Author's Note: Review. No, I'm serious this time. I am a feedback junkie. Crack addicts don't look forward to a fix as much as me. BTW, I purposely left the end of this chapter as a cliff-hanger in the vain hope that you would review and tell me how much you hate me. See. Also, props to Julie for the beta. Yeah! That's all. Review.


PDA 9: X-rays Belong in Hospitals

~Smallville Medical Center~

Lex opened the door to Chloe's room, quietly in case she was asleep. He walked gracefully to the other side of the room. Well, as gracefully as he could with the load he was carrying. Lex had apparently brought Chloe's entire wardrobe to the hospital. Along with her laptop, make-up bag, backpack, CD collection, and a Nike shoebox covered in puff paint and rhinestones. He set the load down on the table against the window. He looked back at Chloe. She was breathing evenly and her eyes were closed.

Lex turned towards the window. He looked down at the courtyard. The place of his ill-considered decision. [I can't believe I was ready to give Chloe up last night. How could I have done that? It seemed so logical.] Although he may never admit it to another living soul, Lex was overjoyed that Chloe had talked him out of his less than brilliant plan. Living without Chloe would have been like a fish trying to live without water.

Lex was suddenly startled by a voice behind him. "So, what did the azaleas ever do to you?"

"Pardon?" Lex turned around in order to face the question head on.

Chloe slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. "I said, what did the azaleas ever do to you?"

"Were you faking being asleep?"

"Don't you dodge my questions, Luthor. I heard all about your performance last night in the courtyard. Screaming at the flowers, Lex? Oh and I never claimed to be asleep."

Lex grinned in spite of himself. He was just so happy the Chloe hadn't lost her natural snarkiness. "They weren't azaleas. They were tulips."

"Still, not good."

"I know Chloe and I'm sorry. I was just... just....I don't know....angry. Yes, I was angry. You were hurt and I didn't know what to do and I was angry. Then I saw that fountain. That god damn fountain. Did you know that it was donated by my father?"

"No. I didn't know that," Chloe whispered.

"Yeah, well, he probably doesn't know it either. He has this staff of about twenty people whose job it is to donate his money. They go out and find places that need a fountain, a wing, a collection, whatever. Then they pick everything out and dear old dad signs on the dotted line. Suddenly, he's a hero. I saw that fountain and I began to see how fake my life was.

"No, Lex, it's not."

"Yes. It is. My father and all of his cronies. The clubs and all the people in them. The women that used to hang off my arm."

Lex crossed the room and sat on the edge of Chloe's bed. "Do you know what's real in my life? You. You, Clark and Smallville." Lex reached out his hand a stroked Chloe's hair. He scooted a bit Closer to her on the bed. They were only inches apart. "Chloe, I think I love you."

"Oh, Lex. I love you too."

"You do?"

"Yes, Oh god yes. I can't imagine my life without you, Lex. But if I'm going to move in with you we need to work on your anger management skills."

Lex looked at her, surprised. "Do you mean it. You'll move in with me?"

"Only if you promise to stop taking your problems out on the flora."

"I promise."

"Good. So, when do I move in?"

"As soon as I can get you released." Chloe started to yawn. "Are you tired," Lex asked.

"Yeah. Just a little bit. I think I need another nap."

"Okay, I'll leave you alone." Lex started to get up from the bed.

"No. I mean, will you stay with me?"

"Of course, Chloe." Lex leaned over and kissed her softly. Then he stood up from the bed and removed his shoes, tie and jacket. He laid back down behind Chloe and spooned up next to her. He wrapped his arm around her waist. He could smell the shampoo from her hair. It smelled so good. Like melon.

"Goodnight Lex," Chloe mumbled as she began to quickly fall asleep."

"Goodnight, my love."

********************************

When Clark arrived at the hospital it was 6 o'clock. This time though, he had Pete and Lana in tow. Clark still wasn't sure about his relationship with Lana. After the tornado, Clark knew that he couldn't be with Chloe. They had been friends for too long. He had realized that in rushing off into that tornado, he had made his choice. He had always loved Lana. It worked out well though. Chloe and Lex had found each other. Clark and Lana spent more time together, but they weren't "dating." At least, not yet.

"Hey Clark, man. What floor is Chloe on?" Pete asked.

"Um, the second."

"Okay, I'll go grab an elevator."

Lana reached out and touched Clark's arm. "Clark, I'm going to stop at the gift shop and pick up something for Chloe. I'll meet you up at her room."

"Sure, Lana. No problem." Clark headed off after Pete towards the elevators.

When they reached Chloe's floor, Clark decided to x-ray Chloe's room. After all, there was no point in disturbing her if she was in the shower or sleeping. Clark didn't feel too guilty over this minor invasion of privacy. After all, most of the time all he could see were people's skeletons. It wasn't like he was going to see Chloe naked or anything.

Clark squinted his eyes and concentrated. Soon, the walls fell away and he could see that Chloe was in bed..... with SOMEONE ELSE! Clark couldn't make out who the other person was from just a skeleton, but he was willing to bet everything that it was Lex. Clark couldn't tell from the X-ray if either of them were wearing clothes. [I don't know how far Chloe and Lex have gone. And I don't really want to know.] Clark suddenly remembered his other friend who was just two feet away from the door. [This is so not the way for Pete to find out who Chloe's been dating.]

Clark hurried to block Pete's path to the door of Chloe's room. "Hey Pete, you know what."

"No. What, Clark?"

"Here we are coming to visit Chloe, and we didn't bring her anything."

"What, you want us to get her some flowers."

"No. No. I thought that Chloe might like some coffee. You know, 'cause the coffee here has got to be pretty bad. Don't you think?"

"Um, I guess."

"So, why don't we run out and buy her something and bring it back to her."

"You mean that you want to go all the way back to the Talon, just to get Chloe some coffee?"

"No. There's a grocery store about a block down. I'll bet they sell those Starbucks Double Shots. We'll get her one of those."

"You know Clark, you get stranger by the day."

"Yeah, Pete. I know."

Clark and Pete headed back down the elevator. As they were leaving the hospital they ran into Lana, who was exiting the gift shop. "Hey guys," Lana said. "I thought you were headed up to see Chloe."

"We were, but then Clark had the sudden epiphany that if we visit Chloe without some form of caffeine as a gift, then she will never forgive us. So, now we are going to the store to buy Chloe coffee."

"Oh, do you want me to come with you guys?"

"No," Clark said desperately. "I mean, why don't you go on up to Chloe. If she doesn't answer when you knock just go in. She won't mind seeing you. Just make sure and tell her that Pete and I will be coming back in a few minutes."

Lana looked at Clark like he was nuts. "No problem. I'll head on up now."

"Make sure and let her know that Pete and I will be back soon."

"Okay Clark, I'll tell her."

"Good." [Chloe is going to kill me for this, but it's better that Lana finds out and gives Chlo and Lex an advanced warning that we are coming then if Pete walks in on the two of them. I have no desire to see Chloe have to chose between those two, and that's exactly what will happen if Pete finds out that Lex and Chloe are dating.]

****************************

Lana headed back up the elevator with the flowers she had bought for Chloe.

[That's odd,] she thought. [Clark ran out of here like he was being chased by the devil himself.]

Lana walked to Chloe's room. She knocked softly, but there was no answer. She knocked again and still, nothing. Lana felt a little uneasy about invading Chloe's privacy, but Clark had been so insistent that she let Chloe know he and Pete were coming to visit. {Oh well,] Lana rationalized. [We're both girls. Even if Chloe is changing, there is nothing in there I haven't seen before.] Lana opened the door to Chloe's room.

"OH MY GOD!"


TBC