Thanks to the people who reviewed!!! You guys will keep me going!! sorry i didn't say thank you in an earlier chap, but i couldn't figure out how to edit my already uploaded chapters.

Told you i'm technologically challenged.

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They slowly walked in a surprisingly comfortable silence. It felt almost like it had with Helen, except Chloe wasn't a doctor and it felt better walking next to her. He felt like she needed him, possibly even wanted him, there.

He seated her at a table and went to go get them some black coffee.

Chloe watched his retreating figure and pulled his coat even tighter around her. Suddenly she realized how attractive Lex was- not only physically but emotionally. Nobody would have been able to comfort her like this, not even Clark. She took a deep breath to calm herself and accidentally inhaled his scent from his coat.

'Oh my God...' She thought. He smelled wonderful. Like clothes fresh from the dryer mixed with his own musky, unbelievably comforting and sexy scent. She hadn't noticed it while she was crying into his shirt. She had been too busy sniffling and trying to prevent snot from getting on him.

He came back and set a steaming hot coffee in front of her then pulled up his own seat. She stared intently at him then blushed.

"What?" he asked. She motioned to his shirt. There were wet spots by his neck and on his chest. He laughed.

"Sorry about that," she apologized.

"It's okay, it's nothing," he replied. Chloe took a sip of her coffee cautiously. Her eyes were tired from all that crying. They sat there for a minute looking around.

"I never would have thought I would say this while I was here, but thank you for being here too," she murmured and looked at her lap to see her bare legs. "And thank you for letting me wear your jacket." They both smiled. She looked up at him and took another deep breath.

"You want to know what's going on," Lex said in more of a statement than a question. He reached over and squeezed her hand. He looked at their hands and then met her eyes, taking his own deep breath before starting. "I called your dad early this morning. I know he wasn't supposed to come in today but I needed him," he paused a moment. "Chloe, this never would have happened if I hadn't have called him in."

She squeezed his hand as he looked down to the table.

"I know," she calmly and sadly said, "But there's nothing that we can do about the past. Believe me, if there was I would be going back in time a lot." He looked back up at her.

"I am astounded how calmly you are handling this," he replied. She gave a meek smile.

"You saw how I reacted earlier. Being reasonable is the only thing that I have left besides going to The Torch office and doing the whole edition by myself. And I seriously doubt I am in any condition to drive," she said in a heartbreaking tone once again. "Honestly I feel dead. I feel... defeated." He unconsciously stroked her hand with his thumb.

"I know how you feel," Lex said soothingly. He couldn't help but open up to her. "When my mother was dying I might have been younger but death loomed over my head constantly. After awhile I knew I couldn't do anything about it and I just... accepted it." Chloe winced at the word 'death.' She squeezed his hand again.

Then she was amazed he was opening up to her like this.

"Chloe, I will do anything I can to help you. Your dad still has a good chance." That left her speechless.

"Lex... you don't have-" she started, but he cut her off.

"No Chloe. I won't let you refuse my help. If you won't let me do it on a personal level I will on a business level," he ended it there. Chloe was too tired to even attempt to argue.

"Lex, just so you know I mean it when I say I don't blame this on you," she looked down at their hands and gave a tired smile.

She had no idea how relieving it was for her to say that again. It took away any doubts he had had before. He could seriously be falling for this girl.

"It's funny..." she said, jerking him from his thoughts, "The things that can bring people together. At least something good came out of this."

Inside he was promising her so much more.

After a moment she quietly asked, "So what happened after you called him?"

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