SPN/SV Fic: Destati (2/10)
Destati (2/10) -- Sam/Chloe
Title: Destati
Authors: clarksmuse and xtremeroswellia
Pairing: Sam Winchester/Chloe Sullivan
Rating: R to NC-17
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Empty pockets tell the tale.
A/N: This is fairly AU, based on the concept of "the other half" that is supposed to complete human beings. We love feedback and hope you enjoy this!
One month later...
Chloe sat on one of the stools at the Talon counter, staring absently at the surface and running her fingers over it lightly, unconsciously tracing the name Sam over and over again with her fingertips. She was so out of it, she didn't hear Lois call her name, or see the quizzical look from Clark, who sat two seats away from her.
"Earth to Chloe!" Lois practically yelled, snapping her fingers in front of her cousin's eyes. Nothing had been the same since the travesty that had been Lex and Lana's engagement party, and even though she and Chloe had talked it through and made up, there was something wrong with her. Lois just hadn't figured it out yet. "Hey, am I gonna have to shove you off the stool to get your attention?"
She blinked a couple of times, slowly focusing on her cousin's face. "What?"
"I don't think she heard you, Lois," Clark retorted, his voice filled with irritation.
"Thanks, Smallville," Lois replied, rolling her eyes before turning to Chloe. "I asked if you wanted to go to Metropolis tonight, see what kind of trouble we can get into?"
"Oh. Uh, pass. But thanks." She managed a small, faint smile and looked down at the counter once more. She looked down at the bowl of ice cream set in front of Clark. It was vanilla with hot fudge and whipped cream. God, it looked good. She sighed softly and looked away once more.
Clark noticed the look in Chloe's eye and smiled a little. "I can get another spoon, you know," he replied, using that look as an excuse to move over a stool.
Lois rolled her eyes again. Men, she thought. Why did they only think with one part of their body? "What's with you lately, Chloe?" she demanded, sitting on her cousin's other side.
Before she could reply, the bowl of ice cream slid away from Clark and stopped in front of her. Without anyone touching it. She blinked, staring at it in surprise.
Lois's face was a naked canvas of shock. "What the hell did you just do?" she whispered.
Clark, too, looked equally concerned, especially since as far as he knew, his best friend didn't have any super powers. "Chloe?"
Her face paled a little. She swallowed hard, her heart skipping a beat. "I don't...I don't know." She looked at Clark first, hoping it was some new power of his he was just now discovering. But the blank look on his face confirmed it wasn't him. "Shit," she whispered almost inaudibly.
"What, Chloe?" Clark answered immediately, standing up and moving towards her. "Did... you... move the bowl on its own?"
She stared at him, her mind going blank for a moment, and then whirling with thoughts. She slid off the stool, looking dazed. "I have to make a phone call." She grabbed her purse off the counter and headed for the door.
Lois stared after her cousin. "Clark, what's going on with her?" she asked cautiously.
Clark, following Chloe's retreating gaze, watched his friend with concern. He had no idea.
Sam flipped his laptop shut with a frustrated sigh. This malevolent spirit he and Dean were hunting just did not want to be found anywhere. Not on the internet, not in the local papers. Nowhere. He pinched his nose with two fingers, frustrated by his inability to see the one person he had thought about every waking moment since they parted exactly 31 days ago. It wasn't like they talked, either. Not really.
So when his cell rang and he saw her name on the caller ID, his heart literally stopped for a second. He immediately answered. "Hey you," he said, his voice rough with longing.
A wave of relief washed over her just at the sound of his voice. "Sam?" Her voice trembled slightly as she tried her best not to completely freak out.
"What's wrong?" he demanded, immediately sensing something was wrong. He saw Dean give him a questioning look but he brushed that off quickly. He got up and left the hotel room, shutting the door behind him. "Are you okay?"
"Something just happened and I..." She swallowed hard, willing herself to take a deep breath. "I moved a bowl of ice cream."
To anyone else, this comment might seem completely asinine. To Sam Winchester, however, it made all the sense in the world. "What? How? You don't normally do that... right?" He swallowed hard, feeling his stomach somersault in his gut. How could she have his power of telekinesis?
"No, I don't normally do that," she whispered. "I just thought the ice cream looked good and suddenly it was in front of me, and I didn't touch it, Sam."
"Dammit," he replied, shoving a hand through his hair in utter fear and frustration. "I can move things... without touching them," he whispered.
"Okay...is that...somehow contagious?" she asked, pretty sure she knew the answer to that question.
"Not that I know of," he replied, closing his eyes and leaning against the hotel door. He let the warmth of the afternoon sun keep him calm. "I'm around Dean all the time but he can't... Oh no."
"What?" Chloe asked, alarmed by his last two words. "What is it?"
He beat his head lightly against the door. "I haven't been with anyone since... Jess died," he muttered in a knowing, suggestive tone. Like he had forgotten one second of those twelve hours they had spent together.
For a moment, she was confused. Then the weight of his words began to sink in, the unspoken answer lying between them on the static of their cell phones. "Oh, God."
Tell me this isn't happening to her, he thought, panicking for a second inwardly before forcing himself to take a breath. He'd suggest a doctor, but what would that accomplish. "Chloe, I had no idea... I'm so... Shit, I can't believe this is happening."
"Okay, we don't know anything for sure, so let's not panic." She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "I'll...uh...I'll take a test. Maybe it's just some weird coincidence or something."
"Well, unless you've been drinking meteor-infected water or something, I'm pretty sure I passed my power to you when we..." He swallowed hard, biting back the words made love. They didn't know each other well enough to say that.
She paused, realizing he'd yet to come to the conclusion she had just come to. "Well, I do live in Smallville." She swallowed hard.
