Richard sat in the waiting room staring at the clock. He just watched it, getting some mental jolt and taking notice when the second hand moved across the minute hand. It wasn't much, but it occupied him... he didn't really know why he was still here. His instructor had gone home, the hospital staff had told him that he could go home too. But he didn't want to go home. He wanted to stay here, keep updated on this "Sean"'s recovery. Richard had found the perfect spot to die in piece but this boy had ruined it. Well, not ruined it... altered his plans. Richard found himself waiting for him to revive so they could talk.

Maybe Sean was down there for a reason... maybe god didn't want him to commit suicide. But what point was there in a month of pain-filled life? There was nothing. Nothing. Richard supposed that's why he had to talk to this boy. Why hadn't they died? How did Sean survive frozen for so long, how had Richard had the strength to call the boat as he somehow found the strength to surface? Why did his instructor risk to much by getting students to drag the ice block up? At the time all that was on anybody's mind was finding a name for the pour lost soul, give some sort of condolence to family that were still missing him. But now it was so much more.

The family would be here soon. Sean had been identified, but half of his body was still in ice... his body was frozen, too, the beginnings of experimental reanimation just beginning. The doctors didn't know if Sean would survive, or be anything more than a vegetable, or be able to walk and talk and do everything else normal humans took for granted. It was funny how the only ones who didn't take things for granted were the ones who didn't have them. Life, for instance. Richard no longer had that in any form he would find acceptable.

Richard's attention was diverted from the truly riveting clock as someone new entered the medical center. A woman. Blonde. Short hair... not his type. Richard liked long brunettes. Again, Richard noted, life for granted. In a month he wouldn't be able to chose one way or the other. A hair colour and length doesn't matter in the end. Nothing really does. The entire point of living was to just live. Why hadn't he figured this out when he was at an age he could build his life around it? Perhaps three? Richard watched the girl go up the front desk, asking for Sean's room. Getting a negative response. Explaining that she's a reporter. Getting a negative response. Explaining that she needs to see Sean. Getting a negative response. Asking for family members. Getting a negative response. Displaying a complete drive for a story she obviously doesn't want to touch and is thus doing it for somebody else's bidding and not her own proving her to be a weak-willed individual who doesn't know what she wants in life. Well, Richard didn't hear her say that with words, but he could read subtext in her voice. She clearly had others things on her mind... perhaps this Sean was important to her? Or maybe a troubled relationship with a boy? Girl? Parents? Teachers? Did she have a drug problem? Was she depressed? Bipolar?

Stop it, he thought. He would not allow himself to revert back to his old mental patterns. Dr. Weisenburg had cured him of such obsessive behavior. Richard knew that it was just an escape from reality his mind was creating, something pointless that would achieve no end. He couldn't waste his time on such things. He went back to watching the clock for moments when the hands met...

Chloe saw the kid staring at her. Why was he staring at her? Whispering to himself? Chloe sighed in some relief as the figure turned to stare at the clock, oddly enough. Psychotic patient? Mentally challenged? Chloe let her eyes fall over his body... dressed darkly at the moment, black jean pants with a black shirt and black jean overjacket. Hell, he even had black hair. Dyed. He had no apparent guardian around so he wasn't very mentally challenged... she seemed to remember him around the school. Perhaps he was a eleventh grade student.

Sullivan couldn't get in to see Sean and his family wasn't arriving for another hour or so. However, she was in no frame of mind to simply give up and go back to school. She had a chance to meet Sean again... figure out exactly why he went psychotic, given he wasn't currently. Chloe had become a meteor freak, but she hadn't gone psychotic. But she did become different. If she had powers for long enough would she have become psychotic? If so, was it because of the meteors or because of a natural fault in human beings?

Despite the question she faced she sat down, keeping a good four seat between her and the kid in black. Why was he staring at the clock? What was so special about it? Chloe turned her mental attentions to the clock as well, hoping to find what was so fascinating about it to the boy. Nothing?

