AN: Thank you so much to everyone that reviewed. You are all very kind.
Spoilers: I have to add there may be spoilers for all the USA aired episodes eventually I'm not entirely sure yet. I will say however that in my universe Martha's secret didn't happen.
La Casta: I continue to be eternally grateful and I promise to seek out the Cliffhangers Anonymous Society....after this fic.
****
Chapter 4
Chloe approached the bed slowly. She hadn't seen Clark Kent in two years and was unprepared for the overwhelming need to touch him. She clasped her hands together to resist the urge and looked down on his face in profile. His breathing was steady, undisturbed by their presence. His hair fell in curling locks across his high forehead, marred by faint lines of worry that did not completely disappear even in sleep. His long dark lashes lay on pale cheeks, a stark contrast that emphasised that he was missing the tan that had always been a part of him. His full lips were slightly parted under the straight nose, his jaw partly slack in sleep. The muscles of his chest were well defined but he hadn't had a boyish physique since before Chloe had even met him. He looked much the same, thinner, though he'd always been thin. Still beautiful. Still able to rip open the old scar that was her heart.
Chloe reached out to touch him but Jodi's thin hand grabbed her wrist. Jodi's eyes held that dangerous look that Chloe had seen earlier. "He's mine." Her lips were thin with determination and Chloe knew better than to argue at this point. She was unsure what exactly Jodi meant with this possessiveness. She did not get the impression that Jodi was protecting him. Her look was hard and hungry. Trying to distract her, Chloe looked around the room and noticed another door.
"Where does that go?" Chloe used the hand Jodi still restrained to point. Clark did not wake at the sound of their voices.
Letting go of the wrist, Jodi looked at the door and dropped her chin to her chest. "Mrs. Kent's in there." Jodi's voice held a certain reverence, as if she were speaking in a church. She placed her hand on Chloe's arm. Her face held a hint of fear. "She doesn't know I can come in here."
Chloe covered those cold fingers with her own warm hand and looked into Jodi's eyes. "Jodi, I need to speak to Mrs. Kent."
Jodi's eyes turned hard. She turned back to Clark and sat on the chair beside him as if Chloe was no longer there. Chloe watched Jodi stroke Clark's arm lightly and felt her gorge rise. Suppressing the urge to intervene, she walked to the door and turned the knob, not entirely surprised to find it unlocked.
Approaching the small sleeping figure, Chloe reached out to wake her.
"Wha...?" Martha's eyes snapped open.
Chloe was shocked at the change these couple of years had wrought. Martha had deep sad lines on her face and her hair was almost completely grey. Her eyes were dull with sadness. Martha Kent had always been a bright and intelligent woman. This was a shell, old beyond her years and broken in spirit.
Chloe leaned closer so that Martha would be able to see her face. "Mrs. Kent. It's me, Chloe Sullivan." The dull eyes widened and Martha gasped. Chloe was sure she saw a flash of the old Martha Kent in those eyes. The older woman leaned closer. Recognition dawned and that fleeting look solidified into sharp intelligence.
Martha looked away from Chloe as if looking for danger then back into Chloe's eyes. Martha's whisper was much more quiet and cautious, "Chloe Sullivan?"
Chloe smiled. "It's me, Mrs. Kent. I've broken in and want to help you. You have to let me know what's going on."
Martha looked again at Chloe, searching her face as if suspecting a hoax. She placed gentle fingers on Chloe's cheek, testing reality. She pulled Chloe suddenly into her arms, hugging her with a desperate strength. "Oh, God. Chloe." Her voice was warm. To Chloe the sound was straight from her past, golden days of happiness that smelled of fresh baking. Chloe hugged back, unable to imagine what this woman had been through.
"Mrs. Kent, I can't stay long. I'm working in another section of the building and need to sneak back. Please tell me how you got here. What's going on? What's happened to Clark?"
Martha's expression changed and she looked toward the door, instantly concerned. "Clark? Has something happened?" Her look assessed Chloe. "How did you get in here?"
