I disclaim. I don't own anything.

Please don't lie to me, unless you're absolutely sure I'll never find out the truth-Ashleigh Brilliant

"You told him she was dead."

"Having been there when I said it," Lex leaned back in his chair, the amusement he felt at the beginning of Tess' visit quickly turning to annoyance. "I'm very much aware of this."

"But she's not dead."

"I'm aware of that as well."

Tess opened her mouth, only to bite down on her bottom lip. In order to make sure she wasn't the one that had gone completely insane, she went over everything she'd said in the last twenty minutes. And after some thought she realized that telling Davis that Chloe was dead when she was, in fact, decidedly not dead was an exceptionally bad idea. "What happens when he finds out-"

"Why would he find out?" Lex's interruption, though delivered calmly, was the only sign of his impatience. "He has a death certificate, an obituary, and picture of her tombstone."

"He also has the name of a man who's not only very much aware that Chloe isn't dead, but is in the best position to produce her in the blink of an eye."

"But he won't. You see, when Lucas tries to kill Clark, which I assure you he will, it's going to confirm everything Clark initially thought about him. And in that moment, Clark is going to do what he does best," Standing from his desk, Lex walked over to his wet bar. Though he craved something just a little stronger, he stuck with water. He was tired of doing all the thinking, all the planning. But even now he would not allow Tess' ineptness to ruin this, he'd never been so close to what he wanted. "He's going to decide what's best for Chloe, without taking her needs into consideration. He won't tell her. He's going to make matters worse."

Tess nodded. It didn't seem in her best interest to tell Lex he was doing a bang up job of making matters worse all on his own.

"It's not possible."

"I'm not saying it's him, Di. I'm just saying that Lucas Luthor and Davis Bloome could-"

"No." Even as hope spread through her like wild fire, Dinah shook her head in denial. She couldn't believe this, couldn't believe it only to have it not be true. "I saw, we all saw him go down with that beast."

Instead of looking at her, Bruce looked to the open laptop on the table in front of them. Everything with Dinah was still new, still at that casual stage. He tried very hard to keep it casual, or at least maintain casual to her, that he couldn't bring himself to look at the conflict that played so clearly on her face. Couldn't pay attention to that part of himself that wanted to fix this for her.

Shaking her head, Dinah stood up to pace the room. "It's not Davis. He wouldn't be able to stay away from Chloe."

"The accident you described, the damage that Davis would have sustained." Bruce spoke slowly, as if trying to soothe a spooked horse. "He may not remember, Luthor could be using that."

Of course that was possible, if she'd learned nothing else, anything was possible. But still, "He loved her so much. Not even an 20ft intergalactic monster could keep him from her, he fought that everyday for her. I just don't see anything as mundane as amnesia stopping him."

"So what game do you think Luthor is playing? According to reports, Lucas was in a pretty bad accident. Do you really think Lex would use that as an opportunity to reconstruct his brother's face to look like Chloe's dead husband? Does he really hate her that much?

"Chloe?" Dinah made a lazy movement with her shoulders. "Maybe. Chloe and Clark, yeah. Either way, we find out what's going on. We have access to some of the sharpest minds, best labs, and the two fastest men on the planet. This plan practically plots itself."

"Do we tell Chloe?"

Dinah's knee-jerk reaction was no. She couldn't imagine what it would do to Chloe. But at the same time, whether or not this was Davis, Chloe needed to be aware of Lex's games. "I don't know." The words tasted bitter. "She should know, but can you imagine what this could do to her. I wish I knew, but I just don't know what to do."

"Listen, you let Governor Graham know that this story is going to print, there's nothing he can do to stop that." The frown that graced Chloe's face when the intern stopped in front of her desk only deepened at the message he handed her. She gave an impatient nod, before turning her attention back to the phone. "Now he can get ahead of this thing and give me a quote or he can just wait for the blow back. You have my number." Hanging up the phone, Chloe made a quick note of the call before shooting an email off to Lois.

"Sullivan, we need to talk about your expense report."

