My apologies for the long delay. Hope you like the new chapter.
Many Many Hugs to LaCasta, patience personified.
The Missing 11
The lab was eerily silent as Nora walked Chloe back to her cell. Clark was still sleeping after his weakening exposure to the meteors and a distraught Martha had eventually been coaxed into trying to rest. The mutants were also all locked up, cooling off by themselves after all the excitement. Chloe wouldn't have minded a little cooling off herself. Feeling emotionally exhausted, she was unable to calm the roiling images that Nora and Martha's stories had started churning in her far too capable imagination.
The thought of Clark blackmailed into a sexual encounter with Desiree Atkins made her skin crawl. The senseless and sudden loss of Jonathan Kent and Clark's obviously severe injury afterwards were too much to take in. Chloe had always prided herself in her ability to look after herself. She'd always been sure that she controlled her destiny and not the other way around. This belief had been dented a few times but now it was shaken to the core. Her fists were clenched as she walked. Dammit all! She needed to make this better somehow. With Smallville as her training ground, surely she could come out on top in this. All she needed was to keep her wits about her and pray that help was coming.
Clark was no longer the teenager she'd known and loved but she was determined to help bring him back. Nora was trying but Chloe couldn't shake the feeling that getting him away from here would be half the battle. Jesus, Clark probably hadn't even had a chance to grieve and given his memory loss, was he even aware that his father was dead?
Reaching the end of the hall, Nora opened the door with her pass key. Chloe entered without a word. The stark white room hadn't changed since she was last here but her attitude certainly had. A little silence to sort out the day's revelations would be welcome. Dr. Peel, however, wasn't going to give her that space.
Dreading the conversation to come, Chloe bit her lip and looked straight ahead. She knew the psychiatrist wouldn't let it go but didn't want to rush into revealing anything. The doctor had been very kind while comforting Martha. She'd also taken the time to check Clark before they left. Chloe realized she'd warmed up to Nora quite a bit in the past few hours. If it would help Clark, Chloe decided she would tell what she could. If her perspective on him would make his recovery possible, she couldn't hold back, it was just that the instinct for self-preservation said otherwise. Chloe wasn't sure her normally adept brain was up to this now.
"So, Chloe, it's time to talk." Nora settled into the only chair, giving the distinct impression of someone not going to budge. She crossed her arms and leaned back as if settling in for an interrogation.
"Isn't your shift over by now?" Chloe asked with half hope and half sarcasm. Seeing Nora's stony expression, she sat on the bed, leaning down to take off her shoes. Anything for a few more seconds, besides, her feet were hot. Wiggling her toes in relief, she tried again. "I guess it would be too much to hope that hubby and the little ones are watching the clock until your return?"
"I work for LuthorCorp." Nora's voice was flat. "I have no home and no family to hold hostage. Their ability to threaten me is limited. It helps me keep my perspective and stay true to my own purpose."
"Noble intentions intact, I'm sure." Chloe dulled the sharpness of her sarcasm with a lopsided grin.
Nora smiled back acknowledging the jibe graciously. "Tell me about Clark. How much you know and how you're involved with the Kents."
"I moved to Smallville in my final year of public school. Clark was a classmate." Chloe gave a little shrug.
"What did his classmates think of an alien in their midst? I must assume no one knew."
"No. No one knew. But this was Smallville. The first time I saw him, I asssumed he was a jock but instead he was an outcast. It took about a week to find out he was considered a bit of a weirdo, most people just ignored him. There was a joke about Clark Kent's strange ways. It explained his behaviour without explaining anything at all. I'm sure there were lots of questions about him, but no one asked. Asking questions that could have awkward answers was just not done. Small town mores never cease to astound me."
"That must have chafed on your natural curiosity." Nora's expression was teasing.
Chloe smirked slightly and felt her tension ease slightly as the psychiatrist continued. "Are you saying people knew he was different but they just didn't pry into why?"
"Yes, exactly. He was never really accepted because his parents kept him separate from the other kids when he was younger, they were known to be reclusive. He was supposed to be sickly but looked fine to me. He had some friends but wasn't allowed to participate in sports. The jocks couldn't stand him. Most girls looked at him as socially unacceptable and the rumors were very imaginative. An interesting small town anomaly. 'Don't ask, don't tell'. My years in Smallville taught me a lot about the human ability to delude itself in order to avoid what it fears."
