Disclaimer: See Chapter One

A/N: Well all I can say is the shit is really about to hit the fan now.

Thanks for the reviews. Look at me finals week and two posts! *Virtual high five*

Ch. 9

Heat of the Night

"Well that was the most uncomfortable, boring Thanksgiving I have ever experienced in my eighteen years on this planet," said Chloe, as Lex pulled into his driveway.

"I told you we didn't have to go or stay," he said turning off the ignition and facing her.

"Yea, what was the alternative Lex?" she said, contorting her face into a mock thoughtful expression, "oh yes, I remember, we could have spent it here." She paused, "With your Father. That was out of the question."

"No, it could have been the two of us," he said, following suit and stepping from the BMW after Chloe.

She chuckled, "Yea, like a little happy family," she said, walking to the door.

"Exactly like that," said Lex quietly, unlocking it for her, and leading her silently to his study.

"And you think your dad would have just obeyed you and left, Lex? Let's not be surreal," she said, as he helped her remove her coat. "Thanks."

"He exiled me to this house, which makes it mine. Besides, he was bluffing when he said he was coming down. I don't think he's quite forgiven me for my little vindictive streak."

She glanced at him and began to frown. "I'm sorry Lex. I never meant to increase the rift between you and your Father," she said, walking toward the window to watch the setting sun, hugging herself through her cream sweater. "I didn't mean for a lot of things to happen."

"I know you didn't," he said, embracing her from behind, as she lowered her head to his shoulder. "This happened for a reason Chloe."

"And what might that be?" she asked, as he began to rock her.

"I'm not sure yet. I don't know if this is consolation prize, but it brought me to you. And I am grateful for that," he said, kissing her cheek softly.

"Me too, Lex."

"Mr. Luthor, the information was sent and received. The Kents, among the others, know of her involvement with you," said Charles, as he entered the study of Lionel Luthor at his New York penthouse.

"And?"

"And, it seemed to have not affected her," he said uncomfortably. "Here are some pictures of the girl at the Kent's for Thanksgiving," he said, as he passed a yellow envelope to the seated Luthor. "Along with your son."

Lionel frowned. "Well this isn't good."

"Is a change of plans in order?"

"No. Continue with the plans."

"But-"

"Yes, her apparent involvement with Lex is a snag in the plans and his retribution will be swift and great, but we will deal with that another day," said Lionel, rubbing burn cream on his face. He almost shuddered at what Lex might do if he did anything else to the Sullivan girl.

"The plan stands, Charles."

"Yes, sir."

"Speaking of your Father, Lex," she said, turning around to face him, "he's been awfully quiet since you kicked his ass."

"Not exactly, Chloe," he said, releasing her and walking to his desk. "I had the mail traced. My Father sent those envelopes to the Kent's and its other recipients."

"I surmised as much," she said, leaning against his desk. "I mean that was bad but I would think Lionel Luthor would take bigger risks to enact his revenge."

"Well when you put it that way, you're right," he said, as he absentmindedly stroked her thighs with his fingertips. The sensation sent a quiver through Chloe's body.

"Are you cold?" he said, glancing at her.

"No, why?"

"You shivered."

"Oh," she blushed. He smiled. "Well, what do you expect when you're rubbing my leg like that," she said, getting up from the desk.

"Would you rather have me be rubbing something else?" he asked, following her with his eyes.

She laughed nervously. "I can't answer that."

"Can't or won't?" he asked, clasping his hands together in his lap and reclining in the chair.

"You look tired."

"Keen observation. And also a good way to change the subject," he said, his eyes closed.

"Well you brought it up. Rubbing and what not. Keep talking like that and I may get the impression that you like me as more than a friend," she said, chuckling.

"Maybe I do."

"I want her followed," said Charles, "it's Mr. Luthor's orders. Yes, I know stalking is illegal in all fifty states, Robert, but its bosses' orders. He also wants her Father followed." He paused. "I don't know why. Just do it," he said, twisting the phone cord, as the man called Robert droned on from the opposite side.

"What's she doing now? Ah, still at Lex's. Okay, alert me when she leaves, then follow the plan."

"I'm tired, Lex," she said, raising her head from the couch in his direction to find Lex Luthor, reclined in his Italian leather office chair, sleep.

"Well," she said loudly, "I could just take the keys to the Porsche, since I know where he keeps them."

"Be my guest," he murmured.

She stared at him, shock apparent on her face. "You can't be serious."

"I was as serious as you were Chloe," he said, unmoving.

"I wasn't serious, though. I just needed to get your attention."

"Well I was serious and there are far better things you can do to get my attention," he quipped.

"So I can really take the Porsche then?"

"Not the Porsche or the Jag, but any other car is yours."

"Why not those?" she asked, her hands on the hips of her brown pants.

"Sentimental reasons."

"Guys and their cars. I can't believe those are the most precious things in your life."

"Well," said Lex, grinning, "We're living in a material world and I'm a material girl."

Chloe fell over laughing.

"I can't believe he let me take the Mercedes," she said to herself as she pulled into her driveway. "Looks like they're still at the Kent's."

Chloe and Lex left right after dinner. They couldn't take the tension in the room.

"She's pulling into the driveway, Charles," said Robert, from behind a pair of shrubs on the side of the house.

"Good. Phase One begins."

Chloe reached into her purse for her keys just as a voice growled into her ears. "You're a pawn in a dangerous game, Miss Sullivan. Are you sure your ready to play?" asked Robert as he grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him, his fingers grinding painfully into her wrist. She felt burning liquid drip from her hand, as his nails dug deep into her skin.

