Part 10 Reasons Beyond Logic
Chloe shivered at the cold air the air conditioners pumped out. The hospital's temperature was so different from that outside. Since it had been so hot when she and Lex arrived, she did not even bring her coat. Now she stood in the freezing corridors leading the to the Critical Care Unit with only the single layer of clothing on.
A heavy jacket was placed over her shoulders. She gripped it thankfully, not needing to turn to know that it was Lex's. They continued their trek forward. Chloe fought against the fear that she would find someone else fighting for his life in there. At the same time, based on the quiet words that the doctor who met them at the lobby told Lex, she desperately wished that this would not be her husband. Her life with Lucas may have been founded on certain lies, but Lucas took care of her for as long as she could remember. He did not deserve such a painful death.
"Second to third degree burns-"
"No way to save-"
"Smoke filled lungs-"
"Inhaled so much poison from the fumes of-"
"Hasn't even woken up-"
Lex broke through the oration of the doctors gathered outside the Critical Care Unit. He could tell that with every item in the enumeration, Chloe was being pushed to the edge. He took her hand and squeezed it. "Can we see the patient? There's no reason for us to stay around if it's not my brother."
The head doctor nodded and motioned to the nurse. "He's in a special sterile area of the unit. Nurse Vega will show you to a room where you can put on these sterile suits. It may be a good idea if Mrs Luthor would step in first so she can identify the patient."
Chloe threw Lex a frantic look. Lex shook his head firmly. "We'll go in together. Mrs Luthor has been in so much trauma already."
"We understand. Nurse."
Holding on tightly to Lex's hand, Chloe followed the nurse. While the nurse picked up two suits from the supply room, Lex looked down at Chloe. He saw the uncertainty in hers eyes. "If it's Lucas, you can finally ask him all the things you've wanted to."
"The doctor just said he hasn't woken up yet."
Lex forced a smile on his lips. "I have a feeling that no matter how injured he is, Lucas would wake up for his pregnant wife."
Chloe returned the smile and closed her eyes. "I'm afraid to see."
"Do you want me to go inside before you?"
"No," she whispered. "At least if he's not waking up, I can hold his hand until-"
The nurse returned and handed them both the sterile clothes. "You can change in those rooms. I'll wait here and bring you to the CCU."
~~
When she said that she would hold his hand, Chloe had that small hope that maybe, there was a part of him she could still touch. The prone form that greeted her and Lex when they entered the room was a shock to her senses that she immediately backed up a couple of steps. Lex's hands went to her waist and he held her still. "Chloe, do you need to go outside?" She shook her head quickly. To calm her, Lex moved his hands in slow circular motions. He rested his chin on the top of her head and said, "Breathe in. One more time."
They stepped closer to the bed. The burned man was hooked on several machines that primarily pumped air and morphine into him. Chloe's eyes wandered on the skin that festered, her mind reeling at the knowledge that had it not been for the painkillers, this man would be writhing and praying for death.
Lex gritted his teeth at the sight. Half of the man's face was completely razed. As a brother though, he had known immediately that it was Lucas. He was filled with loathing and vengeance. Already, the names of those under LuthorCorp employment who worked in the maintenance of the private jets ran through his mind. That department of the company would be cleansed the moment he had his hand on a cellphone.
Instead of staring at his brother, he watched Chloe's reaction. He had no idea whether or not she had recognized Lucas. Chloe was gazing at the ruined face expressionlessly. He held his breath, waiting for a sign that she had finally realized that this was her husband. Lex was prepared to catch her if she fainted, or to hold her should she collapse in hysterical wails.
"Chloe."
She wiped one silent tear from her cheek. That alone told Lex that she knew this was Lucas. Chloe carefully moved closer to the bed. She reached out and traced the untouched skin on the other side of his face. "Lucas," she said softly.
Sleeping Beauty and the kiss of true love ran through Lex's mind at that movement. It was the only one he could think of so that he would not panic at the hitch in his brother's assisted breathing. Lucas' eyes fluttered open for the first time since John Doe had been found. Lex could not control the lazy movement of his cheek and the sudden rise of hot tears in his eyes. He watched Lucas and Chloe read each other's eyes so intently they appeared to be doing so for the last time.
"I'll call a doctor," Lex rasped.
And then Lucas was feebly pulling at the oxygen mask. Chloe closed her hand around it and shook her head. There must have been pleading in Lucas' eyes because within moments, Chloe was telling the nurse to help her pull the tube out of Lucas' throat.
Despite objections from the doctor, and perhaps because there would not have been a difference given the patient's status, Lucas was allowed to breathe on his own. "Ssss-" Lex found it easy to forgive him brother then, as the younger Luthor fought to spit out his words. "Ssssorry, Chl-"
She nodded at once, so he would not have to finish the syllables. Chloe placed her hand on the bandage covering Lucas' hand. Lex saw the moisture in his brother's eyes and knew that even his wife's gentle touch caused lightning bursts of pain in him. It was Chloe's touch that propelled Lucas to live the lie he did, and now he could not even endure a brush. "We'll be fine, Lucas," she assured her husband. "As soon as you are, we'll fly home to Spain."