"Yeah, didn't you tell me it was the meteor freak cap -- Wait, what test?" Sam paused for a moment when he realized she was talking about something... else. "Dammit," he whispered.
Chloe held her breath for a moment. "To see if anything in my DNA's changed. Meteor rocks have been known to do that."
"Or maybe... a test to find out if you're pregnant?" His voice tried to hide his growing panic.
She closed her eyes. "That's such an impossibility. We were careful, Sam."
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I know," he whispered. "How could I forget?"
She leaned against the outside wall of the Talon, unaware that hundreds of miles away he was doing the same thing against the outside motel wall. "It's probably nothing. I mean, it might just be because of years of exposure to meteor rocks. And it only happened once, so maybe we're just freaking out over nothing. That's probably it." She was babbling and she knew it.
Deep down inside, Sam knew better. He was beginning to believe there was no such thing as coincidence. "Look, do me a favor, okay?" he said after a long moment. "Go to the doctor. Get yourself checked out. Please." He couldn't bear the thought that she was going through this alone. All he wanted to do was steal another car and go to her.
"I will," she promised, swallowing hard. "I'm sure everything'll be fine." She paused, forcing herself not to utter the words lingering on her tongue. Please come back. I need you. "How are things going for you?" she asked instead, her voice quiet.
He closed his eyes, his head against the door. "We're in the middle of nowhere trying to exorcise a demon from an old house... and trying to keep Dean from running into the FBI," he muttered, cursing himself for the small talk. Why he didn't just leave was beyond him. It wasn't like Dean couldn't finish this job himself.
She winced a little. "I heard about that on the news. Your brother's on the FBI's most wanted list."
"Shit." Sam wasn't one for swearing, though he heard it from Dean enough times to force the habit on him. "These cops, they have no idea what they're doing."
"Not surprising. Not like most people know anything about what's really out there." She bit her lower lip. "Maybe you guys should lay low for awhile, stay outta sight." The worry in her voice was obvious, though she tried to hide it.
He snorted softly. "Tell that to Dean, Mr. KillFirstAskQuestionsLater. If he's not hunting, he's stir crazy. If it wasn't for the Magic Fingers, I probably would have killed him by now." He heard the fear in her voice and frowned, wondering what she'd say if she knew he was on that same list.
"The Magic Fingers?" she repeated, her eyebrows furrowing.
"Don't ask," he retorted. "You really don't want to know..." He left his words drift away and uttered the one thing on his mind. "I miss you, Chloe."
And just like that, all of the air left her lungs. Unshed tears prickled at her eyelids. "I miss you, too. So much." She swallowed hard, not wanting to let him hear her crying.
Hearing her voice echo his thoughts made him breathless, and he lightly beat his head against the door. Please ask me to come to you, he begged silently, unable to speak. "If you need me..." He started, his voice cracking.
A tear slipped down her cheek. If he only knew just how bad she needed him. She was so caught up in the sound of his voice, she didn't notice the door of the Talon swing open and Clark step out, gazing at her. "I'll call."
"Please do." He felt the air crackle around him and had the feeling she wasn't alone. A heavy feeling settled in his stomach, a mixture of dread and want. "As soon as you find out, okay?"
"I promise." Her voice was soft. "Be careful. Stay safe."
"I will," he vowed, lingering for a moment longer. It still hurt too much to say goodbye, he thought. "Talk to you soon."
"Soon," she echoed, reluctantly hanging up the phone. She swallowed hard, staring into space, another tear trickling down her cheek.
With a sigh, Sam shut his phone off and blinked against the bright sun and felt her absence more acutely than ever. Reluctantly he moved off the door and went back inside, grimacing at the sight of his cabin-fevered brother lying on the Magic Fingers bed.
"Chloe," Clark said, clearing his throat. "Who was that on the phone?" In all honesty, he didn't know what else to say.
She was startled by the sound of his voice. "God, Clark! Can you stop sneaking up on me?"
He blinked in surprise. "Hey, I tried getting your attention, Chloe. From shutting the door loudly to coughing... what's wrong?"
"Nothing." She wiped her eyes, forcing herself to take a deep breath.
"Yeah, those crocodile tears tell me that," he retorted, moving closer to her.
She didn't answer, still gripping onto her cell phone tightly as if the simple action somehow kept her connected to Sam.
Clark reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "Chloe--" he began but stopped when she whirled around and looked at him, her eyes wide.
"What?" She shook her head.
He frowned. "I was going to say I'm worried about you, but maybe Lois should deal with this." He turned and headed back inside the Talon.
She groaned in frustration and pushed away from the wall, heading for her car. The last thing she felt like dealing with was one of Clark's pity parties.
&&&&&
Chloe chewed nervously on her lower lip as she entered the office of the only OB/GYN in town. She was so nervous she felt like she could throw up at any given second. Not even paying attention to the waiting room, she slowly headed up to the counter to sign in.
The last person Lana Lang expected to see at the doctor's office was Chloe Sullivan, so she was completely surprised to find her signing in. "Chloe?" she asked, her voice soft as she approached the receptionist desk.
She turned, startled to hear Lana's voice. She quickly turned, her eyes widening a little. "Oh. Hey, Lana." She swallowed nervously.
"Hey," she said back, pasting an embarrassed smile on her face. She jotted her name down on the sign in sheet and glanced at Chloe. "Uh, I hate to state the obvious, but... what are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" Chloe echoed, a smile freezing on her face--hand caught in the cookie jar expression clear.
Lana blushed and rubbed her slightly rounded belly. "I guess I mean... you here for a regular checkup?" She saw Chloe's pale face, her scared eyes and frowned.
"Yes. Yes, that's why I'm here." She laughed nervously, completely caught off guard by Lana's presence. She'd figured Lex had Lana seeing expensive specialists in Metropolis, or even London, for that matter. She hadn't counted on running into her here.
