A/N: Have you ever gotten a stitch in your back that you cannot get rid of? This week, I've been plagued with a particularly nasty one… just behind my right shoulder blade. Maybe it's because I don't sit properly in the office or at home… Maybe it's because I have poor posture while working on the computer… All I know is that it's really wrecking my sleeping schedule. Not that this has anything to do with this story… I just needed to complain. ;D OK, on with the story…
Chapter 11
I slowly came back to my senses. I felt raindrops on my face, which totally matched the heaviness in my heart. My eyes fluttered open and I saw Clark above me, water or tears streaming down his face. I couldn't tell which, but I suppose it didn't really matter. But the angle was all wrong. I felt his arms around me and his legs under me and realized exactly how we were sitting. I would have blushed at the thought of him holding me on his lap if I hadn't been so miserable. Apparently, he had tried to keep me as dry as possible, which I thought was terribly sweet of him. We were under the windmill, which gave us scant protection from the elements. "They're gone," I whispered. I wondered why my throat felt so raw and my head throbbed with such intensity. Then it came on with even more pain attached to it. "Clark…" I wailed, careless of my sore throat. "Clark, they're gone!" My pain felt like it was raw and chafing in the wind. Those girls had truly become sisters to me in two days… and to have them suddenly and violently ripped from me…
"It'll be okay, Chloe. They're in a better place." His face expressed his hope that this was true, but I'm not sure he believed it.
I did, though. "I know, Clark. I saw them in their goddess glory." I didn't want to admit this, but this was going to be bad… really bad. "They said they had to leave so the big bad that's coming wouldn't be able to multiply its badness. Something about having too many goddesses on hand giving it more free reign or something… And they had been here for so long… Even Vinny has been doing this for over a century." I looked up at him and I knew that fear was shining out of my eyes. "Clark, how am I going to defeat some sort of monster all by myself?"
Clark clasped me to him tightly and I clung to him like the lifeline he was. "Chloe, you won't have to do it alone. I'm here," he murmured as he smoothed my wet hair. Every pass of his hand seemed to soothe the pain my body was in. Then I felt him shudder. "I thought I'd lost you before…" He stuttered off. To complete that sentence would have just brought it too close to home.
I wanted to laugh and tell him it would take a lot more to get rid of me, but such levity was beyond me. To be honest, I hadn't been absolutely sure I was going to make it. And how could I tell him that his willingness to sacrifice himself for me had been the passing answer for some random test… which resulted in my current state? And how would I know what to do? Unlike him, I hadn't been dealing with this every day of my life. But instead of any of that, my mind forced me to ask the inane. "Clark, why are we still here? I'm wet."
Clark laughed and I felt a little glow of happiness. It was always my personal challenge to bring some levity into an overly serious farm boy's life. "I wasn't sure I should move you, Chlo. When the light hit us, you went entirely stiff and then you were hardly breathing. But I couldn't leave you alone and bring help… so I moved us to the closest 'shelter'."
I gave him Smile #14 and had to say, "But Clark… You did move me…" He chuckled again, which was nice, but the worry was still in his eyes. In a way, I was glad that he hadn't brought me to the hospital… especially since there was no knowing the physical changes this goddess thing had done to me. But I was feeling better and stronger physically… surprisingly quickly. I sat up and scrambled to my feet. I couldn't even find the strength to look at him.
"Chloe," he protested as he also stood. "Take it easy… You could still be…"
I looked at him and smiled. "Clark, I'm fine… I just…" I trailed off because I still couldn't talk about it… and how his sacrifice now made him my partner in combating the oncoming evil. I cast about for something… anything to change the subject. "Just don't think I'm going to forget your idiotic offer of self-sacrifice."
He looked a little abashed, but his determination remained. "Chloe, get used to it. I absolutely couldn't standby and let something horrible and senseless happen to you when it was possible for me to prevent it." I would have responded caustically, but he went on with hardly a breath. "If you're feeling good enough, I should take you home."
