Title: Princess of the Tower.

Author: NickyJean

Summary: Chloe learns too much and the lengths Lex would go to protect her from his father.

Disclaimer: Still no offers, darn those WB people and their selfishness

A/N: Thanx to Fiona, Scifichick774, Humbugirl, Merrie, JoKing, and Lili for keeping me so entertained during my writer's block…I'm BACK….

Chapter 4

"A Mr. Clark Kentto see you, Sir," the butler addressed.

"Send him in, please," Lex said looking, up from his forms. "And Michaels, Clark doesn't need to be announced."

"Your father insists on it, Sir. Protocol, don't you know." The butler's stifling tone was almost laughable.

"Well, when 'Mr. Kent,'" Lex stressed feeling the need to demonstrate his authority, "comes to see my father, you can be sure to announce him. Otherwise just tell him where I am and go about your duties."

Michaels took a deep breath, "Of course, Mr. Luthor." He even bristled at the thought of rules of decorum being so easily disregarded by someone of the Luthor social standing.

Lex couldn't help but smirk as Clark entered the room and Michaels exited. Clark gave Michaels a quick look and didn't bother to conceal a grin. "Gee Lex, where does your father find them?"

"I don't know, but I wish he would leave them there."

"I've never been announced before. Should I feel special?"

Lex took the opportunity to place some of his documents away while stacking others. "Don't let it go to your head. With all this extra security my father's been adding, Michaels' been announcing the gardener's arrival." Sitting on the corner of the desk, "So what can I do for you, Clark?"

"Nothing, really. I just came by to see you. It's been a while and you've been so busy lately." His voice was layered with concern. Clark knew that Lionel was now in residence even though he traveled abroad. The downside to that was that most of this travel was including Lex lately. Lex was never around as much anymore, always on one business trip or another and gone for weeks at a time. Clark really missed his friend, but it was the rumors of Lex in unsavory business deals that had Clark the most concerned.

Lex smiled at the obvious worry in Clark's voice. He knew that Clark had been hearing and reading the speculation of the business ventures Lex had been focusing on, but wasn't willing to lie to his friend about it. "I'm not the only one with a busy social calendar. The Torch is running very well, from what I've heard. Chloe would be proud of you." Lex almost choked on the words.

He had been apprising Chloe of Clark assuming her role after her 'death' hoping to get past the wall of hostility that Chloe had thrown up. She never said it, but she was proud. She read every issue of the Torch that Lex brought her. She smiled, she laughed, and then she cried.

"Thanks Lex, but I'm nothing compared to her. She had a way of getting to the truth without breaking a sweat."

"Oh, I don't know. The way you and Gabe pieced together Dean's past and saved Nell from marrying a sociopath is nothing to scoff at. Sure it's no meteorite story, but it is news and excellent detective work on both of your parts."

Clark blushed and, not much for accepting credit, turned the source of the conversation. "Yeah, if Chloe and her father weren't so close he might not have known all those contacts that Chloe kept in touch with in Metropolis." Clark was thoughtful for a moment. "It was almost like he was able to connect with Chloe again, through me, her friends from Metropolis, and doing some of the work that Chloe was so proud of doing. I think he understands her more."

Lex retreated back into his own mind at the mention of Chloe. He was so distracted by his father's demands that he piled more and more responsibility onto Gabe. Gabe willingly accepted, hiding in his work. He started doing later and later nights, anything to avoid going home to an empty house. Chloe made Lex realize what her father was doing and told Lex to put an immediate stop to it. With the help of the Kents, Gabe slowly started living life again, and his first significant step saved both Nell and Lana from certain death.

Lex was shaken from his thoughts by Clark's intense gaze. Feeling the need to change the subject, "How are things with Ms. Lang, now that she's not moving?"

Again Clark blushed. "Well, we've been talking more. I know she cares for me, but she can't seem to want what I can give her."

"She's still looking for secrets that aren't there, huh?"

"I don't know what I can tell her that I haven't already told her before. I'm just not as open with everything as she is. There are just some things about me that I don't tell anyone."

"You don't have to defend yourself to me. Sometimes secrets have to be kept. Sometimes they mean the difference between life and death."

Clark just stared at Lex, trying to read his mind, but unable to penetrate the wall that Lex had been hiding behind recently. The questions were written all over Clark's face. 'Were you keeping secrets? Why are you keeping them from me? What are you up to? Were the rumors all true?' But Clark never actually voiced them. He had secrets of his own, Lex knew. They had made a silent pact to remain friends, even confidantes despite the foreboding feeling that their friendship couldn't last if the secrecy persisted.

Neither said a word, lost in their own thoughts, when Lionel came charging in the room. He scanned the room his eyes immediately falling on Clark. Hostility fogged his vision for a moment but it bled away almost instantly at his son's voice. "What can I do for you Father?"

