Chapter 8 (Section III)
Clark awoke the next morning with a need to talk to Chloe, before she spoke to Lois. He waited till her lunch break to call, "Chloe, please tell me you didn't speak to Lois yet." Clark said pleadingly.
"No, Clark I didn't what's wrong?" Chloe asked.
"I need to talk to you. Can I come over later? I'll take you to dinner, that way we can talk alone." Clark responded quickly.
"Okay Clark, meet me around six thirty. I'll see you later" Chloe said hanging up the phone. 'I wonder what that was about' she thought to herself. Chloe went and picked up something to eat on her way to the Planet.
Clark was anxious for their meeting. He did all the farm work at super-speed, then went and took a shower. He left Smallville at about four, he was too anxious to just sit around. What was he going to do?
Clark was outside Chloe's door at six fifteen; as soon as his watch said six thirty, he knocked. Chloe opened the door and said, "Good evening Clark, let's go. Where are we going anyway?"
"You pick a place, Chloe; all I ask is that it is private so we can talk." Clark responded.
"I know a little café just off campus with some tables outside the restraint proper. Let's walk. Now Clark what's the emergency?" Chloe asked as they walk to the café.
"I was thinking, should I just leave things as they are. I mean, what do I have to offer Lois?" Clark asked.
Chloe looked at Clark at though he had indubitably lost his mind. After all they talked about last night! She let out a sigh, and started speaking slowly.
"Clark, if nothing else you have your love. You have a lot to offer. What made you feel like you have nothing to offer?" Chloe asked.
"Well, what do I have? I'm not sure I can be intimate. I don't know if I can give her children. All I have to offer is a lot of secrets." Clark declared despondently.
"Whoa Clark, it sounds like your talking about marriage. You haven't even gone on your first date, and you are eliminating yourself as a potential husband. You need to go one step at a time Clark." Chloe said as they sat down to dinner.
They ordered dinner and as soon as the waitress left Clark said, "Well, look at my track record, Kyla and Alicia both knew part of my secret; that's why I felt so at home with them, we were all different. All of us were 'outsiders,' and both of them died. I don't want to put Lois in danger." Clark ended quietly.
"Clark you weren't the cause of their deaths. Neither died protecting you. From what you told me, Kyla died going after Lionel and Alicia… well, Tim killed her because he felt that she shouldn't have been released." Chloe said quietly.
He threw his head back and said emphatically, "I should have believed her, if I had she would probably be alive."
"Clark, I was one of the first to think it was her but that was not what killed her. You would have given your own life to save any of them." Chloe replied earnestly.
"I know, I just can't help but feel responsible." Clark said quietly.
"Well you went out with Lana and she didn't get hurt." Chloe said.
"She probably got hurt the worst, Chloe." Clark replied.
"Why do you say?" Chloe asked bewildered.
"I feel that my inability to trust her may have done more harm than you can imagine." Clark said despondently. "She's now seeking comfort from Lex. Can you imagine what he will do to her.?"
"You can't be serious Clark," Chloe said fearing he may be right.
"Remember the story of Naman and Segeeth? I always thought Segeeth was one of the Luthor's. What if it is Lana? She's seen more of my powers than anyone who didn't know my secret. She may have even seen me fly once; I think I flew. If she and Lex put the pieces together, my secret is out." Clark said quietly.
"Clark, she wouldn't." Chloe said.
"And don't forget, she saw the two Kryptonians who were looking for Kal-El…well, me." Clark said ignoring Chloe's pervious comment.
"She knew how to hurt them. When she came to Metropolis to bring me back, she heard the people call me Kal. She saw their powers, the same powers I have used countless times to save her. She saw the spaceship; she knows I came to Smallville right after the first meteor shower."
Clark buried his head in his hands as he continued resolutely, "she has all the pieces Chloe; with her obsession for the meteor showers and Lex at her side. She'll figure it out and then she'll know that I'm the one who's responsible her parents death."
"Clark you're looking at a worse case scenario. The chance of this happening is slim. She would have to know what she was looking for. But Clark, what does all this have to do with Lois?" Chloe asked refusing to believe this was possible.
"Don't you see? I couldn't knowingly put her at risk. I would rather live out my life alone than hurt her. I couldn't live with myself if she was hurt because of me." Clark declared, devastated by the mere thought of harming her.
"Clark, wouldn't you give Lois a voice in her own future? Do her wishes not matter to you? If you feel she is not capable of taking care of herself, then maybe you should leave her alone" Chloe said adamantly.
"Chloe, you know that's not true. I love Lois" Clark replied.
"You have a funny way of showing it" Chloe dead panned.
"It's not like that. She could get hurt" Clark stated.
"Stop repeating yourself Clark! You won't hurt anyone … will you stop seeing me and your parents next? 'Cause according to your logic that's the next step. So, when will you retire to the Fortress?" Chloe asked adamantly (as she folded her arms in front of her chest.
"Chloe…I" Clark started.
"I'm leaving Clark. Figure it out for yourself, since that's the only person you care about." Chloe interrupted as she stood up extremely pissed off.
"Chloe, please don't go. I'm sorry, I 'm scared … I would never leave all of you." Clark pleaded. "Please Chloe."
Chloe looked at Clark, and saw how pitiful he looked begging for her to return. Was he really that desperate? Chloe's anger vanished as she gazed into Clark's eyes and saw that he was on the verge of crying. Her heart went out to him as she sat back down and said "don't make me do that again. But, you needed to see what an idiot you were being. Yes, we may be in danger, but we have each other. Not to mention an alien with a hero complex."
Clark glanced up into her knowledgeable eyes, knowing that whatever she said was going to fix the situation.
"You're right Chloe. Should I tell her about me? Do you think she'll accept me?" Clark asked timidly.
"Clark, that is up to you. It's not easy knowing your secret, but I would rather know than be in the dark." Chloe replied earnestly. "Clark, do you love her?"
"More than anything! I'm just scared she will reject me, laugh at me and then I'm scared I'll lose her." Clark replied earnestly.
"Would you still, like me to talk to her?" Chloe asked.
"Please, talk to her. If it helps, tell her I love her." Clark said timorously.
"Oh, before I forget, I want to talk to you about your flying" Chloe interjected.
"Okay. Come over Saturday and we'll talk about it. Just don't push Lois; I really want her to be sure of her decision." Clark said determinedly.
They finished dinner and walked back to the dorms, talking about little things such as school, the weather, and work. When they reached her door Clark said "Thank you for everything. I really needed to see my excuses for what they were. I don't know what I ever did to deserve your friendship, but I am very thankful for it. I'll see you Saturday," as he leaned over, embraced her, kissed her on the cheek and jetted back home.