Chapter 5: Brave.
When Chloe came back into the kitchen he was cleaning up the mess on the floor. He looked up at her hopefully but she shook her head.
"It was Lana. She asked if I knew where you were."
Clark lifted himself from the floor, looking embarrassed. He had forgotten all about talking to Lana.
"What did you tell her?"
"The truth…that I had no idea."
He smiled a little relived, the last thing he needed was Lana mad at him. "Thanks."
Chloe helped Clark clean up the rest of the water on the floor and then sat leaning against the sink cabinets; he joined her.
"What's going on with you two?" She asked curiously.
In all truth Clark had no idea, because he didn't know what the hell was going on himself.
"Lana has feelings for me."
Chloe sighed, not angrily but knowingly. "Well that's a shocker…so how do you feel about her?"
Why Chloe was asking a question she already knew the answer to, was beyond her. Maybe she thought the answer had changed, but she felt a great disbelief at that. Clark's emotions for Lana had been set in stone.
"Like we could be more than friends…"
And there it was. She looked away from him and he realized that he must have embarrassed her somehow, but he pressed on.
"It's like…you find out this secret and it colors everything."
She nodded. "I know what you mean…sometimes the right person can be right in front of your eyes and you never even know it."
Clark cleared his throat not knowing how to take that. She tore her gaze from anything but Clark and finally looked at him. He showed nothing to her that could prove her point. When in fact, that's all Clark could think about, he had trouble showing things to people. Maybe that's why people could never read his emotion through his eyes.
She stood and Clark followed her motion. He stared at her and finally reached out and moved a strand of hair away from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. His hand lingered for a moment and she unintentionally moved her face deeper into his hand. And that's the way they remained…revealing their true feelings to Lana, who whose looking inside one of the windows.
0o0o0o0o
While Chloe retaliated up stairs to take a shower, Clark was snooping around the living room. He was looking for anything that might have been misplaced by her father. Clark must have been feeling 'one task mode' because he lifted the same newspaper from the coffee table twice. He was worried about finding Chloe's dad, but he couldn't get the soap filled flirt fest they had just had going on. Clark had been wondering what the hell his heart was doing, or his brain for that matter. He had been in love with Lana for as long as since he could remember, but he could never get near her. But then there was Chloe, who he'd been friends with as long as he could remember, but never made his radar because of his infatuation with Lana. And that was just the tip of the confused-berg.
Clark backed up from the coffee table and sat on the couch, feeling something underneath him. He lifted it and shook his head.
"Well what do ya know…guess who works for Luthorcorp."
He twisted Chase's ID card in his hand.
0o0o0o0o
Chloe stepped out of the steaming shower and wrapped a pink towel around her. She sighed.
"Take it easy Chloe… do not give Clark the pleasure of getting a rise out of you." She shut the bathroom light off.
She turned to go back into her room when a figure grabbed her and clamped a hand over her mouth, slamming her into the wall of the bathroom. She tried to fight him off but he hushed her.
"Shut up Chloe…I wanna talk to you."
She knew that voice…it was Chase.
She barely nodded her head and he removed his hand for a moment. "What do you want Chase?"
"I wanna torture you."
Her eyes got real big and Chase laughed in the darkness. "No actually, I wanted to tell you. Stop looking for your father…or you'll be dead before you find him. Or he'll be dead…whichever helps you sleep at night."
Chloe reached around the darkness for the sink, she finally reached it and managed to knock down the class toothbrush holder and it shattered.
Clark heard the shatter from downstairs and super sped upstairs. He went into the darkened bathroom and turned on the light to find a frightened Chloe, slumped on the floor up against the wall. She looked up at him and he wrinkled his brow with sympathy.
He kneeled down next to her and put a hand on the side of her face.
"Chloe…you okay?"
She sniffled and threw her arms around Clark and he hesitantly put his arms around her. He felt a little weird holding her in just a towel, but by the look on her face she needed it. She closed her eyes on his shoulder, and he helped her stand. She straightened her towel and Clark was about to ask her if she needed anything, but there was a knock on the front door.
