Part 7: A chilling hallucination

Chloe had been half way to Smallville when her cell phone rang. She'd known something was wrong as soon as Lois spoke, her voice unnaturally quivery and hushed on the other end of the phone.

Chloe had tried forcing information out of her, but Lois had refused to discuss anything over the phone, simply telling her to turn around and meet her at the hospital in Metropolis.

Hearing the urgent tone of Lois's voice, Chloe hadn't argued, she'd just hung up the phone and turned around, racing back into the city.

Lois had been waiting for her in the hospital parking lot, her face anxious and her body tense as she stalked towards her. Chloe had jumped out of her car only to have Lois envelop in a fierce hug before she could say a word.

And she'd known immediately something had happened to Lex.

After a few moments of Lois clinging to her in silence, Chloe had forced her to tell her what had happened.

She'd choked back the bile that had risen in her throat. Had locked her knees to keep herself from falling. Had squeezed her eyes shut to keep her tears from falling. Had nearly bit a hole through her lip to keep from howling in pained outrage.

And she hadn't left the hospital since.

She'd done well keeping herself hidden, remaining unseen until she finally was able to sneak into Lex's room after he'd been wheeled in from recovery. She'd gripped his hand in hers, resting her head against his arm as she sobbed quietly.

Until all her pain and desperation had finally given way to exhaustion.

She'd been awakened early the next morning, her tear streaked face shocked to meet the concerned gaze of Lionel Luthor. She'd blinked at him dazedly, her hand tightening on Lex's instinctively as Lionel had nodded at her in understanding.

Neither of them ever spoke a word, but Chloe couldn't help but feel as if a door had closed on a large part of her life.

Now Chloe had been waiting outside Lex's hospital room for most of the day. When she'd heard he'd awakened earlier that evening she'd waited anxiously for everyone to disappear, hoping to get a few moments alone with him. She desperately needed to see him with her own eyes, to touch him and hold him close.

She had her hand on the door when the sound of him speaking to someone stopped her from entering the room. She couldn't make out exactly what was said, but the hushed tone and controlled intensity of Lex's voice sent a shiver down her spine.

She backed away slightly, not quite sure she wanted to know what the conversation was about, but not worried enough to back away completely. Giving in to curiosity she leaned closer to the door, tilting her head to better hear what was said in the other room.

Chloe heard a voice she didn't recognize, "Are you sure your morphine drip isn't turned up too high?"

Lex's reply drifted through the door, "Well, it's not everyday one has a near death experience. And it's true, much like Ebenezer Scrooge, I realized that what I want more than anything is to live happily ever after, and do you know what the secret to happiness is? Power, money, and power. See, once you have those two things, you can secure everything else and keep it that way."

The unknown man said, "So, what am I doing here, Lex?"

"I want you to pull the pin on that grenade. Find it, fake it, do whatever it takes to knock Jonathan Kent out of the race. I want to be Senator. I want it all." Lex's voice was firm, coldness dripping from his words.

Chloe stepped back in shock, her jaw dropping and her brow creasing with worry. She moved to the far side of the hallway as the mysterious man said something else, but Chloe was too far away and too shaken to make out his words.

She put her back to the doorway, pretending to read the information on the wall as the man exited Lex's room. She exhaled in relief as the man ignored her and walked toward the hospital exit. She turned around, peering at the door skeptically, unsure of what she should do next.

She's always been aware of Lex's sinister side, always known he was involved in things she's rather not know about, but she knew she couldn't just ignore what she'd heard. If Lex was going to do something that could potentially hurt Jonathan Kent, she wouldn't be able to turn a blind eye to it. Not this time.

Chloe turned around and leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath and rubbing her hands over her face tiredly. She didn't want to argue with Lex, especially after the stress and worry of his being shot, but she didn't see any other alternative either. She couldn't very well disregard the conversation she'd overheard and trying to pretend it had never happened was not an option for her. She wasn't capable of such things, her curiosity always got the better of her and eventually the questions would end up exploding from within her.

Chloe squared her shoulders and walked to the door, opening it and stepping inside Lex's room. She looked around, quickly spotting him on the far side of the room, staring out the window moodily.

Chloe moved towards him slowly, her voice resolute in the quiet room, "Lex."

He didn't move, just stood there as if frozen in another time. His face was intense, his eyes unblinking, his body edgy and rigid as she repeated his name.

She stopped beside him, gasping slightly at the glint of pure rage burning in his eyes. She'd seen him angry on numerous occasions, she'd seen him livid, outraged and fuming, but nothing prepared her for the ominous glare of hatred evident on his features.