"Jodi let me in. She has a key." Martha pushed past Chloe and rushed to the door. Chloe followed, bewildered by this behaviour. Martha rushed to pull Jodi back.
"Leave him alone, Jodi. You know he hasn't the strength right now." Martha's voice was firm. Jodi backed away, looking at the floor and shuffling her feet like a small child.
She looked up again and her lip trembled. "I wouldn't, Mrs. Kent. Not now! Even if I was starving, I wouldn't!" Large tears started to fall out of her eyes. Martha quickly took Jodi in her arms, rocking her gently back and forth.
"I know, dear." Martha soothed. Jodi wrapped her arms around Martha and clutched her tightly, sobbing. It was obvious that Jodi cherished this contact and Martha gave it freely. Looking over Jodi's head, hugging her like a small child, Martha smiled reassuringly at Chloe. Martha was stroking Jodi's hair, giving maternal comfort even as she discussed the horror of her life. "They let her feed on him once. They wanted to see what effect it would have on both of them. Clark had always liked Jodi and had been kind and patient the few times they were allowed to interact. He tried to be brave for her when it happened but it was horrible and painful. Jodi has been... attached... to Clark ever since."
Chloe blinked a few times while her mind churned and bile rose in her throat. Martha touched her shoulder to reassure her. "Jodi lives on animal fats and sometimes even cadavers. She was dying when we first arrived." Martha recognised the horror in Chloe's eyes. "Chloe, there's so much to explain and we don't have time. We need to get out and soon. Can you help us?"
Chloe again looked at the sleeping form, seeing his thinness in a new light. "I'll help but I need to know who us is. Who else is here and why are they studying Clark?" Chloe had so many questions she didn't know which ones to ask first. Martha got up, settling Jodi down in a chair where she clutched her arms around herself, rocking back and forth in short arcs, retreating into a world of her own.
Chloe grew impatient. "Look, Mrs. Kent, I'll help in any way I can. I can get you out of this high security area with me but not further out of the building. I've got to get us the rest of the way out. I also need to know if we'll be safe once out or if we'll have to be on the run. Will the government be coming after us? Is that who we're dealing with?" Chloe saw her relatively comfortable life flash before her eyes, suspecting that this could change everything she'd ever known. She took a deep breath, resigning herself to her fate. "I'll see what I can do about finding a route out. The duct system may be our best bet. The security seems more intense surrounding this section than actually in it."
Martha nodded. "Everything changed about a month ago. There used to be armed guards but there was an incident with casualties and they changed their strategy for maintaining control. I've been pretending to give up and they've given me greater freedom because of it, but I won't rest until I have Clark safely out of here." Martha's voice lowered with determination.
"Mrs. Kent. I'll help in any way I can. If I can get you out, I will. But I think Jodi may be better off here. I can't imagine.."
Martha cut her off. "Any facility that would try to cure and not exploit her would be better than here. But you're right. If we could shut this place down with inspectors from the outside, I'm sure she'd be better off. But we need to get Clark out first."
"Ok, Mrs. Kent, but I've got to go now. I will be back tonight. Hopefully with some kind of plan. " It definitely felt good to have started a plan of action.
Martha handed Chloe Jodi's pass card. "I'll explain to her that I gave it to you."
"I also need to know about the others." Chloe asked as she helped Jodi out of her chair, preparing to take her back to her room.
"Sean and Ian." Chloe remembered them both, and that they'd both tried to kill her.
"Will they be coming too?" She couldn't hide the obvious revulsion in her voice.
"Neither could survive outside the facility." Martha's tone was definite, making this decision final.
"I promise to do what I can." Chloe stopped to take the other woman's hand, reassuring her with a firm grip and the promise in her eyes. Chloe had one question that intuition told her would be best left unasked but she needed to know. Taking a deep breath, she tried to hold Martha together with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Martha, where is Mr. Kent?"
Martha's eyes went bleak and the dull look Chloe had seen before returned. Her voice cracked slightly, "Jonathan's dead."
