"Back from the Dead" (Chlex Drama/Romance)- PG-13/R: Chapter 24
SUMMARY: Almost three years have gone by since Lionel´s murder trial but its effects are far from over for everyone involved. A mysterious meeting in Star City resurrects hidden skeletons and wakes up many ghosts.
AUTHOR: Lexie aka lillianschild
RATING: PG-13/R
Thanks to lone_starling88 for creating this awesome banner for my fic.
PREVIOUS CHAPTER
CHAPTER 24: Closure
LUTHOR MANSION- LEX’S DEN
Two weeks had elapsed since their visit to the Kent farm and Pirate had already settled down at the mansion. Choosing a name for him had been a family affair in which even Lois had taken part- she was, of course, the one who had come up with the most outrageous ones; all of which mocked the dog’s master somehow. In the end, it was the animal’s pirate-like patch round its eye what settled the matter. Lex had suggested several names, most of which belonged to illustrious members of Her Majesty’s privateers, including Drake and Morgan... but Chloe and Laurie’s snickers and giggles on hearing such pompous names attached to the puppy had made him cave in.
The little beast alternated his time between the mansion’s gardens, where he and Laurie ran to their heart’s content, and the quiet solitude of Lex’s study, where he stretched out in front of his master’s desk and gave himself to brooding while Lex worked on his laptop and signed LuthorCorp documents.
“You’re the picture of perfect companionship,” chuckled Chloe as she plopped down in one of the upholstered armchairs near the now unlit fireplace.
“When we brought him home I was half-expecting he’d sharpen his teeth on the furniture and that I’d have to be chasing him around the rooms to snatch some LuthorCorp dossier from his mouth.”
“Oh, you man of little faith! You seem to have forgotten he was begotten by a mild-mannered farmboy’s pet.”
“Thank God he isn’t fond of plaid shirts,” he snickered, signing the last document on the pile.
“Speaking of plaid shirts and farmboys; Clark’s just brought the weekly delivery and had some exciting news to share...”
“I suppose it has nothing to do with a certain brunette pest called Lane.”
“Well, no. Although her name also came up in the conversation... You knew about their interview at The Planet to get an internship this semester, right?”
“Yes, I heard something about it when I came to pick you up at the farm,” he replied with a poker face, recapping his MontBlanc.
“Just heard? Or a little bit more?” she cocked an eyebrow with a conspiratorial grin.
“What exactly are you trying to say?” he asked her impassively, leaning back on his swivel chair.
“I don’t know... I’ve been thinking... subtle bribery, some veiled threats of having a certain editor transferred to some obscure newspaper.”
“Is your opinion of me so low?”
“Lex, we both know how you’ve always operated. I’m not expecting you to change into Mother Theresa for me. In any case, if you’ve twisted some arms on this occasion, I find it kind of cute.”
“I don’t do cute,” he huffed.
”Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me,” she said huskily, swinging around his swivel chair to sit herself on his lap. “You wouldn’t like for them to find out what you’ve done though. Clark’ll surely accuse you of trying to buy him off.”
“I’m not...” he started to object until she cut him off.
“I said that’s what he might think, being who he is. And you know, although I think using your pull to let them have their dream is something more to love you for, you should try to stop thinking about you as unworthy of Clark’s friendship or anyone’s for that matter. You’re flawed, yes, but who’s perfect? Clark isn’t exactly a candidate for the best friend award or the most honest. He’s got deep dark secrets in his closet too. “
“You think?” he smirked, brushing a few blond hairs off her face.
“He’s so transparent. I wonder who he thinks he’s fooling. He’d never fooled us.”
“No, not us. Do you think Lois suspects anything?”
“My cousin’s not as oblivious as you think. She might choose not to acknowledge some things which are going on around her. Call it self-preservation, if you will. But she’s a hell of a lot better at lying and keeping secrets than Clark ever will; especially when she cares about someone.”
“I hope for both their sakes he’ll stop mooning over Lana,” he nuzzled her neck.
“Lex, are you playing matchmaker now? Don’t tell me you twisted the editor’s arm to force Clark and my cousin to socialise on a daily basis. Wasn’t you who called Lois a nosy pest the last time she was here?”
