CHAPTER 4
Clark slept late the morning after the thunderstorm. Always up by 7:00 am, he had not been able to rise and shine. His shoulder, which his dad had put back into place, much to his son's agony, kept Clark awake for much of the night anyway.
And there was Chloe. Thoughts of her had kept his mind too full.
She had refused the Kents' help when they had arrived. Instead, she had driven home herself, despite Clark's protests. He had been worried that she wouldn't make it home.
But she had told him that she would. And then, as a parting shot, she had said that it didn't really matter what happened to her, that she had no reason to worry, and neither did Clark.
The ride home had gone in silence. Clark hadn't really cared to talk about what happened, and his parents knew better than to ask. Even his father hadn't said a word.
Now, as Clark lay in his bed, barely able to move, he could only think of what Chloe was doing, if she was thinking of him. Or was she in denial about what had happened?
"Clark?" his mother's voice floated up from the kitchen, full of hopeful caution, "do you want some breakfast?"
Breakfast?
It sounded inviting, but he was so sore..., "Uh...I'm not hungry, mom." Clark called in return, his voice strained.
There was no answer, and Clark rolled his eyes.
*3..2...1*
"Are you sure?"
And his mom was standing there in his doorway, her face a picture of motherly concern.
Clark tried to smile, but could only stretch his mouth in a thin line, "I can't really move, mom."
"Oh," she took a few steps toward him, "alright. Well, I'll bring it up to you."
Clark only nodded as he turned his head to gaze out the window. His dad was probably outside getting started on the daily chores. No doubt wishing that Clark was with him.
But the way things were going, Clark wouldn't be able to walk naturally for a few days.
*Stupid lightning*
Again, his thoughts turned to Chloe.
*****
Chloe had been sitting on her bed for the last hour. Still in her pajamas, she hadn't moved from the spot she had chosen when she had woken up. She felt as if she would break something if she even stood up.
Her alarm clock was a reminder of her newfound strength. It lay in fuzzy pink pieces around her room from when she had brought her hand down to turn off the alarm. She had been planning on rising early to get some things done at the Torch, but she felt that recent events took top priority for the day.
Or week. Or a month, however long it took for her to figure out how to give Clark his powers back.
Clark. That name just sent a wave of nausea through her. As much as she wished it were, last night had not been a dream. It had been all too real. And she didn't know if she could ever face Clark again. Then again, she supposed she would have to see him. His powers were a part of him. Or had been.
Slowly, Chloe stood up and headed to her closet to search for an outfit to wear. Despite what her gut was telling her, she needed to do something. She grabbed for a black tank top, then groaned when she inadvertently tore it in half.
"Oh God." she felt as if she was about to have a breakdown. She couldn't touch anything without breaking or tearing it.
*How did Clark ever learn to deal with this?*
Chloe attempted to take another shirt from the closet, but all she came back with was a broken hanger and two jagged pieces of a sky-blue baby tee, "Dammit!"
Furious with herself, she simply sat on the floor of her room and put her face in her hands. Bone-wracking sobs soon followed, and it was all Chloe could do to stay upright as she cried. The tears were witness to the emotional whirl-pool she had been thrown into the night before, and she had no idea if she would ever be able to figure out where she belonged in the scheme of things with such powers. Would she have to become what Clark had been? The hero?
She didn't know if she would ever be able to handle such responsibilities.
*****
"You mean to tell me that she has everything?" Pete asked Clark disbelievingly as he helped his formerly powerful friend to a sitting position.
Clark nodded, "Yeah," he grimaced painfully.
Pete couldn't believe it. Chloe? His Chloe? With superpowers? "How did she take it?"
"Not well, to put it mildly," Clark sighed, "she would barely talk to me, and I don't think she'll want to see me for awhile."
Pete had a feeling that Chloe felt the harsh reality of betrayal from not only Clark, but himself. They had both held the secret from her, and so they both had to handle the consequences. His and Chloe's friendship had taken a hard hit, and it wouldn't recover easily.
