ch 16
Chloe walked into the barn more nervous than she had been in a long time. Deep breaths. Just keep breathing. You can still turn back, no one has seen you yet. Chloe was broken out of her reverie by the sound of Clark's voice. "Hi, Chloe."

Well so much for running away. She took a breath a pasted on a smile. "Hi, Clark." She walked up the stairs and saw Peter sitting on the couch. "Hi, Peter."

"Hey, Chloe."

Clark sat down while motioning for Chloe to find a seat. "So, what's up?"

"Oh, I just came by to talk." Chloe replied trying not to appear nervous. "I think I am going to stand."

"Okay." Clark said unsure confusion showing on his face. "What is it you want to talk about?"

"Now don't get mad at me." Chloe started and looked over at Clark and Peter apologetically. "You usually do when I stick my nose somewhere it doesn't belong." She paused just long enough to get a breath and started talking again before anything could stop her.

"I didn't mean to." Chloe saw the raised eyebrow and the look Clark was giving her and retorted "Okay, I meant to a little." She then got an irritated look on her face and began to waggle her finger at him. "But, if you expect me to stay at home when I know you are going off and doing something dangerous, you are sadly mistaken."

Chloe saw the look of worry and fear that crossed both Clark's and Peter's face. Clark was the one that finally said something. "What did you do?"

"I, uh" Chloe stammered knowing she needed to come clean, but still unsure about how would be the best way. Just spit it out. "Well, I went to the Foundry and I watched everything that happened through a hole in the wall." Chloe answered cautiously. She then decided to finish her confession while looking down at the loft floor. "The next morning I went and did some research at the Torch."

"On what?" Clark asked afraid of what the answer might be.

Chloe raised her eyes and looked directly at Peter whose eyes grew wide as he realized what she meant.

All the millions of people in New York and I'm found out here in Smallville. Peter thought while he sat in shock. He finally found his voice and asked. "What did you find out?"

"That you are not a meteor freak and that the stuff that pulled Eric back must have come from you." Chloe said while watching Peter's reaction closely.

Peter just closed his eyes as he sat on the sat on the couch reeling from the revelation.

Chloe quickly started talking when she saw Peter's reaction. "I want you to know that I will never tell anybody and I think it's cool. Also, if it not too much, I mean I completely understand if it is, can I ask you something?"

Peter looked up with an exasperated expression. "Sure, why not?"

"How?" Chloe asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Let's just say taking a field trip to a science museum can be hazardous to your health."

"Are you okay with this?" Chloe asked genuinely concerned. "Sorry, for prodding where I shouldn't have. It is one of my more annoying traits. Clark can attest to it. I have never put much stock into the old saying curiosity killed the cat."

Peter let out a small laugh. "Its okay. I can tell you're no threat."

Chloe looked confused. "Really, how?" Peter just looked at looked at Chloe as the smile grew on his face. "Well, one way is by the company you keep." He pointed toward Clark. "The other way is by your personality and the way you are genuinely concerned about how you knowing this would affect me. Anyone else wouldn't care."

Chloe smiled but Peter could tell that Chloe had something else she wanted to say.

"What is it?" Peter asked. "I know you want to ask me something."

"I don't want to be rude."

"But…" Peter prompted.

"I wanted to know if I could have some time alone with Clark," Chloe looked at Peter hopefully.

"Sure." Peter turned to Clark. "I'll be wandering around outside." He got up slowly leaving Chloe and Clark in the loft.

Chloe saw Clark eyeing her warily. What is she doing? I didnâ't do anything at the Foundry. But she figured out about Peter.

Chloe sat down on the other end of the couch. "Clark, why didn't you ever tell me you were affected by the meteor? Were you afraid I would put you the Wall of Weird? I wouldn't do that to you."

Clark sat completely stunned and speechless, his mind reeling. How? Did she see me do something? Then another part of his brain spoke up. Well, this is Chloe. It's surprising she hasn't already figured it out. How long has she known something?

Chloe saw that Clark was in complete shock and seemed unable to respond, so she decided to continue the conversation.

"I'm guessing you want to know how I figured it out?' The only response Chloe got was Clark turning his head to look at her.

"It has been several things actually, but the events of the past two days just confirmed what I already thought"
Clark finally found his voice. "What 'events' are you talking about?"

"Well, it started the other day when you brought Peter by to see me." Chloe paused for a moment before continuing. "After you guys left, I was doing some filing and I noticed that the metal chair you had been sitting in had finger shaped indentations in it."

Clark momentarily closed his eyes and groaned inwardly as he thought about it. That must have been the beginning of the solar flares."

Chloe saw Clark's reaction. "You didn't know you had done that did you?" Clark shook his head.

"There's more." Clark looked at her with a look that said,"what else"

"I overheard part of the conversation with Peter the other day." Chloe stated. I heard you tell Peter about how you saved Lex that day on the bridge. Chloe caught her breath for a moment. "The real way you saved Lex."

"Chloe…." Clark just shook his head.

