Clark thought he must have been really, really tired because the door opening had obviously failed to wake him. At least that was the conclusion that Clark drew at seeing the guard a few feet away.

He wondered how he'd woken up at all until Lex gave his arm one last shake. "Can I help you?" Lex asked coolly.

"Oh, Mr. Luthor, we're sorry."

Lex was moving off the bed behind Clark and coming to stand before the men. Clark raised his eyes to scan the room. There were one, two, three, four, five men and...Lana? He wondered if Lex had known about that part of the itinerary for the night.

He didn't have time to really dwell on it, because Lex seemed it would be a good idea to reach forward, wrap his hand in his hair, and shove his face into a pillow. Clark struggled a little at first, but then he realized that his face must have been giving something away. Had he looked at Lana in shock?

"I would like an explanation. The first time this happened I could accept that it was an inspection, but this is the second time. This seems suspiciously like you're watching me." The tone of Lex's voice told them all too clearly that he didn't just suspect that they were watching him; it implied that he knew.

The man who seemed to be in charge dropped his eyes. "We were called in to investigate."

"On what charges?" Lex demanded sharply. Clark shifted a little against the pillow and Lex's hand came out of no where and slapped his shoulder hard.

Clark jerked, but fell back against the pillow. His shoulder stung and his mind was reeling with confusion. "Will you stay still, damn it?" Lex barked, everything about him giving off the vibe of a frustrated man who was taking it out on the boy in his bed. "On what charges?" he repeated again, pretending to draw in a breath in frustration.

"That this boy is...more than a bed warmer."

Lex laughed, and Clark shivered at the coldness in that sound. He expected icicles to appear at any moment. He was really beginning to think that if the whole double agent thing didn't work out for Lex that he should just become an actor.

"That's absurd. He's very pretty, yes, but he's no more than a simple bed toy." Clark turned his head just a fraction of an inch, but it was enough to see the proceedings in the room.

"That's a lie and you know it."

Lana stepped forward, her eyes blazing. The tight purple dress that she was wearing fluttered a bit around her knees. She looked every inch the high society woman. Anger burned in Clark's stomach. "You haven't even slept with him."

"I'm sorry, Miss...Lang, isn't it?"

"You know what my name is, Mr. Luthor."

Lex crossed his arms deliberately and gave her a slightly affronted looked. "I get the feeling that you seem to think I know you better than I do. I don't believe we've ever really sat down and talked."

Yes, Clark thought, Lex was one of the best actors he'd ever met. Lying was worth it just to see the horrified look on Lana's face.

"You're playing a dangerous game," she told him, her lips going thin.

"My life is not a game, Miss. Lang," Lex told her softly. "I take my position in this empire seriously. Don't you?"

That was a direct hit. Lana should have known she couldn't play with someone as skilled and practiced as Lex and still come out on top. Still, Clark had to hand it to her, her practiced answer of, "Of course I do," was well said and quite convincing.

"Um, Miss. Lang," one of the guards said softly, clearing his throat. "I don't believe we've found anything amiss here. They were asleep in a bed. By all appearances this seemed to be just what Mr. Luthor says it is and nothing more."

Lana turned to glare at the guard before turning back to Lex. "If he's really your lover then why aren't there any...signs of it on your bed."

Lex smirked. "Although the euphemism is appreciated, it isn't necessary. There's no cum on the bed because we didn't do anything on this particular night. There was a bit of simple kissing and then I decided that I was tired and wished to get some sleep."

"You're lying," she said coolly.

Lex only smiled at her. "I assure you that I am not."

"Miss. Lang, he's-he's not lying," another guard told her tentatively. With a glance at Lex he said, "I apologize, Mr. Luthor, but it was necessary to bug your room."

Both Lana and Lex's eyes widened. Lex, however, was the first to speak.

"That is a direct breech on my privacy and you can be certain it will be brought to the attention of the council."

Lana paled a little at that prospect but kept her cool quite well. Clark saw that Lex had a sort of sparkle in his eye. He knew from experience that Lex only got that look when he'd won something that he'd particularly wanted.

