Chapter Four

A/N: Sorry for the slow update! I've been really busy with work and haven't had a chance to type this up yet, but I do have a lot written, it's just a matter of getting it onto the computer. :0) So I decided to make this into my own version on Season 4; I hope I'm better at updating it then I was at my Gilmore Girls Season 4. Here's hoping...

Thanks for all of the kind reviews, just keep in mind that I'm not entirely familiar with exact medical practices and legal terms etc, I'm just doing this for entertainment. :0)

Pete Ross watched eagerly out of the small window in front of him. He could make out the Metropolis skyline below him, fast approaching. The company on the Luthor jet wasn't great, but the legroom was fantastic. He fastened his seatbelt when the pilot announced that they were about to land at Metropolis International Airport. Lex had sent for Pete right after he'd left Chloe at the hospital Saturday afternoon.

It was now Sunday morning and Pete eagerly disembarked the plane, duffle bag in hand, and hurried over to where Lex was leaned up against his lime waiting. "Pete," Lex held out a hand in greeting. Pete shook the offered hand and nodded, pushing aside his resentment for Lex; he figured that anyone who would go through all of this trouble for Chloe deserved his respect.

"Hey Lex," Pete returned and climbed in the limo after him.

"How was the flight?" Lex asked him.

"Good," Pete grinned. "Nice ride, better than flying coach." Lex smirked at that.

"Metropolis General," Lex told the driver.

They arrived at the hospital a half an hour later. Pet had wanted to pick up some flowers for Chloe, but Lex told him not to bother. Instead they bought her several magazines. Dr. Kim met them outside of Chloe's door. Lex introduced Pete to him.

"I was just about to call you," Kim told Lex, his expression grim. "I'm afraid I have some bad news. The infection has spread through parts of Chloe's central nervous system. She's in a coma."

"What?" Pete cried out, clutching desperately at the dozen magazines in his hands. "No!"

"Will she wake up?" Lex asked the doctor, trying not to sound as broken up as Pete.

"She's not responding to the antibiotics," Kim shook his head. "I'm afraid the infection is going to spread throughout her other major systems, most likely her cardiovascular and respiratory systems. When it does... she doesn't have much time left. From the rate it's going, a couple of days at most. I'm sorry."

Pete looked crushed. "You go in," Lex told him. "I'll phone the Kent's." Pete nodded and went to change, stopping once to look back at him.

"Thank you for getting me here," Pete told Lex sincerely. Lex nodded to him and then made his way over to the payphones.

Martha and Jonathan Kent drove into Metropolis as soon as Lex called. He'd offered them the helicopter but they'd declined. "We need a bit of time to brace ourselves," Martha had told Lex. He took that to mean that Jonathan knew about Lex investigating Clark, and didn't want to accept any help from a Luthor.

Pete was currently in Chloe's room. They'd called Lana in Paris from Chloe's bedside phone, so that Lana could say good-bye to her roommate. In the hallway, Lex, Martha and Jonathan waited silently.

"Oh," Martha remembered. "I got a hold of Chloe's uncle. He and his family are in Florida for a family vacation. They're coming home as soon as they can arrange a flight." Lex nodded but didn't say anything.

"If only Clark..." Jonathan trailed off when he noticed Lex listened attentively. Lex had been wondering where Clark was, but it was obvious that even if the Kent's did know, they wouldn't be telling him.

'Just as well,' thought Lex. 'There's not much he could do if he was here.'

Pete chose that moment to exit the room, his eyes looking decidedly redder than they had earlier. "Well Lana's already talking about coming back," Pete sat down in the empty chair beside Lex. "But I don't think Chloe would have wanted..." he trailed off.

"I just don't understand what happened," Jonathan exclaimed loudly, his frustration obvious. "I thought they were giving her medication to stop the infection from getting worse."

"They're doctors not miracle healers," Martha sighed. She had a wet tissue clutched in her hand and used it to dab at her eyes.

"Unfortunately," Lex muttered, echoing Jonathan's frustration with the hospital staff. Beside him, Pete suddenly sat up very straight.

"I think I have an idea," Pete grinned, a plan forming.

Lex shuttered involuntarily when he and Pete walked up the stone steps into the Belle Reve Psychiatric Facility. Though he couldn't remember the time he spent there, he knew that it had been bad. Pete didn't seem to notice though, because he was making his way towards the front desk where a large middle-aged nurse was standing.

"We need to see Cyrus Krupp," Pete told her. "It's an emergency."

She looked at Pete skeptically but then her gaze fell on Lex. "Just a minute," she picked up a phone. Ten minutes later Lex and Pete were sitting in a small cubicle, waiting for one of the orderlies to bring Cyrus in. The door hinges creaked loudly when they were pushed open. A small boy entered, whom Lex had never seen before but Pete seemed to recognize, and eyed Pete and Lex warily.

