Author's Note: It's late. Forgive me.
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PDA- 11: Just a Stupid Car Accident
~Smallville Medical Center- The Next Day~
Chloe sat in bed brushing her hair. She tried as hard as she could but was unable to keep the smile off her face. Lex was coming to visit her again. She looked at her watch for the third time in the last ten minutes. [He should be here pretty soon. I can't believe the changes our relationship has undergone in just a few days.] Chloe shook her head at the thought. [I find myself loving him more and more each day.]
Chloe put down her hair brush and raised her hand to her lips. She remembered the way Lex's kisses felt. They were soft, and at the same time, demanding. They were just like Lex himself. Firm, strong, sexy. A small smile started to form on Chloe's lips. His kisses were also tender. Lex could be tender too. But that was a side of him that only Chloe got to see.
Chloe's thoughts were disrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," she called. The door opened and in walked Dr. Krause, Chloe's physician.
Dr. Krause smiled as he entered the room. It was one of those fake, medical smiles. The one doctors seem to be able to pull out of their black bags. Chloe felt reassured by the smile though. It meant good news. If there was something wrong, Dr. Krause would have "official medical facial expression #2," the serious-concerned look. Chloe would have given a hundred dollars to see a doctor deviate from those two facial expressions. To see a doctor look surprised, enraged, or even confused would have made her day.
Chloe put on a fake grin of her own. "So, what's up, Doc?"
"Chloe," Dr. Krause said, "There is someone here I'd like you to meet."
"Well, Doctor, I think it's a little soon in our relationship for you to be introducing me to your family." There! For just a second, facial expression #1 almost slipped.
Dr. Krause chuckled nervously. "No, no. Chloe, I've called in a specialist. Her name is Dr. Judy Barnett."
"I wasn't aware that I needed a specialist."
"Considering your condition, I think someone with more experience should handle your case."
"What 'condition?' You haven't told me anything. The nurses haven't told me anything. I feel fine, and yet I've been in the hospital for three days. Don't you think it's about time for you to start telling me what's going on?"
"I'd rather you talk to Dr. Barnett."
"No. I'm not talking to anyone else until Lex gets back."
"Dr. Barnett' time is extremely valuable. When do you expect Mr. Luthor to return?"
"Lex should be here any minute." Almost as if in response to Chloe's statement, there was a knock on the door. The door opened slowly. Lex poked his head inside. When he saw that Chloe was awake, he straightened and entered the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Lex could sense the building tension in the air. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No. As a matter of fact," Chloe said, glaring at the doctor, "we were just waiting for you."
"Okay. Why were you waiting for me?"
Dr. Krause stepped forward. "I was just about to introduce Chloe to a good friend of mine. Dr. Judy Barnett. She specializes on cases like Chloe's."
Lex spread his hands. "Bring her on in, then." Dr. Krause left and returned moments later with a blonde woman in tow.
The woman introduced herself. "Hello. My name is Dr. Barnett." She held out her hand to Chloe, who was still sitting on the bed. "You must be Chloe. It's nice to meet you."
Chloe shook the doctor's hand. "Yeah. Same here."
The Dr. Barnett turned to Lex. She held out her hand again. "And you are...?"
Lex looked at the offered hand and the woman attached to it. "Wondering why Chloe needs a specialist. She's fine. In fact, I planned to take her home today."
Dr. Barnett smiled. "Well, that won't be possible. I need to observe Chloe for at least 48 hours before I'll be ready to make a decision."
Lex smirked at the doctor. "I am her legal guardian and I say that she's fine."
Dr. Krause spoke up. "I don't think that is your decision to make, Mr. Luthor."
Dr. Barnett smiled. "Ahh. The infamous Lex Luthor. So nice to put a face with the name. Getting back to Miss Sullivan's condition, you can not possible understand all the facets of a condition this complex....."
"Listen," Chloe interrupted. "I don't know what you all are talking about, but I'm fine. I just want to go home."
Chloe got up off the bed and headed towards her suitcase. Dr. Krause intercepted her. "You can't leave yet, Miss Sullivan. I think, and Dr. Barnett concurs, you may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."
