Chapter Seven

Chloe watched Lex carefully. From her table in the corner of the Talon she had a perfect view of the majority of the establishment while remaining relatively unnoticeable herself. For an avid people watcher and general snoop it was the ideal position and,when the coffee house had become her hang out of choice years ago she'd spent months trying different tables before settling on the one at which she was seated.

Not that it was doing her much good as Lex's face betrayed nothing. In fact, he'd only glanced up once as Clark had come in and made a beeline for Lana who was at the counter talking to Mrs. Abernathy about eternal struggle between gardener and gopher. As if neither of them had ever held a significant place in his life, Lex simply smirked slightly and returned to the paperwork in front of him.

And Chloe had to admit that, even with Lex's iron emotional control she hadn't expected this…nothing. While it was true that Lana had told her, over and over, how Lex had unceremoniously dumped her, she had still reserved judgment until she had a chance to see them interact. Only she had a feeling that this was as close as they were going to come for quite some time, and honestly, that said more than if they'd all decided to have their coffee together.

Lex had been using Lana.

The realization should have been infuriating, but instead Chloe felt something almost akin to relief. Not that she wanted her friend to be harmed in any way. Despite their differences, and sometimes because of them, she loved Lana like a sister. And so she knew that she should be fuming at Lex's callous use of her as a pawn in his ongoing hostilities with Clark. But she wasn't, and she was pretty sure that she knew why.

Lana, no matter how victimized she was currently acting, didn't enter into that particular relationship unaware. No, she'd been warned, repeatedly, that Lex's motivations were rarely what they appeared. But she had been too wrapped up in her self-appointed role as Helen of Troy to see that, for at least one person in their odd little world, a hopeless love of all things Lang might not be a motivating factor.

But God forbid Lana actually took something out of the situation; perhaps alter her view of the world to encompass just the mere wisp of the idea that maybe her external locus of control could be modified in a slightly inward direction so that she wasn't constantly at the imagined mercy of others.

And after the way that Chloe had been shot down when she'd tried to warn Lana that Lex might be slightly more complex than she believed, a part of her just wanted to seize, not every opportunity, but certainly a number of them, to say 'told you so, told you so'.

Ordinarily that thought would generate at least a modicum of shame, but that fact was that she and Lana had spent a good portion of the morning having that very same argument but with a complete reversal of roles; and her near Herculean effort to restrain the taunting yet apropos phrase from escaping her lips made Chloe so proud that she chose to overlook her pettiness.

The other basis for her lack of outrage was the fact that Lex and Lana were, well…oogy. Not an inordinately erudite description, but strangely apt. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with either Lex or Lana when they were just that – Lex or Lana. But when they became Lex and Lana it was just disturbing. In fact it was downright creepy in much the same way as those nature shows in which a deadly snake mesmerizes a poor, vulnerable rodent and makes a quick meal of the creature before the fury little guy even knows what's happening.

Not that Lana was entirely defenseless. Lana was a bright and caring women; she just wasn't multi-layered. She practically oozed sincerity but, grounded in her customary obliviousness, it often missed its mark. She almost always meant well, she just never seemed to comprehend that her idea of well and everyone else's were not necessarily identical. She was like Martha Kent without the insight.

Of course, being simple didn't mean that she was without surprises. Chloe would have thought that, after such a public rejection, Lana's first priority would be to reinforce her sense of worth with the devotion of another man; most likely Clark. But, while the two of them had been spending more time together and regaining lost ground, Lana had insisted that they do so on a purely friendship basis.

In true Clark fashion, her friend was bewildered by Lana's choice. He seemed to be honestly laboring under the assumption that Lex had been the main obstacle to their happiness. It was as if the secrets and the ping-pong like breakups between the two of them had never occurred. And it wasn't that he was being purposefully blind; no, he was as earnest as the day was long. Now that Chloe gave it some thought, Clark was a lot like Martha Kent without the insight, too.

It was part of what classified he and Lana a match made in Heaven…although, granted that was probably a fairly slow day in paradise. And Chloe wished with all her heart that the two would find their way back together. It was a little odd after her years of pining for Clark to be longing for him to be with someone else, but was fast reaching the point of locking them in a closet if it would help with the matchmaking. She wanted to pretend, even for a moment, that it was because she was a wonderful person and amazing friend, but she was too honest for that. Oh, she was wonderful and amazing, but not overly altruistic in this matter. If the disapproving duo could go back to having eyes for nothing but each other she might stop having to listen to both outright and what she was sure her friends thought were subtle condemnations of her involvement with Lex.