"Hey."

Chloe blinked, snapping her head away from the clock to look at the boy in black. His attentions had turned from the clock to her, giving a warm inviting smile. "Hey," responded Chloe, deciding to keep things as simple as he'd started. She looked away from him and to the window, thinking that was to be the extent of their conversation. After all, they'd probably passed each other a million times in the hallways and never spoken. What made a waiting room so much different? Well, for one thing, she thought, there's nothing else to do.

He moved up two seats so that there was only one separating them both, holding out a hand for her. "My name's Richard."

Several hours later Clark sat in Lex's office, adjusting himself ever-so-slightly to be more comfortable in the large leather chair... not that it was possible to be uncomfortable in the first place, though. Lex was very accommodating. "So, Lex, what's this all about?" the boy asked, somewhat nervously... had Lionel said something to Lex in Clark's body? Had he attempted to gain advantage over Lex?

Lex sat behind his desk, leaning back in his chair and putting his arm lazily on his desk. The perfect pose that he'd acquired, no doubt, from his father... it seemed strong and opposing while relaxed, striking fear into any businessman with the possibility of how strong and opposing the man would seem if he weren't in friendly conversation. He paused, looking up to one of his paintings as he spoke, "Clark, I know something happened to you. Involving my father. I'm not going to ask for any special explanation since you quite obviously won't give it. I'm not going to say what happened, but I want to know what else has been going on in your life. Anything I can help you fix."

Clark blinked. Then blinked again after a pause... okay, Lex was being rather straight-up with him. Clark smiled lightly and shook his head. "No Lex, everything is fine. Nothing I can't fix." he said, shifting his fingers on the couch unknowingly.

Lex would pick up on that, of course. "Oh, come now Clark. We both know that my father didn't leave your life untouched." he said. "I know something's bothering you. I've also seen that look on your face... parents? Lana?"

Clark sighed and looked to the side. "My parents are fine. Lana's... I don't know what's going on. It's Chloe." he said. Clark looked back to Lex, his true best friend sitting behind the desk, listening. He knew that the man couldn't be trusted with big things like his secrets. But personal problems? There was really nobody else Clark could talk to. Lex obviously knew what had happened to some extent... perhaps Clark did pay him a visit when Lionel was in his head instead. "Lionel said or did something, now Chloe hates me..."

"Why don't you tell her the truth?"

Clark's eyes widened, a certain ironic feeling entering his head. Lex really had no idea of how much that question had already been asked in his head. "Do you really think that she would believe me?"

"Good point. But she's your friend, Clark. She is the editor of the Torch. You've told me enough about her to know that she's been dealing with and trying to prove the existence of the paranormal in Smallville for years. Do you really think that she wouldn't believe that a switch happened? What other explanation could there be for you acting so out of character?"

Clark sighed, propping his head up on a hand. Perhaps he should tell Chloe everything... tell her why he couldn't have a relationship with her, tell her the truth about everything. Lex was right: she wouldn't freak out! Surprised, yes, but she'd get over it. Clark could stop lying to her and be who he really was. Pete wasn't here anymore, he needed somebody besides his parents to confide in! He needed to stop relying on his parents, who wouldn't always be with him, and try and rely on someone who could possibly be there with him wherever he went.

"Clark?"

Clark snapped out his thoughts, looking to Lex. "She... wouldn't believe me. It would only make things worse. I need to treat this like a normal problem. I'm sure... with enough work I can get her back."

Lex pushed back his chair, standing up. He smiled. "Clark, hard work is admirable. But sometimes you need to take risks to overcome obstacles. You'll never make it to where you want in life if you aren't willing to deal with problems in unconventional or risky ways. If you'll excuse me, Clark, I have some important people from Metropolis coming here for negotiations."

Clark sat up, smiling weakly and nodding. "I know, Lex. I'll think about it. Goodbye."