"What!!!??" Chloe said, a little too shrilly. "I do not have Post Traumatic Stress. It was just a stupid car accident. I'm fine. All I want to do is go home."
Dr. Barnett stepped forward. "Chloe. Let me just ask you a few questions. Last year, you were attacked by a boy in a swimming pool right?
"Yes."
Dr. Barnett continued. "And you were inside the Torch office when it was set on fire, correct?"
"Yeah."
"And held hostage at the Luthor Corp plant."
Lex couldn't remain silent any longer. "My father and I made sure that all the students and families affected received counseling."
"And I'm sure that the counselor you hired was very adequate, but that isn't the issue." She focused her attention back on Chloe. "Then you were attacked by another boy in a barn. The same boy that killed your principal?"
Chloe glared at her. "What are you getting at?"
Dr. Barnett's expression softened a bit. "Just hear me out okay. Then, at the end of the year, you were abducted, imprisoned, and then buried alive. I understand that after this ordeal, you had nightmares. You were unable to sleep. Did you receive a psychiatric evaluation at this time?"
"No."
"And just a few months ago, the tornado."
Chloe whispered, "That's not fair. Everyone suffered from that. Many more than me." Chloe looked up at Lex. He reached over and took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze.
"I'm afraid, Miss Sullivan," Dr. Barnett said, "This car accident is not an isolated incident. It is simply the last in a long line of traumatic events. Without therapy, your ability to function could be damaged permanently. The nightmares and insomnia you experienced last year are symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress. You are already suffering from it and it could be affecting you in ways you don't even realize. We're just worried that this latest incident will be the straw that broke the camel's back."
Chloe took a deep breath. "Listen. I don't want to be here any longer. I don't think that i need any counseling or therapy. All I need is to go home. Now. Can I go home?"
Dr Krause frowned a bit and his eyes filled with concern. "I don't think so, Chloe."
Chloe sighed. [Hmmm. Facial expression #2. He must mean business. Too bad. So do I.] "Doctor. I know hospital policy. As long as my guardian can take possession of me, you can't keep me here. I'll have Lex sign me out AMA."
"I don't think that is a good idea," Dr. Barnett said.
"I know," said Chloe, a bit sarcastically. "That's why it's called 'Against Medical Advice.' I'm serious though. Release me or I'll do it myself."
"Fine," Dr. Krause said sharply. "I'll have the paperwork finished by this afternoon. Will that be soon enough for you?"
Chloe looked up at Lex. "What do you say?" she whispered up at him. "The two of us, home by dinner."
Lex smiled. "Sounds good to me."
Chloe looked back at the doctor. "This afternoon will be fine." Then, she turned her attention to the fourth person in the room. 'I'm sorry you had to come all this way for nothing, Dr. Barnett."
The older woman winked at Chloe. "Don't you worry about me, Chloe. Besides, I think I'll be sticking around Smallville for awhile. So, you give me a call if anything comes up, okay?"
Chloe smiled. "I'll be sure to do that."
As the two physicians left the room, Chloe slumped back on the bed. Lex sat down next to her. "Where did that come from?"
She looked at him. "What?"
"That. You strong-arming those two doctors. I mean, I know you're aggressive, Chloe, but I've never seen you like that."
"You disapprove?"
Lex looked at Chloe in surprise. "Of course not."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Chloe, I didn't say that there was a problem, I just......"
"Good," Chloe said, interrupting him. "Now how soon can we get the rest of my stuff."
"Never, as far as I'm concerned. Chloe, I was just lucky that your father wasn't home when I got these," he said gesturing at the table. "Gabe hasn't been coming to work. I'd rather buy you a new wardrobe than go back to your house and find him there."
"Okay," Chloe sighed.
"Now, how soon can you be ready?"
"As soon as the Doc has my release papers ready."
"Good. I have to go back and check on the plant. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"Okay, Lex." Lex walked out the door of Chloe's room. Chloe sighed once more and started to pack up her things.
