Chapter Two

Lois knocked and carefully walked into the Editor in Chief's office of the Daily Planet. The new Editor in Chief was nominated so quickly, after that Lex was unexpectedly was missing, and made her suspect that the new editor, Tess Mercer, had some bond with Lex and Luthorcorp.

After checking some of her sources including Senator Martha Kent, Lois started to suspect something about Chloe's arrest, that it had been faked by Lex's people for some reason. Lois thought that maybe it was because Chloe had some information about Lex and his dark business. So thinking that Lex could be implied, Lois wanted a confrontation about it with the new Editor in Chief, to try to help Chloe. She was worried for Clark also. He vanished the same day that Chloe was arrested and no-one knew anything more about him.

"Excuse me?" asked Lois politely from the door.

"What do you want, Ms. Lane?"

"Do you know me?"

"I am the new Editor in Chief, I know my stuff."

"I wanted to ask you about something, can I?" says Lois trying to be polite, even though she knew that her question should infuriate Tess.

"Do you know something about my cousin?"

"How can I know about her?" answered an irritated Tess, "what I know is that if she doesn't have a good reason for a two days absence, she will be fired."

"Sorry, Ms Mercer. My cousin was arrested by some guys that say to be Federal Agents. But anyone knows about her, and the DDS have no record of her being investigated, and didn't recognized these agents."

"It's normal. It's what usually happens in these cases. But if your cousin has some implication in an affair that affects the national security, then the newspaper can't trust in her anymore."

"My cousin is innocent. If she was arrested it was by mistake. But I think he was kidnapped faking an arrest."

"And?"

"I guess if you have some clue about who these guys are?"

"And what relation has it to me? I don't understand why you are asking me, Ms. Lane."

"I think you know more about it than you say."

"One moment, if you don't want to be the next I fire, don't accuse me of something you haven't any proof."

"Okay, maybe I have no proof for now, but be you sure when if I have some proof, or if these guys touch only one hair of the head of my cousin they will know who Lois Lane is," said Lois angry heading to the door.

"One moment, Ms. Lane. I don't know what you think you know about me, but be sure that you must pay for these accusations. Maybe I don't fire you for now, but be sure that is a possibility not too far from now. You demonstrated not being a good journalist accusing someone without any proof. And maybe my lawyers have something to talk to you about."

"To talk about something, like what?" challenged Lois.

"About a demand by calumny, for example."

"Ms. Mercer, by what I know, there are no witnesses of our conversation."

"Not so sure, Ms Lane. Think for a moment about it, I am the Editor in Chief of an important newspaper and you are a basement reporter. Who do you think are more trustful?"

"I only want to know about my family. And I know you are not more than a Lex Luthor's puppet."

"Careful about your words Ms. Lane, or your demand will include insults too."

"Careful about yourself Ms. Mercer. You don't know how I react when someone attack my family. Have a nice day," finished Lois sarcastically leaving Tess's office.

After the conversation and seeing Tess reactions, Lois was sure Tess knew more about Chloe than she wanted to admit. Maybe she said nothing. Of course Lois never expected a confession from Tess. But now Lois knew what need to be done and she had a clue about who kidnapped Chloe.

Lois was a little reluctant about calling her ex-boyfriend after some time. But she knew that Oliver was a true defender of justice. She had discovered that last year with him being the "Green Arrow" and she had forgiven him for his disappearances, because they were for a good reason. She liked that he was a hero, and maybe in some time that what was between them could be reborn. But in this moment that what was important that Oliver was Lex's enemy and he could help her to find Chloe and maybe Clark also.

*****

"Hey! Man! We are searching for you for days," shouted Oliver to Clark from the helicopter. Oliver was showing himself by the opened helicopter's door. The helicopter was flying near the ground searching for the best place to land.

Clark firstly didn't react because the desperation state of his mind, not able to know what was happening. But when finally he realized it was real, that his friend was calling him. He stopped to walk and turned to the helicopter, where it landed.

Watching the helicopter and Oliver calling for him, he started to walk slowly the short distance between him and the landing place. Meanwhile Oliver got out from the helicopter and headed to him.

Some minutes later, Oliver was helping Clark walk to the helicopter. "What happened?" Clark asked him.

"I don't know," answered Oliver, "all that I know is that Chloe called me saying that you were chasing Lex in the Arctic, she wanted me to search for you here."

"Chloe always knows how save me from trouble."

"I believe she is in trouble too, now. Lois called me, Chloe was missing too. I was not able to answer her call from the helicopter, but she talked to my assistant. After she had told me it, I called her from the helicopter and she explained me that she suspects that Chloe was arrested by fake Federal Agents the same day you vanished. There is no evidence that she is subject of an investigation. I think it is more than a coincidence."

