Title- Discovery

Author- J.A.K

Rating- R: for real life feelings and real life situations that aren't always PG-13

Summary: Chloe has been raped and left for dead by an unknown, when Clark, who hears her cries for help comes to her aid. AN: I have a friend who was raped nine months ago so I won't be insensitive to a very sensitive issue.

Prologue: Seen through Clark's point of view

I stared at the quaking shoulders of a person whom I barely recognized. A girl who, so covered by bruises and ripped clothing, that she was only visible by the exposed face, familiar enough to reveal her name. Soft whimpers rose from her lips, while barely noticeable trembling clung to her body.

Scarcely unable to believe my eyes, I took a hesitant step forward, and hoped that what I saw wasn't proof of what could have happened.

"Chloe," I asked.

There was no response from the girl that was lying on the ground, and a small vestige of hope surged through my veins. I crouched down beside her, embarrassed at her state of nakedness, yet saddened by her violation at the same time.

Putting a hand on the girls' face, which was now turned away from me, I repeated myself.

"Chloe, is that you?"

Even as recognition splayed across her face and her mouth opened ready to answer me, I kept on thinking: please don't be you, please don't be you, over and over again.

But it was her, I realized.

"Clark," said the soft voice. She lifted her head and gazed at my face, rivulets of tears beginning to pour out of her bright green eyes, and down her face.

Her focus descended along her body and then slowly came up, vision fixed on my chin.

"Look at me," she said "Just look." I couldn't help but look at her again, and the sight before me took my breath away. Now don't get me wrong. I was glad that I got there when I did—and I was happy that her perpetrator didn't get to do all that he might have done. But enough damage had obviously been inflicted, and I wandered bitterly what good my powers were, when they couldn't even save the people I loved.

Taking off my jacket, I wrapped it around her wounded form. I managed to zip it up, though just barely because my hands were shaking so badly. Feeling her stiffen beneath my grip as I tried to pick her up, I whispered to her that I wasn't going to hurt her.

Sad and angry that I even had to tell her that, I swiftly got on my feet with her in my arms.

Unsure of the entire situation, but knowing that someone was going to pay, I asked her what she wanted to do.

When nothing but sobs responded for her, I decided that just maybe I was one of the stupidest people on the face of the planet.

She had just been raped. She probably couldn't even think properly, much less form coherent sentences. And besides, what was the sense of asking that question when there was really only one logical course of action to take.

"I'll call the police, okay."

To my surprise, that seemed to grab her attention immediately, and she shook her head vehemently against my shoulder.

"No," came the muffled reply.

Concern etched itself across my features. Shifting her weight so that I had a more comfortable grip on her I began walking, shaking my head with each step.

"But Chloe, you just got—" I stopped in my tracks, unable to bring myself to say it. "You need medical attention." I resumed walking, trying to shake away a barely repressible anger that was surging through my veins. "They need to find out who did this to you."

She took her face out of the crook of my shoulder, and tightened the hold which she'd had on my neck.

"Please don't do it," she said.

"But—"I began, stopping once again.

She placed her palm on my cheek and slowly swung my face so that it met hers.

"If you're my friend you won't, okay?" I was her friend and I wanted what was best for her. That was why she needed help that extended beyond my powers. Perhaps seeing the doubt resurface on my face she started again.

"I don't want to be known around town as that girl who got raped okay." She paused, and bent her head so that her hair was resting on my lips. "I just want to be me," A wet substance which could only have been more tears, made their way down my neck and gathered around the collar of my t-shirt. "Is that too much to ask?"

I quickly decided that it wasn't, but I also decided that I wasn't going to abandon another friend, like I did Lex.

I resumed walking.

Her head was still resting slightly against my mouth, but I spoke around her unruly strands of hair.

"Do you want me to take you home?"

There was a long moment of silence before she answered me. Clutching my shirt even tighter in her hands, she softly told me no.

"Just take me to your room," her breath was cool on my skin. "I trust you Clark."

So against my better judgment, I took her to my room, gave her space to clean herself up, and allowed her to stay the night. She remained curled up on my bed until morning, while I slept on the floor…and though she tried with all her might to keep her grief to herself, she couldn't hide the loud tremulous gasps, as she cried for herself.

I cried with her.