Aftermath – Chapter 11

"What?" Chloe whispered wondering if she had heard him right. She let her hand drop from his face, knowing that without her touch, he would have to form the words for himself.

"I love you," Lex whispered to her with more conviction than the first time. It was odd to hear the words come out of his mouth. He wondered how they had scared him for so many years and stared at Chloe.

Chloe's mouth opened as he felt her hitch a breath underneath him. Running his fingers through her hair, he was careful not to wrap his legs around her ankle. He had already caused her enough pain for the day. "Since when?" was all Chloe could muster.

Lex looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. He was hoping for her to repeat what she had said a few minutes earlier by mistake. Continuing running his fingers down her face and through her hair, he thought about the question. "I honestly don't know. You were always beyond special to me and we have a …"

"Bond." Chloe finished the statement and stared silently into his steel sad eyes. He was sad, even after telling her that he loved her. She wondered how she could get the carefree Lex back from a couple days ago. She closed her eyes and could continue feeling his hands on her face and then fingers trailing down her shoulder. "Oh God," she whispered.

"What?" Lex stared at her. He hadn't really touched her in that way and it didn't sound seductive.

Chloe opened her eyes and gazed into his. His eyes never left her face. She wondered how many women Lex had actually just gazed at without looking as if he was going to undress them. Feeling his touch and heartbeat, she knew what he wanted. "Lex, I'm sorry I blew up. You just make me…"

"Mad? Irate? Ready to hunt and kill?" He continued running his hand up and down her arm, keeping a careful balance over her. She hadn't kneed him the groin yet, so he was still thinking positive.

"Confused. You're Lex Luthor and you control…everything. I don't want to be controlled. When you brought me here, I realized how little control I have." She watched as Lex's eyes left her face for the first time since he pushed her back against the pillows. She slowly felt him start to slide from her. Grabbing the front of his shirt and wrapping another hand around his neck, she resisted him pulling away.

"BUT," she quivered, "I love you. And I need you more in my life than not."

"Chloe."

"No, wait. You can't control me…no more games…I just want to be us like the last three days."

Lex gulped and choked back the thought of him not able to completely keep her from doing what she wanted. She was and always had been the independent one. The only of all the women he knew that were only ruled by their own hearts. "No controlling," he whispered.

Chloe nodded her head and pulled him back into her. Feeling his tension against her hand, her lips started quivering thinking she had blown it. "Lex?"

Lex swept his hand down her face while still leaning over her with the other. She dropped her hands from him as his eyes glazed over and she suddenly felt a strange cold draft form around them. She sighed and knew it was over when the wind stopped.

He stroked his hand through her hair as her eyes faded from his. Moving closer to her, he could see her sudden lost look that she had when her father died. Leaning down into her, he kissed her cheek and whispered, "no games." He turned her chin to him and wiped her now damp face. "I love you, and I want you to tell me when to back off."

"Can I tell you when to let loose?" Chloe's face broke into a smile as her hand snaked around his neck again and pulled him into a kiss. Starting first off slowly, she felt Lex's hand entwine into her hair, pulling him closer to her. She parted her lips to feel his tongue slip next to hers as she let out a soft moan.

Lex felt her other hand snake around his back as he lowered himself gingerly beside her, still mentally placing where her bum ankle was on the bed. Chloe maneuvered to the side to leave Lex room next to her. She felt him deepen into the kiss as his body came down to her. Letting out another moan, she jumped slightly as his tongue flicked against the roof of her mouth.

Feeling a groan from Lex's throat, Chloe tugged her hand harder against Lex's neck and made him kiss her even deeper before feeling his lips graze the side of her chin and down her neck. "Lex," she breathed before he felt her slightly lift her hips in the air as a wave of passion flew through her.

He looked over his shoulder and cursed himself before leaving her presence. Chloe's eyes shot open as he went around the corner and disappeared. Throwing her arms out wide, she silently stared at the ceiling and wondered what she had done wrong. She closed her eyes and willed herself not to cry.

Lex returned and looked at the tears that peaked out of the corners of her lids. She thought I left her. Silly woman. Lex let the small wrap go and sat on the edge of the bed. Chloe's eyes opened to Lex carefully picking up her foot and putting it in his lap. "Tell me if it hurts." She watched Lex carefully wrap her ankle in the brace from the medical kit. When he pinned the last bit together, he smiled at her. "I didn't want it to get tangled or hurt again when we…"

"What?" Chloe smiled mischievously.

"Wait for time to pass. Listen to the rain," he got up from the bed and strolled across the room.