Clark's face turned into concern over the tired face he had. Oliver immediately realized why. He knew that Clark cares so much about Chloe. As his friend was in a bad situation Oliver wanted calm him.

"Don't worry for her. I talked with my contacts and I think that in a short time we know something. I will know if Lex took her, I have all his installations to continue surveillance. Now you need some rest as soon I know about her we can go to rescue her, but you need to be reestablished."

"I think it is more difficult that you think," said Clark between profound breathes from his tiredness, "Oliver, I am powerless."

"Just like me, and it never stopped me from wanting to become a hero." Oliver said smiling and wanting encourage him.

*****

Chloe was typing at her computer. Around her there were some computers, computer screens, printers and other computer material, put on some tables that stands at different levels. Meanwhile she was working, she thought about Clark. Even thought she knew that she asked Oliver to help him before her fake arrest, in her situation wasn't able to know if Oliver had succeeded in finding him. Also it was so frustrating for her.

Would Clark be able to find her in this place? But more than that she was worried for her future and also she wanted to know if Clark was fine. She wanted it more than anything.

Also, Chloe was very worried about working for evil. Even she imagined that Lex could make her work against Clark. It was worse than all that could happen to her. As always, Chloe preferred, a personal sacrifice than a bad conscience or damage her friends.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted she heard the noise of an explosion. The lights out and the alarm started to sound. All was dark around her with only the low light from the emergency lights. Her heart started to run fast and faster. Even though her dramatic situation she had a small hope.

Around Chloe all turned to confusion, and she could hear some strange noises as explosions, other sounds that seemed that they were fights and other than that she wasn't able to identify. Chloe hoped it means that someone was rescuing her. She knew that only one person could do it. Her heart and her mind desired to look at him again.

Her sight spends some time in adjusting to the darkness, because the emergency light was so low in comparison with the powerful ones that lighted the laboratory when she was working. Until then she wasn't able to watch that happen.

In some time the sounds finished. Then Chloe confused mind, gave her the sensation that all happens in slow motion around her. Some of the Lex's security men entered and one of them pointed her with a gun. A bad thing, she thought. Even Clark with his powers couldn't do anything for her if she was shot from so short distance.

Sometime after, the door opened and Clark entered here smiling at her briefly. The Lex's men pointed to him, too. Then Chloe could see how at the same time the gun that was pointing to her was away from her, because an arrow troughed to the hand of her threatening. AC and Victor came in the room and defeat Lex's men but she heard shooting sounds.

Then Chloe saw something she never thought to watch again. Clark was lying on the ground severely injured.

Chloe rushed at his side. "Clark, Clark, oh my God, you are injured… how it's possible? You never would risk yourself if you are…"

Chloe never finished the sentence. In this moment an unexpected member of Oliver team entered to the room too. It was not other than her cousin Lois blending a powerful weapon.

But Chloe didn't pay attention to Lois. She looked at Clark eyes again, very sad, then near to cry say, "Don't worry, all will be fine."

"No! no, Chloe don't treat to heal me… you can die… I don't want you risk yourself," Clark implored in a low voice, between his every time more difficult and painful breaths. "You can't die, please, don't risk it for me."

"I am sorry, Clark… I can't lose you." she said to him looking at his eyes with a small smile in her lips.

"No, please, Chloe don't do it," implored Clark again, feeling a hard pain because the effort of talking in his state.

Chloe laid lightly over him, looked into his eyes, kissed him quickly on his lips and putting her hands over his chest started to do what she had planned to do. Crying but also smiling and without regret for a moment her decision.

"Clark, I love you," she said. A warm and white light surrounded them, and Chloe's body fell over Clark, motionless.

Immediately Clark felt better, he looked at Chloe passed out or something worse lying over him. He took her in his arms gently and stood up.

"Oliver, I need your helicopter," Clark demanded carrying Chloe in his arms.

"Take it."

"And I need the pilot make no question and don't reveal to anyone where we go."

"It's done," answered Oliver, worried.

"Smallville, what are you doing with my cousin?" asked Lois angry.

"Don't worry she will be fine, in some time."

"In some time? What does that mean? What just happened here? You are injured and she was fine, and now you are fine like nothing happened and she…"

"Lois, please, Chloe will answer your questions when she will be better, now I need to take her to a secure place."

"Where are you carrying her to?"

"Please, Lois, Chloe trusts me, please, do the same?"

"It is best she will be fine," said Lois menacing.

"I never forgive myself if not," assured Clark sincerely.

-tbc-