Closer

A/N: Final one for this episode. Just so I know, could you guys tell me if Pete moved to Topeka or Witchita? I've been hearing both. Enjoy!

Gabe Sullivan's funeral was on Friday morning. Chloe was touched to see that half of the LuthorCorp Plant employees had shown up to pay their respects to their former manager. They all packed into the old church, behind the distant relatives that had managed to make it. Chloe sat in the front row between Lois and Pete, Lex, Martha Jonathan beside them.

Amidst the sea of black clothing Chloe watched quietly as various people spoke about Gabe, about the great man that he was. She didn't go up, but Lex did, and so did Martha Kent. While Mrs. Kent sobbed openly into the microphone, and Pete tried desperately to hold back his tears, Chloe didn't cry.

When her father's ashes were lowered into the ground she didn't cry. When her cousin hugged her goodbye and wiped away her own tears, Chloe still didn't cry. She felt an immense sense of guilt over it, because she'd shown no more emotion than Lex had. But she really did miss her father.
Martha Kent was in the kitchen, fixing herself a cup of tea, when Chloe came down the stairs. They were still both dressed in the black clothes they'd worn to the funeral, but Chloe now held a duffle bag over her shoulder.

"Mrs. Kent?" Chloe called from the doorway, causing the older woman to jump in surprise.

"Oh Chloe!" she laughed nervously, putting a hand over her heart.

"I didn't mean to frighten you," Chloe apologized.

"That's okay," Martha got out a second mug... and spotted the duffle bag. "What's going on?" Chloe took a deep breath.

"I'm moving into the mansion," she told Martha.

"You are?" Martha was surprised. "I didn't know you were even considering it."

"I mentioned it to Mr. Kent," Chloe joined her at the counter and set the bag on the floor. "But I didn't want to tell you until I knew for sure."

"Oh, well why not?" Martha handed her a cup of tea.

"I didn't want to hurt your feelings," Chloe admitted. "Please know that me leaving isn't about not wanting to stay here. It's just..."

"Chloe, it's okay," Martha smiled warmly. "I understand. We're not really your family, as much as I would love to be."

"Lex isn't family either," Chloe pointed out. "That's not really the issue though. For one thing, Clark could come back, he always does, and then there'd be a problem."

"You'll always be welcome to stay here Chloe," Martha patted her hand. "With or without Clark."

"I just wanted to thank-you," Chloe toyed with her teabag. "For letting me stay and making me feel so welcome. I know it must be hard for you guys to let me stay here, after what I did to Clark."

"Chloe that's all in the past," Martha told her gently. Chloe shook her head and sniffled, trying not to cry.

"No, n-not really," she swiped away a stray tear. "Because none of my friends really trust me, and I ruined my father's life. I cost him his job and made him a target...he must have been so disappointed in me." She began to cry now, the idea of her father thinking ill of her made her ache inside.

Martha reached out and hugged her tightly, rubbing her back soothingly. "Chloe that's not true," she whispered brokenly, tears of her own beginning to stream down her cheeks. "Your father loved you very much. All he ever talked about was how proud he was of you. You were his whole world." Chloe didn't say anything. "Chloe I mean it. I want you to always remember that. Okay?"

"Okay," Chloe pulled away and wiped her tears dry.

"Good," Martha handed her a napkin from the holder beside the sink. Chloe began to dry her eyes, hoping that her makeup wasn't smudged.

A car horn outside announced that her ride was here; Lex had sent the limo for her while he took care of the last minute funeral details. "Are you sure you want to go?" Martha asked her as Chloe hoisted the duffle bag over her shoulder again. "I'm a little worried about a girl your age living with Lex."

Chloe smiled. "I don't think I'm his type," she pointed out. "Besides, I think that he understands me right now. I need someone right now, and Lex has been looking for someone to let him help. This just feels like it's what I should do."

"You come back here whenever you want," Martha jugged her again. "Promise me you'll let me know if things don't work out."

"I promise," Chloe told her. They walked outside and over to the limo where the driver took her bag and put it in the trunk. "Goodbye Mrs. Kent," Chloe slid into the car. Martha watched the limo drive away, and a strange sense of foreboding overcame her.

"Goodbye Chloe," she whispered. End.
Next time, on Smallville:



Martha nods towards the man seated beside them in the Talon. "I didn't even notice him following us." ..."Trust Lex to know the best professional stalkers in Metropolis," Pete says...

Chloe looks up at Lex: "What was your mother like?"... "She was unhappy"...

"Don't," Chloe pulls her arm out of the grip Lex has on it, eyes red rimmed. "Don't look at me like that"...

"He's done some pretty bad stuff Chloe," Pete bites his lip. "If it gets bad there, promise me you'll let me or the Kent's know. You don't have to stay there"...

"Have a good flight," Lex shakes Pete's hand..."I'll miss you Pete," Chloe tells him..."Miss you too," Pete kisses her forehead...

Chloe stands in Metropolis International Airport, staring quietly at the departures gate...