Chlark Fanfic: Crisis, Chapter 22
This is a very weird chapter. Why, you ask?
Simple: it came from all of You. :-)
First of all there were very valid questions raised about the good ol’ can of worms that is Clark + Hospitals = VERY BAD FOR THE KENTS (thanks, jacques!), so I had to find a way to wriggle out of that.
Then I wanted to be sure that Lionel was still kept in the dark ( Read more... )
And speaking of Lex, yay, he came to Clark’s rescue! But not without some disappointment because he was convinced Clark was not telling the whole truth about what really happened in that elevator… (loved the ‘clutching the steering wheel’ line; it spoke volumes about his barely hidden anger at Clark’s seeming lack of trust). Ah, yes, Lex wanted to be friends, but the apple did not fall far from the tree, he often had hidden motives for everything he did.
So, how is Clark going to keep this from his parents? The whole school knows! Which, in a small town means EVERYONE knows! And unless, Lex, or Luthorcorp or their insurance company pays for that ambulance ride (they’re not cheap), the Kent’s insurance will certainly be notifying them of the share that’s not covered under their policy!
I feel terrible for both Chloe and Clark now, seeing how very afraid she still is of him. Maybe, if he’s not going to turn himself in to make her feel safer, he probably should leave Smallville. I was reaching for the Kleenex again at the end there when she pulled out the lead box warning him to stay away from her. I can’t imagine what other awful things have to happen before she’ll feel good enough to have him near her, let alone have a conversation with him.
I was fairly sure that nearly killing him would be a tiny wake-up call for her; possibly give her some sense that she has at least a little control in a life that’s lost the foundations she’s always depended on, or give her some feeling of power knowing she won’t have to be helpless ever again against Clark.
It has to be torture for both of them to go on with their lives pretending to everyone that things are just peachy keen; life is going merrily along and the only problems they have is the stress of school! How long can they keep that up? And haven’t others noticed yet that these two, who were practically joined at the hips for years, are now avoiding each other like the plague? Not to mention Chloe has got to look worn out, she can’t be getting much sleep, or eating well… this must be starting to worry some of the teachers if not fellow students? Of course, she could be explaining it away with worries about her father and that two of her closest friends have moved away.
The loneliness she feels was so very explicitly explained in the way you had Clark observing her. Amazing writing, Dee! I know you plan to have some redemption for them; your imagination will certainly bring them there… at this point, especially with Chloe’s fear and mistrust, I can only think that Clark turning himself in will be the only thing to save Chloe from herself.
And she needs to get help… maybe Martha can convince her of that?
… so on a lighter note, is there a guess, (I won’t hold you to it, Dee, I swear, because EVERY update from you is a BONUS), about how many more chapters you have planned for this epic, emotional, excellently written story? I only ask because I’m running low on kleenex….
…and, btw, THANK YOU AGAIN, for all these intense updates! Especially this bonus chapter, you are just too good to your readers!
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Oh, don't get me started with the chapter projections!!! *groans*
Honestly? I'd say at least 15 more. And that's a very conservative estimate! In reality we're looking at at least 20 more chapters.
Yes, there is far to go, and I don't want to rush it. ;-)
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Bested by the son he’d basically written off, ha-ha!!!
I had to put that line in. And yes, Lionel is, to put it bluntly, as creepy as f**k. What’s with all the meddling in the lives of such young people??? :-/
“And speaking of Lex, yay, he came to Clark’s rescue! But not without some disappointment because he was convinced Clark was not telling the whole truth about what really happened in that elevator… (loved the ‘clutching the steering wheel’ line; it spoke volumes about his barely hidden anger at Clark’s seeming lack of trust). Ah, yes, Lex wanted to be friends, but the apple did not fall far from the tree, he often had hidden motives for everything he did.”
Well, I’ve changed a lot of things around from what was presented in the Season 3 episodes, so let’s see how this affects Lex’s development. ;-)
“So, how is Clark going to keep this from his parents? The whole school knows! Which, in a small town means EVERYONE knows! And unless, Lex, or Luthorcorp or their insurance company pays for that ambulance ride (they’re not cheap), the Kent’s insurance will certainly be notifying them of the share that’s not covered under their policy!”
*sigh* I see yet another unscheduled chapter making its way into this story! Thanks for the info, Mari - over here, the NHS pays for ambulance care and pretty much everything, so it’s a revelation to see that they charge y’all for emergency health costs. Man, that’s harsh!!! :-O
“I feel terrible for both Chloe and Clark now, seeing how very afraid she still is of him. Maybe, if he’s not going to turn himself in to make her feel safer, he probably should leave Smallville. I was reaching for the Kleenex again at the end there when she pulled out the lead box warning him to stay away from her. I can’t imagine what other awful things have to happen before she’ll feel good enough to have him near her, let alone have a conversation with him.”
You know I never take the path of least resistance, Mari. Clark isn’t going anywhere, because that would be a cop-out - and I don’t do cop-outs. :-P
Besides, what would be the point of the story if Clark moves away? It wouldn’t solve anything, and there’s no reassurance that what he did to Chloe couldn’t happen to some other girl. So, nope - there isn’t an easy out for Clark in this tale. But I think you’ll approve of where the story’s headed, though. :-)
More to come in Part 2...
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“I was fairly sure that nearly killing him would be a tiny wake-up call for her; possibly give her some sense that she has at least a little control in a life that’s lost the foundations she’s always depended on, or give her some feeling of power knowing she won’t have to be helpless ever again against Clark.”
True, but things went a bit further than she’d expected, and it really shocked her. If she does resume the krypto-torture, I think she’ll be more judicious in its application from here on [note my own judicious use of the word ‘think.’ ;-)] At the same time, she is still acutely aware of just how vicious and violent he can get, so... it’s a toughie!
“It has to be torture for both of them to go on with their lives pretending to everyone that things are just peachy keen; life is going merrily along and the only problems they have is the stress of school! How long can they keep that up? And haven’t others noticed yet that these two, who were practically joined at the hips for years, are now avoiding each other like the plague? Not to mention Chloe has got to look worn out, she can’t be getting much sleep, or eating well… this must be starting to worry some of the teachers if not fellow students? Of course, she could be explaining it away with worries about her father and that two of her closest friends have moved away.”
You’re right, I’m sure it hasn’t gone unnoticed by those around Chloe that she’s been different lately; and you’ve also correctly surmised that they’ll assume it’s probably due to the departure of two of her closest pals. Then again, everyone’s a selfish brat in high school, and kids all have their own problems to deal with; why worry about anyone else’s? ;-)
“The loneliness she feels was so very explicitly explained in the way you had Clark observing her. Amazing writing, Dee! I know you plan to have some redemption for them; your imagination will certainly bring them there… at this point, especially with Chloe’s fear and mistrust, I can only think that Clark turning himself in will be the only thing to save Chloe from herself.”
It may come to that, (i.e. Clark turning himself in), but the outcome may be different from what you’d expect. Again, I can only plead with you for patience and beseech you to stay tuned. ;-)
“And she needs to get help… maybe Martha can convince her of that?”
She’ll get help/counselling, but from a very unexpected source. And no, it isn’t Lex. :-P
btw, THANK YOU AGAIN, for all these intense updates! Especially this bonus chapter, you are just too good to your readers!”
And y’all are al fantastically good to me as well, with all your brilliant and frequent reviews. It really does keep the Muses at work, so don’t ever stop!!! :-D
Awesome review, Mari. Thanks so much!!! *huggles*
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