Lionel seemed to choose his words carefully. "A helicopter has been rerouted from Metropolis to here and is taking you to Metropolis International. There you will be catching a jet to Florida and then switching jets instead of refueling."

Color drained from Lex's face. "What's going on?"

"Hurricane Helen changed directions. I need you at the plant to supervise the evacuation."

Lex was already rushing to the door without a glance to Clark or further explanation from his father.

"If they need to be evacuated should Lex really be going? It might not be safe," Clark inquired.

Lionel didn't bother to acknowledge Clark's question, but Lex did as he started to issue orders for his immediate departure. "Unlike most storms hurricanes are rather easy to follow and you have hours sometimes a day to prepare."

"Unless they change directions," Lionel stressed while Lex started heading for the door.

The chopper could be heard in the distance as Lex grabbed the bag that Michaels handed him. "The papers you need are locked in the desk," Lex shouted over his shoulder to his father.

Both Clark and Lionel watched as Lex raced for the helicopter and took off within a few minutes of Lionel's arrival.

"He's going to be OK, right?" Clark asked trying to reassure himself.

"You're still here," Lionel muttered in contempt. He opened the drawer and started pulling out the paperwork that Lex was working on before Clark's arrival.

Clark cleared his throat at the obvious insult, but didn't let Lionel dislike for him get in the way. "I've noticed that you and Lex have been getting along better."

"How observant of you," he said snidely. "Lex is becoming the man I always knew he could become." He looked pointedly at Clark, "Amazingly enough, he didn't need your help with that."

"You don't like me, do you?"

"It's not a question of liking you, which, no I don't. It's a question of your importance to my son and as and by extension, me. You," stressing himself slightly, "are a distraction. Alexander can't afford those right now."

"I'm Lex's friend. He needs more of those, considering."

Lionel didn't ignore the pointed remark, but turned it on him. "You shouldn't listen to gossip, dear boy. I thought your mother taught you better." He gave Clark a look of sheer evil delight. "Speaking of which, how is your mother?"

It got the desired reaction. Clark tensed up and his eyes clouded over in disgust. "I'm not discussing her with you," he stated through tight lips.

"Pity," Lionel stated, playing as if it were of no consequence. "She's such a lovely, intelligent woman. It amazes me that she would be willing to throw a bright future away on some farm life."

"My mother happens to be very happy with her 'farm life.'"

"You must admit though she could have had so much more," Lionel's innuendo didn't go unnoticed or unchallenged.

"You mean with you? Please. You only wanted one thing from her and she happens to be a happily married woman."

"Even happily married women need a little spice in life. The fire that your mother has can't possibly be quenched in this cow town."

"You may not realize it, Mr. Luthor, but you don't know everything. You can't have everything. And most importantly, you can't seduce everyone."

"My dear boy, who wants everything?" Lionel asked with a shrug,
"I just make sure I get what I want."

"You didn't get my mother and you won't."

"Is that a challenge?" Lionel smirked slightly amused. "Let me assure you, the game I played before wasn't half of what I'm capable of. That was just fun at the expense of a man -" Lionel stopped, not liking the fact that he almost showed how personal the attack on Martha was. "That I find interesting to torment as much as he enjoys thinking he's superior to me."

Clark didn't miss a beat. "This wasn't about you falling for my mother, was it? This is about Lex, isn't it? You can't stand the fact that Lex respects my father more then you."

Lionel didn't know when, but at some point he grew to hate this boy, being so much like his father. Maybe it was he first noticed Lex taking Clark's side over his. Or when Clark constantly supported Lex, the way he made Lex question his loyalty to the Luthor name. It might have started when Lex started openly defying him because of this boy and his advice.

Clark was everything Lionel despised and considered as a weakness. Most importantly, he was just like his father. Jonathan Kent, the thorn in his side, a competitor for his son's loyalty, his son's trust and confidence. That man went out of his way to make Lex feel like he was less of a man because he had wealth and power and didn't use it to help every stray dog and cat. Whenever Lex had a question of conscience he went to Jonathan. Lionel went into a rage that he had never experienced before when he started noticing Lex's changes. Lex began losing money and power in favor of doing the right thing.

When Lionel came close to discovering proof of life from other worlds, it suddenly vanished. He knew Martha, with Lex's, help got rid of it. That's when he knew he could no longer be weak. No longer be dependent. Could no longer be blind. He started searching for radical procedures for his eyes.

That was when he found Dr. Hamilton again. Lionel realized that he was driven insane by an amount of meteor solution in his brain. Though Dr. Hamilton had little memory of how it happened, he did have the ability to return Lionel's sight and for that he was rewarded. His own private facility on an island only less secret than Chloe's.