"I think it would be best if you left now," Lex said seriously, almost as if he were discussing a business proposition. "And I would prefer you curtail these late night visits to my home." His voice was curt and left no room for argument. Clark didn't know how Lex could be lying and still make people feel so foolish when they were on the right path.

"Certainly. We are very sorry to have bothered you," the first guard said honestly. "Miss. Lang, there is nothing that we can see that is amiss here."

The guards began to leave the room, and Lana was forced to reluctantly follow them or to risk looking very suspicious. However, the fear of looking suspicious didn't stop her from pausing at the door and looking over her shoulder to shoot them both a venomous glare. Clark knew the fight wasn't over by any stretch of the imagination.

-------------------------------------

Clark was a smart boy, and he knew the drill after only one time to learn. He didn't make any attempt to get out of the bed after the aliens left, and he didn't move while Lex shut the door. They'd supposedly removed the camera, but he knew not to move until Lex could sweep the rest of the area.

Lex didn't say anything, but he curled up behind him again. Lex's hand rested loosely on his hip, and Clark assumed Lex suspected that there were still cameras around. Clark would have been surprised if there hadn't been.

Nothing else would happen that night. Clark knew that, and so it provided him with the security to sleep easily. It wasn't long before he dropped off into slumber, his mind on just what Lana had done to betray him.

-------------------------------------

"You can get up now."

Lex's voice bore into Clark's sleep fogged mind, as did the gentle shaking of his arm.

"Place clean?" he murmured, turning over to face Lex.

"Yes. There are no bugs to speak of," Lex said seriously. "Nice job last night, by the way. Although, I've got to say, you looked at Lana with such shock. I was surprised I could shove your face into the pillow fast enough to hide it."

Clark might have thought Lex was annoyed with him, had he not looked up at him. Lex was grinning softly and his eyes sparkled a little. Apparently he was one of those people who found potentially deadly mishaps amusing.

"The look on her face—it's hard to stay unreadable when something like that happens."

"It was an amusing look," Lex agreed, a smile twisting at the corners of his mouth. "Anyway, I'm going to go to the council building the morning. Amuse yourself with Chloe."

Clark grinned. He was pretty sure they could find something to occupy their time. "What are you going for?" he asked.

"To try to prevent a bill that could get you killed from passing."

Unconsciously, Clark raised his hand and began to scratch at the brand on his back. His fingertips brushed the raised parts of his skin, as he had no shirt on. He immediately jumped and pulled his hand away.

Lex was watching him quietly when he looked up. It was a look of pure worry, although Clark wasn't sure how Lex still managed to worry about him. He thought that if he did, what with all the near-death situations Clark got himself into, Lex should have about the highest blood pressure of anyone Clark had ever met.

"Don't do that," Lex said after a moment.

Clark immediately let his hand drop. "What does her bill propose?" he inquired, trying to change the subject.

It seemed Lex was willing to let him, because he just shrugged and picked his tie up off the end of the bed. He began to tie it, looking in the mirror, as he answered, "It basically says that anyone of your criminal level should be executed, because you are far too dangerous to the regime."

"Can you stop it from getting passed?"

He sat up in the bed and swung his feet around to the floor, still watching Lex intently for an answer.

Lex sighed and finished tying his tie. He turned around from the nightstand and reached for a belt which was also on the bed, slipping it through the loops as he said, "I really don't know, Clark. To be honest with you, it's a good move." He sighed as he buckled his belt. "If I were really trying to secure the future of this regime I'd suggest the same thing. It's going to be very hard for me to fight it and still appear completely loyal."

Clark nodded as he got off the bed. A steaming hot shower sounded pretty good at that point. "Good luck," he called as he headed off into the bathroom. He reflected that he was pretty glad he had Lex on his side, especially since he didn't believe in luck.

------------------------------------------

Clark thought Chloe looked like an angel when she was sleeping. All the fierceness of her face that came with survival as well as the instincts of someone who had planned to be a journalist simply bled away while she was sleeping. He liked her either way, but this was a way he seldom saw her and he enjoyed it.

"Late night?" he asked as he settled beside her.

"Emmm," she muttered, recognizing his voice and curling in against his hip. Her hand came up and slipped around his waist. When she pulled back he complied and came to rest with his head on the pillow next to her.

