A/N: Okay, so I admit it! While I do like the Chlex stories, I've always been more into the Chlark option. Why? Well, let's see. Maybe it's because of the historical story where he ends up with Lois and Chloe is the perfect foil for that. Maybe it's because I like Chloe's character a lot (although she's been a bit wishy washy in past weeks)… although the current Lois is starting to grow on me… and I identify with Chloe personally, so of course I want her and Clark to hook up:D

Chapter 12

Chloe ran into the room, her feet slapping very loudly on the tiles... but maybe that's just what it felt like. She ran directly to the stage with its curtains and ripped them aside. She thought she was going to faint with the scene revealed to her. Everything was as it was before except for one crucial thing. Clark was missing!

"What's going on?" she moaned, still afraid to make too much noise and be discovered. "Where's Clark? I wish we'd never come here!" Chloe bopped herself on the head with the heel of her hand. "Don't be stupid, Chloe. If we hadn't come here, we wouldn't have found Clark and he'd be trapped here… although he doesn't seem to be here at the moment. This is really odd. Considering how strong they thought he was, to have him contained only with four straps…"

She narrowed her eyes and looked at the room, desperately trying to discover the crucial element that she was obviously missing. Then she heard it… A soft sobbing coming from within the theater. She entered the room slowly, glancing around and trying to triangulate where the sound was coming from. The room was really bare. There weren't many places to hide. What if it was Jason? She moved toward the freezer, but the sound decreased so she knew it couldn't be him. Slowly she crept ever slowly towards the sound, playing a personal hot/cold game. When she was before the tank, she didn't know what to think. Should she run and interrupt Pete so he could back her up? She rebelled at the thought. If he wanted to do unspeakable things with Lana that was his business and she didn't want an up close and personal view of it.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Slowly, she mounted the ladder and reached down for the covering that had been thrown inside. With one quick clean jerk, it was tossed over the edge of the tank. "Clark!" she breathed.

He looked around in confusion and when his eyes lit on hers, he was up and hugging her tighter than anything she had ever experienced before.

"Clark, why are you still here? How did you escape?" The questions tumbled out of her mouth almost without conscious thought. As silence filled the room while she paused for breath, she demanded "Why aren't you answering me?"

He set her down and she looked at him carefully. He didn't seem to be physically hurt, but he was still wearing the muzzle. "Why haven't you taken it off?" Since he could only shake his head in response, she decided to take decisive action. "Kneel down so I can get at it." He did so obediently and she quickly had the clasps off. It was a very strange contraption with green clasps but what looked like lead between it and Clark's head.

He sighed with pleasure as she lifted it over his head. When she brought it down to look at it more closely, he moaned. "Please, Chloe. Throw it as far from here as you can…" She looked at him curiously, but did as he asked. He seemed to immediately get better which really peaked her curiosity.

"Clark, what's going on? Why does Lionel think you're an alien?"

He looked at her in horror, but she put on her stern face. She wasn't going to be put off this time. He sighed. "It's because I am."

"Excuse me?" she laughed, totally incredulous.

He paused for a moment looking straight ahead until he realized he was looking straight at Chloe's scantily clad breasts and leapt to his feet. "I… I'm not from around here. I came to Earth during the meteor shower."

Chloe sobered instantly. She was at eye level with his bare chest and she could barely stop herself from running her hands over the tempting sight. Then she realized what he'd just said. "You're serious."

"I am."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Well, my parents do, of course… And Pete knows. He found my spaceship by accident and I had to tell him." He looked thoroughly ashamed of himself, but there was something else glinting in his eye. He started moving while she started her protest.

"Why… Why…" She was cut off as Clark's lips descended on hers. She couldn't breathe. Was this really happening?When he lifted his head, all she could do was stare at him… But then she heard a voice from the corner and both she and Clark turned to look.

There was Martha, still in the modified Talon. She was reading from an enormous dictionary that dwarfed her petite frame. "Emotion. Agitation or disturbance of mind. Vehement or excited mental state." She looked up and it seemed that she was looking right at the two scantily clad teens. "It's also an irrational and powerful master… and from what Lana and Lois were viewing on the monitor, there seemed to be little doubt that Chloe was indeed its slave." As before, the room dimmed as if it hadn't been there at all.

"Was that my mom?" Clark asked, moving to get out of the tank.

Chloe grabbed his arm and made him stop. "I don't think she's really there. She's been popping up with pithy commentary for awhile now… but always in different places. It's like she's a projection or something." Discussing Martha's appearance drove any serious thought about the possibility Lana and Lois were watching her and Clark.

"But she looked so real."

"I know," Chloe nodded. "Totally freaked me out the first time I saw it."

Clark was silent, looking down at his feet… apparently. "Chloe, I have a question."

