A/N: Thank you for all the feedback. I'm glad this is so well received.
Here's the next bit. Enjoy!
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Chloe groaned as she rushed back into consciousness. Immediately wishing she'd stayed unconscious, she slowly raised her hand to feel her skull. There was a large bump that was sensitive to the touch, but no blood, which Chloe took to be a good sign. She struggled to sit up in the dark, and was overwhelmed with nausea. She put her head back down again.
"Nauseous?" A voice asked.
She turned her head and squinted through the gloom. Relief lodged a lump in her throat as she recognized a familiar bald head. She wasn't alone. She was still with Lex! He'd know what was going on. He had to fix it!
"Stay lying down." He continued. "You probably have a concussion."
"Who were they? What's going on?" She asked, using what she hoped was an impartial reporter's tone.
Lex smiled to himself in the dark. This was why he liked this girl. The bravado, the logic, the incessant curiosity...
"I have no idea." Lex answered.
Chloe rolled her eyes. A useless gesture considering Lex couldn't see it, but it made her feel a little more like herself. "C'mon Lex. You expect me to believe that someone broke into your house, knocked you and me unconscious, and hauled us to some unknown location, and you don't have a single clue why?"
"As to our location." Lex said, deftly avoiding answering her outright. "I believe we're still at the mansion. I'm fairly certain we're in one of the wine cellars."
"One of the..." Chloe spluttered. "How many wine cellars do you need?"
"Well, I only use one." Lex said.
Chloe could hear the smile in his voice, but found herself oddly disheartened. It was comforting to hear Lex sounding like himself, but the need for comfort was simply a harsh reminder of the situation Chloe found herself in.
Deciding to be pro-active, rather then waiting for the intruders to return, Chloe propped herself up a little ways off the ground. When the nausea didn't return, Chloe forced herself to sit up fully. She looked around the room she was sitting in.
She could see the racks for wine, and realized that they were in fact, still in the mansion. There was a set of steps leading upwards, and a dim light was filtering under the door. She peered in the opposite direction. The wine racks disappeared into the dark.
"How big is this place?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know." Lex said, looking for himself at the expanse of empty wine racks.
"You know, you've been saying that a lot!" Chloe pointed out, exasperated.
"Saying what?"
"I don't know." She quoted. "You're *the* Lex Luthor." She said sarcastically. "I'm supposed to believe you're clueless?"
He smiled. "Well, in this case it's the truth. If you'll recall, I wasn't given much of an opportunity to quiz the intruders as to their motives."
Chloe felt her heart thump as Lex's words brought back, vividly, the image of him being knocked unconscious. That was not something she ever wanted to see again.
Suddenly feeling very vulnerable, Chloe crawled across the space between Lex and herself. He smiled.
"Lonely?" He asked, teasing a little.
Chloe shrugged. "Got tired of talking to someone I couldn't see!" She looked around. "Do you suppose that there is a way out?"
"I imagine that our captors have taken any means of escape into account." He pointed out.
"Well, I'm going to try and see." Chloe said, getting to her feet. "Are you coming?"
Lex shook his head. "I think I'll wait here." He said with faint chagrin.
Chloe noticed for the first time that while she was free to roam around, the intruders had handcuffed Lex to a wine rack.
Chloe hesitated, reluctant to leave Lex alone, but the temptation of escape was too tantalizing. Especially seeing as the intruders had made the mistake of not restraining her as well.
"I'll be right back. I promise." Then Chloe turned and walked into the darkness.
She felt her spirits sag a little, the further she walked from the light, and Lex. She felt like she was betraying him by leaving him there. Chloe turned and looked back. There was a faint crack of light, but she couldn't see anything. She was about to turn back to the relative safety at Lex's side, when she noticed another light a little further back.
Moving off of the main walkway in the cellar, she noted that there was an old wooden door, similar to a traditional storm cellar entrance. She pushed against it, and tumbled forward when it gave suddenly. She winced as light nearly blinded her dark adjusted eyes.
She allowed her eyes to adjust and peered upwards. There were steps, and she could see trees beyond. She realized an old storm cellar must have been incorporated into the wine cellar at some point in time.
Elated that her search for escape was successful, Chloe stood hesitating. She was free to go. She could find help; the police, anybody, and the whole ordeal would be over. On the other hand, Lex was still sitting in the wine cellar, with no way of escape open to him. Chloe mulled her options over. Then turned, and walked back into the darkness of the cellar. After all, she had promised Lex she'd come back.
Lex heard the crash as Chloe fell through the cellar door. Frustrated because he couldn't help her if she was in trouble, and nervous that the noise would draw attention, Lex worked his wrists in the handcuffs, trying to free himself.