“I still believe she’s a pest,” he whispered in her ear as he tugged at her earlobe.
“Are you turning soft-hearted?” she smiled.
“If she’s otherwise engaged, we won’t see her nosing around the mansion so much. Besides, being soft-hearted isn’t ingrained in my Luthor genes,” he replied, as she shifted on his lap.
“They aren’t your only genes. Did you know that Martha was friends with your Mom when they were single?” she asked softly, straddling him now.
“Were they?” he replied after a slight pause, feeling a small lump in his throat like every time he thought of Lillian.”She never said anything.”
“Martha said your Mom would have loved to see you now... She’d have been proud of you, Lex,” she added quietly, splaying her hands on his chest.
“I still have a lot to do to make amends, Chloe. I don’t feel like I am...”
“Don’t say deserving. I don’t want to hear that word come out of your mouth again. ,” she interrupted him, putting her fingers on his mouth.”She’d have been proud of the way you are with me and our child, and of everything you’re doing to fix things.”
“You’re doing most of the work.”
“That’s bull, Mr Luthor!” she punched his chest playfully.
“I wouldn’t have been able to convince half of the people to stay and give this project a chance.”
“Give them time, Lex.”
“I don’t think it’s a question of time, Chloe. You should be realistic. There’s a very good chance they’ll never trust me. I wouldn’t blame them.”
“I know the original idea behind 33.1. when you picked up the project from your Dad was to help these people and let them enjoy a normal life or as normal as it could be given who they are. You lost yourself along the way, but you realised it in time- that certainly counts for something. So... going back to the issue we were discussing... Did you or didn’t you convince a certain editor to put Clark and Lois’ names at the top of the list for the internships?”
“I might have said something or other about his golf club membership due for renewal and the second mortgage on his house to pay for his secret lover’s expensive tastes.”
“You’ll be so busted if Clark ever finds out.”
“I’ve just given them a little push. They’ll have to prove their worth or the owner of The Planet will sack them before hiring them once they graduate,” he smirked.
“Leeeex...”
“OK. I bought the paper. I didn’t like that Linda Lake column anyway. I rescinded her contract. My first executive decision as the new owner. ”
“This is worse than I thought. They’ll start crying nepotism in the news room.”
“I hope Clark’s improved something since the day he did those menus for The Torch. I have a little more faith in your cousin. She’s been doing some research into the mayor... quite promising... “
“Nothing that might end up with her killed or hurt, right? I seem to remember your father backed that fellow’s candidacy.”
“That’s what Clark will be there for... and myself of course. I wouldn’t let anything happen to your... our ... family, Chloe. So, tell me... what does this man have to do to ensure you’ll cover his back if the plaid shirt boy ever suspects he had anything to do with these internships?” he smiled, leaning forward to brush her lips with his.
“Oh, I have some very interesting ideas?” she smiled mischievously, snaking her arm around his neck and pressing closer to him.
“Care to elaborate a little?” he asked, tightening his hold on her.
“I can just feel you’re already having some ideas of your own,” she told him in a seductive tone as she noticed the effect their playful banter was having on Lex’s anatomy.”But... I’m afraid you’ll have to take a rain check till tonight. I’d come to the study to let you know lunch was ready... and as horny as we both might be, if we dragged this on a few minutes more, I don’t feel like having Pirate in the same room,“ she added, starting to get up. “I think his master’s possessive streak has already rubbed off on him,” she cocked an eyebrow, noticing the dog had left his place in front of the desk and was yapping and looking at them speculatively.
A couple of nights ago the puppy had managed to open the door of the playroom, where he slept at night, and rushed into the master bedroom intent on saving his master from a mysterious assailant- only to find the young couple in the throes of passionate love-making. The upsetting intrusion had eventually given way to a fit of laughter when Chloe suggested hiring one of those pet psychiatrists to make sure they hadn’t scarred the animal at such a tender age or even created a canine version of Lex’s former womanising-self. The idea of having a queue of Smallville’s farmers knocking at the mansion doors asking for alimony on behalf of their pets in a few months’ time convinced Lex they needed to call the locksmith first thing in the morning.
“Would lunch get ruined if we took a short detour to the east wing?” he asked lightly, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind when he saw her smile starting to fade away.”Chloe?” he asked quietly when she closed her eyes and leant against him without replying.
