten from her was about meeting Clark and Pete at the Talon around noon. He had called Pete about an hour ago, so he knew that Chloe had left for an interview with Lex Luthor after she had met the other boys. Lex wasn't taking any calls, so Gabe couldn't ask him if he knew anything about where his daughter was. Pete had also mentioned that Clark had wanted to talk to Chloe about something, and suggested that perhaps she was with him now. A call to the Kent house had revealed that Clark wasn't home, and Gabe had left a message for him to call when he got back.
Now, Gabe was running out of options. For the fourth time in two hours, he dialed the number for Chloe's cell phone. Just like the previous three times she didn't pick up, and after a few rings he heard the click as it went to her voice mail.
"Hey, this is Chloe! If you're calling about a hot lead, don't just sit there—track me down already! If you're anyone else, though, you're gonna have to leave a message. You know the rest."
Gabe cleared his throat when he heard the beep, then spoke with obviously false cheer.
"Hey, sweetheart, this is Dad again. I'm . . . I'm a little worried. I know, I know, you're a big girl and you can take care of yourself, but it's a father's prerogative to worry a bit. Look, if you're ok and you get this, just give me a call to let me know. Ok? All right, I hope I'll hear from you soon."
He hung up the phone and ran a shaking hand over his face. As much as he tried to tell himself she was fine, he hadn't been able to be easy about not knowing where his daughter was since she had been kidnapped by that lunatic police officer. Visions of Chloe lying in a hospital bed flashed through his mind and he sat unsteadily on the couch.
'Please, God, let her be all right.'
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Clark walked into the house, exhausted from the shift he had picked up at the Talon and trying to figure out what was going on with Lana. The two of them had broken up at the end of high school, a mutual decision that both were happier with, and they had actually managed to remain friends without things seeming weird between them. That is, until Clark came back from college about a week ago. Now, Lana was acting strange, almost nervous around him, and no matter how many times he tried to get her to tell him what was wrong, she refused to talk about it. He rubbed the back of his neck and wondered if the women from his home planet were this difficult.
"Hey Mom," he greeted as he strode into the kitchen for a glass of milk. Martha glanced up from the chicken she was cutting up and smiled at him.
"Hi, sweetie. Tough time at the Talon?"
"It would've been easier if people wouldn't change their minds about what they wanted the second I walk away," he grinned wearily. She just laughed and went back to chopping.
"Oh, Clark," she said as he was walking from the kitchen, "Mr. Sullivan called looking for Chloe; he wanted you to call him when you got back. He sounded worried." Clark frowned.
"Chloe? I haven't seen her since she left with Lex." At his mother's shocked look he grinned and shook his head. "Not like that, Mom—Lex offered her an interview for the Daily Planet." The grin left his face, replaced by a look of concern. "But that was around noon. She should be back by now." Genuinely anxious now, he grabbed the phone and quickly dialed the Sullivans' number. It picked up after barely one ring.
"Hello? Chloe?" Gabe answered, his voice clearly distressed.
"No, Mr. Sullivan, it's Clark. My mom said you called."
"Clark, hi. Is Chloe with you?"
"No, I haven't seen her since this afternoon. Is something wrong? Is she in trouble?"
"No," Gabe started to reassure him, but stopped on a worried sigh. "I don't know," he admitted. "No one seems to have seen her since she left the Talon, and she's not answering her cell phone. I'm sure she's fine, but I can't help thinking . . ."
"Yeah," Clark said, understanding Gabe's unspoken thought. "The last time I saw her she was heading over to Lex's house for an interview. Maybe he knows where she is," he suggested.
"I've called over there, and he's not taking any calls," Gabe told him. Clark thought for a moment, then nodded decisively.
"Listen, Mr. Sullivan, you stay there in case Chloe calls or comes home, and I'll head over and talk to Lex."
"Thank you, Clark," Gabe said gratefully. "Just . . . give me a call if you find out anything."