There was a click at the door, and Lex paused in his efforts with the handcuffs. The door swung open, and the larger man stepped in. He shone a flashlight in Lex's face, chuckling when Lex turned away.
The other two men followed him in, and approached the spot where they had dumped Chloe.
"Hey! Where the hell is the girl?" One demanded. He turned abruptly, and advanced on Lex. The larger man held him back.
"No need for violence... yet." He said. "Search the cellar. She's obviously in here somewhere."
The two men took different sides of the cellar, and began to look for Chloe
It was Lex's turn to smile. "To what do I owe this pleasant visit?" He asked. Considering the other two men insignificant in the general scheme of things, Lex focused on the leader. Still in an amiable tone he continued, "You are aware that when this is over and I find you, and I will... you will sorely regret this venture."
"Mr. Luthor, you are *not* in control of this situation!" The man spat the words out. Angry because Lex refused to be intimidated, he lashed out with the back of his hand.
Lex took the hit with no more then a sharp exhaling of breath and looked back at the man. He showed no signs of anger other then the smoldering rage in his eyes. "Temper, temper." He said evenly. "Now, do you want to tell me what you're doing in my mansion?"
Before he could get an answer, the other two men were back.
"She's gone!" One of them gasped. "There was a cellar door we missed." He glared at his fellow henchman. "It's your fault. You're the one that said she'd be out for hours."
"Enough." Snapped the leader. "Search the grounds. Find her!"
Lex smiled widely. "Trouble?" He asked, knowing that he was inciting more anger, but hoping to keep them occupied with him for as long as possible, as long as Chloe got away.
"You know where she's gone!" One of the henchmen snarled at Lex. "Where the hell is she?"
Lex shrugged. "I don't know."
"I'll show you *don't know*!" He grabbed Lex's arms and uncuffed them. Grabbing on of his hands, the henchman laid it flat on the concrete, and unholstered his gun. "Are you sure you don't know where she is?" He demanded, leveling the barrel at Lex's hand.
"Quite sure." Lex managed, while inside he was desperately trying to formulate a plan that got him out of the situation with all his body parts intact.
Chloe was hiding behind the wine racks, watching in desperation as the same man she had hit, leveled a gun at Lex's hand. She knew she was caught now. She could never let them shoot Lex.
The henchman cocked the gun, and in a last ditch effort to save Lex and stay free, Chloe shoved against the wine racks with all her might. It tipped slowly, and then slammed into the next rack, and then the next, falling like dominos, towards the men. The last rack in the domino effect was the rack right beside the one that Lex was cuffed to. It crashed into the ground and splintered.
Shocked and angry that Chloe was still in the mansion, and not safely on her way to the police, Lex yelled, "Chloe if you're in here, run!"
Chloe did just that. Anything to take the henchman's attention off of shooting Lex.
Immediately both men were after Chloe. She dodged in and out, of the wine racks, trying to make her way back to the cellar door before they caught her. Suddenly, an arm grabbed her waist from behind.
"You're done now!" He growled hoarsely in her ear, and he carried her back to the main door, kicking and clawing.
The henchman dropped Chloe on the ground beside Lex. The leader motioned with one hand and the other henchman moved in with a set of handcuffs. Chloe whipped her foot around, and caught the henchman in the leg. The leader whipped out his gun, and pointed it at Lex.
"I should explain the situation miss." He said. "I'll won't kill him, but he sure as hell won't be so handsome when I'm done."
Chloe stopped kicking, and glanced at Lex with fear in her eyes.
The henchman grabbed her wrist, and slapped a cuff onto it. He pulled Chloe over to the wall, and threaded the other cuff through some pipe. The leader dragged Lex over to the wall, and the second bracelet was slapped around Lex's wrist.
"You like him, you got him!" Was the leaders smart remark. "I'll be back." He added, and he walked up the stairs, and slammed the door. Darkness enveloped them again.
"Can't wait." Chloe muttered.
"Chloe." Lex's tone of voice was so gentle after the previous circumstances, that Chloe was startled.
"What?" she demanded.
"Why didn't you go for help?" Lex asked.
Chloe looked down glanced at the door and then the ground. She didn't answer.
Lex reached out and brushed his hand against her face. Her skin was so soft, he almost groaned. Chloe jumped at his touch, but didn't pull away. Lex tilted her chin up, so he could see her face in the dim light of the cellar.
"Why'd you come back?"
"I promised."
TBC. ~*~*~
A/N: Feedback is addictive! But any comments on how the story is progressing would be nice. Like/no like?
