Title: A Chlex Story

Author: MitchPell

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that has to do with Smallville, it's characters, DC comics, or the WB. I'm just using their stuff for a little bit of non-profitable fun. Nor do I own any of the poems. They all belong to their respective authors and publishers or whatever.

Authors Notes: My thanks go out to Adri, the best Beta Reader in the whole wide world, and the one who has helped me since the get go!!! Thanks to Ellidyay for beta-reading the first couple of scenes! And thanks to David and Deborah Sapiro for looking over the poetry sections for me! Wow! I bet you all thought I'd given up on this story, didn't you? But as I've promised, I will not stop! Even if it takes two months to hash out a fifteen page chapter. How pathetic. I'm so sorry about that. But I hit a serious case of writers block or writer's lack-of-motivation. But Adri kicked me in the ass and got me writing again! Man, she's a lifesaver! This is the rest of the Kinetic scenes. As if you guys wouldn't have figured that out! I've totally cut back this section, so if you are lost just take a look at my previous author's notes. I'm going to be using any and all spoilers, so read at your own risk.

Summary: Lex and Chloe just seem right for each other. I don't know why, they just do.

Email: mitchpell@yahoo.com

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Adri: I don't think I could ever thank you enough for all the help! I'm almost positive that if you weren't there to hold my hand I would have quit a long time ago! So, thank you, thank you, thank you! I love ya, girl! You are the best!

Ellidyay: Thanks for looking over those first couple of scenes for me, while Adri was AWOL! That really meant a lot. LOL! I was tempted to nag like someone I know. (I won't name names.) But then, I do take forever and a day to beta, just like I take forever and a day to write. So, I guess I deserve it! Thanks so much. I really appreciate it!

David: Thanks again for looking over my interpretations of the poems. It was good to know that I wasn't completely off my rocker, just halfway! Thanks again! I really appreciate it!

Deborah: Thanks for looking over the poetry scene. You can never have too many opinions about a poems meaning. So, thanks again. I really appreciate it!

RedWitch: LOL! Would it be wrong for me to say that even though your co-workers are threatening to lock you away, I want you to keep doing the happy dance? Because it makes me grin like an idiot to know that you like my fanfic that much! LOL! I'm glad you liked the chapter. Yeah, poor Lex, but Gabe was just protecting his little girl. Thanks again for the review! I hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Merrie: *Blushes profusely* Wow! Thanks so much for the great review! I'm always amazed by the amount of praise I receive. Because, personally, I'm getting really frustrated with my writing lately. I'm glad you liked the dynamics of my added scenes. And I hope this next chapter doesn't disappoint you, like I'm afraid it will. Thanks again for the review!

mina: I know! Lionel doesn't deserve to know! That magnificent bastard! You'll have to forgive Gabe though; he was just looking out for his little girl, even if he was placing blame on the wrong person. Thanks for the review! I hope you enjoy this next segment.

doroppu: Wow! I sure hope I don't float away because my head's swelled so much. LOL! Just looking at the length of your review makes me giddy! I loved your description of Lex's good deed. It was dead on! He generally wanted to help Chloe. He didn't care if everyone else knew he brought the extra doctors in or not. Yes, Gabe knew he was wrong. But his urge to blame someone for Chloe's injuries caused him to lash out at someone he knew wasn't to blame. And as for him comforting Clark, well, there's a lot of reasons for that. One, Chloe's been friends with Clark longer. He's someone Gabe is comfortable with in that position, whereas Lex is new, and Gabe doesn't trust him. That alone makes Lex a target for Gabe's anger. I'm glad to know you're still enjoying to story. And thanks for being honest about chapter 12. I'm going to try not to follow the episodes that closely again. Thank you so very much for the awesome review! I hope you enjoy this next chapter just as much!