Nora sighed, acknowledging the truth of this with a nod. "Having met Jodi, Sean, and Ian, I must admit, I see the truth in what you say. This kind of self-delusion has been documented in the past, particularly in threatening situations but I'm impressed by the large scale group conspiracy maintained in Smallville...." Her brown hair had come loose and her fingers swept a stray strand back over her ear as she lost focus on Chloe. "I'm interested in specifics about Clark. I've got a pretty good handle on the population and mentality of Smallville from the residents already here..." A distant frown marred her features. It was tinged with disgust. Her lips thinned with purpose. "Tell me, Chloe, what is your real name?"
"It's Sullivan, Chloe Sullivan." It came out as a resigned sigh. Chloe rubbed her hands over her face, again feeling her exhaustion. "Look, I'm really tired and I'm sure you're going to want to check my identity out. I promise to help Clark in any way I can, whatever details you need, but let me do it tomorrow?" Chloe cringed internally at the pleading in her voice but didn't have the energy to do otherwise.
Nora smiled with kindness and Chloe knew she could relax. "Alright." The doctor started to get up but hesistated long enough to reaffirm their bargain. "I'll let you rest but I want you to help me care for Clark and be ready to answer my questions as needed."
Chloe lay back on the bed and rested her forearm across her eyes, speaking to the room at large. "Don't worry. I will do what I can to help Clark and it looks like I'm not going anywhere." Nora stood and walked out closing the door quietly behind her.
****
Sitting in Clark's cell, staring again at the sterile surroundings in boredom, Chloe waited. Nora had informed her that Halton had him in one of the testing rooms to again push the limits of his physical strength. Apparently, the scientist was assessing the physical damage the injection had caused and having noted a marked reduction in Clark's strength and resistance, he felt it necessary to frequently reassess for any recovery. Chloe had felt the anger seeping into the psychiatrist's voice and had recalled the arguement she'd overheard while still in the airduct. God, that seemed a lifetime ago. The doctors had been squabbling over the rights to study the prize subject, sounding selfish and inhuman. She hoped that this was a facade on Nora's part, put on to fool the other scientists. The kindness the psychiatrist showed the mutants might be her true nature, though hints as to her own agenda and her mere presence here argued against it. Halton, on the other hand seemed petty and heartless. He was not going to let up even in the face of Clark's injuries and loss.
Martha was helping Nora with Jodi, who seemed to require more and more of Martha's time. Most of a day had passed since Chloe had learned of the circumstances of Jonathan Kent's death and Clark's injury. She hadn't seen Clark or Martha since. Now, she was waiting to start her new job as alien sitter. Unless he was with someone, he would just sleep. The psychiatrist believed he was sleeping to avoid his circumstances as the depressed often do, but seeing that Clark did not arrive on earth with instructions, it was also possible he needed the sleep to heal. As he'd been sleeping for most of the last month, it seemed a good time to try stimulation. Chloe had good intentions but no idea how to make conversation with someone whose memory was fractured.
Nora's first visit after Chloe revealed her name had been anticlimatic. Dr. Peel had confirmed she was a journalism student but had not made a connection to her freelance work with the Daily Planet. Once again, Chloe was being viewed as a meddlesome student, something she'd become accustomed to in high school. Lady luck was still with her as it was obvious she was not considered to be a serious threat. Her father had been located and was being watched but was temporarily protected by the fact that he was an employee of LuthorCorp rival, LexCorp. He held an executive positon. It seemed he was not currently looking for her. This also gave them time. The scientists did not want to admit to LuthorCorp that they had her yet, not being ready to admit the extent of the breach in their security. Ms. Fisher could be disposed of anonymously if necessary. Threatening her father would keep her in line. At this point, it was a standoff. She just hoped Nora was right in thinking Lucas Luthor was no longer involved in the lab.
Hoping a change of position would somehow reduce her boredom, Chloe lay back on the bed. In her opinion, the most trying part of her lab-rat life was the long, mind-numbing periods with nothing to do but wait. She needed to concentrate on something.
