SPN/SV Fic: Sweet Surrender (2/6)
Sweet Surrender (2/?) -- Dean/Chloe, SPN/SV crossover
Title: Sweet Surrender
Authors: clarksmuse and xtremeroswellia
Fandoms: Supernatural/Smallville
Characters: Dean, Chloe, Sam, Clark, Lex, Dean/Chloe pairing
Rating: R to NC-17
Spoilers: General spoilers for the latter half of both SV and SPN
Disclaimer: Still don’t own any of these characters. Please don’t sue.
Feedback: is love and totally needed. It’s our crack that keeps us writing.
Sam simply raised an eyebrow as he watched his brother fume silently behind the wheel of the Impala as he drove them toward a motel on the outskirts of town. "So she shot you down, huh?"
"Shut up, Sam," he growled, fists tight on the steering wheel. "She's mouthy, obnoxious. I don't know why I even bothered."
"You like her," he responded with a smirk.
Dean snorted. "I do not!" He pushed on the gas harder.
"Yeah, you like this guy," Clark replied with a slight smile, watching Chloe pace around her tiny apartment, her movement filled with irritation.
"Oh yeah. Aside from the fact that he's mouthy and completely obnoxious he's also arrogant and cocky. That's hardly a combination of qualities I'm looking for in my ideal guy," Chloe said, rolling her eyes.
"Good, Chloe, because for a second there I really thought he was the perfect guy for you."
She shot him an annoyed look, irritated by the smirk on his face. "You haven't even met him."
"Maybe I should," Clark replied with a knowing smile, "because I've never seen you so worked up over a guy before. This is definitely a first."
She opened her mouth to protest, but found she had no words. Instead she picked up one of the pillows from the sofa and threw it at him.
Clark sped around the room, making the pillows suspend in mid-flight from the velocity of his movement. When he stopped, he laughed at her.
"Dammit, Sammy, this isn't funny!" Dean fumed, screeching to a halt at the only motel near Smallville. "She pissed me off with her 'you don't know how to seduce a woman' crap. It was... insulting."
Sam nearly choked on his laughter. "She actually said that?"
He nearly kicked the door open and off its hinges. "Yes," he ground between his teeth, seeing red for a second before turning to look at his brother. "Don't make me kick your ass, because I know your pickup lines are pansy, at best."
He snorted in an attempt to hold back another round of laughter. "I like this girl already."
"Good, then maybe you can get information out of her." Dean got out and stalked towards the front lobby for a room key.
"Seriously, Chloe," Clark continued, watching her try to leave her own apartment, "you didn't tell this Dean anything about this guy your mother was controlling, right?"
"Of course not, Clark. I don't even know anything about him." Except the fact he hadn't taken advantage of the fact she was drunk, she thought, frowning a little as she considered that for a moment.
Clark saw through her pensive look and grinned. "But you want to get to know him, don't you?"
She groaned involuntarily, turning away from him as her cheeks flushed with warmth. "Maybe," she responded after a moment. "He was different."
"Different, huh?" Clark knew that was her way of saying his guy had peaked her interest. "How so?"
"Sam, can you let it go already?" Dean asked, tossing his brother a room key. "Can't we go hunt down this demon and get the hell outta Dodge?"
The way his older brother was protesting, Sam knew Dean didn’t' just like this girl. He really liked her. And for Dean, that was unusual. "Well it sounds like she's got the information we need."
"Great, then like I said, you get the info on this thing from her. I don't want to be anywhere near her." That was a lie, of course, but Dean wasn't about to tell Sam that.
He grinned involuntarily as he set up his computer on the small table by the bed he'd dropped his stuff on. "Yeah, you're right. She sounds like she's more my type anyway," he said casually.
Dean nearly knocked his brother against the wall for that remark, but he refrained. "Nerdy and geek-like? Hell, she's a journalist. Go for it." He hoped his voice sounded casual.
Clark grinned at Chloe's obvious indecision over Dean Winchester asking her for help on the same case they'd been working. "Hey, you're the journalist. Why not take him on a wild goose chase or something?"
