A/N: As long as no one is getting tired of this, it'll go on till they
solve it. :) This chapter doesn't really deal with the kidnapping, but it's
just chlexy goodness. Enjoy.
~*~*~*~
Chloe rolled over and bumped her nose into cold metal. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was staring at the safety bar of a hospital bed.
She sat bolt upright and looked around. For a brief instant, she couldn't remember what had transpired to result in her being in a hospital. Then it all came flooding back. The kidnapping, the escape, the freezing cold water, the Ferrari, and then she couldn't remember anything else. Except Lex. She looked around, wondering where he'd gotten to.
He was sitting in a chair beside her bed. His hand rested on the covers, and his head dropped to his chest. Chloe smiled at the vulnerable image he made, sleeping peacefully.
"Lex, wake up." She whispered. "Lex..."
Lex jerked his head up, and scanned the room with cold assessing eyes. Then his scan met Chloe's gaze, and his mouth quirked.
"Good to see you're awake." He said. "If you're better, I think we should get out of here. We've been here too long, and I really don't want to go through all of this again should they catch up with us."
"I'm really fine!" Chloe said, throwing back the covers, and swinging her legs around to the edge of the bed. She hadn't realized that they were still on the run. She couldn't remember anything that had happened after Lex buckled her into the Ferrari, but obviously he hadn't resolved the situation.
"Clothes?" Chloe asked, looking around. She remembered that Lex had taken her wet clothes off, but she couldn't remember what else she'd put on.
Lex held up the flannel nightgown. Chloe raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
"That's the best you could come up with?" She demanded. "We were in a mansion. They had to be as rich as you, and that's the only clothes you could find for me to wear?" Lex watched in amusement as the Chloe Sullivan he knew emerged. "You're not much of a burglar! That's for sure." She continued.
"I did make off with a Ferrari." Lex reminded her. "Anyways, I picked up a sweatshirt at the hospital gift shop. You can throw that on over top until we find you some decent clothes."
"You left me?" Chloe asked, pausing as he held up the sweatshirt.
Lex nodded slowly, realizing that she was still nervous about the situation, and trying to make the best of it. "Just to get the shirt. C'mon, get dressed. We need to get moving."
Chloe took the offered clothes and pausing, looking expectantly at Lex.
"What?" Lex asked, intentionally not picking up the cues.
Chloe motioned with her finger for Lex to turn around. He did, smiling at the wall, as he listened to the rustle of fabric as she pulled the hospital gown off, and pulled the nightgown and the sweatshirt on. He couldn't help but be reminded that she wore nothing under the nightgown. With Chloe out of immediate mortal danger, Lex found it more difficult to concentrate solely on saving her life.
Chloe cleared her throat and Lex turned to face her again.
"All ready?" He asked.
"Shoes?" Chloe said the question as more of a statement, and she scanned the floor looking for footwear.
Lex motioned with his chin towards the slippers lying in the corner.
"Oh, you have to be kidding!" Chloe muttered. The slippers were obviously well used, old, dull pink, and ugly. Chloe shook her head. "I'll go barefoot. You'll just have to buy me a new pair of shoes." She put her hands on her hips, daring Lex to make her wear the ugly slippers.
Lex smiled at her attitude and shrugged. "Okay, then let's go before the nurse comes back and starts asking too many questions."
"You mean you didn't explain what happened?" Chloe demanded, incredulous. "You didn't call the police? They didn't recognize you?"
Lex smiled. "As much as I appreciate your faith in my widespread power, Lexcorp doesn't have any interests on the Western Seaboard, and Luthorcorp only a few in California. So suffice to say, I am mostly anonymous, and it doesn't look good for two people to go to the police when they are driving a stolen car, are poorly dressed, and one is dying of hypothermia."
"I was dying?" Chloe asked, her voice raising an octave.
"Exaggeration!" Lex said quickly, putting her mind at rest, and deciding not to tell her until later just how close it was. "The point is, I don't think that they would believe our story. And even if they had heard of Lex Luthor, it is more likely they would have heard stories of my, uh, less then charming youth, and that would not endear us any more with the authorities."
Chloe sighed. "So what are we going to do?" She asked.
