Title: Breaking Chloe Sullivan

Summary: Her strength is intriguing him, her fire captivating him, but can she survive his interest? Lex decides it's time to find out, what exactly will it take to break Chloe Sullivan?

Shipping: Chlark Chlex mostly Chlark

Major Characters: Chloe Clark Lex

Author's Note: Okay! I'm excited about this chapter. After taking forever and a day to decide about the rest of the story, at least the basics, even after all that time to think away from the computer, I came back and wrote this in a few hours. So hopefully it's good. I'm working on trying to make everything believable, so let me know if I pull that off.

Reviews:

CYTstagepenguin: I loved the Chlark too, I had to put something in there, lol. And thanks for the criticism, continue with it.

EVERYONE READ THIS PART! Yes all of this investigation into Shaun was supposed to happen in the missing three months. I could have written it but mostly this part with her in high school was just background. I want the main part of the story to happen later, beginning with this chapter. That was kind of how I planned it out when I originally thought this up like two years ago. Lol.

Kit Merlot: Looks like you're liking all the aspects of the story, that's fantastic! I hope you continue liking it all, this chapter will keep you on your toes!

Lvswtht: So you want Lex to succeed huh? How very evil of you... (I want the same thing!) But hey, we'll see how it goes. Lol.

Blackheart4life: Hey your wait is over, lol. I'm glad you get so into my story and I'm glad you think I'm capturing Lex because he can be a tricky character. But yes he is in pretty deep isn't he? He's just very complicated... and complicated is good, it's fun to write, lol. And yes Clark kissed her! It had me all excited too, lol. Have fun with this chapter... it may make you scream... hopefully.

Lizzy1234: Well I'm glad you like it, keep reading it's only gonna get better!

As for the rest of you, thanks for adding me to alerts and things! Hope you keep reading!

Previously:

Chloe

But Chloe had been thinking, and she'd decided that she had a solution to the problem anyways. I'll just take some pictures and maybe get a voice recording, nothing major. Her mind was still reeling from Clark's kiss and then she'd had to fend off his questions about her bruises.It was just too much to deal with. Shaun's abuse, Lex's present, busting the drug dealers, and Clark's kiss... Shit... Clark's kiss... Chloe pulled into Lex's driveway and turned off her car. Just breathe Chloe, just breathe. Get through tonight, get through tonight and don't worry about tomorrow until tomorrow. You can do this. Just get through tonight.

Clark

His pulse leapt at the sensation of her lips beneath his and when Chloe pulled away he felt her taking his breath. Still so close to her, Clark's hand went to her face, his thumb stroking her soft skin gently. He hugged her to him and suddenly she cried out in pain. He held her gaze for a minute, letting her see how serious he was. You're not explaining this away. Clark gasped when he saw the bruise, dark and ugly, marring her perfect pale skin. He wanted to find whoever had hurt Chloe, and hurt them.

Lex

Lex felt his skin tingle with the thought and he could picture how the evening would go. Skin on skin, he has her, he has her! With her hands, with her lips, with her eyes, and with everything she is, she's taken it from him and now he's going to tell her. He's going to say, "I love you." His want resurfaces, his need, his lust... the safe emotions. He can feel his body aching for hers, can feel his need coursing through his veins, his desire pounding in his chest, and Lex makes his decision. I'm going to take her, capture her, seduce her and have her. By the time I'm through with her, she'll be the one wanting it.

Ch. 9 What Am I Going to Do?

Ten Years Later

"The decision is final Lois, don't waste your breathe arguing with me about it."

"But Perry, what makes you think I need a partner! I'm doing just fine on my own!" She was nearly beside herself trying to convince her stubborn editor that she didn't need a partner for the work she was doing. Both hands on her hips, she glared at him across his desk.

"Forget it Lois, here's your next assignment, Clark will be here within the hour and I expect you to be nice." She froze, her entire being focused on that one name, and for a second it was as if time wasn't passing, as if the world had stopped rotating on its axis. Her breath caught in her throat and it felt as if her heart stopped altogether. Suddenly the room wasn't large enough and she leaned both suddenly clammy hands on Perry's desk as everything started to spin.