Max Kitten: LOL! Yes! Lex and Chloe are going to get together. But their relationship isn't the love at first sight kind, it slow in growing. So, don't expect them to be an official couple for a while yet. Thanks for the review. I hope you like this next piece!

satineangelofhell: I'm writing as fast as I can! I promise! Thanks for the review! Wow! Two reviews for one chapter! I feel special! I know! I know! It's been a while. I'm sorry. I don't mean for there to be such big gaps between chapters. I really don't. Again, I apologize. I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Alley Mack: Thanks! Glad you like it!

Loser: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it! Characterization is very important to me, so it means a lot when people compliment that! Thanks again!

asharnanae: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it! Don't worry I will finish it! I might take me awhile, but you will get to see the end! Thanks again for the review!

Eve: Welcome back! I'm glad you decided to pick it back up! LOL! As for spoilers, well, I don't like to do that. But I hope that every chapter will have significant developments. Well, at least they do in my opinion. Thanks again for coming back! I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

jo: Sorry about the long wait. But as I've promised before, yes I am going to finish this. It's going to take awhile, but you will get to read the end. Sorry again for the delay. I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

judapea: LOL! Don't worry; I'm not abandoning it. I just hit a dry spell. Here is the next chapter, and thanks for the review!

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Chapter 15

Gabe slowly made his way into his daughter's hospital room, keeping his eyes glued on her still form. He pulled one of the chairs up to her bed and sat down, gently taking her hand. He had to blink back tears as he looked at her, his Chloe, battered and bruised. The cast on her arm and dark bruises around her eyes made her look so small and fragile. But she wasn't small and fragile; she was strong.

"Hey, Sweetheart." He said, as he pushed a stray lock of hair off her forehead. "It's Dad." He continued. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm here. I know you really don't need me here, that you don't like it when I worry too much. But I'm your father, and I'm going to stay whether you want me too or not."

He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, hoping she might open her eyes at the contact. "Clark was here." He told her. "He wanted to stay, but I was able to convince him to go home. Though, I imagine he'll be back in the morning." Gabe frowned, as he thought about the other person who had been there that night. He let out a sigh before continuing. "Lex was here as well. But, uh, I came down on him a little harshly and he left. Almost as soon as he arrived."

"I know. I know." He said, as if she were about to protest. "You don't have to defend him, like I know you're about to. I know that it technically wasn't his fault. But it was his house." He reminded her. "And you always have a certain amount of responsibility for your guests. No matter what their age."

Gabe let out a small chuckle. "I guess you weren't the one I had to worry about getting me fired." He said. "But you won't really mind if we have to move back to Metropolis will you?" He asked. "I'm sure your new school would have a newspaper for you to work on. Now, you probably couldn't be the editor this year. But this year's almost over anyway. Just think about it." He told her. "You'd be the editor of a big city or suburban school paper. One that Met U or Kansa State will be more familiar with. Not that I'm limiting you to those two schools mind you. Those are just examples."

Gabe smiled teasingly at his daughter. "I'm just kidding, Sweetheart." He assured her. "I'm sure I can make good with Lex. He seems like the type that can separate work related from non-work related issues. Or at least I hope that's the case."

He sighed as he rubbed small circles on Chloe's pale hand. "But none of that matters right now." He told her. "All that matters is that you get better. The doctors said you weren't out of the woods yet. But I told them you were strong, that you'd pull through." Gabe squeezed the small hand in his, as he felt tears well up behind his eyes. "Now," he said, his voice a little shaky. "Don't you go and prove me wrong."

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Lex sighed as he slumped onto the couch in his office, the temptation to pour himself a glass of brandy making his fingers itch. Rains and Jackson had given him a list of all the items that had been stolen from the vault. Apparently, the thieves had made off with quite a haul. Truthfully, he didn't really care what they took. It had only been a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of merchandise; he had more invested in the cars parked in his garage. But they had taken his disk, the disk that had the codes he'd used to hack into his father's computer system. And that worried him.

The disk wasn't protected. Anyone who had a computer with a zip drive could obtain the information that was stored on it. In hindsight, Lex realized that that had been a serious error in judgment. He'd literally left the codes necessary to hack into one of the world's largest corporations on a simple zip disk. Anyone could open it, and if they had even the most basic of hacker skills they could use it to repeat his work. Now that disk was in the hands of a group of fucking felons, leaving Lex to hope that they didn't realize just what they had in their possession.