She quickly tried to turn her whimper into a scream when he covered her mouth with his. He used his free hand to grab her shoulder and press her into a bruising kiss. His tongue delved into her mouth and she felt his teeth bite painfully on her lower lip.

He released her quickly as he pushed her head into the driver's window of the Mercedes. The glass shattered and she succumbed to the darkness.

Lex glared at the phone. He had specifically told her to call him as soon as she got home. She had left thirty minutes ago.

He grinned momentarily as he heard her voice in his head.

"You just want me to call cause you're so worried about your damn car."

It wasn't about the car.

He gently began to thump his fingers against his desk. Two minutes… Five…. He wasn't sure how many had passed before he got up and grabbed his coat.

Something wasn't right.

He pulled up next to the passenger side of the Mercedes.

'Well she's here," he thought, 'But why aren't' any lights on?' He shot from the car and walked to the door, he knocked until he caught sound of something behind him.

"Is that… moaning?" he asked himself as he turned around to find a broken Chloe crumpled against the cement floor.

"I need help!" he yelled hoarsely, as he carried Chloe into the emergency room of Smallville Memorial Hospital.

The doctors noticed the patient and Lex Luthor and immediately rushed forward.

"What happened to her?" asked a female doctor.

"I- I don't know," Lex stammered, as they took her from his arms and laid her on gurney. "I found her outside her house and her car window was broken. I think someone bashed her head into the it and left her there."

"Do you know this girl?"

"Yes, I do."

"To what relation are you to her?"

Lex thought quickly. He knew that once they treated her, only family and friends would be able to see her. He also needed a reason to have found her at her house at that time of night.

"Her fiancée," he said calmly.

"Mr. Luthor we'll take of her, I'm Patricia Harper, and I assure you she's in the best of hands. Does she have any family?" asked the doctor, as Lex watched them haul Chloe away.

"I'm sorry what?"

"Her family."

"Oh, yes, I'll contact them immediately," he said as he pulled out his cell phone. "Hello, Gabe this is Lex. Yes I'm fine. Something happened to Chloe…."

"She's calling your name," said Dr. Patricia Harper as she stared pointedly at Lex. "I suggest you go see her. She's been given some pain killers so she might be a little out of it. She has a bad scratch on her wrist and her bottom lip has some swelling. She has a concussion but there isn't any brain swelling so she should be fine," she said, her eyes resting on Gabe and Lana. "Are you her Father?"

"Yes, yes I am," said Gabe, hoarsely.

"I'm Patricia Harper…"

"Lex?" Chloe asked, as he closed the door gently behind him.

"Yes, I'm here," he said softly, pulling a chair toward her bed and sitting beside her, taking his hand in hers.

"I didn't think they'd let you see me," she said, her voice barely audible. "But then again, you're Lex Luthor."

"That and the fact that I told them I was your fiancée," he said grinning and stroking her arm.

"Aren't you being a little presumptuous? You don't even know if I would say yes."

He smiled.

"What happened Lex? I just remember pulling up to my house. And then this guy came up to me and said something about playing games, it sounded a lot like what your Father said to me. Games. Dangerous games. His mouth, mine…" she said, trailing off.

Lex stood. He assumed the pain medicine was kicking in. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

He had a call to make.

"Robert put me in to my Father," said, Lex, as he watched Gabe and Lana enter Chloe's room. "Oh not available? Is that right?" he asked menacingly. "Well you tell him to call me as soon as he's 'available.' We have many things to discuss."

Lex waited patiently until Gabe and Lana left the room. He told them he would leave shortly.

Lex had been doing a lot of thinking alone in the waiting room. Chloe was being harassed and it was partially his fault. He couldn't be around her at all times, and Lex was sure her attack wouldn't be reported. Luthor money would cover that.

He knew he needed to make it where himself, his Father, and Chloe were in the public eye at all times.

He also needed to ensure that Chloe would be with him at every waking moment.

There was only one thing for him to do.

He raised slowly and walked toward her room.

"Mr. Luthor, visiting hours are over," said Dr. Harper, placing her hand on his shoulder.

He raised his hand and gently removed hers, glaring. "This will only take a minute."

He entered her silent room as swift and silent as shadow. Her eyes were completely open and she smiled at him quickly.

Slowly her smile faded.

"I thought he was going to rape me," she said looking away from him. "I was scared Lex, even more so than when your Father attacked me," she said, her eyes feeling with tears. He frowned. "I think God is punishing me, for what I did," she said staring at him with those eyes so full of anguish and fear. His heart clenched.

"No, Chloe, God isn't punishing you," he said gently, taking her hand in his. "How could he punish one of his angels," he whispered against her hand as he kissed it gently. "This is my fault. I promised to protect you Chloe and I haven't done a very good job." He paused and looked into her eyes again. He loved her eyes.

"I haven't been happy in a long time. I was angry and bitter. And I hated everything about life," he said, brushing hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear. "That is, until you came along. You made me smile, you made me laugh. When I'm with you I feel alive. I need you as much as you need me. Maybe even more so. I can't promise to love you just yet, but I can promise you everything I have, my respect and fidelity, and my protection," he said staring into her eyes. He stood and leaned forward toward her as he brushed his lips gently against hers and parted from her slowly.

"Where are you going with this, Luthor?" she said, smiling softly.

A small grinned formed across his lips.

"Will you marry me?"