Lois Lane was sitting in the bus that took her from Smallville to Metropolis because her car was in the shop. Her cell phone vibrated in the pocket of her faded bootcut jeans, and she pulled it out. Clark's name flashed across the screen and she answered.
"Hey Lois, it's Clark. Um . . . Chloe's awake now, so if you want to come and see her, she's awake."
"Thanks Smallville," she said into the phone. Covering the mouthpiece with her hand, she grabbed her bag and to-go Talon coffee cup and made her way to the front of the bus. "Um, excuse me, sir," she said to the bus driver, "could you drop me off at the bus stop closest to Metropolis General?"
"Sure thing . . . I'll tell you when the bus reaches the hospital," he said. "Just tell me your name so I can let you know when he reach there.
"My name's Lois Lane. And thank you," she said as she went back to her seat. "Okay, I'm on my way to the hospital. Tell Chloe I'll be there soon. Okay, bye." She hung up the phone, watching as the bus stopped at the Daily Planet stop, the stop she would usually get off at.
"Aren't you getting off, Lois?" asked Hannah Parkman, another reporter at the Planet.
"No, actually Chloe's at the hospital so I'm going to there see her, then I'll go to the Planet," Lois explained.
"Okay, well see you later! I hope Chloe's alright!" Hannah said, getting off.
I'll just check my messages, Lois thought, flipping her phone open again and dialing the Daily Planet answering machine database. She waited until the computerized voice said 'Please enter your inbox number' and pressed '3045' on her keypad. She had two new messages, so she played them.
"Hello Lois, this is Dr. Souders from Metropolis General Hospital. Miss Lane, your cousin, Chloe Sullivan was brought from the Daily Planet building to the hospital about half an hour ago by Mr. Oliver Queen. Visiting hours are over, but tomorrow when your cousin is awake, you may come and see her. Thank you."
"Oliver Queen?" Lois was confused. Clark had come to see her, and tell her that Chloe was in the hospital, so she assumed that Clark brought her there. "Ollie was there? Why in the world was Chloe with Ollie all people?" Lois asked herself, looking confused.
Oliver Queen, still on her mind, Lois listened to her other message about the Journalism Convention, confirming her flight to Gotham City later that evening.
She took a long sip of her low-fat vanilla espresso mocha-latte and wondered exactly what her cousin had been doing with Oliver Queen last night. Not only because Ollie was Lois's ex-boyfriend, but also because he was a billionaire and Chloe's relationships with billionaires didn't always work out so well.
"Lois Lane? We're at the hospital," said the bus driver. Lois picked up her bag and coffee and exited the bus.
"Thank you," she said, before the bus doors closed, and then headed to Metropolis General Hospital. She entered the hospital and went to the desk. "Hi," she greeted the receptionist. "I'm Lois Lane. I'm here to see my cousin, Chloe Sullivan."
"Yes, she's in room 113. That's just down the hall, third door on your left," said the receptionist.
"Thank you," said Lois, heading to room 113. She opened to door and found Clark and Chloe. Chloe was sitting in the bed, with bruises and scrapes on her face and her left wrist wrapped in tensor. Clark was sitting in the armchair beside the bed and was talking with Chloe. "Hey cuz," she said with a small smile, even though the sight of Chloe hurt brought tears to her dark brown eyes. "How are you feeling?"
Chloe smiled, making her hazel eyes shine for a moment. "I'm fine, Lois. It's just a sprained wrist and a couple of bruises. Nothing that I can't recover from."
"Good," said Lois grinning at her cousin. "Then, you won't mind if I jet off to Gotham for the week?"
"Gotham?" Chloe asked, looking confused. Realization dawned upon her face. "The Journalism Convention!" she exclaimed. "God, I almost forgot about that. Lois, you are still going to that. You are going to have an amazing time."
"Yeah, sucks that you can't come, though," said Lois.
"Yeah, I know, but even if I wasn't in the hospital, I went last year and you can't go in consecutive years so I wouldn't be able to go anyway," said Chloe. "It was in Star City last year. Such a beautiful place."
The mention of Star City, Oliver Queen's hometown made Lois remember that Chloe had been with Ollie yesterday night. After all, he was the one who brought her into the hospital.
Chloe smiled at her cousin. "Though, Gotham sounds incredible. Takes lots of pictures okay Lo?" she asked.
"Of course," said Lois, snapping out of her thoughts. "But, I can't just leave you. You're in the hospital for crying out loud."
Chloe giggled. "Lois, I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself you know. And I've got Clark and Lana to keep me company."
And Ollie too, Lois thought but dared not say.
Clark stood up from the chair. "Well Chloe, I have to head back to the farm, but I'll give you a call later, okay?" Chloe nodded. Clark kissed her softly on her forehead. "Bye." He left the room.
"Um, you see Chloe, there really isn't an easy way to say this," said Lois, not sure what to say next.
Chloe looked up. "Lois, what is it?"
"Why the heck were you with Ollie yesterday? Dr. Souders left a message on my Daily Planet answering machine about you and he said that Ollie took you here. Why were you with him?"
"Uh . . ." Chloe started, unsure of what lie to tell her cousin. "Um . . . I was with Oliver because . . . he was . . . giving me an interview," she finished, proud of her lie.
"Really? The reclusive billionaire giving an interview? Chloe that's amazing!" Lois said. "Great job cuz!" Chloe smiled, thankful that Lois hadn't seen through her lie. "Oh my god! Wait till Hannah hears about this!"
"Hannah?" Chloe asked, looking confused. "Lo, what are you talking about?"
"Hannah Parkman? You know her . . . the other reporter, with the desk on the other side of yours?"
"What about her?" Chloe asked, hoping that Lois didn't tell Hannah. She could keep up this lie with Lois, but not Hannah because knowing Hannah, she would want to tell everyone and if she didn't have an interview – which she didn't – they would never let her live it down.
"Hannah will be super jealous Chlo! She's been wanting an interview with Ollie for ages!" Lois reminded her cousin. "I mean, when I tell her that you got an interview, she will be so jealous of you and you can get a huge front page byline!"
"Yeah, Lois but . . ." Chloe tried to protest.
"No buts Chloe," said Lois, "it's good if Hannah is jealous and if you get a front page byline. You deserve it." Lois smiled slightly. "Well, I've got to get to the Planet, but if you have any mail or anything, I'll drop it off on my way home, okay?"
"Yeah sure. Thanks Lois," said Chloe.
"Bye Chloe," said Lois, grabbing her bag and coffee and heading out the door.
"Bye," said Chloe with a small smile.
The nurse came in with a tray. "Miss Sullivan, Mr. Queen had this delivered to the hospital. He said this is for your friend Clark, and your cousin, Lois."
"Oh, um, Clark left but he might be back and Lois went to the Daily Planet," said Chloe. "I'll just call Clark, and tell him that there's free food. He'll be back in no time."
The nurse smiled. Chloe reached for the phone on the night table and dialed Clark's cell phone number.