3rd Quarter – 1st and 2nd Quarter

Chloe stared at Clark and tried to read his expression. She could see he was trying to hide whatever he knew from Lana. Passing him on the driveway, she lurched when the pain in her side suddenly returned. Gabe took her in his arms and led her back into the house.

Lying down on the couch, Gabe readjusted her pillows and retrieved her some more medication and something to drink. Lana and Clark sat across from her and waited.

Clark was obviously nervous about starting this conversation. He knew better than to get involved with something personal in Chloe's life but he would have never imagined Lex. "So," he started as Chloe took her pills. Looking over at Lana, she motioned for him to continue, "What's going on? I came by to visit and Lana told me you were talking to Lex."

Chloe could read the indignation in Clark's stare then realized that the only way that Lana would have known anything was because her dad told her. Snapping an angry look at her father, she sat up and took her medication. She watched suspiciously as Lana whispered something to Clark

Clark leaned in and took Chloe's hand. "I think I may be one more person than needed tonight. Your dad said you'll be back to school next week – I'll talk to you when you get back." He pressed his lips together in frustration and squeezed her hand a bit more. "Take care of yourself."

Chloe halfway smiled at the loaded statement. As Clark stood, she tugged on his hand and retorted, "Thank you. And you be safe going [Ihome[/I." She hoped that Clark could catch the hint.

Clark smiled as Lana walked him out. Watching the door close behind Lana, Chloe turned her attention to her father. Disappointed, she carefully worded her phrase, "Dad, what business was it of Lana or Clark's that I was visiting with Lex?"

Gabe shuffled his feet and shoved his hands in his pockets. He couldn't stand the mental image of what he thought could have happened in the time they were outside. She was 18, but she was still his daughter and only child. Turning to look at his patiently waiting daughter, he couldn't answer. "You look tired. You should get to bed."

Chloe painfully pulled herself off the couch and steadied herself. "I asked you a question. Dad, we've always been totally honest with each other. I don't know many dads who actually were in charge of getting their daughters through their first period and took on the birds and the bees by themselves. I don't want this to turn into some awkward point of no return in our relationship."

Sighing, Gabe gave in. "I didn't have the guts to break up whatever was going on." Gently wrapping his arm around her, he broke into a soft whisper. "I don't want to lose my little girl."

Pulling back out of her father's grip, she looked over at Lana coming in the door. Looking back at her father, she smiled and understood. Her father knew, at least suspected. Hugging him carefully, she whispered in his ear, "You won't, but I love him and I'm a big girl now." Pulling out his grip, she carefully walked up the stairs, leaving her dad to worry.

Chloe sat on her bed and began to cry. Lana peaked around the corner and eyed Chloe's reaction to the whole evening. "Knock knock."

Drying her eyes, she swung her legs over on the bed gingerly and reached for the sheet, gasping in pain. Lana pulled the sheet over Chloe and then sat down on the edge of the bed. "Thank you for taking care of Clark. His third degree was not part of the evening I was looking forward to."

"No problem." A strange silence fell over the two as they stared throughout the darkened room. "Chloe, if there's anything I can do…"

"No offense, but I'm not ready to talk about it." She read the disappointment and confusion on Lana's face. Chloe knew more about Lex from the months they saw each other off and on during his dealings with his father. Lana knew him from the business. Seeing Lana still quite mesmerized by her Chloe's reaction and situation, she asked. "Do you think Lex is a good person?"

Lana sat thinking for a few more silent moments and smiled at Chloe. Lana wasn't one to really know. Her involvement with the man was business and whatever she had heard from Clark, who was more untrustworthy of Lex's motives than anyone else. Taking Chloe's hand, Lana shook her head. "As much I would like to tell you how I feel or what Clark feels, do [Iyou[/I think that Lex is a good person? Because after that, whatever anyone else thinks shouldn't matter."

Chloe thought carefully about the sudden insight that Lana had. Letting go of her hand, she smiled. "Thanks. Really." She watched Lana pull the blanket within Chloe's reach and start out of the room. "One more thing…"

"Hmm?"

"You think I'm crazy?"

"Are you happy?"

Chloe paused, wondering if she was giving too much up. She was too thrilled to care, whether the side effects of the meds or just the place she was finally in. "Incredibly."

"There you go. That's it. Get some sleep and …sweet dreams." Lana shut the door and left Chloe in the dark besides the one small nightlight coming from the closet. Smiling to herself in the dark, she realized she couldn't wipe the ridiculously happy grin off her face. She didn't care what people thought or called her; she was in love.

……………..

Chloe sat in front of the mess in the Torch. She loved Lana and Clark like siblings but they were no use in the newsroom. And she thought she had trained Clark. She started sorting through files of stories that had actually been somehow been put into a paper the past week. That particular issue was … scary at the least. The Torch needed to get back on track. It would be a late, drug induced night.

"Hey. Glad to see you back. Lana said you took it easy this weekend." Clark pulled a chair up next to the desk that Chloe sat at. "Can I help?"

"Actually," she pointed at a stack of random folders that she had no idea what they were. "Could you either tell me what those are, which I really don't care, or file them where you think they belong and I'll put them where they really go later." Nodding her head in agreement with herself, she went back to checking her long ignored email.

Clark picked up the files and did as he was told while watching Chloe sift through email. Finishing, he walked up behind her and glanced over her shoulder. "Lex? You're still talking to him?"

Chloe spun around in the chair and stared at Clark. "Out with it." Getting out of the chair, she stomped across the floor and slammed the office door. Standing in front of the door, she crossed her arms and waited. "What is it? What did you 'see'?"

Clark tried to move toward her, and she motioned for him to steer clear. "I'm not interested in a comfort scene right now. I have that. What…did…you…see?"

"Lex? Chloe, I…"

"Spit it out Clark. You've been wanting this conversation since last week, so let's go."

Clark stood contemplating how to approach his obvious frustration to her. "Chloe, he's dangerous and not the most trusting person." He paused as she wasn't impressed. "Ok, I 'heard' and then 'saw' something that I would rather not repeat out loud before I went to see Lana in the house."

Chloe's blood pressure was rapidly getting out of control for this conversation. The meds were for pain, not for this. Arms still crossed, she lowered herself on the couch and waited for the continuation of his story.

"Chloe, he's dangerous."

"Again, my decision. What did you see?"

"Enough to keep Lana and Mr. Sullivan occupied until you two were 'done.'" Clark sat down next to Chloe on the couch and stared at her. "Chloe, I want you to be careful. And I'm here if you …"

Clark and Chloe both looked up as the door opened slowly. "Did my father ransack the place again or is this what happens untrained people are left in charge." Lex eyed Clark's disturbed look as Chloe got up and moved toward the door.