Title: Stormy Nights

Rating: G, for now.

Summary: In one heartbeat, two lives are changed drastically...and friendships are tested.

Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or the characters. Duh.

CHAPTER 1

The darkness was heavy with the smell of rain, freshly fallen. It was as if the actual atmosphere glistened with crystal drops of liquid, as if it were a masterpiece that had been achieved in one moment. Thunder rumbled threateningly in the distance, gone, but not forgotten. Through the thick clouds that covered the stars that struggled to be seen, the crescent moon shone dimly. It was a night of darkness, a night where no light shone.

In Smallville High, Chloe Sullivan worked vigorously at her computer. As Editor of the Torch, the school newspaper, she had dedicated all free time to the issues and problems that involved the teenagers of Smallville. She never ceased to write, report, and occasionally uncover the secrets people had kept since the day the meteors had come 13 years ago. It seemed like forever, yet the effects were still being seen everyday.

She had crowned herself the force of truth in Smallville, one of few who knew that the sleepy little town wasn't what it seemed. She had reason to believe that Lionel Luthor himself had somewhat of an idea about what went on within Smallville, yet he was just as responsible for the conspiracy as everyone else was. She wouldn't be surprised if Lex had known all along also. It wouldn't surprise her one bit. The Luthors were known for their shady dealings, and no matter what Clark claimed about Lex, she couldn't look past what had been done to the people of Smallville in the name of business.

Chloe paused in her typing as the rain began to fall again, harder than before. It drummed the roof of the building quickly, almost as if it were singing it's own song to anyone that would listen. The cloudy day had given way to a rainy night, and it wasn't expected to let up for another few days.

She hated rainy days.

Many of her acquaintances might say that her personality matched stormy weather perfectly. Her sarcastic nature and darker hobbies tended to weird people out. Still, she wasn't all made up of conspiracies and biting comments. Her closer friends knew that. Pete and Clark knew that.

Clark. She glanced behind her to study the clock that hung on the wall. He was supposed to meet her in the office soon. She had told him that she needed his help on her new article she was writing about the football team. Of course, that was only part of the truth. She just wanted to see him. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, she still had a thing for her best friend.

It didn't seem to make a difference that he liked Lana instead, that he had unintentionally hurt her a number of times to be with the raven-haired cheerleader (or ex-cheerleader). No matter how much she wanted to yell and scream her feelings to him, she continued to quietly wish that she were in Lana's place. She continued to dream about their non-relationship. But she wouldn't tell Clark that in a million years. That would show a vulnerable side to her cool exterior. And while Pete had long ago discovered her secret crush, the two never talked about it, much to Chloe's benefit. A "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy had been adopted among the two friends.

The sound of the door swinging open halted her thoughts, and Chloe stood and turned to see Clark stride into the office, wearily running a hand through his soaking wet hair. It hung in ebony waves and water dripped freely onto the floor. His jacket had absorbed much of the water, and he peeled it off quickly. Underneath, his sweater showed signs of dampness.

"It's raining." he stated, with one of his trademark smiles.

Chloe giggled a bit at his appearance, "I noticed."

He approached her slowly, and she found herself standing face-to-chest with him, "So how far have you gotten on the article?" he asked as he pulled up a chair.

Chloe took her cue and plopped into her vacated seat, "Not very. For some strange reason, I can't seem to find football interesting."

"Color me surprised." he let out a quiet chuckle, and Chloe smiled a little herself.

They paused as a clap of thunder, this time much closer than the last, rumbled above them. It seemed as if the storm was settling right above Smallville.

"I hate storms," Clark muttered beside her, and Chloe glanced at him quizzically.

"Are you telling me you're actually afraid of something, Clark Kent?" she asked, grinning again. She did that often around Clark.

He shrugged self-consciously, "Not really afraid...," he trailed off, and she nodded understandingly. She knew it was a guy thing.

At that moment, the room was flooded with a bright, hot light. Chloe shielded her eyes from the flash that lasted only a second, and jumped a bit as the thunder followed it. The storm was worsening, and it seemed to be right above them now.

The electric blinked, then was lost, and they were enshrouded in darkness. Chloe clutched for Clark and didn't relax until she felt his shirt-sleeve under her hand. She felt him move a little closer to her, and she couldn't help but do the same.

They were quiet for a few moments. All that could be heard was the rain, still beating endlessly on the roof of the school.

"Clark?" she asked, still grasping his arm.

He moved a bit, "Yeah?"

