A/N: Here is Chapter Four, Part two. I hope everyone had enjoyed this so far. Thank you to everyone who has stayed with this story.

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Chapter 4: Take A Chance On Me

Part 2:

Chloe felt the air rush by her as she ran, like a harsh, brittle brush across her face and neck. Though spring in Metropolis, the temperature at night still fell close to a crisp forty degrees. Tonight would be no exception. And the faster she ran, her lungs desperate to keep up with the quickening speed of her pace, the more often she saw small, crystallized orbs of breath escape the thin line of her mouth. Above the hazy fog of her heart pounding in her chest, her feet pounding against the pavement, both in rhythm with the other, Chloe heard the faint sound of sirens.

A reminder of how desperate the situation had become.

He ran beside her, though. Step for step. His breath just as crystallized and cold as hers in the brisk night air. She insisted that he might want to stay home for this one, despite how eager he was to investigate such a conspiracy with her. A stakeout, really. More like a "Nancy Drew" moment, as he often called it. In fact, he rarely let a day go by without commenting on her nosy nature. Getting into trouble, deep into chasms she could hardly climb out of by herself.

Yet, she always got the story. And her stories were always praised.

So, after close to six months working with her at The Daily Planet, he merely rolled with it. Though she teetered on the edge many times, she rarely ever fell over.

Hopefully, for their safety, her record would stand another night.

Especially when her hands gripped her camera just a bit tighter, knowing full well what she would expose. If I ever make it to the car … why do I always do this to myself?

Maybe … Chloe mused with a small smile … because I love every minute of it.

Next to her, her partner finally stated in heaving breaths, "You know, you'd think I'd be getting used to this."

Chloe rolled her eyes, aware he often complained whenever she dragged him on one of her numerous investigations. Though he volunteered for this particular case, he obviously still believed he retained the right to grumble when something did not go their way. Or when she led them into a trap or spot that often ended just like this: running for their lives. Perhaps it was playful banter, his attempt to fight back her often-stinging sarcasm. But he also did have every right to worry when, week after week, they found themselves in such predicaments, often because of her.

Either way, Chloe would not let it go on for too long.

"Ah, Greg. If you get used to it, then it isn't fun anymore," she bit back.

He huffed under his ragged breath. "Fun? You call this fun?"

Greg Casey … my partner, my friend …

Though she did not like to admit it, Chloe could not help but feel attracted to him. Maybe, in the right circumstances – specifically when talking candidly with Lana – she would even further admit she dreamt about him. Wondered what might happen if they fell in love. But even as the thought entered her mind, she shoved it out just as quickly. Because experiences with Clark should have taught me better. He was handsome, however. Tall, broad shouldered, dark, brown hair. Blue eyes.

Her mind flipped back to the present, and before she could send him her own retort, their vehicle appeared before them merely twenty yards away. A beat-up, late 1990's Pontiac Grand Am used specifically for situations just like this. I think someone is bound to notice my new silver, Mustang Convertible on the side of a dark street in one of the worst parts of the city.

The very same type of street lined with small buildings along either side, and windows dressed with storefronts of general stores, liquor stores, and bars. Behind them, a warehouse, with lights bright enough to cast a soft glow on most of the block that surrounded it. And from that warehouse came the henchmen, desperate to reach them, running frantically to catch them before she and her partner could escape.

Greg hurried to the driver's side of the car, always willing to drive when the situation called for it. Chloe did not know how, but he had a knack for driving fast and knowing exactly where to go to get out of the problem. A talent rarely seen outside of an action movie. He usually lost those who chased them in about five minutes, a super power Chloe cherished time and time again. Though, I would love super speed right about now.

In seconds, they were both in the car, and Chloe frantically looked out her side view mirror to catch the distance of the men running towards them. The 'objects are closer than they appear' warning mocked her, tested her patience and nerve, especially when Greg currently fumbled with the ignition. It clicked and clicked, almost like the ring of an obnoxious bell sounding the event of their untimely death. Morbid thoughts, Chloe knew, but it was all she could think of in such a drastic moment.

Yet before the best moments of her life had a chance to flash before her eyes, the ignition turned over, and the hum of the engine filled the small cabin of the car. Greg smiled and said confidently, "There we go. Now we're okay."

And Chloe was ready to believe him.

Especially when his foot pressed heavily on the gas, and the tires screeched across the pavement. A flawless escape.

But her momentary feeling of relief would be short lived.

Like the crack of a whip, Chloe suddenly heard something snap only millimeters from her left ear. In quick reaction, she ducked below the seat, arms above her head for initial protection. Though she wanted to stay in such a position, in the cocoon of safety she created for herself, when the car began to swerve, Chloe could not help but look up.

First directly out the windshield in front of her, images of the outside world a blur of light, shocked the car jerked to the right so suddenly.

Then instantly to Greg for an explanation as to his poor driving. Maybe he only reacted to the sound as I did.

Instead of questions … all she could do was shout his name.

Pretend she did not see the blood on him, or on the windshield on his side, which made it difficult for her to see outside as she dove towards the spinning steering wheel. Desperate to grab it. Desperate to get control of the car.

Desperate to steer them away from the lush grasses that now rushed by them, making the ride bumpy as the wheels struggled to fight the rocky ground below.

