A.C was pacing the length of the lab waiting for JJ's arrival. He didn't want to tell the other's about her until she was examined by Dr. Klein. He had to know for sure. After he left part of him wondered if maybe she was a clone? Lord knew that the JL had been through that before. He was just about to call his nephew when the swish of his arrival echoed through the lab. A.C turned to see JJ with Chloe, the look on wonder on her face made him nearly cancel the appointment. He wanted to honestly believe it was her, but he needed to be sure.
"Good morning fish stick," She spoke cheerily.
A.C blushed and JJ laughed. "Fish stick?" he asked.
"Never you mind." He spoke seriously. "I need you to go and debrief on the disaster." He spoke seriously. JJ was tweaked on why he was getting dismissed.
"Sure," he spoke staring at his uncle strangely.
"And boy, not a word of her to anyone," he spoke. JJ nodded confused and left quietly. Chloe just looked at A.C like he had sprouted a second head. His expression softening to her. "I didn't get any sleep last night, baby girl." He whispered. "I want so much for you to be you.."
"But you think maybe I'm not?" she asked. He nodded ashamed of the doubt.
"Good, I'm glad you're thinking." She smiled and patted his cheek with her hand. "I would have doubts too."
"Chloe,"
"Don't. let's get you the proof and then we can talk." Chloe was hoping she was a clone. It felt weird to think that in her own head, but if she were a duplicate, than the real Chloe got her happily ever after and she could live this life guilt free. A.C smiled at her, took her hands in his and led her to another lab to meet the descendant of Bernard Klein.
JJ debriefed on the mission then left to avoid any questions regarding his rescue that took him away from the arctic. The gang thought that was weird since he was usually very cheery and very open about things. This piqued the curiosity of one Jake Allen. He was an even more aloof version of Bart. He got some of his grandfathers' best traits. He knew that A.C was on the campus, but made it apparent he wanted his privacy. Jake decided to do some investigating of his own. And once his curiosity was piqued he was like a pit bull on a pant leg.
After 2 hours in the lab, Chloe and A.C sat in the waiting area, results were to be in soon."Did you sleep well?" he asked as she yawned.
"Like Sleeping Beauty," she tried to crack a joke. A.C just looked at her concerned.
"I dreamt of Clark," she frowned. A.C wanted to comfort her but wanted the ultimate proof that this was their Tower and not some imposter. Gerald Klein entered the room with a manila folder and a look of bewilderment on his face.
A.C nodded and massaged the bridge of his nose. He then sat up, "Go and bring back that device." He spoke to no one. Chloe just looked at him strangely. Gerald didn't seem to care.
"Who are you talking to?" she asked.
"JJ, he's been listening," he smiled. Chloe blushed.
"How?"
"In due time, Chloe Ann Sullivan," he spoke, knowing what reciting her full name to her would mean. She shook her head.
"No, see I liked your idea that I was a clone. That would mean that the other me would have gotten her happily ever after and I could live what ever this live is meant to be. I can't be here, you hear me! I CAN'T BE HERE!" she stood shouting as the tears began to fall in earnest. A.C stood and pulled her into his warm embrace, his tears falling as well. Gerald left the room to let the friends have some piece. He stepped into the hall and exited to another area only to find Jake sneaking around.
"Uh hi," he spoke looking around.
"No, uh hi, you aren't allowed over here, remember?"
"What?" he shrugged, "one tiny little fire …"
"Jake!" his voice got serious.
"Ok, ok, I'm gone, but could you tell me at least.."
"Good bye Jake," he spoke more adamantly.
Jake sighed and turned and left shaking his head, patience wasn't one of his virtues, he would find out what was going on and it would be soon.
000000000
JJ heard his uncle and took off in an instant. 20 minutes later he entered the lab through a back door. He placed the device in front of Gerald who leaped into action.
"Where is she?" he asked.
"Private section C," he spoke and in a flash JJ was gone.
Private section C was lead lined. Its where folks went when they wanted absolute privacy. JJ liked to use it to when the weight of the world go to be too much. He opened the door and his senses were inundated with sounds and smells of profound grief. A.C sat at the foot of the guest bed, watching, very nearly standing guard.
"So it is her?" A.C only nodded he looked all of his years at that point.
