Clair finishes her shower and is still fuming about the news. What is that man up too? She shakes her head and towels her hair for excess water. Poor Clark. I probably should not have told him. He was so worried about it being something about him. It may be that. I'll know more when the good General arrives. She finishes dresses and shakes her head again.
"Mel, Where did they go?" Clair asks and Mel gives her this puzzled look. "Yeah. Deal with it, I am."
"They went to the 'Fortress' whatever that means." She answers going back to the screen.
"I'll be over at the Kent's' if anyone needs to get a hold of me." Clair says leaving the house. What else today?
Clair walks over and sees Jonathan leaning over the fence. "Not such a good morning is it Clair?"
"I've had better and you?" Clair comments leaning over the fence with Jonathan. "Martha still keeping you on a short leash." She teased him. I like both of them. It does make me miss my mom though.
"Not as much now." Jonathan answers. "She still watches through the window." Clair turns to see Martha watching from the kitchen window. And both women wave to each other. "Your son in his fortress?"
"Yeah, they both are up there." Jonathan answers and continues to say what's on his mind. "Clair, I like you. I trust you, because you have given me proof I can. I don't like this one bit. I'm scared. For my family especially, my son."
"There's a reason. Not a good one in my book." Clair answers.
"I have never been happy with this arrangement. Never." Jonathan says.
"Never say never is what I was told all of my life. Jack will be here to explain all of it." Clair says.
"Too much pain for us all, for Clark, and Chloe." Jonathan comments.
"I was told there's no way to feel joy without knowing sorrow." Clair answers.
"I know that, too" Jonathan answers back. "I'm an adult. So is Gabe. But they are just starting."
"That's why I am staying close. I want them to have a chance." Clair says and takes a deep breath. "You should be very proud of your son, and the job you are doing and have done with him. I see that he becomes this world's greatest hero." Clair whispers that last part in Jonathan's ear.
"You know if I was a jealous woman, I'd be worried about some young woman whispering in his ear." Martha has come out to join them.
"Don't worry. Jonathan is definitely a one-woman man and you just happen to the one woman." Clair smiles and she heads to the barn. Clair looks at them and this thought passes. I wish my dad could find someone to share the rest of his life with. She heads into the barn and up the stairs. Clark is sitting on the couch while Chloe walks around going through his books and things. When are they going to admit they mean something to each other? She continues to watch for a second. They look so uncomfortable and I need to break this tension.
"Well it's official. I have to do the laundry from now on." Clair says walking into view and Clark's face says it all.
"Pink?" Chloe says. "Does that not remind you of Lana?" she realizes. My mouth is faster than the speed of light and my brain has the speed of sound. "Sorry."
"It's okay Chloe." Clark says and then continues, "Wasn't that a white shirt."
"Yep. And I will get my revenge on the idiot." Clair answers.
"Whose the idiot?" Chloe asks sitting down.
"Don't worry I know." Clair answers and she gestures to the guys down below.
"Oh." Chloe says and winks acknowledgement.
"You look good in pink." Clark tries to be supportive.
"You're sweet." Clair says. "Just for future reference, I hate pink. This was my favorite shirt."
"Okay. Clair with all of this happening, this means Chloe doesn't have to be dead any longer." Clark says. "Not to be selfish but I'd like to know if I can tell Pete."
"We'll see. Let's wait until Jack's here." Clair answers. I hope my surprise will be a good one. I need to talk with Martha about it.
"Clark, I want to tell Pete. Please. You know. After all." Chloe asks.
"Sure. I understand." Clark answers and he smiles. It will be nice not to have to dodge his questions. Very good indeed.
"Clair, why are you staying? Not that I don't appreciate it. But you are a profiler, not a bodyguard, not apart of witness protection." Chloe asks. I think something is up. What is it?
"I am staying here because I want to be." Clair answers.
"Not good enough, you know that." Chloe comments.
"I no longer work for the FBI." Clair answers. "That's all."
"No, that's not enough of an answer." Clark says it this time.
Clair takes a deep breath. "Someone wants me away from the two of you. I don't really know who or more than that." Clair answers.
"Whoa." Chloe says and shivers. "I wasn't expecting that. Can I really be scared, now?"
Clark moves to sit down between both of them. "It will be okay. She's still here." He puts his arms around both women. "Besides I'm here."
"My hero." Clair says and puts her head on his shoulder.
Clark thinks. Glad I'm somebody's idea of a good guy. I just worry I'll become like Jor-El.
