Cloaked in Red

        Well, this is the last installment I have prepared! OHHH the sadness is still within me! Arg!  Well should this be the end or what? Let me know if not I will write another chapter to finalize this story, but I'll have to totally watch my season 2 dvd's first but damnit they're still at the store, I haven't had a chance to buy them yet. Arg! Lol arg is my word savvy? Lol, okay well oh I have my next story ready to post I will do the final checks and then post it sometime tomorrow.  It will be a AU fic now, that Chloe is dead. You stupid $%&(#()%  %($#&(#)% (#&%)&! Oye, Chloe is gone; and you know what she knew she was gonna die, she saw it! OMG, I am so pissed off!!!! Okay read chapter 4 now. Bye my lovelies.   

    Much luv & L8rs,

     Ryoko Kashino

Ch. 4  Reality check

Clark's eyes were a bit cloudy when he opened them. He didn't feel like getting up just yet so he closed his eyes again.  He felt warmer than usual then he felt a shift next to him. His eyes flew open and he sat up quickly.  His head whipped around looking at his new surroundings.  He knew this place but at the same time he didn't.  This wasn't his room.  Where the hell was he? Who the hell was in bed with him?

            Clark moved slowly towards the edge of the bed. He reached out and grabbed a pair of boxers that lay on the floor.  As he pulled them on he walked around; still groggy and kind of scared.  The last thing he remembered was telling Lana he loved her.  Then his memory came back.  He'd left Smallville, but for how long? Where was he? Damn his head hurt and felt weird being in only his boxers.  He walked over to a dresser and pulled out some pajama pants and a shirt.  He dressed quickly and quietly.  The person in bed shifted beneath the sheets. 

            Clark was really beginning to freak out.  He needed to know who was asleep in the bed.  But if he moved the sheets they'd wake up.  He could use his x-ray vision but instead he spotted a small purse.  He walked over and opened it.  Nothing not a license or identification card was in there.  He cursed to himself.

            Clark turned his head and was about to use is vision when he spotted a ring.  It looked familiar.  He walked over to the night stand and touched the ring.  His eyes widened and he realized it was his class ring.  Damn it.  Why did he take it off?  Wait he should've never have put it back on.  Instead of putting the ring back on, Clark placed it back on the table top and looked over to the pile of rumpled sheet.  He needed to find out who it was. 

Suddenly the pile moved.  The sheet slipped down fast and there he saw a familiar face. Clark was struck back.  There was Chloe and she was topless.  He took his view away from her and walked over to the couch.  He lay down and wondered what the hell happened.  God what had he and Chloe done? Or what had he done to her?

            Clark wanted to scream; instead he rubbed his temples and stared at the ceiling.  He turned his head in his view he spotted the phone after walking over he dialed home.  It rang twice before it was answered.  A calm voice came over the line, "Hello, Kent residence, this is Martha."

            Clark smiled and then he remembered why he wasn't home.  A lump began to develop in his throat.

            "Hello? Is anyone there?  Hello? Clark is that you?"

            Clark's breath caught, he wanted to say he was sorry and that he loved her. But the memory of her laying in that hospital bed made him swallow hard; her voice came over again, "Clark, if it's you, please honey come home, sweetie we love you."

            Clark slammed down the ringer.  The sudden noise made the body in the bed sit up straight.  Chloe rubbed her eyes and then gripped the sheet to cover her naked breasts.  Clark was at the desk and looked upset.  She got up from the bed wrapping the sheet around her.  Chloe let her hand rest on Clark's right forearm.  He looked at her, his eyes filling with tears his voice came out shaky, "God, Chloe, what have I done?"

            Chloe didn't have a retort for that, instead she led him to the couch as he gripped to her then began to cry.  Chloe was surprised, what happened to him? He was so much different then he'd been. No this was the Clark she knew.  Chloe searched her mind for comforting words but her mind and mouth failed her.  She instead let Clark cry.  The minutes that passed felt like an eternity. 

Clark finally got a hold of himself and used his hands to wipe away all the tear streams.  Chloe was sitting next to him. He felt so relieved for a split second his friend was here.  Terror then filled him as he realized she was wrapped in a sheet.  He couldn't remember exactly what happened; he had a small flash of them half dressed and kissing on the bed but his mind blanked over after that.  He looked at her and wanted to ask what happened but then she'd think he was crazy.  Again a flash came to him, only this time his head hurt.  He hands flew to the sides of his head as he grunted in pain.