Glancing across the room at the harried accountant slowly making her way towards her, Chloe began to move faster towards the glass doors. "I can't now, Barb. Get back to me later." It had more to do with her height then actual skill, but she managed to get outside the news room and lost in the returning lunch crowd.

As with most things that involved co-workers being pissed at her, this was Lois' fault. Against her better judgment Chloe allowed Lois to put a few things on her report. Granted they were actual necessities that the accountants were being bitchy about, but they were now hounding Chloe, wanting her to go over every item. It was a inconvenience she was not at all in the mood for. And made a promise to herself that she was not going to talk to any of the accountants until they trapped her.

Taking the stairs up the two necessary flights, it didn't take Chloe long to reach the daycare facility. The place was a bright, high tech playground. Ollie had spared no expense. The place was filled with games-both educational and recreational-toys and books. The staff fully accredited teachers and pediatric nurses.

"Hi, Chris." Chloe gave the young woman behind the front desk an absent smile as she signed her son out for the rest of the day.

One look through the glass doors she caught sight of Declan sitting apart from the rest of the kids, his unhappiness clear on his face. When he looked up and saw her, his bottom lip trembled and his eyes filled with tears. Standing, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him, ignoring the warnings of the teachers, his arms were locked around his mother's legs before she was even in the room.

"Declan." Chloe tried to make her voice firm, when she lifted him into her arms but his tears were soaking her blouse, his sniffles breaking her heart.

"Mrs. Bloome. Mrs. Bloome, can I have just a moment of your time?"

"Ms. Thompson," Chloe gave an apologetic smile as she turned to the Director. "I'm really sorry. I came down as soon as I could."

"That's not what I wanted to talk about," Placing her hand on the younger woman's arm, Ms. Thompson lead the reporter back out to the lobby. "It's Declan's behavior. Normally, when Bart is here, he's very well behaved. But when Bart isn't we get behavior like today."

"Bart's his uncle, he misses him." Absently Chloe reached back to untangle Declan's hand from her hair. "He's just a little boy and he doesn't know how to deal with that."

"I agree that's part of it. But not all. Declan doesn't socialize with the other children, at all. Even when he observes Bart playing with the other children, he just walks away." Ms. Thompson was very much aware that this was a delicate situation. "Declan is a very smart little boy, but he's been spoiled and made to feel as though he deserves to be the center of attention." She paused, thinking she was already in for penny. "Which is why I don't believe he's the problem. Not entirely."

Jaw clenched to keep from letting loose with a rant of Lois proportions, Chloe spoke slowly "What would you say was the problem?"

"You and your cousin were both raised by single fathers. Clark Kent lost his own father quite tragically. Bart lists you, Declan, and Lois as his family. It's no secret that Oliver Queen lost his parents when he was just a child. You all understand lost, share a pain not only with one another but with Declan as well. However, though well intentioned, you can't replace his father with-"

It took a self-restraint Chloe wasn't entirely aware of possessing to keep from flying off the handle. "Okay, that's enough. My son misses his uncle and is acting out because of it. I'll talk to him about it, he'll be fine tomorrow. I don't need for you to psychoanalyze our family." Determined not to leave in a childish huff, Chloe shifted Declan on her hips before standing and marching determinedly away.

It wasn't like she was completely unaware of the these issues, Chloe doubted any of them were unaware of what they were doing. And she knew it had to stop, she told them repeatedly that their spoiling Declan was going to cause more problems in the long run. But on the other hand she understood why they were doing it. None of them wanted Declan growing up feeling as they had. It was hard to explain to someone else what the loss of a parent could do to a child, to not know that other part of yourself. And it was going to be harder for Declan, because of who and what his father was. So maybe she wanted to make things easier for him now. She was his mother, who herself had lost a parent in much the same way, how could she not want something different for him.

Going back to her desk, Chloe put the whole issue out of her mind. Realized there was no point worrying over it now, when it was likely to keep her awake tonight. With her son settled happily under her desk, she got back to work.

"Shut it down, little cuz." Lois' voice was brimming with excitement as she leaned over Chloe's desk. "Just got a call from the bartender at Towers. Governor Graham is meeting a top ranking Luthorcorp exec for drinks in twenty minutes."