She couldn't deny her reawakened feelings for Clark. He was still beautiful to look at. His physical presence had always stirred her and more than a few of her first sexual fantasies had included him. She rubbed her hands on the bed indulging herself in the thought of Clark in all his otherworldly beauty laying here. Feeling the cool cotton under her hand, she noticed the mattress had an unusual shape to it. She would have expected an indentation towards the middle but there was a definite rise along the back side, next to the wall. She moved back and lifting the mattress, ran her hand underneath to try to see the cause of this very discreet lump. A battered paper file folder holding bits of paper emerged as she pulled the offending lump out. She looked at the thing in her hands and saw bits of artwork sticking out. She opened it and spread the papers out in front of her. They were drawings, rather childlike but good enough to get an idea of what they were.
There were some that were on proper paper and some on the backs of obvious scraps. It looked like the selection of colours had been limited. Possibly pens, pencils and markers stolen by Martha from the records room. She must be encouraging Clark to draw his memories. It was possible Martha did not want the psychiatrist to see these.
Chloe couldn't suppress a small smile. Clark had never been an artist but some of the images were very childlike. Some showed an improvement in style and must have been drawn later. Did the change in drawing ability indicate he was getting better? That thought was quickly squashed with practicality. It could be that he was relearning the skill and it really meant nothing.
She pursed her lips and pulled out the picture that had been on top. It was very obviously a girl with long dark hair. Chloe had only one guess. "Lana," she whispered with a sigh. Still first, even in the order of memories. She'd tried so hard to like the girl, but they were rivals and it had ultimately been impossible. When Clark had started to date her, Chloe had distanced herself from them both.
The next was a yellow house with some stick figure cows and a red barn. This one had a note from Clark. HOME was written in capitals.
Another picture, a dark skinned man with a very big smile. Chloe grinned back at the obvious image of Pete.
Shuffling through the stack, Chloe let out an "Oh" of surprise. A blonde in a bright pink dress with a matching flower at her wrist. He remembered her as she'd been dressed for their spring formal dance of their freshman year. Chloe flattened the wrinkles from the picture gently and savoured the warm feeling. He remembered...
It had been a turning point in her relationship with Clark. Having finally had the courage to let Clark know she cared for him, they'd made tentative steps towards a relationship. It had all gone wrong that night and Chloe had never gotten over the nightmare it had become. Clark had abandoned her to run to Lana when tornadoes struck on the other side of town, leaving Chloe mortified and alone.
That incident had set the tone for all of their future relationship. She had lost the ability to truly trust him. Though she couldn't stop the love she felt, she'd been compelled to keep testing him, possibly in a way he could not hope to pass. She'd always hoped he'd give up his desire for Lana, even though it had existed before she'd even met him. If he had done that, it would have restored her trust. Back then, she was young, emotional, and had set the bar for proof too high. Hindsight was always 20/20.
Chloe pulled out the next picture. The tone had changed from those before. The dark haired girl was screaming, hair blowing to the side. The background was all grey with black angled streaks drawn boldly throughout. This must indicate movement or wind. Chloe moved on to the next one. This was obviously a twister... and swirling in it was a bright red truck.
God, these drawings were all of that fateful night. Chloe had been told that Lana'd been found in a ditch and her boyfriend's truck had been swept away after she'd jumped out but these... Chloe looked at the next two pictures showing the girl screaming again in what looked like only part of the truck. Clark had drawn himself in this one, holding the girl down on the floor of the cab again with bold black lines cutting through the picture.
Chloe closed her eyes as she let the realisation sink in. Lana would have died if Clark had not left her that night. He had obviously used his great strength to pull Lana from the power of a tornado. What she knew of him now made it all so clear. She'd never known the whole story. Seeing these pictures wrenched her prespective out of focus and she wasn't sure how it made her feel. He'd left her because he knew he could help. Knowing he had the power to save Lana, he could not have stayed with Chloe if there was a possibility that his actions would help. It was a fundmental part of who he had been when she knew him and why she had loved him. If only he'd told her. Chloe felt confused. He hadn't trusted her. In the face of his lack of trust, were her actions really unjustified? This held all the makings of a migraine.
Noise in the hallway interrupted her thoughts. She stuffed the folder back under the mattress, sat up straightening her clothes and felt a flush of embarrassment surge through her cheeks. The door opened and a guard came in with his shuffling charge. Chloe pasted on a bright smile.
