Chapter 2

Two Years Later…

Chloe was close to being late for her first class of the day – not a very good way to keep herself in good standing with the teacher, who seemed so determined to watch her fail. The blonde college senior was hurrying down the hallway, flipping through her notes as she tried to memorize all that she could before the routinely-given test they were given every time they learned a new topic. She had been so busy doing two things at one time that she didn't bother to put some attention to watching what was in front of her – causing her to fail to notice the person stationed directly in front of her a few meters away.

"Miss Sullivan," the man before her said.

Just in time, Chloe jolted back and stopped, her bewildered hazel eyes looking up at the Dean of Students at Metropolis University. He was a relatively old man, with eyes that were starting to wrinkle on the sides and a pair of glasses seated upon the bridge of his nose. Chloe didn't need to crane her neck to far up as he was not all that tall; his stature in the educational ladder, however, was quite daunting and caused a lump to form in her throat. "Um, Mr. Passamonte… is there something wrong?" The man rarely made it a point to seek out a student – much less her, who didn't hold any outstanding academic record to be picked out from the 10,000 student population.

She noticed his grave look and felt her heart jump. Was she failing a class? Was she going to be expelled for her past record of being a notorious writer for the Daily Planet? Why did he look so serious? The panic was growing to a point it felt like she would go insane with it.

"It's your father," he finally answered, his voice heavy.

She froze. "Wha – what about him?" Her mouth stumbled in speech, her body not functioning properly at the prospect of something bad happening to her dad.

"Will you please come with me? Don't worry about your classes… you have been properly excused from them until further notice."

Having said that, Mr. Passamonte turned around and headed down towards his office. It took Chloe a moment to register what was happening before she tightened her hold on her notes and books in her hand and followed him. As they walked, Chloe's head began to fill with fear. She had been so busy with her studies that she failed to call or contact him oftentimes. She remembered that the last time she had called was a month ago and it was quite short as she was on a tight schedule between classes and work.

Good afternoon; Gabe speaking.

Hey, Dad! It's me, Chloe.

Wow! [rustling in the background] Hey, honey! It's so nice to finally hear from you! pauses Oh, can you hold on for a sec – [more rustling and muffled voices and laughter] - okay, sorry about that, sweetie. So what has been keeping you so busy that you have had no time in the past two months to call your old man, eh?

I'm really sorry about that… I just rarely have time in between my double major and my part-time job to really do much but work!

Oh and how have your – shoot, will you hold on again? [barely audible voices and a thump] Okay, that'll be the last time that will happen. Now, where were we?

Um… you were going to ask me something… 'how have I…?'

Yes… yes, that's right, how have your grades been so far?

They've been okay… it's all been tiring – trying to keep up with everything while shouldering the responsibility of work, but what can you expect, right? [hesitancy] Say, Dad, is everything fine there? You seem to be quite busy with… someone?

Oh, no, I know that tone. Don't you dare even think that I'm having a date right now, young lady!

[laughs] Yeah, well, it sounds like you're getting kind of… physical… laughs again

Get your mind out of the gutter, will you? [humph] It's – it's nothing that big really… definitely not a date, though…

Hmm… okay, if you say so, Dad. [chuckles a little upon hearing grumbles on the other end of the line] Damn, I gotta go now… I have a class in fifteen and I need to go across campus. Sorry for cutting this short.

It's alright, Hon, you just take care! Love you loads!

Love you, too, Dad! Bye!

Bye… [click]

When they were seated – Mr. Passamonte behind the expanse of his oak desk and Chloe in front in a chair that practically swallowed her small form – he leaned back and pulled off his glasses, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "This is very hard to tell you, Miss Sullivan." Sighing, he pursed his lips and looked determinedly at her. "Something has happened to your father."

"Yes, you told me as much, sir," she replied slowly, feeling the fear grow stronger inside her. "What has happened?"

"Well, the thing is…"

Gabe pulled up to the grocery and parked before leaning back in his seat, taking a deep breath. He had just emailed Chloe about the big subject that he had been avoiding to tell her for the past two years. It was time that she found out about it. He felt so guilty when she called – but was partially relieved that she thought he was merely seeing a woman. Still, this was a big thing to keep from one's daughter. Yes, now was the time.

Feeling less nervous than he did previously, he stepped out of his car and locked it. Inside, he fell into the routine of going through the sections – cleaning agents, bathing items, packaged food, vegetables, meats, then the dairy products. He made sure to buy a little present for the tyke the Ross couple was taking care of for the time-being. It felt good to do something like that. It was normal, gave him something to distract him. It was soothing to his senses. He stopped every now and then to greet the other people shopping, chat about little things happening – how are you? You're looking very well as usual! How is the child? He's doing great, actually – before returning to his search for the needed items at home.

Finally looking at his cart and seeing that it had all that he had noted on his list, he headed towards the cash register. He had just begun to put his items on the moving counter when a man behind him put a gun to the attendants face. "Give me the fucking cash, lady," growled a sinister voice. "And make it quick."

The young woman behind the counter stared in terror at the pistol at her face. Immediately, she opened the cash register, taking out the money. Gabe was frozen to his spot on the floor. He could feel a strange power emanate from the man's body beside him and felt no desire to really move – even if it was away from him. There was something strange about the man.

"Don't make any sudden movements or I'll kill you." He wasn't kidding. There was the threat evident in his voice.