"C-can't. Gonna-gonna leave, Chlo. 'M dyin."
"No you're not," she disagreed.
"Sss-sorry."
She gave him a fat smile. "Well, we'll still be okay. Me and baby. You know, Lex will take care of us." Because at that moment, she could not even bring herself to be accusatory or angry about what Lucas never said or did.
Lucas' eyes moved over to where Lex stood behind Chloe. Lex could read the sadness there now. He looked for regret, but could find none. "You-you'll take-care?"
"Of both of them." Lex nodded. "Nothing to worry about, Lucas."
"Th-th-tha-"
"My pleasure." He kept his answers brief, because no matter how much pain his brother was in, the betrayal was stuck in his gut.
Lex met his brother's eyes that communicated with him words that he could not completely understand. Chloe moved away from Lucas' side and allowed Lex through. Lex bent low to listen, because it would be less difficult for Lucas to speak if he did not have to raise his voice. Lucas rasped into his ear, "Every-everything I did-for love, Lex. I'd-I'd do it. Again. Stole three years. Just three. Rest is-the rest-yours."
Lex stood up straight and looked down at his brother, whose eyes were tightly shut as he fought off the pain that rolled over him in waves. Lucas gritted his teeth as his moans filled the small sterile space. Lex glanced at the machines. The stress levels from the pain were shooting up the monitors. He saw the doctors and nurses running towards them. Lex turned to Chloe so he could usher her out. He found her instead holding Lucas hand to her stomach, and on her lips he read the mute lyrics of a lullaby.
The monitors did not change, so Lex knew that his brother was in as much pain as he had been. It surprised him though, how finally Lucas was able to push it aside so he could stare at his wife and say, "Your birthday-the ring." Chloe drew out the small piece of jewelry that Lex clearly remembered was the one he proposed with. "Not-from me. Lex, Chlo." Chloe waited for the rest of the words, staring into Lucas' eyes. The nurse checking the monitors moved beside her. Lex barely registered the shrill and steady beep from the computers. He was, like Chloe, waiting for Lucas to finish his sentence, admit to them both the extent of his deceit.
And then the nurse reached over and closed Lucas' eyes.
Chloe shivered at the cold air the air conditioners pumped out. The hospital's temperature was so different from that outside. Since it had been so hot when she and Lex arrived, she did not even bring her coat. Now she stood in the freezing corridors leading the to the Critical Care Unit with only the single layer of clothing on.
A heavy jacket was placed over her shoulders. She gripped it thankfully, not needing to turn to know that it was Lex's. They continued their trek forward. Chloe fought against the fear that she would find someone else fighting for his life in there. At the same time, based on the quiet words that the doctor who met them at the lobby told Lex, she desperately wished that this would not be her husband. Her life with Lucas may have been founded on certain lies, but Lucas took care of her for as long as she could remember. He did not deserve such a painful death.
"Second to third degree burns-"
"No way to save-"
"Smoke filled lungs-"
"Inhaled so much poison from the fumes of-"
"Hasn't even woken up-"
Lex broke through the oration of the doctors gathered outside the Critical Care Unit. He could tell that with every item in the enumeration, Chloe was being pushed to the edge. He took her hand and squeezed it. "Can we see the patient? There's no reason for us to stay around if it's not my brother."
The head doctor nodded and motioned to the nurse. "He's in a special sterile area of the unit. Nurse Vega will show you to a room where you can put on these sterile suits. It may be a good idea if Mrs Luthor would step in first so she can identify the patient."
Chloe threw Lex a frantic look. Lex shook his head firmly. "We'll go in together. Mrs Luthor has been in so much trauma already."
"We understand. Nurse."
Holding on tightly to Lex's hand, Chloe followed the nurse. While the nurse picked up two suits from the supply room, Lex looked down at Chloe. He saw the uncertainty in hers eyes. "If it's Lucas, you can finally ask him all the things you've wanted to."
"The doctor just said he hasn't woken up yet."
Lex forced a smile on his lips. "I have a feeling that no matter how injured he is, Lucas would wake up for his pregnant wife."
Chloe returned the smile and closed her eyes. "I'm afraid to see."
"Do you want me to go inside before you?"
"No," she whispered. "At least if he's not waking up, I can hold his hand until-"
The nurse returned and handed them both the sterile clothes. "You can change in those rooms. I'll wait here and bring you to the CCU."