"You're Clark's friend," Cyrus sat on the third chair and stared unnervingly at Pete. The kid was weird.

"That's right, I'm Pete Ross," Pete nodded, relieved that Cyrus knew who he was. "This is Lex Luthor."

Cyrus looked at Lex with wide eyes, not because he was impressed but because he had a sort of permanently shocked look on his face. "Hey," he nodded to Lex.

"Hello Cyrus," Lex greeted politely. "How are you?"

Cyrus stared at him for a second and turned back to Pete, ignoring the question. "What are you doing here?" he asked suspiciously.

"We need your help," Pete admitted. "Do you remember my friend Chloe?"

"The cute reporter?" Cyrus questioned. "Yeah, she was nosy. Why?"

"She's in the hospital," Lex told him.

"Sorry," Cyrus looked blankly at them. "That's too bad." Lex almost growled and the boy, and even Pete seemed to be taking deep breaths.

"She doesn't have much time Cyrus," Pete told him desperately, leaning forward on his knees.

"Where's Clark?" Cyrus asked, ignoring Pete's plea.

"Clark's gone AWOL," Pete told him shortly. "He won't be around."

"So what? You want me to help your friend, is that it?" Cyrus asked. When Pete nodded, Cyrus tilted his head slightly, appraising them. "Why should I?"

"Because she needs it," Lex said seriously. "Because you're the only one who can."

"Clark would want you to," Pete added.

Cyrus looked like he was considering it. "Well, I'd like to help you out," he nodded towards the door where a large orderly stood waiting on the other side. "But I don't thing they're about to let me walk out of here."

Pete turned to Lex now, making the older mad aware of exactly why he was needed there. "Let me see what I can do," Lex smirked and made his way over to the orderly.

The new research grant that LuthorCorp had donated to Belle Reve ensured that Cyrus got a temporary release pass for the next couple of hours. "What time does he have to be back?" Pete asked Lex as they, Cyrus in tow, climbed back into the limo.

"Before the next shift begins," Lex checked his Rolex. "What time is their shift change?"

"Three," Cyrus answered, fiddling with the mini-fridge.

"That's only a couple of hours," Pete checked his watch as well. He turned to Cyrus. "How long do you need?"

Cyrus shrugged. "Not long," he turned back to the fridge and proceeded to ignore them. Until, "Oh Fresca! Can I have this?"

Lex raised an eyebrow. "Help yourself," he told them. Cyrus immediately grabbed the drink, as well as several chocolate bars.

"They're hard to come by," he explained. "In there... I guess you'd know that though."

Lex tried not to scowl and Pete averted his eyes, afraid of his reaction. He was used to being taunted though, at least in the past, and chose to ignore the weird kid until they arrived at the hospital.

Jonathan and Martha were understandably surprised to see Cyrus there, but they seemed to be aware of his abilities. Lex was beginning to think that he was the only one who hadn't known.

"Are you sure he can help Chloe?" Lex asked Pete while Martha was warmly greeting Cyrus. Not that he was concerned about the money he'd put out to get Cyrus out of Belle Reve, taking a large risk sneaking a patient out like that, but rather he didn't want everyone to get their hopes up for nothing.

"He healed a broken neck last year," Pete told him.

Lex nodded. 'Proof enough,' he thought happily. "Are you ready?" he asked Cyrus.

"Yes," the weird kid answered blandly. Lex and Pete led Cyrus to Chloe's room, the Kent's closely behind them. They all passed the guards and slipped inside. Once Jonathan made sure the door was closed...

Chloe lay peacefully in bed, the heart monitor resonating the occasional beep, and her chest rising rhythmically. Lex couldn't imagine anyone being able to revive her, but then, Pete seemed so sure...

The sound of four people breathing in suspense filled the room. Cyrus stepped up beside Chloe's bed. He put his hands, palms down, on Chloe's chest, over her heart. Lex stared in awe as Cyrus contorted his face, looking like he was in pain, and a warm gold glow started to spread out from where his hands were. The gold light spread over her body; down the burns on her arms, across her back, to the cut on her cheek.

Cyrus seemed to be struggling, his body beginning to quake, as the light grew brighter. Before Lex could express his concern, the light faded quickly, and then vanished completely. There was no sound while Cyrus slowly pulled his hands away from her body, his eyes locked on Chloe's face while the rest of them watched eagerly.

Suddenly, Chloe's eyes shot open and the room filled with simultaneous gasps of surprise. Lex allowed a large smile to spread across his face at the sight of her.

TBC...