~*~*~*~*~*~
Chloe groaned as she rushed back into consciousness. Immediately wishing she'd stayed unconscious, she slowly raised her hand to feel her skull. There was a large bump that was sensitive to the touch, but no blood, which Chloe took to be a good sign. She struggled to sit up in the dark, and was overwhelmed with nausea. She put her head back down again.
"Nauseous?" A voice asked.
She turned her head and squinted through the gloom. Relief lodged a lump in her throat as she recognized a familiar bald head. She wasn't alone. She was still with Lex! He'd know what was going on. He had to fix it!
"Stay lying down." He continued. "You probably have a concussion."
"Who were they? What's going on?" She asked, using what she hoped was an impartial reporter's tone.
Lex smiled to himself in the dark. This was why he liked this girl. The bravado, the logic, the incessant curiosity...
"I have no idea." Lex answered.
Chloe rolled her eyes. A useless gesture considering Lex couldn't see it, but it made her feel a little more like herself. "C'mon Lex. You expect me to believe that someone broke into your house, knocked you and me unconscious, and hauled us to some unknown location, and you don't have a single clue why?"
"As to our location." Lex said, deftly avoiding answering her outright. "I believe we're still at the mansion. I'm fairly certain we're in one of the wine cellars."
"One of the..." Chloe spluttered. "How many wine cellars do you need?"
"Well, I only use one." Lex said.
Chloe could hear the smile in his voice, but found herself oddly disheartened. It was comforting to hear Lex sounding like himself, but the need for comfort was simply a harsh reminder of the situation Chloe found herself in.
Deciding to be pro-active, rather then waiting for the intruders to return, Chloe propped herself up a little ways off the ground. When the nausea didn't return, Chloe forced herself to sit up fully. She looked around the room she was sitting in.
She could see the racks for wine, and realized that they were in fact, still in the mansion. There was a set of steps leading upwards, and a dim light was filtering under the door. She peered in the opposite direction. The wine racks disappeared into the dark.
"How big is this place?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know." Lex said, looking for himself at the expanse of empty wine racks.
"You know, you've been saying that a lot!" Chloe pointed out, exasperated.
"Saying what?"
"I don't know." She quoted. "You're *the* Lex Luthor." She said sarcastically. "I'm supposed to believe you're clueless?"
He smiled. "Well, in this case it's the truth. If you'll recall, I wasn't given much of an opportunity to quiz the intruders as to their motives."
Chloe felt her heart thump as Lex's words brought back, vividly, the image of him being knocked unconscious. That was not something she ever wanted to see again.
Suddenly feeling very vulnerable, Chloe crawled across the space between Lex and herself. He smiled.
"Lonely?" He asked, teasing a little.
Chloe shrugged. "Got tired of talking to someone I couldn't see!" She looked around. "Do you suppose that there is a way out?"
"I imagine that our captors have taken any means of escape into account." He pointed out.
"Well, I'm going to try and see." Chloe said, getting to her feet. "Are you coming?"
Lex shook his head. "I think I'll wait here." He said with faint chagrin.
Chloe noticed for the first time that while she was free to roam around, the intruders had handcuffed Lex to a wine rack.
Chloe hesitated, reluctant to leave Lex alone, but the temptation of escape was too tantalizing. Especially seeing as the intruders had made the mistake of not restraining her as well.
"I'll be right back. I promise." Then Chloe turned and walked into the darkness.
She felt her spirits sag a little, the further she walked from the light, and Lex. She felt like she was betraying him by leaving him there. Chloe turned and looked back. There was a faint crack of light, but she couldn't see anything. She was about to turn back to the relative safety at Lex's side, when she noticed another light a little further back.
Moving off of the main walkway in the cellar, she noted that there was an old wooden door, similar to a traditional storm cellar entrance. She pushed against it, and tumbled forward when it gave suddenly. She winced as light nearly blinded her dark adjusted eyes.
She allowed her eyes to adjust and peered upwards. There were steps, and she could see trees beyond. She realized an old storm cellar must have been incorporated into the wine cellar at some point in time.
Elated that her search for escape was successful, Chloe stood hesitating. She was free to go. She could find help; the police, anybody, and the whole ordeal would be over. On the other hand, Lex was still sitting in the wine cellar, with no way of escape open to him. Chloe mulled her options over. Then turned, and walked back into the darkness of the cellar. After all, she had promised Lex she'd come back.
Lex heard the crash as Chloe fell through the cellar door. Frustrated because he couldn't help her if she was in trouble, and nervous that the noise would draw attention, Lex worked his wrists in the handcuffs, trying to free himself.