"Lex," Chloe drawled out. "I thought I said," she stopped when an explosion came from outside the metal door and another click soon afterwards. "Lex? What's going on?" She yelled in the dark. It was pitch black. Nothing.

"The generator will kick in in a second," he calmly answered from somewhere in the abyss of the black hole of a room. Just as he finished, soft lights illuminated the room almost like candlelight. Chloe thought it was a trick but all the appliances clocks blinked; the power really was out. Her eyes refocused on Lex walking toward her.

"I love you," dropped from her lips as now a topless Lex sat down on the bed next to her. She sat up and started at her shirt again before feeling Lex's hands on hers.

"Let me," he whispered as the shirt easily came off and followed quickly by her shorts. She watched and winced as he lifted her ankle out of her shorts without even causing her to feel it. She gazed at him, feeling the sudden need to cover her now naked body up.

Curling up, she felt his hand turn her back to face him, "You're gorgeous." He leaned in and kissed her soft flesh of her stomach as she reached for his pants, happy to see the ease they would come off.

"Not as tight as the women you've," she stopped as Lex placed his mouth around hers and moaned while running his hands over her breasts.

"You were plenty tight last night if I remember," he whispered before his pants dropped to the floor and he pulled the sheet over the top of both of them. She gasped feeling his tongue trail down her chest, stopping to tease her briefly.

"What are you doing?" she gasped barely able to find words.

"Riding out the storm," she heard in pieces as the trail of kisses drew closer to her belly and Lex disappeared under the sheets.

Throwing her head to the side while moaning, she grabbed the sheets with her hands. Gasping again, she turned and saw the shadow on the wall as her legs parted and Lex's head disappeared into the shadow.

************

"Are you ok? Your ankle?" Chloe almost thought she had heard Lex purr into her neck. She still had small waves that overtook her as she felt her muscles between her legs starting to contract.

"Don't worry about my ankle Dr. Luthor." She smiled and laughed as she pulled Lex's bare leg back over her thighs. "I'm going to get some sleep."

Lex felt her turn toward the wall and carefully turned with her, wrapping his arms around her naked body and pulling it into his. "Goodnight honey." He kissed her on the shoulder blade. "I love you."

Pulling his arm up to her face, she smiled to herself hearing the honey. "Goodnight. I love you too." She kissed his arm and placed his warm palm over her breast. She heard him moan into her back before a small sigh and then deeper breaths against her back.

*************

**CRASH**

Lex and Chloe both jumped from the bed and stared at the mess on the floor that used to be the wine rack. "The wind is getting stronger," Lex said as he got out of bed and looked at the still blinking clock.

"How long were we out?" Chloe asked as she pulled the sheets up around her, suddenly missing his warmth.

"About an hour," he stated as another crash came from the other side of the door. He watched Chloe jump against the side of the wall in the bed.

"Sir? Are you ok?" Charles spoke from the other side of the locked door.

"Yes, but I think we're moving in." He picked up his pants and shirt and handed Chloe her clothes. "I'll get some things together." Chloe nodded and got dressed, pulling on her boots painfully. She wasn't risking her ankle and glass in her feet.

"Can I help?"

"Grab the lights, flares, and satellite telephone out of the drawer over there. I got food enough for all of us. Charles, get some of the waters packed up and we'll meet you in your room." Chloe pulled out the telephone that looked like something out of the seventies. Lex may have pulled a fast one by purchasing the place, but at least was well taken care of.

Lex took her by the elbow and steadied her over the now dark rose colored cement stained with wine. "How much money is running across the floor right now?"

Lex looked down at her and back over his shoulder, "Not anywhere near how much you are worth." Chloe stared at him condescending. "About $5000."

"That's it?"

"For obvious reasons, the best stuff is still safe in…"

"Tornado alley. Brilliant plan there." Chloe looked around and sat down on the small couch that was part of a little living room area. "Lex, you really take care of your help." She was amazed that the room, albeit smaller, was fashioned exactly as his room next door, minus the fancy wine that now was nothing.

"He is very good to us, regardless of rumors that he shoots in the back if we don't listen." Charles answered as he put the remainder of the food in the small refrigerator before another woman walked through. "This is Carmen. She is the maid for the quarters."

"Hi, sir?"

Lex looked over at Carmen. He had found her through a service on the island and paid her double to leave her other position. She had been a sound investment. He wondered if he could just find the same two types of people stateside. Straying quickly, he wondered what the purpose of stateside was anymore when looking at Chloe.

"Can we have the spare bed made out?"