And as he once again entered her thoughts, Chloe knew that she had to be careful not to make the same mistake that Lana had. It was a fine line to walk. She didn't want to delude herself into thinking that Lex would be above using her, or foster some sort of inflated belief in her ability to discern his true intentions. And yet Chloe found herself strangely reluctant to write of any possibility that Lex was being genuine in his appeal to her for help.

She'd always been more of a cynic in theory as opposed to practice, and so she found that the worst she could bring herself to believe about Lex, in the absence of any concrete evidence, was that his motives were probably a mixture of the two. If what she'd read in the files that Lex had given her was true, and both her research and everything she knew of the elder Luthor were supporting that hypothesis, then he was right in his belief that she was vastly suited to help him bring down his father, yet again. But Lex wouldn't be Lex if he didn't take advantage of this new opportunity to pump her for information on Clark.

And even if that knowledge was his main goal and ending his father's experiments was secondary, she felt somewhat compelled to go along. After all, she wasn't Lana. She had no doubts about Lex's obsession with Clark's secret, and awareness of what Lex wanted to hear gave her the advantage of knowing what not to say. So for as long as they could make their cautious partnership last, she would. Because more than answers or power or closure, Chloe got the distinct impression that what Lex Luthor needed was a friend.

Thinking of friends brought her thought back to hers. With any luck they'd remain so involved with each other that it wouldn't occur to them to come over and force her to fake sympathy as two of the most universally loved people she'd ever met struggled with their imaginary abandonment difficulties.

A wry smile tugged at her lips as she realized that she might be Martha Kent without the sincerity.

An hour later Chloe was glad that she'd kept up her covert surveillance of Lex's demeanor. If she hadn't she would have missed the only authentic flash of emotion she'd seen from him all day. And ironically enough, it had nothing to do with Lana.

In fact, Lana had already vacated the premises, and so could in no way be responsible for the pain she saw surface, ever so briefly, on Lex's face. No, that honor belonged to the one person with a permanent place under his skin – his father.

Lionel had entered minutes earlier and, although both Chloe and Lex knew that the man was eminently aware of all of the establishment's occupants, chose to act as if oblivious to his son's presence as he made his way over to Clark.

Though their conversation was brief, it was clearly full of kind words, and culminated in a pseudo-touching moment as Lionel clasped Clark's shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze. It was at that moment that Chloe turned, just in time to catch Lex's expression. Although it would have appeared calm and dispassionate to most observers, she had known him too long and through far too much adversity to miss the short and subtle muscle clenchings that were the equivalent of a Luthor howl of agony. In all her life she knew that she'd never forget Lex's face as he confessed to longing for his father's love and, no matter how brief its appearance, she recognized that look still.

While they weren't close enough for it to be tear-jerking, it certainly chipped at Chloe's heart a bit to watch what she knew to be Lex's feigned nonchalance as Lionel moved to share his table. Years of emotional dissociation stood him in good stead as he showed only the sardonic lift of one brow at what, given Lionel's blatant disapproving looks, was clearly an unpleasant lecture. It was a credit to his strength of will that Lex waited until the older man had finished speaking before calmly replacing the file he'd been reading in his briefcase, nodding towards Lionel, and leaving without dignifying the paternal show of mental cruelty with the response it deserved.

Of course, Chloe wasn't burdened by an overabundance of stoicism, and before Lionel had a chance to rise from the table, she had slid into Lex's abandoned seat.

"Chloe. What a pleasant surprise."

"I suggest you reserve judgment on that, Lionel."

The sad excuse for what she was sure was supposed to pass as a welcoming smile slid off Lionel's face, replaced by a speculative expression.

"Ah," he drawled as if he'd just found the elusive answer to a troubling riddle. "I wondered how much time it would take in Lex's company for us to revert back to the former, less pleasant stage of our relationship."

Leaning forward, Lionel reached out and covered one of Chloe's hands with his own.

"I know that our history has been difficult, to say the least; and I accept complete and utter responsibility for that sorry state of affairs. But I had hoped, given recent events, that we had reached a new level of understanding

Though your suspicions certainly have precedential merit, I remain optimistic that, in time, you'll recognize that I've turned over a new leaf."

