Title: Recovery 1/8

Author: Amanda

E-mail: ficklemuse02@yahoo.com

Summary: Set in the summer between Season 2 and Season 3 - looks at what our favorite Smallville residents have been up to in the three months since 'Exodus'.

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own anybody. (But oh, what a glorious notion... owning Luthors....*sigh*) Smallville belongs to Millar/Gough etc.

** **

** ** **

Luthor Manor:

"Yes. That's it. Such a good girl."

Lionel's voice rumbled through the cavernous walls of the library and sent Lex's flesh crawling at the same time.

There was nothing more repulsive than the sound of his father mid-rut. It was the sound of Lex's adolescence. It was the sound that guaranteed that once his mother died, Lex never experienced a single moment of homesickness in his life. The endless parade of women through the doors of his father's bedroom would have made Eileen Ford envious.

Whoever his father was currently calling a paramour was going to have to excuse Lionel for the rest of the afternoon. Lex had spent the morning on the phone hearing the rumblings of a hostile takeover. Lex pushed aside and small pleasure he might derive from spoiling one of his father's 'interludes'. Lionel was the one who drilled 'business before pleasure' into his work ethic for years.

Lex didn't bother with the formality of knocking – there was no reason he should. The house belonged to him, not Lionel and if his father had any sense of discretion at all he wouldn't be having sex with his latest conquest without the door locked. Lex half expected to find them sprawled across his desk, his father was like a dog that way. He was always trying to mark the territory – even when it wasn't his. But the desk was clear, and so were the sofa and the floor. He was almost beginning to believe that his father had taken up using ropes and pulleys when he heard a soft moan and a tiny whimper from the stacks above him.

Of course. And knowing Lionel it was most likely coming from the section of religious texts. One could accuse Lionel of being twisted and perverse- but to Lex's knowledge no one had ever accused him of lacking a sense of humor.

Lex assumed a falsely chipper tone as he started up the stairs. "Dad? Dad are you in here? I need to ask you something. Where do babies come from?"

Lionel emerged from the stacks a moment later, buttoning his dark suit jacket. "Really Lex. I have no idea where you inherited this puerile sense of humor from."

"The same place I inherited all the rest of my sterling personality traits from Dad. The mail man." Lex moved aside, allowing his father to get by and down the stairs. "Isn't your playmate going to come out? Because if not I can have Mrs. Carmichael bring up a few rags. The shelves need dusting."

Lionel's expression was smug and infuriating. "I believe that chore is taken care of adequately for the moment. Now – what did you really want to talk to me about?"

Lex felt a sickening knot form in his stomach as a familiar head of blonde, baby fine, flyaway hair appeared around the bookshelf corner. He couldn't see her face clearly because her head was ducked as she rummaged through a small purse for something while Lex mentally began making a list of high priced attorneys who specialized in statutory rape law on the unwavering certainty that Lionel would be caught.

But when the young woman lifted her head Lex wasn't sure whether to be relieved or even more sickened. It wasn't Chloe Sullivan as he'd first assumed, in fact her face bore little resemblance to Chloe. But everything else about her was identical - her hair, even her quirky in a small town sort of way clothing, down to the combat boots on her feet. The 'girl' was 25 if she was a day and still Lex found it just as disturbing as when he first walked in the door.

Looking up, the woman gave Lex a dismissive look before pushing past him. "Will that be all /i Luthor, Sir?"

"Yes that will be all for the moment thank you Miss Simpson." Lionel waved her off with one hand before turning his attention back to Lex. "Yes Son?"

"You never cease to amaze me Dad…"

"I live to inspire." Lionel grinned wolfishly. "Consider it my life's work."

Still unable to shake off the sick feeling in his stomach, Lex forced his brain back to business. "What do you know about Green River Inc.?"

Lionel crossed to the bar and poured himself a drink. "A bunch of young upstarts. They're nothing but a bunch of trust fund babies who pooled their considerable resources and are making a nuisance of themselves in the business world. Why? Oh Lex, don't tell me that after all this time you've fallen in with a bad crowd?"

"If I wanted to do that I would hold a family reunion. But no, actually the word in Metropolis is that Green River is making a concerted effort to buy up all available Luthor Corp stock and force a hostile takeover."

"Impossible." Lionel snorted before taking an appreciative sip of cognac. "Even if they did manage to acquire enough stock they would need my shares, your shares or …" Lionel and Lex came to the same conclusion at the same time. "Alexander when was the last time you spoke to your brother?"

"Lucas…" Lex searched for the best way to finish that sentence. Saying that Lucas wouldn't betray them would be like denying their father's capabilities for betrayal. The truth of the matter was that Lucas would do anything to anyone if it were in his best interests. It was in fact what made him such an exemplary Luthor. Strong instincts for survival combined with a borderline personality and few moral or ethical constraints. Lex pulled out his cellular phone and dialed. "Lucas? Where are you?" He listened. "Glad to hear it. You wouldn't happen to have sold your shares in Luthor Corp to an investment group would you?" He met his father's stone cold gaze and shook his head once. "No. It's fine. I was just checking. See you soon." Lex disconnected the call and set down his phone. "Lucas hasn't sold his shares. But that doesn't mean they haven't figured out something else." He moved to the bar and poured a drink for himself. "Perhaps if you spent a little more time paying attention to business and a little less time fornicating in my library with bimbos Luthor Corp wouldn't be in a position to be vulnerable."

Lionel took a seat on the couch and crossed one leg over the other. "What do you object to more Lex? My sex life, which in case your therapists have never mentioned before- is none of your business – or my business life, which since you have your own empire, is also none of your business?"

"Just so that there's no misunderstanding between us Dad … stay the hell away from Chloe Sullivan. Stick to corrupting adults."

"Why Lex! I've done nothing to corrupt Miss Sullivan! In fact it's just the opposite. I'm merely encouraging a young and beautiful mind. She's really quite talented you know, in so very many areas. It would practically be criminal to let that go to waste." Lionel cupped his snifter in his palm, rolling the amber liquid sensuously around the glass.

"Speaking of criminal, the State of Kansas has some very strict laws about 'encouraging' minors." Lex replied acerbically. "You might want to consider that."

"Lex I don't know what I've done to incur such distrust of my motives. Is it so difficult for you to see how Chloe Sullivan is a long term investment? You never know when having an articulate and intelligent reporter will be an asset."

"I know that you instructed Luthor Corp to donate $500,000 to rebuilding the newspaper offices and supplying them with equipment and their own printing press." Lex shrugged. "Color me cynical but it appears as if you're grooming Chloe as a mistress and not a possible source. And that affects me. I happen to live here in Smallville. You're just a visitor. I don't want you leaving me with another of your messes."

"And you're so certain that I would leave Miss Sullivan? I imagine Chloe would make an excellent stepmother."

Lex gritted his teeth against the urge to shove his father out of the library window. Lionel was the master string puller, if he were any better at it his name would be Gepetto.

** ** **