The drive to Metropolis was blessedly uneventful. Lex breathed a sigh of relief as the city limit sign flashed by. Clark hadn't called the police, or if Jonathan had, they'd waited long enough that they were already in Metropolis.

Chloe had woken up about half way back to the city. She sat as motionless as possible, just focusing on breathing through the pain. Lex wished that he had had the foresight to get some painkillers before they left Smallville. Chloe hissed as Lex hit a pothole, not paying attention to the road because of his thoughts.

The first gad station that Lex saw on the way into Metropolis, he pulled over.

"I'm gonna get you something for the pain Chloe." Lex said, before jumping out of the truck, and hurrying into the store.

He came back with the strongest pain meds he could find. Chloe dry swallowed three, and then leaned her head against the seat, waiting for them to take effect.

They continued their drive into the city's center, where Lex found a cheap hotel just off of the main drag and booked a room, paying in cash. He helped Chloe into the room, and laid her on the bed.

She sighed in relief at not moving anymore. Lex pulled the curtains and flopped down on the other bed. Swiftly, both fell into a dreamless sleep.

***

When Chloe woke, the first thing she noticed was that she wasn't in her own bed, again. It wasn't all a bad dream. Then her arm began to pound, and she sighed, wishing that the gunshot wound, at least, had been a dream.

She sat up a little, and looked the room over. Lex was no where to be seen, but he had left the bottle of pain killers on the bedside table beside her. She swallowed a few more, and lay down again, wondering where Lex had gone, but not having the energy to get up and find out.

She must have managed to drift off to sleep, because she found herself opening her eyes again. She didn't remember closing them, but significant time must have passed, because the sunlight was no longer lighting up the room through the curtains.

There was illumination coming from a lap by the other bed. Chloe rolled her head over, and saw that Lex was back. He saw her movement, and looked over.

Smiling, he got up and come over to her. "Hey, need more pain meds?"

She nodded. "That would be nice." She agreed.

He went into the bathroom, to get her a glass of water and came back with a pack of ice as well.

"This will help." He said, as he very carefully lifted her arm, before settling the ice underneath. She gasped at the pain, and then sighed, as the ice felt so good. He handed her more pills, and then helped her sit up so she could take them with water.

She swallowed, and then drank the whole glass of water, finding herself very thirsty. Lex lay her back down again.

"Are you okay?" He said. "You just need to rest, to heal. You should be fine." When Chloe nodded agreement, Lex went back to his bed and sat down.

"Whatcha got there?" Chloe asked. She was very much awake, and until the painkillers kicked in, she wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep.

"The shipping records." Lex said.

"What?" Chloe was surprised. She had seen Adams take them.

"Remember the envelope?" Lex asked quietly.

At his words, she did remember him putting the majority of the records into an envelope and setting to be mailed the next morning. "What day is it?" She asked, wondering how long it had taken the mail to get there.

"About one o'clock in the morning, the day after." Lex said. "I just got back with this."

"Finding out anything helpful?" Chloe asked, hoping that there was something there. After all, she had gotten shot for those particular papers.

He nodded slowly. "I think so." He shook his head. "I just don't like what it adds up to."

"Lex, I was wondering, how did you know about Adams?" She asked, thinking that he had put the records in the mail, before showing Adams what they had found.

Lex smiled. "I've never completely trusted him, actually. I'm not sure if he's aware of it or not, but I've always operated under the possibility that he could turn on me."

"Seems like a fairly risky venture then, asking him to help us figure this out."

Lex shook his head. "Not really, there is only one person that I thought could turn Adams, and up to this point, I thought that it wasn't a problem."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, these records have made me realize who is likely to be the biggest threat and it isn't Winston. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see that before I called Adams. I realize now that I've been playing into his hands from the beginning." He sighed again.

"Who?" Chloe asked.

Lex just gave her a blank look, like he couldn't believe she couldn't figure it out on her own. "My father." Lex said his voice dead, before turning his attention back to the papers.

Chloe lay in shock. She couldn't believe that Lex could be so impassive about that kind of betrayal. She swallowed.

"Well, why is your father the only one that could have turned Adams?" She asked, hoping that maybe there was another answer. Her recent desire to see her own father was coloring her reaction to the situation.

"Because my father was the one that helped Adams out the first few times. When I say that Adams is loyal to Luthor, I mean my father first and foremost. He helps me out, because I'm my fathers son."

"Well, what about the records then. How can you be sure that your father is involved?" Chloe demanded.

"Besides the fact that Adams was willing to shoot us over them?" Lex asked, giving her a look.

Chloe shrugged with her good arm, giving him that. She saw the hurt flicker in his eyes, and realized he was more hurt by his father then even cared to admit to himself.

"Mostly because of the dates." He said, picking up the records and moving over to Chloe's side so that he could show her what he was talking about.

"These shipping dates indicate that this had been going on for a long time." He brandished a record. "This one is dated a year before he even sent me to the run the plant!" He shook his head. He pulled another record out of the stack. "And look at this one. After this shipment, everything changes. Do you recognize the date? That was two weeks after Lexcorp took the plant. It's just too much to be a coincidence. This is not the kind of thing my father wouldn't have a part of."

"So you're saying your father is behind all this?" She demanded. "Like he *started* this?"

Lex nodded. "It has his flavor. Sort of sneaky and underhanded, but almost a classy operation." He sighed and gritted his teeth. "And I haven't noticed until now!"

Chloe reached out and put her hand on his. He seemed surprised and looked up at her.

Chloe just lay on her back, holding Lex's hand, not really sure what to say, and figuring that silence was better then saying something stupid; but then a new thought flashed into her head, and she had to know.

"Lex, what about the kidnapping?" She asked.

Lex closed his eyes briefly and nodded. "Yeah. I know."

"Lex, why would he kidnap you?" Chloe spoke slowly, more thinking out loud then anything. "I mean, no offence, but you hadn't figured it out, so why would he make you all suspicious now? Did he want you to know?"

Lex looked at her sharply, new respect forming in his eyes. She was so smart, and he was clouding the issue with regret that he couldn't have a normal father. Chloe was right. Why kidnap him now? Why at all?

Chloe watched as her comment set off a chain reaction in Lex's brain. She could practically see the wheels turning as he pondered options and possibilities. She smiled to herself when his thumb began absently stroking the top of her hand. He didn't seem to be aware he was doing it, he was so deep in thought. The feeling was comforting and lulling, and Chloe could feel herself drifting off to sleep.

Damn pain killers! She thought, as her eyes drifted closed. The last thing she thought she felt was light pressure on her lips, like a kiss, but that could have just been her dreams sneaking up on her.

TBC.

A/N: Sorry if this one reads a little disjointed. Sometimes my writing just doesn't flow as smoothly as I want it too! Glad people are still reading this!