0o0o0o0o
While Clark left Chloe to get dressed he opened the front door to see Lana standing there, she looked incredibly pissed.
"Lana…"
She walks right past him and he sighs closing the door.
"Won't you come in…?"
Lana whirls around and catches Clark by surprise.
"So how'd you decide? Rock, paper, scissors…or did someone happen to draw the short straw?"
Clark looked taken back and confused. "Decide…?"
"Who was gonna tell me you and Chloe were together?"
Whoa. How did Lana even come to this conclusion? Clark tried to put his hand on her arm but she backed up, like he was some poisonous snake.
"Ok Lana it's not what you think."
She sneered. "Do you even think I can process a thought right now? For once in my life I try to be honest about my feelings for you and you can't talk to me about them? Hell if your not gonna tell me about Chloe then I guess it'd be difficult to discuss emotions."
She was blowing this way out of proportion. "Lana, Chloe and I aren't together."
She sauntered past him ready to leave and end this conversation but then Chloe walked down the stairs startled to see Lana there.
"Lana what are you doing here?"
"Snooping where I don't belong…I'm thinking about making a career out of it."
Chloe bowed her head a little, even though she didn't call her by name, Chloe knew she was insulting her.
"That's not what I meant… I was just surprised to see you that's all."
"You're surprised?" She looked at Clark. "Because I'm the only one who seems not to be in the loop lately."
Chloe looked at Clark confused and he shrugged. "Huh?"
"You knew I was in love didn't you? I told you."
Clark looked up surprised. "She did?"
"But I didn't know you meant Clark…its not like you spelled it out for me."
Lana stalked toward Chloe, who still remained on the bottom step. "I had only two guys I was ever interested in. Clark and Whitney. Who in the hell did you think it was after Whitney left?"
Clark was just fed up with this. "Oh I'm not even gonna touch that subject."
Chloe and Lana ignored him. "You're blaming your lack of courage to tell Clark on me?"
"Yea right...because you were so quick to tell Clark how you felt." Lana said sarcastically.
Chloe looked down again, because the truth was Lana was right. She couldn't tell him then and sure couldn't do it now. Lana turned, proving her point and left…slamming the door on her way out.
0o0o0o0o0
"Don't look at me like that." She turned to go into the kitchen and Clark followed her.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm some love sick loser holding on to something that she's never even had."
Clark was confused. Chloe had had him…at one point anyway. And he had a feeling he was going to end up bringing up that point again.
"Chloe what are you talking about? You did have me? Remember?"
"No Clark I've never had you. Lana has…always and forever."
She turned sitting at the island, he went to stand next to her. Maybe this wasn't the best time to talk about their feelings.
"Chloe…do you remember what happened upstairs?"
Nice, change the subject jackass. "No."
He knew she knew what had happened; she was just upset and didn't want to talk to him. "Chloe…"
She sighed; she was just trying to cover the fact about Chase again. "Its not like it was a big deal…I panicked…"
Clark looked at her weirdly; she was trying to cover it up.
"And just because I was in a state of panic does not mean that I was in trouble of some kind or…"
He tried interrupting her but she just kept on talking. "Chloe…"
"Some kind of cover up deal…"
This time he grabbed her shoulders and held them tightly. "Chloe…you're panicking again."
She sighed. "Fine."
She shrugged his hands off her shoulders. "It was Chase…he said if we keep looking for my dad…he'll die…or I'll die. It wasn't exactly clear."
She put her elbows on the table and laid her head in her hands. She took a deep breath, her calming ritual. Clark didn't know what to do at this point; he put his hands in his pockets and pulled out what he had found.
"Chloe…it just so happens that Chase works at Luthorcorp."
She raised her head, reading his thoughts. "Lex."
0o0o0o0o
While Chloe waited in the truck, Clark went inside to talk to Lex. He went through the expensive wooden doors that led to Lex's office. He really didn't feel like talking to him. Ever since the tornados and his deal with Roger Nixon he felt as though he couldn't trust him. But Chloe's dad was in trouble, so he had to put his personal feeling's aside…for Chloe. Lex watched him enter and his face showed relief…or was that smugness? Like he knew Clark would turn around some time or another. The look made Clark's stomach lurch. Who in the hell did Lex think he was? Like he was God's gift.
