Sorry for the long wait you guys! I am not the fastest updater because of work and school...plus I get distracted by SV spoiler talk very easily...

A/N: Lana didn't see Clark use his powers in Crimson

American Gothic

Obscure Medical facility...

Seeds of pure anger and panic planted themselves in the pit of Clark's stomach at the sight before him. His best friend, the girl who he just realized that he cared for more than he previously realized, was strapped to a steel table like some sort of science experiment, a lab rat. His Chloe did not deserve to be treated in such a manner. These thoughts fuelled his growing anger as he scanned the room to determine his plan of action. The immediate area around Chloe included three doctors checking levels and other things. The guards appeared to be in the far flank of the building, making Clark's task easier. He needed time to remove all of the contraptions hooked on Chloe. Clark shifted into super speed to begin his rescue mission. He made quick work of the "doctors" giving each of them a swift "tap" on the head rendering them unconscious. Once he made sure the area was secure he ran to Chloe's side.

He stood over her fragile self thinking of where he should start. He brushed the side of her face in a gentle manner. "Chloe?" He asked her still form to see if there were any signs of consciousness still brushing her face lightly. "I'm going to get you out of here." He stated softly reassuring himself more than the unconscious Chloe. He gently started to remove the restraints binding her arms, legs, and midsection leaving the material over her chest for some "privacy". Clark did not want to use this opportunity to catch a glimpse of something he has been dreaming about for the last couple of days. His movements and touches were so slow and soft it almost appeared as a lover's touch.

When Clark's hands reached the head restraint, he was nervous. He did not want to harm Chloe by making a stupid mistake. Her fragile state only doubled his fears. He slowly started to unscrew the contraption until it was free from her head. When he removed it, her hair fell to the sides. Clark brushed her hair out and finally made his way to the tubes in Chloe's throat. As he started to withdraw the tubes he shifted his vision into X-ray mode to make sure he did not hurt her sensitive jugular area. Chloe must have felt the change in her throat because she started to cough herself awake.

"Hey" Clark said gently to her, "You're going to be ok. I am going to get you out of here."

Confusion washed over Chloe's face, but it was soon replaced by the memories of the light, the voices, and the needle. "Clark" Chloe called out half delirious with a scratchy voice. "I knew you would save me." She smiled up at him with relief and what looked to be love.

Clark couldn't remove his eyes from hers, "I will always be there Chloe. Always." After he finished his sentence he placed a tender kiss on he lips. He didn't care about Jimmy any more. He only wanted Chloe. As he retracted his face, Clark realized she slipped back into her unconscious state. Deciding it was time they made their exit, Clark scooped her in his arms making sure the cloth was still covering her bare flesh. Her head rested comfortably against his broad chest as he sped them the hell out of there…

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The Talon

Jimmy stared at the phone with intensity. No one called him back yet and he was truly scared. He need to know if she was ok.

Knock Knock Knock

Jimmy jolted from his position running to the door, "Chloe!" Jimmy asked hopefully as he opened the door, but was met with her best friend instead.

"So I take it she hasn't been found yet." Lana said sadly

"Nothing at all. Clark hasn't called. I called everyone Chloe knows, but nobody knows anything."

"I talked to Lex about it. He seems to not know about the abduction, but he does know Dr. Bethany."

"Do you think Lex was involved somehow?" Jimmy asked her suspiciously.

"I don't know to be honest." Lana said as she took a seat on the couch. She ran her hands through her hair. It has been a long night. She went to the hospital to find out Dr. Bethany's location, but he was not working. So she went to his home, with a little investigating of her home, but again he wasn't there. She was at a dead end. The only thing that she could do was to wait with Jimmy until Clark returned..

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The Talon…

Jimmy and Lana sat in a somber silence awkwardly glancing over at one another from time to time. The silence in the room seemed to propel Jimmy into a chasm of random memories and thoughts. Moments obscure and small darted through out his mind. The time when Chloe praised his "heroic" effort in saving Lex and Lana from being lost in "static", the moment in her Yaris when they reconnected and shared a passionate kiss, and the moment when he first laid eyes on her…

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He was about to start his internship at the Daily Planet. He was early for orientation, so he just sat nervously in the conference room chomping away at the chips placed in the center of the table. With the opening of the door , Jimmy's world went into slow motion. Chloe, smart-spunky-beautiful Chloe, walked into the room, filling the empty space with her radiant presence. She confidently strode across the room, obviously excited and proud to be there. She gracefully took the seat next to him.

"Someone beat me!" She teased him slightly offering him her hand "Hi. I am Chloe!"