"I don't exactly have that kind of time, Clark, intriguing as that idea might be." She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "We have to find this guy and stop him." Guilt tugged at her.
He moved to her and put his hands on her shoulders, a friendly yet concerned smile on his face. "Yes, we do. I can run around town to see where he is, but Chloe... maybe these two guys could help out." He saw the irritation return and did his best to look sheepish. "They're looking for the same thing, apparently."
"Look, even if they are some kind of...paranormal investigators, Clark...what do they know about meteor freaks?" She shook her head a little. "They'll just get themselves killed."
"Don't these paranormal investigators know how to take care of themselves in weird situations?" Clark replied with a small shrug.
"Against a meteor freak that crushes people to death with his bare hands effortlessly?"
"What the hell do you think she knows about this case, anyway?" Dean spoke aloud, resting his head against the headboard and flipping through channels as quickly as possible.
"You said her name's Sullivan, right? Chloe Sullivan?" His eyebrows raised as he stared at his computer screen.
"Yes, Einstein. Chloe Sullivan. Need me to spell it for you?" He glanced over at Sam, who seemed engrossed by whatever he'd found on his laptop. "What is it?"
"Well..." Cocking his head to one side, Sam turned to look at his brother. "Come look for yourself and tell me you don't think she knows exactly what's going on in this town."
Scuffling to his feet, Dean strode across the small room and looked down at Sam's computer screen. His eyes widened with shock and anger when he saw a very long list of articles -- all written by Chloe Sullivan -- for the high school newspaper. Everything about the weird and unusual. "Bullshit," he grumbled, pissed off. "She could have said something."
"Yeah, well apparently you pissed her off."
"Not a mistake I'm going to make again," he stated evenly, going back to his original position on the bed.
"Maybe he didn't mean to make you mad," Clark insisted, giving Chloe a look.
"No, he meant to seduce me," she retorted, returning the look with one of her own.
Clark shifted and looked down, not interested in where this conversation was headed. "Okay, TMI, Chlo," he said softly, a slight blush crossing his face. "I still say go talk to him and see if he knows anything. Maybe Dean and his brother could help out."
Chloe groaned. "Since when do we need extra help hunting down meteor freaks?"
"Since you developed a crush on said help," Clark replied, a knowing grin on his face.
"No, Sam, I do not want to go talk to her again," Dean protested, turning the sound on the TV up as loud as it would go. Anything to drown out his brother's insane suggestions.
Sam rolled his eyes in annoyance, wishing for once his brother wouldn't be so pigheaded. "Fine. I'll go talk to her."
He folded his arms across his chest, faintly annoyed Sam actually was going to talk to her. "No, I'll go," he sighed heavily. "Though if I come back missing body parts, it was all in self-defense."
A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched his brother head for the door. "Good luck."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," Dean whispered inaudibly as he shut the door behind him and headed for the Impala, a smile tugging on his lips at the thought of seeing her again. Her obnoxiousness and everything.
Clark headed for the apartment door and turned the knob. "I'm going for a run. I think based on the break-in at Lex's and those other murders, the guy's heading east. He might even be out of town by now." He turned to look at Chloe, who appeared lost in thought.
"Yeah, all right," she said, slowly sitting down on her sofa, distracted.
Shaking his head, amused, Clark disappeared, the door slamming behind him as he left.
Less than five minutes later, she looked up as she heard a knock on the door. "I'm guessing you didn't find anything?" she asked as she pulled it open, startled to see Dean, and not Clark standing before her.
"Was I supposed to?" Dean asked, an amused smirk on his face. Her face turned a delightful shade of pink and he nearly groaned at his gut's tightening in response.
"I wasn't expecting you," she said, giving him a look.
"Didn't think I'd be back so soon," he replied, gazing at her intently, unaffected by her scornful look.
"Didn't think you'd be back at all," Chloe responded.
He was about to state he wasn't going to come back, but he didn't want the door slammed in his face. "So, uh, can I come in?"