"Hi, Clark."
Many Many Hugs to LaCasta, patience personified.
The Missing 11
The lab was eerily silent as Nora walked Chloe back to her cell. Clark was still sleeping after his weakening exposure to the meteors and a distraught Martha had eventually been coaxed into trying to rest. The mutants were also all locked up, cooling off by themselves after all the excitement. Chloe wouldn't have minded a little cooling off herself. Feeling emotionally exhausted, she was unable to calm the roiling images that Nora and Martha's stories had started churning in her far too capable imagination.
The thought of Clark blackmailed into a sexual encounter with Desiree Atkins made her skin crawl. The senseless and sudden loss of Jonathan Kent and Clark's obviously severe injury afterwards were too much to take in. Chloe had always prided herself in her ability to look after herself. She'd always been sure that she controlled her destiny and not the other way around. This belief had been dented a few times but now it was shaken to the core. Her fists were clenched as she walked. Dammit all! She needed to make this better somehow. With Smallville as her training ground, surely she could come out on top in this. All she needed was to keep her wits about her and pray that help was coming.
Clark was no longer the teenager she'd known and loved but she was determined to help bring him back. Nora was trying but Chloe couldn't shake the feeling that getting him away from here would be half the battle. Jesus, Clark probably hadn't even had a chance to grieve and given his memory loss, was he even aware that his father was dead?
Reaching the end of the hall, Nora opened the door with her pass key. Chloe entered without a word. The stark white room hadn't changed since she was last here but her attitude certainly had. A little silence to sort out the day's revelations would be welcome. Dr. Peel, however, wasn't going to give her that space.
Dreading the conversation to come, Chloe bit her lip and looked straight ahead. She knew the psychiatrist wouldn't let it go but didn't want to rush into revealing anything. The doctor had been very kind while comforting Martha. She'd also taken the time to check Clark before they left. Chloe realized she'd warmed up to Nora quite a bit in the past few hours. If it would help Clark, Chloe decided she would tell what she could. If her perspective on him would make his recovery possible, she couldn't hold back, it was just that the instinct for self-preservation said otherwise. Chloe wasn't sure her normally adept brain was up to this now.
"So, Chloe, it's time to talk." Nora settled into the only chair, giving the distinct impression of someone not going to budge. She crossed her arms and leaned back as if settling in for an interrogation.
"Isn't your shift over by now?" Chloe asked with half hope and half sarcasm. Seeing Nora's stony expression, she sat on the bed, leaning down to take off her shoes. Anything for a few more seconds, besides, her feet were hot. Wiggling her toes in relief, she tried again. "I guess it would be too much to hope that hubby and the little ones are watching the clock until your return?"
"I work for LuthorCorp." Nora's voice was flat. "I have no home and no family to hold hostage. Their ability to threaten me is limited. It helps me keep my perspective and stay true to my own purpose."
"Noble intentions intact, I'm sure." Chloe dulled the sharpness of her sarcasm with a lopsided grin.
Nora smiled back acknowledging the jibe graciously. "Tell me about Clark. How much you know and how you're involved with the Kents."
"I moved to Smallville in my final year of public school. Clark was a classmate." Chloe gave a little shrug.
"What did his classmates think of an alien in their midst? I must assume no one knew."
"No. No one knew. But this was Smallville. The first time I saw him, I asssumed he was a jock but instead he was an outcast. It took about a week to find out he was considered a bit of a weirdo, most people just ignored him. There was a joke about Clark Kent's strange ways. It explained his behaviour without explaining anything at all. I'm sure there were lots of questions about him, but no one asked. Asking questions that could have awkward answers was just not done. Small town mores never cease to astound me."
"That must have chafed on your natural curiosity." Nora's expression was teasing.
Chloe smirked slightly and felt her tension ease slightly as the psychiatrist continued. "Are you saying people knew he was different but they just didn't pry into why?"
"Yes, exactly. He was never really accepted because his parents kept him separate from the other kids when he was younger, they were known to be reclusive. He was supposed to be sickly but looked fine to me. He had some friends but wasn't allowed to participate in sports. The jocks couldn't stand him. Most girls looked at him as socially unacceptable and the rumors were very imaginative. An interesting small town anomaly. 'Don't ask, don't tell'. My years in Smallville taught me a lot about the human ability to delude itself in order to avoid what it fears."