"For now, we need to get away from the hospital. We've been here all night, and I don't think it would take a brain surgeon to figure out that this is where we went."
Chloe nodded. "Okay, lead the way Lex."
They stepped out into the hall, headed towards the elevators. Deftly avoiding the nurses, they pressed the down button, hoping to be free of the hospital without trying to explain the situation to the nurses.
They reached the main floor without being stopped by anybody. They were walking past the gift store when Chloe stopped.
"What?" Lex said, impatient to be on their way.
"You need a disguise." Chloe said simply.
Lex looked at her like she was crazy.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Well obviously hiding is *not* in the Luthor's lexicon, but I don't want to get caught and to be honest, all someone needs to do if keep a sharp look out for a bald guy with a blonde girl in tow."
"And how do you propose we fix the situation?" Lex asked, realizing that she was right, and that hiding wasn't something he was inclined to do. For her sake, however, he would make an exception.
Chloe held up a toque. "You've already got the jeans and ratty sweatshirt. All you need is a toque to round off your punk look."
Resigned, Lex nodded, threw some cash down on the counter, pulled the toque over his head, and struck a pose.
She smiled widely. "Perfect! You look like this kid in my biology class." She paused. "Where did you get the money from? Did you steal it?"
"If I promise I'll pay it back, will you promise not to think less of me?" Lex said with a smirk. Then he grabbed her hand, and hauled her out of the building.
The sun was shining, and Chloe tipped her head back as she absorbed the warm rays. Lex pulled her along, as they walked away from the hospital, across the parking lot, and then down the street.
The hospital for whatever town they were in was nestled right in a nice residential area. The sidewalks were clean, and Chloe found she wasn't too uncomfortable in bare feet. But it still wasn't a picnic.
"How come we can't just drive back to Smallville?" She asked petulantly, as she stepped on a small stone and winced.
"Because I don't have enough money on me to hire a limo or rent a car, and a stolen Ferrari is a little more of a statement that I wish to make." Lex said.
"You have enough money on you for shoes and a pair of pants?" Chloe asked.
Lex nodded. "I think I can manage that. We just have to find the Main Street. All these quaint little seaside towns explode with shops. We'll find you some clothes and you'll fit right in."
It didn't take long for them to find what they were looking for. The main street was right along the beach. All they had to do was follow the sound of the waves. They stepped into the first clothing store they saw.
It was obviously a tourist's paradise, and Chloe was about to walk out again when Lex caught her elbow. "If I have to wear a toque to be in disguise," he said, "You can dress like a tourist."
Chloe glared at him, but allowed herself to be dragged over to a rack of clothing. Lex rummaged around, and came up with a form fitting pair of Capri pants. They were green with little brown and green palm trees on them.
Chloe was about to point out that there were no palm trees in Oregon, when a sales girl walked up beside them.
"Hi!" She said in an overly cheerful voice. "Can I help you with anything?"
Lex nodded. "Well, my friend here needs some clothes..." He trailed off and motioned towards Chloe. She was still wearing the nightgown. The sales girl smiled knowingly at Lex. He winked.
Chloe stood rooted in shock. Not only was Lex alluding to an entirely different event that lead to her needing clothes, but he winked! Up to that point, had someone told Chloe that Lex Luthor was capable of pulling off a saucy, sexy wink she would have laughed, but now she was surprised enough to find herself ushered into the dressing room by the sales girl, holding the Capri pants, and a halter top.
Seeing the halter top, Chloe rolled her eyes and poked her head over the top of the change stall. Lex was standing, flirting with the sales girl. The girl put her hand on Lex's arm as she laughed at a joke. Chloe shook her head. "In your dreams, Luthor." She called, as she tossed the halter over the top, and hit him squarely in the head.
The sales girl pulled away from Lex. He looked up and shook his head at Chloe, then handed the shirt back to the sales girl with a shrug.
Chloe looked at the Capri pants. They were kinda cute, and had it been anyone other the Lex she was shopping with, she would have bought them. But she felt exposed and transparent with Lex at times, and she didn't see how a form fitting pair of pants was going to improve the situation.