Finding subtlety between them unnecessary, Chloe slid her hand from under his and leaned back in her chair putting both actual and symbolic distance between them. At that moment she didn't really give a damn about Lionel's motives, good or bad. What she did care about was the no longer sneaking suspicion that Lionel had just used Clark to try to manipulate Lex.

"Honestly, I find myself remarkably unconcerned by the state of your foliage. Leaves are effortlessly taken by the wind and carried from one place to the next. Frankly, the fact that your values change with such ease concerns me far more than whether you're good or bad on any given day. At least there's a kind of integrity in evil or, barring that, a certain sense of predictability."

Chloe watched with a detached fascination as his features realigned themselves, yet again, this time settling into a small smile of condescension.

"When it was brought to my attention that you had begun spending time with my son I was afraid that something like this might happen. Chloe, you know how dangerous Lex has been recently. You can't allow him manipulate you into turning your back on those around you with your best interests at heart."

The words placed such a strain on credulity that Chloe didn't even try to hold back her soft chuckles at the ludicrous thought that her welfare occupied a habitual space in his Machiavellian mind.

"So, do you introduce yourself as the pot when you meet the kettle or do you skip right to calling it black? Where do you get off ever, ever accusing someone else of manipulating people? Especially Lex. All of his obsessive menace and controlling tendencies were learned at your knee; and you have the nerve to complain?

And if that hypocrisy wasn't enough now you have to go around showering Clark with the approval you constantly withhold from your son, and right in front of him no less. Try to bear in mind that whatever Lex has become you've done the lion's share of creating."

"You're right, Ms. Sullivan"

Chloe smirked at the title. It wasn't that she'd ever wanted to deal with the real Lionel Luthor again, but she preferred meeting the devil head on in lieu of letting him sneak up on her.

"Lex has most certainly been crafted by my hand. And he should thank me; I've made him a fighter."

She snorted at the rationalization.

"Yes. I'm sure Christina Aguilera would approve."

At the blank look on the older man's face, Chloe adjusted her barb.

"I'm sure King Fredrik I would approve."

Waiting for him to hurl more excuses her way she grumbled to herself, "That'll teach me to try to argue with a Lang and a Luthor in the same day."

Had she been paying attention, Chloe would have seen an almost genuine smile from Lionel. He realized that he'd missed whatever pop reference she'd been making; a fact that caused him no distress. But her ability to adapt pleased and impressed him. Lionel had always appreciated Chloe's versatility as much as he had her intelligence and passion.

"A very appropriate comparison. The soldier king may be reviled for beating his son to focus his thoughts on the military duties that were his birthright, but the results speak to the necessity of the methods. His son was hailed as Fredrik the Great for good reason – he single-handedly doubled the Prussian Empire during his rule.

But while I may demand the most of Lex to prepare him for the world, I rarely raised my hand to him."

"Well, don't you deserve a medal. Besides," she scoffed, "we both know there's more than one way to beat a kid. And are you telling me that Clark isn't meant for great things? Yet you beam at him like he's stock that you bought low and sold high."

"You're quite right. There is a marked difference in how I treat Lex and Clark.

As we are both quite aware, Ms. Sullivan, when Clark finally embraces his faces his future, that young man will become a hero. But Lex; Lex is destined to rule. Those are two radically different endeavors.

To be a champion of the populace one needs to have faith in an inherent goodness within them. But to lead a people one must always expect the worst from every corner.

Clark will save the world one person at a time by protecting them from the temporary dangers of everyday life. Lex, however, will preserve mankind as a whole by safeguarding it from the cataclysmic events that destroy societies.

You want to know why I can give Clark what I deny Lex? Because that is what the boy needs. But even if it wasn't, it wouldn't matter. I'm not responsible for preparing Clark for his place in this world. That job is being more than adequately seen to by his mother. It is, on the other hand, my duty to ensure that when Lex finally amasses the vast power he was clearly designed to command he can wield it well."

As Lionel continued his tone strengthened in with his conviction.

"Do you believe in fate, Ms. Sullivan? I admit that, although I strive for what some would term and excessive amount of control, I sometimes indulge the idea that a larger force may, indeed, be pulling our collective strings.

After all, think of the odds against Clark being placed directly in the path of the Kents; two of the small minority of people that would guide and guard the boy with no thoughts of what could be gained by controlling such an amazing child. It's hard to believe, when reflecting on all of the other equally possible outcomes, that there wasn't a greater influence at work.

So it might also be worth consideration that Lex was given into my care because I am uniquely suited to shape his potential; to mold him into the man he was meant to become."