"Clark what's wrong?" Chloe leaned towards him and touched his back softly trying to comfort him. 

Clark shook of her touch and said, "No, Chloe don't touch me…"

A flash of him drinking and dancing passed through his mind.  Had he been drunk the night before?  Again another searing pain passed and a new vision came to him, he was dancing again with Chloe and the dream focused in on his hand, he'd had the ring on. 

Clark was bent over on the floor in front of Chloe, she didn't know what the hell was going on but it was scaring her.  The boy she'd wanted more than ever was back but he was going psycho on her? His pain filled screams made her want to cry.  She'd never seen him in this much pain before, hell she'd never seen him hurt ever! What the hell was going on?

Clark finally stopped screaming, he was bent over and taking deep breaths.  His head turned to look at Chloe.  His face was upset, his brows furrowed together and he said, "Chloe what happened last night, I don't remember what happened after we danced."

Those words felt like a new stab to her heart.  Last night had been the most wonderful night of her life. Oh wait that's right he didn't notice her, he wasn't in love with her. Damn him, she thought.

"Y'know Clark, you were pretty drunk last night, I brought you back here.  It was hard getting the information from your stupid drunk ass.  We got here and for some reason you stripped naked and fell asleep."

Clark could tell she was lying, he didn't want to know what really happened. No, he did, he shook his head as he said, "Chloe what really happened? There's no way I sleep naked! I never slept that way at home.  Why are you naked too? Just….."

Clark was sidelined by another pain; as he fell forward Chloe rushed to his side and saw the tears coming from Clark's eyes. Clark's vision was blurred and another dream like vision played, it showed him and Chloe having sex, he was looking down at her as he was pushing into her. 

Clark's hands held him inches from the floor.  The pain he felt was jarring.  His breath was severely labored.  Chloe watched she'd never seen him so sick.  It was scaring her beyond belief.  Tightly shut as his eyes were, tears still escaped.  After a few minutes Clark's arms gave and he hit the floor.  He was taking in deep breaths and now lying on his side.  Chloe touched his arm softly causing Clark to look at her swiftly.  He scooted to sit up right.  He was looking at Chloe; his face was apologetic.  Chloe knew that face all to well.  She was about to touch his hand when he leaned forward taking her into his arms. 

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. God Chloe, please forgive me. I'm so sorry."

Chloe pushed away from him and said, "What are you sorry for?"

"For leaving, for not telling you where I was, for not remembering," he looked at her again staring her right in the eyes, "For not being able to tell you the truth."

"All that is forgivable; you need to tell other people that.  Clark, I'm your friend. I'm sure you have your reasons. None of which I'll press to know."

For a second Clark wanted to ask if she needed to tell him anything else, he knew there was more than that on her mind.  He could see it in her eyes and the way that her voice had quivered when she asked him what he was sorry for.  Everything he'd been hiding from was rushing to him.  It wasn't hurting like it had before, but inside he was still aching, he wanted to go home.  He needed to go home, but he was still so afraid his father wouldn't want him back. His mother's pleas hung freshly in his mind as he and Chloe sat in silence. 

Clark watched as Chloe stood up.  She gathered her clothes up and was about to enter the bathroom when Clark said, "Chloe I have a shirt and sweats you could barrow."

"Thanks Clark but all your clothes wouldn't fit."

"The sweats have ties you know."

Chloe smiled sadly as Clark stood and walked over to the dresser.  He found the sweat pants and then walked over to his closet.  He pulled out a plain white t shirt and an old flannel.  He handed them all to Chloe, again she smiled but this time it was one he'd seen on her face when she was really happy.

Clark watched as she entered the bathroom, soon the water turned on.  Clark walked back over to the night stand and stared at the ring.  Part of him wanted the ring on so badly yet he knew he couldn't hide forever.  The ring was calling him; a part of himself was begging him to just put it back on.  He sat there tempted to just burn the damn thing up with his heat vision or crush it with his bare hands. 

