A/N: Here is the next section. Now the story goes into the next chapter, and this is the first section of it. Thanks so much for all of your support and reviews!

Chapter 2: One of Us

Part 1

With the new day came sunshine, so bright and warm, and a complete contrast to the dangerous weather of the night before. Chloe barely slept throughout the night, though. In fact, she stayed up and watched the rain. Its drizzle quickly became the only comfort to her morbid thoughts, which concentrated mainly on Lois. Not that losing sleep should be anything new for her. Whether she worried about Lois, Lana, or even Clark, who recently entered her concerns, nothing changed much.

Not since losing her partner, by far the lowest of the low, did Chloe experience a full night of rest. Some days she thought it might be too much. Like she could never handle the responsibility of causing something so horrible. A downfall that soon convinced Chloe of a new calling in life. Not just journalism, but stories that took her across the world. Stories that led her into dangerous spots over and over again. Stories she did alone, with no one else.

Lana soon discovered this new calling was only a masquerade, which eloquently hid Chloe's real act of running away from her problems. Often she questioned Chloe about it. Silence was usually her answer, because anything else would give away too much. And each new case Chloe took on, each new crusade led her further away from every demon she needed to face. And that was actually how she wanted it to be.

Because I refuse to drag someone with me … drag them into my problems, into my dreams … into my pitfalls, Chloe thought inwardly, her steps soft on the carpet of the hallway in the apartment building.

Behind her, Clark remained silent and in concentration, his eyes absorbing all that lay before him. In fact, silence was all that stood between the two of them at the moment, the only conversation that filled the enormous abyss, deep and insurmountable. They talked only on a formal level, though Chloe would never forget what she the night before. It almost caused her to forget her own problems, and dwell on the darkness in the soul of the man behind her.

The dire need to reach out and help seemed overwhelming. And somehow, despite her own reservations, Chloe wanted to find a way to ease his pain. In any way that would suffice.

Yet the voice that whispered to her from behind was nothing save confrontational and rough, as Clark asked, "So what are we looking for exactly?"

Chloe tried to remember the pleasantries they shared the night before, but his abrasiveness refused to let her forget the hurt feelings still predominate in their relationship … or lack thereof. "A disk, Mr. Kent," she responded formerly, so absently and distance as to suggest that nothing lay unsolved between the two of them. No pain, no hurt, and, most specifically, no love.

Clark nodded and gazed around nervously. The hallway, dripped in rich tints of blue and black, almost took his mind away from the task at hand. In fact, it made him a bit dizzy, the shades of the wall to the wood trim a maze of color. He admittedly was impressed not only by Lois' apartment building, but also by Chloe's. Their work at the Daily Planet was certainly rewarding, and not just on a personal level.

Yet before Clark could comment to Chloe on her good fortune, the door to Lois' apartment appeared ahead of them, immediately around the corner.

The door to which lay just ajar.

"I locked the door before I left a few days ago," Chloe whispered, mostly to herself, as she halted her steps and Clark's with a hand gently to his arm.

Clark heard her clearly, however, and responded in a confident, low tone, "Then stay back. Let me go first." He gestured for her to stay in the same spot as he proceeded towards the threat up ahead.

His light, yet soft, quick footsteps matched that of his own heartbeat. Not from fear, particularly, but from the adrenaline that came every time he faced a problem such as this. In moments he stood just a few inches from the open door, allowing his eyes to illuminate the room just beyond in a way only he could. Quickly his vision turned everything to X-ray, looking carefully for any hiding, moving skeletons in the room just before him.

The scan, however, came up empty.

With a small sigh, Clark pushed the door open a little further. Though he still did not see anyone, nor did he hear anyone pop up from some unknown spot unexpected, he did discover a huge mess. In fact, the entire apartment was completely trashed, glass broken, chair cushions turned over, and clothes strewn aimlessly all over the floor. Clark looked back to find Chloe, only to realize she now stood right up against him. Her presence intoxicating, overwhelming.

How did she get to me so quickly? And without me noticing? Clark asked himself, a bit amused. A reporter like no other.

"I thought I told you to stay back," Clark snapped, ignoring his inner admiration of the woman before him. Admiration, though good and a step forward towards a renewed friendship, still did not cancel out his anger.

