Clark spent that night wandering the streets of Metropolis. Now that he was alone, he had time to think about all that had happened. He couldn't believe that Chloe was gone. It didn't make sense, he couldn't process the information. He thought back to the years in high school, when Chloe was always there for him. He remembered with fondness their date to the Spring Formal their Freshman Year, cut short by the tornado. He smiled when he remembered how Chloe had teased him about his abilities, before he finally came clean to her about them. That was the biggest leap of faith he'd ever had to take, and he was very glad he had trusted Chloe with his life. She had proven she could protect the secret a hundred times over.
As Clark walked, the night air was refreshing. He passed an open window where there was music playing. Clark paused as he overheard the last few verses of the song drifting out the open window;
I've tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete
I don't mean to drag it on, but I can't seem to let you go
I don't wanna make you face this world alone
I wanna let you go (alone)
I've tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete
As the song drew to a close, Clark was overcome with emotion and loss. He knew who he had to see.
Incomplete Song lyrics written by Darren Hayes
Clark knocked softly on the door to room 343 at Metropolis Memorial Hospital as he slowly eased the door open. Visiting hours were long since over, but Clark had easily snuck by the nurse's station. The lights were off in the room, save one bedside lamp. Clark silently closed the door, and turned to face the young woman lying in the hospital bed. She was sleeping, and the soft light from the lamp gave her a peaceful look, though Clark knew she was suffering greatly inside.
Clark moved silently to her bedside, and quietly moving the chair, he sat at her side, taking her hand in his. The pulse monitor on her index finger prevented Clark from squeezing too tight. He gazed on her sleeping form, glad she had finally been able to rest. It had been a horribly long, tragic day. Clark sat in the dark, listening to the sounds of the hospital outside the door, the steady rhythm of her breathing calming him.
Rustling of sheets brought Clark back from his dreamless sleep. He opened his eyes to find his head lying on his arms, his hand still gripping hers. Clark lifted his head, and as he looked up, he saw her awake and looking at him.
"Hi," he said dumbly, still half asleep.
Lois gave him a weak smile.
"Did you get some sleep?" Clark asked her as he sat up stretching, and forcing himself to wake up. He looked at his watch, it was just after six.
Lois nodded slowly, her lower lip beginning to quiver as she looked at Clark.
"Chloe's really gone, isn't she?" she asked, her voice breaking and her face contorting as she tried to keep from crying in front of Clark. It didn't work; the tears came fast and furious, slipping out of her eyes and running down her cheeks and the sides of her face. She closed her eyes, trying to keep the pain at bay.
Clark reached up and wiped the tears from her face with his thumbs.
"Chloe is gone, Lois, but I'm here," Clark tried to comfort her, while also trying to keep his emotions from breaking through to the surface.
Lois nodded, as her tears became full sobs. She leaned forward and grabbed Clark suddenly, in a fierce embrace, letting it all out. She cried long and she cried hard. Clark joined her for a bit, silent tears flowing down his face.
Clark held her tightly, and smoothed her hair as she cried. Soon, she was silent again, save for the occasional sniffle. Lois had Clark in a tight embrace, afraid if she let go, he'd leave her too.
Finally, Lois released her locked grip on Clark. She leaned back, her head down; she had a slight smile on her lips, a smile of disbelief. She looked up at him, and Clark met her look full on. He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears.
"Thanks, Smallville," Lois said, her voice cracking from the strain of her heavy sobs. But she sounded more like her usual self. She leaned back on her hospital bed with a large sigh.
"I needed that," she said, her eyes tearing up again. There were no sobs this time, just silent tears that slowly fell.
"I meant what I said," Clark gently urged, "I'm here for you, Lois."
Soon thereafter, a nurse came in to check on Lois, and kicked Clark out of the room. Clark wandered the halls of the hospital. It was stark white, no vibrant paint on the walls like the Smallville Medical Center. Here it was cold and unfeeling. Clark rounded the corner of the hallway, and almost ran into Lex.
"Sorry," Clark said, absently as he made to walk around Lex.
"Clark," Lex said.