~~
When she said that she would hold his hand, Chloe had that small hope that maybe, there was a part of him she could still touch. The prone form that greeted her and Lex when they entered the room was a shock to her senses that she immediately backed up a couple of steps. Lex's hands went to her waist and he held her still. "Chloe, do you need to go outside?" She shook her head quickly. To calm her, Lex moved his hands in slow circular motions. He rested his chin on the top of her head and said, "Breathe in. One more time."
They stepped closer to the bed. The burned man was hooked on several machines that primarily pumped air and morphine into him. Chloe's eyes wandered on the skin that festered, her mind reeling at the knowledge that had it not been for the painkillers, this man would be writhing and praying for death.
Lex gritted his teeth at the sight. Half of the man's face was completely razed. As a brother though, he had known immediately that it was Lucas. He was filled with loathing and vengeance. Already, the names of those under LuthorCorp employment who worked in the maintenance of the private jets ran through his mind. That department of the company would be cleansed the moment he had his hand on a cellphone.
Instead of staring at his brother, he watched Chloe's reaction. He had no idea whether or not she had recognized Lucas. Chloe was gazing at the ruined face expressionlessly. He held his breath, waiting for a sign that she had finally realized that this was her husband. Lex was prepared to catch her if she fainted, or to hold her should she collapse in hysterical wails.
"Chloe."
She wiped one silent tear from her cheek. That alone told Lex that she knew this was Lucas. Chloe carefully moved closer to the bed. She reached out and traced the untouched skin on the other side of his face. "Lucas," she said softly.
Sleeping Beauty and the kiss of true love ran through Lex's mind at that movement. It was the only one he could think of so that he would not panic at the hitch in his brother's assisted breathing. Lucas' eyes fluttered open for the first time since John Doe had been found. Lex could not control the lazy movement of his cheek and the sudden rise of hot tears in his eyes. He watched Lucas and Chloe read each other's eyes so intently they appeared to be doing so for the last time.
"I'll call a doctor," Lex rasped.
And then Lucas was feebly pulling at the oxygen mask. Chloe closed her hand around it and shook her head. There must have been pleading in Lucas' eyes because within moments, Chloe was telling the nurse to help her pull the tube out of Lucas' throat.
Despite objections from the doctor, and perhaps because there would not have been a difference given the patient's status, Lucas was allowed to breathe on his own. "Ssss-" Lex found it easy to forgive him brother then, as the younger Luthor fought to spit out his words. "Ssssorry, Chl-"
She nodded at once, so he would not have to finish the syllables. Chloe placed her hand on the bandage covering Lucas' hand. Lex saw the moisture in his brother's eyes and knew that even his wife's gentle touch caused lightning bursts of pain in him. It was Chloe's touch that propelled Lucas to live the lie he did, and now he could not even endure a brush. "We'll be fine, Lucas," she assured her husband. "As soon as you are, we'll fly home to Spain."
"C-can't. Gonna-gonna leave, Chlo. 'M dyin."
"No you're not," she disagreed.
"Sss-sorry."
She gave him a fat smile. "Well, we'll still be okay. Me and baby. You know, Lex will take care of us." Because at that moment, she could not even bring herself to be accusatory or angry about what Lucas never said or did.
Lucas' eyes moved over to where Lex stood behind Chloe. Lex could read the sadness there now. He looked for regret, but could find none. "You-you'll take-care?"
"Of both of them." Lex nodded. "Nothing to worry about, Lucas."
"Th-th-tha-"
"My pleasure." He kept his answers brief, because no matter how much pain his brother was in, the betrayal was stuck in his gut.
Lex met his brother's eyes that communicated with him words that he could not completely understand. Chloe moved away from Lucas' side and allowed Lex through. Lex bent low to listen, because it would be less difficult for Lucas to speak if he did not have to raise his voice. Lucas rasped into his ear, "Every-everything I did-for love, Lex. I'd-I'd do it. Again. Stole three years. Just three. Rest is-the rest-yours."
Lex stood up straight and looked down at his brother, whose eyes were tightly shut as he fought off the pain that rolled over him in waves. Lucas gritted his teeth as his moans filled the small sterile space. Lex glanced at the machines. The stress levels from the pain were shooting up the monitors. He saw the doctors and nurses running towards them. Lex turned to Chloe so he could usher her out. He found her instead holding Lucas hand to her stomach, and on her lips he read the mute lyrics of a lullaby.
The monitors did not change, so Lex knew that his brother was in as much pain as he had been. It surprised him though, how finally Lucas was able to push it aside so he could stare at his wife and say, "Your birthday-the ring." Chloe drew out the small piece of jewelry that Lex clearly remembered was the one he proposed with. "Not-from me. Lex, Chlo." Chloe waited for the rest of the words, staring into Lucas' eyes. The nurse checking the monitors moved beside her. Lex barely registered the shrill and steady beep from the computers. He was, like Chloe, waiting for Lucas to finish his sentence, admit to them both the extent of his deceit.
And then the nurse reached over and closed Lucas' eyes.