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

AN: Sorry for the delay, Technical difficulties but I promise you all this fic will be finished before the finale comes out. As always thanks for Reading and reviewing the faves.

Chapter 14:Burned by an Ember

"How long does she have to stay in their Doc?" Bart asked as they all watched the live feed from the quarantine room where Emil had sent Chloe until whatever it was Lex dosed her with ran its course.

Chloe had already answered most of Clark's questions and they were all aware of just how close she and Oliver were. Considering the fact the she apparently had taken over half of the emerald archer's closet. In all the time the small league had been working together none of them had ever seen their leader act this way over a woman.

"As long as it takes for that truth serum to run its course, whatever it was that snake injected her with its dangerous." Victor said not taking his eyes off the screen. "There's no telling what is going to come out of her mouth next and I'm sure we all don't want to hear anymore about Oliver and his oversize ego."

"Speaking of bossman, where is he?" A.C chimed in looking at the same monitor and taking notes.

"Where else, outside that room or probably having a pissing contest with Boy-scout, Who knew this penthouse was so big?" Bart was always moving around never liking to sit down in one place for too long, which explained his need to walk back and forth in the same spot for the last hour.

"We all did as I recall we helped renovate it. Remember how much fun you had almost knocking down that supporting wall?" The half man half computer replied reminding them all of the first time Oliver brought up the idea of using the penthouse as there Metropolis headquarters.

"No I don't recall. How could she choose him over me, when did they even meet? Life is so unfair." The young speedster hung his head in mock defeat, but the rest of his teammates knew he was really happy for there leader.

"I don't know, Oliver never mentioned Chloe when he contacted me about orders," He still didn't look up from the monitor as he relayed what he was talking about. "But I think from the way he was talking about Dark Thursday earlier, that it was then."

"What do you mean Vic?" The aquatic hero was just as curious as Bart.

"Well he was trying to avoid the subject or the fact that we were in Metropolis that day, Like he didn't want Clark to know." Victor explained helping his team put together the puzzle that was the beginning of Chloe and Oliver's relationship.

"Your right, normally he wouldn't have hidden that fact unless it was some big secret. His confidence wouldn't allow for it." A.C commented what they all knew, everyone knew how big Oliver Queen's confidence was.

"You know when I came to check on him when he went all Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hide and stop talking to us a few months ago."His arms were over his chest like he was in deep thought, something that didn't happen all that much. "Well when I got here this place was a disaster like a tornado went through."

"Now I guess we all know the name of that Tornado now." Victor smirked and motioned for his teammates to look at the flat screen in front of them, the amount of data was amazing.

"Yeah Chloe is quite a force to be reckoned with and smart to. Look at all this intel. on 33.1, The woman's figured out and found everything that we couldn't. But she didn't do it alone she had help." A.C noted the fact that no one could have accomplished what Chloe did all by themselves.

"But from who?" Bart asked another question always the curious one."I heard her say Manhunter, and that kind of sounds scary, especially the ghostly bit. Phasing through walls, that's just not normal."

"Normal? You can break the sound barrier just running, he can breathe underwater, and I'm a Cyborg. I think normal is the least of our worries." He was right there was more to worry about then being normal not that they never thought about it.

"If your referring to Mr. Luthor and his knowledge of our team, don't worry he has been taken care of. " Emil alerted them all to the fact that he was still in the room.

"When you say taking care of, What do you mean exactly?" Bart had an eerie look on his face like he was afraid of the answer. Emil smiled and just explained who or what John really was and what he could do. They all took it better then he thought they would, he chalked it up to the fact they already knew about Clark's other worldly origins.

Lois sat in the small cell realizing no one was coming for her, no one was answering their phones and Mrs. K was still in D.C. She was screwed. Why did she have to be arrested in Smallville, why not Metropolis, there she had the city wired. Maybe she could move there.

"Did you hear about that vacant Luther Corp. Facility that blew up down by the docks in Metropolis?" The voice of a young deputy took Lois out of her pity party. Explosion, damn there was probably a good story behind the incident.

Maybe an exposé on the out of date something or other that caused the explosion and she was stuck here or maybe even fowl play? Lois had heard a few stories of a terrorist cell taking down supposed Lex Corp. Facilities around the world, but that was all conspiracy theories and she had vowed to stay away anything Luthor related ever since Lana said yes to the resident Jafar wannabe. Really how could that girl not see what a snake she was marrying?