“I don’t know how long I can take having to hide from the world like this. Don’t get me wrong, I love our time together as a family and as a couple but ... “
“You’re starting to feel asphyxiated. I’m sorry you both have to be cooped up here and that the Kents’ is the only place you can frequent. It’s the best way to keep you safe. I know Laurie needs to socialise with other children, feel that she has a normal life... I too want for us to be able to go out in the daylight... we had enough of hiding away before you left. I’m dying to introduce you to the world as my wife... “ he went on.
“So am I. I can’t wait for this nightmare to be over. I know that you and Bruce are powerful guys and that there are a lot of people whose careers will reach the stratosphere if they get a stiff sentence for Edge. It’s just that... I cannot help but remember what happened last time... Everyone has a price, Lex . What if he gets away or if someone buys his release? “
“It won’t happen,” he stated gravely, and Chloe felt a sudden shiver course up her spine. She hadn’t seen this side of Lex in a while but she knew it would always be part of him.”Are you having second thoughts about us?” he added when he felt her tremble a little.
“I’m not, Lex,” she told him quietly, grabbing one of his hands and squeezing it gently. His insecurity never ceased to get to her; she still had work ahead to prove to him she and Laurie weren’t going anywhere. “I love you. We love you,” she said emotionally.”I trust you,” she added in a raspy voice, standing on tiptoe to graze his lips with hers.
The playful mood of a few moments ago was gone and gave way to a brief but intimate and meaningful moment between them as their tongues mated in an unrushed kiss. It was a tender and quiet interlude of reassurance they both needed.
“I’d never do anything to jeopardise what we have found again, Chloe,” he murmured, cupping her face in his hands.
“I know,” she smiled, aware that he’d also do whatever he deemed necessary to make sure his loved ones were protected from harm and that anyone who dared put their safety at risk or hurt them in some way would pay for it dearly.
Lex could tell she suspected he had something up his sleeve and yet he didn’t experience that bitterness which had always erupted whenever someone who meant something to him pretended everything was OK or resorted to fake smiles and empty words to try to make him think he was trusted when indeed he was not. Chloe was the most outspoken and honest woman he’d ever known and when she’d told him not only that she loved him but that she trusted him, he’d taken her words at face value. Lionel’s son would have second guessed, but Lex felt he could be Lillian’s child with Chloe. She had trusted him with her life and her father’s once; no one had ever shown such faith in him. She was trusting him again implicitly, standing by whatever decision he might have made, believing he’d put their safety and their family first without losing his soul in the process.
THE DAILY PLANET BULLPEN- THE FOLLOWING DAY
It was Clark and Lois’ tenth day as The Planet’s newest interns and they were exhilarated by the whole shebang. Although they were in the basement, sharing a confined space amidst some old filing cabinets whose contents they were helping to transfer to the paper’s computerised database, being part of the legendary Planet in some way felt like a big achievement when they were still in nappies. Everything was the way it was supposed to be; they had to start from the bottom and prove themselves to the bosses before earning the right to share a desk with the Pulitzer winners upstairs.
The atmosphere between the two had been strained the first couple of days until the editor called them to his office and urged them to work through their differences or else Lois would find herself serving coffee and muffins- an idea which had put an ironic smile on Lex’s face- and Clark would be assigned the task of cleaning the windows from the outside wearing a harness while hanging from a rope.
The farmboy had gulped at the option presented. He’d swallow his pride and try to deal with the sexual tension and sparks which were flying between them and that he’d been trying to cover up resorting to hostility. Meanwhile, Lois’ pride and her eagerness to prove herself worthy of the chance she’d been given convinced her there were worse things in this world than fighting off that tingling sensation she got every time he brushed her accidentally while rifling through the old files- not to mention the urge she felt on occasion to slam him against the cabinet and see if she could ruffle his prim and proper appearance with a few hungry kisses. What in heaven’s name was wrong with her?! She’d never felt that way before, not even around Oliver. Chloe and Lex would never live it down if they could read what was going through her head.
“Have you finished with the middle drawer?” asked Clark with his hand on the handle of the bottom one as she sat at their shared desk with a faraway look. “Earth to Lois!” he insisted, making her jump off her seat.