Chloe insisted sharply, "When I didn't see you race in, guns blazing, I thought it was safe."

"I don't have 'guns'," Clark argued in return, in a harsh whisper as he opened the door completely.

Though Chloe wanted to return his comment with one of her own, the sight of the apartment in front of her refused to let her speak at all. Never did she expect this, despite her own conclusions that through this mystery, they were certain to face problems. This came at the wrong time, in a moment where they needed something positive over the negativity of losing Lois.

Clark sighed heavily; aware of the possible setback this may bring them. "I'm guessing Lois wasn't this messy," he chided softly.

"Hardly," Chloe replied under her breath, moving into the apartment slowly. Her steps came carefully, lightly, as if afraid to move any further. So delicate the situation has become, not only because they seemed to be facing something bigger than just finding Lois, but also whatever they were searching for may be, in fact, gone. Already grabbed by the same people who tore up the apartment. "I hope it's still here."

Clark looked over the chaos, aware that the search might take a few hours to do thoroughly, even with his abilities. That was assuming that the disk was still here at all. And only now did he realize the true sensitivity of this case, it's players, and those who found the truth, as Lois obviously did. "Any suggestions of where to look first?" Clark asked, as he bent down to pick up a couch cushion and set it in its original place.

Chloe concentrated on Lois, on the way she reported, on her ability to gather so much information in a short period of time. In this instance, this case meant everything to her, a fact Chloe did not realize until it was too late. She often cursed herself for not paying more attention to Lois' actions, especially in concern of this particular case and its dangerous direction. But many reporters, when blinded by the fervor of truth, will often find themselves in a place they did not expect.

But how was she supposed to know how deep Lois got herself? Especially when she was so secretive when it concerned her work?

"It's still here somewhere," Chloe declared confidently, immediately turning around, desperately absorbing the apartment, minus the mess. In the letter left to her by Lois, she mentioned the disk and implied it was safe. But Lois had to figure that her investigation would eventually attract attention from not just her cousin, but from those who now have her captive. Which meant she did exactly what Chloe would have done; hide it, and hide it well.

Cliché aside, Lois would never put all of her eggs in one basket.

"Where exactly?" Clark asked, concern and interest replacing the antagonism from before.

Chloe smirked and gazed at him. "Why don't you 'look', flyboy? My guess is that she buried it in the walls or the floorboard. Reporters' Instinct 101. You'll see it much better than I will."

Clark shook his head, aware that any attempt to be genuinely cordial may be matched head on by Chloe's own abrasive sarcasm. So in response, he pointed out roughly, "Don't you think that the people who took Lois may have found where she hid it? They're professionals, they would know where to look."

"Do you see any of the walls or floorboards torn into?" Chloe shot back quickly, lifting an eyebrow, daring him to challenger her theory further. "Maybe they didn't have enough time. Or maybe they really didn't know how much Lois really new. Either way, I think its still here."

Clark nodded, an annoyed sigh releasing from his lips. Past experiences with Chloe should have taught him to be careful when they argue. Often enough, she needed to have the final word. But at least half the time, he tended to be right. At the moment, however, the only way to prove his point was to find the disk. Or rather, not find it.

"Will you please just …humor me?" Chloe asked, this time said more as a plea rather than with the usual hint of sarcasm.

Clark took a second before giving in and shifting his vision to X-Ray. They should at least look, because Chloe was right about one thing; none of the walls or the floors seemed to be touch. Which actually seemed a bit odd considering those looking for the disk, if that was indeed what they were looking for, would search every possible location. Even if it meant destruction on any level, Clark concluded.

He circled the room carefully, and once he did not see anything to arouse his suspicions, he moved to the bedroom. In minutes of his search, just before he convinced himself that there was nothing to find, Clark spotted a rectangular object behind the wall and above Lois' bed. Though he tried to look in the box, his vision halted his efforts. Lead …

"In here," Clark called, and as soon as Chloe came and stood next to him, he pointed to the spot in the wall, "Right there, I see a small box."

They stepped up to it as far as they could without actually climbing onto Lois' bed. And for a second they just stared at it, both waiting for the other to do something to get it out. Before a minute passed of the unbearable silence, Chloe finally chided, "Well, I know I can't rip through a wall with my bare hands."

