Title: Could this day get any worse?
Rating: PG 13- Teen
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from Smallville or Cheaper by the Dozen. I wish I owned Charlie Baker, I mean come on who doesn't want a man like that? But alas I do not own any of them, only my plot which I hope you like!
Pairing: Chloe/Charlie Baker
Summary: After witnessing Clark and Lois kissing, a heartbroken Chloe runs away, and ends up with her car breaking down, only to be rescued by one Charlie Baker. It happens that Chloe having no money and no place to stay, makes a deal with Charlie. She will work for him as a secretary for his auto shop in exchange for car repairs and a place to stay. They slowly fall for eachother, but it all turns bad when Clark whose been searching for her for months finally tracks her down with the help of Lex. Clark wants to take her home as does Lex, but Chloe doesn't want to go. What happens When Charlie, who loves Chloe decides to fight for her?
AN: I realized Charlie's mother name was Kate, so I am sorry about getting it wrong in the first chapter!
AN2: Thanks to all those who made this a favorite! I would like to thank my reviewers!
Shadowglove- I am very glad you liked the book part! Like I said it just came to me and I am glad someone caught it.
Boredlittlestudent- Thank you very much! I love crossovers as well, they make things that much more interesting! And I'm glad you liked the first part!
LadyAlchemy- Well here you will get your wish! You will find out a little bit more about how Charlie sees her!
--
Charlie had to hold back a laugh as Chloe fidgeted more and more as they walked up the driveway to his parents house. "Hey Chlo, don't be nervous it will be alright, my parents don't bite. Although I cant make promises that my little brothers wont bite." He says with a smile and pats her shoulder in reassurance.
After taking the poor girl in last night, Charlie had gotten to know her pretty well. They spent the whole day talking at his auto shop between customers. At first she had been very shy about what she told him, not wanting to go into details but Charlie didn't push. As much as he would like to know more about her, he didn't want to scare her away. He figured she would open up to him when she felt comfortable.
"Speaking of your family let see if I got this right ok? There's your parents Tom and Kate. Then Nora, her husband Bud, there two year old son Tommy, and the rest of your family being, yourself, Lorraine, Sarah, Mark, Jake, Jessica, Mike, Henry, Kyle, Nigel, and Kim right?" Chloe asked nervously. She would have hated to have forgotten someone.
Charlie was utterly impressed that Chloe could remember his entire families names. It was an impressive skill to have indeed. But as he had already learned, there was nothing ordinary about Chloe Sullivan. Something she would prove later in the evening, unbeknownst to either of them. He smiled at her as they reached the door. "Yep, that's my family. Now calm down, the younger ones are like blood hounds, they can smell fear." He joked.
After a knock, you could hear a lot of noise inside. Charlie hadn't been kidding when he said dinner time was hectic for his family. After a few moments an older Blonde woman opened the door with a huge smile. Chloe could only guess this was Kate, and she wasn't disappointed in her assumption when Charlie hugged the woman with a warm, "Mom!" said in her direction.
Kate hugged her son back, and looked at Chloe with a kind smile. "Hi! You must be Chloe, I'm Kate, as I am sure my son has told you. Please come in will you?" She turned her head at two young boys running by, "Kyle! Nigel! No running in the house!' She turned back to Chloe and Charlie, "Sorry about that. Come in you two."
--
A few hours into dinner and everything was going fine. There had been a few tense moments when the twins had decided that Chloe should wear her mashed potatoes. Everyone in the Baker family had froze, unsure of how Chloe would react. But everyone was happily surprised when she just laughed, and proceeded to tell the twins she was now the Queen of potato palace, and how they could be her guards. After that everything had gone quite smoothly. The family excepted Chloe as one of there own almost immediately.
It was after dinner when everyone sat at the table talking, that disaster struck. Chloe had been enjoying a talk with Kate and Nora when suddenly everyone turned at the voice of Nigel Baker.
He was standing at the top of the stairs on the banister. He had a sheet tied around his neck like a cape. "Mom, dad, look, I can fly! I'm Batman!" And with that Kyle pushed Nigel off the banister.
"NO!" Could be heard being screamed from the table. But it was to late. Time seemed to freeze into almost an agonizing slow pace. Nigel Baker soared threw the air, falling closer and closer to the ground. When he landed there was a sickening thud. Immediately after that everyone was up surrounding the young boy.
"Oh god, he's not breathing Tom!" Kate screamed, clutching her baby boy to her chest.
"I'll call 911!" Came Buds urgent reply.
"No, it will take to long! I'll get the truck and drive to the hospital!" Charlie said threw tears, and a cracked voice.
Chloe stood behind everyone else, listening to there arguing and crying. She made up her mind quickly. She stepped forward, and kneeled down between Kate and Tom. "I can save him."
Chorus's of what and how's filled the room. Charlie looked at her in confusion. "Are you a doctor?"
Chloe doesn't smile, just takes a breath. "You could say that." She looks at Charlie, "Do you trust me? I need you to trust me Charlie, his life depends on it. Please let me save him."
Charlie looks at his parents, and his little brother who wasn't breathing or moving. The young boy who was usually so full of life looked dead. "I trust you." He said looking her dead in the eyes.
