Chapter 8

The lobby of Isis was indeed crawling with suits. The moment Clark stepped in, he felt about seven pairs of eyes looking him up and down. Smiling politely, he made his way over to the crescent shaped Welcome Center located to his left where a young, pretty red-head sat filing her nails.

"Welcome to Isis, how may I help you?" The woman asked without looking up. Her name tag read 'Lisa' and Clark cleared his throat.

"My name is Clark Kent. I'm here to see Chloe Sullivan."

Lisa glanced up at him and then did a double take. With a slow smile she slid a clipboard over to her and underlined with her hot pink polished nail his name written in loopy cursive. "Right here. I'll show you up, Mr. Kent."

Two large men in non-descriptive but expensive agent-ware stepped forward, both with little communication devices fit snugly into their ears. "He can come with us," the one with the military style hair cut informed Lisa, who sat back in her chair with a pretty pout. Clark followed behind them as they had indicated.

The elevator traveled slowly and steadily. Clark shifted from foot to foot, remembering Chloe's nervous, almost frightened voice, asking for him. They finally reached the thirteenth floor where Clark was escorted all the way to the door. One of the security guards knocked sharply. Focusing his eyes, the wooden doors dissolved and Clark was able to see her, pacing the length of her office in agitation. She seemed unharmed and yet he could see the tension in her eyes and neck as she rushed to answer the knock.

Cracking the door, Chloe saw a black lock curling over a mossy eye in the open sliver. She pulled it open wider and admitted Clark into the room.

"Do you need anything else, Ms. Sullivan?" The suit asked.

Chloe shook her head. "No. Thank you, Krenshaw, Allistor."

"We'll be right outside if you need anything."

Chloe nodded before shutting the door and locking it back again. She continued to lean against the door, hands braced against the smooth surface. Clark could hear her pumping heart, her shallow breaths and her pounding pulse. He could hear the catches in her throat as she fought not to cry.

"What happened, Chloe?" Clark asked with concern. He'd never seen her so on edge before.

"My, um. . . My assistant was murdered this morning," Chloe whispered. A Detective Hudson, a twenty-seven year veteran of the Metropolis Police Force, informed Chloe that Jillian Claire Hoffman had bled out due to deep lacerations on her External Carotid, Brachial and Femoral arteries. From her wounds, the coroner believed she was attacked between the hours of five and seven in the morning, time of death not long after. Her roommate, Evone Macrum, found her after she arrived back home around 9:30 in the morning after a night spent at her boyfriend's. Jillian was just outside the bathroom door, probably having just taken a shower. The knife matched the kind of weapon used but they were waiting for forensics to confirm.

"Chloe, I'm so sorry," Clark said, fidgeting as Chloe kept her back turned.

"It was my fault," Chloe told him in a whisper, finally turning. She kept her eyes on the floor and Clark wished she'd look at him. Only then could he judge how she was really taking this.

Clark closed the distance between them, laying a hand on her shoulder. "This is not your fault, Chloe." He'd meant it as a comforting statement, but it only made Chloe more adamant.

"No, no. It was a warning. That's what the note said," Chloe answered through clenched teeth, lifting her head to look at Clark. The tears clinging to her lashes made her eyes shimmer prettily even as they swirled with remorse and self-blame.

"What note?" Clark asked. Chloe quickly told him about the flowers and the knife and the note that came with them.

"God, Chloe. That's horrible. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Clark kneaded her arms gently before pulling her in close and wrapping his arms around her.

"No, Clark, I'm not okay!" Chloe exclaimed, her voice muffled by his hard yet comfy shoulder. "My assistant was murdered because Oliver and I refuse to give in to this sadistic freak!"

Chloe finally broke into tears, burying her face against Clark's scratchy coat. Her hands fisted in the material of his coat, mirroring the anger Chloe was feeling inside. Clark laid his chin atop of Chloe's head, nestling it closer to his heart. He couldn't fix this. And he didn't know how to make it better. He made a mental note to dig up all he could on this Dr. Mickler when he got back to the Planet. Odds were, the good doctor was somehow behind this.

