A/N Alright so I'm getting closer towards the end of this story… just a few more chapters I think. Replies are always appreciated and please be advised that the next chapter will be rated M. Thanks! Enjoy!

It's All in the Timing

Chapter Nine: Reunion

Doomsday…

All the things we should have given but I didn't…

Oh darling make it go…

Just make it go away

He could hear her heartbeat… over the rush of the wind as they sped through the sky; over Doom's screams of anguish and hatred as they struggled for the upper hand; over the crashing in his ears as they hit the cement and went straight through the earth… he could hear her heartbeats.

…and then suddenly he couldn't.

35 Hours Earlier…

It was raining… drops of water falling all around him. In his superspeed he could see them one by one. When he was younger, first testing his speed, he avoided the drops. It was like a game and he found it thoroughly entertaining and quite challenging. Now as he sped through the night he barely noticed.

He raced across the city feeling something inside him tense as he drew closer and closer to where she was. He knew that she was close. He could feel it in the way that his breath hitched with each passing mile. Drawing him towards her… to her; it was meant to be. He stopped bringing with him a gust of wind that blew Bart's hair haphazardly across his forehead. The younger boy smirked but said nothing. He looked around at the faces before him and swallowed hard feeling his muscles tense and his body cringe. He doubled over slightly as though… as if…

"Kryptonite…" He groaned falling into his green attired friend who held him up as much as he could.

Oliver sighed. "It's like a dust and it's covering at least 100 feet out which means there is someone who doesn't want you in there but we know that Chloe's in there... We've got the signal from her cell phone and we have her and Davis on camera from Tess's satellite camera that Jimmy downloaded. You'll have to wait out here while we go in and…"

He never got to finish as the entire motel exploded before their eyes. Cyborg grabbed the Black Canary shielding her body as best he could from the blast as Oliver dropped him and Clark to the ground on instinct. The heat and smoke surrounded the motel as the force from the explosion lifted the kryptonite dust further into the sky.

Clark pushed his protector off him, stumbling to his feet running for the building calling out her name desperately. "Chloe… Chloe!!!!" He tripped over himself as he grew closer to the green toxic.

It was Impulse who was quick to help Clark up and lead him away from the blast even as the older man struggled against him. "Clark you can't… one inhale and you're done man!" He tried to warn him dropping him hard on the ground.

Clark groaned exhaling deeply as the sweat poured off him in waves mixing with the steady downpour. He could see the green cloud hovering, mixing with the orange and red flames of what remained of the motel. "CHLOE!!!" His voice strained against his vocal chords as his insides seemed to burn. Whether from the kryptonite or something else he wasn't sure. "She's… in there… she can't… you can't just allow her to…" There were tears in his eyes and suddenly he was on his feet again trying desperately to get to her but in his weakened state it didn't take much for Bart to hold him back.

"Clark… I'm sorry." He remarked feeling the sting of tears in his own eyes.

"No… just… we can't… I can't…" He pleaded with his friend. He continued to struggle until he noticed that Bart had stopped. He looked down into his eyes and saw that he was looking past him as though staring at a ghost. Looking over his shoulder he felt his heart leap to his throat. "Chloe…" He choked out.

Give me these moments

Give them back to me…

Fifty feet away she stood motionless, her stare focused on what remained of the building. Orange and red blurred her vision if only for a moment but the sound of his voice brought her out of her silent thoughts. Her eyes cut to him and suddenly grew wide as if just seeing him for the first time. Her breath hitched and she whispered so softly that it was only for super-hearing that he caught his name on her lips over the pounding of the rain. "Clark…"

Give me that little kiss

Give me your…

Give me your hand baby…

And then she was running, running as fast as her legs would carry her. Her hair plastered to her face, her clothes soaked and clinging to her tiny frame she ran to him. He pulled away from Bart walking only a few feet and then she was in his arms. Her whole body wrapped itself around him. Arms and legs clung to him as though she were a second skin. Her head buried itself into his shoulder and as she inhaled his scent she released his name in a heartbreaking sob. "Oh God… Clark."