He'd considered calling the man who was in charge of the company's online security and warning him of the possible exposure. But then, he couldn't think of a legitimate reason for him to be aware of such a threat. Therefore, his only option was to find these thugs before they discovered that they were sitting on the key to a multi-billion dollar company.

The shrill ring of his cell phone snapped Lex out of his thoughts, startling him to the point that he almost jumped. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small device, frowning at the unidentifiable number on his caller ID. "Lex Luthor." He said as he answered the call.

"Mr. Luthor." A woman said. "This is Dr. Miller from Metropolis General. I'm calling, as instructed by your father, to notify you that my team and I have arrived in Smallville."

"Good." Lex replied. "I trust you were given full instructions as to who you will be treating?"

"Yes, sir." Dr. Miller answered.

"Then I suggest you attend to your patient, Dr. Miller. I'll be stopping by the hospital shortly, expecting to be updated on your findings." Lex said before disconnecting the call.

Lex scrubbed his face with his hands after he set his cell phone on the end table. He'd thought that some of his concerns would be alleviated when the specialists arrived. But obviously he'd been wrong. He still couldn't shake the image of Chloe's crumpled body lying on the hard cold ground. It wasn't the first time he'd seen someone broken and helpless before. His misspent youth had supplied him with plenty of similar, quite vivid scenes. But the difference was that before, he hadn't cared. They hadn't mattered, at least not in the grand scheme of things. They were replaceable. But Chloe wasn't.

Chloe was different, unique. She had this energy about her, this spark that almost seemed tangible. She was feisty, quirky, and impatient. She knew what her obsessions were and wasn't afraid to indulge in them, wasn't afraid to be herself. She was intelligent and mature, yet not stiflingly so. She was a friend, and whether she knew it or not, she was a source of strength. One he didn't want to lose.

Lex sighed as he got up and went over to the bar. He poured himself a glass of brandy, wanting to drown out the guilt, but not daring to consume that much alcohol. He set his glass down on the end table beside his phone before retrieving his book of poetry out of its case by the door. He took the book back to his chair and sat down, propping his feet up on his coffee table. A quick glance at his watch told him it was around 8:30. Deciding to wait until morning to go back into the hospital, Lex opened his book and sifted through the poems as he nursed his drink.

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Gabby titled her head back and let the warm water run through her long dark hair, rinsing away the last remains of shampoo. As she stood there under the jets, she couldn't keep her thoughts from replaying that evening's events. She hoped that the Sullivan girl would be all right. Three stories was a long ways to fall, and though she'd landed on the ground rather than a stone walk, her impact must have been hard.

Gabby didn't doubt that Chloe would live; however, whether the girl would have permanent brain damage she couldn't guess. She knew that Lex would do everything in his power to get her the best care. He'd already had a team flown in from Metropolis. And if Gabby knew anything about Metropolis General's staff, she'd bet that it was Dr. Susan Miller's team being flown in on that helicopter.

Gabby chuckled as she imagined the look on Susan's face at being ordered to fly out to the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. If only I could have been there, she mused, with a camera.

She smiled as she shut off the water and climbed out of the shower. Though the expression didn't hold as her thoughts returned to the events of that night. Gabby couldn't help but wonder what Clark would make of what happened. She knew that his main focus of attention would be Chloe, which was understandable. But once the girl was more stable, Gabby wondered if he would start to ask questions, questions about just what her role was in Lex's house. She was supposed to be his "assistant." But she didn't know many assistants that carried around stethoscopes and could provide some of the basics of emergency medicine. True, she hadn't done anything too spectacular, just made some simple assessments. But it might be enough to raise suspicions.