"Where is Oliver, anyway?" Clark questioned a few minutes later when she'd quieted. Chloe was his girlfriend and she was in danger and upset. He should be here, Clark thought angrily.

"He's in Starr City. He had a very important meeting with his shareholders. I haven't called him yet," Chloe replied quietly, playing with the buttons on Clark's dress shirt as she remained in his arms.

"Why not? He needs to know, Chloe. He'd want to be here with you."

"I know, but all he'd do is re-evolve into a cave man and that is not what I need right now," answered Chloe as she pushed away from him. Clark dropped his arms reluctantly, regretting mentioning Oliver at all. "Could I ask you a favor?"

"Of course," Clark replied.

"Could you run me home? I want to see the boys."

"Yeah, Chloe. Anything you need." Clark waited as Chloe gathered her things and then took her hand. He led her out of the doors, the two security guards standing at attention on either side.

"Ms. Sullivan?" One of them spoke as Clark continued to make his way with Chloe toward the service stairs.

"It's okay, Krenshaw. Clark is a really good friend of mine and Oliver's. He's going to take me home," Chloe stopped to explain quickly.

"We'll have an escort detail ready in a moment then," Krenshaw said as he pressed a hand to his ear and turned his head to speak into the discreet lapel mic.

"No, Krenshaw. If this man is watching, he'll know I'm leaving when he sees a presidential motorcade a few feet behind. Clark can get me out without anyone noticing. Trust me on this. Oliver will be fine with it," Chloe finished, laying a hand on top of the bulky man's forearm.

"You call me when you get home, okay?" Krenshaw whispered. Clark caught the affection warming the older man's voice and smirked as he covered Chloe's hand with his own. Chloe seemed to inspire warmth in everyone she knew, even among the heartiest of men, Clark thought, picturing Perry White.

"Top of my speed dial," Chloe said with a sunny smile as she stood up on her tip toes and pecked his cheek, causing the older man to blush and sputter as she walked back to join Clark by the service stairs. With a parting smile, Chloe slipped her hand into Clark's again, obediently following Clark up the stairs.

"Clark," Chloe started hesitantly. "Where are we going?" She questioned, still continuing to march behind him toward the roof exit. She'd expected him to go down behind Isis, to the alleyway where the dumpsters were located, but instead Clark was cresting the stairs to the red exit door.

"I'm taking you home," Clark answered simply.

"I was thinking the Kent Express, but I'm starting to get the feeling. . ." Chloe's voice died as she took in the enigmatic grin Clark was shooting her as he pushed open the door and stepped outside.

"How about a round trip on Kent Airlines?"

Chloe stopped abruptly just over the threshold of the metal door opening onto the roof. "Why didn't you tell me? When did you earn your wings?" She fired excitedly.

"While I was in training. Don't ask me how either, Chloe, because I don't know. Just one day it all clicked and I broke Newton's Law of Physics," Clark explained, gripping her hand and walking with her out into the dappled sunlight coming through high, fluffy white clouds.

"No one will see us, will they?" Chloe asked with a momentary concern for Clark's secret.

"No. I can fly as fast as I can run," Clark reassured her, although he didn't care if someone saw them. Chloe called him. She didn't call Lois, she didn't call Oliver, she called him. True, he called her first, but that didn't matter. He was the one who was picking up the pieces, just like he used to. With gentle efficiency, Clark caught Chloe's waist in one arm, hooking the other under her knees, lifting her up without any effort at all.

Chloe cuddled up in Clark's arms, trying to ignore her increasing heart rate again. She tucked her arms behind his neck and her breath caught as Clark leaned down, his lips just a whisper from her own.

"Ready for take off?" He teased. Chloe nodded nervously. "Okay, hold on tight and close your eyes."

"Why?" Chloe demanded. Trepidation, even though she was held securely in Clark's arms, was filling her stomach.

"Because I don't want you to get motion sickness or your eyeballs drying out from the speed," Clark explained patiently. Chloe nodded again, swallowing convulsively. She tucked her head into the crook of Clark's neck, smelling the woodsy cologne he'd applied that morning. Chloe felt Clark squat a tiny bit, gathering momentum before he seemed to shoot into the air. Squealing a tiny bit, Chloe crawled closer inside Clark's arms, tightening her grip on his neck.

