Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or any of these characters

AN:Spoilers for season 6,twisted some plots from that season.

Chapter 6: An Unbearable Cinder

Jimmy mused over the enigma that was Chloe Sullivan. It'd almost been a while since Dark Thursday, since they'd met up again after almost 5 years. She was such a busy little bee he could never get her attention to ask her out, Chloe was out of the bull pen most of the day and there most of the night.

How was he supposed to make his move when she was never around, when he was working? Last night was the perfect opportunity to talk to her and it was wasted on looking for her, Jimmy arrived to fine Chloe's stuff at her desk but the little intrepid reported nowhere to be found.

Jimmy found her in the supply room looking for coffee, but why was the door locked? She was such an odd person but he liked that about her. It was the morning that crushed all of his hopes of ever being with her. Clark Kent was here, again to pick up his best friend.

The gleam in Chloe's eye's every time she laid eyes on the farm boy was enough to make Jimmy Olsen aware of the true relationship between the two best friends was more likely deeper than anyone knew.

"Hey Clark I wasn't expecting you today, what's up?" Chloe smiled seeing her best friend walk into the bullpen, she frowned seeing the look on his face it deepened when he pulled her in the supply room and shut the door behind him.

"You knew Lana was pregnant, Why didn't you tell me?" Was all he said giving Chloe a look making her think she was going to burst into flames if he didn't put the safety on his heat vision.

"First of all Clark I'm having a good morning thanks for asking and second of all this is no place for this conversation." She went to open the door and get the hell out of there, but her hope for escape was foiled by Clark stepping in front of her. "Look Clark, before you go hating me for this let me say, that your such a hypocrite."

"I don't know what you're talking about this isn't as big of a deal as my secr…" He cut himself realizing how conceded he sounded.

"You of all others should know the importance of keeping a secret Clark Kent, and it may not be as important or earth shattering to you as being an alien from another planet." At this part she lowered her voice "But it is to her, it's her secret and as a woman she has every right to tell and not to tell who ever she wishes."

"Don't hold back. Why don't you tell me how you really feel?" He said sarcastically, wow was Oliver's wit starting to rub off on him.

"You really don't want to know how I feel right now and don't bother I can find my own way home." Chloe moved around the Kryptonian and left the room making her way to her desk.

Grabbing all her stuff off her desk and putting it in her bag Chloe saw the manila folder that John had given her. She'd rivaled through it a few times and tried not to think of its contents, but it was inevitable Chloe Ann Sullivan was meteor infected.

She used to write about meteor freaks all of which had ended up in Bell Reeve or dead. There had to be hope she wouldn't just give up not yet, there were too many important things to be done. She had to save her mother and Lana from Lex.

"Mr. Luthor it's nice to see you again, is Chloe with you today?" Moira asked looking up from her notebook, she'd been writing in.

"No, I'm afraid she's working hard again today, but she sends her regrets." Lex didn't sit he just stood pushing his hands into his pockets and pulled out a few photo's. "She sends these as well."

Moira took the photos from him and stared not letting the doubt get to her yet. Her daughter did not look happy in these pictures.

"Where were these taken I don't recognize this place?" She pointed to the background of the pictures keeping up her ruse.

"It's the Talon, the old theater on main she helped renovate the place a few years ago and lives above it." Lex said talking as if he was more familiar with Chloe than he really was.

"I miss her, will she be able to come see me soon." She hated sounding like she didn't know any better, but this façade of ignorance was necessary.

"I think in a few weeks, but let's not think about that right now. The doctor says your making excellent progress, but he says your holding back. Could you enlighten me on why that might be?" Lex tried to sound empathic, he wanted answers.

"Well Mr. Luthor, I have a powerful ability and to be completely honest it scares me to use it."At this reply Lex groaned making Moira smile inside, if she could delay his plan for her, than her daughter would have more time to get her out of here. "But given time I'm sure my fear will subside."