Gabby shrugged her shoulders as she hung up the towel she'd been using. This was Lex's game, she decided. And it was up to him to determine how to play it. That settled, she made short work of drying off and pulling on a pair of loose fitting shorts and a t-shirt before heading to her bedroom. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand and frowned. It was almost 8:45, which meant she'd been in the shower for almost an hour. She shook her head in disbelief, mentally chiding herself for getting so caught up in her thoughts. She quickly ran a comb through her wet hair before heading off to find Lex.

After looking in his bedroom, Gabby went downstairs to check his office. She easily spotted him by the fireplace, reading, while absently nursing a glass of amber liquid. She rolled her eyes before crossing the threshold and making her way over to him. He was so caught up in the book he was reading that he didn't notice her come in. Deciding to cut him a little slack due to tonight's events, she reined in her irritation and simply plucked the glass out of his hand. "You're not supposed to drink alcohol." She reminded him as she sat down on the adjacent couch.

"I know." Lex said somewhat smugly, without looking up from his book. "But what kind of rebellious bad-boy would I be if I didn't break the rules every now and then?"

"A healthier one." She replied before taking a sip of his drink, wincing at its taste. "Ugh, how can you drink this stuff?"

Lex lifted his head and smirked at her. "It's an acquired taste." He told her. "Tell me, Gabby, should I be concerned that my healthcare provider is drinking? After all, I don't want you pumping poison into anything other than my veins. I'd like to keep my muscles and nerves intact."

"Don't worry, Lex." Gabby assured him. "My tolerance is higher than that."

"Somehow I don't find that very comforting." Lex replied as he turned back to his book.

Gabby laughed slightly, as she gestured towards the book in his hands. She'd recognized it immediately, having often found Lex reading from it, usually during or after more difficult times. She knew it was a source of comfort for him, but as for why, she wasn't sure. "Looking for something in particular?" She asked.

"More or less." He said as a way of an answer.

Gabby nodded, idly toying with the glass of brandy, unsure of the cause of the sudden uncomfortable silence. "Has Dr. Miller arrived yet?"

Lex looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, she has." He replied. "Though, I'm curious as to how you knew she'd be the one coming."

Gabby shrugged. "Regardless of her less than charming personality, she's the best neurologist in Metropolis."

"Mm," Lex muttered. "I'm beginning to learn that that's the case with most of the experts in the medical field."

"Really?" Gabby demanded lightheartedly.

"Well, I suppose there are a few exceptions." Lex teased. "I find Gatemen rather tolerable."

"You know, Lex," Gabby said, "If these discouraging comments continue, I'm going to have to make good on that threat of large needles."

Lex gently tapped the right side of his chest, indicating his catheter. "Right now," he told her. "I believe needles are the least of my problems."

Gabby frowned. She watched him study the pages in front of him, his eyes moving back and forth across the lines of poetry. She knew the reason he had that book out tonight, and she was overcome with the need to comfort him. Standing up, she reached over and took the book from his hands, marking his place with her finger "She's going to be alright, Lex." Gabby assured him.

Unable to meet her eye, Lex rose out of his chair and retook his book, moving to return it to its place in the glass case by the door. "It's strange." He practically whispered. "How you can be so afraid to lose someone you barely know." He ran his fingers lightly over the cover of bound pages one more time before turning back to Gabby. "Let's get this treatment over with." He said, before heading towards the door. "I want to go into the hospital early tomorrow." And with that he left the room.

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Lex knocked lightly on the open door before stepping into the dark room. He mentally braced himself for the tirade he was sure to expect from Gabe, but he was surprised when he realized the room was empty. He thought he'd find his plant manager in the vacant chair beside the hospital bed, keeping watch over the room's main occupant. Then again, it was early, and it was possible that Gabe was out getting something to eat or stretching his legs. Or perhaps the older man had gone home last night, and hadn't arrived at the hospital yet. Either way, Lex was relieved no one else was there; he'd wanted to be alone with her.

Focusing his attention on Chloe, he approached the bed, never taking his eyes off her. Guilt and anger flowed through him. She looked so lifeless just lying there. It looked as if all the fire and passion, everything that seemed to define her, had been snuffed out. Now, she seemed small, young, almost fragile. And he hated that, hated that she'd been hurt and that he was partially to blame.