"Clark, I know I should have immediately let you know I was here instead of listening in before you say anything. I'm sorry." Chloe gave him another apologetic look. "That plus everything that happened with Eric. It just kinda came together."

Clark hung his head as he listened to Chloe talk.

Chloe thought Clark hung his head because he was embarrassed by the fact that he was different. "Just because you are affected by the meteor you don't need to be embarrassed or ashamed because of it, you're still human."

Chloe saw Clark's face drop and she instantly knew she had said something wrong. 'I'm so sorry if I said something that hurt you, I didn't mean to. Chloe didn't know what was going on inside his head, but she wished she did as she sat there. She had come over to apologize and make things better, but it seemed that she had only succeeded in making them worse. She sat there in silence until it was about to drive her crazy. Just when she thought she couldn't stand another second she heard a barely audible whisper. "I'm not."

Chloe sat still for a moment not saying anything. She had a feeling he would continue if she just sat there and let him talk.

Clark paused for a moment before continuing. "I'm not what you think I am." He slowly exhaled then said, "I am affected by the meteors but not in the way that you think. I'm not like those people you have on the wall at the Torch. I'm not like anybody."

Chloe moved over closer to him on the couch and reached out her hand just to let him know she was there.

"Chloe, my parents didn't just adopt me the day of the meteor shower, they found me."

Chloe couldn't stay quiet any longer. "They found you? What do you mean?"

"I mean their truck turned over and they found me standing in a field Along with my ship." Clark added the last part cautiously waiting to see Chloe' reaction.

"Ship? Why would there be a ship in the middle of a field?" Suddenly her brain realized that he was talking about the day of the meteor shower, and started to put the pieces together. "No way. You don't mean a boat, do you? But a, a..." points to the sky, and finishes in a near whisper, almost in disbelief, "a spaceship?"

Clark nodded his head slowly.

Chloe's eyes got big as she realized what this meant, then she saw the look that Clark held in his eyes. It was a mix of hope and fear of rejection. She knew that feeling all too well. Her eyes now held a look of compassion and understanding. "It must have been hard growing up, not being able to tell anyone about this and afraid of being shunned because you were different."

Clark's eyes lightened up some as he spoke. "Yeah, it was hard at times, always trying to be more normal and just blend into the background. Not being able to play sports for fear of accidentally hurting someone. But I did have my parents I could talk to. They helped a lot. Oh, and Pete found out recently."

"Pete knows?' She was surprised, but knew she shouldn't be as close friends as Clark and Pete were. "How'd he find out?"

"He found my spaceship after the tornado." Clark answered. "Needless to say, I had some explaining to do."

"So, when Pete said he had seen a spaceship and talked to an alien, he was talking about you?" Chloe cocked her head, understanding dawning on her, as the pieces to the puzzle were finally coming together.

"Yeah, he was kinda mad at me at first. He didn't take the news too well." Clark cocked his head at Chloe. "How are you taking this so well?" he asked wryly.
"Oh, you underestimate who you are talking to here." Chloe leaned back and stretched her arms out wide. "I'm the Queen of the Wall of Weird", she said playfully before becoming serious again. "You know I would never put you up there, Clark."

"I know, Chloe," Clark said. "I trust you."

"Besides, I always thought you were special." Chloe said. "Even before I found out you were unique."

As Clark looked at her sitting there calmly after he told her everything, he saw just how true that really was.

Chloe saw the change of expression on his face and had to keep from smiling. He was never very good at hiding what he was feeling, she thought.

Chloe was snapped out of her momentary reverie when she heard him speak again. "I'm glad you came here today and we got to talk."

Chloe grinned widely. Me too." Chloe stood up. "I've got to go, I've got some errands to run in town. And you probably should go and check on Peter. No telling what he has gotten into outside. A bull could have gotten him by now."
Clark laughed slightly despite himself at the thought. Okay, let's go see what he's doing.

Chloe and Clark exited together seeing Peter standing at the fence petting one of the Kent's new calves. Chloe walked up to Peter. 'I think he likes you." She then turned to Clark. "It is a he right?

"Yeah, it's a he." Clark nodded his head.

"He sure is a friendly fellow." Peter said as he continued to pet the calf.

Well, I have got to be going." Chloe said turning and heading to her car.

"Bye. See ya later." They both chimed in at the same time.

After Chloe drove off, Peter turned back towards the fence. "So, what was the secret talk about?"

"She knows." Clark said grinning, also turning towards the fence.

"Really?" Peter questioned as he glanced sidelong at Clark. "You don't seem the least bit upset. Did she figure it all out or did you have to supply some of it?"

She figured most of it out." Clark said. "I had to tell her about the whole ET aspect."

"How did she take it?" He asked but already guessed the answer.

"She took it amazingly well." Clark answered thankfully. "She really is a special person."

"Yeah," Peter said grinning at Clark. "You remember what I said to you earlier about her, right?"

"Yes, I do." Clark said turning to face Peter.

"I'm also getting another feeling now." He said also turning.

"What is that?"

"She's not the only one." Then he turned back to stare out at the field.

THE END