"What are you doing in there?" Lex asked impatiently.
Making up her mind not to let Lex intimidate her, she pulled the nightgown off and put the Capri pants and the hospital sweatshirt on. She stepped out of the change stall. "Well?" She asked.
Lex's eyes narrowed a little, assessing her. He motioned silently with his finger for her to turn around. Slowly Chloe turned around, feeling stupid and very exposed. She came back around and faced Lex. His blue eyes were stormy, and his lips were quirked in a come-hither sort of smirk.
The sales girl spoke up, to Chloe's relief, ruining the mood. "Oh, those are cute pants!" She cooed. "If I had your butt, I'd get them too!"
Chloe instinctively covered her rear with her hands. She looked from Lex to the shop girl, and back. "Maybe she should help me pick out another shirt." She suggested.
Lex nodded, getting the hint, and letting her off the hook. With another unnerving wink, he headed towards the front of the store.
The shop girl smiled. "Your boyfriend?" She asked, as she lead the way to some of the shirts she thought would look good.
"Did he say that?" Chloe demanded.
The girl looked surprised and shook her head. "No, I just guessed from the way he looks at you."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure he looks at all woman that way." The shop girl looked speculatively over to where Lex was standing. Irritated, Chloe cleared her throat. "The shirts?"
Suppressing a grin, the girl nodded, and handed a couple to Chloe to try on.
Chloe pulled on a simple tee shirt. It was cheap, it was blue and best of all it covered a little of her rear. Lex could make her buy the Capri's but he didn't get to see what was in them. She stepped out of the stall.
The girl looked surprised. "You want that one?" She asked. "I mean, it wouldn't take much more to push him over the edge honey!"
Chloe held up her hands to stop the girl from saying more. She was about to explain the situation, when the shop girl's eyes fell onto the unusual bracelet on Chloe's wrist.
She caught Chloe's arm, and looked at the handcuff. "Does this have anything to do with you needing new clothes?" She asked innocently. The smirk in her eyes was not innocent.
Chloe pulled her wrist away. Fed up with the girl's insistence on pairing Lex and her together, she made something up on the spot. "Actually, is all the rage over on the East Coast. It's just picking up here. Very chic, the fad will be here soon. You should get in on it, before it's over."
"Huh?" The girl said. "On the East Coast you say? That's where you're from?"
Chloe nodded, and jerked her thumb towards Lex. "He's rich. Wanted to come here. What do you say? No?" She shrugged, like she couldn't fathom the male mind, which she couldn't. She had had enough of the shop girl's insinuations though.
"Lex?" She called. "Can you pay? Let's get out of here."
He walked over and glanced down at her feet. "No shoes?" He asked.
Chloe made a frustrated sound in her throat. She grabbed a pair of flip- flops from the nearest display and handed them to Lex. He smiled, dutifully paid for everything and turned to go.
He put a hand to Chloe's back to usher her out of the store. The motion pulled Lex's sleeve back a bit, and the shop girl noticed the matching bracelet.
"All the rage huh?" She asked, with a suggestive smirk.
"Ugh!" Chloe groaned, and then hurried out of the store.
Once they were out on the street, Chloe began feeling a little better. She had to admit that the idea of dressing unusually made her feel safer. She glanced over her shoulder at Lex. He did not look like the Lex Luthor she knew. Anyone that saw him would think punk, not tycoon.
She shortened her pace to match Lex's, falling in beside him. They walked without speaking down the street. Enjoying the nice day, looking at the shops, and keeping their eyes peeled for kidnappers with guns.
They were approaching a restaurant, and Chloe's stomach suddenly growled loudly. She realized it had been close to two days since she'd eaten. She turned to ask Lex if they had enough money for food, when she noticed that he'd dropped back behind her again.
She glanced over her shoulder, and realized why. "Hey!" She said sharply, turning so that Lex couldn't scope her out anymore. "Will you stop that!"
"I did pay for them." He reasoned.
"But not what's in them!" She pointed out, and then realized how that could be taken. "Not that that's an option!" She said quickly. "Look can we eat!" She changed the subject.