****
AN: Midnight Driad please forgive me :D
Spoilers: I have to add there may be spoilers for all the USA aired episodes eventually I'm not entirely sure yet. I will say however that in my universe Martha's secret didn't happen.
La Casta: I continue to be eternally grateful and I promise to seek out the Cliffhangers Anonymous Society....after this fic.
****
Chapter 4
Chloe approached the bed slowly. She hadn't seen Clark Kent in two years and was unprepared for the overwhelming need to touch him. She clasped her hands together to resist the urge and looked down on his face in profile. His breathing was steady, undisturbed by their presence. His hair fell in curling locks across his high forehead, marred by faint lines of worry that did not completely disappear even in sleep. His long dark lashes lay on pale cheeks, a stark contrast that emphasised that he was missing the tan that had always been a part of him. His full lips were slightly parted under the straight nose, his jaw partly slack in sleep. The muscles of his chest were well defined but he hadn't had a boyish physique since before Chloe had even met him. He looked much the same, thinner, though he'd always been thin. Still beautiful. Still able to rip open the old scar that was her heart.
Chloe reached out to touch him but Jodi's thin hand grabbed her wrist. Jodi's eyes held that dangerous look that Chloe had seen earlier. "He's mine." Her lips were thin with determination and Chloe knew better than to argue at this point. She was unsure what exactly Jodi meant with this possessiveness. She did not get the impression that Jodi was protecting him. Her look was hard and hungry. Trying to distract her, Chloe looked around the room and noticed another door.
"Where does that go?" Chloe used the hand Jodi still restrained to point. Clark did not wake at the sound of their voices.
Letting go of the wrist, Jodi looked at the door and dropped her chin to her chest. "Mrs. Kent's in there." Jodi's voice held a certain reverence, as if she were speaking in a church. She placed her hand on Chloe's arm. Her face held a hint of fear. "She doesn't know I can come in here."
Chloe covered those cold fingers with her own warm hand and looked into Jodi's eyes. "Jodi, I need to speak to Mrs. Kent."
Jodi's eyes turned hard. She turned back to Clark and sat on the chair beside him as if Chloe was no longer there. Chloe watched Jodi stroke Clark's arm lightly and felt her gorge rise. Suppressing the urge to intervene, she walked to the door and turned the knob, not entirely surprised to find it unlocked.
Approaching the small sleeping figure, Chloe reached out to wake her.
"Wha...?" Martha's eyes snapped open.
Chloe was shocked at the change these couple of years had wrought. Martha had deep sad lines on her face and her hair was almost completely grey. Her eyes were dull with sadness. Martha Kent had always been a bright and intelligent woman. This was a shell, old beyond her years and broken in spirit.
Chloe leaned closer so that Martha would be able to see her face. "Mrs. Kent. It's me, Chloe Sullivan." The dull eyes widened and Martha gasped. Chloe was sure she saw a flash of the old Martha Kent in those eyes. The older woman leaned closer. Recognition dawned and that fleeting look solidified into sharp intelligence.
Martha looked away from Chloe as if looking for danger then back into Chloe's eyes. Martha's whisper was much more quiet and cautious, "Chloe Sullivan?"
Chloe smiled. "It's me, Mrs. Kent. I've broken in and want to help you. You have to let me know what's going on."
Martha looked again at Chloe, searching her face as if suspecting a hoax. She placed gentle fingers on Chloe's cheek, testing reality. She pulled Chloe suddenly into her arms, hugging her with a desperate strength. "Oh, God. Chloe." Her voice was warm. To Chloe the sound was straight from her past, golden days of happiness that smelled of fresh baking. Chloe hugged back, unable to imagine what this woman had been through.
"Mrs. Kent, I can't stay long. I'm working in another section of the building and need to sneak back. Please tell me how you got here. What's going on? What's happened to Clark?"
Martha's expression changed and she looked toward the door, instantly concerned. "Clark? Has something happened?" Her look assessed Chloe. "How did you get in here?"