"Umm... what did you say? Who, uh... who is this guy?" Please God don't let him say it!

"Clark Kent, a newbie but he shows promise." Fuck! She turned around, wanting to be out of here, wanting to be anywhere but here when he got here. What am I going to do? "Lois are you okay?" Turning back to look at Perry, she took a personal inventory. Her mouth felt like a desert, her stomach had kangaroos having a party in it, her lungs couldn't get any oxygen, her legs felt like jello, and, she held them out in front of her to be sure, yup her hands were shaking like so many leaves in the wind. Not to mention her heart jackhammering in her chest and the hurricane flying around in her head.

"Yeah Boss I'm fine, I'm just... feeling a little nauseous."

"Well pull yourself together Lane, Kent will be here soon, and I know you'll want to put him in his place." Perry mentions his name and she can feel it, all those unwanted memories, those unwanted feelings, they're coming up. Unable to stop them, she manages to turn around before unceremoniously retching all over someone's shoes. My buried past looks surprisingly like breakfast...

"Are you alright?" Oh shit... I know that damned caring tone... Glancing up to confirm her worst fear, her eyes shut and her heart pounds. Feeling his hand on her back, she retches again, helplessly. When her second attack is over, she finally straightens and meets his eyes, praying to God he won't recognize her. It takes him a second, and when those blue eyes begin to probe hers, she can feel her cheeks begin to heat up. Girlish, childish feelings she had thought were long buried claw their way to the surface.

"Chloe?" His whispered question penetrates deeply within her, resonates inside her pounding head, inside her racing heart. He takes a step forward and it's as if he has physically knocked her back. She almost falls down trying to stay away from him. Clark grabs her arms to steady her on her feet and for a second there is only him. Just his warm hands, his strong arms, his caring eyes. He's here, and maybe now everything will be okay.

"Lois?" Perry's voice breaks the spell and confusion overtakes Clark's handsome and familiar expression. Breaking his hold, Chloe runs out of the room as if the devil itself were on her heels. God I can fall into him so easily... She doesn't stop until she's reached the elevator. Once the doors close, she leans heavily against the wall, attempting to retrieve the breath he stole from her. Her entire body is shaking with the realization of what was happening to her. Damnit! Tears prick her eyes and she clenches her teeth. I will not cry. You will not cry! Do you hear me Sullivan! Sagging further against the wall, Chloe closes her eyes. It's Lane now, remember Chloe?

Ten years... Ten fucking years! Now he shows up, now he walks right back into her life, without even knowing what he's done, what he's ruined. All my hard work... down the drain. The door to the elevator opens on the ground floor and Chloe walks out, turning back as she realizes she had forgotten her purse. Shit. The possibility of running into Clark again was too high, in fact, it was practically a certainty that if she went back up she'd run into him. And then she'd never get out of there, at least not without him tagging along behind her. You do owe him an explanation... Forcing herself to turn away and walk out the Daily Planet doors, Chloe makes a decision. You owe him nothing Chloe, not a single damned thing.

Clark was still reeling with what he had seen. His meeting with Perry had been superficial, he hadn't been able to focus at all, he had barely heard what had been said to him, and could hardly remember what he'd said himself. Are you sure you weren't imagining things Clark? Even now, sitting at his new desk, Clark still wasn't sure about what he had seen.

It couldn't have been Chloe... if she was still alive she would have contacted someone. Clark had long ago accepted the fact that Chloe was dead. They'd had a funeral, he had said all of his good-byes to her. Come on Clark think! Deep down, didn't you still know she was alive? He had spent over a year scouring the globe for her, spending so much time trying to learn what had happened to her that his parents had sent him to a therapist to "deal with his loss" and Lana had left him. It was impossible, there was no way that was Chloe he had seen only an hour ago.