"Already done sir."

Lex nodded up at her as she continued to put away what the three brought from the other room. Lex took Chloe by the waist as she bent over to help load the shelves. "Come on; they get paid very well to do this." She took Lex's hand and followed him into the room that was the size of a large closet. Pulling her down on the bed next to him, he didn't even fight to undress her. He just wanted her close to him.

*********

"Sir?" Charles whispered and knocked at the small door. "The storm has passed sir."

Chloe stirred first, looking over and seeing the lines of emotional and physical exhaustion on Lex's face. Sitting up, she motioned for Charles to quiet and watched him slip away. She laid a small kiss on his cheek and then brushed his lips. "Lex," she whispered.

She heard a moan that sounded like honey. She liked her pet name. It was simple and it came from his lips. She kissed him again and felt his hand pull her deeper into the kiss, moaning honey into her mouth.

"It's over. The storm is over." Chloe stated breathlessly as Lex let her go. She watched his eyes open to her and pulled off of her. Taking her hand, he took a deep breath and appeared in the small living space with Charles and Carmen.

"Let's go see the damage."

************

"On my three," Lex, Carmen, and Charles braced against the door and pushed. Chloe watched, gritting her teeth. As the door slid past the weight on the other side, Chloe's jaw dropped.

"Oh God." The four stood just inside the doorway and surveyed the damage from the parts that couldn't be hidden from the storm's wrath. The dining room table laid on its side against the other side of the door and the living room furniture was thrown about, cushions soaked and wood most surely rotting as they watched. Tree branches were everywhere and plaster from somewhere flowed through the house, catching in the drain.

Lex walked out and pulled the plaster from the drain. He looked back over his shoulder as Chloe covered her mouth in sobs. Walking back over to her, he hugged her. "It's plaster and furniture. You're still here and that's what matters."

Carmen and Charles eyed their boss and stepped carefully among the broken branches and glass from what used to be the kitchen cabinets. One of the hurricane shades in the main living room had given way and destroyed the main part of the house. "Come on, let's go see what else is left."

Chloe leaned into Lex as she began to walk better on her now rested foot. They followed the trail of bits of paint and plaster that washed down from the bedroom area and stopped. Pushing the door open further, Lex looked at the hole in the ceiling of the brightly colored room. The funky shaped lamps and art deco shaped bed were all broken. The books all ruined that adorned the shelves. The computer ruined.

Chloe walked past him and spied the computer flipped upside down in the pile of mess. Bending over to grab it, she stared at the room and back at Lex. "This is my computer." Lex looked down and shoved his hands in his pockets, leaning against the wet doorway. "This was my room." She looked at Lex. "You had a room built for me."

Smiling, he looked at her as she stared at the soaked books and smiled at her favorite titles. "I'm thinking of turning it into an office now." Chloe's head shot up, concerned. Lex bit his lip and mentally tried to backtrack. Meeting Chloe on the floor, he took her hand. "Seeing as your room now is," he paused, "going to also be with me."

Chloe blinked in question as Lex pulled her up and out of the pile in the room. She silently followed him to the room at the end of the hall, stepping over more debris and glass. Lex opened the door and stood in the doorway, mentally taking notes of everything that would have to be fixed.

Chloe entered the room and covered her mouth. The four poster bed was not the deep violets and blues of the Luthor mansion. The rain made the sheets look a dingy gray but the whole room was shades of beige and white. She turned and looked back at Lex. "Stay here Chloe. It's not a game and I am not controlling you, but I want you…"

"But Lex I have a home." Chloe stopped and thought. "Home," she started to breath heavier and Lex caught her as he knew what she was thinking. Wrapping her hands around his shoulders, she cried, "What about Magnil and the others. My house Lex. My things."

"We'll go as soon as we can get out." Lex held her as she fell to her feet in the middle of the master suite, bawling into his shirt.

************

The two slept along with Carmen and Charles in the safe area for two more nights. No room for the time being was inhabitable but Lex had called for work crews to arrive and they worked starting the following morning.

Sneaking into what was set up as a conference room in the house, she stood by the doorway and listened to Lex pace and make phone calls to both repair companies and Luthorcorp clients. She heard him cancel numerous meetings and watched him throw a private fit including the word's, '10 million fucking dollars.'

She wanted to run in and tell him not to stay. He needed to be at work. He needed to leave, but he said he wouldn't until they could check on the others.

"How long have you been there?"

Chloe glanced up and saw Lex looking at her from across the room, still anger poured from his face. "Long enough. Lex, you should go."

