The morning sun was just beginning to rise over downtown Metropolis, its rays bouncing off the large bronze globe atop The Daily Planet building. Chloe shielded her eyes from its intense glare as she stood outside the front entrance, looking across the street towards the little coffee shop on the corner. Suddenly she felt a whoosh at her side and heard Clark's voice.

"I got you a grande—I thought you could use it." He said, handing her a large paper cup.

"Thanks." Chloe said, taking a long sip. The coffee was strong, just like she needed, and the steam from it felt good upon her tired eyes. "I can't believe we stayed out all night and got nowhere" She grumbled, her voice raspy in the brisk morning air. She rubbed her neck, sore from sitting upright for hours, and ran a hand through her disheveled hair. "I thought for sure the source was going to show up. Sorry I dragged you along for nothing."

"No problem—I'm always game for a good stakeout." Clark smiled and took an impressive gulp from his coffee, crumbling the empty cup and tossing it into a nearby

trash can.

"Show off."

Clark smiled. "Grumpy this morning aren't we?" He laughed, shaking his head. "Come on Chloe—that's the life of a reporter—chasing down endless leads that go nowhere." He gave her a little shove on the arm. "You know you love it."

Chloe tried to bat his hand away, but her attempt to look annoyed failed and she broke out into a sleepy smile. "Okay, maybe I do—but I just wish I looked half as good as you do after a sleepless night prowling around the dark alleys of Metropolis. I'm a mess and you are still fresh as a daisy."

"You look pretty good to me." Clark said, a bit too intimately as Chloe blushed and he

quickly back tracked. "Well, no one ever said bringing down Lex would be easy."

Chloe shrugged and reached for the door; Clark stepped in front of her and held it open as they walked into the front lobby. The area was quiet, the calm before the mad morning rush, and only the sound of the janitor buffing the floors could be heard. "You're right, Clark. I guess I got a little too excited when a man claiming to be an ex-employee of Level 33.1 leaves me a cryptic message saying he has incriminating info—and wants to meet me. I should have known better—it's all a little too convenient."

"Maybe—or maybe he chickened out. Or maybe someone got to him first."

"That's possible." Chloe said thoughtfully as the two walked across the lobby towards the basement stairs. They climbed down them in silence till they reached the basement offices.

Clark opened the door ahead for Chloe. "Well, if he's legit—and really does want to help—he'll probably try to get in touch with you again."

"Maybe. Or—" Chloe paused in the doorway; her eyes lit up and she reached into her pocket for her cell phone. She scrolled through her saved calls till she came across a call logged as blocked from a few days ago. "My guy at the phone company was only able to tell me that the source's call came from a cell tower outside Metropolis. But maybe my other guy can help me narrow things down a bit."

"What do you mean?"

"There was a women's voice in the background when this guy called me a few days ago—it was muffled but sounded like it was coming over some sort of PA system. My guy might be able to single it out, amplify it, and it might give us a clue to where this guy is calling from. Like a bus or train station or something. Narrow down the area so then I can go find him myself." She held the phone out and placed it in Clark's hand. "Here ya go—I heard you have really super hearing."

"Oh really?" Clark said, leaning up against the door frame with one hand, pressing the phone to his ear. "So now I'm just one of your guys?"

Chloe smiled, ducking underneath his arm. "The best."

Clark laughed and followed behind her, weaving through the newsroom. "Can you make anything out yet?" Chloe called over her shoulder as they approached her desk. Clark had no time to reply as they were both stopped by the sight of Jimmy, his upper body sprawled across her desk, his head cradled underneath his right arm fast asleep.

"Jimmy?" Chloe said, and he let out a soft groan. "Jimmy!" She said louder, reaching across the desk to shake him. He let out a grunt and bolted upright, dazed. His hair was flattened on the side and a deep crease ran down the side of his cheek from where he had been lying on her mouse pad.

"Huh, wha—Chloe, hey." He stuttered, and his eyes darted between the both of them.

There were dark shadows underneath his eyes and his clothes were crumpled; he ran a hand down his neck, twisting it till there was a series of loud snaps and cracks. "What time is it?"

"It's five in the morning—did you sleep here?"

Jimmy rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms over his head. "Yeah—but only for about the last hour or so."

"What have you been doing? Working on a story?"

Something flickered in his eyes and he crossed his arms, leaning back into her chair. "Not everything in life has to revolve around a good story or The Daily Planet." He sniped.

"Excuse me?"

Clark shot Chloe a look and stepped back to give them a bit of privacy.

"I came here," Jimmy began. "And waited for you when you didn't show up for our date—or answer any of my calls—because this is the only place I could think of that you might be."

A look of recognition came over Chloe and she tossed her bag down, crouching down on Jimmy's side. "I'm sorry Jimmy—I forgot." She placed her hand on his, but he looked away. "But if you would have let me tell you what was going on the other day then you would have known. I had a source call me, telling me he had inside information about Level 33.1 and wanted to meet me. And a big break like that is what I need to really get my story off the ground." She smiled hopefully but Jimmy just rolled his eyes. "And I'm sorry I missed your calls, but me and Clark were out in sketchy part of town and I barely get any reception out there—"

"Save it."

Chloe saw Clark take a step forward, a troubled look on his face. "Jimmy—"

Jimmy waved his hands in the air, cutting him off. "It's okay Clark, it's fine." He shifted his gaze back to Chloe. "It's just that I keep waiting."

"Waiting for what?" Chloe asked, her voice strained. She stood up and Jimmy stood up to meet her.

"For our relationship to be as important as one of your stories."

Chloe looked as if she had been smacked across the face, and she took a step backwards, unable to say anything in return. Clark came to her side and handed her back her cell phone. "Do you want me to leave you two alone?" He whispered uncomfortably and Chloe nodded. "I'll call you later then." He walked off towards the door, throwing a cautionary look or two over his shoulder.

"For the record," Chloe sniffed when they were finally alone. "I do think you are important. But I am also a journal—"

'Then prove it." Jimmy demanded, grabbing her by the hand. Chloe jerked back slightly, frightened by the sudden fervor in his eyes. He reached into his pocket. "I've been thinking about this for some time now and, well, I have a question to ask you."