"I had an appointment in Metropolis with my regular doctor, but Lex had to leave town suddenly and I chose to stick close to home this time," the brunette said, chattering as she kept a close eye on her friend. When she swayed a little, she put a hand on her arm. "Hey, let's sit down, okay?"
"Sitting...sounds good." Swallowing hard, her eyes prickled with tears as she let Lana lead her over to a seat in the far corner of the room.
There was something wrong with Chloe, she thought, seeing the unshed tears in her eyes. She knew when people were keeping things from her, so it wasn't a surprise to see her 'friend' keeping her mouth shut about what the real problem was. She was about to say something when she heard a nurse call Chloe's name.
She swallowed hard, slowly rising to her feet once more. "See ya, Lana."
Her eyes dark with concern, she smiled at Chloe. "Take care, Chloe."
With a polite smile, the nurse led Chloe back to one of the exam rooms and told her to undress. She then left the girl in the room, shutting the door behind her.
A few minutes later she was changed into the cloth gown. God, she hated those things. She tied it around her back as best she could and reluctantly moved to sit on the table, chewing on her thumbnail as she waited for what seemed like an eternity.
There was a short rap on the door, followed by the doctor's entrance. "Hello, Chloe, I'm Dr. Ackles," he replied in a professional tone. "So I understand you think you're pregnant?" He looked at her chart.
Her face paled. "I don't know. It's...possible." She swallowed hard, wondering if she was trying to fool him or herself.
"Well, there are some tests we can run to determine that," he replied. "Have you taken a home pregnancy test yet?"
"No," she admitted softly, looking at the floor.
"Let's start with that, okay? Then we'll draw some blood, check your vitals, and go from there." He jotted down notes in her chart and called the nurse, who promptly appeared with a pregnancy stick and a urine cup.
"If you'll follow me," the nurse said cheerfully.
Feeling numb, she followed the nurse as instructed. She took both items from her and slowly headed into the bathroom.
&&&&&
Clark had been worried about Chloe since last night. He didn't know who could've been on the phone, but she seemed so attached to that person. And when Lois couldn't get her to open up, Clark had left. It was probably best, he thought, standing by his loft window and staring out at the field.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Lana come up the stairs.
"Hi." Her voice was quiet and she gazed at him, not moving any closer. Her voice was guarded.
"Lana," he said, his eyes wide as he turned around, looking at her. "What are you doing here?" They hadn't really spoken since the red-k travesty/kidnapping, and it was still embarrassing to be in the same room with her.
"I was looking for Chloe." She gazed at him evenly. "I've been trying to call her all day and she hasn't been answering my calls."
He frowned. "I haven't seen her since last night," he replied, looking down. "She was acting kinda weird at the Talon." Truth was, he didn't know what to make of her behavior... or how she moved that bowl of ice cream without touching it. Even he couldn't do that.
"Well, I ran into her today at the doctor's office and she was acting really weird then, too." She folded her arms across her chest.
"The doctor's office?" he asked, totally confused for about three seconds. "Why would she be --?" Awareness dawned on him and he turned a little red.
Her lips thinned. "Do you know anything about that?" Her eyes were accusing.
Clark turned his back to Lana, unable to handle the hard glint in her eyes. "Believe it or not, nothing... but if she's going to the same doctor as you, then it can only mean one thing..." His words trailed off as intense hurt settled in his chest. Why didn't she tell him?
"I hadn't realized she and Jimmy were really that serious."
"Me either," he admitted, "but apparently we were both wrong this time." He turned around and faced her again, his face all humility and hurt.
"We should probably find her." Her voice was quiet, worried. "She was pretty upset."
"I'll go find her, Lana," he said, weary all of a sudden. "I have a feeling she's at Lois's. I doubt she's left town yet."
"All right. Tell her to call me." She slowly turned around and headed down the loft steps without a backwards glance.
Clark watched Lana leave, a longing in his eyes and heart that he knew didn't belong there anymore. With a heavy sigh, he sped off to go find Chloe and ask her about whether she was pregnant or not.
&&&&&
"Dean, can you just chill out, dude?" Sam said from the driver's side of the Impala as they entered the Smallville, Kansas city limits. "This is just... a detour." Never mind it felt much more than that to him.
"A detour to where? Nowheresville? What the hell are we doing here, Sam?" He shook his head a little. "Is there something here we need to hunt?"
Sam rolled his eyes. "I've got a... friend here, okay? Besides, from what I hear, there's lots of things to kill in this town. Might keep you occupied and away from the FBI." Bringing my brother had been a mistake, he thought, pressing on the gas, but it wasn't like he could leave him. And the aching in his heart for Chloe had gotten to the point where he was going to see her, phone call or not.
"A friend, huh?" Dean glanced at him sideways. "This friend...wouldn't happen to be a chick, would it?"
Sam shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Maybe," he replied.
A wide grin spread across his face. "Hell, Sammy, why didn't you just say that to start with?" He leaned back in the seat.
"Maybe because it was none of your damn business?" he snapped, looking for the first hotel where they could stay.
"Yeesh. Hopefully she'll put you in a better mood," he grumbled, staring out the window.
"A better mood?" What did Dean know about it, anyway? he grumbled to himself. "My mood's been fine, okay?"
"Whatever you say, Sam."
Sam glanced sideways at his brother. "I should've left you in that hotel and come alone."
"Are you lookin' to pick a fight with me?"
"Does that include wiping that smartass look off your face?" he shot back, turning into the Smallville Hotel parking lot with a squeal.
"Yeah, go on and try it," Dean grumbled, climbing out of the passenger seat, but not before snatching his keys from his brother's hand.