Give me your pretty hand

Ohhhh

Your love…

His hands were on her without hesitation and nothing else mattered. He could feel her heart beat as it thumped rapidly against her ribcage. He could hear her ragged breaths as she cried into his shoulder and none of it mattered because she was in his arms… she was in his arms and he was never going to let her go. "I got you Chloe. I've got you." He whispered softly hugging her close.

A few hours later…

They watched from a distance as the paramedics and firemen tended to the scene that lay in the wake of the explosion. Hidden out of sight as to not have to answer questions, Oliver alone remained. He had removed his Green Arrow suit for something more fitting. Claiming to be a good Samaritan who happened to be driving by when the motel exploded he called for help. The rest of the League chose to go back to the Farm to wait.

The ride back had been quiet. Chloe sat next to Clark her hands tucked in the midst of his. They remained in constant contact the whole way back and it wasn't until they arrived and was greeted by Mrs. Kent that they broke the connection. Martha insisted that she go up and take a shower before doing anything else. All questions had to wait.

Once behind the closed door she leaned into the wood feeling something inside her crack slightly and then there were tears on her cheeks. She brushed them away quickly going to the shower and turning it on full blast. She stripped out of her wet clothes and climbed inside feeling the heat seep into her skin despite the constant chill that ran up her spine.

"Chloe… what's happening? What's going on?"

"Davis you have to trust me… Listen to me… someone is coming for us and you have to do exactly what I say…"

"Just hold on a little while longer…" She whispered to herself even as the tears fell and she crouched down feeling the sobs fill her up and overflow.

A little while later…

She came down in a pair of Clark's pajama bottoms and one of his old sweaters only to find the entire league seated at the kitchen table. Coffee mugs set in front of all including Oliver who had arrived while she had been upstairs courtesy of Mrs. Kent. Clark was the only odd man out, standing at the foot of the stairs as if waiting on her.

"How was the shower?" He asked softly and there was something in his tone that made her think that perhaps he had heard her sobs.

She gave him a slight smile brushing the wet tendrils from her forehead. "It helped. Where's Mrs. Kent? I want to thank her for the threads." She stated softly.

"She went upstairs to call Lois." He remarked.

She nodded. She should have done that. The guilt must have been evident as he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. She knows how to handle it." He remarked softly handing her a mug.

She smiled again as she took it between her palms. This time she hoped it looked more genuine.

"So we don't have much time." Oliver interjected. "Perhaps you could tell us what happened."

She nodded walking further into the kitchen. "Well um… Davis and I… we were hiding out at the motel. I um… I guess Tess had someone following us."

"She must have realized that Jimmy hacked into her satellite system… she knew that Jimmy was reporting to me and that I would contact the Green Arrow." Oliver smirked referring to himself in the third person.

"Jimmy? What does Jimmy have to do with any of this?" She asked momentarily distracted.

"When he found out that you had been abducted he came back to help." Oliver stated softly.

Realization that her ex had come back for a rescue mission swept over her. It was quick but noticed nonetheless. She nodded. "Tess tracked us down with a few of her guys… she grabbed Davis and I ran."

"And she just let you go?" Oliver asked softly. The doubt was evident.

She shrugged slightly. "I wasn't the one they wanted." She offered as a reason. "Besides Davis didn't exactly make it easy on them; he put up quite a fight so that I could get away. I guess in the midst of everything I left my cell phone behind." She remarked. She took a sip of hot liquid expecting coffee and was surprised to find that it was tea. She swallowed hard feeling all eyes on her. "I think we need to focus all our efforts on finding Tess. There's no telling what she has planned for Davis and trust me… she has no idea what she's dealing with. She may think she does but if she gets Davis to let go… we're all in trouble." She remarked.

"Well I have a plan." He stated.

Now all eyes were on him as he relayed how he planned to save Davis and still take care of the beast. It all seemed so perfect when he went over the plan. Use the black kryptonite… separate the beast from the man… send the beast to the Phantom Zone.