Lex sighed as he sat down in the chair bedside her bed and silently placed his red leather book on the nearby stand. He felt as if he should talk to her. But he didn't know what to say. So, he simply reached out and carefully took her hand, holding it gently in his own. He wasn't sure how long he sat there, stroking her hand, watching the slight rise and fall of her chest, listening to the never changing beat of the heart monitor.

"I'm sorry, Chloe." He said softly, unable to stand the silence any longer. "I don't know what happened." He admitted. "But I swear to you that I'm doing everything in my power to find out." He paused for a moment, suddenly unable to look at her bruised face. "So, you just concentrate on getting well." He said eventually, his voice sounding strangled to his own ears. Then he smirked at her, "I'll take care of the rest." He told her, before bringing her hand up to his lips and kissing it. "I promise." He sat there for a little while longer, before there was a knock at the door.

Lex turned to find a middle-aged woman in a lab coat standing there. "Yes?" He asked.

"Mr. Luthor, I'm Dr. Miller, the specialist your father sent from Metropolis. I was told you wanted an update on Miss Sullivan's situation." Miller said rather hotly, making it apparent that she was neither pleased with having to report to Lex nor with being in Smallville in general.

"Yes, I would." He replied before turning back to Chloe. "I'll be right back." He told her then quietly left the room to speak with Dr. Miller.

Lex only spoke with Miller briefly. The woman had agitated him to no end. She'd been more concerned with informing him of how she resented being sent here than with telling him about Chloe's condition. Eventually, though, he was able to discern that at the moment Chloe hadn't sustained any major brain damage. However, as with any contusion, there was some degree of swelling. Therefore, they were monitoring the amount of pressure that was building up in her skull in case it was necessary to take more aggressive action to reduce it.

It was with that information that Lex returned to Chloe's room, to find Clark standing at the foot of her bed. He took one look at his friend and immediately saw the strain of stress, worry, and guilt. He wasn't surprised that Clark felt responsible. For some reason the boy seemed to believe that he was to blame for everything wrong in this little town. Lex wished he knew why, but that was just another part of the mystery that was Clark Kent. "Clark." He called as he walked into the room, his voice soft. "Don't worry." He assured his friend. "I brought in the best doctors from Metropolis."

"Is she going to be all right?" Clark asked, a little hope rising over the misery in his voice.

Lex hesitated for a second, wanting to console Clark with a lie. But he found he couldn't do that, couldn't force the lie past the sudden lump in his throat. "The doctors aren't sure." He told his friend, pushing his own grief down, keeping his voice soft. "The fall was pretty bad. She broke her left arm and she has a concussion." He paused then added. "They want to make sure there's no brain swelling."

"I should have gotten to her." Clark practically whispered.

Lex let out a small sigh. "I don't mean to belay but the obvious, Clark, but this isn't your fault." He replied, his tone a little forceful as he tried to convince the younger man that he wasn't to blame for Chloe's current state.

But Clark went on, almost as if he hadn't heard Lex at all. "I just don't know what happened. One minute the room was empty then they appeared out of thin air." He turned, taking his eyes off Chloe for the first time. "Do the police have any leads?" He asked.

Lex shrugged. "They don't think I'm the first one that's been hit." He answered, relaying the information Rains had given him last night. "There've been over a dozen of these robberies all over the county. This gang somehow gets in and out without busting a single lock. They even tried to hit the Smallville Savings and Loan."

"I didn't hear about that." Clark replied.

Lex smirked. "Banks don't publicize attempted robberies, Clark." He informed the younger man. He came off as condescending, but he didn't like the direction the conversation was headed. "It's bad for their image."

"If nothing was taken how do they know they were robbed?" Clark asked, disbelief and curiosity in his voice.

"Well," Lex explained. "Apparently they tripped an alarm inside the vault, though no one knows how they got in there in the first place."

"And the stuff they stole from you, can the police trace it?"

