hey!sry its been such a LONG time since i updated!i was in Columbus over the weekend and couldn't update then and as for the rest of the time...i'm lazy!there's a lot of lana in this chapter, but plz just bear with me...read, review, and plz, enjoy!

Clark sat at the lab, waiting with Lois, for the results to return. Soon they would know if the blood he had found was Chloe's. He hoped, desperately, that it was not.

"Clark?"

He looked up at Lois, "Yes?"

"It is."

Those two words brought on a flood of emotion: fear, that maybe she was dead, anger, at himself for not rescuing her from this unforeseeable crisis, and love, for the girl who had always been there for him. A tear slowly made its way down his face.

………………………………………………………………………

As she pulled up in front of the mansion; she felt a twinge of fear.

Lex wouldn't hurt me…would he?

Slowly she turned off the car and got out. She walked into the mansion, and headed for the study. But the sound of voices kept her from entering when she reached it. She stood quietly, listening to the conversation.

"There were bloody blankets and some bloody rags lying around, but no girl."

Lana shuddered, Were they talking about Chloe?

"So, she was there. Some one must be helping her…I want you to start checking the hospitals in the area. Sooner or later they'll be forced to get outside help."

So Chloe was alive, and she was injured, Lana turned to leave, but before she could the doors opened.

"Mr. Luthor, I believe we have a problem."

Lana turned and ran, but only made it to the steps when the filthy man caught her. Fighting him every step of the way, she was forcefully dragged back to the study. The man shoved her forward then looked at Lex for direction.

"Wait outside."

The man nodded and left, closing the doors behind him.

"How could you?" Lana spat out angrily.

"I'm sorry I had to, but it was necessary."

She stared at him in disbelief, "Why did you shoot Chloe?"

"She was an obstacle in my way. She had to be disposed of."

"So, you just shot her?"

"I gave her a chance first. I offered her a way to end this before it began, but she wouldn't take it," he paused, "And I'll offer you a choice to…"

"And if I don't agree to this 'choice' you offer?"

Lex's jaw clenched, Why was she being so difficult? He sighed inwardly, Could he kill Lana? He loved her, but she would never keep quiet about Chloe. He knew what he had to do.

"You can either keep quiet," he stepped closer, "It would be our secret."

"You're despicable."

Ha appeared as if he hadn't heard her, "Or you can suffer the same fate as Chloe."

Lana stared at him, Would he actually kill her? Lex wasn't a murderer, was he?

"You know I won't keep quiet."

Lex just looked at her, "Then….I'm sorry."

Lana grabbed his drink and threw its contents into his face. Turning she ran out the double doors. The man who had caught her earlier stood there grinning, "Thought you'd get away, did you?"

She didn't reply, but as he came towards her she kicked him. Hard, in the stomach, as he doubled over clutching his stomach, she ran outside, jumped into her car and sped away.

……………………………………………………………………

Clark sat in front of his computer screen. He was slowly checking all the floppy disks and CD-ROMs that had been in Chloe's bag. Inside his pocket his cell phone began vibrating. He quickly pulled it out and answered, "Hello."

"Clark?"

"Lana?"

"Clark, Lex shot Chloe, but I think she's still alive. I…"

"Lana, slow down."

"Clark! Lex is behind everything! The dorm, Chloe, the laptop…."

Lex? Why would he want to kill Chloe? Clark glanced at the computer screen, he had his answer, "I think I know why he did….where are you?"

"Almost to the Talon."

"Stay there. Does Lex know you know?"

"Yes"

"Be careful."

"I will."

………………………………………………………………………

Chloe sat in the hospital bed, trying to piece everything together. The last thing she really remembered was the sound of a gunshot and fiery pain. After that it was all just bits and pieces.