Nora sighed, acknowledging the truth of this with a nod. "Having met Jodi, Sean, and Ian, I must admit, I see the truth in what you say. This kind of self-delusion has been documented in the past, particularly in threatening situations but I'm impressed by the large scale group conspiracy maintained in Smallville...." Her brown hair had come loose and her fingers swept a stray strand back over her ear as she lost focus on Chloe. "I'm interested in specifics about Clark. I've got a pretty good handle on the population and mentality of Smallville from the residents already here..." A distant frown marred her features. It was tinged with disgust. Her lips thinned with purpose. "Tell me, Chloe, what is your real name?"
"It's Sullivan, Chloe Sullivan." It came out as a resigned sigh. Chloe rubbed her hands over her face, again feeling her exhaustion. "Look, I'm really tired and I'm sure you're going to want to check my identity out. I promise to help Clark in any way I can, whatever details you need, but let me do it tomorrow?" Chloe cringed internally at the pleading in her voice but didn't have the energy to do otherwise.
Nora smiled with kindness and Chloe knew she could relax. "Alright." The doctor started to get up but hesistated long enough to reaffirm their bargain. "I'll let you rest but I want you to help me care for Clark and be ready to answer my questions as needed."
Chloe lay back on the bed and rested her forearm across her eyes, speaking to the room at large. "Don't worry. I will do what I can to help Clark and it looks like I'm not going anywhere." Nora stood and walked out closing the door quietly behind her.
****
Sitting in Clark's cell, staring again at the sterile surroundings in boredom, Chloe waited. Nora had informed her that Halton had him in one of the testing rooms to again push the limits of his physical strength. Apparently, the scientist was assessing the physical damage the injection had caused and having noted a marked reduction in Clark's strength and resistance, he felt it necessary to frequently reassess for any recovery. Chloe had felt the anger seeping into the psychiatrist's voice and had recalled the arguement she'd overheard while still in the airduct. God, that seemed a lifetime ago. The doctors had been squabbling over the rights to study the prize subject, sounding selfish and inhuman. She hoped that this was a facade on Nora's part, put on to fool the other scientists. The kindness the psychiatrist showed the mutants might be her true nature, though hints as to her own agenda and her mere presence here argued against it. Halton, on the other hand seemed petty and heartless. He was not going to let up even in the face of Clark's injuries and loss.
Martha was helping Nora with Jodi, who seemed to require more and more of Martha's time. Most of a day had passed since Chloe had learned of the circumstances of Jonathan Kent's death and Clark's injury. She hadn't seen Clark or Martha since. Now, she was waiting to start her new job as alien sitter. Unless he was with someone, he would just sleep. The psychiatrist believed he was sleeping to avoid his circumstances as the depressed often do, but seeing that Clark did not arrive on earth with instructions, it was also possible he needed the sleep to heal. As he'd been sleeping for most of the last month, it seemed a good time to try stimulation. Chloe had good intentions but no idea how to make conversation with someone whose memory was fractured.
Nora's first visit after Chloe revealed her name had been anticlimatic. Dr. Peel had confirmed she was a journalism student but had not made a connection to her freelance work with the Daily Planet. Once again, Chloe was being viewed as a meddlesome student, something she'd become accustomed to in high school. Lady luck was still with her as it was obvious she was not considered to be a serious threat. Her father had been located and was being watched but was temporarily protected by the fact that he was an employee of LuthorCorp rival, LexCorp. He held an executive positon. It seemed he was not currently looking for her. This also gave them time. The scientists did not want to admit to LuthorCorp that they had her yet, not being ready to admit the extent of the breach in their security. Ms. Fisher could be disposed of anonymously if necessary. Threatening her father would keep her in line. At this point, it was a standoff. She just hoped Nora was right in thinking Lucas Luthor was no longer involved in the lab.
Hoping a change of position would somehow reduce her boredom, Chloe lay back on the bed. In her opinion, the most trying part of her lab-rat life was the long, mind-numbing periods with nothing to do but wait. She needed to concentrate on something.