TBC
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PDA- 11: Just a Stupid Car Accident
~Smallville Medical Center- The Next Day~
Chloe sat in bed brushing her hair. She tried as hard as she could but was unable to keep the smile off her face. Lex was coming to visit her again. She looked at her watch for the third time in the last ten minutes. [He should be here pretty soon. I can't believe the changes our relationship has undergone in just a few days.] Chloe shook her head at the thought. [I find myself loving him more and more each day.]
Chloe put down her hair brush and raised her hand to her lips. She remembered the way Lex's kisses felt. They were soft, and at the same time, demanding. They were just like Lex himself. Firm, strong, sexy. A small smile started to form on Chloe's lips. His kisses were also tender. Lex could be tender too. But that was a side of him that only Chloe got to see.
Chloe's thoughts were disrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in," she called. The door opened and in walked Dr. Krause, Chloe's physician.
Dr. Krause smiled as he entered the room. It was one of those fake, medical smiles. The one doctors seem to be able to pull out of their black bags. Chloe felt reassured by the smile though. It meant good news. If there was something wrong, Dr. Krause would have "official medical facial expression #2," the serious-concerned look. Chloe would have given a hundred dollars to see a doctor deviate from those two facial expressions. To see a doctor look surprised, enraged, or even confused would have made her day.
Chloe put on a fake grin of her own. "So, what's up, Doc?"
"Chloe," Dr. Krause said, "There is someone here I'd like you to meet."
"Well, Doctor, I think it's a little soon in our relationship for you to be introducing me to your family." There! For just a second, facial expression #1 almost slipped.
Dr. Krause chuckled nervously. "No, no. Chloe, I've called in a specialist. Her name is Dr. Judy Barnett."
"I wasn't aware that I needed a specialist."
"Considering your condition, I think someone with more experience should handle your case."
"What 'condition?' You haven't told me anything. The nurses haven't told me anything. I feel fine, and yet I've been in the hospital for three days. Don't you think it's about time for you to start telling me what's going on?"
"I'd rather you talk to Dr. Barnett."
"No. I'm not talking to anyone else until Lex gets back."
"Dr. Barnett' time is extremely valuable. When do you expect Mr. Luthor to return?"
"Lex should be here any minute." Almost as if in response to Chloe's statement, there was a knock on the door. The door opened slowly. Lex poked his head inside. When he saw that Chloe was awake, he straightened and entered the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Lex could sense the building tension in the air. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No. As a matter of fact," Chloe said, glaring at the doctor, "we were just waiting for you."
"Okay. Why were you waiting for me?"
Dr. Krause stepped forward. "I was just about to introduce Chloe to a good friend of mine. Dr. Judy Barnett. She specializes on cases like Chloe's."
Lex spread his hands. "Bring her on in, then." Dr. Krause left and returned moments later with a blonde woman in tow.
The woman introduced herself. "Hello. My name is Dr. Barnett." She held out her hand to Chloe, who was still sitting on the bed. "You must be Chloe. It's nice to meet you."
Chloe shook the doctor's hand. "Yeah. Same here."
The Dr. Barnett turned to Lex. She held out her hand again. "And you are...?"
Lex looked at the offered hand and the woman attached to it. "Wondering why Chloe needs a specialist. She's fine. In fact, I planned to take her home today."
Dr. Barnett smiled. "Well, that won't be possible. I need to observe Chloe for at least 48 hours before I'll be ready to make a decision."
Lex smirked at the doctor. "I am her legal guardian and I say that she's fine."
Dr. Krause spoke up. "I don't think that is your decision to make, Mr. Luthor."
Dr. Barnett smiled. "Ahh. The infamous Lex Luthor. So nice to put a face with the name. Getting back to Miss Sullivan's condition, you can not possible understand all the facets of a condition this complex....."
"Listen," Chloe interrupted. "I don't know what you all are talking about, but I'm fine. I just want to go home."
Chloe got up off the bed and headed towards her suitcase. Dr. Krause intercepted her. "You can't leave yet, Miss Sullivan. I think, and Dr. Barnett concurs, you may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."