"Ah, man." Pete could only shake his head.
Poor Chloe.
"And the worst part is, I can't help but be worried that she won't be able to handle the...responsibilities."
Pete frowned, "You mean the hero stuff." Or heroine stuff. He supposed that a few grammatical adjustments would have to be made now.
"Yeah," he shifted a bit, "I mean, now that she's got the powers, does that mean she'll be the rescuer?"
"And you the rescuee." Pete added. That scared him to think that such responsibilities had been put onto Chloe's narrow shoulders.
Clark nodded, "Am I wrong to think that?"
Pete shook his head, "I don't think so, but Chloe's adjustment to what happened has to be top priority right now," he paused as an image of Clark, lying prone next to a glowing green meteor rock, entered his mind, "and she has to know the downside."
"Yeah."
Pete cocked his head toward the phone that was on Clark's bedside table, "I vote we get her over here for a long talk."
He watched as Clark's eyes quickly widened, and Pete thought he caught a hint of anxiety, "I don't know."
Sometimes, Pete found Clark so unbelievingly emotionally passive that he couldn't help but think that he had some female alien genes, and he told his friend so. Clark only responded with a frown, but the point had obviously gotten across. It had been settled.
"Do you want to call her, or should I?" Pete asked.
*****
Three hours later, after a tearful phone call and several more attempts to get dressed, Chloe found herself standing on the front porch of the Kent household. Her finger stayed poised over the doorbell as she debated on whether to turn around and go back home. She had already yelled and screamed at both Pete and Clark enough for one day over the telephone. Chloe didn't know if she had enough strength in her to face them.
Just as she turned away towards her car, the door opened to reveal a very stiff Clark. Behind him stood Pete, his kind features twisted into complete concern. They had obviously been expecting her.
"Hey Chloe," Clark tried weakly as he rubbed his shoulder absentmindedly.
She didn't answer his greeting. Instead, she turned away from him and dropped her things onto the floor. Chloe wasn't quite ready to acknowledge them as friends just yet. She had been betrayed, after all.
"Okay," Pete muttered as he took a step toward her.
Automatically, she backed away from his gesture, "Don't touch me." she attempted to sound firm, but her sentence only came out as a plea. She didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid she would hurt them if she made contact with either of her friends. Her steering wheel had several huge dents in it from the drive. There was no way to tell what she could do to them if she touched them.
Not that it would be such a bad thing after what had happened.
Immediately, Chloe scolded herself for her thought. She was much stronger now, and with Clark's powers she had realized that she had responsibilities that extended far beyond that of editor of the Torch. Even if she didn't ask for the job. It was something that had been put upon her.
She watched as a flash of pain was seen on Pete's face, and Chloe immediately felt guilty for what she had said. Nervously, she swallowed, "Sorry," she mumbled as she took her jacket off, "um, I just want you both to know that I came here so you could show me how to control myself. There will be no small talk, and no attempts at forgiveness."
"But-," Clark tried.
"Because, honestly, I don't think you deserve it just yet." she finished.
Chloe's words hit home. Both Clark and Pete looked down, afraid to meet her eyes.
The silence stretched for what seemed like eternity before Chloe shifted her weight anxiously, "Where do we start?"
"Where do you want to start?" Clark asked, his eyes two pools of uncertainty about where he stood with her.
She thought a moment. The speed, maybe. Or the x-ray vision..., "How about you tell me how to touch what I want without destroying it?"
Clark nodded, "Fair enough."
Chloe led the way to the barn, where Clark's Fortress of Solitude was. Chloe had a feeling that he had discovered many of his powers and learned to control them in that hideaway.
When they were standing in the loft, Clark grabbed a CD from a small table, "Okay. Just concentrate on being as gentle as possible. Don't even think about holding it."
"Okay," Chloe held her hand out, and he placed the disc in her outstretched hand. When it didn't break, she couldn't help but grin proudly.
