Chapter 17:
For the best

It was four days since Clark's final encounter with Voss and he paid close attention to what happened while he was in custody. If Voss were some how able to escape he wanted to be ready for it. From what he had learned though Voss was still catatonic. They were transferring him to Bellreve Asylum hoping that if he ever did recover they would be able to contain him.

He had almost totally recovered from his injuries, at least physically. The wound on his wrist was completely healed except for some mild stinging but his mind was still in turmoil. Clark knew that blaming himself for causing the damage that the meteor rock infected people caused was irrational but he still did. It was one of the reasons he always took it upon himself to stop them, but this time had hit to close to home. He didn't know what he would have done if he hadn't taken the trash out for Lana that night.

Clark and Pete had returned the next day and helped Chloe's Dad check her out of the hospital. He had talked to her a couple of times on the phone since then but her Dad had been very protective while she was still recovering. She hadn't been to school all week. He had invited her over to his house for dinner tonight though because her Dad had burned up all his time off looking after her the past week and had to go back to work. He specifically told her to come over an hour earlier then needed so they could talk. To say he was nervous was an understatement. His resolve though was firm.

Staring out the window at the slowly setting sun he heard the barn open and a few seconds later the familiar clunk of Chloe's hard soled boots coming up the stairs. He turned to greet her.

Pain pills were good. The doctors had given her a prescription for Tylenol with codeine and it was good stuff. It had been almost a week since the alley. A week spent doing nothing but sleeping, reading the Daily Planet and thinking about Clark. She hated being lazy. She was the type of girl who fidgeted, if she was not occupied with something she was looking for something to do. Spending a whole week indoors doing nothing, not even homework, had been excruciating. Her father was adamant though. He was following the Doctor's orders to the letter; nothing was going to happen to his little girl.

Finally the weekend had come and with it the Doctor's visit. He had proclaimed Chloe to be healing perfectly and able to return to school on Monday, although he gave her a note to get out of gym class. Clark had called her that afternoon to see how she was doing, she really missed him, and when he found out that she had to spend the evening alone he seemed to jump through the phone inviting her to dinner.

So here she was standing in front of the Kent farmhouse staring at their barn door. She knew he was in there. She knew what Clark was going to say, she always knew what Clark was going to say, well almost always. Clark was extremely emotional. She knew that he wouldn't understand, that what she had to do was for the good of both of them. That their friendship was more important then any romantic involvement they might have and that friendship should be preserved no matter the cost. Clark would probably be hurt for awhile but she could work with that. It was the right thing to do, it was for the best. With that thought in her mind she pushed open the barn door.

Clark turned to greet Chloe as she came up the stairs. He was glad to see that she was looking a lot better. The color had come back to her face and the bandage on the side of her neck was a lot smaller then the last time he had seen her.

"Well you're looking a lot better." He said

"Thanks. I feel a lot better too. It's funny; I never realized how much I missed being outdoors till I couldn't go there." Clark smiled.

"Well I hope you're hungry. Mom has been cooking up a storm ever since you said you would come over." It was true too. There was more food being cooked in the Kent house right now then even Clark could eat.

"Good because I haven't had a real meal in days. The hospital gave Daddy a long list of food that I could and couldn't eat and he has been following it to the letter. I'm not real sure how broccoli is supposed to help make red blood cells but I have had more then my fill of it." Clark gave a small chuckle.

The setting sun was warm on Clark's back. He walked over and they both sat down on the couch. Watching the sun set they both prepared themselves for what needed to be said.

"Clark listen…"
"Chloe I…"

They both started at the same time. "You go ahead Chloe." Clark said as always.

She looked at him for a moment while he waited for her to continue. "Clark listen I know there are still some unresolved feelings going on between us but I meant what I said in the Talon. It's best if we just stay close friends. Any kind of romantic entanglement would just end up ruining our friendship when it ended and I would rather just be your friend forever then risk losing you."

Clark stared at her for a moment and then got up and walked to the window. She watched him waiting for his reply. What he said though was not what she expected.

"No."

She was confused. "What do you mean no?"

"I mean no, I don't agree. A week ago I would have said ok and gone along with what you said but after what just happened I have to say no."

She was flabbergasted "But Clark it's for the best and with Lana…" He interrupted her.

"Who's best? My best? Your best? I can see it in your eyes Chloe you don't really believe what you're saying and neither do I. As for Lana… I've come to realize that she is what I wanted before I really knew what I wanted. Chloe I have known her for a long time and she will always be my friend but I know it will never be more then that." He sat back down on the couch and took her hand. "You're my best friend. I know that more then anything but there is more there then just friendship. I can't guarantee that we would never break up, I can't see the future. But there is so much more to what I feel for you then just friendship and I know you feel the same way. If we didn't give that a chance I know we would regret it for the rest of our lives."

She didn't know when she had started to cry but she felt the tears on her cheeks. Her world had changed in a matter of moments. She had just needed someone else to say it. Chloe stared at Clark; she could see in his eyes that he was hoping for some kind of response.

So she gave him one. Throwing her arms around his neck she kissed him full on the lips.

"I'm so sorry Clark." She said as their kiss became an embrace. "I was so afraid of losing you and with Lana and everything at the dance I just was afraid so much." She pulled back looking into his face for forgiveness even though she knew she didn't need to.

"It's ok. I understand." He said wiping the tears off her face. He got a boyish smile to his face and said "I have a small surprise for you."

Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes with the cuff of her shirt she said "What's that?"

He got up and walked to the table next to the window. He pulled a small CD player out from behind some books and selected a song. The music started and Clark walked back over to her.

"Can I have this dance?" He asked holding out his hand.

She looked up at him with the biggest smile her face could manage. "Always" She said standing to take his hand.

In the fading sunlight they danced together.
FIN