Clark stopped and looked, seeing who it was he'd almost run into. His face clouded as he saw it was Lex.
"Your okay, I see," Lex noticed.
Clark nodded, his eyes darkening as he looked at his old friend, who was unrecognizable to him, anymore.
"I was just discharged, and I wanted to see Lois," Lex said hesitantly, not having ever seen Clark glare at him so hatefully before, not even after all that happened with Lana.
"I don't think she'll want to see you," Clark said monotonously through tightly drawn lips and a clenched jaw.
"It was all an accident, Clark. I would never hurt Chloe intentionally," Lex tried to explain tiredly. Clark shook his head in anger.
"Maybe not, but she's dead anyway. And you certainly killed your father with no qualms," Clark interjected. Lex looked like he'd been slapped in the face.
"That wasn't my father, Clark. That was some psycho hack-job's excuse of a science project. My father has been gone for six months now," Lex's face darkened as he spoke. He barely remembered his actions from the day before, and he liked it that way.
"It's all excuses with you, Lex. And I'm done with them," and with that Clark turned his back and walked away.
Lex watched him walk away, feeling somewhat saddened at the tragic course their friendship had taken the past ten years. But this was it. Lex knew Clark would never be back. Alone again, Lex thought to himself, as he made his way to Lois's hospital room.
Clark walked fast down the hall, anger towards Lex stewing. Ahead he caught a glimpse of Lana and her Aunt Nell. Clark pushed his anger away, and rushed to catch up with the two women.
"Lana," Clark called as he came up behind them. Lana and Nell both turned. Lana looked very tired, and her eyes were red and puffy. She's been crying too Clark thought sadly. Nell gave Clark a soft smile, and excused herself to finish Lana's release paperwork.
As Nell walked away, Lana and Clark looked at each other.
"I know you probably have questions, and I'll answer them, I really will," Clark spoke, his face pleading for understanding, and time.
"I know, Clark," Lana answered reassuringly. "We have time, I'll be staying with Nell until after Chloe's funeral," Lana's eyes welled with tears as she spoke of Chloe. She smiled and shook her head softly.
"Sorry Clark," she added, as two tears slid down her cheeks.
"Lana, don't apologize for caring," Clark pulled her to him, providing comfort yet again. Lana held him too, but for only a few minutes.
"Pete's flying in tonight," she said as she pulled away, wiping her face with her hands.
"Okay. Lana, Pete knows too. So if you need to talk about it with someone other than me, you can talk to Pete," Clark offered. Lana looked at him, and for the first time, Clark couldn't tell what she was thinking.
"Thanks, Clark," Lana finally said.
"I'd better go," she smiled as she turned.
"Lana," Clark gently pulled at her arm, "I really want to explain everything, please let me."
Lana nodded, "Come by Nell's tonight. You remember where she lives, right?"
Clark smiled, and released Lana's arm. As she walked away, Clark stood in place not sure what to do next. At the end of the hall, Lana turned and gave Clark one more look. Clark lifted his hand, and Lana smiled and disappeared around the corner.
Lois was putting on her socks and shoes when Lex came into her hospital room. She was confronted with mixed feelings about seeing him. She was happy he was alive and not harmed, but she was furious for his part in the events that killed Chloe, and she was fearful of the rage she witnessed when he killed the cyborg Lionel.
Lois paused as he stood in her doorway, her heart rate climbing with her nervousness as she turned her attention back to dressing her feet.
Lex saw in her look fear, anger, and pity. He braced himself for the conversation.
"Are you alright?" Lex asked as he took a few more steps into the room.
"Physically, I'm fine," Lois replied shortly. She wasn't going to cry, not in front of Lex. She avoided his gaze, and bit the inside of her lip to keep from breaking down again.
"Good," he responded. He watched her tie her shoelaces in uncomfortable silence.
When Lois finished tying her shoes she hopped down from the hospital bed, and grabbing her bag, she walked out of the hospital room, brushing by Lex like he wasn't there.
Lex closed his eyes as Lois brushed past him.
He did nothing to stop her as he let her walk out of his life. Lex felt his heart break for the last time.