She couldn't deny her reawakened feelings for Clark. He was still beautiful to look at. His physical presence had always stirred her and more than a few of her first sexual fantasies had included him. She rubbed her hands on the bed indulging herself in the thought of Clark in all his otherworldly beauty laying here. Feeling the cool cotton under her hand, she noticed the mattress had an unusual shape to it. She would have expected an indentation towards the middle but there was a definite rise along the back side, next to the wall. She moved back and lifting the mattress, ran her hand underneath to try to see the cause of this very discreet lump. A battered paper file folder holding bits of paper emerged as she pulled the offending lump out. She looked at the thing in her hands and saw bits of artwork sticking out. She opened it and spread the papers out in front of her. They were drawings, rather childlike but good enough to get an idea of what they were.
There were some that were on proper paper and some on the backs of obvious scraps. It looked like the selection of colours had been limited. Possibly pens, pencils and markers stolen by Martha from the records room. She must be encouraging Clark to draw his memories. It was possible Martha did not want the psychiatrist to see these.
Chloe couldn't suppress a small smile. Clark had never been an artist but some of the images were very childlike. Some showed an improvement in style and must have been drawn later. Did the change in drawing ability indicate he was getting better? That thought was quickly squashed with practicality. It could be that he was relearning the skill and it really meant nothing.
She pursed her lips and pulled out the picture that had been on top. It was very obviously a girl with long dark hair. Chloe had only one guess. "Lana," she whispered with a sigh. Still first, even in the order of memories. She'd tried so hard to like the girl, but they were rivals and it had ultimately been impossible. When Clark had started to date her, Chloe had distanced herself from them both.
The next was a yellow house with some stick figure cows and a red barn. This one had a note from Clark. HOME was written in capitals.
Another picture, a dark skinned man with a very big smile. Chloe grinned back at the obvious image of Pete.
Shuffling through the stack, Chloe let out an "Oh" of surprise. A blonde in a bright pink dress with a matching flower at her wrist. He remembered her as she'd been dressed for their spring formal dance of their freshman year. Chloe flattened the wrinkles from the picture gently and savoured the warm feeling. He remembered...
It had been a turning point in her relationship with Clark. Having finally had the courage to let Clark know she cared for him, they'd made tentative steps towards a relationship. It had all gone wrong that night and Chloe had never gotten over the nightmare it had become. Clark had abandoned her to run to Lana when tornadoes struck on the other side of town, leaving Chloe mortified and alone.
That incident had set the tone for all of their future relationship. She had lost the ability to truly trust him. Though she couldn't stop the love she felt, she'd been compelled to keep testing him, possibly in a way he could not hope to pass. She'd always hoped he'd give up his desire for Lana, even though it had existed before she'd even met him. If he had done that, it would have restored her trust. Back then, she was young, emotional, and had set the bar for proof too high. Hindsight was always 20/20.
Chloe pulled out the next picture. The tone had changed from those before. The dark haired girl was screaming, hair blowing to the side. The background was all grey with black angled streaks drawn boldly throughout. This must indicate movement or wind. Chloe moved on to the next one. This was obviously a twister... and swirling in it was a bright red truck.
God, these drawings were all of that fateful night. Chloe had been told that Lana'd been found in a ditch and her boyfriend's truck had been swept away after she'd jumped out but these... Chloe looked at the next two pictures showing the girl screaming again in what looked like only part of the truck. Clark had drawn himself in this one, holding the girl down on the floor of the cab again with bold black lines cutting through the picture.
Chloe closed her eyes as she let the realisation sink in. Lana would have died if Clark had not left her that night. He had obviously used his great strength to pull Lana from the power of a tornado. What she knew of him now made it all so clear. She'd never known the whole story. Seeing these pictures wrenched her prespective out of focus and she wasn't sure how it made her feel. He'd left her because he knew he could help. Knowing he had the power to save Lana, he could not have stayed with Chloe if there was a possibility that his actions would help. It was a fundmental part of who he had been when she knew him and why she had loved him. If only he'd told her. Chloe felt confused. He hadn't trusted her. In the face of his lack of trust, were her actions really unjustified? This held all the makings of a migraine.
Noise in the hallway interrupted her thoughts. She stuffed the folder back under the mattress, sat up straightening her clothes and felt a flush of embarrassment surge through her cheeks. The door opened and a guard came in with his shuffling charge. Chloe pasted on a bright smile.
"Hi, Clark."