His heart thudded deeply in his chest and Clark rested his head in his hands. But those were her eyes... those were her lips, that was her nose, that was her face! He got up and walked around to her desk. To Lois' desk, or to Chloe's desk. There were notes scattered everywhere, folders piled haphazardly on the edge... It sure looked like Chloe's desk, back at the Torch. Sometimes he would rush in to tell her something and those folders would go toppling to the floor, papers flying everywhere. Clark grinned, remembering her anger, her annoyance with him, only to be forgotten as they picked everything up together, as she listened to whatever it was he had to tell her. She always knew what to do...

But then, she had left him, she had disappeared. God he could remember that last night with her as if it had happened yesterday. Sometimes he could still feel her in his arms, still feel her lips beneath his own. And he could still hear her cry of pain, echoing forever in his soul. Clark sped out of room, down the stairs and then flew up into the air, finding solitude atop the very building he had just occupied. That bruise marring her perfect skin... so much larger than the one he'd seen before. He should have known! He should have pressed! He should have kept her there until she told him. She had wanted to tell him... it had been there, hiding behind that concrete facade she had been so close to perfecting. Damnit Clark you should have cared more!

It hadn't been until after her disappearance that he'd discovered the truth, that he'd found out what she'd been dealing with by herself for so long. She'd been abused, beaten. God why didn't I see it? During the course of his investigation, during the course of his obsession, Clark had discovered the truth about Shaun. He had confronted Claudia with this knowledge, and she had caved, scared that Shaun had something to do with Chloe being missing.

Clark had agreed with her, he'd already been pretty sure Shaun was responsible in some way. So he had gone to Shaun, and he had scared the hell out of him. But still, Shaun refused to admit that he knew anything about Chloe's disappearance. The cops hadn't been able to do anything, they hadn't been able to find anything. Clark had gone to Lex and even he said there was nothing he could find about Chloe. He had looked for her for so long... so long. And there had been nothing. But did you ever really give up?

Looking out over all of Metropolis, Clark found his answer. He never really had. Throughout the rest of high school, throughout college and up to this point, he'd still been looking. Maybe it had been unconsciously, maybe he'd never allowed himself to acknowledge it before, but he had always been looking. Sometimes he'd hear her laugh or her voice, or maybe catch a glimpse of her hair. Always he would pause and listen, or turn and stare, always making sure that it wasn't Chloe. Now, finally, it was her.

She was here. She's here... Clark ran a hand through his hair. All these years she'd been alive... and she hadn't once tried to contact him and let him know. She'd let him believe, let everyone believe she was dead. Why? What happened Chloe? It was just now sinking in that this had to have been her choice, but he still couldn't come up with any explanation as to why she would just leave and never come back and never tell anyone. So what are you going to do now?

Straightening, Clark made his decision. He flew down off the roof and landed behind the building, walking around and back inside. A few minutes later he was back on ground level, and there was an air of determination about him. There were two things in his hand when he heard the screams, a burning building across the city. He paused, sighing. Sometimes it was hard to lead his double life. Who are you kidding Clark? It's always hard. Running back behind the Planet, he took off, leaving his cargo on the roof for safekeeping. The folder, containing their assignment lay beneath the more important piece of information. It was her purse. Where he'd found the key to her apartment. As soon as he got back, that where was he was headed. Because now he'd found her. And he wasn't letting her get away a second time.

Chloe closed the door behind her, making sure to put her spare key back in the lock box on the wall before she did. Once inside she immediately went to the fridge pulling out a bottle of vodka. It had been a vodka kind of a day. Pouring herself a glass, she took a gulp, swallowing hard, feeling it burn her throat as it went down. Normally she'd mix it with something, cranberry juice was her favorite. But not tonight. She went and sat out on the balcony, trying to calm herself down.