"Clark…I'm glad to see you."
Clark skipped the pleasantries completely. "I'm here for Chloe."
Lex nodded a little disappointed. "Well then let's get right down to business then."
He motioned for Clark to sit in one of the chairs next to his fireplace but Clark declined. He really did not have time for this.
"What's on your mind?"
Other then you employing that Nixon to follow my family around? That's what Clark wanted to say but kept his cool, otherwise he might blow the chance in helping Chloe.
"Chloe's dad is missing."
Lex stood and went behind his desk. "I'll get the best detectives in Metropolis."
Clark stopped him from picking up the phone. "I think your employee Chase Withers has something to do with it."
He flopped the ID card on Lex's desk and he stared at it a moment before he set the phone down. His eyes flicked up to Clark's.
"Are you sure you've got the facts right Clark?"
Clark nodded, his eyes flashing with anger. And this time it wasn't because of what Chase did. "He attacked Chloe…3 times. Told her to stop looking for her dad or she and Mr. Sullivan would die…"
Lex sat at his desk, he looked bored, without trying to be. Like he'd already heard this before. Clark smirked a little at him.
"But you wouldn't know anything about that." Practically accusing him.
Lex looked up and stood, as if to stand his ground. "I think accusing me of something isn't the best way to help Chloe. Don't you think Clark?"
That was a threat and Clark knew it. In plainest terms, if Clark didn't settle down, Lex would never help him. Or Chloe for that matter.
Clark nodded, just defeated.
"And as for Chloe, I really can't do anything. You understand, don't you Clark?"
Clark had a semi-shocked look on his face. Lex's expression was as calm as if he had said "nice day." Clark realized what he was trying to do. Clark had pissed him off and now he was doing the same, making the same game move, but with greater force. But they weren't playing a game, people's lives were involved.
Clark tried one more time. "Chloe and her dad could die."
Lex looked up at him one more time and Clark studied his eyes.
Clark scoffed. "And you couldn't care less."
0o0o0o0o0
After Clark left his office, Lex lifted the phone, dialing quickly. He waited for a response.
"It's Lex…do it….no never mind about the father now Chase. Its Chloe who has the information…oh and this time, don't get caught."
He slammed down the phone and sipped his brandy.
0o0o0o0
Clark walked back to his truck and got in slamming the door, he turned to Chloe but she was leaning against the window. He could see her reflection and she was wiping away tears.
"You look dazed and confused. Are you okay?"
She said a soft yes but then shook her head. "I can't sleep. I can't work. I can't think about anything else."
She turned towards him. "You've been through a lot." Wow, that's all he could say?
"I just keep thinking that he's there somewhere. Hurting my dad, and coming to hurt me."
He took her hands in his and realized she was shaking. "I'd never let that happen." He said firmly.
She nodded and he pulled her to lean on his shoulder.
"Did you know I wanted to run away when I was eight?"
He shook his head. "No…weren't you still living in Metropolis?"
She nodded yes and figured the conversation over, until Clark opened back up. "What happened?"
"I finally realized my mother wasn't coming back. And I remember my dad pulling my back inside and sitting me in an island chair. He grabbed me and he said, "You have no reason to run away, no good reason." And I thought; why did mom run away then?"
Clark rubbed her arm and sat his head on hers. "But instead of learning from him, I chose to learn from my mother. I ran away for a week."
"Do you regret it?"
She shook her head. "Probably the clearest thing I've ever done. I learned that you wanna run away half the time, because you hate who you are. And you see what your parents want you to become…that's why you run. If your parents control who you become, what's the point in being your own person?"
Clark now stroked her back and parts of her neck. "I realized I had to come back. To be my own person I had to be brave. I think about that everyday." Her voice quaked and broke in some places. "And I do my best to be brave."
She shook her head as to clear some random fog that was clouding her face. She lifted herself from Clark and took one long look at him.
"So that's what I'll do now. What did Lex say?"
He wished upon anything he didn't have to tell her what he said.