"You better be glad I don't need oxygen," Clark husked due to the pressure she was exerting on his windpipe. "You can open your eyes now."

Chloe tentatively opened her eyes, gazing at Clark's overcoat. Slowly, with her head still pressed against Clark's shoulder, she rotated her face, her eyes looking out.

"Oh my heavens," she gasped. All around them, clouds of all shapes and sizes floated. Chloe craned her neck over to look down. Her stomach did a flip when she saw nothing below Clark's shiny dress shoes. "How high up are we?"

"High enough in the clouds for no one to see us and you can still breathe, but low enough not to interfere with air traffic," Clark answered.

"Wow," Chloe breathed, unable to say anything else. "Wow."

"Chloe Sullivan speechless. Never thought I would see this day."

"It was bound to happen sooner or later. Wow," she said again.

"You want to take the scenic route?" Clark asked as Chloe twisted all around to look as he began to aviate east, toward Smallville.

"Oh, I would love to, but-"

"I know. You want to see Connor and Kaid. Hold on," Clark told her. Chloe clutched him again and tucked her head once more. Minutes later she felt Clark land. "Did you enjoy your flight?"

Chloe lifted her head and looked around the scenery of the farm. Her anxiety drained at the sight of her peaceful home. Clark dropped her knees and slowly lowered Chloe to her feet, his arm still securely around her waist. "I'd travel with you again," she replied playfully, her arms still locked around his neck. "Thanks, Clark."

"You're welcome," Clark replied, gazing down into her eyes. He'd been longing to share his new and final ability with her, like all the things they'd shared in the past. Clark realized they were alone, something they hadn't been since the day after he returned. It was her and the kids or her and Oliver or all of them and Lois. He was constantly surrounded by people, a definite change from the solitary days he'd spent, aloof from others. Clark liked the quiet that enveloped them. Not for the first time, he thought of the way it should have been. He should have only been gone two years and when he came back, he and Chloe would have spent days and weeks, maybe even months, alone before allowing the world back in. However, as everything in his life, the option he wanted now didn't exist. Chloe had Oliver and they had Connor and Kaid, which caused him to withdraw.

His action reminded Chloe they were standing really close, staring into each other eyes as the two were lost in their own thoughts. She lowered her eyes and arms, stepped carefully away from him, clearing her throat nervously. There was no denying the person she wanted with her when she'd learned of Jillian's murder was Clark. She fought it, knowing she was still wrestling within her mind on her choice. One that could keep her from Clark. Of their own accord, Chloe's eyes traveled upward. Clark was still looking at her, allowing her to finally see his true feelings. Anger was there, but so was regret and affection. They made her feel guilty. She wanted him, not Oliver. She loved him, not Oliver. She was the mother of Clark's children, not Oliver's. Everything in her cried out for her to tell him right now. But could he handle both? Could he love her, love their sons, have a family and save the world? And bigger than that, would he? All their history happened so long ago, but as she stood there with him, her young, insecure self came spilling out, reminding her of all the times she'd been only second best in his eyes. He would be so angry when he knew she'd made the decision for both of them. And what happens when he finds out? a little voice nagged. Because he will, even if you don't tell him. Clark spent too much time with her sons these days not to eventually notice Connor could lift Chloe's car above his head. Or that Kaid could give him a run for his money in a 10k. As the two grew older their hair would darken. It already had compared to when they were born. The noses, their cheeks, their jaws all belonged to Clark. One of these days he'd recognize himself hiding in their sweet faces. Chloe brought up a hand, running her fingers along his high cheekbone.

"Clark, there is something I-"

A shrill ring erupted from his pocket. Clark groaned, missing the way Chloe's eyes squeezed shut or the way her shoulders slumped. Her hand slipped down to her side. "Probably your slave driver of a cousin." The phone came out of his pocket and Clark pressed it to his ear. "What is it, Lois?" Clark questioned in annoyance. Chloe could hear Lois' excited voice on the other end. "Yeah, yeah. Okay, yeah. I'm on my way back. Chloe?" Clark's eyes found hers. His were back to the placid sea green. "She's fine. I'll tell her. And I'll tell you when I get back."

