Disclaimer: Smallville and its characters are the property of the WB and Marvel and such, not me. Songs
aint mine either. This is my story, however, and is now copyright. © Don't even TRY and steal it! (Just
kidding!)
A/N: You may notice that not only does Lana not live with Chloe, but also she isn't in the story very
much. The reason for this is simply that I don't like Lana and find it more interesting to write Pete. Don't
all you Lana fans kill me, there is NO Lana bashing in this story. I don't take my hate out on my work.
Read and Review. New chapter coming soon.
~*~
Clark walked into the loft to find Chloe sleeping on the couch. He was glad that his fortress of solitude
was able to protect someone else. He sat down on a chair next to her and watched her sleep. He didn't
trust Gabe to not come looking. As he watched, he thought of something. This was probably the best
sleep she's had since this all began. He knew Chloe; it would take a lot to make her as scared as she
looked when he held her arm. She was probably thinking of Gabe at the time.
Chloe began to turn and mumble to herself in her sleep.
"*Mumble* that's…I…not very…" she was quiet for a while, then she started screaming. "NO! He's
coming! He's going to kill me! HELP! CLARK!"
He jumped up and grabbed her by the shoulders, to wake her up. Her eyes flashed open, and for a second
they were filled with fear. Then she caught sight of Clark, and fell onto him, sobbing. He stroked her back
and tried to comfort her. "Shh, Chloe it's ok, it was only a dream. Shh, I'll protect you."
~*~
Clark was sitting next to Chloe, who was too scared to stay by herself. He was trying to think of the best
way to protect her. Then it came to him. Lex had the worst kind of parent he could think of. Teaching
him the art of war by fighting, or something like that. Maybe he could help. Just as long as Chloe was ok
with it.
"Hey Chlo?"
"Yeah?" she looked up from her book.
"Well, I was thinking," he looked a bit awkward, "you know, Lex might be of some help. His father was
about as abusive as you can get."
Chloe looked shocked, to say the least. "WHAT! No way is a Luthor getting involved!"
"It's not too bad. I mean, it's not Lionel. Lex is one of my best friends."
"No."
"Look, Chloe, I can only hide you for so long. Soon he'll come after you. I don't know how much I can
do."
She almost broke down again, but didn't. She knew he would bring the subject up. It was time to face the
music. "Look, Clark, I haven't been completely honest with you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, my father was fired. That's when he started…getting angry."
"What does that have to do with you?"
"Lionel, he made a deal with me. To do some research. If I refused he'd fire my father, and…I refused."
"Gabe must have found out. That's why he's after you!" He said, as realisation hit.
"Lex offered to protect me, but only against Lionel. He didn't know about…I'm sorry, I didn't know it
would go this far."
"It's ok Chloe. You didn't know. This is just more of a reason to get Lex's help."
"Ok, it's the best idea we've had so far."
"Don't worry Chlo, nothing bad will happen to you. Not while I'm here."
~*~
Lex stared at Clark from across his desk, hands folded. There was definitely something wrong. He was
standing there with a look of concern, even fear, in his eyes. Chloe was sitting behind him, a blank
expression and long dark clothing on. She didn't look herself. Almost like she was hiding behind Clark.
"So Clark, I expect you didn't come here for a social visit." He decided that Clark would be the best
person to address.
"How do you figure that?"
"If it was you wouldn't have come with Chloe and you wouldn't have come during school."
Clark looked down slightly. Lex knew that look all too well. It was submissive, a look of surrender, the
one he always gave when Lex had found something a normal person wouldn't have picked up on.
"Ah, yeah. Your right."
Lex smiled. "Good. Now that we're done with the pleasantries, what's the problem?"
"Gabe." Clark said this coldly, his voice was filled with a hate Lex hadn't heard before.
He frowned. "Mr. Sullivan is one of my father's trusted employees."
"Not anymore."
Now he knew what this was all about. "Dammit."
"Lex?"
"I promised to protect you." He said turning to Chloe. "I didn't realise my father would approach the
problem from a different angle. I should've known."
"What should we do?" Asked Clark. Chloe still hadn't spoken.
"First, I need to find out exactly how he did it. I know Gabe too well, he isn't a violent man. My father
must have stirred him up somehow."
"Meteor rocks?"
"Clark, not everything in Smallville is a result of the meteor shower."
"What can you think of?"
"It's possible that he was aggravated. Maybe I should review some security tapes of the day he was fired.
What day was it by the way?"
"May 14." Chloe spoke for the first time. Lex looked at her thoughtfully.
"Ok, good. Secondly, I want both of you to stay here until this is sorted. I don't want my father coming
after either of you."
"Ok Lex."
"Good. Now make yourselves at home while I find those tapes. If I know dad, he's destroyed them.
Lucky for me, I always have my eye on him."
~*~
Lex walked into the spare room where Chloe and Clark were staying with a video in his hand.
"So, are you two ready to review the tape?"
"Sure. Anything to crush Lionel Luthor." Chloe said coldly.
Clark frowned. He hated seeing Chloe like this, in an almost sub-human trance. He could barely recognise
her. Lex ignored it, and just pushed the tape in, waiting to see what would come up on the screen. There
stood Gabe, working happily as usual. After a second Lionel came onto the screen, and began to talk to
him.
"Hello Mr. Sullivan."
"Mr Luthor! What can I do for you?"
"I'll be frank, Mr. Sullivan, your work is not up to scratch."
"But…but sir…"
"I don't want to hear your excuses. You are, by far, the worst person to ever work at this plant."
"What?"
"You heard me. You're scum, Mr. Sullivan. The very thing I wipe off my shoes. In fact, I'm surprised
you even call yourself human."
Gabe turned and stared at his boos. "What the HELL! THIS IS ANOTHER SUPERIORITY THING
ISN'T IT!!" he shouted. "THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN FEEL GOOD IS BY STEPPING ON OTHERS!
SO YOU'RE FIRING ME…"
Lionel started laughing, cutting him off. "That's where you're wrong, Mr. Sullivan. I'm not firing you, I
was told to."
"What do you mean?"
"Why don't you ask that kid of yours. Chloe I think her name is. It was her idea in the first place."
"WHAT! I'LL KILL HER! Stupid bitch should've never messed with me."
Lionel grinned. "That's what I thought." He said softly, before turning and walking out.
Lex frowned, his eyes still glued to the screen. So that's how he did it. He would pay dearly for this stunt.
~*~
This chap wasn't as long, sorry. It was also late…ooooops…..ah well.
Kathy: No, not exactly. And don't count on anything like that being the reason. I decided to go on a
different path from meteor freak.
Micki: thanks! Sorry this chapter is late.