I just stared at him for a moment before I could respond. Was he mad at me? After all we'd gone through the day before, was he reconsidering our relationship… friendship or otherwise? I reluctantly nodded, because of all the things running through my head, I didn't want to voice my fears. He swept me off my feet… literally… and took off. I didn't feel half of the environmental pressures as before, so I knew that Clark was trying to take it easy on me. I would have told him that he didn't have to be so careful, but I was feeling safe and secure in his harms… and if the big evil really was coming, I needed to treasure these moments… especially if he was going to sever all contact now that he knows what trouble this is shaping up to be…
My house appeared too quickly for my tastes. Clark gently set me down. We stood at the door and stared at each other for a moment that seemed to last forever. I wondered if it was just my imagination or if he really was a little pale. The reasons for that were almost too many to list? Could it be that he was scared of me? Was he coming down with something? Was there kryptonite around? But then another possible reason hit me and my heart sped up. It was almost too fabulous to hope for. Was he nervous about kissing me goodnight? I thought about leaning forward to indicate that a kiss would be welcome, but once again… that urge seemed a little too forward. I settled instead for Smile #342.
But against all logic, Clark just smiled back and retreated down the stairs. "Sleep well, Chloe," he said softly. I thought he looked a little disappointed, but that was probably just my overactive imagination.
I didn't want to show him my disappointment, but the impulse to just stand there in shock was overwhelming. "You too, Clark." He waved and raced away. As I turned to enter the house, I heard Dad's car coming down the road. I smiled sadly. Apparently, Clark's precipitous departure could have had some justification… After all, we didn't have his truck and that would look really odd to Dad. I could have done the old "Clark's car broke down about a mile down the road", but Dad would probably offer to drive him to it.
I wanted to be angry with either Clark or Dad, but I just couldn't seem to muster it. After all, Clark had learned my secret, asked me out on a date, offered to give up his life for me and had to care for me while I'd been unconscious. How could he not freak out? And Dad… Well, Dad just had the best case of bad timing I'd ever seen. Quickly, I went inside and sadly trudged up the stairs. Talking to Dad was just totally beyond me tonight.
A/N: I know it's a short chapter, but to jump into the stuff for the next chapter would just be too bad… However, I did nearly forget to document this smile numbers in this chapter. What a crime that would have been! ;D (Smile #14: Grateful for everything someone does for me. Smile #342: I am totally open to the usual goodnight kiss...) I know it's a short chapter, but to jump into the stuff for the next chapter would just be too bad… However, I did nearly forget to document this smile numbers in this chapter. What a crime that would have been! ;D (
markmark261: I was totally distraught when I read you didn't particularly care for the chapter! That's a first for me, but because of your honesty, I cherish it. Hoping it is that you're upset you couldn't bring out your red proofing pen, but that's just me! ;D
Anyway, my reasoning behind the Clark thing was that they really had no time to explore further options. And with Chloe being the newest goddess, why would they think she would be best able to take on the Big Bad all by herself? I just wanted the PTB (whom I not too incredibly fond of myself) to feel the need to test Clark on his willingness to be part of the effort. (If you'll remember, the other goddesses weren't really talking in their own voices.)
But now it's my turn for honesty… when I was re-reading the chapter to proof it before final posting, I discovered that it really wasn't my favorite chapter either. Something about it, while it did hit my tear bone at first, didn't feel right. But I was so anxious to put up an update that I didn't take the time to rewrite. But I did have Chloe try to rip him a new one… ;D
spaceboi's pixie: I scared you? Wow! Now that says something. ;D
MacGateFan: I'm glad. Personally, I'm a little irritated at the short chapters recently, but they'll get better soon… I hope! ;D
Cherri202: Oh, it was driving me BATTY! So I broke the rules occasionally and used my work internet. (You know… Big Brother is ALWAYS watching you! ;D) But everything is kosher now, so my heartrate can go back to "normal".
iluvsmallville1: OK, the wand thing… You're last review said you waved your wand to get me to update again soon… but with the internet connection and all… so that's why I said your wand was "broken". ;D
I will say again that while writing the previous chapter, at work no less, I nearly burst into tears. What cracks me up is that between when I wrote it and when I posted it, I really thought I had written it long. Oh well…