She kicked off her heels, rubbing her aching feet. Walking the two miles from the bus station to here was something she normally did in comfortable shoes. But as her comfortable shoes were in her purse, Chloe had resigned to tough it out. Now she was regretting her decision. What did you think? The walk would help you mull over the crazy events of today? She had, and it had, but she was no closer to righting the world that had been turned upside down the minute she'd heard his name, the minute she'd looked into those blue eyes.

It had been so long since she'd seen anyone from Smallville, much less Clark. Ten years. Ten years without that feeling of her heart trying to jump out of her chest. Taking another drink, Chloe thought about what would happen when she saw him tomorrow. Because she had to go back to work, she couldn't quit the job that she'd wanted all her life. Could she? Contemplating for a minute, she decided that no, she really couldn't. Without that job she had nothing to live for, even if it wasn't exactly what she'd pictured as a teenager.

So, back to the original question, what are you going to do? There was so much that had happened since she'd last seen him. But what could she really tell him? There were questions he'd ask that she didn't have the answers to. Did she really want him to know that she couldn't remember? Would he even believe that? He wouldn't believe that I wasn't Chloe... he's not that oblivious. A small smile curved her lips as she remembered how dense he could be. All those times... and he never even knew what I felt.

Her lips tingled with one memory in particular, the last good one she had of him. It had been that one fateful night all those years ago that so much had changed. Clark why didn't you make me stay? If only he had... none of this would have happened. If she had told him then what she had been planning to do, maybe she wouldn't be living like this, under a false name, under a false identity. Maybe she wouldn't be taking sleeping pills and drinking just so she could fall asleep at night. Maybe she wouldn't be so petrified of the dark that she carried a flashlight in her purse and never allowed all the lights in her apartment to be off. Maybe she would be able to have a man touch her without having to fight back those memories. Maybe she would be happy...

Stop it Chloe! You're happy! You are! One burning tear slipped down her cheek and she tasted it on her slightly parted lips. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to shake off that sinking depressed feeling. Looking out over Metropolis, she thought about how everything was about to change for her, again. Does it have to? Can't it stay the same? Maybe Clark would just let her be, just let her continue with the path she was on, let her live her life as it was. For a moment she clung to a thread of hope that that could happen. But it disappeared into the horizon and she knew that things would never be the same for her again.

If he wanted to know, she would have to tell him. And then she would give all she had to convince him to let it go at that. If it killed her she had to make him leave it at knowing all that she did. It had taken her a long time to learn to let it go... but time and again she had hit dead end after dead end until she had decided it really wasn't that important. Come on Chloe, you know it wasn't that. It was him... he was the one who made you leave it alone. A shiver raced down her spine, chilling her to the bone, and she shut her eyes, trying to block out his face. But he was there too... his sickening smirk haunted her from the dark.

He was in her nightmares, sometimes twisting into the ones she still had about her dad. Suddenly she couldn't stand it anymore. She got up fast and went back inside. Flipping on lights as she went, Chloe got to the stereo and turned it on. Once there was light and there was noise she started to calm down, the nightmares started to recede back into the dark. But then she heard it, through the music, someone was knocking.

"I'm coming," she called. Going to the door, she checked through the peep hole, just to make sure of what she already knew. Yeah, it's him... damn. She downed the rest of her glass and went back to set it on the counter before going back to the door. Squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin, she checked the mirror on the wall. Fixing her hair quickly, Chloe placed her hand on the doorknob, and opened the door. Taking a breath, she placed a smile on her face.

"Hey Clark, how've you been?"

Every second since Clark had made his decision had been spent trying to figure out what to say to her. And still he hadn't come up with anything. But when she said that to him he felt something inside him tighten. He took her in, drank her in, trying to come up with something to say. She was still in what she'd been wearing earlier. A tight black knee length skirt and a dark green blouse with a V-neck and some sort of ruffles, buttons all the way down. Very normal looking business attire. Except it wasn't.

Beads around her neck and hanging from her ears... it was Chloe. The clothes were so like Chloe it made him want to grab her, want to shake her. How can you be normal! How can you still be so much like you! It wasn't fair that he had gone through mourning her and she hadn't changed at all. But then again, don't you want her to still be the girl you knew?