"Jodi let me in. She has a key." Martha pushed past Chloe and rushed to the door. Chloe followed, bewildered by this behaviour. Martha rushed to pull Jodi back.
"Leave him alone, Jodi. You know he hasn't the strength right now." Martha's voice was firm. Jodi backed away, looking at the floor and shuffling her feet like a small child.
She looked up again and her lip trembled. "I wouldn't, Mrs. Kent. Not now! Even if I was starving, I wouldn't!" Large tears started to fall out of her eyes. Martha quickly took Jodi in her arms, rocking her gently back and forth.
"I know, dear." Martha soothed. Jodi wrapped her arms around Martha and clutched her tightly, sobbing. It was obvious that Jodi cherished this contact and Martha gave it freely. Looking over Jodi's head, hugging her like a small child, Martha smiled reassuringly at Chloe. Martha was stroking Jodi's hair, giving maternal comfort even as she discussed the horror of her life. "They let her feed on him once. They wanted to see what effect it would have on both of them. Clark had always liked Jodi and had been kind and patient the few times they were allowed to interact. He tried to be brave for her when it happened but it was horrible and painful. Jodi has been... attached... to Clark ever since."
Chloe blinked a few times while her mind churned and bile rose in her throat. Martha touched her shoulder to reassure her. "Jodi lives on animal fats and sometimes even cadavers. She was dying when we first arrived." Martha recognised the horror in Chloe's eyes. "Chloe, there's so much to explain and we don't have time. We need to get out and soon. Can you help us?"
Chloe again looked at the sleeping form, seeing his thinness in a new light. "I'll help but I need to know who us is. Who else is here and why are they studying Clark?" Chloe had so many questions she didn't know which ones to ask first. Martha got up, settling Jodi down in a chair where she clutched her arms around herself, rocking back and forth in short arcs, retreating into a world of her own.
Chloe grew impatient. "Look, Mrs. Kent, I'll help in any way I can. I can get you out of this high security area with me but not further out of the building. I've got to get us the rest of the way out. I also need to know if we'll be safe once out or if we'll have to be on the run. Will the government be coming after us? Is that who we're dealing with?" Chloe saw her relatively comfortable life flash before her eyes, suspecting that this could change everything she'd ever known. She took a deep breath, resigning herself to her fate. "I'll see what I can do about finding a route out. The duct system may be our best bet. The security seems more intense surrounding this section than actually in it."
Martha nodded. "Everything changed about a month ago. There used to be armed guards but there was an incident with casualties and they changed their strategy for maintaining control. I've been pretending to give up and they've given me greater freedom because of it, but I won't rest until I have Clark safely out of here." Martha's voice lowered with determination.
"Mrs. Kent. I'll help in any way I can. If I can get you out, I will. But I think Jodi may be better off here. I can't imagine.."
Martha cut her off. "Any facility that would try to cure and not exploit her would be better than here. But you're right. If we could shut this place down with inspectors from the outside, I'm sure she'd be better off. But we need to get Clark out first."
"Ok, Mrs. Kent, but I've got to go now. I will be back tonight. Hopefully with some kind of plan. " It definitely felt good to have started a plan of action.
Martha handed Chloe Jodi's pass card. "I'll explain to her that I gave it to you."
"I also need to know about the others." Chloe asked as she helped Jodi out of her chair, preparing to take her back to her room.
"Sean and Ian." Chloe remembered them both, and that they'd both tried to kill her.
"Will they be coming too?" She couldn't hide the obvious revulsion in her voice.
"Neither could survive outside the facility." Martha's tone was definite, making this decision final.
"I promise to do what I can." Chloe stopped to take the other woman's hand, reassuring her with a firm grip and the promise in her eyes. Chloe had one question that intuition told her would be best left unasked but she needed to know. Taking a deep breath, she tried to hold Martha together with a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Martha, where is Mr. Kent?"
Martha's eyes went bleak and the dull look Chloe had seen before returned. Her voice cracked slightly, "Jonathan's dead."
****
AN: Midnight Driad please forgive me :D