"I will." Clark hung up and stood still for a moment, fighting against panic. Like Gabe, he was remembering Chloe's disappearance years ago. But added on to his vision was the memory of pulling Chloe out of the ground, seeing her lying still as death inside a metal box. He was shaken from his memories by his mother's hand on his shoulder.
"Clark? Is everything ok?" He turned and tried to smile for her.
"Yeah, it's fine. Chloe's just not answering her phone and her dad's worried. I'm gonna head over to Lex's and see if he knows where she is. Don't hold dinner for me, ok?"
"Ok. Be careful, Clark," she called out as he grabbed his keys and headed out the door.
Outside, Clark started up his truck and peeled out to the road. It would have been quicker to use his super-speed, but he couldn't afford for Lex to ask questions about why he had 'walked' all the way there. Even so, Clark had never driven quite as fast as he did on the way to the huge, imposing manor.
The thought flashed through his head that Chloe might actually still be there. But if she was, why wouldn't she have answered her phone? And why wouldn't she have called her dad to let him know where she was? Unless . . . unless Lex wouldn't let her call. Clark shook his head to clear that thought from his mind. True, Lex had a reputation when it came to women, but it wasn't like he was some kind of criminal mastermind. 'Lex is a good guy,' Clark kept telling himself, trying to ignore the nagging suspicion that something was very, very wrong.
He reached the manor in record time and threw the truck into park as soon as he pulled up to the front of the house. His boots splashed through puddles from the recent rain as he loped up to the front door, and he tried to shake the water off as he rang the bell. A few minutes later a familiar face opened the door.
"Mr. Kent," the man greeted. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"Hey, William. I need to talk to Lex." Seeing the look on the butler's face, Clark looked at him pleadingly. "It's urgent." William hesitated, then let Clark inside.
"Wait here, and I'll see if he's available." With that, he walked quickly down the hall and up the stairs. After a few minutes that seemed like hours, he reappeared, looking slightly unsettled. "Mr. Luthor is up in the library. You know the way there?"
"Yeah, I know. Thanks, William." The older man walked off and Clark waited until he was out of sight before running at full speed up to the third floor. He slowed to a normal run when he reached the top of the stairs and jogged to the library. Not bothering to knock, he threw open the door and strode into the room, calling out as he did.
"Lex, have you seen . . . Chloe?" There she was. The two of them were standing by the pool table—Chloe looking nervous and Lex with a stony, slightly irritated expression.
"Clark," Chloe greeted him, subtly smoothing down her skirt. "What's up?" Clark looked at her, baffled for a moment. Glancing back and forth between her and Lex he began to move forward.
"Your dad's been worried about you, Chloe," he said slowly. "He's tried calling you, but you weren't picking up your phone."
"My phone," Chloe winced. "I left my phone in my bag, and I left the bag down in my room." Clark furrowed his brow.
"Your room?" he questioned. "You're staying here?" Chloe blushed a bit and Clark's eyes fell on her neck. "Chloe . . . is that what I think it is?"
Chloe moved her hand to where he was looking, confused; when her fingers pressed the crook of her neck she felt the small bruise where Lex had marked her, and her blush deepened. Clark's face grew paler when he saw her reaction.
"Is . . ." his voice lowered, "is your bag in your room or," his eyes darted between the two of them, "your room?"
"Gee, Clark, that's a real subtle way to ask if I'm sleeping with him," Chloe said sarcastically. Her eyes narrowed and she glanced at Lex. "But to answer your incredibly uncouth question, the bag is in my room." She smirked. "Lex was good enough to offer me a place to sleep after he trapped me into staying here."
"What?" Clark exclaimed, his eyes wide. He shook his head, not wanting to believe it, but a glance at Lex's expressionless face confirmed Chloe's words. Clark's own expression hardened. "Come on, Chloe, I'm taking you home."
"I can't leave, Clark."
