Thank you again to those of you who have taken the time to review thus far. It is muchly appreciated and I'm glad you're enjoying.
Rest assured that there are 37 chapters all up to this fic and there is a sequel which I am currently writing and have almost finished which will be posted once Charade has been completed.
Hope you all enjoy what is in store for you and thank you for coming along for the ride, Lise xoxo.
Chapter6:
Ft Wainwright Infirmary, Alaska- Chloe's POV:
"Lois why couldn't you just wait?" I ask the comatose woman for the millionth time. If she had waited 2 days I could have met her in Anchorage and traveled to Fairbanks with her.
"Chloe is there any change?" Uncle Sam's gruff voice breaks through my thoughts.
"Not yet Uncle Sam, the doctor said that she should have only been unconscious for a max of 3 days, it's been 3 weeks and they just don't know."
Uncle Sam steps into the room, he places a hand on Lois' and the other on my shoulder. I look up into his face. All his unmasked pain and fear emanating from his very soul. I feel tears burning my eyes as I place a hand over his on my shoulder, offering as much support as I can. I turn my head back to Lois, one of the few constants in my life.
"Was she looking for the Kent boy?" Oh hell, what do I say? Do I tell the truth, do I lie?
"I don't know Uncle Sam." I keep looking at Lois, knowing that as long as I don't look at him he won't know it's a lie. There's a light knock at the door. "General Lane, Sir?" A young soldier calls out.
Uncle Sam sighs… "Duty calls, you'll let me know if anything changes." A statement rather than a question. I nod my head, shoulders slumping with weariness. Uncle Sam's tone now gentle. Sighing, I take Lois' hand, in my own, and begin to sob.
"Please Cuz, you gotta wake up. You can't leave me all alone." I cry harder. "Damn you Lois! Why do you have to be so stubborn? Why can't you just accept help? Why couldn't you wait for me?" I cry harder, Lois' hand still between my own, my face buried in the bed beside her. "Not you too Lo, don't leave. Don't leave me." I feel a thumb rub the back of my left hand. I look across to see Lois' thumb moving and then I look up. My eyes meeting her tear filled hazel eyes.
Ft Wainwright Infirmary, Alaska- Lois' POV:
A voice rouses me from a numbingly deep sleep. I slowly become aware of pain above my right eye, the back of my head hurts like hell. My ribs are killing me. My throat is hot and scratchy, my tongue like sandpaper, my lips not much better. My eyelids feel as if they're weighed down. I suddenly become aware of a weight on my left hand and hear a tear-filled voice; I concentrate on the voice, my cousin's voice.
"…do you have to be so stubborn? Why can't you just accept help? Why couldn't you just wait for me?" The sobs got louder, by sheer will I force my eyes open, turning my head slightly to face Chlo.
"Not you too Lo, don't leave. Don't leave me."
My heart breaks for my cousin, I do the best I can to comfort her and rub the back of her hand with my thumb. I see shock on her face as she gazes at our hands. Chloe turns her tear stained face to mine. So many emotions cross her face and she seems to freeze. She closes her eyes and counts to 10, opening her eyes again.
"Hey." I croak, my throat voicing its protest at being used.
Chloe jumps up and runs to the door… "Doc!" She yells as she pokes her head out.
I wince, Chloe's a little too loud for my liking. I try to wipe my face with my right hand but feel a tugging. I look down to see an IV; I grunt with annoyance, I hate those things. Anyway, the presence means 1 of 3 things;1. I've been out of it for a while, 2. I've lost a lot of blood or 3. All of the above.
"How long have I been out?" I rasp.
Chloe turns to me, relief and pain written all over her face... "Uh, 3 ½ weeks."
Surprise! My next question must have been clearly written on my face. Chlo walks towards me, she sits on the bed. "The doc will tell you when she comes in, it's better if you hear everything from her."
I try to smile, Chlo squeezes my hand and I squeeze hers in return. "I'm so glad that you're awake now Lo." I try to lick my lips, Chlo gets the hint. She pours me a glass of water; placing a straw in the glass. Chlo lifts the straw to my lips, I suck a couple of sips from the straw and revel in the cooling sensation on my throat. I smile sincerely this time.
"You're not getting rid of me that easy Cuz." Chlo lets loose a small smile of her own. The doctor walks in. I notice the bdu's beneath her lab coat. "Oh, s--t!" boy am I in trouble.
"How are you feeling Miss Lane?" I look at Chlo, she looks nervous, reading my 'why didn't you tell me' stare.
"Great." I ground out as I break our staring contest.
"Miss Sullivan, could you please inform the General of his daughter's consciousness."
"Uh-huh." Chlo darts out of the room. It try to sit up but my ribs protest loudly. I gasp in pain and lay down again. "Well, let's get started here."
4 Hours later, Ft Wainwright, Alaska:
I lay in the angled hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, the General's rant ringing in my ears. The whole time he was shouting at me, I just wanted to tell him how much he didn't understand, that I wasn't chasing Smallville all over the country like some love sick, needy excuse of a woman. So many times I wanted to shake him and tell him the truth. But three faces always popped into my head, Clark, Mrs. Kent and Mr. Kent.
My mind drifts towards the man who showed more fatherly affection towards me than my own father. In all the ways that count I found myself parents who loved me. I can feel tears welling in my eyes. I turn my head away from the door, concentrating on not letting the tears fall. Of being strong and not so needy like the pink loving weirdo or some dark haired, blue eyed, brooding farm boy. I take a deep breath, cursing myself for always coming back to the King of Plaid. This time I don't fight myself and let my thoughts drift to Clark. I fight so hard to hold onto the memory of his voice, "I love you with all my heart." My hand instinctively comes to rest over my heart.
Deep down I know everything is changing, nothing will ever be the same again. A light knock on the door's window jerks me from my musings, Chlo shyly waves at me from behind the glass. I turn my head away from her as she enters. "So how'd it go with the General?"
Still staring at the wall. "Like always Chlo, he has his own opinion stuck in his head and won't believe otherwise."
"That bad huh?" I turn to look at Chlo.
"Once I'm released, I'm going to head back to Smallville, I'll finish my courses at Central Kansas, then it's on to Met U, I'll get my degree and join the real world."
"Oh." Chloe's head dips.
I reach out to her. "Hey Cuz, I'm right here. I'm fine and you know that I will always, always be there for you." Chlo stands up, she leans over the bed to gingerly give me a hug. My ribs protest but I return the hug with all my strength. "Thanks Cuz."
I smile in return. "Any news from Mrs. Kent?"
"I can't reach her, she's stuck in some senate meeting till the end of the week. She was going to come visit you when you were first brought in but there was some huge emergency so she had to turn around."
"Oh." Chlo hugs me again.
"So, how long till you fly this coop?"
I grin… "2 days and then I have to take it easy." Chlo gives me an 'I know you Lois Lane' look.
"Anyway, 2 days and then I catch the nearest bird to Smallville, back home, the home of the freaky."
Chloe looks at her hands… "What is it Chlo?"
"Um, you missed your last couple of months of rent so Lex kind of kicked you out of your apartment."
"That sneaky, bald, Son of a B---h!"
"But Mrs. Kent and I moved all your stuff to the farm." She smiles sheepishly.
I sigh, I'm being sent straight back to the place which holds so many memories, memories of a man long gone who was a father to me. Memories of the man who captured my heart and ran away. Chloe hugs me again. Sitting here I realize that something within me is different and this difference is going to change everything, not only in my life but of those around me as well.
Please be kind and review.