Lex hesitated, knowing Clark was going to ask that sooner or later. Truthfully, the police probably could trace what had been stolen. And Lex would have readily allowed it, if the felons hadn't taken the disk. He couldn't afford to have the police find, or even know about the disk. Because despite the fact that his father owned the company, embezzling money, not to mention hacking, was very illegal. " I didn't report anything stolen, Clark." He told his friend before turning and heading towards the door. He suddenly couldn't stand to stay in Chloe's presence, knowing that he was hindering the efforts to find those responsible for hurting her in order to protect himself.

"Why not?" Clark demanded. "I saw them walk out with two bags."

"I don't care about that." Lex practically snapped, taking his frustration with himself out on Clark. "I just want to find the people who did this to Chloe. When I do I promise you they will be dealt with accordingly."

"What does that mean?" Clark asked, his distrust and suspicion evident in his voice.

"It means you should let me worry about it." Lex replied shortly. "Now why don't you go home and get some rest." He then turned and stormed out of the room, practically running into Gabe as he did so.

"Lex." Gabe greeted coldly. After he'd gotten home last night, he'd resigned himself to apologize to his young boss. But seeing him stomping out of Chloe's room, knowing that he had been with her, alone, brought back all those feelings of hostility.

"Don't worry, Gabe." Lex said, as he brushed past. "I was just leaving." With that he continued down the hall and out of the hospital.

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The first thing Chloe was aware of was that she wasn't in her own bed. The mattress was too firm, the blankets too stiff, and the pillows too flat. The second thing she was aware of was the headache, the dull pain in the back of her head that reminded her of the tumble she took out of Lex's window. She grimaced as she slowly opened her eyes, but her face softened at the sight before her. "Hi, Dad." She whispered.

Gabe jerked his head up from where he'd been staring idly at the smaller hand he held in his. He smiled at his daughter, fighting back the tears that sprang to his eyes. "Hey, Sweetheart." He replied. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was thrown out of a window." She answered wryly. She took in his somber expression and quickly sobered. "I'm tired and I have a headache." She added. "But other than that I feel alright." She paused for a moment then asked, "Was it bad?"

Gabe looked away, turning his focus back to her small hand. "You've been out for two days." He told her. "The doctors weren't sure how much brain damage you'd have. But this morning, Dr. Miller said that all your tests came back normal, and that you were going to be just fine." He smiled at her. "You gave us quiet a scare there, Sweetheart."

Chloe watched as a few tears slipped down her father's cheeks as a few fell from her own eyes. "I'm sorry, Dad." She choked out. "I didn't mean to make you worry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about." Gabe assured her, as he reached up and wiped away her tears. "It wasn't your fault. And you're alright, which is all that matters."

Chloe nodded as she sniffed back her tears. "Are Clark and Lex ok?" She asked eventually.

"Clark's fine." He told her. "He's been here almost as much as I have, watching over you."

Chloe couldn't help but smile at that. She knew that it was no more than one friend showing concern for another, even though she'd like to think it was more. "And Lex?" She asked.

Gabe hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm sure he's fine." He said, which he was sure was true despite the fact that he hadn't seen his young boss since they'd passed each other in the hallway two days ago.

Chloe frowned. "He hasn't been in?" She asked, unsure why the thought of Lex not being there upset her.

"I'm sure he wanted to be." Gabe assured her. "But the two of us had a disagreement, and because of that he's kept his distance." He said, telling her what he assumed was the truth.

"Dad!" Chloe whined, knowing full well that her father had blamed her newest friend for what had happened at the mansion. "It wasn't Lex's fault."

"I know, Sweetheart." Gabe replied. "And I promise I'll straighten everything out. But right now, you need to get some rest."

"I'm going to hold you to that." Chloe told him, as a sudden weariness took over her.

Gabe smiled. "I know you will." He said before giving her a kiss on the forehead. "I love you, Chloe." He whispered before slipping from the room. He knew a few people who would want to know that his daughter was awake.

