"Clark!" I gaped at him. I just couldn't help myself. "What did they do to you back there? Fry your brain?" I noted the gunman watching our argument and decided to quickly pick up the weapon I had dropped moments earlier.

Clark ignored my move and grabbed my arm, guiding me to the mouth of the cave so that we had privacy. I slipped a little on empty bullet casings littering the floor, and he steadied me as I teetered. Then, he looked into my eyes with such conviction I stopped my muttering and finally listened to what he had to say.

"Chloe, I'm not going back to give myself up. I'm going back to save Lois and the others they still have from the explosion. If we wait, they'll be killed and the facility will be destroyed. Whoever is behind this won't leave evidence behind if we aren't captured." He stood before me, bare-chested, covered in dirt and dried blood, but I knew he had never been more serious.

"You're still hurt," I pointed out. "You might be healing, but not as fast as you should. I should come with you!"

He let his large, farmboy hand run down my cheek and caressed it softly. "You know I can't let you go back there. It's too much of a risk. I have some of my speed back to dodge bullets. You don't." He smiled wanly knowing I would protest. And when I did, his hand moved to my lips and he caringly pressed his finger down on them to silence me. "No, Chloe. I need you to stay here and try and call for help. That guy needs an ambulance."

"You want me to save his butt? After what he did?" I asked incredulously. At Clark's expression, I quietened down. I should have known he'd never willingly harm a living thing. I fumbled in my purse and wafted my cell phone in front of him. "See, I haven't been able to get a signal on this thing since we arrived here in the boonies. Mr. Bad Guy is all out of luck and so are we. Otherwise, I'd have tried to call for help before."

Clark sighed. "Well just stay with him until I can get back with Lois. I mean it, Chloe…" He waited, watching me for signs of rebellion, and when none came he jogged from the cave mouth back into the night.

I waited, hearing his gentle footfalls on the stones outside, and when there was no sound left to hear I followed.

It wasn't that I wanted to defy Clark, but I had to. How could I sit in a musty, dark cavern with a killer when I could be backing up the man I had come here for? I shuddered as I glanced around in the blackness of the wilderness. Could I even find my way back to White Summit? For Clark it was easy, and speed was indeed his ally, but I only had my senses to rely on, and right now I wasn't feeling confident.

I spotted a few landmarks I'd seen on our journey and decided to try using them to guide me back the way we had come. I hoped that the killers wouldn't think us stupid enough to return to the lab, and therefore wouldn't be expecting us to backtrack. I had the Berretta, of course, but I wasn't a cold, hard killer like the thugs who would most likely be pursuing us. You got the guy in the cave, Sullivan. Give yourself some credit!

I wasn't looking for credit, though, I was looking for Clark. He'd no doubt already be back at the facility, but what would he find there?

It didn't take as long to reach White Summit as I had expected. Maybe I had been so scared running from the place that I hadn't really taken note of our journey time, but either way I had surprised myself. Lois would indeed have been proud of me.

Now, it was time for the hard part.

I edged up to the security gate we had originally entered via and clasped my hands tightly around the gun. My palms felt sticky as I began to perspire with fear. The guard Lois had shot in the kneecaps had vanished, and as far as I could tell he had not been replaced. Perhaps most of the security team were out looking for us, or perhaps the people here had already fled. Either way, I couldn't afford to get complacent. This all could be a trap.

I gulped, but my mouth was dry and I felt a lump form in my throat. This was it.

Pushing my body forward I slid over to the swipe card panel, using the night and shadows to try and remain undetected. Are the cameras back on?

As I neared, I spotted a figure on the floor. It was another guard, but he hadn't been shot. A vision of Clark doing one of his infamous 'tap em on the head and knock em out' routines came to me, and I couldn't help but smile. He'd beaten me here and was already inside.

I walked on until I came to the security door. It had been bent open like someone had used a giant can opener on it. Above, the camera that should be able to track me sat melted on its support. Thin splashes of molten plastic had dripped down from it. Heat vision! I grinned and carried on.