"Your right, a power like yours is dangerous and needs time to be perfected and understood." He turned and left hearing a small thank you before he walked out of the room. This was getting to try his patience. His plan was being pushed back farther and farther thanks to this woman's fear.

Oliver stood on his hands trying to not concentrate on the woman currently taking refuge in his penthouse. Chloe was currently sitting at the kitchen counter using it for a desk and sat with one leg under the other perched on a bar stool.

His withdraw from the RL65 drug was simpler than it should have been. Thank goodness for Chloe who had helped him through the ordeal more than she knew. Her latest fight with Clark was what brought her here a few days ago. The farm-boy could be a real jerk and Chloe told Oliver almost the whole story even about the pregnancy knowing that he had no emotional stake in any of it.

Clark had called her quite a bit in the last few days, trying to apologize for his arrogance and repair the little wound to their friendship. She only answered once to tell him that she was okay and staying with a friend in the city, then she called Lois who squealed because she thought Chloe finally found herself a man and that's why she was not coming home (That was only half the truth but Lois didn't know that).

"So what'll it be tonight Chinese, Pizza, or how about Italian?" Oliver asked bringing Chloe out of her pondering and felt his arms come from behind her as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Rain check? I'm not really hungry right now. I think I'm going to take a shower and then pack my bag I have to be at the Planet in a few hours." Chloe pushed her way off the bar stool, and headed towards the spiral staircase that led to the upper floors.

"Mind if I join you?" His response didn't surprise her, Oliver always went for the neck when she said no to him.

"It sounds fun, and not that I don't want to revisit the love scene, but don't you have some paper work that has to be done." She wiggled out of his grasp giving him a peck on the lips and continued her way to the stairs. "Besides I think what I have in mind would take a lot longer than a few hours, and I can't be late for work again."

Oliver gave her a knowing smirk watching as she descended the staircase following. Not to join her like he wanted, but he had to put on some clothes, he was wearing just a pair of track pants and it was getting drafty. Oliver had come to find in the past few days just how bad Chloe could really be. Their arrangement as Chloe referred to it was largely undefined. It was fine with him, he'd give her whatever she wanted.

He still couldn't tell the world that they were together or that they even knew one another. In time things would be revealed to the right people in their own way. Now as much fun as it was to be Chloe's dirty little secret, he still felt guilty that he couldn't tell Clark. The farm-boy had become a fast friend. So much so that he had turned to Oliver when he needed help.

Being her secret also meant that he couldn't see her as much as he would like, he'd never been in a relationship like this one before. Some of the women Oliver had been with had used him for the exact purpose of being seen with him, to get there name out there, he understood her reasons. This still didn't make the fact he barely saw here any less annoying.

"Mr. Queen," Oliver heard his intercom and looked at the time it was 7 P.M He didn't have any meetings he was aware of, oh god maybe it was Clark. Quickly popping in to the bathroom to check on Chloe he jammed a chair against it so that she wouldn't be able to get out and out them just yet, then headed back down the stairs.

"Yes? What is it?" Oliver's tone was stern, and the doorman on the other side of the intercom knew that he was not in a good mood.

"Lex Luthor is here to see you,Sir." The fear in the voice told Oliver that the man was afraid of his fellow billionaire and Oliver could only guess why.

"Thank you. Send him up please." He debated rather or not to see him but Lex Luthor was one of the major reasons he had come to Metropolis in the first place.

"Lex, I was wondering how long it was going to take you to pop up. Tell me to what do I owe the pleasure?" Oliver said sounding a bit more cavalier than he would have liked.

"I've been busy..." Lex walked out of the elevator and into the penthouse studying its layout for a moment. "Not that you really care."

"I can honestly tell you I have no idea what you're talking about." He didn't like the accusing look the bald viper was giving him.

"Ever since you came to Metropolis, I've been kidnapped, my life put in jeopardy, and the woman I love is laying in the hospital." The look in Lex's eyes was more menacing than Oliver had ever seen.