Lois just rolled her eyes at the thought you never got to choose who you fell in love with and after yesterday. The happy couple might not be walking down the aisle anytime soon anyway. Life was so unfair the story of a life time was out there waiting to be written and she was stuck here in cornfield central in the middle of nowhere, Where Lois knew for a fact that a lot of the law enforcement was not that fond of her.

Oliver throw another jab at the pouching bag getting out his anger and frustration, he had sat outside the room where they currently had the woman he loved quarantined for long enough. Why they had to have her locked up like this he didn't know, but he trusted Emil with his life and with the lives of both Chloe and their unborn child. If the doctor said this was for the best then it was for the best.

Emil had already looked Chloe over for any obvious injuries fining nothing wrong with her or the baby just yet. And now mother and child were safely tucked away waiting for the next 24 hours to pass.

Until that stupid truth serum ran its course, but then again it wasn't just a truth serum. It was manufactured using the spinal fluid of one Moira Sullivan. Chloe's own mother, Lex Luthor was really a snake. How did Chloe know though, well she knew a lot of things that he didn't and Oliver couldn't help but feel used. But Chloe hadn't used him, maybe that's what was bothering him the fact that she didn't need or want him to protect her.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping or something?" Clark ask entering the workout area Oliver had set up in the gym.

"With all due respect Clark, I don't think I'm the one that needs your concern right now. Why don't you guard Chloe or something?" He didn't take his eyes off his target and watched as his fist hit the bag again and wondered why he turned to working out every time he was stressed?

"I think we both know it's hard sitting outside that room, neither of us can do anything about what Chloe's going through and being so close makes it worse." The Boyscout stated matter-of-factly finally acknowledging the bond Chloe and Oliver shared without a harsh tone.

"It's not fair it's like we rescued her from Lex just to lock her up ourselves, and on top of that we still don't have the answers we want or need.." Oliver stopped the punching bag as it swung back his way and leaned on it for a moment to study himself, he really should be resting.

"I'm sorry for everything I said, I should have known you wouldn't put Chloe in danger. I should have trusted you."He was apologizing, wait why? That was surely a quick change in attitude about the situation.

"Is this a trick, apologize and then fry me into crispy archer? From where I'm standing you have no reason to believe anything I say when it comes to Chloe." The billionaire began taking off his gloves grabbing a bottle of water and not turning his back, hoping he was wrong in his presumption.

"No, no trick."Clark put his hands up defending himself and confirming his words. "Chloe was right when she said your love life was none of my business. But I don't like being lied to Oliver."

"Yeah me either." Oliver sat down on a weight bench taking a swig of his water and relaxed his posture for a minute before hunching his shoulders in regret over deceiving his newest friend.

" It's just we've known each other for so long, we use to trust each other with everything, and now I find out she's been working with someone behind my back to protect me," The farm boy took a seat next to the emerald archer and put his face in his hands. "Someone that knows my secret, and on top of that her mother's meteor infected ."

"Don't look at me man, Chloe never said anything about it, like a lot of other things. The only thing she ever told me about mommy-dearest was when she left when Chloe was younger and that it hurt not having her around." It was the truth Chloe had only mentioned her mother a few times and most of what he knew about the older Sullivan he learned on dark Thursday.

"I guess you can relate better than I can." Clark sounded remorseful like he was mourning the loss of the closeness he once had with his best friend.

"There's nothing either of us could have done, she lied to the both of us." Oliver interjected feeling like he was trying to convince himself more of Chloe's worth then the Kryptonian sitting next to him. "Whatever it is Chloe was keeping a secret she chose not to tell us for a reason, and I have to believe that it was a good one."

"You really care for her don't you? Why do I suddenly feel like the biggest hypocrite on this side of the galaxy?" Clark replied running his hand through his hair in frustration at the situation.

"I know what you mean, ever since my parents died I've traveled from city to city, continent to continent and I've never regretted living my life the way I do."He was now standing not wanting to stay still for too long. Damn, was he frustrated at the world. "Never regretted leaving anyone behind, not letting them into my world, letting them know who I really was, not until I met Chloe. She knew my secret from day one, and never questioned or judgment me for it."

