The Fall 14/?
Title: The Fall 14/?
Fandom: Smallville
Rating: NC17
Summary: Sometimes even a hero needs to be saved.
Notes: Sorry for the legnth between updates. But at least I have something. Please review. It will help me get my mojo again.
Chloe yawned and clicked idly at her screen, not much interested in work, and instead filling her head with Hollywood gossip columns. It was a shameful past time, but someone had to do it.
A loud thump drew her attention and she turned her head across her condo. Her chest stilled as her breath caught in her throat. A tingle ran over her skin and she found herself reaching for the gun underneath her desk.
“Chloe.”
She sighed in relief just as the palm of her hand touched the textured grip on the gun. “Jesus Clark!” Sliding off her desk chair she walked towards the double doors. Upon yanking them open she pinned Clark with a glare. “What the hell Clark?”
“Sorry, I called.” He sidestepped Chloe and stepped into her warm living room. The cold didn’t necessarily bother him, but he couldn’t say he minded the more comfortable temperature.
Chloe looked around the open space and spotted her purse on the kitchen table. It took her a few moments to remember she’d turned it off during dinner with her father. “Oh, sorry.” After closing the glass door she followed him to the sofa. “What are you doing here? It’s like…” she turned towards the clock on the wall and frowned to herself, “it’s midnight.”
“Yea well, I figured you’d be up. I was out making some rounds. Thought I’d take a break.” Taking a seat on the plush couch he looked around her dimly lit home. He spotted her lit computer and turned to her. “Work?”
“No.” Chloe tucked a leg underneath herself and sat on the sofa. “Just fun.”
“Fun?” Clark looked peered at the crack in her door, lights from her tower shining through the crack. “I didn’t know Oliver let you have fun.”
“That isn’t fair.” Chloe stood up and walked away, heading towards the kitchen. “You’ve always got this double standard. Passing her desk she grabbed her empty glass and continued on to the kitchen, stopping at the refrigerator.
“He’s got you working like crazy. I mean I thought you didn’t have a life before, but now…” She held a pitcher of water in one hand and her cup in the other, glaring at him as she tipped it forward. “Just saying.”
“You’re not just saying.” Chloe replaced the pitcher and walked back across the townhouse and took her place on the sofa. “You’re trying to make a point. You know why I’m doing this. You know why I do all of this.” He frowned at her and Chloe raised her eyebrows. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Look Clark. I don’t go butting my head into your hero business.”
“It isn’t that.”
Just as she had suspected. “Then what is it.”
“It’s been a month since we found out about Lex and we haven’t gotten any closer since then. But you’re still working like Lex is hot on your trail. So far that I can tell Oliver hasn’t done anything to deserve it.” Chloe sighed in frustration, but he didn’t give her room to argue. “I haven’t seen you, Lois hasn’t seen you. I mean what is going on.”
“Clark…” She sighed and looked away from his prying gaze, hoping that her secret wasn’t plastered all over her face as she felt it was.
“Don’t try to tell me I won’t understand. Just explain it to me. I know what you do is important. It isn’t about that Chloe. You and Oliver have been totally off the grid lately. When the two of you don’t need something then you’re unavailable.” She drew her brow together, something close to pain clouding her features. She was guilty of something, he could see that. There was no doubt in his mind she was hiding something from him. “Even Lois thinks something is going on. I mean if I didn’t know any better I would think the two of you were have some clandestine affair.” She stared at him, her face blank, almost shocked, and then she turned away. “Jesus Chloe, you’re not-.”
She’d been ready to deny it until she was blue in the face, but a familiar name reached her ears and she turned to the TV.
“Wha-.” He followed her gaze to the TV, mouth hanging open as he looked at a familiar mansion with emergency vehicles lining the streets. Chloe was already off the sofa and grabbing the remote.
“Only twenty minutes ago emergency services arrives and the residence of Tess Mercer, CEO of LuthorCorp. A representative of the Metropolis Police Department says she is conscious, but will not divulge any other information. Calls to her Public Information Office have not yet been returned. Please stay tuned for additional updates.”
It wasn’t a coincidence. Tess didn’t just fall and hit her head on a table. This was Lex’s work it had to be. Somehow he knew about Oliver approaching her, he had to.
“I’ll go, find out what I can.”
Chloe spun around, suddenly remembering that Clark was only standing feet behind her. “No.”
“No?”
“Take me with you.” She said suddenly, a half ass plan slowly forming in the back of her mind. It all depended on Tess’ status, but if Chloe was correct, and it was Lex, then Tess probably only had so long.