There was a click at the door, and Lex paused in his efforts with the handcuffs. The door swung open, and the larger man stepped in. He shone a flashlight in Lex's face, chuckling when Lex turned away.
The other two men followed him in, and approached the spot where they had dumped Chloe.
"Hey! Where the hell is the girl?" One demanded. He turned abruptly, and advanced on Lex. The larger man held him back.
"No need for violence... yet." He said. "Search the cellar. She's obviously in here somewhere."
The two men took different sides of the cellar, and began to look for Chloe
It was Lex's turn to smile. "To what do I owe this pleasant visit?" He asked. Considering the other two men insignificant in the general scheme of things, Lex focused on the leader. Still in an amiable tone he continued, "You are aware that when this is over and I find you, and I will... you will sorely regret this venture."
"Mr. Luthor, you are *not* in control of this situation!" The man spat the words out. Angry because Lex refused to be intimidated, he lashed out with the back of his hand.
Lex took the hit with no more then a sharp exhaling of breath and looked back at the man. He showed no signs of anger other then the smoldering rage in his eyes. "Temper, temper." He said evenly. "Now, do you want to tell me what you're doing in my mansion?"
Before he could get an answer, the other two men were back.
"She's gone!" One of them gasped. "There was a cellar door we missed." He glared at his fellow henchman. "It's your fault. You're the one that said she'd be out for hours."
"Enough." Snapped the leader. "Search the grounds. Find her!"
Lex smiled widely. "Trouble?" He asked, knowing that he was inciting more anger, but hoping to keep them occupied with him for as long as possible, as long as Chloe got away.
"You know where she's gone!" One of the henchmen snarled at Lex. "Where the hell is she?"
Lex shrugged. "I don't know."
"I'll show you *don't know*!" He grabbed Lex's arms and uncuffed them. Grabbing on of his hands, the henchman laid it flat on the concrete, and unholstered his gun. "Are you sure you don't know where she is?" He demanded, leveling the barrel at Lex's hand.
"Quite sure." Lex managed, while inside he was desperately trying to formulate a plan that got him out of the situation with all his body parts intact.
Chloe was hiding behind the wine racks, watching in desperation as the same man she had hit, leveled a gun at Lex's hand. She knew she was caught now. She could never let them shoot Lex.
The henchman cocked the gun, and in a last ditch effort to save Lex and stay free, Chloe shoved against the wine racks with all her might. It tipped slowly, and then slammed into the next rack, and then the next, falling like dominos, towards the men. The last rack in the domino effect was the rack right beside the one that Lex was cuffed to. It crashed into the ground and splintered.
Shocked and angry that Chloe was still in the mansion, and not safely on her way to the police, Lex yelled, "Chloe if you're in here, run!"
Chloe did just that. Anything to take the henchman's attention off of shooting Lex.
Immediately both men were after Chloe. She dodged in and out, of the wine racks, trying to make her way back to the cellar door before they caught her. Suddenly, an arm grabbed her waist from behind.
"You're done now!" He growled hoarsely in her ear, and he carried her back to the main door, kicking and clawing.
The henchman dropped Chloe on the ground beside Lex. The leader motioned with one hand and the other henchman moved in with a set of handcuffs. Chloe whipped her foot around, and caught the henchman in the leg. The leader whipped out his gun, and pointed it at Lex.
"I should explain the situation miss." He said. "I'll won't kill him, but he sure as hell won't be so handsome when I'm done."
Chloe stopped kicking, and glanced at Lex with fear in her eyes.
The henchman grabbed her wrist, and slapped a cuff onto it. He pulled Chloe over to the wall, and threaded the other cuff through some pipe. The leader dragged Lex over to the wall, and the second bracelet was slapped around Lex's wrist.
"You like him, you got him!" Was the leaders smart remark. "I'll be back." He added, and he walked up the stairs, and slammed the door. Darkness enveloped them again.
"Can't wait." Chloe muttered.
"Chloe." Lex's tone of voice was so gentle after the previous circumstances, that Chloe was startled.
"What?" she demanded.
"Why didn't you go for help?" Lex asked.
Chloe looked down glanced at the door and then the ground. She didn't answer.
Lex reached out and brushed his hand against her face. Her skin was so soft, he almost groaned. Chloe jumped at his touch, but didn't pull away. Lex tilted her chin up, so he could see her face in the dim light of the cellar.
"Why'd you come back?"
"I promised."
TBC. ~*~*~
A/N: Feedback is addictive! But any comments on how the story is progressing would be nice. Like/no like?