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It wasn't until later, after Clark, Pete, and Lana had been in to visit and she'd finally convinced her father to go home and get some sleep, that Chloe noticed Lex's red leather-bound book of poetry sitting on the stand beside her bed. She couldn't help but smile as she picked up the book and set it in her lap, running her hands over it's smooth cover. Her dad had said that he'd called and told Lex she was awake. But he hadn't come in to see her, and that hurt more than she was willing to admit.

Sure she'd thought it had been nice that he'd sent flowers, but then there was also a bouquet from the chess club. So, despite the fact that she knew it was wrong, that seemed to lessen the significance of the white ring of roses that was setting on a chair in the corner. All of her true friends had come to see her. Hell, even Lana had come, and Chloe considered her less of a friend than Lex. And she'd been beginning to wonder if she'd been wrong to place the older man so high up on her list of people who were important to her.

But that all changed when she found his book. She knew how important it was to him, knew what it meant. She hugged the book close to her chest and smiled, reveling in the fact that he'd left it for her, trusted her with it. She knew she wasn't forgotten. Chloe rolled her eyes at her own sappiness. Since when have I started acting like a doting teenager gushing over her latest crush, she wondered? She shook her head and opened the book to one of three marked pages.

I Heard an Angel

By William Blake

I heard an Angel singing

When the day was springing,

"Mercy, Pity, Peace

Is the world's release."



Thus he sung all day

Over the new mown hay,

Till the sun went down

And haycocks looked brown.



I heard a Devil curse

Over the heath and the furze,

"Mercy could be no more,

If there was nobody poor,



And pity no more could be,

If all were as happy as we."

At his curse the sun went down,



And the heavens gave a frown.



Down pour'd the heavy rain

Over the new reap'd grain ...

And Miseries' increase

Is Mercy, Pity, Peace

Chloe frowned at the message Lex had wanted to convey with that particular poem. He was trying to justify why this had happened to her, a girl who was pretty much a straight shooter. It seemed like that type of poem, one that argued that bad things had to happen in order to make the good things in life mean something.

But that explanation, or excuse rather, didn't do anything to calm her anger toward the men who'd hurt her. It wasn't enough to say that there has to be those who are poor for there to be mercy, or that pity would not exist if everyone were happy. She didn't want to be pitied, and she definitely didn't want to show any mercy to the ones responsible for her current state. The way she saw it was that if there had to be evil in this world then they should feed off each other. Why did they have to prey upon those who were trying to live a just life?

Chloe sighed, knowing that there would never be an answer to her question. So, she pulled her thoughts from that subject and turned to the next marked page, scanning over the verses written there.

These Two Friends

By Peter Christensen

these two friends I know

are on the radio

speaking poems of fish and friendship

their gentle voices swimming

the dark shoals of Jan Lake

it is as if

I am with them

standing by the fire Jim has built

against the cold off-shore wind

its warmth crackles around our ankles

reaches up toward our outstretched hands

and pulls us down leaning back

we open our coats to

the slow heat of confession

I admit

I am unruly and isolated

too quick to argue

that contradictions and compromise

lead to imperfect people acting

upon a perfect world

I too have guarded the bitter flames

of envy and refusal

against the winds of forgiveness

history wove traps

my heart could not escape

I am ashamed to have wept

the thick and bloody tears of anger

o soft tongued friends

these confessions are of the fire

and I beg you to stop my mouth

with gentle rags and bind my thoughts

before they become maudlin

then soft as water speak your poems

your lapping admonitions

for only then will fish and friendship

calm this shrinking vessel

where I hoard your counsel

Chloe furrowed her brow as she reread the poem. It took her a minute, but she finally realized why Lex had marked it. It was an acceptance of blame and his way of asking for forgiveness. The confession of the speaker was Lex's confession, one given because he felt responsible for what had happened to her. And as the speaker asked his friend to stop his confession, Lex was asking her to forgive him.

But Lex didn't have to ask her for forgiveness, because she'd never blamed him in the first place. Blame could only fall on the heads of the thugs who'd robbed her friend and threw her out the window. She made a mental note to remind Lex of this then flipped to the last poem.

