alrighty, then. here's another chapter. i decided not to put the examination in here, because, i've never had to go to the hospital for burn wounds, so i wouldn't even know where to begin. so, sorry. i know i could look it up, or ask somebody. but, i said this would be up in two days. so here it is.

Enjoy.

why me?

Walking out of the hospital room, bandages completely covering his chest, Lex let out a breath of relief. It actually hadn't been as bad as he'd thought it would be. Of course, Chloe standing right next to him the entire time (he had refused to sit down), and even holding his hand at times, had helped. The doctor, Dr. Rasa, had given him a checkup of sorts, which lasted about an hour. It turned out that it wasn't third degree burns, but second degree burns, so he wouldn't be permanently scarred for life.

Dr. Rasa had prescribed a few pain killers, and told Lex to change the bandages twice a day. He'd also told him that he was very lucky that Chloe 'nursed' his wounds like she had, if not it probably would have gotten worse.

Walking back towards the receptionist's desk to pay his bill, he saw that the woman had once again taken her reign behind the desk. And she'd reapplied her make-up, again. Her replacement was nowhere to be seen.

"Mr. Luthor, how are you, feeling better?" she asked, concern lining her face.

Lex smiled, my what money can do. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking."

Upon paying the bill, which, when announced how much he owed, Chloe gasped, he turned to leave.

"Oh, and one more thing Mr. Luthor," the woman called to him.

Turning around, slightly annoyed by her persistent...annoyance, and straight-forward supposed infatuation which is completely fueled by his bank account, he smiled. "Yes? We kind of need to be going," he said, gesturing towards Chloe, who was looking at the woman with extreme disgust.

"Well, I may be a receptionist, but I studied to be a nurse for a little while…So, if you need anything, anything at all, really, then, don't be embarrassed to call me," she said as she scribbled her name and number down on a piece of paper.

Dumbstruck that she could be so outwardly naïve, he just stared down at the piece of paper. She tore it off the pad from which she wrote it on, and handed it to him, smiling.

Glancing over at Chloe to silently apologize for the situation, he was surprised to see her smiling, almost on the verge of laughing.

"Thank you so much for your…support or help, or whatever you choose to call it…" Chloe trailed, glancing down at the paper, "…Gladys. Well, Gladys, I think we can do without your help, if you don't mind."

Gladys' eyes were on fire, "Excuse me, young lady, but I don't think this is any of your business."

Lex had been watching the little scene, thoroughly amused. Chloe's reaction to the woman's, Gladys', unsubtle come-ons was…encouraging.

"Well, excuse *me*, you overpaid- under- experienced- tacky- suited *hag*, but it *is* my business!" Chloe said, just below a shout. Her face was flushed, and she looked like she was about to scratch the woman's eyes out. Lex wanted to laugh.

"Oh, and another thing…" But she wasn't able to get that 'other thing' out. Lex had clamped his hand over her mouth to make sure of that. He knew that with the emotions she was feeling right now, she probably wasn't thinking of the repercussions of what she was saying. Chloe could get very mean, that was quite obvious, but that didn't mean that she didn't have a conscience. She would feel guilty about what she'd said later, no doubt. And, Gladys didn't seem like the type of woman you'd want to piss off, either. And she could easily go and say that Chloe was harassing her, she had plenty of witnesses.

"I'm extremely sorry, ma'am. My girlfriend tends to get very jealous when I'm around other women."

"Girlfriend!" Chloe tried to scream through his hand, but came out more like, 'grrlfand!'. Lex tightened his grip on her mouth.

"Oh, I can understand," Gladys assured, "She must get very intimidated. I mean...look at her…"

With that statement, Chloe lunged across the counter. Gladys took a step back, alarmed.

"Like I said, very jealous," Lex panted, as he dragged Chloe from the desk. Without a backward glance, he hauled Chloe out of the hospital. Once they'd stepped out of the hospital, he let go. Bending over, and gasping for breath, his chest on fire from the constant contact with Chloe, which, on any other day would have been great, but today made him feel like fainting from the pain which he was now experiencing.

Chloe was bent over and breathing heavily, as well, "Oh, yes, Mr. Luthor. Do you think you could sign my underwear while you're at it. Jesus Christ, you'd think you were one of the Backstreet Boys or something," Chloe joked in between shallow breaths.

Lex remained quiet. It felt as if a thousand red hot pokers were gliding over his chest. Chloe stood up. Seeing him doubled over, she became concerned.

"Lex? Are you okay?" Chloe asked, putting her hand on his back, moving her fingertips back and forth. It was extremely relaxing.

Taking a deep breath, Lex tried to stand up straight, but found that it was too hard to stretch his skin like that, so, instead he stayed like he was.

"I'm fine, just give me a second to catch my breath," Lex lied. A minute passed before Lex attempted another try at standing, this time it was easier. Chloe looked relieved when Lex glanced over at her and gave her a smile.

"That's the last time I'm taking you to the hospital with me after I get coffee spilled over myself," Lex said. He was beginning to breath normally again, and the pain wasn't as searing as it had been.

"I'm sorry, it's just that she…" Chloe began.

"Insulted you, I know," Lex finished.

"Yeah, but not just that. I mean, that's why I tried to tackle her, but that's not why I was angry to begin with."

"Oh, really, and why, might I ask, were you angry with her?" now Lex was intrigued.

"I don't know. It's just, I've never seen someone just practically throw themselves all over someone like that. And you could tell why she was doing that…"

"Because she was genuinely attracted to my good looks and charm," Lex chimed.

"No," Chloe answered seriously.

"Oh," Lex said, dispirited.