Chloe looks at Kate. "I need you to hand him to me, and get everyone to step away." At the fear in Kate's eyes, she urges, "Please, I need room." Kate reluctantly hands her son over, and stands with Tom and the rest of the family, huddled together.
Chloe pulls the boy into her lap. She looks at Charlie. "Charlie?" She waits until he looks at her. "What you and your family are about to see, I am positive you wont understand. But I need you to listen to me carefully ok?" At his nod she continues. "When I am done, I need you swear not to take either Nigel or myself to the hospital, no matter what. Just take me back to your cabin, or put me in a room here. Don't be scared, I wont hurt anyone I promise. And if I don't wake up for a few days its nothing to worry about. Do you swear?"
Charlie clears his throat. He wants to ask what she is talking about, but one look at his brother says he doesn't have a lot of time. He nods, "I swear Chloe."
She nods, and suddenly the room is shrouded in white light. Charlie can barely see Chloe and his brother. He can make out pain etched on her face, and he wants to go to her. But doesn't in fear of disrupting whatever is happening. In a few moments the light is gone, leaving Chloe on the floor unmoving. But Nigel sits up and smiles, "Did I fly?"
Everyone is to shocked to move for a moment. Kate is the first to react, she moves forward and grabs her son in a hug. "You did, but don't you ever do it again do you understand!" She is shaking and Tom stands with her. Most of the family is surrounding Nigel, except for Nora, Lorraine, and Charlie, who were near Chloe. Charlie was holding her tightly as the three argued. Everyone turned to listen and watch.
"I don't care what you promised Charlie! She needs a doctor! She is barely breathing!" Lorraine shouts.
"And then what do we do Lorraine? We cant very well say that she brought Nigel back from the dead can we?" He is caressing her hair gently.
"Why don't we just do as said and put her in bed? Watch over her? She deserves it doesn't she? She saved his life." Nora says softly.
Lorraine counters. "Yeah she did, and is anyone curious to how she did that? What is she? Some kind of mutant?"
Charlie glares at Lorraine. "Does it matter?" He practically shouts. "She saved his life. She could die, and she did it for our brother, someone she doesn't know. I don't care if she is an alien!" He looked down into Chloe's extremely pale face.
"Shouldn't we call the police or something?" Lorraine asks.
"What so they can take her away and discect her by cutting her up and testing her? I've seen movies on TV dude and that's what they will do." Jake states.
Tom looks at Kate who nods, he steps forward, "ENOUGH!" Everyone instantly quiets. He continues. "I don't know what she did exactly, except that she saved my son. I'll tell you what she is. She is a woman who risked her life for your brother! And I think it should be Charlie's decision about what to do." He looks at his eldest son. "What do you want to do?"
Charlie stands, Chloe in his arms. "I want to do as she asked. Mom dad can we stay here? Use the spare room?"
Kate nods, "Of course Charlie, but you take our room. Your father and I will take the guest room."
With a nod of gratitude Charlie walks to his parents room with Chloe. "Come on Blondie, don't die on me." He whispers.
--
The first thing Chloe was aware of was crying. A very male sounding cry. Then she heard a voice. It was Charlie. But why would Charlie be crying? Then it all came back to her. Nigel trying to fly, his neck snapping, saving his life. Oh god! Nigel! Was he ok? Did it work? She tried to move but couldn't. So she listened to Charlie as he spoke.
"Come on Chloe, I know we don't know each other that well, but you have to wake up please. You cant die, I just found you!"
Chloe suddenly feels a rush of air as she takes a breath. She snaps up into a sitting position. Her words come out fast, like she is panting them out. "Nigel! Is he ok? Did it work? Oh god, please say it worked!"
Charlie crushed her into his chest in a hug. He sobbed in relief. "Oh god Chloe! I thought I had lost you!" He loosens his grip at her intake of breath. "Nigel is fine. Not a scratch. He doesn't understand why he is grounded for a month, but other than that he is ok. What did you do Chloe? There was light, and then Nigel was fine, and you, you were dead." His voice wavers.
Chloe looks away, fearing his reaction. She slowly explains Smallville, the meteorites, her powers. She couldn't look at him, she was so afraid he would be disgusted. "I-I can leave now if its what you want. Pack my things and leave. I'll go far away and you'll never see or hear from me again." She whispered.
Charlie turns her face towards his. "Chloe, that's amazing. Your amazing. You die to save others. You barely know me or my family, yet you died for my brother. If that's not a hero I don't know what is. I wont say that I particularly liked watching you die, but its your decision not mine. And I can never repay you for what you did for my family. I don't want you to leave."
Chloe wipes away her tears. No one had ever accepted her that way. Clark had tried to get her to stop, not realizing that healing was a part of who she was. She couldn't stop, it would be like asking him to never use his powers again. Jimmy had looked at her like she was some freak, he said his leaving her had nothing to do with her powers but she knew better. She looks at Charlie, "I'm no hero Charlie Baker."
Charlie smiles, "I have a group of family outside the room who would disagree. Can I send them in?"
Chloe nods, "A couple at a time ok?"