Before Chloe could even think to grab her purse, Declan's head popped up from under her desk.

"Lo-Lo." With a bright grin, Declan climbed into her mother's lap, over her desk, and into Lois' arms.

"Hello, love of my life." Lois covered her nephew's cheeks with kisses. As always the stress of her day floating away at the sight of the little boy's smile. She knew what people thought of her, could guess at the things they said about her behind her back. But none of it mattered, because in her arms was unconditional love. Aside from Chloe, no one had ever loved her the way Declan had. "Why is he up here?"

"Long story." She bit her lip as she considered her options. "I can't take him back to daycare." Thought she may never take him back there again, before she realized that would make her a coward. Not to mention it would prove Thompson right. But he couldn't go back today, it would only upset him more then he already was. And make life a living hell for everyone else.

"Uncle Clock!"

Looking towards the door, Chloe saw her best friend. He didn't seem entirely comfortable in the black slacks and charcoal sweater. But the frown he wore was quickly replaced with an easy grin when he saw Declan.

Declan ran full speed at him but Clark was quick to scoop the little boy up before he could hurt himself. He'd tried to get a word in as Chloe and Lois ran through what had lead them up to this point. They were talking over each other but he managed to picked up something about a lead, a quote, and a temper tantrum at daycare. If they'd taken a moment to breathe he'd have told them Dinah needed him in London, that he wasn't sure how long he'd be gone. But they were both so excited and taking Declan along wouldn't be a hardship, so all he said was:

"Sure I'll watch him. No problem."

"Aw, come on, cuz. Don't you want to be surprised?"

"The baby will either be a boy or a girl. It's not much of a surprise. Besides, I can't believe you of all people want me to wait."

"I know right, I'm surprising even myself here."

He followed the sound the women's laughter until he reached them. The tall brunette was leaning down, her hand placed on the blonde's stomach, and near identical smiles on both their faces.

"I wish I could support your growth here, cousin. But I don't think I could stand the doctor knowing what I'm having when I don't."

"Yes, Chloe Sullivan's ever desperate need to know everything."

"It's in the blood."

"That it is." The brunette stood back, leaning casually against the bookshelf behind her. "So, I'm going to need to borrow your husband."

"Considering I never got my flat iron back…"

"The difference is she can't keep me in a drawer in her bathroom." Sidling up to the small blonde he wrapped an arm around her waist, unable to keep himself from touching her stomach as well. Trying to gage if it had grown since yesterday.

"You'd be surprised." She leaned into him. "So what do you need my husband for?"

"He's never seen The Three Amigos." The brunette seemed to be positively scandalized. "Never even heard of it. I don't know how you allow this, Chloe, I really don't."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "I'm a horrible wife."

"That's why I'm here. I'll be over on Saturday. Dimples and I are going to make a day of it." She flashed a smile that was full of fun. "I'm going to fix him for you."

"Lois Lane," Chloe gestured to the woman opposite her. "The cure for all that you didn't know ailed you."

The sound of the book hitting the floor snapped Lucas out of the memory. Knowing now that it was indeed a memory was a relief unlike any he'd known before. If there was any problem with the memories, other than desperately missing a woman lost to him forever, was that he was losing himself in them. So he wasn't aware of how long he stood in the aisle at the bookstore, staring into space. Wondered that no one called security on the strange man in children's lit section.

It had been three days since Lex told him what happened to Chloe. Three days since he learned the name of the man who took her from him. And Lucas was still filled with the desire to kill. To hunt down Clark Kent and use his bare hands to end that man's life. But even more he was filled with the need to learn more about Chloe Sullivan. Believing that the more he learned about her the more of her he'd have. He'd gone to Lex, but the only information his brother had was how she died. Lucas wanted to know how she lived. He wanted to know the places she'd been and who she was when she was there.

And now thanks to a random memory, he had a name. A family member who'd know more about Chloe Sullivan then Lex. Who could tell him things his brother could not. Lois Lane. He had to find Lois Lane.