Clark nodded, and she saw him smile a little out of the corner of her eye, "Good. Now, hold it with your other hand."
She did as he told, but the case cracked into several pieces at the pressure she unconsciously exerted. Frustrated, she dropped the destroyed disc and shrugged apologetically, "Guess it wasn't as easy as you thought it would be."
"It's okay," Clark told her as he picked up another CD, "I grew up with it, so I was used to it. You've just got to learn."
"You realize that you're not gonna have a collection left before I learn, don't you?" Chloe asked miserably. She hated this. She hated having to relearn how to hold and touch things. It was like she was three again.
"Try again," Clark encouraged.
Sighing heavily, she opened her hand out again. She was amazed at how much strength she contained in her long, lithe fingers. It was a strange feeling. The CD was put onto her palm again, and Chloe held it there a few moments. With a small nod from Clark, she concentrated on the small, flat object as she grabbed it gently with her left hand. This time, the plastic case didn't break, and she looked up at Clark to see his reaction.
He was smiling.
*****
Thirty minutes later, the three were standing in one of the many pastures the Kents owned. After a few more tries with several different objects, Chloe had finally gotten the hang of her strength.
Now would come the hard part.
As Clark watched Chloe pace furiously in front of them, the unease radiating from her in waves, he couldn't help but wonder if she would ever be herself again. Would they be able to switch back?
If not, Clark was afraid that the Chloe they knew would be lost for good. Usually so outgoing and bubbly, her replacement was nothing but bitter and cold toward Pete and himself.
Then again, how could Clark blame her?
"Okay, so what now?" she asked, startling Clark from his reverie.
He looked at Pete, who just shrugged, "Uh, I guess I can teach you how to run."
She nodded, "Okay."
Clark tried to smile, but he only received an expectant stare in return, "Uh, this is one of the easiest things to learn. It's just like running. Just concentrate on moving your feet as fast as you want, and you'll go."
Chloe frowned as she looked toward the distance, "When will I know to stop?"
"It'll be just like your walking. You'll be able to see where you're going."
"Just like that, huh?" she asked skeptically.
All Clark could do was nod. That was all there was to it, "Yeah."
Chloe turned away from them and shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun. Clark didn't say anything. He didn't dare to.
Finally, after what seemed like years, Chloe took off at a slow jog, as if testing herself. Clark glanced at Pete, who's eyes were fixed on her. It was when they were both beginning to wonder if she would attempt to go any faster when Chloe's figure burst from their vision, a blur of blonde and pink. She disappeared over the horizon, and Clark watched until he couldn't see her anymore.
"Wow," Pete breathed beside him.
Clark could only nod. To see her do something he'd done for years was strange, and Clark couldn't help but wonder if he looked that amazing when he ran that fast.
Then, in a flash, Chloe was standing in front of them, grinning from ear to ear and her hair wild, "That was awesome," she told them as she tried to tame her mane.
Clark noticed that she hadn't even broken a sweat, "See? Easy."
"Yeah," she turned toward him, but her smile disappeared as soon as her eyes met his, "so, anything else?"
Clark couldn't help but raise an eyebrow quizzically at his petite friend, "There's a lot more ground to cover."
"Well, I'm ready." she answered shortly, emphasizing that she wasn't afraid anymore.
Still, despite her words, Clark could see the fear in Chloe's blue eyes. It was subtle, and easily hidden, but she couldn't hide it from her best friends.
Clark sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day, "Okay." his shoulder pulled the wrong way, and he clenched his teeth. What he wouldn't give to have his powers back...
But he was resolved to his fate. Clark knew that he may never be himself again, but he didn't know if he felt more remorse over the fact that Chloe had received the responsibilities that came with his powers or that she knew who he was now. He supposed it was a mixture of both that left him feeling hollow and guilty.
The sad thing was, Chloe would never trust him or Pete again, even though her two best friends would be who she needed in the weeks and months to come.
Clark knew that she may have to face everything alone.