Title: Penance 12/?

Author: Smileeface

Fandom: Smallville AU

Pairings: Chloe/Oliver,

Rating: PG-13 Language

Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville/DC or the characters. I am just playing with them.

Summary: Penance: an act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin. I am really not like Chloe's story arc so I've decided to change it a little to suit my own needs. That's what fan fiction is right? LOL

A/N: Hey Guys, I just want to send a quick shout out to Miss_Morrygan as a thank you for helping with an important matter concerning this chapter so THANKS BIG TIME, MY FRIEND!!!!!! And now to everyone else who has continued to be patient with me and my updates thanks for staying with me and continuing to read this fic. :)

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Previously on Penance:

"Fine Chloe, but this conversation isn't over. After all this is taken care of you and I are going to have a long chat." She shook her head yes and hugged him tightly, she didn't tell Clark but she didn't think she was going to be coming back from this last mission. It was just a feeling that she had but it was strong. It was why it was so easy to tell the guys to back Oliver. To pretend that she had never existed as a member of the team. And even if she did manage to survive what she was sure was coming after her; she wasn't sure if once she let herself stop and think about what had happened…what the beast had done to her, if she would ever be the same. But for now, everything depended upon her keeping her focus and forgetting about what had happen. "Come on, Chlo," Clark shook her from her dark thoughts before they could take root and distract her, "let's get into Isis. I have an idea about how we can defeat the beast but save the man and I need to bounce it off of my best friend." He smiled down at her and looped his arm around her shoulders, he always marveled at how little she really was compared to him. She may be little he thought, but she was a power house to be dealt with, a real spit fire, and he was proud that he could call her his friend.

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Clark and Chloe entered her Isis office and promptly locked the door behind them. She knew Clark well enough to know that he had something brewing in his mind.

"Ok, Clark, spit it out." She stopped just before the door to her inner sanctuary and turned to him

"Spit what out?"

"It. Whatever it is that is causing you to have your thinking face on. What are you thinking so hard about?" She chuckled a little.

"I'm trying to figure out how to save the man, Chloe. That's our real problem, right? Save the man, kill the beast…but how can we do that if they are one and the same? So, that's been the issue that I have been thinking about…next to what is going on between you and Ollie. And what happened to you last night that made you give up and run from Davis."

"Yeah, how to separate the two, Davis and the beast, that really is our problem." She skipped over the other two issues. "Davis is like Jekyll and Hyde. And nothing, not even being around me anymore, calms the beast." She shook her head sadly…trying desperately to wipe the memories that flooded her mind away.

"Really?" Clark asked surprised. "When did that happen? How do you know that your calming effect has stopped working? Chloe," He said urgently his imagination began to run wild, he grabbed hold of her arm to turn her to him, but she quickly and forcefully pulled away from him. He was shocked. She was so skittish all of a sudden. He didn't like the thoughts that popped into his head each time she did that. The one thought that kept reoccurring was, 'He hurt her. Davis had hurt Chloe.' And he really didn't want to think about how he could have hurt her.

"Let's just say that I know my calming effect has stopped working, and leave it at that ok, Clark." He watched the shudder travel through her and the revulsion flash across her face. "I can no longer control the beast, Clark. It happened last night before you rescued me. I can't talk about it right now, can you just accept that? Please Clark, I just can't re-live last night right now. I have to stay focused."

"Chloe, seriously," Clark's blue eyes stared straight into her turbulent green eyes he tried to convey how much she meant to him and that she could trust him. "If anything really bad happened last night, you know you can tell me anything, right? Please Chloe, I need to know that you are ok. I can help. I feel like I am missing something important."

"I'm fine Clark." He looked at her like he didn't believe what she was saying. "I am." She said with strength in her voice that she didn't really feel. "But right now, I am barely holding on emotionally and I can't talk about last night or about what happened between Oliver and me." Her voice cracked a bit on Oliver's name. "I just can't right now, especially to you…and please don't take offense, it really isn't a matter of trust, but I just have to…I just can't right now. And I need you to understand that. I need time, Clark and when I am ready to talk about it, I will. You will be the first person I will go to, ok?"