“What?” He looked at her in confusion as she walked passed him and headed towards the double doors, swinging them open and walking onto the balcony barefoot, clad only in her pajama pants and a t-shirt. “Chloe!” He lunged after her, determined to force her back inside to at least put some shoes on her. It was forty degrees, even an alien knew better then to be standing outside without a jacket and shoes in that kind of cold. “Get back in!”
“No!” Chloe yanked her arm away. “I’ll explain. Just take me to her. Get me in the ambulance and do something about the EMT’s.” He paused, either not sure of what to do or still not able to fully absorb what she’d said. “Don’t think Clark!”
Whatever her plan was she was serious. With a mental curse he wrapped an arm around her waist and pushed up and off of her balcony, leaving her balcony doors swinging in his wake.
Chloe shook as she stood barefoot on the cement. Clark had dropped her in the middle of an alley, with a firm demand to remain there. She wasn’t quite sure what he had planned, but when she had tried to argue with him he threatened to bring her back home and she was forced to give in.
Looking around nervously, she peered up at the darkened windows of the building around her. They weren’t necessarily in a bad part of Metropolis, but still. Common sense told you not to stand in a darkened alley barefoot and in you pajamas, next to a dumpster none the less.
As she stood there for what seemed hours, shivering and rubbing her bare arms, and almost ready to move from were Clark and dropped her she heard a woosh of air and looked up. Her mouth dropped open slightly in shock as she found herself looking up at the bottom of an ambulance. Slowly, the large vehicle lowered to the ground, settling on the cement loudly and rocking back in forth. Clark floated back to the ground and stood in front of her. “Wow.”
“Yea.” Grabbing a hold of the handle on the ambulance he gave it a gently yank and pulled the doors open.
Chloe paused before entering the ambulance when she spotted Tess on a stretcher frozen in what appeared to be a desperate gasp for breath. “What did you-?”
“She couldn’t breathe. Since I had to get rid of the EMT’s and I didn’t know what was going on I froze her.” Clark grabbed Chloe’s hand and helped her into the back of the ambulance. “But we don’t have much time. The EMT’s will be waking up soon and it will only be a matter of time before someone realizes that this ambulance is missing.”
“It’s fine.” Chloe clambered aboard and knelt next to Tess. For a moment she considered reaching out for the chart, looking over Tess’ body for any outside wounds. But it didn’t really make much of a difference she supposed. After all, they didn’t have much time. “Alright, unfreeze her.”
“You’re not doing what I think you’re doing right?” Clark eyed her speculatively, already knowing the answer.
“Just do it.” He frowned but turned back to Tess and placed his hands over her. She glowed red, the bluish tint of her body disappearing and revealing pale flesh. Her body escaped its frozen protection with a lurch. Chloe grabbed Tess’ flailing arm, holding them at the woman’s side. She gasped and it became quickly evident to Chloe that Tess couldn’t breathe. “Do you want to live?” Chloe held Tess’ wide open gaze. The woman began gagging, trying to drag in breath but only wound up heaving.
“Her throat is swelling. She can’t breathe.” Clark said hurriedly as he x-rayed her body. “She doesn’t have much time.”
“Listen to me.” Chloe grabbed Tess’ shoulders. “Do you want to live?” Tess nodded, choking, and grasping at Chloe’s t-shirt. “Then you’ll help Oliver. I’ll save you but you’ll help him.” There was a gagging noise and Chloe slammed Tess shoulders back onto the gurney. “Do you understand!?” When the other woman nodded her sharp nails dug through the thin t-shirt biting into Chloe’s skin. “If you don’t then I swear I’ll kill you.” Pressing her palm against Tess’ cheek, slowly, Chloe allowed her own life to flow out of herself and into the other woman’s body. She met Tess’ eyes as she felt her own throat swell and her body spasm in pain. There was only a moment where she found she couldn’t breathe, where she fought for air, before she collapsed over Tess’ body
Clark pulled Chloe away and into his arms. Her head lolled back, green eyes peering up at him through drooping lids. “Chloe.”
“Oliver.” Chloe forced out with her last breath. With one last ditch effort she attempted to draw in air.
Clark looked down at her, watching as she made a choked noise before her chest stilled and eyelids fluttered closed. He looked up at Tess, anger in his eyes. She was sitting up in the gurney, eyes lifting from Chloe to his own. “Don’t go too far Tess.” Clark stood up, not even turning to look back at the amazed woman.