For a moment he simply stared into her eyes. He hated when he finally had to break the silence to ask questions. "Did you find anything out?"

She yawned and stretched a little under the covers. "Tidbits of information, yes."

"Such as?" he questioned.

"Not a lot really," she said truthfully. "Just a few bits of gossip. It might come in handy later, though, if I've got to sit through some sort of dinner and need to be able to make conversation."

Clark couldn't help but feel a little jealous. He'd never be able to play that part again, because he'd been unlucky enough to receive the brand—the defining mark.

"Want to go for a walk outside?" she asked after a moment.

He shifted away from her a little. "Chloe, you know that I can't go outside."

"No, I know that Lex told you that, and for some reason you're listening." She raised her eyebrow slightly and propped herself up on an elbow while searching his face for a reaction.

"I know you don't like him, but I'd be dead if he hadn't saved me. So would you," he pointed out seriously. Still, the look she was giving him was getting to him.

"You're right," she admitted. "I don't like him. I think he probably would have let me die if you weren't involved. Is that what you wanted to hear?" she asked, her tone rising a little. She dropped it again to an almost seductive tone as she said, "C'mon, Clark. I just want to be outside in the fresh air with you again."

"I don't think it's a good idea," he protested, but he could feel his resolve softening. He knew it wasn't the smartest thing, but Chloe had always walked a little on the wild side. He was fairly sure she didn't understand the seriousness of the situation, but for some reason he couldn't simply tell her no.

"Don't you want to smell the air again, see the sun, be outside?" she coaxed.

He bit his lip slightly and pulled away from her, standing up. She had a way of getting passed his best defenses. "Of course I do, but-"

"But nothing. Lex Luthor is not supreme. You don't have to do what he says."

"I gave him my word."

"It's just a walk, Clark," she said with a sigh. "We've taken walks through battle zones before."

His resolve crumbled. He so desperately did want to be outside again. "Let me get dressed," he said with a sigh. The huge smile that she gave him almost made it worth it.

------------------------------

Clark had at least insisted that he color his hair if they went outside. Chloe hadn't protested that. In fact, she seemed to think it was a good idea.

Clark hadn't been outside since the day in the market. It was such a wonderful feeling to have the sun beating down on your face and the breeze flowing through your hair. He wondered how he'd been able to live in bunkers for the past five years.

So far nothing bad had happened at all. They'd gone street shopping, or rather Chloe had gone shopping and had dragged Clark with her. While he had no interest in it he did enjoy the beautiful smile that it caused her mouth to erupt into.

All of Lex's warnings were seeming very far away. Had he only been bluffing about the scanner and brand thing? Clark was seriously beginning to wonder.

"Green or blue, Clark? Clark!"

He looked back at Chloe. "Blue always looks nice on you," he told her with a grin.

"Oh, please, Clark," she said with a laugh. "You think anything looks good on me as long as you get to take it off later."

He colored a little at her words, but smiled back. "Fair point."

"Up for a little walking along the river?" she asked hopefully, putting the shirts back.

He couldn't turn her down. He knew that they should probably get back to the mansion, but nothing had happened so far, and Clark was feeling confident.

"Sure," he replied, holding out his hand.

She quickly took it and they began to stroll down the street. Denver wasn't like it had been before the aliens came, Clark reflected. They'd completely revamped it. He was pretty sure the only thing they'd left the same was the name.

Cars passed by on the street next to them, and they even passed a few other people on the sidewalk. "It's good to feel the sun," Clark said after a few minutes.

"It's good to be alive," she added. "Did you ever, you know...think you were going to die?" she asked quietly, sounding almost ashamed for thinking such a thing.

"I was sure I was," he said bluntly. "Why?"

She shrugged, her hand still in his. "When I was in one of those camps I was sure I was going to die. I didn't even get a brand because everyone else was sure too. Is it such a bad thing that I pretty much gave up?"

He shook his head. "No, Chloe. You're only human."

She smiled a little at his choice of words. "Not all of us can be Superman."

He looked down at her and smiled. This was what love felt like, he realized. He loved Chloe passionately, unrelentingly, and forever. She was his everything. He was about to say something when some shouting at the end of the block stopped him.

"What's that?" she asked, freezing against his side.