"I want to go and talk to the team, to let them know," he whispered. JJ nodded, his heart breaking for the old-young blond grieving prone on the bed. "If you could keep her here for the day at least," A.C spoke standing wearily. JJ only nodded again. A.C left the room and went to gather the team. Part of JJ's logical brain knew he should sit where his uncle did, to not invade her space, to let her go. But logic was being trumped by his hero complex. To swoop in and save the damsel in distress, and that's exactly what he did. JJ knelt by the bed and reached out and put a hand on Chloe's back, rubbing gentle circles. It seemed to sooth her as her hiccups started to subside. He thought for a minute that she had fallen asleep. He moved to pull his hand away and in an instant found himself in trouble.
"Don't leave me." Her voice was small, smaller than he ever could have imagined. It took a bit of his special hearing to even pick it up. She took a deep breath and rolled onto her back. Her eyes closed her and breathing was still a bit ragged. She reached out to touch his face, and they both groaned. Eyes still closed she sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face on his shoulder. Stunned he was a deer trapped in the headlights of oncoming traffic. He was about to peel her arms off of him when he felt her lips kissing his neck. He had to bite his lip to keep from making a sound. It was like a butterfly walking across his skin, and it sent a fire straight to his groin. How could he want this woman that he had just met, let alone was the long lost love of his grandfathers life, not aged a day. So lost in the thought he missed her hand sliding down his chest, and reaching for his belt.
"I've missed you." She purred as she started to kiss the length of his jaw. That was like ice to his skin. He gently removed her body from his traitorous one. She never woke.
"I know," he spoke softly as he lay her back in bed.
"Why didn't you find me?" she pleaded. His heart ached more for the tone in her voice.
"It was impossible," he tucked her back in bed.
"Didn't you love me?"
"More than you could have ever imagined." He spoke the words that his grandfather often recited.
"I'm lost," she sniffed, as tears slid down her cheeks.
"I will always be with you, I will show you the way," he whispered. There was no response, she was asleep again. JJ moved the chair to the corner of the room, away from the bed, away from temptation.
00000000000000000000
"Noooooewayyyyyyyyyyyy," Jake spoke. "Can I see her? Gramps always said that she was like sex on stick."
"Ewwwwwwww, Jake," Miranda Lance- Ashcroft spoke.
"Welll? That's what he said." Jake spoke getting defensive.
"How old are you guys?" A.C asked. "No Jake you can't meet her yet. She's pretty torn up. Give her time."
"Boy do I have questions," he spoke.
"I know,"
"Are you sure?" Connor spoke, he had been studying the others, watching the responses.
"One hundred percent." A.C spoke. The other heroes in the room remained silent.
"And JJ is with her?" he asked.
"Yes," A.C spoke.
"How?" They all asked in unison.
"Gerald is examining the device JJ found her in, maybe it could lend some clues. Right now she's very scared her whole life, two live's passed her by." He spoke.
"Now, I have some things to get done, I'll be back in a few hours, I'm warning you Jake, leave her alone," he shot the kid a grimace. Jake put his hands up in surrender.
"Why?"
"You're more like your grandpa than even you realize, she isn't ready for you yet, trust me," Jake caught his meaning and acquiesced. "Good, now, see in you in a few hours."
0000000000000000
Chloe had felt pain, exquisite, and mind numbing and then there was the hand on her back, strong, warm and familiar, :Clark: she thought and sighed. She was back home, he was alive, he had found her. Then the hand was moving away from her. "Don't leave me," she whispered as she rolled over. She felt the presence next to her. She was safe, secure and loved. She wasn't left to fend for herself one hundred years into the future. She needed more contact, She reached out to touch his face, and it was heaven and very, very real. She needed more still and sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face on his shoulder. His smell was masculine and delicious and was sure he wouldn't mind she took a little taste, it was her favorite flavor. And yet she needed more and was confused as to why he wasn't participating. He loved the topography of her body. So she would take control, spoils to the victor and all that. She began to slide her hand down his muscled chest to her favorite play ground below his belt line.
"I've missed you." She purred as she started to kiss the length of his jaw. Chloe couldn't figure out why Clark changed, he became cold, distant.
"I know," he spoke softly. Chloe sighed hearing his voice, he was putting her to bed and then play time would come.
"Why didn't you find me?" she pleaded.
"It was impossible," he tucked her back in bed.
"Didn't you love me?"
"More than you could have ever imagined."
"I'm lost," she sniffed; her arms to tired to push off the blankest and reach for him. She felt him pull further and further away from her.
"I will always be with you, I will show you the way," he whispered. That was the last thing that Chloe heard as she succumbed to physical exhaustion.