"Gotta fly?" Chloe assumed as Clark dropped the cell phone back in his pocket.

"Yeah. Lois says to tell you she'll call you later. A source filled her in on Jillian's murder."

Chloe nodded, sadness filling her again as she was reminded of her quiet assistant. "Is everything else okay?"

"Lois also got a tip that something is going down big with the Snake Eyes Gang on the west end. Looks like one of their big wigs just got retaliated against. You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah. I'm going to go get the boys and we'll head over to Granville and play hookie at their favorite arcade," Chloe told him with forced cheerfulness.

"Have a good time," Clark replied with a smile. He turned on a heel but stopped a few feet from her, looking back over his shoulder. "Hey, did you want to tell me something?"

Chloe did a mental scramble to find something to tell him. "Will I see you at the meeting tonight?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Clark grinned. He rose into the sky and waved before he took off like a shot.

"You should have called me, Chloe," were the first words out of Oliver's mouth when he strode through the double doors of Watchtower. Bart, who had been showing Chloe the newest dance step he'd learned from a salsa dancer in Madrid, released Chloe so fast from a spin that she continued on, stopping only when caught by Oliver who snatched her securely into his own arms.

Chloe's sharp retort quelled under Oliver's stormy gaze. "How did you find out?" She asked weakly instead.

"Hey, we're running low on heroes here. I think I'll go find some!" Bart exclaimed before he vanished in a breeze of his new strong, Spanish cologne. Down on the steps of the building, he intercepted Dinah and Clark who had walked over together from the Planet.

"Yo, amigos! Let's go grab a bite. I'm starved!" Bart made a grand gesture of taking both Dinah and Clarks' arms to lead them away from Watchtower.

"What else is new?" Clark muttered, allowing Bart to steer him down the sidewalk.

Dinah, on the other hand, had different ideas. Pulling her arm away, she retraced her steps back to the entry stoop of the elegant brick building. "Is Chloe here yet? I want to make some changes to my uniform and would like a female perspective."

"Not a good idea, Kitchens," Bart, using the annoying nickname he'd granted her, called from a few feet away where he and Clark stalled. She never had her throwing knives on her when she needed them, Dinah thought hotly.

"What's going on Bart?" Clark asked, picking up on Bart's slightly more than normal agitation.

"El Capitan and El Presidente are having a go," Bart answered.

"Good grief, Bart! Tell me you didn't bust in on them again!" Dinah exclaimed as Clark and Bart joined her back in front of Watchtower. Clark acted as if he had not heard what she just said. The last thing he needed was the mental image of Chloe and Oliver, which he'd been very lucky to avoid so far.

"No!" Bart said quickly. "They're fighting."

The way Bart almost whispered the word, like it was a dirty one his mama would wash his mouth out for using, Clark knew that for Chloe and Oliver, fighting was a seldom occurrence. Knowing he shouldn't but perking his ears up anyway, the harried voices of his friends' filtered in.

"I don't see what the big deal is Oliver! I called Krenshaw, he came right over. No harm, no foul," Chloe said.

"No 'no harm, no foul'," Oliver snorted, raising his voice an octave, mocking Chloe. "That crazy son of a b***** killed your assistant today and sent you the murder weapon as some kind of warning! You're not going back to Isis until the bastard is caught, Chloe. I mean it. If I have to hold you prisoner all damn day you won't set one foot outside the house until Mickler shares a cell with his boss!"

"Oliver, you have got to calm down," Chloe pleaded softly, trying to soothe Oliver's frayed nerves. "I called Krenshaw, he and his men came right over. Clark took me home-"

"You called Clark?"

Clark felt his insides curl when he heard the obvious hurt in Oliver's voice.