“Jeez, Smalville! You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“What were you thinking of anyway? You seemed to be miles away from here. Have you dug up anything new on the mayor? You promised to keep me on the loop, Lois.”
“I’m a big girl, Clark. “
“I’m not trying to steal the story from you if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“I wasn’t suggesting anything like that. You wouldn’t be able to look at Martha in the eye if you were...”
“Hey, Lane!” shouted a proof reader, knocking on the glass of the storage room. “You’d better hurry. The boss wants you in his office stat.”
“What have you done now?” frowned Clark.
“I’ve been on my best behaviour,” she glared at him.
“Some people are born lucky, Lane. I have a hunch you’ll get the break some people would have to kill themselves for.”
THE EDITOR’S OFFICE
“Mr Pearson,” smiled Lois, closing the door behind her and trying to appear unfazed as she remained standing in front of the short-tempered editor-in-chief.
“Ms Lane. It appears you’ve been hiding something from me,” said the middle-aged man, lying back on his swivel chair.
“Pardon?” asked Lois, feeling her heart gallop in her chest.
“I have a small battalion of journalists working on this story. Two of my best were in that courtroom to witness this,” he explained, turning up the sound of the TV. “All of the channels are fighting to get the exclusive. All of them have been turned down and I’ve just found out thanks to James Olsen... a freaking assistant photographer... that you’re Miss Sullivan’s cousin!”
Lois had her eyes glued to the screen and wished she’d been there to celebrate with her younger cousin... and Lex. Although she’d expected the jury to find the bastard and his accomplices guilty, the outcome of the last day of the trial had been surprising to say the least.
“Unbelievable, isn’t it? That confession three years ago would have changed history, wouldn’t it?” said Mr Pearson, observing Lois’ dumbfounded look.”I want the interview no one’s been able to get. You hear me, Lane? Get me Sullivan.”
“I won’t exploit my cousin’s grief to further my career, Mr Pearson.”
“If you don’t do this, Lane, somebody else will write this story, and your cousin might not be treated so nicely.”
“I don’t appreciate being emotionally blackmailed. This isn’t the way I plan to make a name in the business. I’m here because of a dream that was born during my last year at high school. It was my cousin’s too. And let me tell you, she’s a damn good reporter and writer- better than some of the people who are part of your permanent staff. I wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t awoken the calling in me. I want to feel I’m here because of my own merits and not because of my family connections,” she fumed.
“Good answer,” clapped the editor. “Congratulations, Miss Lane, you’ve just passed the test,” he smiled.
“What?!”
“I like you. Prove your worth writing a good juicy story- a story other than this one- and I might consider keeping you as part of the staff once you finish your studies,” replied Pearson.” Now, take the rest of the day off. I’m sure you’re dying to join the Luthors to celebrate. What are you waiting for, Lane? You’re excused,” he finished, picking up the receiver. “Yeah, Pearson here.”
“So? What happened? Are you OK, Lois? Did he give you an assignment?” Clark bombarded her with questions as she stepped out of the office.
“Have you watched the news, Clark?”
“No, I’ve come straight from the basement. Why? “ frowned the farmboy.
“Edge confessed to being an accessory to the murder of Lachlan and Eliza Luthor. He named Lionel Luthor as the mastermind behind it. Do you know what this means, Clark?”
“Closure.”
“You know, of all the things I expected to happen at that trial this wasn’t amongst the scenarios I imagined. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ecstatic. It’s just that...”
“You don’t believe he’s grown a conscience all of a sudden. “
“Yeah, exactly. Something really odd happened in that courtroom this morning. But, you know what? I don’t care what it was. Justice will be served at last. The rat of Lionel Luthor saved his sorry ass from the chair but Edge won’t. He deserves everything he’s got coming.”
“What did Mr Pearson want?”
“That man’s a piece of work, let me tell you. Pick up your jacket. We’re done for today.”
“But... “
“This is a great day for Chloe... and Lex, Smallville. We have to be there. The damn database can wait. We’ve missed many birthdays and special occasions already. I’m not planning to waste any more. So? Are you coming or not?”
“You’re right, Lois. It’s time to celebrate the present.”
CHAPTER 25