He nods confirmation and leaves the room, the first to enter are, Kim, Henry, Mike, Jessica, Mark, and Jake.
Mike speaks first, "We cant stay long, but I just had to tell you Chloe, that has to be the coolest thing I have ever seen!"
Jessica is next, "I'm doing a report for school and I they asked who I wanted to be like and I said you. Don't worry, I didn't write about what happened, I just said that I wanted to be the kind of person who would give up there life for others."
Mark and Kim say at the same time. "He may be annoying, but we are glad you were here. Thank you."
Henry hands her some flowers. And Jake is the last to speak. "Where were you when I broke my arm roller skating?" He asks with a smile.
Chloe laughs, "Sorry I wasn't here sooner then."
"It's ok. You came here at the right time." He hugs her awkwardly.
After they leave, the next bunch enters. Being, Nora, Bud, Kyle, Sarah, and Lorraine.
Sarah hands her a teddy bear. "I thought you would like it. Lorraine assures me that girls who aren't me like that sort of thing. If you don't like it blame Lorraine."
Chloe laughs, "I love it, thank you Sarah."
Kyle gives her a teary eyed hug. "I am sorry that you got hurt."
Chloe pats his back. "Its ok Kyle. As long as your promise that I am still the Potato queen and you're my guard." He nods with a grin.
Lorraine hands her a stack of Vogue magazines. "Charlie said you liked to read, and I thought you would like these to help you recover."
Chloe chuckles, "Umm thanks, its great to learn the ten secrets to great hair!"
Bud hugs her while Nora speaks, "I can never express my thanks to you Chloe. If Nigel had died, this family would have been torn apart. So thank you, and if you ever need anything you just ask ok?" She hugs her and whispers, "You're my hero. And take care of my brother, he really was worried. He didn't leave your side."
Chloe goes to reply but they leave the room quickly. The last bunch comes in. Tom, Kate, and Nigel.
Nigel hands her a huge card with a picture of the family. Its signed by everyone.
Kim- Get well soon!
Nigel- Batman is so not my hero no more, you are! Ill get you a cape!
Kyle- Please get better!
Henry- Your like an angel.. Well that's what Charlie called you! OW Charlie!
Mike- Feel Better, plus the light thing was neat!
Jessica- My new role model!
Jake- Your like a super hero dude!
Mark- I wanted to get you a frog but dad wouldn't let me!
Sarah- You rock!
Lorraine- When you feel better I will take you shopping!
Charlie- Your really an Angel Chloe. My Angel…Stop grinning Henry!
Nora- You need anything you call!
Bud&Tommy- We hope you feel better soon! :)
Kate- We owe you our lives.
Tom- You are an amazing human Ms. Sullivan.
Chloe nearly cried at the card. It was so sweet. But she had to say the best part was what Charlie wrote. It gave her goose bumps.
Nigel left, leaving Tom and Kate. Chloe gets nervous. Sensing her fear Tom speaks. "I Know there is nothing I can say to prove my thanks. So I will just say that you are now officially a Baker. You are one of the family. Id be proud to call you my daughter."
Chloe lets out her tears. "Tom that's the nicest thing anyone has said. My father loves me I know, but he, isn't around much anymore. I haven't seen him in years. 4 years to be exact. Its an honor to be considered your daughter!" She leans up and kisses his cheek.
Kate speaks next, "Chloe, I agree with what my husband said. In those few moments, I thought I had lost Nigel, and my worst fear was confirmed. Loosing a child is agony, and if something happened to him, I-" She pauses taking a breath, "What I mean to say is, I owe you my life. You saved my son, my baby. And I will always love you for that. You're a part of this family. Though I would be thrilled if one day instead of being my daughter you were my daughter in law." She says with a grin.
Chloe smiles and laughs lightly. "Thanks Mrs. Baker. I never had a mom in my life, and its nice to know that you see me as a daughter. The both of you." She smiles at them, and then looks at the door as a throat is cleared. They look up to see Charlie.
"Hey, um, can I talk to Chloe alone for a minute?"
They smile, and with a hug to Chloe leave the room and hug there son on the way out.
Charlie takes her hand as he sits on the edge of the bed. "Chloe, I-" He shakes his head. "Screw it, I was always better with actions then with words." He leans in and kisses her softly. He is grinning like a fool when he pulls back. "Chloe, you don't know what it was like when I thought you were dead. I know we don't know each other that well, but I can say, that I want to get to know you better, and see where things go. Is that ok with you?"
Chloe frowns, "Charlie I don't want this to be because you feel you owe me-" She is cut off by his lips on hers once again.
"Its not that Chloe. I knew there was something special about you the moment I saw you. Don't think that its because I feel I owe you something. I want to see where this leads. Please?" He questions.
She looks at him, and realizes he is telling the truth. "Ok Charlie Baker, I would like that. Now… you say you owe me, and I know were you can start. How about a kiss?" He grins at her and kisses her once more. They don't even break apart at the cheers coming from the doorway, they only smile and deepen the kiss.
Who knew what tomorrow would bring? But they were willing to find out. Together.
TBC
AN: So what did you think? Please Read and Review!!