"No, he called me for lunch and-"

"But he's the one you wanted to come and-"

"Oliver-"

"Chloe, you want to be with Clark! I can see it! Why settle for me when you can have the man you've loved your whole life? I want you to be happy!" Oliver cried, but it wasn't in anger. He sounded tired, as if he and Chloe had had this argument before.

"You know why I'm-"

"What are we all doing out here?" AC asked pleasantly when he and Victor appeared outside Watchtower with Dinah and Bart.

"Oliver and Chloe are fighting and Clark is listening in," Dinah replied in her velvety alto.

"I am not!" Clark exclaimed, reverting back to grade school as he blushed a bright red in front of his fellow heroes. Oliver and Chloe's escalating voices faded, being replaced with the casual chatter of the group surrounding him. Canary, Impulse, Aquaman, Cyborg and Boyscout all stood staggered on the six cement steps that led up into Watchtower in street clothes, catching up with each other while giving their two pillars time to work through whatever the issue was.

"What were they fighting over, Kent?" Victor asked.

Clark cleared his throat. "Chloe's assistant was murdered this morning."

"Oh, god. Jillian?" Dinah joined the two men with obvious concern. "Then what the hell are we all doing down here? We should be up there with them! Gaw, Bart, I thought they were fighting over something personal!"

"Hold up, Dinah." Clark laid a hand on her arm, stilling her. He listened closely again.

"Oliver, if you want to leave then leave, but don't use Connor and Kaid as an excuse," Chloe said icily. Clark heard sharp footsteps and then a door slam.

He crinkled his brow. "Do they fight a lot?" He asked Dinah quietly, not wanting to be overhead by the others.

"Hardly ever. Were they really fighting because of Chloe's assistant?"

"Most of it was," Clark answered vaguely.

"Some of it about you?" Dinah questioned with knowing eyes.

"Sometimes, Dinah, you know too much. I think it's safe now," Clark said to the rest. As a group, they made their way inside and up the four, deep mahogany stairways to the top apartment, an open, two level loft floor plan with it's own black iron spiraled staircase. Clark and Dinah were the first inside, pushing the double doors open to reveal only Oliver, bow and arrow clutched in his hand. He pointed a remote at the second level and a ratty cardboard square with a red target painted on it's surface lowered itself.

"Nice of you all to join us," he snapped, raising his bow arm and taking aim. His arrow zinged through the air and sank deep inside the bull's eye. Clark swallowed uncomfortably as Oliver looked him in the eye. For a moment, the two men sized each other up. Clark knew Oliver could not physically harm him, but in this second, Clark waited for Oliver to make a move, just to lash out at the man he was fighting with his girlfriend over, only a few inches from him. But all Oliver did was smile sadly at Clark, like Clark was the one who got the small end of the wishbone at Thanksgiving.

"Ollie, I just heard about Jillian," Dinah called out to Oliver, who turned to face her. She stood half-way up the spiral staircase, poised to go further. "Is Chloe in the War Room?"

"Yes. She's printing up some blue prints," Oliver confirmed. The target, arrow and all, disappeared as Oliver pressed the remote again and he stored his practice bow in a small linen closet off to the side. Dinah nodded and continued her ascent. Watchtower, in Clark's absence, had become the hub of the Justice League. The second level was split off into two sections, one being what they all called the War Room. When on missions, it was the room Chloe operated in, directing and managing as her band of heroes carried out their specified duties. All equipment was portable and could be moved or stored at a moments notice. The other section had been christened The Observation Deck as it was where most of the high tech computers were and the security system and feeds for Watchtower, the farm, Isis and Oliver's loft to name a few. It was built just to the right of the breath-taking stained glass window, looking down and out at all Metropolis, resembling Chloe's Isis office in a way.

Oliver and Clark were currently standing in the Situation Room. It was the octagonally shaped room everyone walked into as they entered, filled with comfy looking couches and chairs. Most of their meetings were held in this space as the Leaguers lounged around barefooted or with canned beverages in their hands. They were also briefed here, as well. Or congregated socially when there was nothing else to do. Over behind a wall, was a large remodeled kitchen and dining area, not visible until you turned a corner. And finally, all the levels below were renovated vacant apartments with functioning bathrooms. Just in case Watchtower ever had guests.