"Hey," Clark turned his head to see Chloe dressed in his clothes. He wanted to laugh, she was right nothing he gave her fit, in fact she looked like she'd shrunk.  Clark smiled as Chloe came round to sit next to him.  She took one of his hands in hers while her other arm went around his shoulders.  She leaned her head on his arm; her hair still wet began to leave a wet mark on him.  Clark didn't care.  They both sat quietly, knowing that all had been forgiven in the silence.  Clark leaned his head over and gave Chloe a kiss on the forehead. 

"What was that for?"

"Cause, I can't tell you how much this means to me."

"Clark, don't be…"

"I know don't be stupid.  Chloe, I need to ask you a favor."

"Sure, what is it?"

A wave of sadness came over Clark's face, which was something Chloe never could handle well.  Her hand went to his cheek, gently touching him; a small smile came to his face.  Clark reached his hand to hers and grasped it as he said, "Chloe, don't leave me here alone.  I don't trust myself.  Stay the weekend with me please?"

Chloe put her arms around Clark so fast they fell back.  For a moment they both laughed, time seemed to have rewound and Clark felt safe as did Chloe. Chloe nodded and said, "Anything you need Clark."

Clark smiled his classic Kent charm coming back instantly.  He then reached over pulling open the night stand's top drawer open, quickly he pushed the ring that lay on the top of the dresser into the drawer. 

The weekend seemed almost surreal.  Chloe had never had that much time with Clark alone ever.  It was a small vacation.  And it was something she treasured.  Although, she had to totally lie her ass off to both her father and cousin.  It was okay, it was only once, she never really did this sort of thing, but they'd understand, you'd do anything for your friends, especially the ones you loved.  That was just about the understatement of the year.  Okay she was in love from day one, but she could play it cool.  Who was she kidding?

Clark entered the apartment with a grocery bag and it was filled to the brim with all of the things Chloe loved.  It had the Daily Planet and some of those iced coffee's she'd stuff in her locker on those last tense days of deadlines for the torch.  She dug through the bag and finally pulled out a cold bottle milk and some sweets; these were definitely Clark's treats.  She smiled and let out a light laugh.  Clark looked at her and smiled his ever famous Kent smile, "What?" He asked.

"God, Clark sometimes you really amaze me.  It's almost as if you're two different people.  Right now you're the boy I've known for years, the one with a simple grin that can make all grey clouds disappear and a sweet tooth no human could have. And for the previous three weeks you were this evil son of bitch I wanted to run over."

"Chloe," He began and walked over to the couch, "You have to understand; I was I didn't want to remember, I was running, I don't know how, I don't think I can go back there.  I did…I just caused so many bad things that I can't even tell you about.  I was nothing but a problem for my mom and dad.  It's just better I stay away."

Chloe was mentally strangling herself as she walked towards him; things had been wonderful why did she always have to put her foot in her mouth? 

"Clark, I was just telling you how…I didn't mean for it to sound that way…I was…I was just.."

"I know you were just being honest.  Damn it, why could you just keep the lie going for a few more hours?"

Clark turned to sit looking away from Chloe.  He let his hands fidget and finally he stood then walked past Chloe.  He stood infront of the night stand and looked down and the top drawer.  He pulled open the drawer and stared at the ring.  Chloe watch him quietly. The agony of the silence made her walk over to where he stood.  She closed the drawer and stood between him and the night stand.  She leaned into him and let her arms slip around him.  She felt his arms come up around her slowly.  She smiled sadly against him and said, "I'm sorry Clark."

"It's not your fault."

They stood there for a few minutes quietly, trying to absorb the last few intimate moments.  Clark pulled back from Chloe to look at her face.  It was so sad, and he knew for reasons that are all his fault.  Clark shook his head then placed his hands at the side of Chloe's face.  Gently he kissed her.  It was the first time he'd kissed her on her lips with out the ring on his finger.  It felt so right.  When he let her out of the kiss her eyes opened slowly and she said lightly, "I better go."

Clark nodded but as she went to step pass him; his arm pulled her back to his body. Again he looked at her as if seeing her for the first time, He shook his head, "No, not yet, Chloe, not yet."

Chloe was then lifted slightly from the floor by Clark's firm embrace.  He kissed her and then turned them so that they fell lightly onto the bed.  Chloe pinned beneath him was feeling like this was a dream.  She was getting the Clark she'd always wanted.  It was mind boggling, she had won him.  She didn't know how, but she wasn't going to complain.