"Ok, Chlo, I won't push you right now. But I've said this before, after all this is over, we are going to have a long talk and maybe take a vacation." Clark said trying to lighten the mood but he could feel the dread in his heart. He already suspected what happened to her but he didn't want to believe it until he heard it from her own lips. He knew why she was keeping what happen to herself…she knew that if Clark ever found out the details of what had transpired between Davis and her that Clark wouldn't save Davis. He would destroy him, just like Oliver wanted. And then all the sacrifice…all the suffering that she had endured would have been for nothing.

"So, Clark…what's the plan?" She asked trying to get the discussion back on course.

"Well, I've been thinking that Davis may not be as invincible as we thought. There is something that might work, but I can't do it alone. Do you remember when my mom and dad used that Black Kryptonite to separate me from Kal?" He asked.

"Yeah, I do. What's that got to do with…oh, I see." He loved the way her whole face lit up when she understood something. "You want to use Black Kryptonite to separate Davis and Doomsday. But where can we get any Black Kryptonite? And who's going to do the actual separation…it's not like you can handle any form of Kryptonite, and no offense Clark but I really don't have it in me to deal with you and with Kal right now."

"Ha ha, very funny. Well, I was going to ask Oliver to get me the Black Kryptonite but that was before he started acting like a jerk. Tess inherited all of Lionel and Lex's Kryptonian research and I am sure that Lionel had a piece of Black Kryptonite among all the other pieces of Kryptonite in Lex's vault. But I can't get them. I can't go into that vault so I need to find someone skilled enough to break in and get that Kryptonite without tipping Tess off. Then once Davis is split from the beast, I'll take the beast to the fortress and send him on a one way journey into the phantom zone where he can never hurt anyone again. Davis will be free of the beast and you and the world will be safe again. But this fight with Oliver has put a little crimp into that plan."

"Well, maybe you should just go back to Oliver's and apologize to him. Patch things up with him."

"Are you KIDDING?" He looked at her like she had grown another head. "I am NOT the one who needs to apologize, Chloe. He needs to apologize, and not to me either but to you. He needs to stop acting like an idiot and get past this. He needs to realize that we all need to work together as the team that he formed. You are a vital part of that team whether he wants to admit it or not, and until he steps up and admits that he was wrong for the way he treated you. I will not go to him for help." He crossed his arms across his chest and stood in front of her defiantly. She smiled at him, she didn't deserve such a wonderfully loyal friend, but she was glad that he was hers. She shook her head, now she had another problem to work on…how she was going to get the men in her life to stop acting like little boys and start acting like grown men. She understood where both Clark and Oliver were coming from but this was not the time or the place to be having this disagreement. Clark was right, they all needed to work as a team to defeat Doomsday.

"Clark, did you just hear what you said?" She looked at him like a teacher would look at a student who had the correct answer but still couldn't figure out the problem.

"Yeah, what about it?" He asked. His arms uncrossing themselves as he looked at her. She could see that he was going over every word that he just spoke to her in his mind. She huffed her bangs out of her eyes when it was obvious that he didn't understand what she was referring to.

"Ok Clark, and I quote," she used her fingers to make air quotes before she spoke the words that he just spoke to her, "'He needs to stop acting like an idiot and get past this. He needs to realize that we all need to work together as the team that he formed.' Those are pretty insightful words there, Clark. One could say that those words could be thrown at you about you threatening Oliver. You have to let what Oliver said about me go and work through this. What is going on between Oliver and me is BETWEEN Oliver and me. There is no need for you to get involved, I can handle this situation myself, and there is no need for your friendship with Oliver to suffer because of this. I appreciate you sticking up for me, but right now we have to put aside our differences and work together. Working as a team is the only way that we are all going to make it through this and defeat Doomsday."

"Chloe, no way. I am not going to that guy and apologize. It's just not happening, so let's figure out another way."

"Fine, Clark, but I think that you are acting like a big baby about this. Oliver is your friend. He's going through a tough time right now."

"Excuse me, but YOU are my friend and YOU are the one who is going through a tough time right now. Damn it Chloe, why do you always put everyone else before yourself? Oliver's a big boy, once he comes to his senses he knows where to find US."