Clark cleared his throat and took a seat in an overstuffed recliner. Bart, who had been rummaging in the kitchen, joined him, sitting on the floor as he spread his carpet picnic of Doritos, a can of Pepsi and an entire package of Chips Ahoy! before him.

"Hey, Jolly," Bart called out to Oliver, who rolled his eyes at the name.

"Yeah?"

"You and Chloe good or do we need to avoid minefields?"

"Way to be tactful, Bart," Clark hissed.

"I'm just wondering where I need to tread lightly-"

Oliver boomed, "Huddle up, guys!", effectively cutting Bart off. AC and Victor, who had been up on the deck playing video games skipped down the stairs followed by a very sexy Dinah in all black. The three took assorted seats all around, Oliver standing as their General, pacing around the space. He counted, noticing they were still missing their little blonde. "Did you find Chloe?" Oliver directed at Dinah.

"She was in the War Room. She should be out soon. She was still translating the Russian into English in order to find the specific blue print you wanted," Dinah answered as she sat down and crossed her legs next to Victor and incidentally, next to Bart who was eying her slim legs coming out of her knee length skirt. "Think about it and you'll find out there is more than one meaning to the term 'blue balls'," she muttered dangerously, causing Bart to give a good-natured glower.

"I'll give her a couple more minutes before we begin," Oliver told the group. He walked over and leaned against the doorframe as the others began to talk among themselves. The group tonight, what Oliver called his elite group, was smaller than normal. The people he started with and trusted the most. He would rather work with just these six, than bring in the others. And with the information Oliver had received today, he needed people who knew already how to work well together. Bruce was still somewhat of a loose cannon and the others were trying to find their place among the group.

Clark was about to join Oliver, just to shoot the breeze and calm the waters, when AC asked him, "So when we are going to see some Red Blue Blurry action again?"

"I don't think the Red Blue Blur will be making anymore appearances," Clark answered.

"You can't be serious, Clark," a stern female voice floated down. Six heads turned sharply upward as Chloe descended around the spiral staircase, a thick, rolled up paper scroll thing tucked under her arm. He'd seen her only a few hours before, but the sight of her now made his breath catch. Chloe looked eighteen again. She'd gotten her hair cut and colored between when he dropped her at home and now, the now nearly platinum blonde strands swinging just above her neckline in a blunt swing cut. She was dressed in comfy looking black sweat pants topped with a simple long sleeve blouse the color of bubblegum that brought out the natural rosiness in her complexion. Chloe looked as if she was wandering around her house doing laundry instead of co-chairing a very important strategical meeting. There was nothing special about this moment, other than the fact Clark felt as if he'd been transported back about twelve years. "Hi, everybody."

"My Chloelicious is back!" Bart cat-called as she finally stepped in the midst of them. Chloe laughed merrily, feeling a warmth suffuse her at the name she hadn't heard since she'd had the twins.

"I needed a change," Chloe explained vaguely, handing the plans quickly to Oliver before she sat on the arm of Clark's chair. She turned immediately to Clark, pulling her feet up that were encased in simple black ankle socks and setting them in Clark's lap. "Now, what is this about no more heroics for old Red and Blue? I thought you went to training to perfect your abilities and come back to use them to save humanity? How can you do that from behind a desk, Clark?"

Clark glanced quickly at all the other people surrounding them, their expressions matching Chloe's. "I don't mean that I'm not going to use my abilities," Clark spoke hurriedly, watching his friends visibly relax. "The Red Blue Blur was a different time, a different hero. I don't know yet how I'm going to do it but I do know it's going to be something other than the Red Blue Blur. Plus, don't we already have a blur?"

"I'm actually more of a flash than a blur, but you've been out for a while, so I'll forgive you that one, Boyscout," piped Bart. "And there's nothing blue about me," he said pointedly at Dinah who rolled her eyes.

"So when do we get a glimpse of this new Super Alter Ego of yours, Clark?" Oliver asked, not taking his eyes from the prints he held up to the light.