Chloe raised her eyebrows at him again, in challenge, and Clark merely rolled his eyes, gave a quick glance over his shoulder to ensure they were alone, before slamming his fist through the wall. He then pulled the lead box back out effortlessly, and both were immediately overcome by the dust that came with it. Amazing, Chloe observed silently, once again awed with Clark's abilities. No matter how many times she has watched him perform them in front of her, each time felt like a new experience.

Of course, she kept this often to herself. Especially now, unwilling to let Clark know how much she really did admire him. Not just because of his abilities, but also for how he used them to save people, and how often he truly did risk his life. It was something that she really believed she could never do. A quality so attractive in Clark. Something that would always bring her back to him, no matter how often she's angry with him.

Clark lifted the lid of the small lead box, immediately amazed with Lois' forethought. Perhaps as a reporter, she immediately planned for catastrophes in investigations to occur. Or maybe she discovered something highly sensitive, enough to convince her to take early precautions. Whatever the reason, it gave Chloe and Clark an excellent start to their own search for her. And just like any reporter, Lois made sure whatever secrets she did hold would stay that way until she was ready to reveal them.

With her disappearance and the current state of her apartment, it was safe to assume Lois reached into the heart of the crime.

Clark reached in and took the small circular disk out, and gave it to Chloe very carefully. With one of her wide, signature, light-up-the-entire-room smiles, she said, "That's it."

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Just minutes later, Clark found himself back in Chloe's silver convertible, watching her slight movements as she drove in silence. The wind whipped by them, almost drowning out any chance to say anything to each other. He could not help but look at her, though, not just from attraction, so grown up and sophisticated now, but also because he could see her inner torment. All morning he noticed how quiet she acted, and how defensive she became when they finally did converse. He saw her exhaustion, how it shadowed her beautiful features. Beautiful … she was always beautiful, whether she wanted to admit it or not, Clark thought with concern.

Maybe it was none of his business. Maybe he did not have any right to ask, especially when he was not exactly forthcoming with his own problems. But this seemed different, darker, as if it crippled her in some deep, unknown way. In a way only she was aware of. Clark knew the distance they spent apart over the past two years might have caused both of them to move on. But she still kept a small part of him with her, whether he liked that idea or not. Chloe was once the most important person in his life. And such a strong connection never fades away so easily.

With a soft sigh, Clark gazed at the road ahead of them and commented quietly, "You look tired." He then turned back to her. "Did you sleep much last night?"

"I didn't realize you cared," Chloe spat in return, the anger rising in her cheeks. Maybe he really wanted to help, and maybe he really was concerned for her. But it would take much more than a sudden shot of sympathy to convince her of that.

Clark rubbed his chin a little before pressing on, "I know you and I haven't seen each other in a long time. And I know I probably shouldn't ask. But I also know something is bothering you, and it has nothing to do with me or with Lois." When she did not say anything, Clark wondered if he should continue at all. If maybe his effort to help her might be misplaced now. But he decided to keep going anyway, and added, "It's been awhile since we talked, since we were together. But I still know you pretty well."

"Know me?" Chloe asked angrily, finally taking her eyes from the road just long enough to glare at him. The statement itself caused her cheeks to redden further with fury. This was the very issue that caused their messy break up, a complete misunderstanding. And it began with his lack of faith in her. "You never knew me, Clark," she began, desperately trying to stay calm, "Never. If you did know me, you would've realized your accusations against me were completely false. That I would never do anything like that to you."

Clark knew he just opened a can of worms, aware of what his words finally unveiled between them; the past they refused to face until now. "Chloe, I didn't mean …".

But she refused to let him finish. "Well, when you finally discover exactly what happened two years ago, and drop the fantasy of lies, maybe then we can have a conversation that will mean something to both of us."

Clark thought of a million different responses, all of which he had every right to say. It would only continue the very conversation they really did not finish two years prior. And it was something he wished to avoid right now. Sensing Chloe's anger, it would also be best to give her some time to cool down before throwing any more salt on the wound. These words, this reaction, she truly needed.

So he remained silent.

End of update …

More to come …