Dear God, how was he going to get out of this? Gabe could feel the fright inside him. What was going to happen? How was he going to give the toy to Remy? Please let me get out of here… Once the money was inside a little bag, the robber grabbed the bag, then seized Gabe, wrapping his arm in a vice-like grip and pulling him along. The gun was poking his back – oh, shit, it was right there! As they got out the sirens of incoming police cars filled his ears. No, not now! Let him go! Let the robber go! Gabe felt like screaming it out loud but he couldn't. He could get himself to. They were surrounded. Damn it, don't! I need to get home! God, Chloe might not even know and she won't even get the chance to hear it straight from me!

"This is the police! Put down the gun and let go of the hostage! I repeat! Put down the gun and let go of the hostage, now!" Loud speakers – the police – his senses were swirling.

"Sorry, man," the man muttered under his breath.

Gabe heard him – almost felt his heart go into overdrive. No apology in his voice… Then the shot rang out; the piercing pain in his lower back. His expression went wide and he opened his mouth to cry out. He felt himself falling. The sky was blue – crystal blue; the sun was shining, beating down on him. He saw people running – chaos in his eyes and in his mind. The robber was getting away; people in black police suits went running to him. Then the muffled voices – angry shouts, fearful screams from bystanders. Then everything went dark as he lost consciousness.

"… he's in the hospital right now, Miss Sullivan," the Dean informed her gravely. "He isn't in very good conditions, but he's still alive."

"I – I –" she couldn't speak. Her eyes looked strangely void of any emotion. She was in shock. Her father was so much stronger than that, though. She knew he was always fine. He could never die. No, he couldn't. He was fine; sitting at his home in Smallville, or at the plant, with a pile of work on his desk –

"Miss Sullivan, I am excusing you from class for the time being. I don't usually do this for people, but…"

"I need to go," she mumbled. "I – I need to see for myself. He can't be hurt. He –"

"This isn't easy; I know… I don't go saying this to people, but this has happened to me before… And I know that you need to see that we're wrong but… we were just informed of it from –"

"Then I need to leave now, sir," she interrupted suddenly jumping out of her seat and running to the door.

Mr. Passamonte didn't stop the girl. He leaned back in his chair and let out a tired sigh. It would be hard for her. They had told him that he had only hours – perhaps a day at the most – to live. How could she cope with losing him? And gaining a new responsibility that apparently she knew nothing about?

Beep… beep… beep… beep… beep…

Chloe watched with heavy eyes as her father struggled to breath – struggled to live. The IV was in his arm – his face pasty-looking – and the machines kept making that quiet beeping sound. Heart-rate – fine; but a bit slow… he seems okay… Chloe had cried at the sight of him – big salty tears streaming down her face; nearly fainted. He looked okay… yet he still looked so fragile… His usually vibrant face was sunken – unnaturally pale and she wondered if it was really him.

She took hold of his hand – limp against hers and abnormally cold – rubbing it between her two. "Daddy…" she choked out. Her head hung against her chest as the tears came again. She stayed like this, praying a bit for him to live. Screw the sympathetic looks the doctors and nurses gave her; telling her silently that he was hopeless case. There was no reason for her not to have hope. So she stayed… and waited…

It was hours later before she decided she needed a drink – good, strong coffee. Hesitantly, she got up and left the room, looking back once more as her father's chest rose and fell with a weak breath. Upon stepping out, someone called to her. She turned to look who it was.

"Oh, hello, Mrs. Ross," she greeted none too enthusiastically.

She noted the dark-skinned woman was holding a small child in her arms. Cocking her head to the side, she approached the two with curiosity. The child was oriental – jet-black hair, cropped short and almond-shaped eyes. The colour of those eyes, however, was different – a strange hue of bluish-grey. She felt herself drawn to him, knowing that she had seen those eyes somewhere before. She didn't know where, though.

"How are you doing, Chloe?" the older woman asked solemnly, interrupting her internal musings.

"As good as anyone can be in this sort of situation, I guess," she said sullenly.

Needing the distraction, she gave a little smile to the boy in Mrs. Ross's arms and gave a little wave. "Whose boy is this?"

Mrs. Ross froze and looked at the blonde in front of her, a hesitant look on her face. "Dear child… didn't you get Gabe's email?"

"What email?"

"Lord, help me… Chloe…" she trailed off, not knowing how to put it. "This boy… Remy is his name… Actually, it's Jeremy Sullivan." She put emphasis on the last name.

"My cousin? I didn't know one of my cousins married someone from Asia," she said in a bit of surprise. "That rocks." Even as she said it, it sounded like a hollow comment.

"No, dear, he's not your nephew," Mrs. Ross said, shaking her head. Pausing she waited for the idea to register in the young woman's head, but only found a blank look. She sighed, feeling remorseful that she would have to be the one to inform her. "Remy – Remy is your… adopted brother."

That was as far as Chloe heard. Her eyes widened and blood pounded in her ears. Remy is your adopted brother… it was at that point that everything fell into place – her father's preoccupied attitude when she made her irregular calls and the off-handed way he answered her emails when she asked what has been happening. The conversation they had a month before made more sense. Of course it wasn't a date… the little boy – Remy… his name is Remy… he's my brother – was who was with her father at the time. Her breath came out staggered and she took a fearful step back, looking incredulously at the oriental boy in Mrs. Ross's arms. Chloe saw the woman move her mouth – noted the worry upon the older African-American woman's face, but she couldn't register what she was saying.

Just then a loud squeal of machines went off… and Chloe's gaze flew behind her as it broke through the thick haze muddling her senses. Someone's heart had stopped. No, not him; please not him… She was suddenly overtaken by a flurry of another more severe situation. The doctors and nurses hurried past her, panicked looks upon all their faces; evident in their tone of voice as the spoke urgently to one another and went to Gabe Sullivan's room. It was too much to take in at one time… Chloe gave into the urge to faint.

To be continued...