"Look, Chloe, whatever he's using to convince you to stay, I'll protect you." He took a step towards her, but one glance at Lex halted him. He wasn't fooled by Lex's deceptively casual stance—the man was ready to attack him if he got too close to Chloe. Clark knew that he would have no trouble holding Lex off, but he was upset enough now that if they came to blows, he didn't know if he would be able to hold himself back. Chloe sighed and spoke up again.
"No, Clark, you don't understand. I physically can't leave. There's some kind of . . ." she gestured with her hands as she searched for the word, "some kind of barrier. I can't get through." Clark turned again to Lex, his hands in fists at his side.
"Fix it, Lex," he bit off. "Let her go." Lex stared him down for a moment before answering.
"I can't, Clark. Look, I know you're concerned about Chloe's safety. You're a good friend. But I wouldn't let her go now even if I could." Lex turned to stare into Chloe's eyes, issuing the next statement with the finality of a challenge. "I love her."
Chloe simply stood there, gaping. 'He's just saying that to manipulate the situation. He's not serious!' her inner voice shouted, but it was too late. His words broke the last barrier on her own feelings, and Chloe finally admitted to herself that she had fallen in love with this elusive young man in front of her. 'Damn it.'
"Don't worry, Chloe," Clark's voice cut into her thoughts. "I don't know how he did this, but we'll get you out of here." It took a moment to process Clark's words, and when she finally did she suddenly felt incredibly tired. Lex noticed and turned to Clark.
"Chloe's had a long day. I think you should go, Clark, let her get some rest."
"She wouldn't have had a long day if it weren't for you, Lex," Clark said angrily.
"Clark, he's right," Chloe cut in, prompting both men to look at her in astonishment. "I'll be fine here. Lex isn't going to try to hurt me, and if he does you know I have a pretty mean right cross." There, that got a little smile out of him. "Go talk to Matthew. He's the one who actually did this; he should be able to tell you what's going on. Tell my dad I'm sorry for worrying him, and . . . I don't think I can talk about this any more today. Can you explain things to him and ask him to come by tomorrow?" Clark glanced warily at Lex and nodded reluctantly.
"Ok, Chlo. I'll tell him."
"Thanks Clark." She walked over and hugged him, which he returned despite the threatening glare that Lex was sending him. When Chloe pulled back, she looked up at him and grinned. "I promise, Clark, I'll be fine." He sent a pointed look at the mark on her neck, and she fidgeted a bit. "I can take care of myself. What I do while I'm here is my business." She shot him a compensatory smile. "I'll see you later, Clark. Thanks for being concerned."
Clark took the hint, and with one last suspicious glance at Lex, turned and left the room. Chloe sighed in frustration and turned to face Lex.
"You couldn't have been just a little bit more careful and not left a mark," she groused. At the carefully blank look on his face, her eyes narrowed. She took a threatening step towards him. "Lex," she said, her words slow and measured, "did you do this on purpose?" His face broke into a grin, an expression she would have found endearing if she weren't so irritated. "Nice going, Lex. Now Clark knows that you . . . we . . ." She turned her back against the flood of memories that hit her. Lex came up behind her.
"That was kind of the point," he told her, and she could hear the grin in his voice. He lowered his head to her ear once again. "Besides," he said, his voice a suggestive whisper, "I don't remember you having much of a problem with it at the time." Chloe drew in a sharp breath and closed her eyes briefly.
"That's not the point." She winced at the weakness of her voice. To her surprise, Lex just chuckled and leaned back.
"It's after six, and you haven't eaten since you got here. I'll get you some dinner." Chloe turned and shot him a 'what, do you think I'm stupid?' look. He smirked and shrugged. "Can't blame a guy for trying."
Chloe couldn't help the tiny smile that pulled at her lips at that. Lex's smirk turned back into a grin and she rolled her eyes; she stalked out of the room to find the kitchen, unable to completely suppress her laughter.
