3rd Down – 3rd Quarter

Chloe walked over and welcomed Lex into the Torch. Reaching out with one arm, Lex wrapped Chloe into his body gently. "Hey beautiful. Clark." He loosened his grip and guided Chloe back into the office. "So, what happened here?" Lex picked up a stack of folders and handed them to Chloe as she opened another file cabinet drawer.

"My co-editor has a lot to learn about a great many things." Chloe smiled at Lex and shot Clark the look of death.

Lex looked over at Clark and smirked, "Harsh. So, how's the football game coming? I haven't been there for business but I was planning on getting back out there this afternoon."

Clark couldn't believe the arrogance of Lex. The man actually thought that he would be welcome anymore. "The game is coming along although I think we replaced your position. You hadn't called in so we didn't know what to do."

Chloe shut the file cabinet so loud that the windows shook. "You what? You just found a way to get him out of the way, you…"

Chloe felt a soft touch along her back and stopped. "It's alright. He has a valid point that I have missed the practices because I was taking care of you and I work. I see the point that he would need to make sure the team is filled with high school jocks that people like. My appearance may make people feel more uncomfortable."

Chloe looked up above her shoulder where Lex had now laid his hands to comfort her partially and to irritate Clark more. Chloe slipped out of his grip and turned around, "That's not the point. You signed up and paid more money than anyone, and I want to see you play." Lex laughed at her plea.

"Chloe, I'm more the chess team than the football team anyway. Let them have their little high school tradition; I'll leave the money – it's for a good cause."

"But," she bit her lip and stared at Clark. Shaking her head in anger and disbelief, she walked out of the Torch, running into Lana in the process.

Peeking her head in, she saw the staredown going on in Chloe's office. "How about we go check for those pictures in the counseling office for my article." Lana eyed both men and walked off with Chloe in tow.

Clark stood up and walked across the office and started cleaning up the light table. Lex watched the pensive moves to stay clear of the sworn enemy. "You hurt her."

Clark whipped around and shook his head in anger. "Me? What happens when she finds out what kind of person you really are? When she finds the room that has my entire past plastered all over it? My hurting over a football game is going to be nothing compared to you breaking her heart."

Lex stood quietly and focused his attention on the latest article on the screen. Hitting the save button, he looked back at Clark who apparently had a problem with Lex touching the equipment.

"Clark, first, I own these computers so that look is not necessary. Second, that room is gone; I welcome you to visit just long enough to see the proof and then leave. Lastly and most importantly, I love her and I don't plan on hurting her."

"Exactly. You never plan to hurt anyone but you do. You do research, you kill half the county's livestock, you try to imprison your father and almost kill both Chloe and her father and don't even give the courtesy call when she does end up fine. Yeah, that's real love."

"So, that's what this is. You're upset with me for not being you. I'm sorry Clark, but I don't have a hero complex and feel the need to stick my nose into everyone's business. I have my own business to attend to. Besides, I'm not the one that hurt her first."

"What? Are you kidding me? You're not going to turn this around on me. You know that this will never end well. Look at your track record Lex. And I didn't hurt her first."

"Really? I'd say flaunting Lana on your arm the past year and always talking about Lana and asking Chloe's opinions of what Lana would like would have clued you in. Oh wait, you were thinking about Lana. Now, I'm not putting the girl down Clark, she's who she is and happily not in my business like some people, but for all your suspicious abilities, apparently seeing how much someone has pined over for years is not one of them."

"You're twisting things all out of proportion to get off the topic."

"You don't give up. Ask her; ask her how she felt about you for years. I bet I'm right. Goodness knows I know the truth. So, I screwed up and lost track of her last year. So, I didn't find her, you did. But did you know that she's a ruthless monopoly player? You know her favorite book is Anna Karenina? She can tango better than most of the women I've dated. Exactly what do you really know about your friend Chloe. Really Clark, enlighten me – I would love to know something else that she might like."

Clark walked towards Lex and looked at him sternly. "What the hell are you talking about? Chloe's never taken a dance lesson. How would you know?"

Lex resisted taking a step back. Clark was more than partly in Lex's personal space but the step back would be seen as a losing move. Taking a deeper sigh, he stared at the young, oblivious man. "Her father taught her. It was something he and Chloe's mom used to do when they first met. Very classy in my opinion." Lex moved back and sat down on the couch, still keeping eye contact with his adversary. "Clark, she wasn't alone all summer. I knew exactly where she was, and as soon as I got out of the hospital I saw her. Her asking about me last fall was a cover; she knew what happened."