"Depends. Are you going to insult me again?" she asked evenly, folding her arms across her chest.
"Depends. Are you going to let me show you I know how to seduce a woman?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Chloe was so caught off guard by his remark, she almost didn't know how to respond. "Guess you'll have to find a willing woman to prove it."
A glint entered his eye. "Who says I haven't found one already?" He leaned against the doorjamb, staring intently as her flushed face. She looked unsure of herself, something he found interesting... and arousing.
She stared back at him just as intently. "Are you gonna come in or are you just gonna loiter in my door all day?"
Standing upright slowly, Dean stared at her and moved towards her, sauntering through the door, stopping mere inches from her body. "How's that?" he queried softly, grasping her chin and pulling her large green eyes up to meet his.
Her stomach tightened involuntarily at his nearness. The feel of his hand on her chin and the way he was searching her eyes caused the breath to hitch in her throat and she wondered how she could be so affected by a man she barely knew.
Ignoring the mass of nerves he felt squirming in his stomach, he lifted his hand to her hair, brushing stray strands away from her face. Why was he so attracted to her? he wondered briefly, watching her gaze settle on his lips. Lush curves aside, the only thing they seemed to share was a mutual ability to irritate each other. Maybe it was because he suspected that she hid her true self from the rest of the world.
He could get to know that woman, he thought, wrapping her hair around his fingers, pulling her face towards his.
She shifted closer to him, an almost involuntary reaction as their lips met in a warm embrace that left her craving more. She rested her hands lightly against his chest, closing her eyes as he slowly deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding along her mouth. She parted her lips, giving him silent permission to continue.
Her response confused him, but that didn't stop him from taking advantage of it. Kicking the door shut with his foot, Dean put a free hand on her hip, pulling her closer so their bodies bumped together gently. His lips plundered hers, tongue sliding against hers slowly. His heart thudded in his chest, lost in the sensations she was creating, feeling his body harden with need.
She slid her hands up to his neck, pulling him closer as her body flooded with heat. She wondered if maybe this was exactly what she needed. Just to forget all her problems for a few hours. Hell, even a few minutes. She found her back pressed firmly against the front door and she groaned softly against his mouth, biting his lower lip lightly.
"Careful," he panted, grinding his body against hers, "I bite back." His hands dove under her shirt, caressing her heated skin as if memorizing it. Her passionate desperation made him think twice about whether this was a good idea, but when her hands grasped his hips and dug into his jeans, he knew she wasn't letting him go.
"Is that a threat or a promise?" She slid her hands beneath his shirt, exploring his own heated skin, not a bit surprised at the well-toned muscles she found there as she bit him lightly once more.
"At the rate you're going?" he rasped against her lips, picking her up and wrapping her long legs around his waist. He backed up and started walking slowly towards the large bed he'd seen earlier, his hands holding her sides tightly.
She groaned softly as his hardness pressed against her thighs through their jeans. His fingers dug into her hips and she slid her hands through his hair, lowering her lips to his neck.
His legs hit the foot of the bed, sending them sprawling onto it, his weight nearly crushing her as he collapsed onto her. Dean buried his face between her breasts, taking several heavy breaths, steadying himself, before tackling the buttons on her shirt, his fingers nearly ripping them off as his lips kissed her exposed skin.
Chloe bit down hard on her lip, closing her eyes tightly at the feel of his lips against her stomach. Her fingers knotted in his hair, the breath hitching in her throat.
"Ow," he grunted, feeling her hands tug in his hair. He smelled her arousal, felt the heat radiating off her skin, and smiled. "Didn't know you were so violent." His fingers unhooked her bra and tweaked a nipple as he spoke.
A bitter smile touched her lips. "That's because you don't know me." She reached out and yanked at the front of his shirt, watching in satisfaction as the first couple buttons popped off.
Dean's eyes lit up with an almost feral gleam. "I plan to remedy that," he whispered, shucking off his shirt, the remaining buttons scattering onto the floor. He resumed his gentle torture, licking her navel as his hands unbuttoned her jeans.