Something had wounded him irreparably. And Chloe had to figure out how to fix it.

Chloe stepped in front of him, taking his face between her hands and searching his gaze with hers. She swallowed the lump in her throat, managed to ask clearly, "Lex, are you all right?"

Nothing. He remained motionless. He seemed to be focused on something behind her, something out the window.

Chloe craned her head around, following his gaze without releasing him, her eyes widening as a shimmer of light faded into nothingness.

Chloe slowly returned her focus to Lex, tilting her head questioningly as he frowned, his glazed eyes seeming to look right through her. Her eyes narrowed, her grip on him tightening unconsciously as she repressed her urge to shake him back to reality. She knew she had to do something, and not wanting to draw undue attention to herself she was short on options.

So Chloe did the only thing she could think of. She poked him. Directly in his wound.

Lex flinched, a low grunt coming from his lips, his eyes closing reflexively as pain rushed over him. "Fuck. Was that really necessary?" he groaned.

Chloe released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Lex," she breathed in relief. "Thank God, you're all right."

Lex grimaced at her, opening an eye to peer at her dubiously. "And the point of you torturing me further would be?"

Chloe blinked in confusion then huffed at him. "Well, I had to do something to snap you out of whatever reverie you were trapped in." She reached up, stroking her hand over his cheek lovingly. "For a moment I thought you'd gone catatonic on me and I couldn't take the chance of losing you."

Lex opened his eyes and gazed down at her adoringly. "Never that, Chloe." He whispered, taking her hands in his and moving away from the window.

Chloe let him lead her over to the bed then helped him to lie down. She seated herself beside him, gripping his hands tightly. "What happened, Lex?" She asked.

Lex shrugged, then replied, "I don't know exactly. I guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Chloe rolled her eyes at him, snorting in disbelief. "Oh please. Like I believe that one."

Lex opened his mouth to reply, but Chloe shook her head, speaking before he could get a word out. "Don't bother trying to cover it up, Lex, because I don't really give a shit why you were there. I was asking what happened a few minutes ago—in this room. Where'd you go?"

Lex frowned at her, "What do you mean. I was here the entire time."

Chloe glared at him, "Don't try to bullshit me, Luthor. I know you better than that."

Lex sighed heavily, "I'm not trying to bullshit you, Chloe. I really have no idea what you're talking about."

Chloe's jaw tightened, her eyes boring into his icily. "I heard you, Lex, I heard you tell that guy to pull the pin on the grenade and do whatever it takes to knock Mr. Kent out of the race for Senator. So quit lying to me and tell me the fucking truth."

Lex's eyes glinted furiously, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled sharply. "Well, if you know so much, why don't you tell me what happened."

Chloe rolled her eyes, groaning loudly and yanking her hands away from him in agitation. "Don't talk to me like that," She said unwaveringly. "If nothing else, I deserve your respect and I expect to be treated as such."

Lex nodded, his eyes intent on her face as he spoke, "Absolutely, and I apologize," he said quietly, his voice trembling slightly. "But I haven't had a very good night thus far and I'm still feeling a little out of sorts, so in the mean time, I hope you can forgive me my thoughtless transgressions."

Chloe's face twisted with emotion and she leaned over him, cupping his face in her hands, her gaze soft, her voice loving as she replied. "Fuck, Lex—I'm sorry too. I know there are things you have to do that I'll never understand, and at times I'm sure there will be things I don't approve of, but they'll never change how I feel about you. I love you, no matter what transpires in our lives."

Lex smiled at her fondly, taking her hands from his face and pulling her down to lay beside him. He wrapped his arm around her, rubbing his cheek on her hair affectionately as she settled against him. "I knew you'd feel that way—I just knew it."

Chloe ignored his muttering and rested her head against his shoulder, setting her hand on his chest gently, being careful not to touch his wound again. She sighed contentedly, nestling closer to him, reveling in his hand stroking along her spine comfortingly.

She could feel him thinking, the tension in the air still palpable in the stale hospital air. She waited patiently, knowing he was still searching for the correct words in which to confide in her. Searching for the strength to accept her unrelenting faith in him.

Finally she heard his voice, a soft whisper clearly meant for only her ears. "I had the most awful nightmare," he said, taking a shuddering breath before continuing. "While I was unconscious, I had the most terrifying hallucination imaginable."

"What was it about?" Chloe asked softly.

Lex was silent for a few moments, then, "My mother showed me what would happen if I withdrew my bid for Senator and turned my life around. She showed me how my life would turn out if I decided to be an upright, moral citizen and turned by back on my father and life as I've known it."