Clark sat in the chair behind him. The two men stared at each other. Clark broke contact and picked up his books. "That isn't over. I'll see you on the field," Clark threatened, "Stay out of my way, and stay away from Chloe."

Lex put his arms comfortably along the back of the couch and leaned back, "This afternoon then." Lex ignored the idle threat about her. Looking around the empty Torch office, he located a random pad and wrote.

Sorry about the little interruption. I'm sure Clark will let you know what happened, at least his version. I'm back in the game though. I believe he thinks physical pain may be his only option now. Got any hints about not getting my neck broken? I have a meeting, but I will be back this afternoon.

Love, Lex

Laying the pad on top of the keyboard, he knew she would find it. Closing the door behind him, he eyed Clark at his locker and sighed. If Clark could get past his issues of babysitting everyone, they could still be friends. Double dating wouldn't be half bad. Turning, he walked down the hall and out the door.

……………..

Lana stood over Chloe in the bathroom stall and handed her another wad of toilet paper. "Lana I swear, I don't mean to put him down, but Clark needs to butt the hell out. Can't you talk to him?"

"Look, Clark has some moments that I can't even control, and seeing he is in charge of the game, I don't really know what I can do."

Chloe looked up Lana and wiped the remainder of her eyeliner across her face. "You can tell your boyfriend to grow up and put him in. He's being a child and a parent all at once." Chloe got up and pushed past Lana in the stall and tried to fix her face.

"I was happy. Lex makes me happy. My father was ok with it, but then Clark thinks he has to be my dad and push my boyfriend around. I finally find someone that's not going to mutate, or shapeshift, or try to kill me willingly, maybe accidently, and Clark has to show up and fuck it all up!"

Chloe turned around and stared at the girls walking into the bathroom. They were shocked; no one had ever Chloe Sullivan curse like that. Lana wasn't moving, afraid that moving would incite another rampage. Clark really had done it this time. She had seen this side of him, but never seen the result. The girls turned tail and left, no doubt to tell the rest of the school.

"Great! Now that my relationship is out there in high school haven, let the real mud slinging begin. This can't possibly get any worse. This is my first day back and it turns to shit!" Lana handed Chloe another wad of paper to wipe her face as the door opened again.

"Ms. Sullivan?"

"Chloe," Lana tugged on her shirt.

"What?!" Chloe looked in the direction of the Ms. Martin, the counselor.

Rubbing her on the back, Lana whispered, "I'll talk to Clark," and walked out of the bathroom. Entering the hallway, several people were standing around and waiting for a response. "Mind your own business," she announced and spied Clark leaning on her locker.

"How is she?"

"How do you think? She's an emotional wreck thanks to your little temper check. Now," she turned and poked Clark in the chest angrily. "Let Lex play, don't say another word to her unless its an apology and, for right now, don't talk to me either." Lana shut her locker and walked off as Clark felt the rest of the hallway peering at him.

Clark lowered his head and listened to the conversation in the bathroom and realized the line he had crossed. Chloe was in love with Lex too. She would have to get hurt on her own now; he was done butting in. Seeing her coming through the door, he walked up to her.

"Not now Mr. Kent, but I want to see you later." Chloe looked at him with her bloodshot eyes and let the counselor walk her away. Standing in the middle of the hallway, he looked around and suddenly felt like what he was, an alien.

Chloe went back to the Torch and locked the door. She read the note on her desk and smiled. Love. He signed it love. He mentioned that Clark…Clark could…kill…him. Chloe picked up the phone and dialed.

"Luthor."

"It's Chloe. Could you do me a favor? Could you come by the Torch office before you head to the football field. The meds kind of wear off toward the end of the day and would rather ride over with you."

"Sure, is everything ok?"

"Yeah. It's fine."

Lex felt hesitant about hanging up but looked across the table at the gentlemen suits sitting in front of him. "I'll see you then," he answered and hung up.

Chloe sat in the Torch office and pulled up the school files. Typing in several random keys, she turned on the password cracker and found what she needed. She picked up the small container that she had hidden in the Torch filing cabinet and headed down the hall.

The rest of the school was at lunch. She picked the lock and snuck in the lab. Keying in the code to the chemical closet, she searched the shelves quickly and found the vials she was looking for.

Staring at it in her hand, she quickly rethought her intentions. And then decided that it had to be done. Closing the chemical closet, she snuck back into the Torch office and hid her piece away. Sitting in the chair, she felt sorry for her actions. She loved him like a brother, a meddling brother, and was done with that. She felt mostly sorry for Lana; she's just the innocent bystander.

And if Lex got blamed, she would figure that out later. Then again, Lex got blamed for everything, so how would it be different.

TBC