"Okay. I hate to bring it up. Have you heard from the male 'L' lately?" Clair asks.
Chloe thinks. Is this going to upset him? What did Lex do? Clark is still angry about it.
"Not me. He came back from somewhere and now he wants to talk with my mom." Clark answers and he puts his hand before him. He folds and unfolds his fingers.
"I wonder what that is about?" Chloe muses. "Could he want your mom to help him with the office?"
"Don't know." Clark answers. "I hadn't thought of that." It wouldn't surprise me he would try to worm his way back into my life that way. Clark gets up and walks to his bookshelf.
"Sorry." Chloe says. I think I hurt him with that.
"Let's wait and see." Clair says. "Now, what about the female 'L'?"
"She's staying. I thought there for a while she might want to go back to Paris." Clark answers. I am worried about the Jason affair. I don't know if it's just me being jealous. "And Jason had decided to stay, too."
"Well it will be an interesting senior year. I am looking forward to it." Clair answers. "What about Jason staying it bothering you?" Could it be a hormonal thing?
"He is talking to the new football coach about working with the team." Clark answers.
"Hmm. Very Interesting." Clair says jokingly like she is Freud.
"It's not that funny." Clark says and smiles.
A light goes on in Chloe's eyes. "You are not trying out for football, again?" she asks. Not again. Remember last time.
"Dad finally agreed to let me try out." Clark says sheepishly. "I have to try. Please try to understand."
"I'll try." Chloe answers and shakes her head. "Does this mean you are quitting the 'Torch'?"
"Well, I didn't think I could work with Lana. And now I don't think I could do both well." Clark answers.
"You probably right. You tend to bury your lead anyway. I guess I will be working with Lana again." Chloe answers. You're leaving me behind.
"Well, I need to talk with your mom. So I will be in the house, if you need me." Clair says. I wish I could help them. This has to be, it has to be between them. I can't mess with love. It's there or it's not. Clair walks to the stairs.
"Going to recruit Mrs. Kent to do the laundry from now on." Chloe says laughing.
"That is a good idea. Thanks. Since I think everyone missed breakfast. I thought we would combine efforts and have a big lunch." Clair answers.
"That's a real good idea." JB and Johnny say in unison.
"Glad you two agree." Clair comes down the stairs. "I will get you my pretty and your little dog, too." And she gestures to her shirt. She walks to the house. She knocks on the screen door and asks, "May I come in?"
"Yes. You don't have to ask." Martha says and takes another sip of tea. "What are they up to?"
"Nothing, as usual." Clair answers. "Do you mind if I ask you a favor?"
"Anything." Martha answers.
"Carte Blanche." Clair teases and it makes Martha smile.
"I should be more careful about my answers with you." Martha comments.
"I thought we could combine efforts for a big lunch. I think everyone missed breakfast." Clair says and sits down across from Martha.
"Sounds like a great idea. I know our schedule is a little off." Martha answers.
"Good." Clair and Martha start planning. Jonathan sees this as an opportunity to sneak out. He takes it.
"Do you want me to go get him?" Clair asks teasingly.
"Nope. It's covered." Martha answers. "He can't do anything anyway."
"Note to self. Never mess with Martha Kent." Clair says pretending to write down.
"You should add Clark to that." Martha teases back.
"Tsst. Tsst. Both of you. For shame." Clair comments and mocks shock. It makes Martha laugh out loud. "That's a good sound."
"And it feels good too." Martha answers. "I feel safe around you and Clark seems to feel less alone. That's a good thing."
"Geez. Considering the facts I know. That is one hell of a complement." Clair fans herself.
"I mean it. I worry. I know you understand." Martha says and takes Clair's hand.
"Let's discuss the lunch." Clair says putting her other hand on Martha's.
Back at the loft Clark has made a decision. I talked it over with mom and she's okay with me telling Chloe.
"I think Clair misses her mom. You know more now than before. But your mom is a good sub." Chloe says looking out to the pasture.
"We need to talk Chloe." Clark says and gestures for her to sit down. She takes a deep breath.
"Okay." Chloe says and gets ready to pull the ripcord at second. Here comes the breakup. Get ready.
"Please let me say it all. Okay. It may be hard for you not to stop me." Clark comments.
"Sure." Chloe answers and get her hands ready to go.