"Hey!" Sam yelled, getting out of the driver's side. "I need those, jerk." He strode after Dean towards the front lobby.
"Yeah, well maybe when you stop acting like a jackass I'll let you drive my car again."
Sam pushed Dean's back hard and was about to start throwing punches when his cell rang. It was Chloe, he knew from the ring tone. Ignoring his brother's glare, he answered. "Chloe, you called back," he immediately said.
Dean smirked. "Chloe?" he mouthed, raising his eyebrows.
"I told you I would." Her voice was subdued.
Sam shot Dean a go to hell look but said nothing. Her voice warmed him and melted his anger. "I've been thinking so much about you," he said, turning his back on his brother and walking in the opposite direction. "So... what's going on?"
It took her a moment to respond. "Not much," she said softly.
"What's wrong?" he asked sharply, sensing something deeply wrong. It was part of the reason why he'd dragged Dean here.
"I went to the doctor." She bit her lower lip, lying curled up on the sofa at Lois's. She didn't know where her cousin was--probably downstairs--but she wasn't around.
The panic hit him again. "... and what'd you find out?" he asked softly. He wanted to see her, wanted to know where she was so he could go to her... but he didn't know how to tell her he was in town.
Chloe closed her eyes, holding her knees close to her chest. "Sam..."
He hesitated, waiting for her response. "Chloe, what's... what's wrong?"
She rested her head on one hand, her heart beating quickly in her chest. "I am," she admitted in a faint whisper.
It took him a full minute to understand what she meant. "You're...? Oh." He fell silent again.
Tears prickled at her eyes and she remained silent until she heard a knock on the door. "Sam, I have to go. Someone's at the door."
"No, wait," he said, not willing to let her go just yet. "Where are you? I need to see you."
She brushed a tear off her cheek as she slowly uncurled her legs and rose to her feet. "I'm in Smallville. I'm staying with Lois. But you really don't have to come. I'll be all right."
"Too late, Chloe," he replied frankly, looking up at the hotel sign and seeing Dean out of the corner of his eye. "I'm in town. With my brother." He swallowed hard, hoping she would welcome this sudden intrusion.
His words made her freeze in her tracks. "You're here?" she whispered, shocked. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing him again.
"I am," he whispered, smiling faintly at her tone of voice. "We're at the Smallville Hotel. Can I see you later, please?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "I'll be here. At the Talon. I'm not going anywhere." The knock on the door sounded again.
Seeing his brother with the room keys, he whispered, "I'll be there tonight. I'll see you soon." Without waiting for her response, he hung up the phone.
Chloe did the same, her heart beating quickly in her chest. She moved to the door, feeling dazed as she pulled it open, startled to see Clark standing there.
"There you are," he stated, moving into Lois's apartment without waiting for an invite. "Been looking all over for you." He saw Chloe shaking slightly and frowned.
"Here I am," she said, swallowing hard and closing the door behind him. "What's up?"
He gave her a hard look. "You," he said simply. "Lana told me she saw you at her doctor's office earlier today."
Her heart sank and she shut her eyes. Damn. Caught again.
When she didn't say anything, Clark grew frustrated and took a step towards her. "Care to tell me what's going on?" he demanded softly.
"Not really, no." She wrapped her arms around herself and avoided his gaze.
"Tough," he replied, glaring at her. "I think as your friend, I need to know who to beat up." He crossed his arms and stared at her.
"Excuse me?" She jerked her head up to stare at him in confusion.
"Jimmy the father?" he demanded, looking at her and ignoring the confused look on her face. "What were you thinking, Chloe?"
Now she was starting to get pissed off. "You know what, Clark? It's not really any of your business," she said evenly.
"You're my friend," he retorted in response, unaffected by her rejection. "It's my business to know."
Her eyes narrowed. "Then maybe you should start acting more like a friend and less like a jerk, Clark," she said harshly.
He blinked in shock. "Hey, I apologized for acting like a complete jerk when I'd been doused by red-k. How am I acting like a jerk now, when my friend is clearly in trouble?"
"Yeah, you apologized for that. But you know what? You've been acting like a jerk since then, too." Tears sprang to her eyes as her anger bubbled up inside of her. "Now, I'm really sorry that Lana's marrying Lex. I'm sorry that hurts you, Clark. But stop taking it out on me!"
Her words were like a knife cutting into him, and though Clark knew deep down he deserved them, he couldn't stop the anger from spilling over. "Dammit, I am not taking anything out on you!" he shouted, going to her and taking her by the shoulders. He closed his eyes, regaining control. "Lana and I are worried about you, okay?"
She pulled herself away from him, trembling. "I'm fine.”
He snorted angrily. "No you're not. You're pregnant." He scanned her body using his x-ray vision and knew the truth of those words. He could see the tiny embryo, a mass of cells, starting to form in her pelvic area.
Her face grew pale as she realized what he was doing. "Stop it!"
"Seen what I wanted to," Clark whispered, looking down at her.
A tear streaked down her face. "Happy now?" she snapped.
He tried to wipe the tear away but frowned when she pulled back. "No, not really. Both women in my life are pregnant and want nothing to do with me."
She wiped the tear off her face, turning away from him for a moment to try and regain her composure. She couldn't believed he'd just used his powers on her without even asking.
"I'm... sorry, Chloe," Clark whispered, shifting uncomfortably, unable to look at her. "I shouldn't have done that." He turned to leave.
"You're right, you shouldn't have, Clark." Her voice was strained. "I feel like I don't even know you anymore."
He paused just as he was about to open the door. "Funny," he stated, "I was going to say the same thing about you." Yanking the door open, he strode out and slammed it behind him.
She flinched at the loud noise, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. Another tear slipped down her cheek. Damn him.
