Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or any of its characters.
A/N Thank you so much for your support so far! Reviews inspire me to keep writing so you guys are awesome! :)
Lois stormed furiously into the barn at the Kent Farm, determined to tear the unreliable Clark to shreds for not bothering to call her when he discovered Chloe out cold. Climbing the stairs, she found him standing at the window of his loft, arms leaning casually on the frame. She called out to him.
"Hey Smallville, wanna let me in on why you neglected to inform me that my favorite cousin was dying?" He didn't turn around, instead replying in a gravelly, pained voice, that would have garnered her compassion if she hadn't come in with all her defenses sky high and arms blazing.
"Now isn't really a good time Lois." Not a good time? Nope. This was one question and answer session he was not going to wriggle out of.
"Well too bad, because I'm demanding an answer anyway. In fact, how about telling me why everyone except me seemed completely unsurprised that Chloe was unconscious. How long has this been going on for?" Lois could feel heat rising to her cheeks as she spoke, all her feelings of betrayal and confusion rising to the surface.
"I didn't want to face how sick she was. I was in denial. I should have done something about it sooner."
"Oh no you don't! I'm not getting on the Clark Kent merry go round of pity. You're riding that one alone. I just want answers." Still refusing to turn around, Clark sighed, knowing that Lois was like a pit-bull with a chew toy when she had unanswered questions.
"Smallville, are you really so afraid of emotions that you have to run away ANY time something threatens to get under that thick skin of yours?" That caught his attention. Making an abrupt about-face, he took three large steps towards her. Eyes widening at the fury on his face, Lois moved backwards until her back hit the wooden fence at the edge of the loft. One more long stride and their bodies were inches apart, his chest heaving as he glowered down at her. She could feel the heat radiating off Clark and it stirred something inside her that she hurriedly shut down, hoping he hadn't noticed the blush that filled her cheeks.
"You know, that could go both ways Lois. I'm not the only one who avoids confronting uncomfortable feelings. In fact, I seem to recall a particular conversation that we still need to have about your emotions." Under his intense gaze she could feel her heartbeat quickening. Eyes darting from side to side to avoid his deep green ones, she frantically tried to regain control by firing back in an accusatory tone.
"Chloe is your best friend. Pull yourself together and go help Davis and Ollie find a way to help her." Clark glowered at her and reciprocated by turning her own anger against her.
"Changing the topic again Lois?" Gathering her scattered wits, Lois put her hands on his chest and pushed as hard as she could, eyes widening when it had no effect. Clark grinned slightly and his eyes darkened as she forced herself to glare back at him defiantly, hiding all trace of her true feelings. She couldn't embarrass herself by letting him see those ever again. She had only admitted to being in love with him because there was a madman and far too much adrenaline involved.
"Get out of my way Smallville. I just came to tell you that Ollie and Davis asked me to find you and tell you they need your help." Softening, he stepped aside and returned to the window of the barn. Although he made no reply, the way Clark's shoulders drooped despondently broke through Lois's emotional resistance. Walking up behind him she put her hand on his arm, turning his body to face her.
"Smallville?" The unconcealed pain and frustration in his eyes as he looked at her melted what was left of her defenses. She caught his gaze briefly before he looked down at the ground and answered the unspoken question in her voice.
"Lois, although I don't believe for a second that this is truly about me not calling you when I found Chloe, I do recognize it when you're mad at me. But now isn't the time to work through that, we are both running on heightened emotions and worried sick about Chloe." Apparently the farm boy wasn't as emotionally obtuse as he sometimes pretended to be. He continued,
"Feeling powerless is hard for me, and I don't know how to help Chloe. She's my best friend, and I can't save her." Dash it all to hell, Smallville needed her support and even a military upbringing couldn't stop a girl from wanting to make a hurting man feel better. Especially one who was normally impossibly stoic and rarely asked for help. Impulsively, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into a tight hug. Reacting to her immediately, he wrapped one arm around the small of her back, and slid his other between her shoulder blades, pulling her close. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths through his nose, leaning his head on her shoulder. Lois relaxed against him for a moment, allowing herself a brief moment of weakness, enjoying the way his strong arms held her securely. Then she pulled back abruptly as she realized that elongating the hug would allow him to glimpse the depth of her feelings for him. Counting down from 3 in her head she shut down and regained her customary army brat tough shell.
"Davis and Ollie are sitting there trying to figure it out, and they seem to have an idea so don't give up just yet Smallville." Grinning up at him, Lois emphasized her statement with a light punch of Clark's arm and jaunty toss of her head. With a sad smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Clark took a deep breath and nodded as she turned and walked down the stairs. She had to get away from him, from this feeling of being out of control. From the pain of knowing that Clark didn't return her feelings, or at least not in any strong enough way to do something about it. Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Clark replied lightly as he followed behind her.
"Okay. Let's see what they have up their collective sleeve." Not looking at him, and keeping her tone just as airy, she retorted condescendingly.
"Atta boy Smallville!" Laughing, she glimpsed Clark shaking his head and narrowing his eyes at her through her peripheral vision, before following her out of the barn.