Chloe sat silently for a moment measuring something in Lionel Luthor. Having finally reached a state of enlightenment, her mouth dropped slightly in surprise and her voice had an almost embarrassing squeaky quality to it when it finally emerged.

"Oh my God! You actually believe that load of crap, don't you?

You pompous, egotistical jerk. This isn't about steering Lex as a man, it's about utilizing him as a weapon. You're so caught up in being the pivotal figure in this equation, the power behind the throne, that you don't even see what you're doing."

Chloe forced her voice to lower so as not to focus more attention on them then they would already draw by virtue of their past connection.

"You're right. One day Clark will realize that normal is just a myth that Madison Avenue created to sell us Slimfast and Starbucks coffee. When he gets past the idea that his problems come from his differences and accepts that, like most guys his age, they come from being an emotional moron, he will become a champion of right.

But what you're doing, this using Clark to harden Lex, is escalating a faltered friendship into bitter warfare. And don't kid yourself that it's making Lex into a ruler. No; if Clark's the hero in this piece then you're casting your son as the villain. You're backing him into a corner, and he's been the target of your machinations for so long that he doesn't even see it coming.

You're so wrapped up in your own imagined greatness that you don't get that it's simply a matter of when, not if, Lex destroys you. Look at what's taken you a lifetime to build. And Lex has stripped you of it before he's thirty. Lex has never lacked the capacity to ruin you, only the resources. He'll be more than you ever were; ever could be. But right now it's anyone's guess whether he'll exceed your evil, or direct his limitless potential towards more worthy pursuits. Your fucking with his mind isn't doing anything other than shoving him down a slippery slope, and we're all going to wind up paying for your arrogance in the end."

Chloe had to admit that those had pretty much been fighting words, and she could see that Lionel agreed with that assessment as all pretenses of concern and worry on behalf of the other was dropped.

"Ms. Sullivan, you might be better off devoting less effort to analyzing my abilities as a parent, and more energy towards mitigating the effects your time with my son is so clearing having on you.

I mean I can't imagine that Clark is pleased by this new development, and if I interpret your mumblings correctly, you and Ms. Lang are also at odds with one another."

A sickening smile crawled over his face and Chloe braced herself. She knew that look and nothing good had ever followed it's arrival

"Although, given the circumstances that's to be expected, wouldn't you agree? After all, you do seem to reserve you affections for those men who will always prefer the lovely Lana. Quite a clever strategy as it gives you a near limitless pool from which to choose. And really, since they can't all have her I'm sure that, eventually, one of them will settle for you."

And apparently the gloves were off. Chloe could almost see the instant that Lionel realized that there was, unlike with the Kents, little chance of winning her to his side. Worse, she knew that he was all too familiar with the damage that could be done when she and Lex worked together. No matter what his intentions were towards Martha and Clark, Chloe was certain that he was going to do what he could to disrupt this renewed partnership. And he wasn't wasting time. His shots were carefully aimed at the chinks in her armor he'd so ruthlessly exploited on previous occasions.

But Chloe knew something that Lionel didn't. She knew how to change. Not changing strategy, but to take an honest look at what you don't like in your life and change yourself, not everyone and everything around you.

Had there been a time when pain and rejection had made her an easy mark for Lionel's brand of connivances? Without a doubt. But things were different. She was different. No matter how much animosity she bore towards the man, she'd had a hard sort of gratitude for their previous dealings. Watching the one you want watching someone else is hard on the ego. When you're thirteen it's devastating. And when you mix in meteor madness, corporate intrigues, and one very secretive alien you end up wishing you'd bought the extended warranty of your self-esteem. She'd spent years wondering what was wrong with her that Clark didn't want her. But the day that Lionel Luthor had been convicted, the minute she realized she was strong enough to help topple a veritable Goliath, she'd begun to realize just how amazing she actually was. Sure, her crush on Clark had continued, but after that point she stopped doubting her own worth started wondering what was wrong with Clark for not seeing it.

So if this was going to be the shape that Lionel's grand scheme took, well he was fresh out of luck. She was Chloe Sullivan – continuous savior of half of Smallville and the most powerful being alive. And Lionel Luthor was mentally deficient if he thought she either needed or wanted his approval; it was a backhanded compliment at best.