Jimmy was dumbstruck for a few moments, but soon hurried to recover with a response, "mmph jimphy" Jimmy blurted out forgetting that he had a mouth full of chips. She giggled at his awkwardness "I'm sorry" he offered as an explanation after he swallowed the rest of the chips. "My name is Jimmy" He smiled at her like a first grader who had a crush on his teacher…

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Jimmy knew he was lucky to catch her. She was truly a one in a million type of girl.

Jimmy's mind then fluttered to a letter he once read in one of his History classes. They were reading letters written by soldiers in Vietnam (Citation: Dear America). One soldier wrote about the fear within him, stating, "They say when fear is in a man, he is prepared for anything. When fear possesses the man, he is prepared for nothing. As of now, the fear is in me. I hope I can keep it from possessing me." Jimmy could not think of a better analogy for his situation, but unlike the young soldier, he was being possessed by the fear…His fear of losing Chloe, not only to this crazy doctor, but to Clark as well. Clark was always the savior, the hero, Chloe's hero. As much as Jimmy loved Chloe, he knew that she could never love him on the same level that she loves Clark. Yes, she was trying to move on and he was happily her guinea pig, but he feared the day when Clark would wise up and reciprocate her feelings.

THUD,THUD, THUD Clark kicked the door, his hands preoccupied carrying the unconscious Chloe.

Jimmy and Lana were suddenly fast to their feet. Jimmy made it to the door first opening it for Clark who pushed his way into the apartment.

"Oh my God" Lana gasped out at the sight of her fragile best friend. She followed Clark in the bedroom as he tenderly laid Chloe on the bed, being careful not to move the gray straps. "Clark?" She asked her former boyfriend, but did not receive a response. He was staring Chloe not knowing what he should do next. Lana placed a gentle hand on his arm, "let me dress her" she commanded softly as she guided both Clark and Jimmy out of the room, shutting the door. Lana wanted to at least save her friend the embarrassment of waking up naked in front of two guys.

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"What happened to her?" Jimmy croaked out, clearly distraught over what he saw.

"I don't know" Clark said as he sat down on the couch in the living room. Even with his abilities, Clark was exhausted by the day's events.

"Will she be alright?"

"I think so. I mean she regained consciousness for a short while when I broke her out. I think she is just exhausted from what ever they did to her. She needs to rest now." Clark's tone was somewhat flat to Jimmy. He was angry at Jimmy for being Chloe's boyfriend. He was angry at himself for being a BDA. He was angry at the world in general.

Jimmy took the hint that Clark was not in the talking mood. He sat down next to the angry alien and waited for Lana to finish.

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Lana went through the dresser drawers to find something loose and comfortable for Chloe to wear. Lana had it set in her mind that she was going to be there for her friend. Chloe was always the crutch of their relationship, listening to Lana's problems and feelings, but Lana was rarely there for Chloe, emotionally. Chloe always dealt with her emotions internally, never burdening anyone else. Lana felt selfish. Why did she have to go on and on about her feelings for Clark when she knew that Chloe loved him?!?!

Lana finally found the pajama drawer and took out a white tank top and baby blue bottoms. She placed them on the end of the bed and went to the bathroom to wet a wash cloth. When Lana re-entered the bedroom, she noticed Chloe was rustling in her sleep. Lana gently took a seat on the bed and took Chloe's head in he lap. She took the wash cloth and dabbed it on her temples. She then started to gently clean off Chloe's face and arms, noticing marks from a needle. What did they do to her? Chloe's eyes suddenly opened, but they were still saturated with exhaust. "Lana?" Chloe asked confused. Chloe's mind was clouded by the various drugs making it near impossible to function coherently.

"Shhhh" Lana hushed her friend, "Let's get you dressed and back to bed. You need to rest."

Chloe nodded, her delirious state mad it hard to argue anything other wise.

Lana helped Chloe sit up as Chloe help the strap in place. Lana the started to slip the white tank top through one arm and then the other, slowly replacing the strap. She then aid Chloe back down and proceeded to slip the bottoms on. Lana then grabbed a blanket and covered Chloe.

"Chloe, get your rest. We're here for you when you wake up." She gently brushed her face and Chloe's eyes surrendered to the darkness.

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Lana walked out of the bedroom and shut the door quietly. "She seems alright, just out of it. I think she needs to sleep it out." Lana stated to the brooding duo.

"I am going to sit by here" Jimmy stated as he got off the sofa and made his way to the bedroom. Clark got up to follow, but was stopped by Lana's hand.

