Second Chance

Hello, guys! Thanks to the ones who made the effort to commend. It really felt good as this story doesn't seem to be as popular as my first. I did expect this though. This is just a story I had to write as a gift to myself. The end of it is very clear in my head but I am still playing with my options on how to get there.

This chapter will be painful to read. At least to some of you, others will probably party. Anyway, please have faith in me and don't stop reading. I promise that it will pay out, I won't disappoint you.

Chapter 1 – Mind your own business

Catherine had just exited the Chandlers' residence. Family dinner; she grimaced at this thought. Well, at least she had a family to eat dinner with.

It had been 3 weeks since she started working at the precinct. It wasn't exactly what she was used to but it was definitely something. The weekends were spent so far with Heather and Thomas. She was so grateful to them for supporting her.

With these thoughts she made her way to her car through the darkness. Most women would have been too scared to walk alone in this part of the city. The Chandlers appreciated some distance from the busy center of New York City so it was pretty lonely. There was a time when she, too, would have looked behind her back afraid of whom she might face there; that was a long time ago, though. There was a reason why she had become a cop. She could take care of herself; she wasn't a helpless woman anymore.

Reaching her car she started searching for her keys in her purse. Before she could succeed however, someone grabbed her and pulled her to the nearest alley. She was slammed roughly against the wall and a husky voice hissed in her ear, 'Who are you?'

The voice was low but still demanding. Catherine tried to recognize the face, but failed. The alley was well chosen- pitch-black. In addition her attacker had pulled his hoody deep in his face and was looking down carefully hiding his features. He was pressed very tightly against her body not giving her many options to act due to lack of space. His hand was placed at her throat, ready to put pressure on it if necessary.

'Never mind, you chose the wrong woman, buddy,' she thought to herself as she slammed her heels of hand on both his ears with as much strength as possible. Her eyes grew wide. He didn't even flinch. How could that be? She had used enough force to send him wincing and seeking to find his balance. Who was this man?

'It will take more than that,' he snarled, 'who are you?'

'Shouldn't I be asking that?' Catherine all but spat 'After all you are the one almost strangling me.'

'And that is exactly why I am the one asking the question,' he clarified, 'now don't make me ask again.

'Catherine Chandler, NYPD,' she said through her teeth.

'Catherine Chandler is dead', he stated.

'Last time I checked, I was still breathing,' she said sarcastically.

'Last time I checked, Catherine Chandler wasn't,' he countered, 'she died at her graduation. I was there.'

'Well, many people died this awful day. You obviously mistook me for someone else,' Catherine suggested calmly.

'Don't lie to me! I was inches apart from her face. She fell right in my arms. I checked her pulse,' he snarled once again. For a moment Catherine saw his eyes glow yellow, but then as he composed himself they turned back to their normal color, which Catherine could not identify in the darkness.

And that is when realization sank in. This was the man who killed the shooter. Catherine swallowed. Her face didn't betray the many thoughts going through her head.

'So this is what this whole show was about? Is it your way of complaining that I took all the glory from you,' once again sarcasm was evident in her voice. 'You actually should be thanking me. You would be sitting in jail right now.'

'It was self-defense,' he said trying to remain calm.

'Sure. But until that was proven you would be dragged to interrogation rooms and even to court,' she pointed out, 'and you don't want that, do you? Isn't it too much attention for a guy like you?

Catherine was challenging him on purpose. She knew that there was something different about him. She never expected to find something like that in NYC, but here he was. By the look on his face she knew that she had hit a nerve. Now she was looking at him with piercing eyes hoping she would intimidate him enough to drop this case. Well, she hoped vainly.

'Tell me who you are, 'he pressed after taking a deep breath and thinking for a second.

'Why don't you just mind your own business?' she snapped at him.

'Tell me!', he almost shouted.

'Do you want an ID to believe me?' she questioned.

'That wouldn't do any good considering the fact that you look like her twin,' he responded still waiting for an answer.

'Than how do you explain that I was just leaving my father's house after dinner. Don't you think he would have known if I wasn't his daughter?' she tried to reason with him.

'Maybe you fooled him. But you won't fool me!', he hissed.

If it was just a common man she would have kicked his ass and left him here wondering. She would have intimidated him so much that he would have dropped it. But he wasn't just a common man. She saw the flash in his eyes before. She noticed how he didn't feel any pain when she hit him. And he looked like it wasn't exhausting at all to press her against this wall like this for so long. He made it look as easy as simply touching her, but he had enough body tension to not allow her moving even an inch. So Catherine weighted her options- maybe his secret for hers? But first she had to consult somebody.

'I will make you a deal. If you let me go back to the house for 5 minutes to grab something, I will explain everything to you. If you explain yourself some things to me. For example why you didn't even flinch when I hit you,' she suggested.

'Because you are weak,' he quickly answered- almost too quickly.

'And I take, that I also hallucinate? Because I could swear, that your eyes turned yellow when you got too mad,' she challenged.

'It's not for you to make conditions,' he said clenching his teeth.

'Take it or leave it. Your choice,' she stated firmly.

'How do I know that you won't try to escape?' he questioned.

'Because you probably would catch me,' she winked.

'Five,' he simply said and she was already rushing to towards the house.

Catherine knew that this man was more than a plain human. What could he do? She saw how he approached the house. Did he want to make sure she didn't escape, or did he want to eavesdrop? Eavesdrop? From outside the house? Well, now it was official- she was getting paranoid. But she had seen quite some thinks after all. She decided not to take any changes while making her way to the living room.

'Did you forget something?' Thomas Chandler asked her looking up from a book.

'Yeah, dad. Typical me', she chuckled while grabbing a notepad and a pen.

-Got a problem. Man outside. He suspects. Don't talk. Write.

Thomas Chandler's face was shocked as he took the pen with a shaking hand.

-How?

- Don't have time now. Tomorrow. Need to tell him the truth.

She continued writing when he saw Thomas go pale.

-Not that. The grave. I know it's dangerous for you to spread the story. No other choice. Might be safer for us.

- Do what you have to. Details tomorrow.

With his permission Catherine hurried to the storeroom. There she removed a panel from the wood floor and took out a package. She immediately headed to the door. She just hoped that her long training would pay off today.

'I was about to come in', the stranger simply said.

'Yeah right,' she rolled her eyes at his bluff, 'get in the car!'

'What?' he was obviously taken by surprise.

'You heard me, pretty boy. If you want some answers than you'd better get in the car', she clarified, 'and hurry. I have no desire on spending my whole evening with you.'

After riding a while they reached their destination- a cemetery.

'If you plan on killing me and burying my body here, your chances are quite slim', he said.

'Oh shut up and follow me,' she rolled her eyes.

She guided him through the graves stopping eventually in front of one.

'So now what?' he asked impatiently.

'This, my dear friend, is Lana Lang's last home,' she explained.

'Why should I be interested in some dead woman?' he grew even more impatient.

She shook her head, 'Just look at the picture!'

As he did like she requested his eyes grew wide.

Well, it looks like Lana didn't only disappear from Smallville. What happened? How did she know Catherine? And why did this man mix them up in the first place and how will Catherine explain this to him. Do you think he will fulfill his part of the deal and tell Catherine his secret? What about all the secrecy with Thomas?

Do you think Clark will find out about Lana's death and if yes, how will he react? Will he investigate or is he too focused on Lois to actually care?

Give me some reviews with your ideas! I will try to update as soon as possible and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!