Chloe stared at him warily. "Okaaayyy…"

"Mom said you were a slave to your emotions. Is that just now or always?" He looked deeply in her eyes, trying to read the answer there.

"Right now I'm feeling very emotional…" she murmured.

A room lit up and Chloe could see Lana and Lois looking at a monitor, oblivious that Chloe could see them. She was shocked. How were they spying on her? Were they going to sound the alarm? Would Clark notice? Chloe wondered where Pete was and how Lana had gotten there so fast since she'd just seen her doing the nasty with Pete. "Tell us about it, Chloe!" And they giggled, which totally set Chloe's teeth on edge.

"I've been feelin' shut in… Wouldn't sin… I'd only ever kissed before…" She was looking anywhere but at Clark. She glanced up at the room. She could clearly hear their whispering. And here she was… about to sing her feelings? Oh, this could only mean bad things for her and her self-esteem!

"You mean she…?" Lana asked incredulously.

Lois snorted. "As if!" Chloe gasped. Lois had said she'd never tell!

"I know there's heavy betting on what I've been getting. I've always gone towards trouble and news writing." The music was speeding up and Chloe knew that this was her chance to act out her fantasies and still be able to explain it away later. Suddenly it didn't matter to her that they had an audience. This is what she'd always dreamed of. She put her hands on his chest and moved as close as she could. "Now all I want to know is how far you'll go? I've seen your bod and I want more!"

"More, more, more!" Lana and Lois moaned. Chloe could hardly blame them. Clark was eye candy at any time, but his current outfit…

She started smiling. She knew what she wanted and if Clark even felt half the way she did, something was going to happen. "You've put up some resistance. I want to stay the distance." She smiled. "I've a news itch to scratch… I need assistance." She dropped her hands and started pacing about the tank, swishing her hips with all her might. It was always good to have Clark in a state of confusion. Then he wasn't so likely to put up walls.

"Help-a help-a help-a help me. You really are perty! Dupe me, loop me, news scoop me. Boy of mystery."

She stopped at the opposite end of the tank and noticed that Clark was looking at her with heat in his eyes. "But if anything grows while I pose, I'll hit you up and shake you down."

"Down, down down." Chloe could tell that the two girls were enthralled.

She laughed in delight. "And that's just one small fraction of the news attraction. I need protecting hands." Clark rushed to her side and started caressing her. She wished she could moan, but the song had her in its grip now. "Oh, and I crave action. Touch-a touch-a touch-a, touch me. I wish you'd be flirty. Thrill me, chill me, fulfill me. Boy of mystery." Clark's lips descended on hers again, but she could hear the song continuing in the room above them.

Lana giggles and sings "Touch-a touch-a touch-a, touch me."

"I wish he'd be dirty." Lois gritted.

"Thrill me, chill me, fulfill me," Lana trilled.

Lois rolled her eyes. Lana's chirpy attitude was enough to make her nauseous. "Boy of mystery."

Chloe broke the kiss, but Clark continued to kiss along her collarbone. "Oh, touch-a touch-a touch-a touch me. I wish you'd be flirty. Thrill me chill me, fulfill me, boy of mystery."

Clark moaned in her ear, "Boy of mystery."

Chloe was so happy. This is just what she wanted. Clark had always been a fantasy and it looked like she might finally get her way. Each of their bizarre little party repeated "Boy of mystery" until Clark ended it with a final repeat and they tumbled to the floor of the tank.

Chloe looked up into his eyes. She had to know… " Clark, are you sure?"

"I didn't know just how much I wanted this, Chloe," Clark moaned, kissing her again. And with his body pressed against hers, there was little doubt that he physically meant every word.

Just before Clark flipped the tank cover over them, she gasped as he hit a very sensitive spot and finished with "Boy of mystery!" And she didn't care what happened from this moment on. She was with Clark and he showed every inclination of wanting her to be there. She couldn't be happier.

A/N: So I tried to keep it clean so I could keep my rating, but I felt it needed a little blow-by-blow… The pun wasn't really intended! ;D

SnowBunny3: Are you serious? That's a fantastic coincidence! I'm glad to have made your birthday just that much happier. :D

MarkMark261: The cut scene was pretty boring. It was Brad sitting on the bed singing his song while Frank was apparently sleeping (or smoking) in the bed. It would cut to distraught pics of Janet, but it really didn't push forward the plot. It was more like it was telling everyone that Brad expected her to totally forgive him for anything he pulled, including sleeping with another man. But then we all know that Brad wasn't really the brains of the outfit!

You know, that was very good of you to try and keep the spoilers out. -sigh- I already told my friend today that I must have my hair pulled back too tightly. I just didn't think it was right to have Pete having any kind of carnal relations with the older LL. -shudder-

And I'm glad that you're enjoying it more now… or at least you hopefully are! ;D