Not that she was stupid enough to tell him that. If he wanted to think that she was letting Lex use her because of some dysfunctional need to succeed where Lana failed that was a-okay with her; if he was preoccupied with that ludicrous scenario then she and Lex would be able to disguise the true nature of their collaboration that much longer. Was it worth sacrificing a little bit of her pride? Hell, yes. There was a surplus of pride in winning. Victory was its own vindication.

"Oh, please. Like I'm going to listen to relationship insults from the charismatic billionaire who has the widow card to play and still has to go through a son to get to the mother. What's next? Faking an affliction to get close to her? That's right; been there, done that, huh?"

Lionel, like Lex, hated failure and loathed being reminded of his follies. So Chloe wasn't surprised by the flare of anger the blazed to life in his eyes. What did shock her was that buried beneath the flames of his fury was a strange kind of pride that would have seemed out of place in anyone but the man across from her. She knew that when she'd worked for him Lionel had seen himself as a mentor, hoping to coax the seeds of her anger into a Luthor-like ruthlessness. And to a certain extent he had. But unlike his limitless capacity for cruelty, hers was a skill, not a character defect. She knew that he thought his callousness made him strong; and it might have. But the fact that it was an addiction made the need rule him instead of the other way round. It was ironic that Lionel could unerringly find the weakness in others but never in himself. Chloe knew that she was lucky. She'd escaped the compulsion to make others small to feel like a giant, learning to be her biggest critic and her biggest fan.

"If what you say is true and I haven't mended even the least of my wicked ways, don't you think that you might be treading on dangerous ground?"

"No, Lionel; what I think is that you're going to leave Lex and I alone, both as individuals and as a pair. What I think is that you're going to stop raising the stakes in this battle between Lex and Clark. And what I know is that from now on, if you want to fawn all over Clark you'll do it where your son won't have to put up with it."

Lionel raised a brow in response to the litany of demands.

"Do I sense an 'or else' in that diatribe?"

"Very astute." She leaned in closer and her eyes pinned his with their searing sincerity. "If this continues you'll leave me no choice but to go to the Kents with evidence that you were involved in Jonathan's death by choice."

"An interesting plan. Unfortunately for you that's not at all what happened so proof of such an act would be nonexistent."

Chloe found it laughable that Lionel, of all people, thought that the truth would protect him.

"I didn't say the evidence would be true, Lionel. But who do you suppose the Kents will believe?"

Taking advantage of his moment of shock, Chloe stood to leave. But as she passed by his chair she leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"Just consider me an instrument of karma."

Lex looked up from his desk as Chloe blew into the room. He hadn't been expecting her, but as usual these days, she wasn't an unpleasant surprise.

In a way he had to admit that that fact bothered him. While he wasn't even remotely moved to give up his plans, he knew from experience that it wasn't wise to overly attach one's self to those things in life which, no matter how engaging, were, by necessity, temporary.

Still, it'd be a waste not to enjoy her company for however long this lasted. And it was the least he owed mangled psyche after forcing himself to sit and watch the touching, familial-like display between his father and his former best-friend.

"Chloe. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Sliding into one of the large chairs in front of his desk, Chloe shot Lex a bright smile. Since their little project began they'd been getting along much better. She had decided to let some of their rough water pass under her bridge and, apparently, Lex had decided to meet her half way by not availing himself of every opportunity to prove himself an asshole. All in all she felt it was a pretty good start.

Reaching into her bag, Chloe withdrew a thick stack of folders and tossed them towards Lex. Delving back into her tote she pulled out another pile for herself.

"It's research time, Lex. And you're delusional if you think that I'm going to do all of the unexciting work myself and let you just muscle in on the fun stuff. Don't think that I didn't notice you sneaking in some bad cop with Dr. Savard."

Apparently, in the two weeks since they'd met with the doctor, Chloe had been busy. So had Lex, but he suspected it was with a different goal in mind.

He'd been shocked and somewhat irritated when what he'd thought had been an encouraging, but ultimately, dead end had turned up with a direct link to Vilhelmsdotter. And, although he didn't like to be caught off guard, he knew better then to fire exemplary employees for unforeseeable events. While Chloe's investigative technique had been superb, it was simply a matter of chance that had them arriving on the heels of the doctor's unpredictable visit to his oldest friend. It had been a slight cause for concern, but didn't disrupt his plans, and experience had taught him that it was never good business to take disappointment out on valuable member's of one's staff.

So Lex had simply sent his men back out to recover all the ground they'd been over so that all traces of Vilhelmsdotter would be eradicated except those that he specifically wanted Chloe to find. He had every confidence that, in conjunction with the fact that she seemed open to sharing her research, his new precautions would keep Chloe squarely on the path he'd set her.

