SHALLOW SLUMBER

She was frantic. The moment the door closed behind Lex, Chloe stalked over to the Wall and started tearing out the pictures and articles there.

"Chloe, what the heck! That's your life's work," Lucas protested.

She shook her head. She used a trembling hand to grab the photograph of the Kent barn emblazoned with a burning symbol. Then, she stripped the wall of the magazine cover of the five-year-old Lana Lang crying. "It hurts more people than it helps, Lucas. If it were just these two, I'd say to hell with it. But he was right! Lex almost got killed because of me."

When Chloe started pulling a chair over to the Wall so she could reach the top, Lucas gave up and helped out reluctantly. "You know, Chloe, Lex has always been proud of your research. He was impressed with your talent and devotion."

"Fine proof we got here then," she muttered.

"That was not the real Lex. The real Lex, the one I remember from my very last phone conversation with him, right before he got married--"

Chloe flinched at that.

"He told me that you were someone who had goals, ideals, a mission. He would be amazed at you about all those things forver."

She sadly looked backat Lucas, while packing up the items from the Wall of Weird into large envelopes. "Well that Lex doesn't exist anymore."

Lionel had been waiting a long time for the past months to arrive in his life. For years, after Lillian's death, he had been disappointed with his son. Lex had been a mother's boy since his birth, a sickly child who would never stop crying until his mother picked him up. When tragedy struck and Lillian died, the only silverlining that Lionel saw was that Lex would finally become the strong young man he needed as his heir. Lex had turned out to be such a disappointment as he grew up unstable, uncontrollable and irresponsible. Itwas almost as if Lex spent most of his time searching for ways to kill himself.

Lionel's irritation had grown so much that he had had to throw Lex to the shit town of Smallville to teach him a lesson. For a long time there, it seemed that Lexhad grown. Lionel threw Lex obstacles and dilemmas to test his mettle. Over and over again, Lex impressed Lionel. His son became involved with the Sullivan girl. At least, that was Lionel's strong suspicion. Lionel had then believed he could finally leave LuthorCorp to his son.

Out of nowhere, Helen Bryce swept into Lex's life and changed everything that Lionel felt Lex had achieved. Lionel pitied the poor Sullivan girl for the humongous mess Lex had created. During the funeral, Lionel had wanted to comfort the girl She truly seemed to be mourning, definitely a lot more than those his son called friends. Perhaps in that desperate need to console the young woman Lionel had personally chosen for his son, he made the only pact he could find that would link him to her without raising her suspicions.

Lionel needed to do one thing, and that was to awaken something in his son. He glanced at his clock, anticipating the second hand's touch with its destination.

He was right on time.

Lex strode into Lionel's office, his face grim and eyes filled with cold fury.

"I thought I made it clear that I have come back to this company completely?" Lex demanded.

Lionel pursed his lips. "What seems to be wrong?"

"Insufficient access?"

Lionel shrugged. "It's our security policy, Lex. Util you complete all requirements, IT will not grant you all the network privileges of the employees."

Lex sighed and sat down. "Dad, you have nothing to fear from me."

"Then why do you refuse to give us a psychological profile?"

Lex threw up his hands. "I've never believed in this psychobabble."

Lionel's sharp eyes noticed the very subtle movement of Lex's throat that indicated swallowing before answering. Lex also shifted in his seat. His son was hiding something.

"Do you dream a lot, Lex?"

Lex's gaze flew to Lionel's. Lionel congratulated himself silently. "Some."

"Lex, your emotional health has a lot to do with the decisions you will be making for this company. I know you probably dream of your time on the island--"

"I said it before and I'll say it again, dad," Lex said firmly. "I don't want to speak about it!"

"--the last months here in Smallville and in Metropolis that just got wiped out of your memory."

"Dad!"

"But dreams can represent your intense fears or desires."

"Spare me." Lex studied his father carefully, and saw that he would not budge. "I assure you. Even without talking about all this, I can function properly enough to make the correct decisions."

Lionel smiled thinly. "Then prove it, Lex. Take the test. It's only five sessions." He paused for effect. "Think about it."

Lionel took out the surveillance photographs he had of Chloe Sullivan. The fact that Lex had seemed to have completely forgotten about her did not translate to Lionel's eradicating her from the list. After all, she had effected all the changes in Lex that caused Lionel to correct his view of his own son. He had promised himself, back when he thought Lex had gotten killed in that plane crash, that he would look after Chloe. He would continue to do it too, no matter what happened. Lucas was an added bonus, the way Lionel's younger son seemed to latch onto Chloe. Lionel felt better that blood was looking out for her.

When Lex opened the door to his office, Lionel shoved the pictures back inside his drawer.

"I've made the decision. I'm going o prove my worth to you. I will take the test."

Lionel nodded his head and smiled. "Which of the shrinks will you be using?"

"Claire Foster," Lex supplied.

"Good choice!"

Lionel picked up the phone and dialled Claire's number.

"Look, Claire, I will pay you whatever amount you want if you can begin to awaken Lex's lost memories."

"I know.. I know... you're supposed to just check on his mental stability. My son is stable, I assure you," Lionel drawled. "And he's not a coward either. He has to face up with everything that's happened. He's not going to use this amnesia as an escape."