A loud crashing noise woke Oliver from a deep sleep and before he even had time to formulate a plan a voice echoed through the tower.
“Oliver!”
Clark. But there was something in his voice that made Oliver’s heart pound in his chest. Something wasn’t right. Launching himself out the bed he was in the living room in seconds. There wasn’t any light except for the city lights that shined through his window and his broken door. The minimal light was more than enough for him to make out Clark’s silhouette as he walked closer. As Clark came into the light Oliver’s eyes immediately flew to the blond woman in his arms, face turned into Clark’s chest, blond hair hiding her face. But he didn’t need to ask who it was.
“This is your fault.” Clark grounded out and walked past the shocked man.
After regaining his wits he grabbed Clark arm. “What is going on?” The force with which he pulled Clark’s arm caused Chloe’s head to roll to the side, revealing her face to him. At first glance she appeared to be sleeping. Her face was relaxed, eyes closed, lips parted just slightly. But she was pale, too pale.
“She used her ability.” Clark turned away and headed back to where Oliver had come from. His eyes had no trouble finding their way in the darkness. As he walked into Oliver’s bedroom the light came on behind him. “I don’t know how long she’ll be like this.” Once he reached the bed side of the king size bed he bent at his waist and settled Chloe gently onto the mattress.
Oliver didn’t waist anytime, brushing past Clark and sitting on the side of the bed. He touched her face without thinking and then withdrew it at the coldness of her skin.
“It’s like dying.” Clark said. “I mean she’s not dead really. But there is no life in her body. No heartbeat, the blood doesn’t run in her veins, she doesn’t breath. Her body just goes cold. Like it’s frozen.
He felt sick, because in his mind there was no way of coming back from this. She looked like a corpse, like a woman laid before him in her coffin. There was no way Clark could be serious. He reached out again, this time forcing himself to bare the coldness of her skin. He opened his mouth to speak, ask what had happened, but the words left him as he was suddenly consumed with the all too familiar feeling of being lost and alone.
“I was at Chloe’s. There was something on the news about Tess being rushed to the hospital. Chloe had me bring her to her. I didn’t even know what she was doing until she did it. She made Tess swear that she would help you before she healed her.” Clark had been determined to ream Oliver, blame him for Chloe sacrificing herself. There was no doubt in his mind that Oliver didn’t deserve it. But then the blond man bowed his head, dropping his forehead against her chest. “I don’t know how long it will take. The last time took eighteen hours.” Clark heard Oliver sigh and swore he could see his shoulders slumping. “But she asked to be brought here; I think she was worried that someone might come looking for her at her place. We can always move her.”
“No.” Oliver sat up strait, looked down on her, and spoke without thinking. “She stays here.” There was no doubt in his mind that Clark was suspicious of him. Clark didn’t know what was going on between him and Chloe, no one did. It was best, that’s what Oliver had wanted. But even with Clark only standing a few feet away Oliver bowed his head, squeezing his eyes shut. There were so many emotions running through him at that moment. Anger, grief, fear, shame, and something new, and perhaps something he’d been scared of all along.
The sound of sirens drew Clark’s attention. He turned his head, listening to the broadcast over the nearest police channel. Turning back to Chloe he winced. “I need to…” Oliver turned back to him, his face seemingly pained for a moment before the emotion was gone and replaced by a more neutral one.
“Whatever, just go.” Oliver turned back to her, not caring about what Clark had to do, even if it was to save someone’s life.
“You sure?” Clark asked as he looked towards the doorway, the sirens still blaring in his ears.
“Yes.” Oliver brushed his fingers over Chloe’s face. In fact he wished Clark would leave, the last thing he wanted was Clark seeing the emotions Oliver was trying so hard to hide.
Clark nodded, even though Oliver couldn’t see him, and headed towards the door. Once he reached the doorway he stopped and turned. “I’ll check back with you later.” Clark paused for a moment and watched Oliver. The anger he had felt for the other man had drained away at the moment as he saw Oliver hunched over Chloe. It hadn’t been very obvious before, but it was very much so at that moment; something was going on between Chloe and Oliver. Clark wasn’t necessarily in favor of it, but for the first time in a while he was actually seeing Oliver care about something other than himself, something other than his job. “She’ll be fine.” He added after finally taking pity on Oliver. “She always is.”
Oliver nodded, not even turning at the sound of Clark’s footsteps, his eyes remaining on Chloe the entire time.