Title: Wish

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Faint Chloe/Lex

Notes: Sorry you guys! I am so sorry I haven't updated, I'll admit my faith in this fic has dwindled, but I thank those who are still reading hugs Especially Knight/m & AuroraKnight! This fic is dedicated to them, for without them, I would have left a long time ago. Thank you too to all who reviewed, hope you enjoy this chapter, and don't be shy to tell me what's wrong. Just not too harsh okis? I know Lex is beyond OOC so sorries about that hugs Thanks again!

Disclaimer: Nope don't own Smallville.

Author: Silent Train Conductor

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Chapter 8

Lex peered at Clark, wondering briefly if he was pulling his leg. This was the first sign of humanity he had seen in Kal. Or was it another sarcastic quip? Kalin seemed to be staring off into space, the last comment he made making him think.

"They don't" he repeated softly. "They have hope of a better life, they feel that things can get better…well most do…" Lex saw a flicker of disgust pass through Kal's eyes.

"Lana?" Kal didn't look surprised at Lex's insight, and he nodded slowly.

"I have saved her many times from herself, through my pain to get to her. She wants to quit. She has a good life" Kal stressed, almost trying to reassure himself. "She has people around her, who care for her, love her. Want to help her, but she continues, continues to…" Kal made a slicing motion on his wrists and shook his head angrily.

"It's people like Lana that make me wonder if the race is worth it. Though…I cannot truly hate Lana I suppose…that would make me a real hypocrite wouldn't it?" Lex's mind was still reeling at the thought of Lana hurting herself like that, her being so strong in the other world; he almost didn't grasp the meaning that Clark had placed in front of him.

"You? Why?" Surprised at Lex's outburst, Kal smiled gently and continued in a soft voice.

"I'm sure we all have at one point….I read somewhere once, that "Only in death, could I find my true happiness". I often wonder if that's true…" Lex hated listening to this, for once he was happy, but two people he considered as friends were suffering. Why? Why must things always go wrong?

"Dammit Clark, I'm sorry…" Kal didn't miss the change in his name, but didn't press it. He watched Lex with mixed feelings, one side of him wanted to help him…comfort him; the other side felt fear and didn't trust him, knowing that he had to keep a sort of distance from him. It was odd, such conflict not being felt before. Kal's thoughts flashed towards memories of his other life for a brief second, and saw the man before him as a friend.

"Nothing to be sorry about Lex. My actions are my decisions, I could be different, if I truly wanted to, I suppose."

"Why aren't you?" Lex cried in desperation. "Why aren't you happy?" Kal could hear the anger in Lex's voice, as well as the guilt. This Lex always seemed to have guilt, hidden but still there. Kal shrugged, trying to make it seem unimportant.

"Sometimes…most of the time, I feel I have no right to be here. I never go through with it, because I know that it would be weak, and it would be stupid…people still need me."

"I must admit, I am still shocked…to think Lana…and you…"

"Lana began after her boyfriend left for the army…he was her only support, her anchor. After he left and got himself killed…well, Lana couldn't take it anymore. Too many people that she has loved have left her."

"So you don't hate her." Simple. Anything to grasp on to the past he once lived, maybe here with Lex's help…Lana and Clark could find each other…make this world perfect.

"No, as I said before. I could never hate her. Though I'm sure Chloe seems to think I do, as does the rest of the school."

"You know what Chloe told me? That you never talk, to anyone. All anyone ever hears from you is mumbles and grunts. Yet right now, you're babbling away." Lex smirked and looked Clark straight into his eyes. "Why?" Kal echoed Lex's smirk and slowly stood up, nodding towards the door.

"Well, Lex, since I found out that you're not from around…here. I see you as my escape from Smallville…maybe my dreams of becoming Clark Kent, coming true? Though, a great part of me does not trust you, but I tend to ignore that part. My days looking for someone to trust long gone."

Lex's mind agreed with Kal's statement, that was the main difference that Lex noted between Kal and Clark. Clark trusted everybody, Kal didn't trust anybody. As much as he loved Clark, it would do him well to become more like Kal…

"How do you know I'm not from around here? How can you tell?"

"I feel it more than anything, the other Lex always seemed to be my foil, suddenly that feeling is gone. You are the replacement, I feel more like you…than against you." Kal stopped, his face showing his thoughtfulness and confusion. "Perhaps, you can explain it better? Where have you come from?"

"Does it really matter Kal? I can't get you out of this life…no matter how much I want to, I don't even know how I got here…all I remember is some 10 year old asking me what I would wish for…"

"And you wished for this?" Kal let out a disbelieving chuckle. "This life? It's not as good as it seems…there are those who have been hurt by the meteor shower that occurred in this life…"

"The shower happened in my Smallville too…" Lex almost snickered at how he added "my", it may as well be his, or maybe it's always been Clark's? Then Lex noticed a flash of anger and mistrust flicker in Kal's eyes.

"So there is a Clark Kent. There is someone like him…in your world." Kal was lost in thought. Lex quickly pieced that Clark had something to do with the meteor shower, a fact he had always thought to have known. Maybe now, Kal was the key…maybe now Kal would tell him what he has always wanted to know.

"Kal, what do you mean?" Kal looked up sharply, his eyes blazing and full of accusation, and Lex knew that there would be no getting through to him. Clark's walls were up, Kal's stronger and more protected.

"I was Clark…I thought it was all a dream, a hope. I see now that it was a person I was, and never will be again." Kal shook his head angrily, "Why would you take what I had away? What did I do to you?" Lex opened his mouth, to try to explain that those were never his intentions. Puzzlement wrapped around Lex, puzzlement on how quickly Kal's moods changed. What had he said?

"I didn't do it to hurt you Cla—Kal. I did it for me, I needed…" Just at that moment the kitchen door opened and Martha came in back first.

"Got some milk…Oh hello Kal, didn't know you were still here…" Kal looked back and forth from Lex and Martha, hurt echoing past his eyes.

"It's all right, I was just leaving. Thank you for the cookies…" Kal nodded and weaved past Martha through the door. Lex just stood there watching Martha, at her questioning glance, he gave a small shrug. Then looked out the window, when had things gone so downhill?

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Reviewer Thanks:

Knight/m: Thank you, for everything. I don't know how to thank you enough, thank you for sticking by this story, and therefore sticking by e hugs You guys are a much a part of this story as I am. Thank you )

Kortbone: Thank you, I'm sorry it took so long. I hope it's still a good read hug

Ming1214: Thank you! Sorry for the long time to update, and the short update, but I'm glad you were enjoying. I'll try to plug in some more Chloe/Lex in the next chappy.

AuroraKnight: Thank you for being here for this story from the beginning, and I hope you still are. Thank you so much HUG