Once in the main section of the building I paused. Should I go back to the lab, or try Schenkel's office first? I listened, hoping to hear some sound that would tip me off to Clark's whereabouts, but White Summit was eerily silent. It was like being back in the cemetery again, only this time it was much more dangerous.

"Okay, Sullivan, what say we try the lab first?" I spoke to myself, mostly just to hear the sound of my own voice and to break the lack of noise that was terrifying me.

I moved on, each footfall resounding down the passageway and pushing my nerves to their limits. Finally, I reached the lab doorway and could detect voices from within.

I strained my ears, wondering if I had found Clark, or the despicable Schenkel. What I heard convinced me I had found both.

Schenkel's voice grated on my ears, and it was exactly the kind of timbre I would have expected from such an evil, obsessive man. He was raving about how his work had been ruined, and how someone would pay- that someone being Clark.

The gun in my hand began to shake as I remembered that for Clark to be in the lab it meant he was probably incapacitated and in pain from the green aura that filled the place. It was time for me to make another daring rescue, but could I do it?

Without hesitating, I kicked out at the door as I imagined Lois would have and then slammed my tiny body forward. My shoulder hit the door hard and I thought for a moment it wasn't going to open. After all, I didn't have the access card. Luckily for me, Clark had found the lab first and had used his alien charms on it. With a creak, the metal gave way and I was in.

I stumbled into the lab that was now only half-lit and quickly attempted to regain my composure. What I saw didn't help me. The beds that had been full before were now empty save for one. Lois lay on it, unmoving and looking pretty bedraggled.

To her left somewhat, Clark lay on the floor shaking, and a white coated individual hovered over him, apparently enjoying the sight of what he was inflicting. I had no doubt that the man was Schenkel.

"Move away from him!" I screamed, gesturing with my weapon for the scientist to move away from his victim.

Schenkel turned, glaring at me over his tiny rimmed glasses. "You people have ruined everything! How dare you come in here making demands?"

He didn't seem to grasp that I had a gun, and so I proved to him I wasn't afraid to use it. Flicking my wrist so the barrel was pointed upwards, I let off a single round into the ceiling. "Move away or you get the next slug. I'm not kidding."

The scientist moved then, but only towards me. The idea scared me. He was a guy after all, and if he got too close he might try to take my gun. He eyed me like he was scrutinizing a specimen.

"You're going to help me drag Clark out of this room," I commanded. "I don't know what you have in here or what you've done to him again, but you're going to help me put it right."

Schenkel laughed. It wasn't an evil laugh, simply the defiant chortle of a man who had no intention of doing as I asked. He stuffed his hands in his white jacket pockets and shrugged his shoulders. "Now why would I do that when this room subdues the boy perfectly well? In fact, you know, if he were to be left here long enough the effects could even be fatal…"

I knew that of course, but what I didn't know was what was wrong with Lois, and if Clark had been hurt again besides the meteor poisoning. One thing I was sure of was that Schenkel wasn't going to help me. I had to subdue him somehow and do the rest of the work myself.

I looked around the lab room, frantically searching until I found something suitable for my needs. It was a length of tubing, probably used as an oxygen cannulae but it would suffice. I edged over to it, careful to keep the good doctor at arms length. Once I had it in my grasp, I motioned for Schenkel to take a seat on one of the empty beds.

He smirked. "You'll never get them both out of here on your own, even if I do as you ask. The girl resisted my men rather too well and they had to get a little rough with her…"

I fired the gun again then. This time right at the maniac's left foot. He jumped reflexively and I noted his hands shaking slightly afterwards. Good. He's not as brave as he'd like me to believe. I pointed again and he obeyed my command.

As soon as he was seated, I tugged his hands behind his back and secured them with the tubing. Then, I used an extra length to tie his feet to together. While I worked, I looked over to Clark on the floor. He groaned, but I saw his eyes sparkle with a gleam of hope as he recognized me.

"I told you not to try this without me!" I chided him, and I guess at that moment I really shouldn't have, but sometimes Clark really did walk right into trouble. Then again, so did Lois. What I pair I've gotten stuck with!