Lex walked around the long table and grabbed Chloe by the shoulders, kissing her hard and unexpected. Pulling out of the hot kiss, Chloe's eyes readjusted to see him gazing at her, all the anger now gone. "No amount of money is worth leaving you, not right now." He kissed her again quickly and took her hand. "But, we do have an errand to run."

"Huh?"

She watched Lex pull up the garage door and pull out the truck. "Get in." Chloe looked at him bemused and jumped in the other side as the gate opened to other vehicles going into the property.

"Who are they?"

"Clean up crew. They are doing my house and then heading over to St. Thomas to rebuild a bar."

"A bar?" Chloe sat and stared at Lex as he pulled around the last truck loaded with panes of glass and drywall boards. "Lex, what did you do?"

"Nothing." He looked over at her and saw her disgusted look. "I talked to Don today through an emergency number on St. Thomas. Your little shopping village with Safina is completely flooded out. The mall stores on the island made it just because of the infrastructure. Don's bar is gone for a lack of a better word. It's filled with sand beyond the roof. All the bottles destroyed. It's going to be rebuilt."

"And you're rebuilding it. Why?" Chloe was partly amused and confused by the gesture. "You don't have to do this for me Lex. These people go through hurricanes all the time."

"Because I like the man and I like his scotch. You know I never knew that you could get scotch made that way from rum before. Let's just say that little upstart local friend of his is going to be famous someday."

"With your help of course." Lex smiled over at Chloe as she nodded her head. It was true; Don's friend had curbed the market on moonshine scotch and if Lex approved of the taste, one mention and the man would need more than a garage to produce.

"So where are we…" Chloe stopped and looked at the flattened parcel of land as Lex slammed on the brakes, avoiding the overturned fence.

She looked over and saw Magnil's car pull up from the other direction. Getting out of the car, Lex sat silently and let Chloe and Magnil take in what they found.

Both houses were gone. The small garage where the truck used to be was nowhere to be seen and appliances littered the front yard of the house. "What am I going to do Chloe?" Magnil fell in Chloe's arms and the women cried for a few minutes.

Lex walked up and hopped over the remnants of one of the fences. "We can salvage some and take it back to my place for the time being." Chloe looked at Lex and smiled at Magnil. Shaking their heads, they spent the next few hours picking up pieces here and there and tossing them into the truck bed.

"Magnil, Chloe told me that you used to work for Whitesman back in the states."

Magnil looked over at Lex and was curious at the statement. "Yes, in the acquistions division out of Chicago. That was…wow…you were only like 12 when I was there. Why?"

"What was your function there?" Lex kept his voice down as he saw Chloe watch the two in conversation.

"I was the personal assistant to Steve Whitesman, Carl's second son in charge." Magnil stopped and looked down at Lex and followed his body language as he stood up. "Cut the crap Luthor. You still have your father's genes, but God I hope not all of them."

Magnil may live in desolation as far as Lex was concerned but Whitesman was a company no one ever ignored. When he was younger, Lex remembered many trips his father took to Chicago and always came home angry. Never ones to sell out, the Whitesmans simply paid off their employees more than they should and closed up shop instead of selling themselves to his father.

When Chloe spoke about Magnil, Lex did his research. The name was unusual, but he had heard it. Finding her in old records still in the Luthorcorp archives, he smiled. He chuckled to himself, somewhat freaking the older woman out. "I want you to work for me."

"What? I'm done with that game. I was on the other side too long." Magnil put her hands on her hips and then waved Lex off.

"No," he said as he took her by the arm. "I need someone here to take care of house and phone calls and appointments that I set up for here. And Chloe." He paused and looked at the expression on Magnil's face change.

"What's the catch?"

"No catch. You have a salary. A place in the house. And anything you need for you and Chloe." He waited as Magnil looked up at him skeptically. Looking back over his shoulder, he watched Chloe digging through remnants of her closet. Leaning into Magnil, he whispered, "Chloe's special to me and you are special to her." Magnil just sneered and waited for the young man to try again.

"I love her, but I know she won't leave."

Magnil slapped Lex on the back and smiled. "Good boy." Leaning into him, she sniffed as Lex looked at her strangely. "And you smell better than your dad. Sure, I'll take your job, but I'll have you know that I'm not into the games that Whitesman and Luthorcorp played and I will call you on it and tell Chloe and…"

"Stop. Chloe's already brought down that hammer. Don't worry."

"Worry about what?" Chloe walked up with a pile of wet clothes and dropped them ceremoniously on Lex's feet.

TBC