"Wow… look at the Boy Scout stepping up and laying it down!" Bart smiled slapping Clark's shoulder with his hand proudly. "I always knew that you were more than just good looks and extra muscle." He remarked.

Clark gave a shy smile and small chuckle. "Thanks… I think."

"Well when should we make our move? I mean maybe we should track her down right now."

"Tomorrow… tomorrow will be the day… trust me." He stated with such absolute certainty that Chloe found that the chill had come back anew. She met his eyes and saw the guilt swimming in the blueness of his orbs… perhaps he too had his own secrets.

The moment was broken as Martha stepped back into the room. "Chloe… I spoke with Lois. I convinced her to wait until the morning to come over. I assured her that tonight all you needed was a warm bed and a good night's sleep. She said that she would relay the message to Jimmy."

Chloe nodded. "Thanks." She whispered.

"I guess that's our cue… Tomorrow it is then." Oliver stated taking a stand. The rest followed suit making their way towards the door. Bart was the second to last to go.

"I'm really glad you're okay Senorita." He remarked and for once the playfulness was gone. He wanted her to know just how serious he was. Leaning in he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. Looking over his shoulder he smirked at Clark. "No worries man, I know when I'm beat… that hug said it all." He remarked and then was out the door before either of them could take their next breath.

Oliver was the last to leave. Coming to stand in front of her he stared into her green eyes. He had questions… questions he dared not ask but questions nonetheless. Clark may be too blinded by happiness to see that there was something off but not him and they both knew it. Instead he smiled, touched her arm and then was gone.

"I'm going to head upstairs. Chloe… I'm so happy we have you back." She rubbed the younger girl's arms affectionately and smiled. "Don't stay up too late you two… someone has to save the world tomorrow."

Clark smiled seeing the sincerity behind her guise. "Good night mom." He remarked as she kissed his cheek.

"Good night Mrs. Kent."

And then there were two…

Now that they were alone there seemed to be a tension that settled over them. She looked up at him and for a moment she thought that he would say something but then he turned away beginning to gather up the mugs from the table. "I'm going to clean up here. You should go up to bed. You can have my room." He remarked walking around her and placing the dishes in the sink.

"Clark I want to talk about…"

"You've had a rough week." He stated still not willing to face whatever lay on the other side of the conversation but then she reached out and placed her hand over his stopping his jerky movements.

"Clark…" She tried again.

This time he exhaled a deep breath and she could see the shadow of tears in his eyes. "What if I wouldn't have found you? What if you didn't get away?" He asked softly.

She looked down feeling his hand tremble beneath her own. "It would have been okay… I told you that it wasn't about me…"

He turned to her, and she felt the surprise at the desperation she saw in his eyes. "It is… it is about you. I don't work without you." He stated brokenly. "I almost lost you today. I thought I had."

She reached up brushing the tears off his cheeks. He grabbed her hand before she could pull back and laced his fingers with hers. "When I saw you… when you ran into my arms… it was like being home. It was like without you I couldn't really breathe." He remarked.

She looked from his eyes to the way their fingers intertwined. It was like a perfect fit and she felt her heart burst, from love and anguish. Looking up into his eyes she felt her body move closer to him. Before she knew it she was on her tip toes and pressing her lips to his. His arms encircled her waist pulling her further into him. His hands splayed across her lower back she felt her body tremble. He was holding her… kissing her. His tongue brushed across her bottom lip pleading for admittance. She could do nothing but allow him entrance and then it was all heat and passion. Backing her up into the counter he angled his mouth over hers delving deeper inside. His breath mingling with hers, her tiny hands pressed against the contours of his chest; it all seemed so surreal. When they finally broke to come up for air she could feel the rapid beating of her heart at the want she saw in his eyes. Biting her lower lip softly she cocked her head slightly as his hand reached out and brushed her cheek, caressing her flesh like that of a lover. Covering his hand with her own she swallowed hard. "Let's go upstairs." She whispered softly, the meaning of her words evident. Before he could second guess her she gave his hand a slight tug towards the staircase letting him know that she was sure. "Tomorrow we save the world… tonight… we save ourselves."