Lex nodded, and made a studious effort to stay beside her all the way to the restaurant, where he held the door open in a chivalrous manner, and let her go first...
TBC...
~*~*~*~
Chloe rolled over and bumped her nose into cold metal. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was staring at the safety bar of a hospital bed.
She sat bolt upright and looked around. For a brief instant, she couldn't remember what had transpired to result in her being in a hospital. Then it all came flooding back. The kidnapping, the escape, the freezing cold water, the Ferrari, and then she couldn't remember anything else. Except Lex. She looked around, wondering where he'd gotten to.
He was sitting in a chair beside her bed. His hand rested on the covers, and his head dropped to his chest. Chloe smiled at the vulnerable image he made, sleeping peacefully.
"Lex, wake up." She whispered. "Lex..."
Lex jerked his head up, and scanned the room with cold assessing eyes. Then his scan met Chloe's gaze, and his mouth quirked.
"Good to see you're awake." He said. "If you're better, I think we should get out of here. We've been here too long, and I really don't want to go through all of this again should they catch up with us."
"I'm really fine!" Chloe said, throwing back the covers, and swinging her legs around to the edge of the bed. She hadn't realized that they were still on the run. She couldn't remember anything that had happened after Lex buckled her into the Ferrari, but obviously he hadn't resolved the situation.
"Clothes?" Chloe asked, looking around. She remembered that Lex had taken her wet clothes off, but she couldn't remember what else she'd put on.
Lex held up the flannel nightgown. Chloe raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
"That's the best you could come up with?" She demanded. "We were in a mansion. They had to be as rich as you, and that's the only clothes you could find for me to wear?" Lex watched in amusement as the Chloe Sullivan he knew emerged. "You're not much of a burglar! That's for sure." She continued.
"I did make off with a Ferrari." Lex reminded her. "Anyways, I picked up a sweatshirt at the hospital gift shop. You can throw that on over top until we find you some decent clothes."
"You left me?" Chloe asked, pausing as he held up the sweatshirt.
Lex nodded slowly, realizing that she was still nervous about the situation, and trying to make the best of it. "Just to get the shirt. C'mon, get dressed. We need to get moving."
Chloe took the offered clothes and pausing, looking expectantly at Lex.
"What?" Lex asked, intentionally not picking up the cues.
Chloe motioned with her finger for Lex to turn around. He did, smiling at the wall, as he listened to the rustle of fabric as she pulled the hospital gown off, and pulled the nightgown and the sweatshirt on. He couldn't help but be reminded that she wore nothing under the nightgown. With Chloe out of immediate mortal danger, Lex found it more difficult to concentrate solely on saving her life.
Chloe cleared her throat and Lex turned to face her again.
"All ready?" He asked.
"Shoes?" Chloe said the question as more of a statement, and she scanned the floor looking for footwear.
Lex motioned with his chin towards the slippers lying in the corner.
"Oh, you have to be kidding!" Chloe muttered. The slippers were obviously well used, old, dull pink, and ugly. Chloe shook her head. "I'll go barefoot. You'll just have to buy me a new pair of shoes." She put her hands on her hips, daring Lex to make her wear the ugly slippers.
Lex smiled at her attitude and shrugged. "Okay, then let's go before the nurse comes back and starts asking too many questions."
"You mean you didn't explain what happened?" Chloe demanded, incredulous. "You didn't call the police? They didn't recognize you?"
Lex smiled. "As much as I appreciate your faith in my widespread power, Lexcorp doesn't have any interests on the Western Seaboard, and Luthorcorp only a few in California. So suffice to say, I am mostly anonymous, and it doesn't look good for two people to go to the police when they are driving a stolen car, are poorly dressed, and one is dying of hypothermia."
"I was dying?" Chloe asked, her voice raising an octave.
"Exaggeration!" Lex said quickly, putting her mind at rest, and deciding not to tell her until later just how close it was. "The point is, I don't think that they would believe our story. And even if they had heard of Lex Luthor, it is more likely they would have heard stories of my, uh, less then charming youth, and that would not endear us any more with the authorities."
Chloe sighed. "So what are we going to do?" She asked.
"For now, we need to get away from the hospital. We've been here all night, and I don't think it would take a brain surgeon to figure out that this is where we went."