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"I'm coming, I'm coming," Matthew grumbled at the insistent pounding on his front door. He glanced out the window and gulped when he saw who was standing there. A deep breath to calm himself, and he opened the door to grin apprehensively at a hard-faced Clark Kent.
"Hey, Clark," he said nervously. "I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you've seen Chloe." Clark's stony expression didn't change, and he reached out to take Matthew by the arm.
"You're coming with me."
"Hang on a second," Matthew protested. "Let me explain."
"You can explain at Chloe's house. Her dad's been worried, and Chloe told me that you're responsible for whatever's keeping her with Lex. Now you're going to tell Mr. Sullivan why you helped abduct his daughter."
With that Clark shoved him into the passenger side of his truck and shut the door before Matthew could say a word. In a few long strides he was at the other door; he got in and started the truck without speaking. Matthew's house was only a few blocks from Chloe's, and the short drive was silent. When they pulled to a stop in Chloe's driveway Matthew got out without complaint; still, Clark took his arm again and propelled Matthew in front of him up to the front door. Clark reached out to ring the doorbell, and within seconds the door was flung open by a harried looking Gabe.
"Hey, Mr. Sullivan," Clark greeted. "Can we come in?"
"Of course," he said and stepped back, glancing between the two boys. "Matthew, right? You're a friend of Chloe's?"
"Yeah," Matthew responded, glancing apprehensively at Clark and saying no more.
"Chloe's fine," Clark reassured Gabe. "She's at Lex's house." At Gabe's confused look, Clark ushered all of them into the living room. He gave Matthew a small shove that had him sitting down on the couch and glowered at the younger boy. "Matthew's here to tell you why."
Matthew looked between the two men staring down on him, waiting for his explanation. Gabe was watching him with a look of slightly relieved confusion, and Clark . . . well, Clark looked as if he were just barely keeping his temper in check. Time to start talking, and fast.
"Now, the important thing to remember here is that Chloe's safe," he started. When neither man looked impressed by that assertion, Matthew sighed and began to tell his story for the third time that day. With every word he spoke Gabe's expression grew more and more disbelieving. When he finished Gabe looked to Clark, expecting to see the same look of doubt; when he found only grim acceptance his face paled.
"Maybe I should sit down," he said dazedly, and sank into a chair. "So you're telling me that Lex Luthor is holding my daughter captive in his house with the intention of marrying her, if she eats a single bite of food he gives her she's bound to him, and there's absolutely nothing we can do about it." He nodded as if it all made perfect sense, then shot up out of his chair. "I'm going over there," he declared.
"Mr. Sullivan," Clark jumped in, "I already talked to Chloe. She's fine, but she said she couldn't talk about this any more tonight. She wants you to go over there tomorrow." Gabe looked hurt for a moment, then nodded in acceptance. "Come on," Clark gestured to Matthew. He nodded and stood to follow Clark from the house, but paused when he passed by Gabe.
"If it makes you feel any better, Mr. Sullivan . . . he really loves her," he offered. Gabe just nodded absently, and the boys left.
Sinking down on the couch, Gabe's head was spinning. 'Lex Luthor has my daughter,' kept running through his head, an endlessly repeating loop. Lex had Chloe. A trace of fear swept through him. Lex had taken Chloe. The fear was joined by anger, the two emotions boiling within him. Lex had stolen his daughter away, and Gabe wasn't going to stand for it. He still had one card up his sleeve; he would make Lex give her back.
He stood and walked into his study to prepare the necessary paperwork. The part of his brain that was still working logically argued that this would hurt more than Luthor, it would affect everyone at the plant. But Gabe was beyond logic now. He was going to get his daughter back, and if he had to take out the town in order to do so, so be it.
TBC . . .
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A/N: If Gabe seems a little OOC here, remember that I'm following the myth for what he has to do. Anyway, review and tell me what you think. ^_^