Disclaimer: not mine


Metropolis General, May, 2009.

The pain is back. I do a mental check:

Bad: it hurts like hell.

Good: I know I'm still alive.

"Chloe?"

I open my eyes. Clark is standing by my bedside. "Hey, stranger," I say trying to smile.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I got attacked by a vicious alien," I joke.

The stump in my leg hurts. I try not to cry, telling my self it's just a leg and I'm alive.

"Chloe, I have to tell you something," Clark says. That is usually never good. But his smile proves there is always an exception to the rule. "Lois is back, she's alive."

"What?" I try to move but all I get is to wince in pain, and before I know it, Clark is all over me.

"Don't move, Chloe."

"Is she alright? Where is she?" I ask anxiously.

Clark soothes me using a softer tone, and never losing his half smile. "She's been with you for hours. I convinced her to get home to have a shower and rest." He chuckles. "She didn't want to leave your side, nurses were starting to call her pit bull Lane."

I must be under the drugs, because all I want is to laugh and all I get are tears.

"Chloe? Chloe, what's wrong?," asks a worried Clark. "Do you need a doctor, are you hurting?"

I shake my head. "No. I'm...Clark, I thought I had lost her. I though she was dead." 
Clark hugs me. "She's fine, Chlo, and you'll be fine too, you'll see. Just don't cry, please, I hate to see you crying."

My mind has been made up for some time now, but with all that has happened lately I haven't had the chance to tell Clark. Knowing Lois is alive lifts a heavy weigh only to put a new pressure on my shoulders. I know now I have a responsibility. It's time I tell him.

"I know, Clark. It's not-- it's not the pain, it's not the leg. Clark, before all this happened, I talked to Ollie. I put Jimmy in the line of fire, and he got caught. I can't do the same to Lois, and now I know she's alive, I know what needs to be done. Give me my purse, Clark."

Not quite understanding, Clark goes to the cabinet and gets my purse for me. Sitting up I open it, grab my cell and make the call. "This is Watchtower. Metropolis General. Protocol beta." I hang up before the voice at the other end of the line also tries to talk me out of this.

Clark looks at me, trying to understand. That's when I drop the bomb.

"I'm leaving Smallville."

He opens his eyes widely. "What? Chloe, no, you can't!"

"It's already decided, Clark."

"But Chloe..."

"If I stay here I will want to help, I will want to be Watchtower, no matter what. But if that involves placing the ones I love in danger without the ability to save them, I don't want to do it. Clark, I couldn't save Jimmy, but I will save Lois."

"Chloe, I'm here, I can--"

"No, Clark, you can't. Jimmy's dead, and Lois could have well been also. You can't save everyone, and that is something you need to learn right now. But I can help with this one," I say sternly.


"What are you going to do, Chloe?"

"I'm faking my death. And you have to let Lois believe it."

For the second time since I woke up a few minutes ago, I render Clark speechless and wide-eyed.

"Are you out of your mind?," he finally manages to say.

"I haven't been so clear minded in months, Clark." It hurts to do this to the people I love the most, but I tell myself this is the only way.

"It didn't work the first time, Chloe, how do you think you're getting on with it this time?"

"Because she is going to see me die."

Seeing Clark's look right now is painful, but I have to get over it and stay strong.

"I can't let you do this, Chloe," he says while grabbing my hand tight in his own.

"I'm not asking for your permission, Clark. But I would like your respect."

The tone of his voice changes. It sounds even graver. "It's not fair."

"This is bigger than me, Clark. And you know all my faith is in you and who you have to become." God, smiling at him is getting difficult by the second. "My role is done, I can't help you anymore. Leave that space to Lois. Trust me, I feel she's going to fill it in ways neither of you expect."

"I wish I could talk you out of this."

"There's no going back. I had a deal with Ollie." Clark looks inconsolable. I hate so much to hurt him, but protecting Lois is my priority now. Whatever it takes. "Hey, maybe someday will be time for me to come back," I say trying to ease the situation, "but right now I need to get away from all of it."

"Is it that what you need? To get away from me? Chloe, it should be me the one to run."

"You did and look where it got you. Maybe I'm not doing this just to protect Lois. Maybe I'm a little selfish here. I need the change."

"Chloe..." he says, trying one last time.

"It's my choice, Clark. It's for the best. Trust me on this one, Big Blue."

"Big Blue?," he asks.

I frown. "Yeah, you're right. Still doesn't beat Red Blue blur."

"I think Lois is working on the name."

"Good. I'm sure she'll find the perfect one. Maybe when you're finally ready to show yourself to the world in a brighter costume."

"Never going to happen."

"Didn't your mom sew?"

"Chloe..."

"A red cape resembling your coat and a blue suit matching those eyes. I would pay to see that."


Author's notes: thanks for reading, hoped you enjoyed, as usual.