"What!!!??" Chloe said, a little too shrilly. "I do not have Post Traumatic Stress. It was just a stupid car accident. I'm fine. All I want to do is go home."
Dr. Barnett stepped forward. "Chloe. Let me just ask you a few questions. Last year, you were attacked by a boy in a swimming pool right?
"Yes."
Dr. Barnett continued. "And you were inside the Torch office when it was set on fire, correct?"
"Yeah."
"And held hostage at the Luthor Corp plant."
Lex couldn't remain silent any longer. "My father and I made sure that all the students and families affected received counseling."
"And I'm sure that the counselor you hired was very adequate, but that isn't the issue." She focused her attention back on Chloe. "Then you were attacked by another boy in a barn. The same boy that killed your principal?"
Chloe glared at her. "What are you getting at?"
Dr. Barnett's expression softened a bit. "Just hear me out okay. Then, at the end of the year, you were abducted, imprisoned, and then buried alive. I understand that after this ordeal, you had nightmares. You were unable to sleep. Did you receive a psychiatric evaluation at this time?"
"No."
"And just a few months ago, the tornado."
Chloe whispered, "That's not fair. Everyone suffered from that. Many more than me." Chloe looked up at Lex. He reached over and took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze.
"I'm afraid, Miss Sullivan," Dr. Barnett said, "This car accident is not an isolated incident. It is simply the last in a long line of traumatic events. Without therapy, your ability to function could be damaged permanently. The nightmares and insomnia you experienced last year are symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress. You are already suffering from it and it could be affecting you in ways you don't even realize. We're just worried that this latest incident will be the straw that broke the camel's back."
Chloe took a deep breath. "Listen. I don't want to be here any longer. I don't think that i need any counseling or therapy. All I need is to go home. Now. Can I go home?"
Dr Krause frowned a bit and his eyes filled with concern. "I don't think so, Chloe."
Chloe sighed. [Hmmm. Facial expression #2. He must mean business. Too bad. So do I.] "Doctor. I know hospital policy. As long as my guardian can take possession of me, you can't keep me here. I'll have Lex sign me out AMA."
"I don't think that is a good idea," Dr. Barnett said.
"I know," said Chloe, a bit sarcastically. "That's why it's called 'Against Medical Advice.' I'm serious though. Release me or I'll do it myself."
"Fine," Dr. Krause said sharply. "I'll have the paperwork finished by this afternoon. Will that be soon enough for you?"
Chloe looked up at Lex. "What do you say?" she whispered up at him. "The two of us, home by dinner."
Lex smiled. "Sounds good to me."
Chloe looked back at the doctor. "This afternoon will be fine." Then, she turned her attention to the fourth person in the room. 'I'm sorry you had to come all this way for nothing, Dr. Barnett."
The older woman winked at Chloe. "Don't you worry about me, Chloe. Besides, I think I'll be sticking around Smallville for awhile. So, you give me a call if anything comes up, okay?"
Chloe smiled. "I'll be sure to do that."
As the two physicians left the room, Chloe slumped back on the bed. Lex sat down next to her. "Where did that come from?"
She looked at him. "What?"
"That. You strong-arming those two doctors. I mean, I know you're aggressive, Chloe, but I've never seen you like that."
"You disapprove?"
Lex looked at Chloe in surprise. "Of course not."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Chloe, I didn't say that there was a problem, I just......"
"Good," Chloe said, interrupting him. "Now how soon can we get the rest of my stuff."
"Never, as far as I'm concerned. Chloe, I was just lucky that your father wasn't home when I got these," he said gesturing at the table. "Gabe hasn't been coming to work. I'd rather buy you a new wardrobe than go back to your house and find him there."
"Okay," Chloe sighed.
"Now, how soon can you be ready?"
"As soon as the Doc has my release papers ready."
"Good. I have to go back and check on the plant. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"Okay, Lex." Lex walked out the door of Chloe's room. Chloe sighed once more and started to pack up her things.
TBC
