Closer
Lex followed the large stone staircase down, into the basement of the mansion. Quinn had told him that Chloe was down there.
The door to her storage room was ajar, and light was beaming out through the open crack. He pushed it open and found her sitting on a couch, amid the piles of boxes and furniture.
"There you are," Lex greeted her. She gave him a small smile and put aside the photo album she'd been looking through.
"Here I am," Lex made his way over to her, wading through the various boxes, and joined her on the couch.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
"I was looking at pictures," she told him sadly. He noticed something black sitting between them on the couch. He picked it up and discovered, to his amusement, that it was a felt beret. "Want to hear something hokey?"
"Sure."
"I bought that when we were in Paris, for my dad," she took the hat from him and fingered the soft velvet. "I was back at the hotel before I even realized that he wouldn't be here when we came back."
Lex didn't know what to say, but he did understand. He reached a hand out and ran it through her hair lightly, unsure of what to do. Chloe took it as an invitation and leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. He continued to stroke her hair and she continued to clutch the beret in her small hands.
"I was just starting to fell normal again, before he found me," she whispered. Lex moved her a little bit closer.
"We're home now," Lex told her, toying with one of the silky blonde locks. "You'll be safe."
She shook her head. "He'll keep finding me," she didn't even turn her head to look up at him. "Even with Quinn, and you, and the rest of the people that you hire; if Lionel wants me dead, they'll find me."
He didn't try to deny it, because he knew that she was right. Lionel Luthor wouldn't stop until one of them was dead, and he got his revenge. Ruining her life wasn't enough; he wanted to see her bleed. "It's not going to happen Chloe," Lex pressed his lips against her hair in a quick kiss. "I won't let it. I promise."
Chloe nodded slightly and then turned her face up to meet his. "Thanks for taking me with you," she told him, referring to the trip they'd just returned from. "Until the end there...it was great."
Lex smiled. "I'm glad you let me," he told her honestly. He'd enjoyed the company and he'd really enjoyed seeing her have fun again. Chloe returned the smile, parting her lips slightly.
"Lex, I—"the unmistakable sound of rubber shoes catching on stone floor cut her off and drew both of their attentions to the new arrival.
He stood in the doorway, eyes ignoring Lex completely and resting solely on Chloe, searching her face painfully. The flicker in his eyes showed that he'd noticed how close they were sitting. Chloe stared back at him, open mouthed, and Lex was actually at a loss for words.
Clark Kent.
End.
Next time, on Smallville:
..."Chloe," Clark says painfully...she throws her arms around him tightly...
..."I didn't tell her Lex," Clark says and looks over his shoulder...
..."You make me forget Clark," Chloe tells him, eyes closed and sun shining down on her face..."You make me remember"...
..."Mr. Luthor wants to see you," a driver tells Randy...
..."Clark's picking me up," Chloe tells Lex. "We're meeting Pete in Metropolis"...
...A loud bang is heard..."What was that?" Chloe asks...
...Randy holds a gun steady, pointed at Chloe...Pete and Clark put their hands up...
..."Sorry Sullivan," Randy tells Chloe, blue lights and sirens going off in the background. "No deal"...