"Fine, I give up for now. You know what, Clark;" she tapped her chin. Clark could tell that she had an idea forming in her brain. "I think I know someone who can get in and out of Tess's vault almost as well as Oliver." Chloe snapped her fingers and headed over to her computer console. She began to quickly type something into the console and all her screens came up.

"Really, who Chloe?" Clark walked up behind her watching all the monitors come to life as she searched for who she was looking for. When she finally found who she was searching for she pulled his dossier up on the monitor. The man was dressed in a black leather suit with a cowl that partially covered his face that made it looked like he had black horns on his head. Next to his picture she had accumulated some information.

Code name: Batman

City: Gotham

Powers: None

Age: mid-30s

Height: 6ft

Weight: 180-190lbs

"Who is he?" Clark asked as he went over the guy's profile.

"This is Batman, Clark. He's like Oliver…completely human without any powers; he uses technology, his intelligence, and martial arts to fight injustice. He's a contact I actually made working with the team. He's an old friend and rival of Oliver. I know that he would be willing to help us. Besides he has the best toys…but don't tell Oliver I ever said that."

"Ah ok, you sure he can be trusted?" He looked at the picture of the guy dressed in black on the screen skeptically.

"Yes, Clark, he's sort of in the vigilante business himself. He has a strong sense of justice like you and Oliver. He's done a lot to clean up Gotham. Oliver's been trying for months to get him to join the team, but like you he's kind of a loner."

"Hey, I'm not a loner. I have you. Ok, so you said that he's a friend and rival of Oliver? Rival how so and how does he know Oliver? Who is he outside of the costume?"

"Ok under normal circumstance I would never tell you who he is but since this is crunch time I guess I am going to have to tell you. You could say that they grew up together. They both went to Excelsior. They certainly have similar backgrounds. It's what drew them together. But he and Oliver sort of have this one up man ship going on. If Oliver gets a new motorcycle then he has to get a new motor cycle. If he gets a new car then Oliver has to get a bigger car. It's a 'who's dick is bigger kind of thing, I'm guessing.' He lives in Gotham, you may have heard of him…Bruce Wayne?"

"You mean the billionaire? That Bruce Wayne?" Clark was surprised.

"Yes, Clark, that Bruce Wayne. Actually I met a good friend through him, her name is Barbara and we exchange information and assistance from time to time. I am sure that if Bruce can't help us then Barbara could."

"Wow, Chloe, how many other billionaires do you know?" Clark joked with her.

"HA ha funny Clark, now do you want me to call him or are you going to go apologize to Oliver and have him help us?"

"Chloe." Clark whined. He knew that he should go to Oliver. "Damn it Chloe, it's not fair that he gets to be the jerk and the one who gets the apology."

"I know Clark, but I am going to tell you something that my father has always told me. Life isn't fair, Clark, just deal with it."

"Your father called you Clark, what a coincidence; my father called me Clark too."

"Hardy har har, you really did miss your calling in life, forget being a hero and the savior of the world, you should have been a comedian." Chloe rolled her eyes at him. This was her best friend. This was Clark, the man that she grew up with who knew all her secrets…well not all of her secrets but most of them. "So, Clark you've been talking about how I've been keeping a lot of things to myself lately…" Clark looked at her expectantly. "So, are you ever going to tell me what's going on between you and my cousin?"

"Ahh, Lois and I are friends."

"Sure. Friends. Clark, you and I are friends…what's going on between you and Lois far surpasses friendship." She said knowingly to him.

"Ahhh sort of like what's been going on between you and Oliver?" He raised his eyebrow at her."

"Ok, got it… this topic is tabled for a later discussion." She smiled up at him. They were in serious need of one on one time together. It's been too long since they just sat at the Talon and talked. She missed that. She missed him.

"Ok Clark, so what's it going to be? Should I call Bruce or are you going to go over to Oliver's place and patch things up?"

"Is there a door number 3 option?" He folded his arms across his chest again.