Then there was the hair. It was dark brown, about six inches below her small shoulders and wavy or curly or some other variation in between. Bangs covered her forehead and then there were her eyes. Her eyes... Those were purely Chloe, hazel or brown or green, depending on the lighting and her mood. Maybe it's the hair making them look so dark.. Right now they were leaning towards the brown side of the color spectrum, and he had to force himself to look away from the secrets hiding there. But it was the smile that got him. That smile that he remembered so well, the one that could light up a room, the one that always made him feel as if everything was going to be okay. It was her smile... How the hell can she stand there and smile as if nothing is wrong! Clark's hands clenched into fists and he snapped.

"How've I been!" He took a step closer, took a step inside, his hands coming up as if to strangle her. "How the hell can you stand there and ask me that! How could you do this to me! To everyone! I thought you were dead Chloe! I thought-" Clark broke off, and walked past her into her apartment. When he turned back the smile was gone, and in it's place there were tears, brimming in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Immediately his demeanor changed and Clark regretted his harsh greeting.

"Chloe I-" His hands reached out for her, and he went to pull her into his arms. But Chloe quickly backed away, her hand up and warding him off. She turned around and walked down the hall. Clark watched her go and although every cell in his body was straining to run after her, he didn't. Chloe walked into what he could only assume was her bedroom and she shut the door. At least she didn't slam it... Damn Clark what did you do?

Running his hands through his hair, Clark turned around and decided he would have to wait until she was ready to talk to him. Are you ready to talk to her? Clark thought about it and decided he really wasn't yet, he had no idea what to say. So he looked around the apartment. It was a pretty decent size, not too big, but enough to say that she'd done well for herself. The kitchen was to his left, with a counter and stools for eating. But there was also a table with chairs, only two and it made him wonder who she was sharing meals with. Does she have a boyfriend? He hadn't noticed a wedding ring so she couldn't be married.

Lights hung from the ceiling over the kitchen and over the table and although it was still pretty light outside, Chloe had them all turned on. To his right there was a living room. A sizable TV and an entertainment center that looked to be completely full of movies. You always were a bit of a movie addict Chloe... There was a rather comfortable looking leather couch, shaped in an L and curving around a glass coffee table. Lamps sat on either side of the couch, and they were both turned on as well.

There were glass doors with curtains leading out to a balcony and beside those was a stereo on an iron table. That must be the source of the music he was hearing. Listening for a second Clark realized the music was wrong. Chloe had never been one to listen to rock, she had thought the loud music overpowered the vocals, took away the emotion, the feeling. But here she was listening to it.

Clark felt his forehead wrinkle as he frowned, realizing that the music wasn't the only thing that was wrong with this apartment, just the most obvious. It's all wrong... At first Clark couldn't put his finger on it, because the movies had made him think that maybe she hadn't changed. The mess of papers and the mug on the coffee table had screamed Chloe working late on some story or another. Focusing on what he recognized as Chloe, he had missed what wasn't. He looked around, trying to pinpoint what it was exactly that felt so wrong to him. Then it occurred to him, everything was gray.

Dark metal tables with glass tops, metal chairs with silver cushions, black couches, a black entertainment center. Silver and white walls, gray cabinets with black handles. There was no color, not anywhere. Where had his bright, vibrant Chloe gone? There weren't any pictures on the walls either. Or on the tables or the counter or stuck to the fridge. Why don't you have any pictures of friends Chloe? He was still puzzling over this lack of personal touches when he heard the door behind him open. Spinning around he stopped when he saw her.

She had changed into jeans and a white tank top. To see her in jeans made her seem younger, and as she looked up at him questioningly she was back to the Chloe he'd known in high school. He wanted to reach out and touch her face as soon as she came to stand in front of him. But he stopped the impulse and instead just offered her a smile.

"Hi." His voice was soft, apologetic, and when her lips curved up in small smile Clark knew he was forgiven for his earlier outburst. Not that it wasn't completely called for...