Title: Destati
Authors: clarksmuse and xtremeroswellia
Pairing: Sam Winchester/Chloe Sullivan
Rating: R to NC-17
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Empty pockets tell the tale.
A/N: This is fairly AU, based on the concept of "the other half" that is supposed to complete human beings. We love feedback and hope you enjoy this!
One month later...
Chloe sat on one of the stools at the Talon counter, staring absently at the surface and running her fingers over it lightly, unconsciously tracing the name Sam over and over again with her fingertips. She was so out of it, she didn't hear Lois call her name, or see the quizzical look from Clark, who sat two seats away from her.
"Earth to Chloe!" Lois practically yelled, snapping her fingers in front of her cousin's eyes. Nothing had been the same since the travesty that had been Lex and Lana's engagement party, and even though she and Chloe had talked it through and made up, there was something wrong with her. Lois just hadn't figured it out yet. "Hey, am I gonna have to shove you off the stool to get your attention?"
She blinked a couple of times, slowly focusing on her cousin's face. "What?"
"I don't think she heard you, Lois," Clark retorted, his voice filled with irritation.
"Thanks, Smallville," Lois replied, rolling her eyes before turning to Chloe. "I asked if you wanted to go to Metropolis tonight, see what kind of trouble we can get into?"
"Oh. Uh, pass. But thanks." She managed a small, faint smile and looked down at the counter once more. She looked down at the bowl of ice cream set in front of Clark. It was vanilla with hot fudge and whipped cream. God, it looked good. She sighed softly and looked away once more.
Clark noticed the look in Chloe's eye and smiled a little. "I can get another spoon, you know," he replied, using that look as an excuse to move over a stool.
Lois rolled her eyes again. Men, she thought. Why did they only think with one part of their body? "What's with you lately, Chloe?" she demanded, sitting on her cousin's other side.
Before she could reply, the bowl of ice cream slid away from Clark and stopped in front of her. Without anyone touching it. She blinked, staring at it in surprise.
Lois's face was a naked canvas of shock. "What the hell did you just do?" she whispered.
Clark, too, looked equally concerned, especially since as far as he knew, his best friend didn't have any super powers. "Chloe?"
Her face paled a little. She swallowed hard, her heart skipping a beat. "I don't...I don't know." She looked at Clark first, hoping it was some new power of his he was just now discovering. But the blank look on his face confirmed it wasn't him. "Shit," she whispered almost inaudibly.
"What, Chloe?" Clark answered immediately, standing up and moving towards her. "Did... you... move the bowl on its own?"
She stared at him, her mind going blank for a moment, and then whirling with thoughts. She slid off the stool, looking dazed. "I have to make a phone call." She grabbed her purse off the counter and headed for the door.
Lois stared after her cousin. "Clark, what's going on with her?" she asked cautiously.
Clark, following Chloe's retreating gaze, watched his friend with concern. He had no idea.
Sam flipped his laptop shut with a frustrated sigh. This malevolent spirit he and Dean were hunting just did not want to be found anywhere. Not on the internet, not in the local papers. Nowhere. He pinched his nose with two fingers, frustrated by his inability to see the one person he had thought about every waking moment since they parted exactly 31 days ago. It wasn't like they talked, either. Not really.
So when his cell rang and he saw her name on the caller ID, his heart literally stopped for a second. He immediately answered. "Hey you," he said, his voice rough with longing.
A wave of relief washed over her just at the sound of his voice. "Sam?" Her voice trembled slightly as she tried her best not to completely freak out.
"What's wrong?" he demanded, immediately sensing something was wrong. He saw Dean give him a questioning look but he brushed that off quickly. He got up and left the hotel room, shutting the door behind him. "Are you okay?"
"Something just happened and I..." She swallowed hard, willing herself to take a deep breath. "I moved a bowl of ice cream."
To anyone else, this comment might seem completely asinine. To Sam Winchester, however, it made all the sense in the world. "What? How? You don't normally do that... right?" He swallowed hard, feeling his stomach somersault in his gut. How could she have his power of telekinesis?
"No, I don't normally do that," she whispered. "I just thought the ice cream looked good and suddenly it was in front of me, and I didn't touch it, Sam."
"Dammit," he replied, shoving a hand through his hair in utter fear and frustration. "I can move things... without touching them," he whispered.
"Okay...is that...somehow contagious?" she asked, pretty sure she knew the answer to that question.
"Not that I know of," he replied, closing his eyes and leaning against the hotel door. He let the warmth of the afternoon sun keep him calm. "I'm around Dean all the time but he can't... Oh no."
"What?" Chloe asked, alarmed by his last two words. "What is it?"
He beat his head lightly against the door. "I haven't been with anyone since... Jess died," he muttered in a knowing, suggestive tone. Like he had forgotten one second of those twelve hours they had spent together.
For a moment, she was confused. Then the weight of his words began to sink in, the unspoken answer lying between them on the static of their cell phones. "Oh, God."
Tell me this isn't happening to her, he thought, panicking for a second inwardly before forcing himself to take a breath. He'd suggest a doctor, but what would that accomplish. "Chloe, I had no idea... I'm so... Shit, I can't believe this is happening."
"Okay, we don't know anything for sure, so let's not panic." She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "I'll...uh...I'll take a test. Maybe it's just some weird coincidence or something."
"Well, unless you've been drinking meteor-infected water or something, I'm pretty sure I passed my power to you when we..." He swallowed hard, biting back the words made love. They didn't know each other well enough to say that.
She paused, realizing he'd yet to come to the conclusion she had just come to. "Well, I do live in Smallville." She swallowed hard.
"Yeah, didn't you tell me it was the meteor freak cap -- Wait, what test?" Sam paused for a moment when he realized she was talking about something... else. "Dammit," he whispered.