Chloe watched as he tugged the jeans off her hips, leaving her naked except for the black underwear that covered her. She shivered involuntarily as the cool air hit her bare skin, causing goose bumps to rise up on her skin.
"Dammit," he whispered, taking a moment to look at her. She was beautiful, he thought, sliding his hands up her legs. Skin smooth and creamy. Flawless. He had never seen perfection. Nuzzling her mound, he slowly peeled her underwear away, feeling her shiver with pleasure. His cock pulsated, straining against his fly.
She drew in a breath and let it out slowly, opening her eyes to look at him, her green eyes intense.
Rubbing her clit slowly, his eyes connected with hers and he watched those wide orbs turn dark with pleasure. A sensuous smile graced his lips.
"Dean." Her voice was low, her fingers bunching the sheets beneath her hands.
"Tell me," he whispered, leaning down and kissing her inner thighs, his finger easing into her hot wetness.
She hissed involuntarily. "Don't be gentle," she whispered.
He sucked in a breath of surprise, of intense pleasure that raced through his veins at her words. He pulled away long enough to discard his jeans, freeing his hard manhood, and grabbing a condom. He ripped the foil in half, sliding the thin shield on and then hovering over her, his eyes hot and needy.
Chloe gazed at him, her body tense and her breathing heavy as he leaned over her. Wordlessly she pressed her lips against his in a hard, demanding kiss.
Positioning himself, Dean pushed into her, filling her quickly. He felt her gasp, her shock, and shuddered with pleasure. She was tight, and her muscles around his cock felt so good, it nearly made him come. "Jesus," he rasped hoarsely, letting go of her lips for a moment when he began to move quickly.
A soft cry escaped her as his length stretched her painfully tight, and she shut her eyes, arching up against him and winding her legs around his waist even as her fingernails raked down his shoulder blades.
He pounded into her, shuddering at the feel of her fingers on his skin, her inner walls massaging his cock. "Chloe," he panted in her ear, biting her earlobe as he pounded into her.
She whimpered involuntarily, the pain heightening the pleasure as she felt her body tensing for release. Her head fell backwards onto the pillow, exposing her neck as her back arched up toward him again.
Sucking on her neck, Dean rode her quick and hard, feeling the heat rise between them. Her climax rippled through her, making her cry aloud as she wound her legs around him, pushing him into her deeper. His cock pulsed and he drove into her once last time, releasing himself with a wild jerk and muffled cry into her tender flesh.
She shuddered against him, swallowing hard as she panted for breath, collapsing beneath him.
Stifling a satisfied chuckle, Dean rolled onto his side and pulled off the thin film from his cock, tossing it into the trashcan by her bed. He then pulled her back to his front, spooning her. "That good enough?" he whispered, kissing her neck, a smirk on his face.
Chloe shut her eyes, shuddering a little against the feel of his mouth against her skin. "All right. So what do you wanna know?"
"Besides everything about you?" he whispered, licking her earlobe.
"Not about me. About the case."
Dean frowned and took a deep breath. "What do you know about what killed those people?"
"Not a what. A who."
"Who?" He moved back and turned her over so he could look at her. Chloe's eyes spoke of a sadness he understood too well, though he had no intention of asking her about it. Yet.
"A super-powered meteor freak." She gazed at him.
"A... what?" His voice carefully hid the shock and disbelief at hearing her words. What the hell was a meteor freak? he asked himself, his hands pulling a cover over their now cool naked skin.
"In 1989 there was a meteor shower here. Biggest one the planet's seen. A lot of people died and a lot of others got hurt. Well, the meteors alter people's chemical makeup. It gives them abilities to do things other people can't."
His body stiffened and he stared at her. "Wait, you telling me some random dude juiced up on these... rocks did that?"
"Yes." Her gaze was even, her body tense. "His ability is super-strength."