"You really think you can make a difference?" I looked up to see Schenkel staring at me as if I'd gone mad. "The boy has abilities beyond your mere human ones. I hadn't made note of them until tonight, but now…now…" A distant expression crossed his features and I realized with horror that the doctor was thinking about his hidden files and who he was going to reveal them too. "He's even more remarkable than Mitchell…"

I slapped Schenkel then. Don't ask me where the emotion came from, and I'm not sure it was totally in character for me, but here he was talking about people like they were expendable just for his own gains. He'd killed Rich by not getting him proper care and what of the others? Were they dead now too? "What did you do with the records you made about Clark and the others?" I held the barrel of my Berretta to his temple and it trembled in my grasp.

Schenkel's eyes moved to watch my trigger finger, and my tremulous grip obviously scared him. "I'll die rather than tell you…"

I knew he was lying. His voice cracked as he spoke, and I determined if I pressurized just a little more he would give up the information. At that moment I was torn. Lois was hurt, perhaps badly and Clark was suffering too. Could I afford to take the risk to keep the files on Clark from falling into the wrong hands? I decided to give it one shot.

Playing my card, I let the scientist see my finger begin to depress the trigger. Right then, I was angry enough almost to do it, and I think Schenkel realized the fact.

"The disc is in my office, but you'll never be able to get to it. I have someone in there removing all my files." His voice quivered.

"Where in the office," I demanded.

Schenkel glared at me. "It's taped to the bottom of the second drawer of my desk."

I eyed him for signs of deceit. "You better not be lying…"

"Chloe…leave the disc…" Clark's weak voice echoed across the room and I looked over to see him curled into a foetal position, obviously in agony. Guilt hit me then, and I raced to his side, being careful not to put my back to the bound scientist.

"I'm going to get you out of here now," I promised as I knelt by Clark's side. "You're going to have to try and help me like before, though. I glanced to Lois. She still hadn't moved. "I think Lois is hurt too…"

Clark shivered, and I noticed the dressing to his side from earlier was now soaked with blood again. How? I shot Schenkel a look of hatred, and as my eyes caught his expensive shoes I realized with horror how Clark's wound had been re opened. Schenkel's best footwear was spattered with blood. My God he actually kicked Clark while he was down!

"The others…find out where they are…we can't leave them." Clark's pleas took back my attention and I ran a hand across his perspiring brow. I needed to hurry. He was getting sicker.

"Well?" I demanded of Schenkel. "Where are they?"

The doctor sneered back at me. "They're gone. Taken to another facility where I can continue my work unhindered." He nodded across the room to a black body bag I hadn't noticed before. "Save for him, of course. He was no longer of any use to me."

Suddenly, I felt cold. Without even looking I knew Schenkel meant Rich Mitchell. At least he's not suffering anymore. In my fury, I wanted to interrogate the doctor more, but I knew Clark wouldn't stand it. Instead, I whacked Schenkel with the butt of my gun, hoping to knock him our while we escaped. It's hard to know just how much force to use on someone to render them unconscious, but I took my best guess and it seemed to work.

"Get Lois out first," Clark begged. "I've never known her this quiet. She must be hurt pretty badly."

I ignored him. If we were to escape I needed Clark's help, and the longer he remained exposed to the meteor presence the less of his 'extra' energy he was likely to have for awhile.

I grabbed his arms and tried to pull him up, but even though he attempted to help it just didn't work. I gave him an apologetic look and did the only thing I could think of next. I literally dragged him across the lab like the day I'd once dragged him out of Lex Luthor's giant safe. It wasn't exactly a pretty manoeuvre but it was effective.

Within minutes, I'd hauled Clark outside into the corridor and propped him against the wall. "Will you be okay while I try and rouse Lois?" I asked breathlessly.

Clark nodded and looked worriedly back through the door at my cousin. "If they treated Lois like they did me…"

I patted him on the shoulder reassuringly and jogged back inside. I didn't want to tell Clark, but I was having enough problems of my own. The knife wound where I'd gotten slashed earlier was hurting like hell, and I doubted I'd be able to pick anything up with my arm for much longer. All three of us were a mess.

