Title: In a Crazy Mixed Up World

Chapter Completed: January 21, 2004

"Anna," Jimmy smiled brightly as he spotted the blonde woman walking into the News-Room. But the cheerful greeting went unheard as she stormed through the office. She had a goal.

In fact Anna did have a goal, she was streamlining directly toward it.

Clark Kent stood over Lois, the pair reading the computer screen, completely unaware that he was in the warpath.

"Clark," her voice was sharp.

He turned, smiling, "Hey An—" his friendly greeting was cut off as her hand made the same sharp contact to the side of his face. The angle only jarring his glasses, but Clark tried his best to play it up like any other normal man would.

"Next time you and tight boy need a topic of conversation, leave me out of it!" She continued to sneer, ignoring the gasps and looks of shock that were appearing around her as she turned to leave, following the same track she had used to enter. It was a blind, robotic motion.

"Anna?" Chloe popped up from behind her own computer at the sound of skin-smacking-skin. She saw Clark rub his cheek and Anna storming away. Piecing the scene together for herself she shot a warning glare at Clark before following her friend at a hurried pace. "Anna?" she approached her carefully at the foyer doors.

With a shakey sigh the blonde turned to her friend, still cradling her throbbing hand, "I don't think I can make lunch today."

"What's wrong?" Chloe reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder.

The lawyer removed her sunglasses revealing red and puffy eyes, "Where do I start?" She gave sad, ironic laugh.

"Oh, come on," the reporter carefully led the other woman out of the main flow of traffic and over to a bench, "Tell me what happened."

Anna wiped at her eyes as she dropped herself onto the hard bench, "It all went wrong when my father owed Lionel Luthor millions of dollars." She dropped her head into her hands.

Chloe couldn't help but be reminded of that time in the hospital as she sat here with her now. She really didn't know what to say then, and not now either. Just waited.

After a few quiet moments Anna ran her fingers through her hair, "I saw Lex last night."

Despite herself, a pleased smiled tugged at Chloe's face, "And?"

She leaned back against the bench, heavily. "We fought, argued," she rolled her head, looking over at her friend, "I'm really stupid."

Chloe's brow knotted in confusion.

"I've screwed up really bad," the other woman leaned onto her knees again, "Beyond anything."

"I doubt that," she tried to sound reassuring, "What could be so bad?"

Anna laughed, a dark frustration, "I…I made a deal with Lionel…" She swallowed hard, "When I left Smallville I went to the only place that I could, the dorm. But Lex had been paying for school and I wasn't speaking to my father. I was so hopeless and alone…"

/flashback/

She was standing in the middle of the apartment style dorm room. A small stack of boxes was forming in the one corner. Without Lex she had no way of supporting herself, let alone pay for school. And these were the anxious thoughts that were running through her head.

A solid knock sounded on the weak door.

Both annoyed and relieved by the distraction, she opened the door, "What do YOU want?" Reflexively she closed the door slightly, leaving it open only enough to see the man on the other side.

"Aren't you going to let me in Anna?" Lionel smirked smugly.

Unsure why, she opened the door and let him in. It wasn't like he could get away with anything, at least ten people had to of seen him coming up to her room. Everyone always saw everything here.

"You're dorm," he observed, looking over the small apartment style room.

"Not sure for how much longer," she snorted, crossing her arms tightly over her chest

"Ah, yes," he turned to face her, "I heard about you leaving Smallville. I'm sorry to hear about the unpleasantness."

"Hmm," she muttered, setting her jaw and glaring at him.

"Not planning on staying?" he motioned to the stack of boxes.

Her eyes drifted from the stack back to the businessman, "Can't see how I can."

"Your father?" he raised an eyebrow.

She scoffed, "I haven't spoken to Dr. Clarkson in quite a while, and don't plan on starting."

He nodded at this, taking it upon himself to take a seat on the small couch, "I think I may be able to help."

Her eyes widened, questioning.

He motioned for her to sit, but she declined. Crossing his left leg over his right knee he leaned back, "I hate to see potential go to waste. And I hear your professors believe you have potential for corporate law." He paused to make sure she was following, "I'd like to make sure that you don't go to waste.

"Why?" she shook her head, taking a seat in the chair across from him.

"Past indiscretions," he rested his head on his bridged fingers, "and I'd hate to see my son's potential go to waste also."

She huffed slightly, glaring at him.

"you could help me with that, just assist in a little…push," his smug smirk appeared on his face.

"And how would I do that?"

"Just give him a little space," he moved fluidly, talking with the aid of his expressive hands, "I know all of this has taken a toll on him, not to mention you my dear, and I just know he needs time to get his head on straight. A little time to organise himself in his work."