"Nope. Choose wisely." She said with a smirk on her face. She may just call Bruce and Barbara anyway. The more people they had to help with Doomsday the better.

"Well, I think I'll head over to Oliver's place and eat some crow. I can't believe that you are making me do this. What kind of best friend are you?" He said to her jokingly.

"Awww, I am the best friend that loves you, and if I were in your shoes you know I would swallow my pride and march off to his place and do the same thing that you are going to do. Tell Oliver I said hi." She quipped a bit of her anger at the way Oliver behaved earlier shown through.

"Chloe, do you want me to talk to him about you? Maybe I could persuade him to talk to you and you guys could work things out."

"Thanks Clark, but I just don't think that us working things out is going to happen anytime soon. I hurt Oliver. He has a right to be angry with me. I did something to him that just days before I promised that I would never do. I just wish he could understand how sorry I am that I hurt him the way I did. I just wish he'd forgive me. But this is my consequence, Clark. I knew that my choice was going to have consequences…I just hoped that he would have forgiven me. This is my burden to bear."

"Chloe, I am so sorry that you have had to risk and sacrifice so much." He walked over to her slowly and pulled her into a hug. He rested his head on the top of her head gaining as much comfort from her as she was getting from him.

"He's the only thing that I am really going to miss." She whispered into his chest. She could feel the tears burn the back of her eye lids.

"He'll come to his senses, Chlo. If he doesn't then when this is all over, I will make him." She giggled.

"Always my protector…my personal hero, huh Clark."

"Always, Chlo." He said it sincerely. She pulled away from him and looked up at him.

"Go on, Clark. Go grovel for Oliver's help. I think I am going to call Bruce and talk to him about our situation here in Metropolis. It wouldn't hurt to have another hero on standby in case Oliver decides to continue to be a jerk."

"That's a good idea. Do you think that this guy Bruce would mind coming to help us out?"

"No way, I just told you that he and Oliver have a friendly rival going on. If I tell him that Oliver is going to do this then Bruce will want in just because. Believe it or not they really are good friends and would do anything to for the other."

"Well then, I'll leave that up to your discretion then. I'm going to go talk to Oliver." But before he could leave his phone rang. It was Doctor Emil.

"Hello doc, what can I do for you?" Clark looks at Chloe.

"Hello Clark, I am sorry to have to call you under these circumstances. But I thought that you should know that Doomsday has struck again. Jon Jones called me and he's stalling the local authorities so we have a limited window to gather samples. I just thought that you could help me."

"Chloe and I will be there in a few minutes."

"Oh Chloe's with you? Thank God. I was afraid that she was still with that monster. Ah, Clark do you think bringing Chloe is the wisest decision?"

"She needs to be a part of this. Where are you?"

"I'm at the Super 8 motel on the outskirts of Edge City. Chloe should know how to get here, this was their motel room last night."

"Ok, doc we'll be there soon." Clark looked at Chloe seriously.

"Chloe, Oliver is going to have to wait. There is something that we need to do before I go talk to Oliver. That was Doctor Emil. Doomsday has struck again at a motel in Edge City. He seems to think that it was the motel that you were at last night with Davis. Now I know that you probably want to go, but if you don't think you can handle going back I won't think any less of you. You suffered a traumatic experience last night at this motel…and even if you won't tell me exactly what happened I can guess it was bad."

"I'm going, Clark." She said in a tone that broke no argument.

"I knew you were going to say that." He said as he shook his head in amusement.

"Yes, you know me soo well. Are we going to drive or are we just going to super speed over there?"

"Super speed would be faster." He hoped that she wouldn't mind super speeding over there. It was the quickest way to travel. They could get there in no time, do what needed to be done, and then get back. Maybe they would find a clue as to what Davis has been up to since last night.

"Fine, let's go." Chloe knew that Clark really didn't enjoy riding in cars. He was like Bart in that way, they preferred to run places. Cars in their opinions were too slow. He scooped her up into his arms and off they went. They reached the motel in a blink of an eye. Clark lowered Chloe slowly to the ground and held her steady until she got her land legs back.

Tbc…

A/N: Constructive feedback is always appreciated! Thanks for reading! :)