"You seem far too enthusiastic about hours of hunting for needles in what appears to be quite a sizable haystack. Which leads me to believe that you've either had a day of such unrelenting joy that it is carrying itself over to the daunting task at hand, or, like me, you've had a day of such unending misery that even this seems like a step up."

She knew that she'd have to tell him that she'd exchanged words with his father. Things got around far too quickly in this town and, given her history with Lionel, this was sure to be fodder for the rumor mill. Besides, even if Lex believed her explanations, if she wasn't the one to tell him of the confrontation a small…not so small…fricking huge part of him would sound the paranoia bell and everything she did from that day forward would bear the taint of his suspicions.

Still, it was probably best to ease into the subject.

"Well, I started out the day with a lovely fight with Lana."

Even though he hadn't appeared upset by her presence with Clark at The Talon, Chloe still carefully watched his face. It, unsurprisingly, still betrayed nothing.

"Dare I even guess?"

"Not if you're going to bother guessing anything other than you, what an evil bastard you are, and how you're genetically incapable of commitment."

"So I take it the fight was about me."

"You wish," Chloe snorted. "The fight was about you in as much as you hurt Lana, your immoral tendencies because they sullied her romantic notions of bring you over to the light side of the force, and your lack of relationship follow through because, God forbid, we have a conversation that doesn't involve some kind of homage to abandonment issues."

"So, did you at least leave her in one piece?" Lex asked, knowing that words were Chloe's weapons of choice.

"Of course I did." She sighed and leaned back into the support of the chair. "Sure, it was kind of hypocritical of her to give me the talk that she was outraged that I gave her, but that's just Lana. She's my friend and I can take the bad with the good."

Lex once again felt that flare of envy for the people, undeserving in his opinion, who enjoyed such unwavering loyalty without any understanding of its value.

"So we yelled for a few minutes and then I let her stomp off to run with Clark with her concerns and ignore me for a few days. I'm not worried. With a a little time to think about it she'll come to the conclusion that I'm simply an innocent pawn who had no chance against you if even she, with all of her empathic tendencies, couldn't see the truth about you. Then she'll be nice to me again, although she'll probably be twice as pissed off at you. But hey, she's not talking to you anyway, so it's win-win. Well, it's more like win-draw, but as long as I'm the one with the win I'm happy."

Her satisfied smile drew forth a small grin of his own. Chloe was in a playful mood and Lex found it harmless, and therefore hard to resist.

"So you're saying that the way you handled the problem was to make it all my fault?"

"Nooo," she drew out the word as if speaking to a child. "You made it all your fault. You used Lana and then let your pride keep you from tricking her into dumping you and playing the jilted lover."

Lex wasn't sure whether he should be impressed by her accuracy or insulted that she believed that about him regardless of the truth of her assertions.

"And you honestly think so little of me?"

"Oh please," she scoffed at his affected air of injury. "My conclusions have little to do with you and everything to do with Lana. Lord knows the girl is one of my best friends, but she's needy like I'm nosy and you're devious. Your relationship was too new for you to have sufficiently proved your undying devotion, and she hadn't lined up anyone to take your place. You can talk from now until the cows come home – which is probably about 4:30, but you're not going to ever convince me that Lana was even remotely on board with the break up."

"Don't you think that maybe Lana is slightly exaggerating? Why, after pursuing her, would I want to discard her as callously as you seem to think?"

Chloe gave a huff that did the double duty of conveying her exasperation and blowing some loose hair from her eyes.

"How should I know? To hurt Clark? Because you'd already proved that you could have her? It was Tuesday? I'm careful not to study your motives too carefully for fear of actually understanding you."

Her smile took any sting out of her words, and he could hardly be angry by, what he was realistic enough to admit, was sound judgment on her part. But as her watched, her smile dimmed, and Lex was overcome with a sense of trepidation.

"I guess it was just a day for fighting, because that wasn't actually the only one I had."

Suddenly the trepidation became a concrete dread as he realized that the cause of his bad day might have very well have also been the cause of hers.

"I'll give you a million dollars if you tell me that it was with anyone except my father."

"Do I still get the money if I lie?"

Lex took a deep breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose in a weary motion. This wasn't good. Confrontations between his maniacal father and the impulsive blonde didn't bode well for either her safety or his plan.