"And you think that's my fault." He said knowing perfectly well that the greater part of that accusation was his fault, but the last bit he didn't know what Lex was talking about. "Sounds to me, more like bad karma."

"You may have the greater part of the world fooled with this humanitarian act, but I know the real Oliver Queen. Go back to Star City, Oliver... while you still can."Lex was now in Oliver's face as if threatening him.

"That almost sounds like a threat Luthor, but considering the present state of the woman that had the unfortunate luck to fall in love with you I'll let it pass. I think you know your way out, shouldn't you be by her side?" Oliver replied with spite and could see the rage in Lex it caused.

He momentarily kicked himself. Lana Lang was like a sister to Chloe, and he just used the thought of her in pain, to hurt someone.

Chloe stayed silent at the top of the spiral staircase, hearing the last bit of the conversation between the two billionaires and finding the reason that Oliver had locked her in the bathroom. He was protecting her from Lex, the irony in her life was never-ending. But why was Lex there in the first place? Stepping down into the main room as the elevator shut and signaled the departure of Lex Luthor, Chloe looked at Oliver's back comprehending rather or not to let him know she was there.

"You got out I see, you're quite the escape artist aren't you?" Too late, his sarcasm was so unnerving.

"I learned from the best." Chloe smirked a devilish smirk and came to stand in front of him. "What was that about? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah everything is going to be fine, his threats have always been empty. Don't worry about me I can take anything he can throw my way. But you might want to get over to the hospital, he said something about Lana." Oliver finally noticed her lack of clothing and tried not to drool at the sight of Chloe clad in nothing but a green towel.

"I better get going then. There's no telling what could have happen. The baby could be in trouble." Chloe raced around looking for her bag and found it kicked haphazardly behind the kitchen counter out of sight.

Without another thought she dropped her towel and started to dress. Oliver turned around wanting to give her privacy even though he'd already seen her naked on more than one occasion, he knew how modest she was some of the time.

"Not one for modesty are you?" Oliver repeated a question that she'd once asked him his voice dripping in with the same sarcasm.

"Like I said before Mr. Queen, I learned from the best." With anyone else Chloe would have never been humorous about her own nudity but with him everything was different, he brought out the fun part of her personality that she couldn't bring out with the others. Chloe finished dressing grabbing all her things and headed for the door, but not before giving Oliver one last kiss.

"When will I see you again?" Oliver said as he held her in his arms not wanting to let go.

"I work all week and I have to be there for Lana, but I'll call you." Chloe turned in his arms trying to leave again but he pulled her back for one more long passionate kiss. "I'll definitely call you."

Lana laid in the hospital room pretending to be asleep. The drugs helped a bit but it still hurt like hell on the inside, the guilt weighed heavy on her heart. Clark had found out about the pregnancy only a few days ago, and for some reason the look in his eyes made her feel like she'd committed a crime.

Lana knew she shouldn't feel this way, her relationship with Clark was long over and she was with a man that loved her and that was just it. Lex loved her…but did she love him? The answer to that question for Lana, was answered last night.

There she stood in the library reading what she couldn't recall but so racked with a guilt that shouldn't have been there. Lana didn't see where she was going and took a misstep at the top of the stairs, the feeling of falling was fresh in her mind and in that instant she knew she could have caught herself but didn't.

Her baby, the life growing inside of her that had nothing to do with what was going on between the two people who had conceived it, was she or he okay? Lana would never forgive herself if she let something happen to the unborn child and only because she was unsure of her feelings towards its father.

Lex was a good man Lana was certain of that, even if the rest of the world didn't see it. So why was she still hesitant on saying yes to his proposal or really anything that would further deepen their bond.

"Lana, oh my goodness is she okay?" Chloe asked the attending nurse, taking in the sight of one of her closest friends.

"She will be fine she just needs her rest, I wouldn't recommend staying to long." The nurse said leaving the room.

"Chloe who told you I was here?" Lana voiced the fact she was awake. "I know you and Lex aren't exactly on speaking terms these days."