Wonderful, he thought, rolling onto his back. He needed to get this news to Sam, though how they were going to take this guy down, he had no idea. "Great, superpowers. That's something you don't hear everyday."
Unless you're me, Chloe thought, closing her eyes for a moment before moving off the bed and quickly pulling her clothes back on.
Closing his eyes, Dean listened to the gentle rustling of her clothes sliding over her body. A tense awkwardness fell between them, and he wondered if it was time to go. She seemed to want him to leave.
She raked a hand through her hair quickly, straightening up and looking at where he still lay in her bed. "We should probably tell your brother what's going on if you're going to try and help find this guy."
His eyes shot open. "Wait a minute," he said, pulling himself up to look at her. "Help find this guy? Sweetheart, Sam and I are the ones to find him. That's why we're here."
Chloe's eyes narrowed. "The name's Chloe. And FYI, I know more about the meteor freaks in this town than just about anyone else. And you're not gonna get very far without me," she informed him, turning and heading for the door.
Watching her leave, Dean jumped out of bed and yanked on his clothes. "Yeah, right," he grumbled, wondering how he and Sam were going to protect this stubborn headed woman from herself.
Chloe was already down the stairs and across the cafe to Sam's table by the time Dean made it out the door. "Hi, Sam. I'm Chloe." She stuck her hand out.
Startled out of his thoughts, Sam dropped the newspaper and looked up at the pretty blonde that had Dean wound tighter than he'd ever seen his brother. "Hi. Sam," he stated, taking her hand and shaking it briefly. "I guess... Dean's talked to you about our case?" He saw his older brother nearly running down the stairs and couldn't help the smirk that flitted across his lips.
"Yeah. He has." She gazed at him for a moment, consciously aware that the two were brothers but already sensing their differences.
Sam let go of her hand and lumbered to his feet. "Please, have a seat," he replied, offering her the empty chair across from her.
"I'm guessing the newspapers were a bust, huh?" Dean said, noticing the papers scattered across the table, as if Sam had been tossing them around in frustration.
Giving his brother a look, Sam turned to look at Chloe, seeing the hesitation in her eyes. "Please," he urged. "We need to know what you know."
Chloe glanced around the nearly empty cafe and slowly sat down across from Sam, sneaking a sideways glance at Dean but remaining silent. She couldn't help but wonder who they really were.
Always aware of her, Dean took a seat next to her, resting one hand on her knee.
She felt the light pressure and bit her tongue lightly to keep from shivering, focusing her gaze on Sam. "The person you're looking for is a meteor freak with super-strength." She quickly gave him the same rundown she had Dean, studying his features and trying to determine whether or not he believed her or thought she was a lunatic.
What Chloe was telling him was the craziest thing he had ever heard, yet there was something in her eyes that told Sam she was telling the truth. Believed it, had seen it with her own eyes. Leaning in and resting on his forearms, Sam looked at Chloe. "So, uh, how do you catch this guy?" He snuck a glance at Dean, who wore a serious expression.
She leaned toward him, lowering her voice. "Trial and error."
"What the hell does that mean?" Dean asked, squeezing her knee and glancing at Sam.
"It means every meteor freak is different. They all have different weaknesses. It's a matter of figuring out what this one's is."
Sam swallowed hard. This was definitely something they had never encountered before. "You got any leads on... what kind it is?" he asked quietly.
"Not yet. But I'm working on it." Her voice was grim and she started to say something else when the bell over the door tinkled. Her face paled a little as she spotted the familiar, attractive bald man she'd once considered a friend.
Dean felt her body tense, almost shudder with revulsion, and he turned to look at her sharply. Her face was pale, almost ghostly, and the question fell away from his lips. He turned towards the door, following her stare.
"Great," Sam whispered under his breath as he watched Lex Luthor himself stride through the door like he owned the place.
He spotted her immediately, as though he'd known all along that she was there and for all she knew, he really had. "Good morning, Chloe." His voice was filled with false cheer, his eyes dark.
"Well it was," she responded, meeting his gaze with an even one of her own.
