Chlark Fanfic: Wounded Heart, Chapter 4
Sorry this has taken so long, but it's such a pivotal chapter I had to make sure I'd done it right. That, and I wanted to have a substantial amount of Chapter 5 written before posting this, because once you get to the end of this chapter there'll be lots of questions and I don't want to be hunted down with torches & pitchforks by readers clamouring for an explanation! So hopefully Chapter 5 will be up in a few hours, but by tomorrow at the latest.
Enjoy! And I like feedback very much.
I also shortened the title...suits the story better.
Awesome banner by the lovely ctnb60. Your brilliance knows no bounds, Carol! :-)
Read previous chapter here.
Read story from the beginning here.
Chapter 4
Title: Wounded Heart
Author: BabyDee
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Chlark
Warnings: some angst
Timeline: Post-‘Legion’
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics.
Present Day
The Daily Planet
I never felt nothing in the world like this before
Now I’m missing you, and wishing you would come back through my door
Ooh…Why did you have to go?
Clark groaned inwardly, putting down his sandwich and leaning his elbows on his desk so that he was resting his forehead in his palms. The sappy serenades were back to haunt him. Greg had returned to the desk and had apparently set the I-pod back to the ‘Songs to make you Slit Your Throat in Agony’ playlist. And this particular track by Elliott Yamin had him this close to reaching for the Kryponite razor.
So now I’m all alone…
Girl you could have stayed, but you wouldn't give me a chance
With you not around it's a little bit more then I can stand…
There was only so much he could take. Clark stood and headed for the elevator.
So why does your pride make you run and hide?
Are you that afraid of me?
He punched the button and tapped his foot as he waited for the elevator to arrive at the basement.
So baby I will wait for you
Cause I don't know what else I can do
Don't tell me I ran out of time
If it takes the rest of my life…
Clark heard a soft ‘ping’ as the doors in front of him opened. He stood aside and let people off the elevator first before getting on and pressing the button that would take him straight to the roof. The double doors slid shut, and he sighed with relief.
But somehow he just couldn’t seem to stop listening.
Baby I will wait for you
If you think I'm fine it just ain't true
I really need you in my life
No matter what I have to do I'll wait for you…
The elevator doors slid open and Clark stepped outside onto the Daily Planet rooftop. He made his way to a spot in the shade under the slowly spinning Globe and sat down on the bench there. There were usually a few people up here at lunchtime, but this afternoon he had the place all to himself. He was glad. The airy roof had sort of become his ‘office hours loft’, somewhere he could go to sit and quietly think about things. Or mope, as Chloe would put it. He smiled to himself. He’d like to think that he’d grown out of moping, and simply ‘paused to reflect’ on things instead.
Chloe. He frowned as he remembered how she had become a shell of her former self, and wondered again if he ought to try and find her, make sure she was okay. There was no real reason to suspect that she might not be…just that nagging feeling that had taken root in his gut and refused to quit.
Clark sighed. He really needed to remember that Chloe had left because she needed some space after his violation of her trust. She really didn’t need to have him stalking her after all that had happened.
Be patient, he told himself. Just wait for her. When she needs you, she’ll call for you.
Clark focused his hearing intently, and listened to the rest of the song that was currently playing.
Baby I will wait for you
Baby I will wait for you
If it's the last thing I do
Baby I will wait for you
Cause I don't know what else I can do
Don't tell me I ran out of time
If it takes the rest of my life
Baby I will wait for you
If you think I'm fine it just ain't true
I really need you in my life
No matter what I have to do I'll wait for you
I'll be waiting.
Clark smiled wryly. Patience wasn’t one of his strong points, and he hated having to wait, but he’d do it. For Chloe, he’d wait as long as was necessary.
Still smiling, Clark rose to his feet and headed for the elevator.
***
Present Day
July 2009
“Did you go for the break?”
The woman nodded. “We did as you instructed, sir.”
He raised his eyebrows. “And…?”
She shook her head. “Still nothing.”
A resigned look crossed his face. “Fine,” he sighed. “I’m done waiting. Let’s do this the hard way.” He turned and walked off down the corridor.
Just then a small figure emerged from the room. “Cancel that,” she said, jubilant. “Go tell the boss we have a green light. She’s finally cooperating.”
***
“Sir?”
He looked up from the cellphone he was idly studying and regarded the woman standing in the doorway.
“Well?” he asked.
“She’s ready,” she answered.
“You’re sure?” he asked idly.
“Positive.”
He pressed a few keys on the cellphone, and then flipped it shut with a snap and stood up.
“Alright,” he said, flexing his fingers. “Let’s get this over with.”
***
Chloe blinked weakly as her door opened and one of the uniformed minions came in and made her way toward the device controlling the flow of liquid into her arm. She flinched, mentally preparing herself for a fresh wave of pain, but to her immense relief the woman shut off the device and removed the feed from her arm.
“Here, sit up,” she said, giving her a hand.
“Thank you,” Chloe croaked weakly, relief flooding her veins as both the cessation of the liquid and the change in position made a tangible difference to her pain-racked body. The woman went to the small table in the corner and poured some liquid into a glass from a jug. She came back to where Chloe sat rubbing her sore wrist.
“Some water?” she offered.
“Please,” Chloe sad gratefully, accepting the glass and draining it swiftly.
“Thank you,” she said, handing the glass back. The woman - Maria, she guessed - took it from her with a smile as she went to place it back on the table. She was definitely an upgrade from Cruella. Maybe, Chloe thought hopefully, her better nature could be appealed to.
“Maria…you’re Maria, right?” she asked hesitantly.
“That’s right,” she responded, still smiling. “You need something?”
Chloe breathed deeply and beseeched the woman with pleading eyes.
“I was wondering…if you could give me something for the pain…” Chloe began hopefully.
The smile disappeared. “Chloe, I can’t-”she began.
“I don’t want to get you into trouble or anything,” Chloe rushed on, tears in her eyes, “and I won’t tell them if you don’t, but please…” the tears began to roll down her cheeks. “Please, I’m in agony here,” she begged. “Just…please, let me have something…anything…”
“Chloe, you don’t understand…” Maria sighed and shook her head. “I’m afraid there’s not much point in me giving you anything at this point. It’ll all be over soon.”
Oh, God…” Chloe sobbed helplessly.
“I’ve paged the others,” she continued kindly. “We need to get you ready now.”
Chloe stared at her, wide-eyed. “Are you saying…?” she breathed, not quite believing the other woman’s implications.
Maria smiled again and nodded. “You’re fully dilated, Chloe. You’re baby’s about to be born.”
***
Chapter 5...
*dun dun dun!!!*