"Chloe, what were you thinking? You know how dangerous he can be. And with all we've learned in the past month you're either being incredibly stupid or unbelievably naïve if you think that you can act out against him with impunity."

Chloe knew he wouldn't be happy. But name calling? That was a little unexpected. And kind of sweet in an insultingly protective fashion.

"I say we go with unbelievably naïve as it's the choice that's guaranteed to make me least likely to kick your ass.

As for your father, I think it went pretty well…in a humiliating sort of way. Now, instead of thinking that you and I are collaborating on some secret project he thinks that I'm making meals of Lana's leftovers."

A pretty pout appeared as feigned outrage colored her voice.

"And why is everyone so sure that I never had Clark? We spent practically all of our time together for almost a decade. Hasn't anyone ever heard of friends with benefits?"

His look of disbelief was hardly complimentary, but Chloe comforted herself with the fact that at least she'd defused his anger.

"Not that we were. But I hardly think that it's completely out of the realm of possibility."

Lex wasn't quite sure why he was so relieved to hear the assurance, but put it down to the fact that, if people were going to assume that he was involved with Chloe, he hardly wanted to be thought of as chasing Clark's leavings anymore than Chloe wanted to be thought of as following after Lana's.

But since the subject had been broached, Lex thought that it would be the perfect time to address some of the comments he'd made about her romantic aptitude in the past.

"Of course it's not. Chloe, while I was dating Lana; some of the things I said - "

"Yeah, yeah, Lex. I get the difference between genuine animosity and expediency."

It sounded as if she was letting him off the hook, but Lex wasn't quite sure it was in a good way, so he continued with the original plan.

"I just - "

But Chloe wasn't going along for with the program.

"You were just mad because you thought I was butting in where I didn't belong and you said a number of offensive things. I would think it was less that you meant them and more that you thought it was the easiest way to get me to go away. Hello," she waved her hands at him, "have you even met me? Like a few snide remarks would get rid of me for any length of time.

Of course. And I can see where this is upsetting to you because that reaction is usually restricted to, oh well…everybody. And what about all of the awful things I said about you that day?"

Lex went back over that confrontation in his mind trying to remember any truly terrible words that she might have thrown at him.

"I don't remember anything horribly scarring from you on that occasion."

"Of course not." Chloe rolled her eyes. "I was too pissed off to keep talking to you. But Lois certainly got an earful.

By the way, if you're ever reading the Inquisitor and see a Lois Lane exclusive about your torrid love affair with old man Gibbons, than you have no one but yourself to blame."

Not the most salient point, and yet he felt compelled to ask.

"Old man Gibbons? The man with the imaginary heard of cows?"

"Invisible. He says they're invisible; and in this town, who knows? What can I say; you had amazingly poor taste in the lies I was telling Lois. But you had been a monumental jerk, and at least I didn't tell her it was the make believe bovine that you were cavorting with."

With a slight inclination of his head and a small smirk Lex acknowledged her dubious act of mercy.

"I live in eternal gratitude for your restraint. And I accept unqualified responsibility for any and all repercussions of my thoughtless words. However, I still have one question."

Frankly, she thought that they should have let the subject drop while they were ahead. Chloe knew that Lex had been about to apologize, even though she'd stopped him. The thought being what counts and all, it was good enough for her And Lex didn't actually have to verbalize any contrition; which probably prevented his head from exploding. But if it got them past this then Chloe was game.

"Shoot."

"Why were you arguing with my father to begin with?"

Chloe was nothing if not direct, so as her eyes slid away from his he had his answer. She'd been in The Talon when he had, and she couldn't possibly have missed both the scenes between Lionel and Clark and Lionel and himself. He stiffened at the thought of her thinking him so weak and helpless that she had to fight his battles with his father and then rush over here to hold his hand.

"I don't want your pity, Chloe."

He practically spat the words at her, and a normal person would have had the sense to look embarrassed, make their excuses and go. But no one had ever accused Chloe Sullivan of being normal.

"Well that's just too bad, Lex. Pity isn't something you give, it's something you feel. And leaving here won't make me pity you any less, it will just make me pity you from a different location and deprive you of my glorious company. So suck it up, Luthor, or I'll just start feeling sorry for you you at odd times when you least expect it. It will be random attacks of pity!"

It was most likely the lamest threat she had ever made; but as the anger dimmed and a odd sort of confusion at what she assumed was her failure to pacify his wounded pride crept into his eyes, Chloe took advantage of his momentary silence.