Dean stood up and eyed the bald man carefully. "Who's this?" he drawled, his voice low and rough.
"Lex Luthor," Sam replied, cocking an eyebrow and standing as well, though he hung by his chair, never taking his eyes from the newcomer.
Lex cocked an eyebrow and looked at them with sudden interest and it made her blood run cold. "And you would be?"
"Tourists. They got lost on the way to Metropolis," Chloe answered, her voice tense as she too, rose to her feet.
Dean fought the urge to roll his eyes at the obvious lie she was feeding this guy and turned to look at her. "Chloe's been very helpful in showing us how to get out of this cornrow town."
"Yes, she's always full of useful information," he said with a smirk, gazing at her intently. "Runs in her family."
Chloe's eyes darkened a little, her body tensing even more. "Was there something you wanted, Lex?"
Sam's focus shifted to Chloe, who was trying very hard to keep her composure. Suddenly it had occurred to him that there was a longer and much deeper story they'd stumbled upon. And she seemed to be in the middle of it. He looked sharply at Dean, who simply nodded at his brother, sensing the tension.
"No. I can see you're busy. We'll talk later," he responded smoothly, still smirking. "Have a good day." He turned and headed out of the Talon once more.
Dean's head immediately whipped around to stare at Chloe, whose face was white as a sheet. "What the hell was that about?" he whispered, taking her arm to steady her.
Her heart was pounding so heavily in her chest she wondered if they could hear it. "That was about unfinished business," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"What kind of unfinished business?" Dean responded, grasping her arm tighter.
"Dean..." Sam whispered, looking at the blonde with compassion and concern for her. She was scared of Lex Luthor, so much so that if Dean let her go, she'd crumple onto the floor.
"What, Sammy?" he countered, glaring at his brother.
It took her a moment to regain her composure, and she slowly sat down in the seat. "I need some water."
"I'll get it," Sam replied quietly, giving her a sad look before striding off towards the front counter for a glass of water.
Dean sat down next to her, reluctantly dropping his hand. "So, uh... you know Lex Luthor?" he asked lamely, kicking himself. Obviously they knew each other, he thought, looking down at the table. The question was more about their history.
Chloe rested her face in her hands for a moment, struggling to decide on what she should do next. "You could say we're more than casual acquaintances."
"Oh God, you two didn't...?" he started with a grimace.
She jerked her head up to stare at him in horror. "Of course not!"
Despite the sudden rush of relief at seeing the intense irritation and disgust cross her features, Dean frowned sheepishly. "Hey, that's good... because for a second there I was gonna question your taste in men."
"Maybe she already is," Sam replied, having heard his brother's off-color comment as he returned to the table. Handing the glass of water to Chloe, he sat down again, studying her intently.
"Thanks," she said softly to Sam, taking a sip of the cool liquid and closing her eyes for a moment, forcing herself to take a couple of deep breaths. Then she slowly opened her eyes again and glanced around the cafe, her body tense as though she expected a monster to jump out any second and attack them right there.
Looking at Dean, Sam whispered to Chloe, "Let's get out of here." The girl looked like she was about to jump out of her skin, so being here obviously wasn't a good idea.
Nodding, Dean covered her hand with his. "So, uh, where can we take you?"
She was silent for a moment, then she slowly rose to her feet, not willing to take them around Clark even though it was her natural inclination to head to the Kents' when there was trouble. They hunted the supernatural, and she wasn't convinced they were entirely trustworthy. She hesitated a moment, looking from Sam to Dean, and said the only place she thought might be safe from listening devices and other equipment Lex had no doubt stashed in every corner of her life. "Your car."
Sam glanced at Dean worriedly. "Dean, can I talk to you for a second?" he said, standing up and looking at Chloe apologetically.
She gazed at the taller of the two brothers with hesitation and uncertainty as he pulled his older brother aside.
"Dude, I don't think taking Chloe with us is the best idea," Sam said when they were out of earshot.