"Let him go." Lana whispered softly "He is her boyfriend. You should get your rest anyways."

Lana's words were true and that's why it hurt even more. He wasn't Chloe's boyfriend, but it was going to change…once everything is settled. Jimmy was a nice guy, but he wasn't for Chloe, especially now. Jimmy couldn't understand Chloe the way he could…he does.

"You're right" He said backing down.

"What do you think they did to her?" Lana questioned.

"I am not totally sure. My guess is that they tried to erase her memory since she was a witness to Daniel Kim's kidnapping." Clark lied not knowing if he should trust Lana completely.

Lana eyed Clark closely. She knew there had to be more to it than that, but she settled for his answer anyways. She didn't know what other explanation it could be. "I am going home. Call me when she wakes."

"I will" Clark answered opening the door for her. The thought of Lana's home being the Luthor Mansion didn't sit well with him, but he was coming to terms with where they stood with one another. He loved her, but she would never understand him the way Chloe does. Secret or not.

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Obscure Medical Facility...

Lex strode angrily down the hall way. Dr. Bethany screwed up big this time. Not only did he expose himself to Clark, but he let his new facility get infiltrated. The peons that work for me… Lex thought furiously.

After Lana left, Lex switched over to his video feed of the "new" meteor freak, who just so happened to be Chloe Sullivan herself. The first hour seemed to go as planned. They were testing the chemical levels that she produced in her body. They also obtained some of her DNA for comparison. One minute he was looking at Chloe and the next minute Clark was over her. Lex should of known Clark would be able to find her. For being a "farm boy", Clark sure was resourceful. Of course, Clark was able to free Chloe, but in the process he signed Dr. Bethany's death certificate.

"Mr. Luthor. We don't know what happened. Everything was going along like it normally does when…"

"You jeopardized our project Bethany, that's what happened!" Lex interrupted the nervous doctor. "Where were the guards?"

"We had them guarding the other meteor infected, the conscious ones."

"And you had not even one of them in this sector?" Lex aggressively approached the cowering doctor. Lex eyes were fixed on Dr. Bethany when he addressed the guards to his side. "Take care of him and make sure this place is cleared out. Make sure it looks like it has been abandoned for quite sometime."

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The Talon…

Morning was slowly showing its head through the curtains in the small apartment. The rays danced across Jimmy's face urging him awake from his uncomfortable position at Chloe's side. Jimmy's eyes darted to his now stirring girlfriend, she too seemed to feel the effects of the morning. He softly brushed her hair out of her face stroking it softly, "Chloe?" Jimmy urged.

"mmmph….Clark?" Chloe responded not quite awake yet.

Jimmy paused his stroking hand and sat up. The emotions already making their way to his throat. iClark../i Jimmy was hurt. Chloe obviously wanted Clark to be the one she saw when she woke, not him. Jimmy could feel each crack in his breaking heart.

"Jimmy?" Chloe said more awake than before. "What's wrong?" Chloe asked concerned, taking in his emotional state.

"Chloe. Can I ask you something?" Jimmy asked collecting himself.

"Yeah…Sure." Chloe said still confused at his presence in her room.

"If you were in trouble, who would you call?"

Chloe looked at Jimmy. She knew what he was getting at. "Jimmy we have already been through this. You're my guy."

"Chloe, I know you are trying to make me your guy, but I think we both know you really want Clark to be that guy. I have tried to fill that gap, but I think we both know that gap is too big for me to fill." He approached Chloe, who was not in an upright position on the bed, and he sat down next to her. He rested his forehead against hers wanting to feel her skin against his one more time, "I love you so much…"

"Then don't do this Jimmy! Please don't do this! I love you!" Chloe pleaded as the tears started to fall freely from her eyes.

Jimmy kissed her softly on the lips and then hugged her close. "I know you do…I know. This is so hard for me to do, but if I truly love you, I know when to let you go…"

"No" Chloe said shaking her head against his chest squeezing him tight.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think we should see each other any more." Jimmy fought to get the words from his mouth. It sounded chocked and like a lie, but he knew it was for the best, for both of them. He wiggled his way out of her grasp and ran out of the apartment, leaving a crying Chloe and a confused Clark in his wake.

Jimmy made it to his car before he feel to his knees and cried Its for the best…Its for the best. He repeated over and over in his mind.

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That's it for now. I will try to get another chapter out next week (but dont hold me to it..I tend to lie about those kind of things lol. Chlark is coming I swear, I just have a hard time writing it when I am mad at the BDA in the SV episodes. Next chapter will involve the Justice league!