"No, no. Not that you're not," Chloe tried to assure, hurriedly "Because…I mean…you are…you know you are, and I'm sure she does, too. But, that's not why she was all over you. I mean if you were just some guy, not *Mr. Luthor*, then she wouldn't have been so forthcoming and persistent."

"I see, she was after my money. I'd have never guessed," Lex added softly, sarcasm leaking from his voice.

Chloe stared at him.

"Come on, let's go," Lex suggested, trying to break the silence that had enveloped them. They started walking towards his car.

They were almost there, when Chloe decided that she needed to say something.

"It must be hard. Not knowing who likes you for you and not just your money."

Lex didn't say anything. He didn't feel like divulging the fact that she was right. That he was always wondering, always doubting people's motives, their intentions.

"Are you just gonna stay silent, or do you think you can formulate a sentence or two?" Chloe complained, kicking at a rock.

"And what sentence would you like me to formulate?" Lex prodded, further aggravating her.

"Maybe like a yes or no answer to my previous question."

"Well, technically, you never really asked me a question. You merely stated that it must be hard for me to always be on my guard."

"Hmph." Chloe crossed her arms. After a minute, they reached the car, with Chloe still mad. Lex did not want to have to ride in a car with an angry Chloe, so he decided he might as well fess up.

"If you must know, yes, sometimes it's not easy to determine who's lying," Lex revealed. Chloe turned around to face him. Her face indicated she was interested, and that she wanted more. So, he continued.

"But, it's not that it's hard now. When I was younger, yeah, because I had to learn that rule early. That no one can be trusted," Lex knew that this wasn't entirely true, that no one could be trusted, but he wanted Chloe to know what he was taught, why he was like he was sometimes. So that maybe she would understand.

"Do you still believe that? That no one can be trusted?" Chloe asked.

"Yes and no. I believe that most people can't be trusted. Ever. Like my father for instance. But, there are a select few that I believe can be."

"Who?" Chloe asked, looking him straight in the eye.

"Clark. For one. Even if he is secretive, he's one of the only truly honest people I know," Lex said.

"So those are the type of people you trust? Honest people?" Chloe asked, almost sounding bitter.

"Well, I trust you."

Chloe's eyes widened. "Really? I'd think I'd be one of the last people you'd trust. Being the reporter that I am."

"You'd think so…" Lex thought aloud, "But, you're not like most reporters," Chloe began to protest, but Lex continued, "Most reporters have no morals, no scruples. But...you do. You've got your ethics and principles still intact. Now, don't get me wrong, you're an excellent reporter, perhaps that's why I've always tried to avoid your requests of an interview. I just hope you never lose that when you move onto bigger things."

"Lex, if I didn't know any better I'd say you just gave me a compliment," Chloe awed.

"Really? I just gave you a compliment?" Lex asked in fake astonishment, "Dr. Rasa should have checked my head while he was at it."

Chloe playfully punched his arm. Then she got a very wicked grin on her face.

"What?" Lex asked skeptically. Rubbing his arm, she had a strong arm.

"Well, you know, you're still not doing so good, what with all the bandages and such..." Chloe pawed at the ground with her foot, "So, maybe *I* should drive..."

Lex laughed, "I don't think so."

"Why not?" Chloe whined.

"Why not? Because, despite my earlier comment about my having my head checked, it's still working."

At this, Chloe pouted. God, she's so cute when she pouts, Lex thought. Then, deciding that if he continued on with this train of thought, he might accidently give into Chloe.

"Hey, there is nothing wrong with my driving," Chloe said defensively, crossing her arms. Lex couldn't help but smile.

"Uh huh," he said, unbelieving. Chloe scowled.

"Hmmph," Chloe began walking to the other side of the car, "Where to then?"

Momentarily surprised by her sudden...drop of the subject, he hesitated. Where to? He needed to get his prescriptions filled for one. Looking over at Chloe, he watched her fix her disheveled her. He opened his door, and slowly slid inside. The discomfort he felt made him wonder whether he should let Chloe drive.

He watched as the passenger door opened, and Chloe climbed in. She didn't look over at him, she just stared ahead.

"Oh, don't tell me you're going to go all Angry Girl on me, and give me the silent treatment," Lex asked.

Chloe began to twiddle her thumbs, all of a sudden becoming very interested in the ceiling of his car.

"You know you're acting completely childish right now?" Lex asked, trying to get a reaction out of her. Any reaction. He didn't like it when she was mad at him.

Chloe just sat there, using her fingers to drum out a tune on the dashboard. Lex stared at her for a moment. And continued to do so, he knew that it would eventually get her attention.

A minute went by in complete silence. And another minute. All the while Lex stared at her. Watched her. She'd dropped the drumming already. Now she was just looking out the window, watching the wind carry a leaf down the road.

Then, after about five minutes, Chloe started tapping her foot. A sure sign that she was getting bored, impatient. It seemed as if it had turned into a game now. Both trying to outlast the other. But, unbeknownst to Chloe, Lex was practically trained in the art of silence. His father had "taught" Lex that lesson early on in life.

Ten minutes had now gone by, and neither had spoken. Lex was stilling watching Chloe, now slumped in her seat. She didn't seem to mind the fact that Lex was staring at her so intently. Another minute went by, then Chloe turned her head towards Lex. Thinking she was about to speak, Lex smiled. She smiled back. Then, without notice, she leaned forward, and kissed him.
***

How bout that? Good, huh? I thought so. i was almost worried this chapter wasn't going to turn out well, but i kinda like how it did. hope everyone else did too.
reviews are always welcome. you guys(girls) know that. so, if you have time, just type in a few words, and that's that. you made my day. cool, huh. but, hey even if you don't, it's alright. i'll live. so, next chapter. Soon! promise. i'm gonna write it later on paper. type it the next day. and then put it on here for you guys. bye all