Once his sight had returned, he took great pains to keep it hidden from the world. He didn't know whom he could trust. His bleeding heart son was trying so hard to be a member of the Kent family, he didn't even notice the inconsistencies in Lionel's performance.

He tested those around him and quickly discovered who he could and couldn't trust. Martha was the first to get caught in the lies. Leaving out documents that showed Lionel's 'plans' for closing the plants she ran straight to her husband. Jonathan wasted no time in getting Clark to emotionally blackmail his son into betraying him. There stood Jonathan Kent the pride of Smallville, being as dishonest as any crook, manipulating Lex to do his bidding so Lex could finally gain some pathetic acceptance from this town.

So Lionel took his revenge the old fashioned way. Without allowing Martha to know he knew what she was up to he kept her in her position. He flirted with her. At first when they were alone, then once she just thought it was a part of his nature and accepted it, in front of others. He knew that it would get back to Jonathan. He enjoyed the little tirades that Jonathan would throw in front to the town. The confrontations with Lex were just as entertaining. Lex actually believed he wanted that little trashy housewife. Yes, Lionel knew she was intelligent and had a powerful family, but please, her Martha Stewart act was something Lionel never wanted on a temporary, much less permanent basis. Let's face it, Lionel is more into champagne not moonshine.

Then the Sullivan situation fell into his lap. He knew all about her troublesome past and that Clark boy always coming to her rescue. From the rumors around town, his son has even saved her a time or two. Next came Lex's sacrifice for Chloe's life. Lionel knew Lex cared more for the girl, even more then he knew. The boy practically signed over his life for her. He dropped everything to just talk to her, even though she was being amazingly stubborn to her savior. Maybe Chloe didn't fully comprehend what Lionel was capable of. But Lex did. He was learning first hand what it took to be his father's son. No more was he running to the Kents with a bout of conscience. Now he stood side by side with his father. Learning from the hand of the master, how to use his power to get what he wanted. That's what Lionel had wanted all along. A son to take over his throne. Now it was finally coming to pass and Lionel couldn't be happier.

"I can guarantee you that he respects me now," Lionel smiled.

"There is a difference between fear and respect. It's one of the first things Lex ever taught me."

Lionel's smile fell replaced instantly by the hatred he felt for the boy. Clark didn't seem to notice. Tired of the open animosity that was draining the air from the room Clark stalked to the archway only to be stopped by Lionel's biting words.

"While I don't expect you to respect me, child, you will soon learn that I will accept the fear with relish."

Clark refused to rise to the bait and left the manor with an uneasy feeling that this was just the beginning of something that, when finished, would leave all involved tattered and torn.

Lionel on the other hand felt a burst of pleasure at the challenge laid at his feet. He couldn't help but smirk at Clark's departing back. He knew he wouldn't be much of a Luthor if he hadn't had the last word in a verbal battle with some farm boy.

~*~

Lex ran through the torrid wind and rain to the house. Once he was in the shelter he dropped the slicker that he had used for its slight, yet unnoticeable, protection. "Chloe," he screamed in panic, "Chloe where are you?"

She came out of the library, book in hand staring at him, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Why aren't you with the others?" he joined her at the entrance of the library and grasped her shoulders. "I almost died when I found out you weren't in the shelter."

"I'm not going there," she stated pulling out of his grip. The shock that was in her eyes had dissolved and hatred replaced them.

"What are you talking about? It's not safe here. We have to get up to the shelter."

"I'll be fine. The storm won't be so bad," she denied as if her words made it true.

Lex openly gaped at her. "Are you insane? This is a HURRICANE! Nothing here is safe. Those weak wooden shutters aren't going to hold back that wind for long. The wind is at 120 miles per hour. The wind is picking up and those windows are going to blow open and glass is going to come flying into every room in this house. Water is rising and the courtyard is already under about six inches of water and we're already elevated over most of the island."

"How did you get here?"

"The jet dropped me off near the top of the island. They already left. It wasn't safe for them to stay. It took me almost a half hour to make it to the house in this weather."

Dread was actually returning to her face. "You mean we're stuck here."

"Yes, now let's get to the shelter."

"No," she muttered pulling away from him. "I'm not going, I'll stay here. I'll be fine. I'll be here when you get back."

"I'm not going anywhere without you, now come on." Lex went to the door and grabbed the bag of supplies he brought with him.

Chloe on the other hand took one look at Lex and dashed up the stairs. Lex was stunned at her actions for a moment. Confused he trailed after her, catching her before she reached the top.

He had a hold of her arm and she turned and glared at him, "Go away, Lex. I can take care of myself."

"Oh yes, you've done brilliantly so far," he remarked sarcastically. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder and started down the stairs. He had to grasp the railing to keep is balance as she struggled, kicking and screaming. "Now we are leaving and there isn't a thing in this world that's going to stop us."

