Disclaimer: I Don't Own Smallville

As Chloe shook George's hand she smiled and couldn't help but blush at the way he was looking at her and then she said, "Wait Dean? Your last name Dean? I thought you were brothers."

They both spoke at the same time Davis said, "Well, we're like brothers."

And George said, "We're adopted."

Chloe laughed a little at the clarification and said, "Oh OK."

They both were looking at her and Chloe said, "Um George can I have my hand back?"

"Right." George said.

Then he seemed to shake himself out of what ever daze he seemed to be in and took out his note pad out of his chest pocket. Chloe noticed how the dark blue material wrinkled against his chest.

Then George said, "So Chloe go into detail of what happened exactly. Don't leave anything out. No matter… how…weird. Even if you 'd think it wasn't possible or it was in your mind…"

Chloe stopped him right there and tilted her head a bit and said, "Weird? No nothing really in the weird category. I've seen plenty of weird things believe me and I would not just think I was imagining things."

Then Chloe looked at George curiously and asked, "Were you expecting something weird to happen?"

George didn't look at Chloe and only glanced back at Davis with deep concern in his eyes. "I've seen things in this city. I just need to know everything that happened Chloe."

Chloe took a deep breath and then went into detail of everything that happened and then she said, "So it's the whole gang violence of trying to make sure their secrets are kept. The only weird thing is…is how the guy ran away just by seeing Davis explained it must be because you're a cop."

George suddenly looked very dark and complex like there was this huge weight and burden he was carrying. Chloe couldn't help but wonder what it was. George gazed at his brother drained with pure worry and dread and then he said, "Must be."

"Thank you for your time Chloe and now if you excuse me, just for a minute I have to speak to my brother. There is still something I need to speak to you about but…"

Chloe smiled in admirable awe, "Family's first. I get that and I like that, by all means."

Chloe then motioned for him to speak with Davis.

George went to Davis and put his hand on his shoulder they were speaking in hushed whispers leaning towards each other. They both had a small look of gloom on their faces as they talked. They seemed to be discussing something serious and something they seemed to discuss a lot. Chloe would give anything for Clark's super hearing right now. She wanted to know what they were talking about. Then Davis said something to him and George looked at him surprised and Chloe tried to read his lips and she was able to make out from George, "Really?"

Davis nodded his head and the gloom they were both feeling seemed to melt away and they both tilted their heads and looked at Chloe and smiled with pure gratefulness. They both gazed at her with so much awe and appreciation. Chloe was very confused and intrigued about their conflicting expressions. She wanted to know more about these adopted brothers who were everyday heroes and yet connected to the seedy underworld. Imagine all of the cool stories they would know. Chloe got all jumpy and hoppy just thinking about it. Her curiosity bug knew no bounds and Chloe desperately wanted to know more about these two bothers. She bit her lip as she tip toed and then she noticed they looked at the dead body in the ambulance and her crooked curiosity filled smile faded as she remembered it was her curiosity and thirst for a great front page story that got this guy killed. Her guilt came flooding back to her. It flowed though her like hot lava sticking at her as a reminder her of the pain. She felt the pain of causing this man his life. How could she have happy intrigued thoughts when she caused this man his life? She wondered what kind of plans he had once he was free of the intergang. She wondered about his family and friends. How many people were affected by her risking this mans life just for a story. Chloe felt beyond low. She felt like that she had been weighed down by a ton of bricks. Chloe hated that icky feeling knowing it was her thirst for curiosity that got someone killed.

She had thought she had found a balance in making sure people didn't get hurt in the process of Chloe going after the story. She had been reckless before with a one track mind, going after the story no matter what the cost, but she learned her lesson; the hard, gritty, difficult way.

Then George turned to her and said, "OK, Chloe, so I take it you're dropping the story."

"What?" Chloe asked a bit appalled.

"Because I know you might be scared. That could have been you. If my brother wasn't there you'd proablly be dead."

Chloe's eye sunk down driven with guilt.

"But if it weren't for you. The world would never know."

"Know what?" Chloe asked a bit confused of where was going with this.

"What he died for."

Chloe looked up at him in awe. And her disappear and guilt was beginning to subside. Her purpose slowly started to come back.

"Yeah, so you don't want me to drop the story."

"We can use a gutsy reporter on the case."

"We?"

"My dad he's in charge of the organized crime. No one else has the guts to face them but my dad was born with guts and well I guess I've followed his foot steps."

Chloe really respected that. It must have been something else to go after crime with your parent. Chloe couldn't picture her and her father doing the same, but she admired it.

Chloe gave George a pensive look and said, "I can't let him die in vain. I'll tell his story yet."

"Good. But you can't go in this blind sided. Going tonight like you did was foolish."

"Excuse me" Chloe said offended and upset just when she was starting to like this guy.

"You could've been killed. You need protection. The intergang will be after you now."

Chloe sighed she knew he was right. She should've brought Clark with her. She had her tazer but she wasn't fast enough she could have been killed.

"Look, come by the station and we'll give you protection."

Chloe bit her lip OK.

Chloe went to the station with George she stood outside of George's dad's office as she sat next to Davis. She felt a bit awkward for some reason. She had put her hands on her lap tapping. Davis sat pretty still looking a bit gloomy and dark as he stared at his dad's office door.

"So Davis why aren't you in the family business."

He seemed to be pulled out deep in thought.

"George has been part of the family longer then I have. Besides I tend to stray from conflict. It's not my thing."

"You were part of intergang and you don't like conflict. Something doesn't add up."

"They're the reason why I dislike it. Bad experiences."

Chloe pierced her lips sympathetically.

"It must have been hard living on the streets."

"It was but he rescued me. He's always looked after me ever since we were little and were in foster homes together."

"Wow, how did you end up on the streets?"

"Well, George always said we were a package deal. But I seemed to keep him from joining some really nice families. I've always been the unwanted one. He always was the model kid and the boy scout."

"I'm sorry."

"He wouldn't go with out me so I ran away for his own good."

"But then he found you."

"Yeah, he never gave up on me." Davis said with pure admiration.

Chloe smiled at his soft sweet admiring smile.

Then George came out of the office.

"Well. What's the verdict?"

"My father would like to invite you to stay with us." George said some what nervous.

"What?" Chloe asked.

"My dad doesn't trust anyone else on the force to protect you and if you stay with us, we'll know your protected and this way you can do more research for the story and maybe we can finally bring the intergang to justice once and for all."

Chloe liked the sound of that. Her very first big story at the Daily Planet could be bringing down the Metropolis mob Chloe could deal with that. And there were worse thing then to be stuck in a house with two hot guys.