Chloe held her breath for a moment. "To see if anything in my DNA's changed. Meteor rocks have been known to do that."
"Or maybe... a test to find out if you're pregnant?" His voice tried to hide his growing panic.
She closed her eyes. "That's such an impossibility. We were careful, Sam."
He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I know," he whispered. "How could I forget?"
She leaned against the outside wall of the Talon, unaware that hundreds of miles away he was doing the same thing against the outside motel wall. "It's probably nothing. I mean, it might just be because of years of exposure to meteor rocks. And it only happened once, so maybe we're just freaking out over nothing. That's probably it." She was babbling and she knew it.
Deep down inside, Sam knew better. He was beginning to believe there was no such thing as coincidence. "Look, do me a favor, okay?" he said after a long moment. "Go to the doctor. Get yourself checked out. Please." He couldn't bear the thought that she was going through this alone. All he wanted to do was steal another car and go to her.
"I will," she promised, swallowing hard. "I'm sure everything'll be fine." She paused, forcing herself not to utter the words lingering on her tongue. Please come back. I need you. "How are things going for you?" she asked instead, her voice quiet.
He closed his eyes, his head against the door. "We're in the middle of nowhere trying to exorcise a demon from an old house... and trying to keep Dean from running into the FBI," he muttered, cursing himself for the small talk. Why he didn't just leave was beyond him. It wasn't like Dean couldn't finish this job himself.
She winced a little. "I heard about that on the news. Your brother's on the FBI's most wanted list."
"Shit." Sam wasn't one for swearing, though he heard it from Dean enough times to force the habit on him. "These cops, they have no idea what they're doing."
"Not surprising. Not like most people know anything about what's really out there." She bit her lower lip. "Maybe you guys should lay low for awhile, stay outta sight." The worry in her voice was obvious, though she tried to hide it.
He snorted softly. "Tell that to Dean, Mr. KillFirstAskQuestionsLater. If he's not hunting, he's stir crazy. If it wasn't for the Magic Fingers, I probably would have killed him by now." He heard the fear in her voice and frowned, wondering what she'd say if she knew he was on that same list.
"The Magic Fingers?" she repeated, her eyebrows furrowing.
"Don't ask," he retorted. "You really don't want to know..." He left his words drift away and uttered the one thing on his mind. "I miss you, Chloe."
And just like that, all of the air left her lungs. Unshed tears prickled at her eyelids. "I miss you, too. So much." She swallowed hard, not wanting to let him hear her crying.
Hearing her voice echo his thoughts made him breathless, and he lightly beat his head against the door. Please ask me to come to you, he begged silently, unable to speak. "If you need me..." He started, his voice cracking.
A tear slipped down her cheek. If he only knew just how bad she needed him. She was so caught up in the sound of his voice, she didn't notice the door of the Talon swing open and Clark step out, gazing at her. "I'll call."
"Please do." He felt the air crackle around him and had the feeling she wasn't alone. A heavy feeling settled in his stomach, a mixture of dread and want. "As soon as you find out, okay?"
"I promise." Her voice was soft. "Be careful. Stay safe."
"I will," he vowed, lingering for a moment longer. It still hurt too much to say goodbye, he thought. "Talk to you soon."
"Soon," she echoed, reluctantly hanging up the phone. She swallowed hard, staring into space, another tear trickling down her cheek.
With a sigh, Sam shut his phone off and blinked against the bright sun and felt her absence more acutely than ever. Reluctantly he moved off the door and went back inside, grimacing at the sight of his cabin-fevered brother lying on the Magic Fingers bed.
"Chloe," Clark said, clearing his throat. "Who was that on the phone?" In all honesty, he didn't know what else to say.
She was startled by the sound of his voice. "God, Clark! Can you stop sneaking up on me?"
He blinked in surprise. "Hey, I tried getting your attention, Chloe. From shutting the door loudly to coughing... what's wrong?"
"Nothing." She wiped her eyes, forcing herself to take a deep breath.
"Yeah, those crocodile tears tell me that," he retorted, moving closer to her.
She didn't answer, still gripping onto her cell phone tightly as if the simple action somehow kept her connected to Sam.
Clark reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "Chloe--" he began but stopped when she whirled around and looked at him, her eyes wide.
"What?" She shook her head.
He frowned. "I was going to say I'm worried about you, but maybe Lois should deal with this." He turned and headed back inside the Talon.
She groaned in frustration and pushed away from the wall, heading for her car. The last thing she felt like dealing with was one of Clark's pity parties.
&&&&&
Chloe chewed nervously on her lower lip as she entered the office of the only OB/GYN in town. She was so nervous she felt like she could throw up at any given second. Not even paying attention to the waiting room, she slowly headed up to the counter to sign in.
The last person Lana Lang expected to see at the doctor's office was Chloe Sullivan, so she was completely surprised to find her signing in. "Chloe?" she asked, her voice soft as she approached the receptionist desk.
She turned, startled to hear Lana's voice. She quickly turned, her eyes widening a little. "Oh. Hey, Lana." She swallowed nervously.
"Hey," she said back, pasting an embarrassed smile on her face. She jotted her name down on the sign in sheet and glanced at Chloe. "Uh, I hate to state the obvious, but... what are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here?" Chloe echoed, a smile freezing on her face--hand caught in the cookie jar expression clear.
Lana blushed and rubbed her slightly rounded belly. "I guess I mean... you here for a regular checkup?" She saw Chloe's pale face, her scared eyes and frowned.
"Yes. Yes, that's why I'm here." She laughed nervously, completely caught off guard by Lana's presence. She'd figured Lex had Lana seeing expensive specialists in Metropolis, or even London, for that matter. She hadn't counted on running into her here.