"Hey." Hearing her voice made him want to cry. It made him want to reach out and hold her close and never let her go. But there was something in her eyes, something in the way she crossed her arms over her chest. She was guarded and it made him wary. For a second they just stood there but then Chloe went into hostess mode.

"So do you want anything to drink?" She walked to the counter, and he realized she wanted a barrier between them.

"Umm, no I'm fine Chloe."

They talked like that for awhile, awkward, stilted, and polite conversation. Clark realized he was being careful, like he was walking on egg shells. It was as if he was meeting her again for the first time and he didn't quite know how to talk to her. Chloe said she had been about to make dinner, and that she'd make some for him too. After some negotiating and prodding, Clark succeeded in getting her to let him help. And as he cooked the chicken and she prepared some salad, they kept talking, mostly about people back in Smallville. He couldn't say her name enough, and couldn't get enough of her voice, of her laughter as he told her stories of how people had ended up. She asked a lot of questions, about his parents, about their friends, and he did most of the talking.

It was different than how it used to be, and he sensed she was still being guarded. But little by little he got her to loosen up. As they sat down at the table to eat he got her talking about work. They were laughing as she regaled stories about her and Perry's legendary fights. All night he waited with questions burning in his stomach, and every time they came up he forced them back down, not wanting to dampen the easy atmosphere, not wanting to end her laughter.

After they'd both eaten and the dishes were done, they ended up sitting out on the balcony, enjoying the cool September night air and watching the sunset. As she wrapped up her last story and the silence overtook them, Clark knew it was time. What wasn't being said, the pink elephant out here with them was about to shove them both off the balcony. He took a breath and looked over at her. She knew it was coming, he could tell by the resigned look on her face. For a second he debated not asking, and just finishing the evening as if nothing had happened. But they couldn't do that, he couldn't live without knowing. So he had to ask, he had to know.

"Chloe..." Clark paused again, trying to gather his courage. Her eyes met his and he leaned forward. "What happened? Why did you...?" He didn't even know what to say, and he could feel all the hurt ready to spew out with his next words. All those years ago he hadn't realized how much he had needed her... until she was gone. I needed you so badly Chloe. Forcing back the lump in his throat, forcing control, he asked the question pounding in his heart.

"Why did you leave me?"

Lex scrolled through the financial information on his computer. Just various reports from the companies he was overseeing at LutherCorp. It was simple business work, something to keep his mind off the silence threatening to suffocate him. He sipped at his brandy, answering e-mails and checking information. When he couldn't stand it anymore he switched on his music, classical, soothing.

Finally he checked the time, realizing it was past midnight and he had an 8 AM meeting with his father in Metropolis tomorrow. So he shut down his computer and went to bed. It took him a long time to fall asleep, the events of the day running through his head. All the things he did and all the things he was planning on doing. Sometimes he just felt so dirty, and his long showers never helped. Underhanded deals and continually working with people he knew had done terrible things, it wore on him. You order them to do those terrible things.

It was all in search of information, all in search of the truth. He wanted to solve the mysteries in his life, starting with all the incongruities stemming from the meteors. So there were experiments being done. Several of the "meteor-freaks" were in a research facility in a secret location. This was the one secret he kept from his father. After Chloe had disappeared, his father had been surprisingly supportive and sympathetic. At first he had been wary, but as his father continued to help him in his search for her, they had grown closer. Now they ran LutherCorp together, side by side. Lex you know thoughts of Chloe aren't going to help you get to sleep.

He started to drift off, physically exhausted from his day. Lex was glad, he was tired of thinking all the time, of analyzing and questioning. Sometimes he wished he could just let things be, but it wasn't in his nature. So sleep was an escape he allowed to take him gratefully. Unfortunately it wouldn't last long, most of the time, unaided by drugs or alcohol, it didn't.