"Seriously, do I feel bad for you? Of course I do. I've watched your dad jerk you around for years and then he just turns around and plays the doting parent for Clark. It's disgusting, and damn right I think the whole situation is a sad state of affairs.

But Lex, that isn't because you're pathetic. It's because I'm human."

Lex thought carefully about both Chloe's words and the emotions behind them. He hated pity. He always had; and after the meteor shower he'd been exposed to enough of it to last a lifetime. Pity had always been something that someone in power gave to someone weaker, less able or fortunate then they were. Pity was a sign of helplessness and vulnerability.

But what Chloe was talking about, it seemed more like commiseration than pity. It struck a chord of understanding; of one person who has known pain seeing another person currently suffering and offering a little kindness. The tough love way that she approached the matter suggested that she didn't see him as an inferior to save, but as an equal to comfort. It wasn't the position of power he preferred to be accorded, but it was by no means an effort, conscious or otherwise, to humiliate or demean him.

Lex wasn't quite sure of what to make of the unfamiliar feelings her words brought forth, and, as with any strong emotion, he needed time alone to study it, calculate its value, and learn how to overcome it. Sadly he was unable to devise a way to either escape or neutralize the tension in the room.

Fortunately, Chloe seemed to sense his rising panic and intervened. An act of compassion he gladly accepted.

"Just don't imagine that I feel bad enough to offer pity sex."

A half smile accompanied a mock sigh.

"My life – a never ending series of tragedies and the disappointments just keep coming."

"But you don't."

Ignoring her snicker, Lex picked up the top file and began leafing through it's contents.

"I don't suppose there's any way I could change your mind? Tell you about the time I was eight and my dad ran over my dog? And with a limousine that's quite a lengthy process."

"No way. I know where Lex junior has been lately and until the top three layers of your skin wear off I'm not even sure I want to shake your hand.

Besides, you never had a dog. Now shut up and read your files. I made sure you got all the boring ones."

His smile grew as Lex began to peruse the papers in earnest. He had no doubt that what she said was true; she had given him all the mind-numbing research. After all, it wouldn't be the first time.

Back when they had been trying to get there hands on everything they could about Lionel it had been a game between them to hand the most tedious parts of the investigations off to each other. Lex firmly believed that, given their competitive natures, it had stepped up the productivity of each of their individual inquiries.

Although that time in his past had been stressful and agonizing in more ways then he cared to count, the sense of having someone fighting with him, someone on whom he could actually rely had been a novelty and something that he had treasured.

Although the decision to distance himself from Chloe may have, in part, been generated by a fear of developing a reliance on that feeling of affiliation, he knew that much of it centered on his growing sense of betrayal at Clark's continuing lies. His obsession slowly narrowed his focus, and when lines had been drawn Chloe had landed firmly on Clark's side.

But now Chloe was here; and although she wasn't crossing that line she was inching towards straddling it. So, while he wouldn't accustom himself to the support that she offered, Lex didn't see the harm in taking advantage of it while it served to further his plans.

His life had been largely devoid of meaningful connections. It had been why both Clark's friendship and duplicity had so profound an effect. And it was that void which allowed him to appreciate what a remarkable friend Chloe truly was. She was loyal to the point of peril, brave to the point of dangerous, and her ability to see her own flaws seemed to give her a vast tolerance for the faults of those people she cared for. Which was probably quite helpful given the quality of her companions.

In business Lex had learned that the best way to succeed was to maximize all avenues of profit in every venture. The longer his association with Chloe went on the greater potential he saw in its continuation. Having a friend who was astute enough to recognize the truth before they gave counsel and steadfast enough to stick with you even after you ignored their advice was no small thing.

And anyone who spent an hour in the presence of the dynamic young reporter would be able to see that her success wasn't a matter of if but when. Fostering a fondness in someone poised to be an adversary was always helpful; and since he didn't foresee the day when Chloe refused to investigate LuthorCorp, it wasn't a bad idea to keep her within easy reach so as to lessen the chance of being caught unawares. There was a reason that keeping one's enemies close was the basis for a cliché.

Turning the pages without really reading them he began to mentally expand his current plan so that he could achieve the most return for his investment. Chloe was still his primary link to Clark. But in her own right she was a potential ally both personally and professionally. If he could construct a strategy to gain Clark's secret from her in a way that didn't leave her feeling used and angry, then, when everything was said and done, maybe…maybe he could keep her.

TBC...