Chloe couldn't help but smile as she took in the title. She recognized the poem from the time Lex had been in the hospital. It had been his mother's favorite. He claimed it had been his since he was a child. And it was quickly becoming Chloe's as well. A warm tingle ran through her as the words lifted the melancholy mood with which the previous verses had laden her.

Daffodils

By William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed-and gazed-but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Chloe slowly closed the book and set it back on the nightstand. She let out a small sigh and closed her eyes. She was still upset that Lex hadn't come to see her since she'd woken up. But he'd given her the next best thing, and she'd be sure to thank him later.

************************************************************************

It was well past visiting hours when Lex slipped quietly into Chloe's room, but there were certain things that he didn't mind using the Luthor name to bypass. He pulled a chair up next to her bed, rolling his eyes at the laptop that was sitting on the nearby nightstand as he sat down. He immediately noticed how much better she looked, even in the dim light. She had been disconnected from the various machines, and the bruising and swelling around her eyes had gone down. She didn't look like the small fragile girl who'd occupied this same bed four days ago. She looked more like the Chloe he knew, lost in a peaceful sleep.

He let out a long sigh, allowing himself to relax. Everything was all right. Chloe had almost made a full recovery, broken arm aside. Clark had successfully survived his third encounter with the ex-jocks without sustaining serious injury, as did the quarterback. He'd patched things up with Gabe, gaining what he hoped was acceptance as one of Chloe's friends. And LuthorCorp's systems hadn't been hacked. They had all dodged several bullets, and all made out alive and well. And that was something to be thankful for.

Lex sighed once more, before leaning forward and propping his elbows on the edge of Chloe's bed. He rested his head in his hands and closed his eyes, as exhaustion crept over him. He practically jumped when he felt a hand lightly squeeze his arm. He lifted his head, and smiled into Chloe's open eyes.

"Hey." Chloe whispered, still groggy from sleep. "I thought that position was reserved for those who still had to worry about the well-being of their loved ones?"

Lex smirked. "That and the eternally exhausted." He replied. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired." Chloe answered. "But I think that's to be expected at...what time is it anyway?"

Lex chuckled softly. "It's a little after one in the morning."

Chloe raised an eyebrow at that. "You know, Lex, you could have come in at normal time. I would have protected you from my dad if necessary."

"Actually, I believe your father and I are on better terms now than previously." Lex told her.

Chloe smiled. "I know." A moment of silence passed between them, as neither were sure of what to say. Eventually, Chloe reached over and picked up his book. "I wanted to thank you for letting me borrow this." She said as she held it out for him.

Lex took the book from her, and ran his fingers over the cover. "I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier." He said. "It's not quite the same when you're alone."

Chloe shrugged. "You can make it up to me next time." She told him.

Lex smirked. "Excuse me if I hope that that won't be anytime soon."

"Yeah, what's up with that?" She asked, her brow furrowed quizzically. "We've spent more time together in the hospital than anywhere else."

"Well, then I suggest we change that." Lex replied.

Chloe grinned. "I agree. Do you have anything specific in mind?"

"I was thinking something simple." He told her. "Something basic. They're releasing you tomorrow right?" He asked, continuing at her nod. "Then how about dinner and a movie?"

"Tomorrow?" She asked, a little surprised.

"If you're free that is." Lex replied.

"Yep, I'm free." She assured him. "Absolutely no plans."

"Good. Then I'll pick you up around five." Lex told her.

"It's a date." She replied, unable to keep the grin off her face.

Lex smiled. "Now that that's settled, I'll let you get back to sleep." He leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Chloe."

Chloe watched as he turned and walked out the door, unable to keep the goofy grin off her face. She knew Clark had done the same thing just a few days earlier. But for some reason, this was different. She knew she had a crush on Clark, knew that sometimes she wanted nothing more than to take Lana's place where Clark's affections were concerned. But despite her feelings for Clark, Lex's gentle kiss had meant more to her. And that was something she couldn't explain.

TBC...