Chloe nodded. "Okay, lead the way Lex."
They stepped out into the hall, headed towards the elevators. Deftly avoiding the nurses, they pressed the down button, hoping to be free of the hospital without trying to explain the situation to the nurses.
They reached the main floor without being stopped by anybody. They were walking past the gift store when Chloe stopped.
"What?" Lex said, impatient to be on their way.
"You need a disguise." Chloe said simply.
Lex looked at her like she was crazy.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Well obviously hiding is *not* in the Luthor's lexicon, but I don't want to get caught and to be honest, all someone needs to do if keep a sharp look out for a bald guy with a blonde girl in tow."
"And how do you propose we fix the situation?" Lex asked, realizing that she was right, and that hiding wasn't something he was inclined to do. For her sake, however, he would make an exception.
Chloe held up a toque. "You've already got the jeans and ratty sweatshirt. All you need is a toque to round off your punk look."
Resigned, Lex nodded, threw some cash down on the counter, pulled the toque over his head, and struck a pose.
She smiled widely. "Perfect! You look like this kid in my biology class." She paused. "Where did you get the money from? Did you steal it?"
"If I promise I'll pay it back, will you promise not to think less of me?" Lex said with a smirk. Then he grabbed her hand, and hauled her out of the building.
The sun was shining, and Chloe tipped her head back as she absorbed the warm rays. Lex pulled her along, as they walked away from the hospital, across the parking lot, and then down the street.
The hospital for whatever town they were in was nestled right in a nice residential area. The sidewalks were clean, and Chloe found she wasn't too uncomfortable in bare feet. But it still wasn't a picnic.
"How come we can't just drive back to Smallville?" She asked petulantly, as she stepped on a small stone and winced.
"Because I don't have enough money on me to hire a limo or rent a car, and a stolen Ferrari is a little more of a statement that I wish to make." Lex said.
"You have enough money on you for shoes and a pair of pants?" Chloe asked.
Lex nodded. "I think I can manage that. We just have to find the Main Street. All these quaint little seaside towns explode with shops. We'll find you some clothes and you'll fit right in."
It didn't take long for them to find what they were looking for. The main street was right along the beach. All they had to do was follow the sound of the waves. They stepped into the first clothing store they saw.
It was obviously a tourist's paradise, and Chloe was about to walk out again when Lex caught her elbow. "If I have to wear a toque to be in disguise," he said, "You can dress like a tourist."
Chloe glared at him, but allowed herself to be dragged over to a rack of clothing. Lex rummaged around, and came up with a form fitting pair of Capri pants. They were green with little brown and green palm trees on them.
Chloe was about to point out that there were no palm trees in Oregon, when a sales girl walked up beside them.
"Hi!" She said in an overly cheerful voice. "Can I help you with anything?"
Lex nodded. "Well, my friend here needs some clothes..." He trailed off and motioned towards Chloe. She was still wearing the nightgown. The sales girl smiled knowingly at Lex. He winked.
Chloe stood rooted in shock. Not only was Lex alluding to an entirely different event that lead to her needing clothes, but he winked! Up to that point, had someone told Chloe that Lex Luthor was capable of pulling off a saucy, sexy wink she would have laughed, but now she was surprised enough to find herself ushered into the dressing room by the sales girl, holding the Capri pants, and a halter top.
Seeing the halter top, Chloe rolled her eyes and poked her head over the top of the change stall. Lex was standing, flirting with the sales girl. The girl put her hand on Lex's arm as she laughed at a joke. Chloe shook her head. "In your dreams, Luthor." She called, as she tossed the halter over the top, and hit him squarely in the head.
The sales girl pulled away from Lex. He looked up and shook his head at Chloe, then handed the shirt back to the sales girl with a shrug.
Chloe looked at the Capri pants. They were kinda cute, and had it been anyone other the Lex she was shopping with, she would have bought them. But she felt exposed and transparent with Lex at times, and she didn't see how a form fitting pair of pants was going to improve the situation.
"What are you doing in there?" Lex asked impatiently.
