CHAPTER SIX

Disclaimers in Prologue I

Gabe Sullivan sprinted from his car to the threshold of the Luthor mansion.  Still breathless from his run to his car when he was informed at work that Chloe collapsed and was being treated in Lex's house, Gabe briefly thought that he had not run this much or this fast since his track days in college.

That trip down memory lane was cut short when the butler opened the door and Gabe looked at him questioningly.  The well-trained servant immediately uttered the words "first bedroom to your left on the first floor", and that had Gabe running again.

It was finally the sight of Lex in front of that door that stopped him. 

"What happened?" he asked, evidently in a frantic state of mind.

Lex held up a hand, much to Gabe's disbelief, and proceeded to tell him, "Chloe is in a delicate condition.  Something which she'd want to tell you herself, but I just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't distress her anymore."

"I'm her father, Luthor," the plant manager spat out, but Lex remained calm, understanding the worries that were running in Gabe's head. 

"I know, Gabe," he assured the older man as he gently rested a hand on Gabe's shoulder.  "She's sick, and she needs you to be calm, okay?"

Lex's concern sobered Gabe up.  Looking into the younger man's eyes, he saw nothing but sincerity, and while trepidation crept into Gabe's instincts as to what that could mean, he felt surprisingly comforted by Lex's high regard for his daughter's well-being.

"Okay," Gabe surrendered.  "Can I go in now?"

Lex smiled in appreciation as he stepped aside.  Gabe proceeded without hesitation, leaving the door open for Lex to witness the exchange between father and daughter.

Chloe was sitting on the king-size bed, surrounded with a lot of medical contraptions.  He was intimidated, frozen in place at the sight of his daughter's condition.  She was slightly pale, pouring her attention over the newspaper. 

That was, until she heard him enter.  A bright smile took over her face.

"Daddy," Chloe called out as Gabe ran to her bedside and enveloped her completely in a big hug.

"Oh, honey, I was so worried about you," he sighed.  "I knew you were sick, but I didn't realize that it was this bad."

"It's not your fault, Daddy," she cried in his arms.  "I should have been honest about my health."  She loosened her hold on her father as did he, and she looked up at him.  "I'm dying," she barely whispered as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

Despite being heartbroken, Gabe made good on his word to Lex and only nodded.  Hugging his daughter one more time, he told her, "It's okay, honey.  We'll fight this together."

Relief came over her when he said those words.  She continued to explain her condition.  Eventually, Lex cleared his throat to signal his presence as he entered the room.  Both Sullivans turned to him.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," he apologized.  "I just wanted to take this time to approach the both of you with this proposition."

Like father, like daughter, the two threw him a semi-suspicious look.  "What kind of proposition?" Gabe finally inquired.

Lex smiled.  "I want to help.  If you both would allow me, I would like to contribute as much as I can to aid Chloe's health.  Bring in the best physicians, the best equipment, anything she will need."

"Lex, you don't have to.." Gabe initially refused.

"No," Lex protested.  "I want to do this.  From a friend."

Gabe looked at Chloe, and she seemed open to the idea.  So he turned to his employer and nodded.  "If it's okay with Chloe, then it's okay with me."

The billionaire grinned widely.  "Thank you."

"No, thank you," Gabe emphasized.  "You saved my daughter's life.  I'll owe you forever, Lex."

"Friends never owe each other," Lex informed him.

Gabe smiled back in appreciation and turned to his daughter.  "Since I take it that you won't be leaving here anytime soon, I'll go get some of your stuff from home."

"Okay," Chloe smiled as she hugged him again.  "Thank you, Daddy."

Letting go of his daughter, Gabe walked out.  Before he exited the room, he shook Lex's hand in agreement when he passed by him.

Once he was gone, Lex turned to Chloe, smiling.  "Feeling better?"

"Much," she admitted, yawning in the process.

"Good," he said.  "I better be leaving then to let you rest.  I'll see you later."

Just when he reached the door, she called out to him.

A smile on her face, she told him, "thank you."