"She's always been good at that. I've never liked lying to people about my secret, I always told myself it was for the best. That I was protecting them from getting hurt, I never thought I would be the one on the other side of things." They had more in common than most knew and both men were admitting there faults, not that they would ever admitted to anyone else.

"So you're not angry with her for lying to you?" Oliver was still confused and amazed at Clark's capacity for forgiveness. Not that his own wasn't of an equal depth.

"No, not as much as I was, we can't really blame Chloe for the way she handled things. She did learn from the best." The irony was not loss on them, Chloe did learn from the best when it came to lying about certain things.

"Yeah I suppose she did." He echoed Clark's statement taking another drink of water.

"What about you? How are you feeling about this?" That was a hard question to answer and at first Oliver was unsure how to respond.

"I won't lie Clark I'm frustrated and confused. I don't know how I'm suppose to feel. One day Chloe breaks up with me, the next she says she loves me and wants nothing more than to rip off my clothes and..."He stopped knowing Clark got the idea of what he was saying and then continued. "and on top of the cosmic joke that is our lives she's pregnant. With my kid, how am I supposed to deal with that when I haven't figured out who I am yet?"

"I'm here if you need anything?" That was good to know, but for some Oliver felt like he was suddenly in a bad soap opera. He and Clark were men since when did they talk about there feelings. Oh yeah since they had to quarantine a woman they both cared deeply for.

"You're not expecting a hug now are you?" Oliver made sure that things weren't getting to cozy, talking about his feelings was just weird as a guy. "No Okay then."

John Jones landed on Oliver Queen's balcony expecting to see his young ally in the main room of the penthouse explaining herself away to what they both had affectionately dubbed the Justice League. Instead he found no Chloe Just every member of the Mary band of men, but its leader and Kal-El. As he phased through the doors walking into the penthouse the detective ignored the younger heroes and directed his question to Emil Hamilton. Who himself was explaining just who the Martian Manhunter was.

"Doctor, how is Watchtower, where is she?" John asked getting strait to the point, his main concern since he had dealt with the viper was Chloe. Was she okay, would she be able to go on their next mission?

"I had to Quarantine Ms. Sullivan, it's the only way to monitor her condition and assure her safety." Emil replied looking up from Chloe's file acknowledging the Martian.

"I don't like it, but I trust your judgment. Thank you for taking care of her, and for your discretion in the matter."John thanked the doctor and then turned back to the young men watching on and listening with curiosity. "Where is Kal-El and the archer?"

"You mean Boyscout and Bossman?" Victor answered a question with a question.

"Are you really from Mars?" Bart was next to him in one moment poking him in the shoulder to see if John was a solid being.

"Yes I am, and there are more aliens on this planet then you would think." He said it like it was common knowledge. "Now if you wouldn't mind answering my question. I really need to speak with Ka…I mean Clark."

"I'm right here, the real question is who are you and how do you know my secret?" Clark was at the doorway of the main room Oliver Queen standing beside him.

Lana Lang watched her former soon to be husband sleep, there were still a thousand questions running through her mind as well as her heart. She thought she loved Lex, he had never lied to her or used her and he trusted her. Or at least she thought he did. But in the end it turned out that he was as bad as Clark when it came to lying.

Everything Chloe had said could happen had happened, her best friend had never tried stopping Lana from having a relationship with Lex. She had just warned that Lex had his issues just like any man except those issues could be more on the dangerous side of things.

"Lex, your finally awake. I thought I was going to lose you." Lana threw her arms around her fiancé. Lionel hadn't filled her in on what really happen. In fact she still had no idea about 33.1 or Chloe's involvement. Lionel had just said that his son had been in a Car accident and he might not remember the last twenty four hours.

"Lana, what's going on? What am I doing here?" Lex returned the embrace and pulled away for a moment to look into the face of the woman he loved seeing her teary eyes as he did, "What's wrong is everything okay?"

"No, you were in a car accident. Someone ran your Porsche off the road, the doctors say you hit your head on the drivers wheel." Her concern for him was convincing enough she hoped. Lana felt all the spite in the world for this man, he had done something unforgivable to her.