"I had an appointment in Metropolis with my regular doctor, but Lex had to leave town suddenly and I chose to stick close to home this time," the brunette said, chattering as she kept a close eye on her friend. When she swayed a little, she put a hand on her arm. "Hey, let's sit down, okay?"
"Sitting...sounds good." Swallowing hard, her eyes prickled with tears as she let Lana lead her over to a seat in the far corner of the room.
There was something wrong with Chloe, she thought, seeing the unshed tears in her eyes. She knew when people were keeping things from her, so it wasn't a surprise to see her 'friend' keeping her mouth shut about what the real problem was. She was about to say something when she heard a nurse call Chloe's name.
She swallowed hard, slowly rising to her feet once more. "See ya, Lana."
Her eyes dark with concern, she smiled at Chloe. "Take care, Chloe."
With a polite smile, the nurse led Chloe back to one of the exam rooms and told her to undress. She then left the girl in the room, shutting the door behind her.
A few minutes later she was changed into the cloth gown. God, she hated those things. She tied it around her back as best she could and reluctantly moved to sit on the table, chewing on her thumbnail as she waited for what seemed like an eternity.
There was a short rap on the door, followed by the doctor's entrance. "Hello, Chloe, I'm Dr. Ackles," he replied in a professional tone. "So I understand you think you're pregnant?" He looked at her chart.
Her face paled. "I don't know. It's...possible." She swallowed hard, wondering if she was trying to fool him or herself.
"Well, there are some tests we can run to determine that," he replied. "Have you taken a home pregnancy test yet?"
"No," she admitted softly, looking at the floor.
"Let's start with that, okay? Then we'll draw some blood, check your vitals, and go from there." He jotted down notes in her chart and called the nurse, who promptly appeared with a pregnancy stick and a urine cup.
"If you'll follow me," the nurse said cheerfully.
Feeling numb, she followed the nurse as instructed. She took both items from her and slowly headed into the bathroom.
&&&&&
Clark had been worried about Chloe since last night. He didn't know who could've been on the phone, but she seemed so attached to that person. And when Lois couldn't get her to open up, Clark had left. It was probably best, he thought, standing by his loft window and staring out at the field.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Lana come up the stairs.
"Hi." Her voice was quiet and she gazed at him, not moving any closer. Her voice was guarded.
"Lana," he said, his eyes wide as he turned around, looking at her. "What are you doing here?" They hadn't really spoken since the red-k travesty/kidnapping, and it was still embarrassing to be in the same room with her.
"I was looking for Chloe." She gazed at him evenly. "I've been trying to call her all day and she hasn't been answering my calls."
He frowned. "I haven't seen her since last night," he replied, looking down. "She was acting kinda weird at the Talon." Truth was, he didn't know what to make of her behavior... or how she moved that bowl of ice cream without touching it. Even he couldn't do that.
"Well, I ran into her today at the doctor's office and she was acting really weird then, too." She folded her arms across her chest.
"The doctor's office?" he asked, totally confused for about three seconds. "Why would she be --?" Awareness dawned on him and he turned a little red.
Her lips thinned. "Do you know anything about that?" Her eyes were accusing.
Clark turned his back to Lana, unable to handle the hard glint in her eyes. "Believe it or not, nothing... but if she's going to the same doctor as you, then it can only mean one thing..." His words trailed off as intense hurt settled in his chest. Why didn't she tell him?
"I hadn't realized she and Jimmy were really that serious."
"Me either," he admitted, "but apparently we were both wrong this time." He turned around and faced her again, his face all humility and hurt.
"We should probably find her." Her voice was quiet, worried. "She was pretty upset."
"I'll go find her, Lana," he said, weary all of a sudden. "I have a feeling she's at Lois's. I doubt she's left town yet."
"All right. Tell her to call me." She slowly turned around and headed down the loft steps without a backwards glance.
Clark watched Lana leave, a longing in his eyes and heart that he knew didn't belong there anymore. With a heavy sigh, he sped off to go find Chloe and ask her about whether she was pregnant or not.
&&&&&
"Dean, can you just chill out, dude?" Sam said from the driver's side of the Impala as they entered the Smallville, Kansas city limits. "This is just... a detour." Never mind it felt much more than that to him.
"A detour to where? Nowheresville? What the hell are we doing here, Sam?" He shook his head a little. "Is there something here we need to hunt?"
Sam rolled his eyes. "I've got a... friend here, okay? Besides, from what I hear, there's lots of things to kill in this town. Might keep you occupied and away from the FBI." Bringing my brother had been a mistake, he thought, pressing on the gas, but it wasn't like he could leave him. And the aching in his heart for Chloe had gotten to the point where he was going to see her, phone call or not.
"A friend, huh?" Dean glanced at him sideways. "This friend...wouldn't happen to be a chick, would it?"
Sam shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Maybe," he replied.
A wide grin spread across his face. "Hell, Sammy, why didn't you just say that to start with?" He leaned back in the seat.
"Maybe because it was none of your damn business?" he snapped, looking for the first hotel where they could stay.
"Yeesh. Hopefully she'll put you in a better mood," he grumbled, staring out the window.
"A better mood?" What did Dean know about it, anyway? he grumbled to himself. "My mood's been fine, okay?"
"Whatever you say, Sam."
Sam glanced sideways at his brother. "I should've left you in that hotel and come alone."
"Are you lookin' to pick a fight with me?"
"Does that include wiping that smartass look off your face?" he shot back, turning into the Smallville Hotel parking lot with a squeal.
"Yeah, go on and try it," Dean grumbled, climbing out of the passenger seat, but not before snatching his keys from his brother's hand.
"Hey!" Sam yelled, getting out of the driver's side. "I need those, jerk." He strode after Dean towards the front lobby.