Making up her mind not to let Lex intimidate her, she pulled the nightgown off and put the Capri pants and the hospital sweatshirt on. She stepped out of the change stall. "Well?" She asked.
Lex's eyes narrowed a little, assessing her. He motioned silently with his finger for her to turn around. Slowly Chloe turned around, feeling stupid and very exposed. She came back around and faced Lex. His blue eyes were stormy, and his lips were quirked in a come-hither sort of smirk.
The sales girl spoke up, to Chloe's relief, ruining the mood. "Oh, those are cute pants!" She cooed. "If I had your butt, I'd get them too!"
Chloe instinctively covered her rear with her hands. She looked from Lex to the shop girl, and back. "Maybe she should help me pick out another shirt." She suggested.
Lex nodded, getting the hint, and letting her off the hook. With another unnerving wink, he headed towards the front of the store.
The shop girl smiled. "Your boyfriend?" She asked, as she lead the way to some of the shirts she thought would look good.
"Did he say that?" Chloe demanded.
The girl looked surprised and shook her head. "No, I just guessed from the way he looks at you."
Chloe rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure he looks at all woman that way." The shop girl looked speculatively over to where Lex was standing. Irritated, Chloe cleared her throat. "The shirts?"
Suppressing a grin, the girl nodded, and handed a couple to Chloe to try on.
Chloe pulled on a simple tee shirt. It was cheap, it was blue and best of all it covered a little of her rear. Lex could make her buy the Capri's but he didn't get to see what was in them. She stepped out of the stall.
The girl looked surprised. "You want that one?" She asked. "I mean, it wouldn't take much more to push him over the edge honey!"
Chloe held up her hands to stop the girl from saying more. She was about to explain the situation, when the shop girl's eyes fell onto the unusual bracelet on Chloe's wrist.
She caught Chloe's arm, and looked at the handcuff. "Does this have anything to do with you needing new clothes?" She asked innocently. The smirk in her eyes was not innocent.
Chloe pulled her wrist away. Fed up with the girl's insistence on pairing Lex and her together, she made something up on the spot. "Actually, is all the rage over on the East Coast. It's just picking up here. Very chic, the fad will be here soon. You should get in on it, before it's over."
"Huh?" The girl said. "On the East Coast you say? That's where you're from?"
Chloe nodded, and jerked her thumb towards Lex. "He's rich. Wanted to come here. What do you say? No?" She shrugged, like she couldn't fathom the male mind, which she couldn't. She had had enough of the shop girl's insinuations though.
"Lex?" She called. "Can you pay? Let's get out of here."
He walked over and glanced down at her feet. "No shoes?" He asked.
Chloe made a frustrated sound in her throat. She grabbed a pair of flip- flops from the nearest display and handed them to Lex. He smiled, dutifully paid for everything and turned to go.
He put a hand to Chloe's back to usher her out of the store. The motion pulled Lex's sleeve back a bit, and the shop girl noticed the matching bracelet.
"All the rage huh?" She asked, with a suggestive smirk.
"Ugh!" Chloe groaned, and then hurried out of the store.
Once they were out on the street, Chloe began feeling a little better. She had to admit that the idea of dressing unusually made her feel safer. She glanced over her shoulder at Lex. He did not look like the Lex Luthor she knew. Anyone that saw him would think punk, not tycoon.
She shortened her pace to match Lex's, falling in beside him. They walked without speaking down the street. Enjoying the nice day, looking at the shops, and keeping their eyes peeled for kidnappers with guns.
They were approaching a restaurant, and Chloe's stomach suddenly growled loudly. She realized it had been close to two days since she'd eaten. She turned to ask Lex if they had enough money for food, when she noticed that he'd dropped back behind her again.
She glanced over her shoulder, and realized why. "Hey!" She said sharply, turning so that Lex couldn't scope her out anymore. "Will you stop that!"
"I did pay for them." He reasoned.
"But not what's in them!" She pointed out, and then realized how that could be taken. "Not that that's an option!" She said quickly. "Look can we eat!" She changed the subject.
Lex nodded, and made a studious effort to stay beside her all the way to the restaurant, where he held the door open in a chivalrous manner, and let her go first...
TBC...
