{Thanks for all the replies on the last chapter… this one turned out a bit more angst-filled than I anticipated but I think it came out okay… you guys let me know… this is strictly for the Chlark fans!}

The Other Side of Grey

Chapter Five: Morals, Judgments and All the Secrets in Between

'Your test results are in.'

That was all it said; no further details. She frowned slightly. She hated when he did that. Left cryptic messages on her phone so that she was forced to seek him out for answers. He did it on purpose. She just knew it. She wrote back saying she would be at his office first thing in the morning trying to squelch the apprehension that had risen at his words.

'Bring coffee…Was the message that beeped back at her and she smiled.

Walking over the threshold into her apartment high above the Metropolis city she sighed, feeling the ache everywhere. Unbuttoning her black coat she looked down at her answering machine and saw 27 missed calls. Flopping down into her favorite chair she sighed as her cell phone began to ring. "Chloe Sullivan." She replied.

"Hey it's me… do you have a minute? I'm here at Warehouse 23 and there's something here I think you need to see." Oliver remarked into the phone.

"Sure let me just get to my computer." In a moment she was opening her email watching as the file was transmitted. Opening it she scanned the contents. It was the standard layout just like the blueprints had shown her. "Everything looks normal…" She stopped short seeing what looked to be a podium in the center of the room. "Can you get me a closer look?" She asked. She watched as the view got closer. Scanning the podium she could see that it was some kind of computer… and at the very base was a distinct indentation of a carved symbol. "Do you see that?" She asked.

"Yeah… what is it?"

"I'm not sure… send me that picture. I'm going to run it through some files… see if I can cross reference it, perhaps something will pop up." She remarked already typing in keys on her laptop.

"So what now;" he asked softly.

"Fall back… whatever Lex… or Lionel had on that computer was worth safeguarding… and I want to know what it is. Give me 24 hours to see what I can dig up." She remarked.

"You got it… hey about tomorrow night… do you need a ride?" He asked.

"No… Bruce is sending a car." She smiled absently.

"You know one day you're going to have to tell me how you got the playboy billionaire to cater to an ex-reporter of the Daily Planet… are you sure you're not dating him?" He asked with a small laugh.

She scoffed. "Right… because I have billionaire boyfriends lining up around the corner to date me. He just likes the freelance work I do for the Gotham Gazette… You stroke a man's ego enough… all things are possible!" She remarked only feeling slightly guilty for hiding the truth. She stopped when she heard a soft thud hit the door. She frowned slightly. "Hey hold on a second." She stated. Taking the short walk to the front she opened her door and furrowed her brow at the packed folder on her doorstep. Looking down the hall, she saw no one.

She picked up the package noting there was no return address and only her name scribbled across the front. Peering inside she pulled out the top page one question neatly typed at the top:

'WHAT KIND OF MAN ARE YOU REALLY WORKING FOR?'

Flipping through the pages there were a plethora of newspaper clippings all on Batman outlining the man he was and the things he had done. She felt a red flush come to her cheeks… "That Son of a bitch!" She exclaimed forgetting that Oliver was on the other end.

"Watchtower… are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine… I'll call you back. There's someone I need to see." She cut the call short and stuffed the papers back in the folder angrily slamming the door on her way out.

Twenty minutes later…

He heard her footsteps as she climbed the last flight of stairs before busting through the door to the roof of the Daily Planet. Somehow he knew that she would find him here… somehow he knew that she would know where to look.

She stood in the doorway staring at his back. He remained perched on the ledge of the roof of the Daily Planet and felt a small smile come to her lips despite her anger. There was a time when he couldn't bare to be this high up, above the world. His fear of heights would have paralyzed him but now… well now things were different… they all were different.

"Hey!" She called out to him. The greeting was anything but friendly.

He looked over his shoulder seeing the defensive stance and knowing she was ready for a fight.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? What the hell is this?" She asked holding the package in her hand.

He stepped off the ledge placing his hands into the pockets of his pants. "I just thought you should know what kind of man you are working for."

"Are you kidding me?!" She asked softly.

"Did you read them?"

"Yes! I did." She shot back.

"And still you're going to stand behind him? He's killed people. He took the law into his own hands and killed people… cops, gangsters… he murdered them!" He argued. "How can you work for someone like that? How can you not see how wrong this is?"

She shook her head. "You are unbelievable! What gives you the right to question who I work for and what I do?"

"This guy is bad news. He's going to get you hurt… or worst."

She stared him down for a moment and he watched as that same wry smile came to her lips; twisting her features into someone he didn't recognize. He was starting to truly hate that smile. "You know I always knew I was the better reporter… but I thought perhaps some of my traits had rubbed off on you." She remarked.

"What?"

"Nothing," She dismissed the statement with a wave of her hand. "Look whatever it is you think you know about Bruce or Batman, trust me… you haven't even scratched the surface! Just leave it alone and stay out of it." She warned.

"He should be in prison! How can you do this? How can you work for him? Knowing the kind of man that he is?"

"It's because I know what kind of man that he is that I can work for him! I know exactly what he's done. Those cops… they were crooked! Did you know that? They were doing a lot of evil unspeakable things just to fatten their pockets!"

"And somehow that makes it okay?" He questioned incredulously. "What's happened to you?" He asked.

She shook her head looking away from him. "The fact that you can stand here and question my morals after you walked out on me is beyond unbelievable!" She shot back.

"Is that why you're doing this? You're mad at me… so you're acting out. You're just trading me in for someone else who can help save the world; Even if he's one of the bad guys?" He asked.

She could feel the contempt rise in her throat. "You know I knew that you had changed… probably spending hours locked up in that damn fortress listening to all things Jor-El… but when did you become such a self righteous asshole?" She asked and saw him take a step back not used to this side of her. "Contrary to what you might believe Clark my life did not begin the day I met you and it sure as hell didn't crumble and fall apart the day you decided to walk out of it!" She snapped. "You left and guess what, the world didn't stop moving and neither did I! Just because you decided to turn your back on humanity didn't mean the rest of us got that luxury!"

He swallowed hard hearing the strain in her voice. She may not have wanted to show her pain but he could hear it nonetheless. "I still care about you Chloe. I still want to help you. I want what's best for you." He remarked softly and saw the brief flash of pain that passed across her face and for a moment he thought she would open up to him… talk to him.

She stepped closer to him staring into his blue eyes, the contours of his face and she felt something inside her break just a little. She was so tired of feeling this way. Shaking her head she rolled her eyes. "You think that turning your back on the people that cared about you and supported you is what's best for them… that's fine…but you don't get to come back after two years and pass judgment on the things that are happening now! You forfeited that right. So as far as I'm concerned, Clark Kent is dead…and it's better that he stays that way!" Stepping further in his personal space she shook her head. "And the next time you decide to investigate someone I strongly suggest you get all the facts because I could fill a book on all the things that you missed during your little research project!" She spat, throwing the folder at his feet before turning on her heel and walking away. "Stay out of my life Clark… I mean it!" She threw out over her shoulder as she slammed out the door.

He watched her go, heard the slam of the door and the pounding of her feet as they descended the steps of the Daily Planet. He knew even before she reached the end of the first flight that he wasn't walking away… there was more to this than she was willing to admit and he would be damned if he was just going to allow her to walk into further trouble… she needed his help even if she didn't realize it.

Bending down he retrieved the folder as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the fancy looking stock paper that was his invitation. He smiled softly… guess he would be dusting off the old Kent tux… He had a Christmas party to go to!