Chloe frowned, "Was it that bad?' She asked.

Lex grunted in disgust, "Worse. I was a middle class, married man with a small child, and another on the way"

Chloe chuckled, "And what bothered you more, being middle class or being a father?"

Lex snorted, shaking his head as he spoke. "Actually, it wasn't being a middle class father that bothered me."

"Then what was it that bothered you so much?" she asked.

"My wife."

Chloe's gut clenched painfully, her eyes suddenly burning with tears. Her throat closed up slightly, but she forced herself to ask the inevitable question, knowing his answer would probably rip her heart out of her chest. "And who was it you were married to?"

Lex sighed resignedly, his voice faint as he responded, "Lana."

Chloe shivered uncontrollably, something sharp and painful cutting through her chest as that one word echoed in her head. She opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat and she had to force herself to take air into her lungs..

"Chloe…say something." Lex's voice was soft, his words almost a desperate plea.

Chloe cleared her throat, "What do you want me to say, Lex?"

"Just tell me what you're thinking, what you're feeling."

Chloe sighed, not really wanting to talk about it, but knowing he wouldn't just let it go. She hated to admit to him how easily he could hurt her, how desperately she needed him in her life.

Wished briefly that loving him would be uncomplicated and painless.

She swallowed the lump in her throat, forced herself to form the words. "I'm not going to tell you it doesn't bother me because even though it was just a figment of your imagination, it still hurts me."

Lex pulled her closer to him, bringing his mouth closer to her ear as he responded. "I'm sorry, baby."

"It's not your fault. It's actually quite ridiculous for me to get upset about it," she stated matter-of-factly. "It's not as if you would ever want Lana like that anyway…right?"

"Fuck no." He said vehemently, shaking his head as if to banish the memory from his mind. "And now I'm more determined than ever."

"More determined to do what?"

"To be Senator, Chloe. One way or another, I have no choice but to win that race."

"I don't understand what you mean…" Chloe said softly, confusion evident in her voice.

Lex pulled her up, turning her slightly so he could look her in the eyes. "Don't you see, Chloe? If I let Jonathan Kent win, if I roll over and lose the state Senate seat, I'll lose the most important thing in my life."

Chloe frowned at him, her hand fisting in his robe as she replied brokenly. "You'll lose what? Your pride? Your money and stature?" Chloe scoffed at him, her eyes welling with tears as her emotions overwhelmed her.

"God no, baby, I'm talking about you. If I lose you, I'll have nothing worth living for." His gaze bore into hers, his eyes hot and passionate, his soul naked before her as his heartfelt words continued to fall from his lips. "Because I have no pride, no money or stature. I have nothing if I don't have you."

Chloe's head fell forward on his shoulder, her shoulders shaking slightly as she sobbed against him. She felt his hand clutching her to him almost desperately, felt his breath on her hair, heard his soft whispers of reassurance as she purged the pain and stress of the last twenty-four hours.

"Don't cry, baby. I'm sorry." He said gently, his hands relaxing slightly as she calmed beside him, her sobs mellowing into soft shudders.

Chloe rubbed her face against his shoulder, turning her head to rest her cheek against him trustingly. "Please don't apologize anymore, Lex. You really have nothing to be sorry for."

"How can you say that?" he asked incredulously. "I hurt you—again. I wasn't even conscious and still I managed to hurt you."

Chloe giggled breathlessly. "No one can be held responsible for what they dream. That's just stupid. And after the way you handled things after the fact, you're more than forgiven...I think I may end up worshipping you forever."

"Do you mean that, Chloe?" Lex asked skeptically. "If I have to use disreputable methods to lock in my candidacy and my reputation becomes that of an unfeeling, immoral bastard? Even then will you be able to look me in the eyes and tell me forever?"

Chloe sat up slightly, turning her body towards him and meeting his fiery gaze. "Yes. Even if I don't always agree with your methods, they would in no way effect my feelings for you. You're only human, Lex, and no one's perfect. So quit doubting me when I tell you forever because I mean it. You're stuck with me."

Lex stared at her in astonishment, tilting his head at her questioningly as he replied. "Really, Chloe? Are you really willing to love me for the rest of my life, consequences be damned?"

Chloe smiled at him fondly, bringing her hand up and stroking her fingers down his cheek gently. "I don't know if I'll end up love you for the rest of your life, Lex..."

Chloe paused, once again swallowing the lump of emotion in her throat. She blinked away her tears, blatant adoration burning in her gaze as she continued. "But I know I'll love you for the rest of mine."