"Yeah, well maybe when you stop acting like a jackass I'll let you drive my car again."
Sam pushed Dean's back hard and was about to start throwing punches when his cell rang. It was Chloe, he knew from the ring tone. Ignoring his brother's glare, he answered. "Chloe, you called back," he immediately said.
Dean smirked. "Chloe?" he mouthed, raising his eyebrows.
"I told you I would." Her voice was subdued.
Sam shot Dean a go to hell look but said nothing. Her voice warmed him and melted his anger. "I've been thinking so much about you," he said, turning his back on his brother and walking in the opposite direction. "So... what's going on?"
It took her a moment to respond. "Not much," she said softly.
"What's wrong?" he asked sharply, sensing something deeply wrong. It was part of the reason why he'd dragged Dean here.
"I went to the doctor." She bit her lower lip, lying curled up on the sofa at Lois's. She didn't know where her cousin was--probably downstairs--but she wasn't around.
The panic hit him again. "... and what'd you find out?" he asked softly. He wanted to see her, wanted to know where she was so he could go to her... but he didn't know how to tell her he was in town.
Chloe closed her eyes, holding her knees close to her chest. "Sam..."
He hesitated, waiting for her response. "Chloe, what's... what's wrong?"
She rested her head on one hand, her heart beating quickly in her chest. "I am," she admitted in a faint whisper.
It took him a full minute to understand what she meant. "You're...? Oh." He fell silent again.
Tears prickled at her eyes and she remained silent until she heard a knock on the door. "Sam, I have to go. Someone's at the door."
"No, wait," he said, not willing to let her go just yet. "Where are you? I need to see you."
She brushed a tear off her cheek as she slowly uncurled her legs and rose to her feet. "I'm in Smallville. I'm staying with Lois. But you really don't have to come. I'll be all right."
"Too late, Chloe," he replied frankly, looking up at the hotel sign and seeing Dean out of the corner of his eye. "I'm in town. With my brother." He swallowed hard, hoping she would welcome this sudden intrusion.
His words made her freeze in her tracks. "You're here?" she whispered, shocked. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing him again.
"I am," he whispered, smiling faintly at her tone of voice. "We're at the Smallville Hotel. Can I see you later, please?"
"Yes," she said without hesitation. "I'll be here. At the Talon. I'm not going anywhere." The knock on the door sounded again.
Seeing his brother with the room keys, he whispered, "I'll be there tonight. I'll see you soon." Without waiting for her response, he hung up the phone.
Chloe did the same, her heart beating quickly in her chest. She moved to the door, feeling dazed as she pulled it open, startled to see Clark standing there.
"There you are," he stated, moving into Lois's apartment without waiting for an invite. "Been looking all over for you." He saw Chloe shaking slightly and frowned.
"Here I am," she said, swallowing hard and closing the door behind him. "What's up?"
He gave her a hard look. "You," he said simply. "Lana told me she saw you at her doctor's office earlier today."
Her heart sank and she shut her eyes. Damn. Caught again.
When she didn't say anything, Clark grew frustrated and took a step towards her. "Care to tell me what's going on?" he demanded softly.
"Not really, no." She wrapped her arms around herself and avoided his gaze.
"Tough," he replied, glaring at her. "I think as your friend, I need to know who to beat up." He crossed his arms and stared at her.
"Excuse me?" She jerked her head up to stare at him in confusion.
"Jimmy the father?" he demanded, looking at her and ignoring the confused look on her face. "What were you thinking, Chloe?"
Now she was starting to get pissed off. "You know what, Clark? It's not really any of your business," she said evenly.
"You're my friend," he retorted in response, unaffected by her rejection. "It's my business to know."
Her eyes narrowed. "Then maybe you should start acting more like a friend and less like a jerk, Clark," she said harshly.
He blinked in shock. "Hey, I apologized for acting like a complete jerk when I'd been doused by red-k. How am I acting like a jerk now, when my friend is clearly in trouble?"
"Yeah, you apologized for that. But you know what? You've been acting like a jerk since then, too." Tears sprang to her eyes as her anger bubbled up inside of her. "Now, I'm really sorry that Lana's marrying Lex. I'm sorry that hurts you, Clark. But stop taking it out on me!"
Her words were like a knife cutting into him, and though Clark knew deep down he deserved them, he couldn't stop the anger from spilling over. "Dammit, I am not taking anything out on you!" he shouted, going to her and taking her by the shoulders. He closed his eyes, regaining control. "Lana and I are worried about you, okay?"
She pulled herself away from him, trembling. "I'm fine.”
He snorted angrily. "No you're not. You're pregnant." He scanned her body using his x-ray vision and knew the truth of those words. He could see the tiny embryo, a mass of cells, starting to form in her pelvic area.
Her face grew pale as she realized what he was doing. "Stop it!"
"Seen what I wanted to," Clark whispered, looking down at her.
A tear streaked down her face. "Happy now?" she snapped.
He tried to wipe the tear away but frowned when she pulled back. "No, not really. Both women in my life are pregnant and want nothing to do with me."
She wiped the tear off her face, turning away from him for a moment to try and regain her composure. She couldn't believed he'd just used his powers on her without even asking.
"I'm... sorry, Chloe," Clark whispered, shifting uncomfortably, unable to look at her. "I shouldn't have done that." He turned to leave.
"You're right, you shouldn't have, Clark." Her voice was strained. "I feel like I don't even know you anymore."
He paused just as he was about to open the door. "Funny," he stated, "I was going to say the same thing about you." Yanking the door open, he strode out and slammed it behind him.
She flinched at the loud noise, squeezing her eyes shut tightly. Another tear slipped down her cheek. Damn him.