Just then the door blew off the hinges and the surrounding windows and shutters shattered under the pressure of the winds that howled outside. "Well, maybe one thing," he said reevaluating his previous statement. "It can't be safe out there now. We'll have to stay here."

"Well, then as long as we're staying. Put me the HELL DOWN!" He couldn't tell if she was screaming out of anger or just to be heard of the storm. The indecision was resolved by the look of fire in her eyes as she was gently placed on her feet.

They both ran the rest of the way up the stairs. Lex only paused long enough to retrieve his duffel bag with the survival supplies inside. Chloe started to run to the safety of her room. "No this way," Lex directed. "We need something with interior walls."

He stopped in front of a small utility closet. "Get in," he ordered, "This is the safest place."

Chloe visibly gulped. "I'm not getting in there."

Lex was throwing in the bag and stepping in himself when he noticed that Chloe was still outside. "Chloe, what are you doing? It's not safe out here."

"I'm NOT getting in there." She started stepping back, "Go ahead, I'll be fine."

She stood staring at the small hovel of safety with such intensity that she never noticed a piece of debris heading toward her. Lex yanked her into the closet before she could continue to protest just before the debris could strike her.

He slammed the door and plunged them into darkness. "Chloe what the hell is wrong with you?" He was wet, breathing heavily, and scared to death and Chloe being more than difficult wasn't helping in the least.

Chloe was frozen. She couldn't move, couldn't breath. The darkness that surrounded her seemed to make her feel that much colder. The air was slowly becoming more and more heavy. Then she heard it, the trickle against the door. It repeated again and again, with more frequency. "We have to get out of here," she whispered. "Let me out," she ordered in a soft voice at first too faint for Lex to hear.

Between the wind, rain and the debris crashing through out the house, he hadn't even noticed Chloe speaking. But as her voice became louder and louder and her pleas became more panicked, he started searching for the lantern that he knew was there.

With its discovery, light flooded the room. Chloe screamed as the light came on, but her panic didn't subside. If anything it became worse as the light green light caused shadows to dance in the small space.

For the first time he noticed that Chloe was quivering, not quivering but shaking in fear. Her eyes were glazed over and she was breathing heavy with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"My God Chloe, what's wrong?" Lex asked. He reached for her and felt her cold, clammy skin. She was too terrified to pull away from him.

"Don't you hear it? We've got to get out of here, before," she didn't seem able to say the words, "before. The air, we're running out. We're going to suffocate in here. Don't you hear it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The dirt," she screamed in full sobs, "He's going to bury us down here and leave us to die. He's going to kill me." Lex grabbed her tightly against him, stroking her hair, muttering soothing words. She was claustrophobic. That's why she refused to go to the shelter. That's why she refused to get in the closet. "I'm going to die. I'm going to die down here." She repeated it over and over again as the storm raged on outside.

Lex couldn't let himself worry about trying to remember the details of what she must be reliving. He chose to focus on bringing her out of this. Lex tried to break through her fear induced delusion with words of comfort but it was no use. She just sat there frozen, terrified trying not to breath and use up the precious little air that she believed she had left. Lex, desperate to snap her back, grabbed Chloe by her shoulders and started to shake her. "You are not alone," he yelled at her. "You are not going to die. Do you hear me? I'm not going to let you die." She seemed, for the first time, to notice he was there. "You are Chloe Sullivan and you are not going to die in some closet."

"Lex?" seeming to finally notice her surroundings.

"That's right," Lex confirmed, yet not releasing her. He held her tightly. "You are not dying on my watch. No one, I repeat, no one is going to hurt you as long as I live."

"But the dirt, I hear it," she stuttered in disbelief.

"No, there's no dirt. You're in a closet. One with a door that you can get out of as soon as this storm passes."

"Not a, I'm not…" she took a deep breath, "I'm not in a coffin?"

Lex's heart almost stopped at the squeak in her voice as she said that final word. He took a deep breath knowing that he had to try and get through to her. "No, Chloe, you're safe and I'm going to keep you that way. OK?" As he spoke the words he pulled her into an embrace and stroked her hair. She sobbed into his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Chloe wanted to feel safe so desperately that she didn't care who it was or how impossible it was to believe. She let him hold her. She enveloped herself into the warmth of him, letting the softness of his voice soothe her. It didn't really matter what he said, she knew whatever it was would be a lie. It was just enough to know that she wasn't alone, like before, in that coffin buried in the ground. That she wasn't going to die. That he said he would protect her from the harsh world outside and the demons inside and for one moment she allowed herself to believe it.

~*~

A/N: I would like to thank the weather channel for the information on Hurricanes. Also for all the flight information need to make my story as real as possible a kudos out to Landings: Aviation and flight plans. I used Kansas City as Metropolis even though in the real make-believe world Metropolis should be NYC…LOL