"Lois?" I prodded hard, knowing my cousin was a pretty deep sleeper at the best of times, never mind if she'd been slugged. "Lois!"

"Will you quit that," she mumbled. "It can't be that time already…"

I poked again, this time with the cool metal butt of the Berretta. "Lois, I know you're hurting, but we have to make another run for it."

Lois groaned and rolled onto her side. As soon as she made the move, she realized it was a mistake and sat bolt upright with a gasp. I watched as she clutched her ribs on her right side and then grimaced. "What the hell?" She looked around, dazed. "I'm getting a serious case of déjà vu here. How did we get back here? It's getting like Groundhog Day…"

"Long story, and I don't have time to explain." I tugged at her. "Can you walk?"

Lois scowled. "No, but I can hobble," she griped, but made a move to follow me to the door albeit at a snail's pace. "Wait a minute, where's Smallville?" She stopped dead in her tracks and I could see she was worried as she noted Schenkel slumped on one of the beds.

"He's outside. Now can we just MOVE?" She got my message.

Back out in the passageway, I found Clark had recovered enough to stand up unaided. I guess the relief showed on my face quite clearly because he smiled softly at me before putting his attention on Lois.

She scowled as he gazed at her just a little too attentively. "Not exactly the moment I would have picked to go checking a girl's figure out, Smallville!"

The serious nature of our situation still couldn't stifle a small giggle from me. Of course, I knew darn well Clark was using his x-ray vision to make sure Lois wasn't too hurt, but she had no way of knowing that. She frowned at my seemingly blaze attitude to the whole thing and then began to hobble towards the nearest exit still clutching her side.

Clark gawked at her comment, but recovered suitably enough tell my cousin what he thought. "Lois, you need to be careful. Your ribs are broken."

My cousin wasn't impressed. "Yeah, well I'd trust a doctor on that diagnosis a whole lot better than a farmboy."

I suspected she knew he was right, although how he had come to the conclusion she would never know- well, not for a few more years at any rate.

I inhaled and then brought up the rear of our trio. As we neared Schenkel's office I told the others to hold back. If Schenkel had been telling the truth, someone armed could be waiting for us inside.

"Why do we need to risk our necks to save these files again, Chloe?" Lois whispered as she hunched over in the corridor.

I grimaced. How could I tell her that it wasn't just for the missing men from the explosion, but to save Clark's secret too? I bit my lip, and was only saved from a very uncomfortable situation by Clark. He'd apparently x-rayed through the office wall and spotted the man working inside.

"I'll handle this…" Clark grabbed at the door handle and scooted into the office before I could protest.

I knew there was no point in asking Lois to stay behind, so I dived on in after him and hoped my cousin didn't join the fray. It was silly of me to think she wouldn't, given her track record of disobedience, but I was surprised when she didn't follow.

Lois must be hurt more than she's saying! I thought about Clark warning her about her ribs as I stormed the room. He wouldn't have risked exposing his gift like that if he hadn't been concerned. Still, first we had to deal with the situation at hand.

From what I could see, Clark pretty well had everything in control.

A man clad in black like the guard Lois had shot was rifling through Schenkel's work. To me, it didn't look like he was trying to save it, but rather decide what to destroy and what to steal. Perhaps Schenkel's boss had had enough of the scientist and was about to take his discoveries and leave him high and dry- or worse, dead.

Right now, the man's motives didn't matter, though. Upon seeing Clark, the henchman drew his weapon, and summarily had it melted out of his hand with Clark's heat vision. He yelped, but he hadn't done yet. As Clark approached him, the dark garbed guard pulled out something from his pocket.

I saw the flash of green and knew instantly that he was aware of Clark's disability.

Clark faltered but didn't go down on his knees straight away like I'd hoped. Right now, he was blocking me getting a good shot at the bad guy, and that wasn't good…not when the man grabbed a pure silver letter opener from Schenkel's desk and was obviously about to use it- and I don't mean to open his mail.