"Do you think we should just leave the article for tomorrow?" she asked, not really relishing the thought of staying in the school while Mother Nature raged around them.

"I think that would be a good idea."

She nodded, more to herself than Clark, and stood slowly, groping for her coat in the complete darkness. She expected the back-up generators to kick in, but they hadn't yet.

"Of course not," she muttered, "that would be too easy."

"What?"

"Nothing." she answered.

Another flash of lightning engulfed them in a dazzling light, and she caught a glimpse of Clark, still wet, beside her. The small frame in which she could see him allowed her to relax a little, and she released her death grip on his arm.

"Sorry about that." she said with a nervous laugh.

She felt his hand on her shoulder, "No problem."

As one, they moved toward the door slowly. It wasn't until they were in the hallway of the school that they both calmed down a bit. Chloe knew where she was going now. There weren't any pesky desks or computers in their way to hinder their journey.

"You want me to drive you home?" Clark asked as they made their way to the front door.

Chloe smiled graciously, then frowned when she realized he couldn't see her, "Thanks, but I drove." She wished she hadn't. It looked as if the going would be slow with how hard it was raining.

The two teenagers stepped outside into the maelstrom, and Chloe was immediately whipped to the side by the strong wind that blew across campus. She grabbed onto Clark again for support, who strangely didn't seem to be affected by the winds. The rain pelted against them, and she felt the dampness through her jacket. She knew she was already soaking wet and that they had been outside for only seconds.

"Where's your truck?" she asked him, struggling to be heard through the wind.

She watched him jerk his head in the general direction ahead of them, and she took his word for it. She could find her car later. Together, they trudged through Mother Nature, not speaking, just trying to move forward. Chloe couldn't remember being in a storm so severe.

Their slow going was halted when a huge flash of lightning blinded them both, and Chloe could do nothing but close her eyes and hold onto Clark as the streak of electricity seemed to bear down on them. her heart jumped with the fear that they had just unintentionally stepped into the face of danger.

Chloe felt her whole body spasm uncontrollably as the white-hot heat traveled through her. The pain was excruciating, and she screamed, agonized. It felt as if every fiber of her body was being torn apart by the energy. She felt Clark beside her, through the pain, but she could do nothing, just shake wildly as thousands of volts of electricity traveled through her.

Then, the pain was gone, and she felt herself falling. Chloe could do nothing, just fade into darkness, as she felt herself connect with the ground.

And then, blackness.

***

Rain.

That was the first thing she felt. Rain, drizzling lazily, as she began to regain consciousness. It seemed as if the storm had let up a bit. But there was no telling how long she'd been out.

Then, Chloe felt the hard cement beneath her, the wetness soaking into her back.

And after that, the splitting headache. It throbbed from her temples to her feet with such vigor that she found it hard to breathe. She had a feeling she had gotten a concussion during the fall. Moaning audibly, she opened her eyes, only to wince as the pain in her head was upgraded to an 8 on the Richter Scale.

"Oh God," she whispered painfully. What had happened?

They had been in the Torch when the lights had gone out. And they had...they.

*Clark!*

Chloe sat up with a start, trying to ignore the wave of dizziness that enveloped her with the movement. Frantically, she searched for her best friend, and gasped when she spotted him lying, prone, on the ground ten feet from where she had woken up. Through the darkness and the rain she could clearly see the scratches and bruises that adorned his handsome face.

*Oh God...*

She rose unsteadily, swaying a bit. After a few moments, she was able to stand upright without worrying about falling over. The rain and wetness was forgotten as she made her way to Clark, who hadn't stirred. With each slow step, her heart pumped faster with the fear for him. What if he was...?

"No," she muttered, swallowing down a whimper as she took another step and jarred her pounding head.

She couldn't think like that. He couldn't be dead. He was Clark.

She dropped to her knees as she reached his body, "Clark," she moaned plaintively, "please, wake up."

He didn't stir.

*Oh God Oh God Oh God....*

What was she supposed to do?

She put a hand on his chest and let out a sigh of relief as she felt it move up and down beneath her fingertips. He was breathing, at least.

"Clark?" she asked again, a little louder.

Her cry was mangled by a sob that escaped her throat, and Chloe began to cry. Her tears mingled with the moisture on her face, and she felt strangely relieved that one would not be able to tell that she had been crying. Of course, it didn't matter. Her best friend was lying beside her, unconscious. Crying and dignity took a backseat at the moment.

"Please wake up," she pleaded.

She wasn't ready to lose him. She couldn't.