"Okay, here it goes." Clark takes a deep breath and starts "Chloe, you told me after the tornado, that you just wanted to be friends. I believed that you were telling me the truth back then. Now I know you were just afraid. Afraid I would walk out on you, like your mother." Clark pauses. Chloe has a tear starting to run down her cheek. He reaches up and wipes it away. "I did run out on you, on my parents, on Pete, and Lana. I did what you feared. I want to tell you why." Clark pauses. "You saw the aftermath. I made a mess and I didn't want to be me. I took off because my mother had finally gotten." Clark stops. This is harder than I thought it would be. "She had finally gotten pregnant and I was going to be a big brother, then the accident, it caused her to lose the baby." Clark looks up and into Chloe's eyes. She is wiping away tears. "It was my fault and I didn't want to be anywhere near it. I was so sorry, and I couldn't deal with it, I left." Chloe wraps her arms around Clark's neck and holds him.
"I knew it was something. I just never thought it was that. I'm sorry. I know you would have been a great big brother." Chloe says still holding him. "I'm glad you told me.
"I just wanted you to know. You kept my secret and you didn't know why. Now you do." Clark says. "My parents didn't tell anyone. It still hurts even now. My mother says she doesn't blame me for it. I can't help thinking I could have done things so different."
"My dad says hindsight is 20/20, so we all wish we had done stuff differently" Chloe says.
"There another thing I would like to talk about." Clark says. "If you are up to it." Chloe pulls away.
"Of course." Chloe answers. Is it his secret?
"Clark!" Jonathan shouts. "What have you and your mother done? Nothing works around here."
Chloe puts her hands on Clark's arms. "Your dad needs you. It's okay." She whispers.
"What do you mean dad?" Clarks asks and smiles to Chloe.
"You know full well what I mean." Jonathan answers and starts up the stairs. "Not one piece of equipment works on this farm." He gets to the top and stops. "Sorry Chloe, these two are driving me crazy. How are you doing with all the news?" Jonathan looks at Chloe.
"Oh my! I must look like a scary Chloe." She says wiping her face.
"Never." Clark answers. He fishes out the clean handkerchief his mother insists her keep in his pocket. He hands it to her and smiles.
"Thanks." Chloe answers. "I'll be okay, Mr. Kent."
"You know son, my doctors are happy. I'm doing well." Jonathan looks at Clark while saying it. "So Quit. Both of you, I'm okay."
"Mom said she didn't want you doing anything alone." Clark answers and walks over to him.
"You're both driving me nuts." Jonathan says and puts his hand on Clark's shoulder. "I could change my mind."
"Dad!" Clark says. This look on Clark's face makes Chloe laugh.
"You know, Mr. Kent. That one right there drives me nuts, too." Chloe says laughing. I love this feeling. I wish it would last forever.
"I heard all of that. No, you can't change your mind about football." Martha comes up the stairs.
"Thanks, mom." Clark says and he is visibly relived.
"You are not allowed to use blackmail. Understood." Martha orders. "Come on. Clair has a favor to ask us. Sorry you two." Martha says and takes Jonathan's hand and they head down the stairs.
Clark turns back to Chloe and she says "Football? You're going to be a jock." She laughs.
"It's just tryouts, I have to make them team." Clark says and walks back to the couch. Chloe pictures Clark becoming the quarterback and she is on his arm instead of the Homecoming Queen, Lana. She laughs harder.
"What's so funny?" Clarks asks trying not to laugh with her. What is it? She pictures me making a fool of myself on the field.
"No way. This is private." Chloe answers claming down. Now back to our talk. Please tell me. "You said there was something else." Chloe asks tentatively.
"Well. I think. I mean. I really want to tell you. It's just I think I need more time." Clark answers and looks down at his boots. I'm a big chicken. I was ready a minute ago.
"You told me. You've trusted me. I will be here and you know you can tell me anything. So it's okay." Chloe answers Clark's fears. What is it? It must be so serious. Or he is afraid; he thinks I'd do an expose on him. I have to wait. He is talking to me now.
"Thanks. I know it's hard for you to wait. You always want the truth." Clark adds. Please don't pull that ripcord. You don't have to. And I'd chase you this time.
"We're talking now. This is good." Chloe says. He changed his mind. Was it something with his dad? Stop Chloe. That's why he doesn't tell you. She puts her head on his shoulder. They sit quietly together.
She's so warm. She smells like vanilla. I wonder if that's a perfume. Can't ask, it would be stupid. It just feels good to be here. Clark thinks and closes his eyes.
He's so warm. He feels soft and strong at the same time. He still smells like fresh fabric softener. Does he love me? I know I love him. I'd die if something happened to him again, no I'd die for him. Chloe thinks and pulls close to Clark.
They both drift off to sleep.