"Soon. I'm waiting for the right moment," Clark answered, hoping to stem all other questions for the time being. "But I'm guessing Oliver didn't call this meeting to discuss my second coming out into the hero world."

"You're right, I didn't," Oliver started. The Leaguers turned their attention to the tall blonde man as he stepped in the middle of the seating area. "I got some news from my contact inside the prison that Lex is stepping up his efforts to escape. His Russian playmates are very eager for this to happen. They can not complete their work without certain items from him."

"He's not still working with his life-size human dolls, is he? I thought we blew that lab off the face of the earth?" Victor asked the question all of them were thinking.

"No, this is something different. It seems, from what my contact keeps feeding me, it's something about a weapon. The Ultimate Weapon, is what keeps popping up between Lex and his visitor."

"Wait," Chloe stopped Oliver. Two things bothered her. First was this Ultimate Weapon. That phrase had been volleyed around so much right before and after Lionel Luthor's death almost ten years ago. Clark was the Ultimate Weapon. As if he could sense her thought process and her unease of someone being able to control him again, Clark began to massage Chloe's ankle. The gesture did not go unnoticed. The second thing to bother her was, "Why is he allowed visitors? I thought he was in isolation? No passing go, no collecting 200 dollars?"

Oliver gazed at Chloe, his eyes softening. He knew, better than anyone, how concerned Chloe was for Clark's safety. He, too, remembered when Lex or who they thought was Lex, was gunning for Clark. It must be a nightmare for her to practically be reliving it all over again so soon after his return. And he was about to make it worse because this time, it wasn't about Clark. "The man who has been allowed to see Lex is a licensed psychiatrist. His name is Dr. Vincent Mickler."

The room filled with silence. Everyone looked at Chloe. All knew the history between Dr. Mickler, Chloe and Oliver. He continued on, knowing he needed to let them in on all that he knew. "There's more. In every session, the 'Ultimate Weapon' phrase and 'blonde woman' seem to be almost synonymous to each of them now."

Every back went rim-rod straight, a high tension permeating the space and singing along nerve endings. No one more so than Clark. All he wanted to do was to wrap Chloe in his arms and fly them both as far away from this as he could. Why was it when he returned, did things start to speed into crisis mode? Clark scrubbed his face with his hands.

"Can you get his license revoked? Can we somehow get his visits either suspended or at least supervised?" Dinah asked quickly.

"How about I drown him?" AC suggested.

"I could fry is motherboard," Victor offered.

"No one threatens our Watchtower," Bart commented seriously.

"No one threatens Chloe," Clark growled.

"Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of pull. And neither does my contact. Chloe, do you have any idea what Lex is looking for or why he seems to think you'd be in possession of it?" Oliver asked, watching the way Clark's hand captured her ankle. As if realizing this was inappropriate, Clark's hand withdrew and Chloe whipped around and sank to the floor, putting at few inches between her and Clark.

"No," she answered truthfully. "But then again, Lex has always accused me of being a secret's best friend."

"Which you are," Clark finished for her.

"What's the plan, Oliver? We can't just sit here and wait for Lex to make his move. Especially since this Mickler guy already has it in for you and Chloe," AC said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Does anyone find it odd he seems to be targeting the Golden Couple of Metropolis and the two heads of the Justice League?" Dinah asked, the coincidence just occurring to her. "Do you think he knows anything? They found us that one time."

"That was when they were using my brain as their own personal phone book," Chloe reminded. "And Luthorcorp no longer exists. Any information on you guys was either destroyed or transferred here to Watchtower. You don't think he has any moles still in Queen Industries do you?" Chloe directed at Oliver.

"No, I've cleaned house. Basement to attic. And even if they did, they wouldn't find anything," Oliver told the group.

"So, what is the plan?" Clark asked.

"I don't have one," Oliver answered slowly. "We were already planning on heading over to Russia after the holidays, but now, with repeated mentions of this 'Ultimate Weapon', we may need to move at a moments notice. But until we know what that is, we're in limbo."

"Maybe I could investigate. I used to be pretty sharp," Chloe suggested.

