Chapter 16
"Do you need some time, a cold shower, perhaps?" Chloe snarked.
"There's not enough cold water in the state of Kansas to help me right now." Clark confessed.
"OK, that's more information that I needed."
Clark gave her a pointed look.
"Jimmy." Clark acknowledged the other man.
"CK." He nodded tentatively, a little discomfited by the thick tension in the room.
"Clark, what were you thinking?" Chloe demanded.
"I wasn't thinking, I was sleeping!" Clark hissed.
"Yowza, I should always sleep like that." Jimmy muttered, mostly to himself.
Chloe continued to glare at Clark.
"What? Chloe, I have gone with almost no sleep for a week. It must have caught up to me today and I fell asleep on the couch. I was having a dream—or at least I thought I was having a dream, until I opened my eyes when I heard you and Jimmy."
"Double yowza! I should dream like that." Jimmy remarked again, starting to be less uncomfortable and somewhat amused at Clarks' predicament. Chloe shot Jimmy a grave look, threatening that he should take this situation seriously.
"I'm going to see what's keeping Lois. Make yourselves comfortable."
'Chloe, when are you gonna admit that I was right?" Jimmy asked once he thought Clark was out of earshot.
"Right? About what?"
"Lois & Clark. I told you they had chemistry, didn't I? I think tonight proves it." He beamed, pleased with himself for his match-making acumen.
"What? I see no proof."
"I thought Lois was the stubborn one in your family—it didn't know that you were affected, too. You just can't admit that I'm right and you're wrong."
"Nonsense. I can admit when I'm wrong. Only this time, I don't happen to be wrong."
"Look, Chlo, I'm not blind. Although -- a few more moments of what we just walked into and my eyes might have melted. I know what I saw and there is a spark—if we'd have lit a match, the whole room would have burst into flame. I don't understand why we don't leave, and let the two of them work this out without us. Clark obviously had everything 'handled.'"
"Jimmy! Get Serious."
"I AM serious."
"Clark would never take advantage of Lois like that."
"Well, then Clark's a big idiot."
"Clark is our friend."
"Yeah, he is. And he is also a big idiot, which I will never say to his face on account of his being so big and all."
"Once Lois regains her memories, she'd be spitting mad at Clark for exploiting her."
"How can you be so sure?"
"WHAT?"
"I'm saying that if they were to finish what they started, that might be able to 'seal the deal.' Maybe it won't matter to her how they wound up together, as long as they do."
"She would never forgive him. He would never forgive himself."
"Really? Geez, Chlo, where's your sense of romance? I think if their love is strong enough, they'd find a way of getting past it."
"She's my cousin, and he's been my best friend. I think I know them both pretty well."
"Just because you know someone, doesn't mean you know what's best for them."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying they make a great couple. They could be good for each other. They could be happy together. If we care about them, why can't we help them to achieve happiness? Y'know, give 'em a little shove in the right direction." Either she was just getting tired of having this conversation or her blood sugar was dropping, because Jimmy was starting to make a little bit of sense.
"We can't just leave—that would be rude and obvious."
"You're right, we can't just leave. Besides, we've got some work to do. . ."