"Yeah well… " Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe thought of the perfect answer, "You're my friend and it's important to know these things, back to my question. Are you okay, is 'Everything' alright?"

"I don't know the test results haven't come back yet." Lana responded folding her hands in her lap, avoiding Chloe's gaze.

"What happened? You're not as clumsy as this chart says." Chloe could see that Lana didn't want to talk about it but she pressed on. "Lana?"

"Lex found out about the baby, he proposed….I haven't given him an answer yet and I don't know why." Lana said hoping her friend would comfort her like she always did.

He proposed that stupid man, the pregnancy was one thing but this made things even more complicated. Chloe had knowledge of what a man that much in love was capable of, Clark had supposedly turned back time last year to save Lana. If that kind of love had that much power over a man like Lex Luthor things could get worst than they already were.

"You just told me the last time I saw you that you and Lex were in a good place. Now that you've heard those words, you have to ask yourself what wouldn't let you say yes." Chloe sat on the edge of the bed next to her friend and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "And if it's Clark?"

"I thought I closed that chapter of my life, but he came to the mansion the other morning, he tried to see me but Lex wouldn't let him. I snuck out of the room and heard the whole conversation." Lana had a pleading expression on her face as she stared at her friend, "Lex told him everything about the proposal and the baby."

That's how Clark found out. From the mouth of the snake himself, that explained a lot. But what did any of this have to with the reason for Lana's sudden spell of vertigo and why was there so much guilt in her eyes?

"Clark stormed out, you should have seen the way he looked at me when he left. It was so cold. It made me feel like I committed a crime." Lana finished and lowered her head in shame, why she wasn't sure.

"Wow, I can't believe I'm saying this, I mean Lex isn't exactly my first pick at boyfriend this isn't about me or about Clark. Lana this is about you and who or what you want in your life." Chloe lifted her chin so she could look her directly in the eye, "You shouldn't have to apologize or make any excuses for the way you feel or who you love."

"What would I do without you?" Lana embraced her friend fully giving into the reassuring hug that Chloe always had up her sleeve.

Lana missed having someone to talk to, she felt so walled up in the mansion. It seemed the closer she got to Lex the further she drifted away from everyone else. At least she still had Chloe.

Chloe couldn't believe what she had just told Lana. Any woman with Lex Luthor was in danger excluding the fact that he was a psycho path bent on taking over the world with a superhuman army, he was controlling and his family wasn't exactly known for their caring nature. What kind of father would he be, that was if this pregnancy wasn't just some ploy to make Lana marry him and use her to hurt, Clark?

A ploy the pregnancy could be fake, with the right compensation of hormones and other drugs. Chloe mentally kicked herself for thinking such a thing, she would have to look at the evidence, surely. Lex wasn't that cruel, was he?

"Clark, what brings you here so early and if it starts with the words I need your help? Ask away I'm here to serve." Oliver didn't miss a beat as he put down his paperwork and acknowledged his newest friend.

"What are you psychic?" Clark inquired, laughing at the thought.

"No, lately you only come to see me when the world's in danger, or is this a social call?" The billionaire quirked an eyebrow at the awkward stance the man of steel was taking.

"Well, I need some advice," He sat down on the other side of the glass desk.

"What kind of advice are we talking about, Clark?"Oliver sat forward clasping his hands together and resting his chin on his fists, he hoped the boy scout was going to finally ask about using his abilities to help the rest of the world, but this was Clark Kent and he knew you never got what you expected with the farm-boy.

"Girl advice, I told you about my friend Chloe well I….." Oliver tensed at the mention of her name not knowing what to expect to come out of his mouth next. Was Clark Kent in love with his best friend? Oliver was aware of how close the two were but, the irony of it all was so unfair.

AN: Sorry for taking so long to update,but my laptop was wounded for a few days. But I'm back now and thank you for reading and special thanks to those that criticism is appreciated. Reviews do help the writing process.