Many thanks to all those who have reviewed: it's nice to know someone likes this kind of twisted story. The Chloe/Clark relationship part won't develop for another chapter or two, but it will be there. And if you've not figured out who Chloe's mother was yet, then shame on you…

Calling of the blood
Part 2: The Truth Hurts

"Ok, I guess you deserve to know the truth: Jenny, your mother, was a Colonel in British Military Intelligence when I first met her in Metropolis. She'd come over from London to try and get over something that had happened, something she never talked about, but it troubled her" Gabe Sullivan looked into space as he explained what he could, "Neither of us really expected things to go as far as they did: your mother was too much of a free spirit to contemplate something like marriage, but love changes things." He laughed, "In the end, she was the one who proposed to me: I guess she wanted something approaching a normal life."

"You never told me that." Chloe blinked.

"Yeah, I know. When Jenny had to leave we decided it was best if you didn't know the truth: your mother was a unique woman, in more ways than one, and there were people who would have use you against her. I don't know the real words to describe what she was like; you'll probably have to ask Elijah about it."

"What do you mean?"

"Your mother could do things that defied explanation, even by the standards of this town. Yeah, I know about the wired stuff that happens: I learnt a lot from your mother, but I hoped that I could keep you from being effected by it."

"Excuse me." Dr Spica appeared at the door, "I need to run a few more tests now Chloe's awake."

"Ok." Mr Sullivan stood, "I'll go find Elijah: he can explain things better."


"Clark, Pete, Lex." Gabe Sullivan's eyes narrowed slightly at the last name, "Chloe's going to be ok, and the doctor says you can go and see her soon, but only one at a time."

"I think she'd prefer to see you two." Lex nodded to Clark and Pete, "Give her my best, and tell her I'll pop by later." He turned and walked away, defusing the situation.

"What did the doctor say?" Clark asked, impatient to hear about his friend.

"Chloe was lucky: the lightning did very little damage." Mr Sullivan smiled slightly, "She's a tough kid, a lot like her mother."


"You have the information I asked for?" Lionel Luther asked the man standing before him.

"It's all here." A heavy folder was dropped on the businessman's desk, "Everything we could find in Henry Bendix's office after the fire, and some more you uncovered ourselves."

"Yes, it was a shame about that: Henry was a good friend." Luther picked up the folder and looked at the cover, "United Nations Crisis Intervention Team? What has this to do with Chloe Sullivan?"

"Not Miss Sullivan: her mother."

"Her mother?" Luther opened the folder and looked at the first page, "Colonel Jennifer Sparks, British Space Group?"

"Not some you would have wanted to mess with: she could be most, unpleasant, at times. Although I don't think Bendix knew about their relationship: he would have used her to control Colonel Sparks if he had."

"Thank you Mr Santini: your help will not be forgotten, and additional funds your people need will be made available to you."


"How do you feel Miss Sullivan?" Dr Spica asked as she checked the young woman's chart.

"Surprisingly good, considering what happened." Chloe sounded surprised, "In fact, I've never felt so good."

"Your father told you about your mother?"

"He said something, but he couldn't explain it. Did you know her?"

"I worked with Jenny for about a year before she died."

"She died?"

"I'm afraid so: almost for years ago. If it's any consolation, she died saving a lot of people. Then again, there was never any doubt that Jenny Sparks would go out with a bang."

"Jenny Sparks? My mother was Jenny Sparks?"

"Yes. I thought your father explained…"

"No, he never said her name was Sparks, but I've heard it before." Chloe looked at the doctor, "Have we met before?"

"I don't think so: I've only ever been to Smallville once before, and then I was only passing through with a friend."

"I think I saw you: you mention my mothers name and what you said intrigued me, so I tried to find out what I could about her."

"I doubt you found much: Jenny was very good at covering her tracks." Dr Spica glanced out the window to make sure no one was about, "I inherited a few things from her will; mainly her diary's. But there was one thing that came with a note saying I'd know who to give it to when I met them: I think she meant you." She pulled a small box form her pocket; "I had it curried here from New York when I found out who you were."

"What is it?" Chloe opened the box to find a cross shaped medal on a red ribbon.

"It's your mothers Victoria Cross: she was awarded it a long time ago…"

"A story for another time." Elijah Snow appeared in the doorway, "If you could go over those test results from early for me please Angie."

"Of course." Dr Spica nodded, "I'll see you later, Chloe."

"An intelligent and pleasant woman, but as times as subtle as a brick through the window." Snow sat down, "Your father tells me you want to know about your mother."

"Yeah: there seems to be a lot about her I don't know." Chloe held up the Victoria Cross, "Like how she got this."

"Jenny was awarded that in 1945 for her work with the Special Operations Exertive, the forerunner of the modern MI6."

"1945? How is that even possible?"

"Jenny Sparks was born in London on January 1st, 1900, just like several other unusual individuals, myself included. She stopped aging sometime around 1920. She died at the stroke of midnight, December 31st, 1999: exactly 100-years later."

"But that would mean you're…"

"103-years old. Yes, I know: there is a very complicated theory to explain it, but I won't confuse you with it now. Jenny Sparks spent her entire life running hell-for-leather from one end of the last century to the other. She had more of an effect on the world than anyone can truly understand. She was, as one man so eloquently put it, the Spirit of the 20th Century, a hundred years made flesh."

"You make it sound like she was some kind of super hero!"

"Jenny would say that she saved the world, too bloody often: she did what she did because on one else could or would. She was, without a doubt, the best human being I have ever met."

"How did you meet her?"

"Now there IS a story: I was at a party in London, back in 1939…


"Fascinating." Lionel Luther put the file Santini had given him down after reading it for the second time. He sat in contemplation for a moment, then picked up his office phone and dialled a number from memory.

"Leather." A voice at the over end answered after a few rings.

"Hello William, it's Lionel: I have some information that Randall may find interesting…"

To Be Continued…