"That explains why I don't remember coming home last night, but that doesn't answer why your wearing a hospital gown. You weren't in the car with me were you? Is the baby okay?"Lex asked and Lana just hugged him knowing she couldn't tell him that she knew the truth about her pregnancy.

"Lex, there were complications. We lost the baby." As the words left her mouth tears started to form in her eye. The pregnancy may have been fabricated but the pain was still there.

"Wait you knew my father" Clark asked as the Martian Manhunter finished explaining how he knew the farmboy's secret about his own alien origins. Oliver listened to the tale as well, the rest of the league was now resting after going over the 33.1 data Chloe had given them. They weren't done they just all needed a break.

"I worked for Jor-El, bringing criminals to justice. When Krypton was on the verge of annihilation, he asked me to keep an eye out for you." John's said sincerely with a remorseful look crossing his features.

"Where have you been all these years? Why did you bring Chloe into your plans?" His curiosity was understandable and no one could blame him for his concern.

"Watching from a distance, her involvement was necessary. I needed to get close to you without revealing myself. Chloe was someone close to you with an unquestionable loyalty I knew I could trust her." Someone close with unquestionable loyalty that description fit Chloe perfectly, she was always understanding and knew how to keep a secret.

"What about the missions? You had her out in the field taking down 33.1 just like they were. How could you put Chloe in that kind of danger?" Anger shown on the Kryptonian's face once more this time directed at his fellow alien instead of Oliver.

"Watchtower is more capable then you think and she wasn't alone. I've explained myself to you enough." John was not one to back down when it came to the things that he believed in, even against his allies. And he did believe in Chloe and her ability to take care of herself.

"I still don't understand why you couldn't come straight to me, things would have been just as…" Clark spoke trying to convince the older hero of how wrong his actions were when the martian cut him off.

"There will time for that later, there are more important things to deal with right now." As if on cue they all heard a scream echoing through the penthouse. None of the heroes spoke as the ran towards the source of the painful wale. They all stopped as they heard Chloe pound on the door yelling for them to let her out of her self imposed captivity.

"Emil, what's wrong with her. Is Chloe okay?" Oliver was the first to voice his concern for her, feeling a pang in his heart at the pain Chloe was going through.

"Ms. Sullivan is going through the worst of it, her immune system is breaking down whats left of the drug." Emil answered not taking his eyes off the monitoring equipment that kept an eye on Chloe's vitals, the wonders of technology thank goodness for it.

"I'm no expert when it comes to interrogation techniques or experimental truth serums, but that bastard only injected her with that once. It's not like its some recreational drug and Chloe's not an attic, why is it affecting her this way?" The emerald archer was right, there was no reason for what was happening to Chloe. Except there was and Emil knew the answer.

"Her immune system is warring with itself, the drug was made from Moira Sullivan's spinal fluid. It has traces of her mother's DNA which is part of Chloe's own DNA. Her body doesn't know how to react to it." Emil showed them the paperwork with all the information he had acquired about the experimental drug. "I've seen the substance before in a few of my most recent patients the team has rescued from 33.1. That's how I knew what I was working with. "

"You mean Lex has used this truth serum before." Clark questioned remembering the last time they had dealt with something like this from Luthor Corp.

"The substance yes but not as a truth serum, Mrs. Sullivan's meteor infection gives her the ability to control other meteor infected individuals." The older Doctor started to explain what he thought was going on.

"Yes we know this already, get to the point." Oliver said harshly not meaning to, his guilt and worry about Chloe was getting to him.

"Well it seems that Lex Luthor has found away to bottle that ability. How, I don't know?" Emil confessed knowing everyone was well aware of the why, and admitting that he didn't know the how behind the substance.

"What does any of this have to do with Chloe's reaction to it?"Clark was now the one to voice his concern over the petite blonde.

"From what I can tell he's only used it to try and control some of the people he's been testing on. But it seems he's moved on from trying to control a meteor infected person with it, to turning it into an interrogation tool towards them." Them the meteor infected, but wait as far as either Oliver or Clark knew Chloe Sullivan wasn't meteor infected, or was she?

"Them, but for it to work on Chloe that means she would have to be meteor infected too." Oliver interjected his question before Clark had a chance to ask the same thing. Where did Chloe's list of secrets end?

AN: No Chlollie scene but I promise they're will be several in the next chapter. As always R&R Enjoy!