Clark realized what it was immediately. "Run," he told her, instantly dropping her hand. "Meet me back at Lex's mansion."

He didn't know where he'd been picked up, but he knew he had been. He also knew that it hadn't been Chloe that the scanners had found, but him. She'd get away fine, but he didn't like his chances so well.

He immediately began to walk the opposite way down the street. More shouts echoed behind him and he saw as they began to run towards him. Clark broke out into a run. It wasn't like he had anything left to loose by being noticed, anyway.

People stared at him as he ran by, but no one made a move to stop him. He knew he was about a half a mile away from Lex's mansion, but he'd have to lose them if he wanted to go back there. He knew better than to lead them to Lex.

The pounding of feet was obvious behind him, and he knew they were coming fast. Hoping for some luck, he ducked into an ally. It was a long, dark way between two buildings and, to Clark's dismay, the end was blocked with a large chain link fence.

He knew his only chance was to try to climb it somehow, because he certainly couldn't come back the way he'd come in. The thought that he was done crossed his mind, but allowing himself to quit was not an option. Clark had never been a quitter.

He spotted a dumpster against the fence and got himself up on it just as they came around the corner. There were shouted words in the alien language that Clark couldn't decipher as he grabbed the top of the fence to try to get over it.

His mind worked furiously as he thought of all the reasons he needed to make it over that fence. He had too much to live for to simply be killed. He had to get over the fence.

A gunshot sounded and searing pain ripped through his shoulder. Clark saw white as pain cascaded up his shoulder and through his body. A warm stickiness began to envelope his arm.

But he was not a quitter.

He never had been.

Mustering up all his strength, he pushed himself over the fence.

And, to his surprise, he made it.

The ground was not at all soft on the other side of the fence as he landed, and pain exploded in his right ankle. Only sheer force of will made him stand and continue at a broken-gated jog towards safety.

There was a lot of blood on his arm, and he prayed he made it back to the mansion before he passed out. God seemed to be on his side, though, because the alleyway seemed to have cut off the loop he would have had to take.

Looming before him was Lex's mansion.

Without hesitating, he limped as fast as he could around to the back gate. Mercifully, it was still unlocked, as that was the way he and Chloe had gone out. He quickly slipped inside and shut it, still forcing himself to hurry to the small door nearly hidden by some bushes. He and Chloe had had to really search around for an inconspicuous way out, and he was thankful that they'd found it.

He pushed his way inside and locked the door behind him. He hadn't thought he'd ever been so relived to hear the click of a lock in his life. Still forcing himself on, he made his way up the stairs to a main hallway. Blood was dripping off his arm onto the floor and he nearly gagged when he slipped in it.

Just a little further, he kept telling himself. All he had to do was make it to Lex's office, because Lex should have been home by that time. With any luck he would be.

Clark finally made it just as he was on the verge of passing out. "Lex!" he bellowed from outside Lex's door.

The noise of a chair scraping on the floor as it was pushed back away from a desk could be heard. Clark sighed in relief as he heard it, just as his legs gave out.

The door opened a moment later and Lex stepped into the hallway. "Clark?" he asked, glancing around for someone at eye level. At first he didn't see Clark, but then it seemed like he caught sight of him in his peripheral vision. A double take ensued.

"Clark!" he shouted when he saw him lying on the floor, bleeding. His face paled a little more than was normal. "What happened? Did someone break into the mansion?"

Clark shook his head, his strength fast failing. It was like all his reserves had gone away since he knew he was safe. Lex would take care of things. Clark knew he would.

"Then what?"

"I...got shot."

"I can see that!" Lex exclaimed incredulously, looking at Clark in disbelief. Clark was reminded of the time Lex had found him lying on his barn floor after Jason had attacked him. The same worry was so very prominent on his friend's face.

"I think the bullet's...still...in there," he managed to say. The edges of his vision were beginning to blur considerably. Lex was getting blurry as well, and Clark was having to fight desperately to retain a hold on consciousness.

"It'll be all right, Clark," he heard Lex say. After that everything just became too fuzzy. He was pleasantly warm, and his reasons for staying awake were fast fleeing from his mind. Eventually they vanished all together, as did his hold on consciousness.