Desperate to veer the car away from the direction of the tree …

And the last thing Chloe remembered was screaming …

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Chloe jerked upright in bed, her ears plugged with the sound of her screams. She felt the beads of her cold sweat, of her terror, across her forehead, on her face, and down her neck. As the last few images of her nightmare faded away little by little, as her throat turned to sobs, her world gradually came into focus before her teary eyes. The darkness of the hotel room surrounded her, save the glittery images of Las Vegas just outside the master bedroom window.

And though at first she believed herself to be alone, the sound of her name across the stuffy, warm air of the room soon drifted into her consciousness.

A whisper, really, that brushed across the soft surface of her ear.

Only then did Chloe realize Clark was holding her in his arms.

"Chloe?" he asked again, unable to hide his deep concern.

When he returned from Caesar's Palace a few hours before, Clark and Chloe, still inhibited by the awkwardness of their last few minutes together, agreed to catch an hour or so of sleep before they continued with the investigation. Riddled with exhaustion, Clark quickly shed his clothes and changed only into pajama bottoms, sure he would fall asleep immediately, despite the fact he would be forced to use the very small couch in the living room area. Yet, worries laced his thoughts, prevented him from grabbing the extra sleep he would need for what was sure to come. Disgusted, he moved to Chloe's laptop and decided to do some research on the name she received at The V Bar not too long ago.

An hour later, however, he heard Chloe's screams coming from the bedroom

Instantly, he sped to her, sure she was in some type of danger. Instead, all he found was Chloe sitting up in bed, screaming at the top of her lungs. Desperate to quiet her, to comfort her, he gave into what he wanted to do. What she would truly need.

So he sat down next to her, and pulled her into his protective embrace.

And now … he could still feel her sobs against his chest.

"Chloe?"

Finally, Chloe reacted to him, to the here and now, her demons finally driven away, at least for the moment, by what she did not expect: Clark's love. She lifted her head from his bare shoulder, immediately ashamed with her outburst. Aware Clark had just seen a part of her she has hidden well since her partner's horrible death. And quickly she went to wipe her eyes, determined that he should not see her tears any longer. Desperate to hide her pain, to make up for the momentary display of weakness.

Yet Clark beat her to it. Reached both hands to her now rosy cheeks, and carefully wiped away the glistening trail of her tears. His eyes looked deep into hers, searching, waiting for an answer, an explanation.

But Chloe was not sure she could give him one.

Not now. Not yet.

Instead, she merely whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" he asked, confused.

Chloe sighed, reached her hands to wrap around his wrists, his strong hands now cupping her face. "I didn't mean …".

But he cut her off quietly, yet strongly. "Chloe, you don't have to apologize."

She struggled to protest, to find her voice that was now caught in her constricted throat. Yet Clark would not let her speak. And with a small kiss to her forehead, then another soft, promising kiss on her lips, he whispered, "I'm here for whatever you need."

Clark let his arms fall from her face, and loosely wrapped them around her waist. Then leaned his forehead to rest gently against hers.

When Chloe closed her eyes, let her hands rest on his chest, she felt something familiar, yet new and exciting. Through the warmth he offered to her, through the love he now blanketed her with, she heard and felt their heart beats. Felt them merge, for the first time in two years. Felt them beat together as one.

The enormous weight of so long ago … the break-up, the two years apart, even the previous few days …washed away to the new surface underneath. Like ocean waves pulling sand from the shore.

Revealing new life.

Chloe realized the time they spent separated from each other might have served a much higher purpose than she originally suspected. It gave them a chance to dampen the anger, see the truth. To see each other again, behind the wall of painEven tonight, when they went their separate ways, both were given the chance to rethink their lives, rethink the path they have taken without each other. All of it meant something, all of it helped both of them remember why they fell in love in the first place. What always brought them back to each other, in need of something pure and wonderful. In need of comfort and understanding, a brand only Clark could give her. A brand only she could give to Clark.

And all she wanted to do now was sit here with him. Revel in him. Feel him again. Make his own pain go away, a pain she felt now, that he revealed to her, that she sensed in him. And give him that chance to do the same for her.

But Lois pulled at her heart, as well. Once she was safe, then … well, then Clark and Chloe could come back to this place. Could search it together, and discover what awaited them.

With a regretful sigh, Chloe whispered, "Lois … Lois needs us."

Clark nodded. "I know."

With a soft smile, Chloe kissed him softly, let her lips linger, and then said gently, "Thank you."

Clark smiled and pulled her a little closer to him. "I'm just glad you're okay."

After a moment of silence, a moment they spent staring into each other's eyes, Chloe smirked, and remarked playfully, "I don't think this is helping us find Lois any faster."

"Yeah," he whispered simply in return.

Chloe then thought of the name that was written on the small piece of paper given to her at The V Bar. It would be the next step in our ever-evolving case, and the possible link to Lois' location. Such thoughts instantly refueled her desperate need to get to Lois as quickly as possible. She pushed away everything that has happened with Clark in the past few days, knowing it would only be a distraction, a hindrance to what needed to be done.

With a hint of regret, Chloe finally pulled away from him, sighed, and stood from the bed. "We have to research that name," she said, her eyes still staring at him.

With a sweet smile, however, Clark replied, "I've already done it."

"You what?" Chloe asked, unable to hide the surprise that stretched at the edge of her features.

He stood and walked to her, crossing his arms across his chest. "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. So … I thought I should be somewhat productive."

Chloe felt the rush of excitement rise to her cheeks, and asked quickly, "You know where he lives?"

"Yeah, I do."

Lois, Chloe thought, please hold on … just a little longer.

We're coming …

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To be continued …