"No!" Oliver and Clark exclaimed simultaneously. The two men's eyes met in agreement, though it was Oliver who continued. "I don't want you anywhere near this one, Chloe. Not when it turns out Lex and Mickler are still working together. In fact, I'm putting you on suspension for the time being. I want you to take some time off from work and from here."

"Does Jillian's murder have anything to do with this?" Bart asked Chloe.

"Maybe," Chloe answered.

"I'd put money on it. You got a note saying it was your last warning. They must think you know something," Clark inserted.

"Well, I'm drawing a blank. I don't know what Mickler or Lex could think I possess that is of any value to them," Chloe replied.

"I thought Mickler was targeting you because he wanted his job back. Could this weapon be a part of the labs in Queen Industries?" Victor offered.

"I had all of Mickler's work destroyed after he was fired," Oliver answered. "AC, Victor and Dinah, I want you three to come in tomorrow and go through all the labs, top to bottom again, see if we find anything. Clark, could you use the DP archives to go back through the old issues on Lex's trial? Lois wrote most of them so I know they're pretty detailed. Make copies and bring them to the farmhouse. Me, you and Chloe can comb through those, see if anything jumps out. I'm beginning to think this is starting to become about more than just a paycheck."

"Hey, boss man," Bart snipped. "What's my job?"

"I want you to tail Mickler. You're small and fast, but you will have to calm down the wardrobe," Oliver told him, motioning to the fire-engine red wind pants and matching tee Bart was currently dressed in.

"You have no style, but whatev, dude," Bart muttered.

"Aaaannnnd?" AC, Victor, Dinah, Bart, Clark and Oliver all looked at Chloe. "Come on, guys. I'm not totally useless just because I happen to be number one on Dr. Evil's Hit List again."

"Chloe, your job is to stay low, help me and Clark look through old papers and spend time with Connor and Kaid," Oliver said gently. "Do this for us, okay?" He asked, including the group in his nod.

"Fine," Chloe said grudgingly, crossing her arms and flopping back against the side of the recliner. The six other adults looked cautiously around at each other. It usually took a lot more convincing for Chloe to become a bench warmer. Still, most of them had the feeling the battle wasn't quite over yet.

"No, Henry," Martha Kent spoke sternly into her cell phone. "I told you. I have to get out to Smallville this week." She listened half-heartedly as her aide made another plea to postpone. "No. I have already postponed this trip out to Kansas two weeks longer than I intended. . . Just tell Chairman Gregory that there was a family emergency that needed my immediate attention. . . You know, Henry, just tell them my daughter's assistant was murdered if you must! Well, surprise for them, I do have a daughter. . . I'm at the airport, I have to let you go. Good-bye, Henry!"

With frustration, Martha snapped her phone shut and threw it into her carry on bag. It had been a full month since she'd seen her son and Clark still knew nothing. The first two weeks drug by and when Clark moved into the Talon, Martha knew it was time to take action. But on the eve of her original departure date, the party ramped up speed on many projects to get finished and passed before the holiday break. So, Martha postponed.

It was one morning, sitting at her kitchen table, reading the Daily Planet when she saw it. 'Killer Shower: The Murder of a High Profile Assistant', the head line read, written by none other than Clark Kent and Lois Lane. She could tell Clark had tried to be as delicate as possible, given who the deceased had been and to whom. Speed reading, gleaning only the particulars, Martha knew she needed to speak to Chloe right away. The girl's life was beginning to slowly unravel what with the murder of her assistant, threatening letters and the return of the boy she first loved who was coincidentally the real father of her twin sons. Chloe would need to talk and so did Martha. The thought 'kill two birds with one stone', came to her mind.

"Thank you," Martha said and handing the driver two fifties, she stepped out of the cab. Hitching the carry on bag higher on her shoulder, Martha made her way into the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to catch her flight to Metropolis, Kansas.

**A/N: And the plot thickens. Also, for anyone who is wondering, Dinah's nickname 'Kitchens' comes from the line in the children's song 'someone's in the kitchen with Dinah' from "Working On The Railroad". Oliver's nickname 'Jolly' is from the Jolly Green Giant, just in case no one else follows my thinking pattern.