She was playing in the pond, wearing a green sun dress, smiling and laughing, the sun shining off her golden hair. He sat on the rock, watching her, just watching. Taking in her beauty, absorbing her goodness. Then she splashed water at him, telling him to take off his shoes and join her. It was a perfect sunny afternoon spent with the woman he loved. Everything felt like it was as it should be.

He was about to take her up on her invitation when clouds suddenly covered the sun. All at once it was black as night, and a strange wind chilled the air. She looked at him, smiling, seemingly unaware that anything was wrong. It was then that he knew, Chloe was in trouble, he had to get her away from here.

"Chloe! Get out of there!" He pleaded with her desperately but she just backed away.

"You come and get me Lex!" Her voice was playful, she just wasn't understanding the desperation swamping his senses, the fear that was paralyzing him. And then she went under with a scream, pulled down with an invisible force.

"No! Chloe!" Lex tried to go to her, but no matter how hard he swam, she was always just out of reach.

"Lex!" He saw her head come up, her arms struggling with an unseen attacker. "Lex save me!"

"Chloe! I'm coming, hang on, hang on!" But he couldn't get to her, he couldn't stop her from going under one last time.

"No! Chloe! You can't leave me! I need you!" He stopped swimming, wanting nothing more than to follow her to her watery grave, but the water was gone. Lex fell to his knees, all of his strength gone with her.

"Chloe!" His strangled scream echoed in the darkness overtaking his soul.

Lex sat straight up in bed, panting, his heart racing. Sweaty sheets twisted around him and he struggled to get free, struggled to get out of bed. He went to the bathroom, flipping on the light and the water. Ice cold water on his face and he finally started to catch his breath. The shock to his system sent the fear and desperation still running through his veins back into his nightmares where they belonged. Damn... As the trembling subsided, he went down the stairs to the kitchen.

Opening the freezer, he pulled out the ice cream and grabbed a spoon. It had become a routine, a comfort. So, at three in the morning, he sat there, eating ice cream and reliving fond memories shared with Chloe in this very spot. Chloe why did you have to go? After she had gone, it was as if all the light in his life had been replaced by darkness, all the good replaced with bad. It's your fault Lex, you couldn't save her. You did it to her in the first place. If you had any good in you, she would still be here, it's all your fault.

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the guilt. You did all you could, you searched for a year Lex, a year. But it wouldn't leave, it weighed him down along with that aching feeling of missing her he felt deep in his chest. It hurt so much sometimes he wished it was a physical pain, something he could control. You can control it Lex, just focus. Stop dwelling on her. Lex couldn't deal with it, with the guilt and the pain. So he went back to his computer, and back to his brandy. And he researched more, he went over more reports from his scientists. He threw himself into his research and his work because it was the only way he knew to cope. It was the only thing that threw her memory, threw the pain back into that box in the corner of his heart where he kept it locked away.

Chloe looked at Clark, sitting there in the fading sun. His eyes were killing her. They held so much pain, so much desperation and need. She twisted in her chair so she was completely facing him. Searching for a moment, she tried to figure out where to start, with what she knew, or with what she didn't know. Her life had changed so much, so much had happened to her, so many things she didn't want him to know, things she didn't want to remember.

She felt the cool breeze on her skin and Chloe looked back out over Metropolis, trying to think of a way to begin. Come on Chloe, you haven't gotten to where you are now by being cautious. Just go for it. Looking back at Clark, waiting for her to say something, she felt something inside of her twist. The night had been as close to normal as was possible, and she didn't want it to end.

But she knew it had to, she knew that she had to find the courage to tell him. She hadn't told anyone, she didn't know what he would say when he learned the truth. What if he hates me? Here was her friend from so long ago, the one she'd wanted to confide in so badly. Well Chloe here's your chance. Chloe took a breath, opening her mouth to tell Clark what he wanted to know so badly. If he hates me, then so be it. He wants to know, and I'm going to tell him.

So!? How did you like it? This chapter drove me crazy! Yes it may leave questions, but hey, all good things come in time, lol.