She was still confused, "What am I supposed to do?"

"Just don't contact him," he started, matter-of-factly, "far be it from me to stand in the way, when Lex contacts you I'll pose no interference. I just think my son needs a little time and space."

The idea of a little time seemed like a logical idea to the girl, "and just what do I get for this time?"

The evil grin twisted the corner of his mouth, "I'll more than happily make sure you continue your education and of course are well supported."

"The prospect just seemed to make sense," Anna's voice cracked as she continued to tell her story, "It seemed like such a heaven sent. So I agreed not to contact Lex, to wait for him, and I continued with school. For the first year I spent nights watching the phone, then slowly school started to consume me and time passed. I was sure he forgot me, so I tried to start my life."

Chloe looked at her with pursed lips, mulling over all the details laid out before her, "wow." She breathed out, "I'll admit I was curious how you managed and why you never…"

"Yeah," she whispered. Wiping under her eyes again she spoke, "I guess I should really apologise to Clark. I wasn't angry at him, it was me."

"Don't worry about it," Chloe half smiled, "I'm sure he deserved it for something."

"well yeah, a little," she chuckled.

"You wanna go grab lunch now?" the reporter asked hopefully.

Anna shook her head, standing, "I think I better go back to the hotel, get some sleep," she shrugged, "I hear tomorrow's a big night."

Chloe smirked, standing next to her, "Just a little." She made an inch sign with her fingers, speaking of her congratulatory dinner. "You gonna be okay?" she asked her friend.

"I'll try," she shrugged again, "I've always been trying."

"I know," Chloe nodded, "I know," she pulled the older woman into a tight hug to illustrate the point that she understood.

"Thanks," Anna smiled fully now, slipping on her sunglasses again she left the building.

"Is she alright?" Clark appeared from around the corner.

"I'm gonna hope do," Chloe replied, "She's gonna go rest." She stared at Clark for a moment, thinking, "I've got somewhere I've got to go, tell Perry I'll be back." She hurried around to her desk, gathering the necessary things for the little visit she was planning.

*******

Chloe hated the long elevator ride to the thirtieth floor, it was always worse when she had a lot on her mind.

The dinging of the doors was a welcome sound as she stepped into the lobby.

"Miss Sullivan," Heather, the little redhead behind the desk greeted her with a smile, "Lex is busy at the moment, if you could wait…"

Chloe simply waved her off, continuing without hesitation to the office doors.

The receptionist's calls of "Miss" went unanswered.

The spunky little reporter even pushed past the powerhouse of Mercy to get into Lex's office, to face the man himself.

"I apologise Lex," Mercy bowed her head into the office, a way of announcing Chloe's arrival.

The millionaire was surprised by the forced entry, but not by the visit itself. He held up a hand, requesting a moment to finish the conference call he was in the middle of.

"Very good Robert, keep me posted," he spoke into the ear piece, promptly pulling it from his ear and tossing it onto the table, "What can I do for you Miss Sullivan?"

"Go back and talk to Anna," was the first thing that sprang from her mouth.

"Why? To hear about the other ways she whored herself out to my father," He was crass and stern, hiding everything.

Chloe's eyes widened and her nostrils flared, but the reaction was noticed too late as her hand made direct contact to his cheek. The slap was harder than she had ever imagined herself being capable of.

They didn't speak, just stared at each other: Lex rubbing his smooth, stinging cheek and Chloe cradling her throbbing hand.

It was Lex who spoke first, making a call to the front desk for ice, "You may have sprained your hand."

"It's killing her you know," the woman dropped herself into her chair.

He shook his head and laughed humourlessly, "me too." His voice was low and dry. Chloe was barely able to hear his confession.

"Why did you never go to her?" she began her questioning.

The millionaire waited until Heather exited the office before replying, "I couldn't. His reply was quick as he prepared an ice pack for Chloe's hand.

"Thanks," she accepted the remedy, but the look on her face demanded a father explanation.

Cracking his jaw he glared at her, but turned away before her eyes fell on his – avoiding being read, "There are reasons."

"So why can't you except her reasons?" Chloe bit back, getting a groan, "I'm just trying here…blame it all on the wedding, but damn it, this is ridiculous." She sighed, "We're not kids anymore and should stop acting so spoiled."

The look he gave her then was challenging, challenging her to stay and push this farther.

She stood, tossing her handmade ice pack back into the tray, "Listen, I love you both," again she touched his cheek, but this time not with violence but comfort, "And you've both screwed up. Swallow your pride." She patted his cheek, flashing a wicked grin and leaving.

The still stinging flesh served as a reminder to the wealthy businessman that his heart still beat. That in itself had a sting to it.