Dean crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow at his brother. "Oh yeah? Why not? Doesn't she have the goods on this dude who can smash things with his bare hands? Isn't that the point?"
"Look, clearly we walked into something a lot bigger than we'd anticipated," he said in a hushed voice.
"And now that we're in the middle of it, we need to see this through," he replied sternly, giving Sam a look.
He was silent for a moment, casting a worried glance at Chloe, and then looking back at his brother. "Dean, Lex Luthor is...not something we're prepared to deal with."
"What? He's a monster... we kill monsters last time we checked." He grumbled, a low sigh on his lips. "We can't just... leave her like this, dude."
Sam glanced at Chloe once more, almost able to feel her fear and fatigue. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right," he murmured.
"Gee, that's a first," he grumbled under his breath, glancing in Chloe's direction. Her hunched shoulders distracted him, made him want to take her burdens from her. He shook his head, this feeling totally alien to him.
"Whatever we're doing, we better do it quick. I don't think she trusts us."
"No, she doesn't," he agreed, taking a step towards her. "Normally you'd be good at this, but since she's so attracted to me..." He smirked at his brother, then moved back to where Chloe sat.
Sam rolled his eyes and watched his older brother move back to Chloe's side.
Holding out his hand, Dean looked earnestly at Chloe's down turned face. "Let's get you outta here," he said evenly.
She hesitated a moment, then rationalized the fact that they'd slept together and he hadn't tried to kill her. Nodding a little she slowly stood up.
Sam held the door for Chloe and watched her exit the Talon quickly, almost as if the Devil himself was on her heels. What had they gotten themselves into? he wondered, following Dean out the door and watching him take Chloe to their Chevy Impala.
"Sam, you're in back, dude," Dean called, holding the front passenger side door open for Chloe.
She hesitated a moment before climbing into the passenger seat of the classic car. At another time she probably would have taken the time to admire it, but she just didn't have it in her right then.
It didn't take Dean long to jump into the driver's seat and speed off towards their hotel on the outskirts of town. No one spoke the entire duration of the ride, though Dean had a million questions. And by the time they'd reach the hotel, Chloe looked about has happy as someone who'd undergone root canal work.
"Want to tell us about it?" he offered, unlocking the door to the hotel room, glancing at Sam as he headed for the front desk to get another room for her. Just in case.
She stepped inside, looking tense and wary. "Like I said, it's gonna be trial and error."
"Have you ruled out anything that *doesn't* work?" he asked, shutting the door behind her.
"Not so far. We have to find the guy first."
Dean looked pensive for a moment. "When was the last time you saw him?" He really wanted to ask how she managed to confront this guy and survive, but something told him she wouldn't react well to that question.
"A little over a week ago."
Vague much? he thought with a wry smile, seeing Sam enter the room with another room key.
"Here, Chloe," the younger Winchester said, offering the key to her. "You're free to stay with us, if you want." He glanced over at Dean, hesitation and concern written on his face.
"Thanks," she said quietly, taking the key from him and looking between them. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "If you're wondering how I managed to survive that particular encounter it was because I had him at gunpoint."
"Gunpoint, huh?" Sam asked carefully, not wanting to give away the fact that he didn't quite believe her. Not when this guy could have literally torn her apart from what he'd read about the other victims.
"He didn't... try to attack you or anything?" Dean asked, secretly pleased that she knew how to wield a gun.
"No." She hesitated for a second. "But he was under a form of mind control."
Sam threw Dean a *I told you so* look. "Mind control? From whom? For what purpose?"
Her eyes darkened a little. "Someone trying to stop Lex Luthor," she responded, her voice tense.
"Too bad he didn't succeed," Dean replied under his breath, voice hard as nails with determination.
"She," Chloe corrected him, not meeting his gaze.
Sam blinked. "She?"
"Smallville's an equal opportunity town when it comes to meteor freaks."
Dean snorted. "Sounds like a great setup here."
Hitting his brother in the arm roughly, San looked at Chloe. "Okay, so this guy got away and was basically a killing machine for someone else. Is she going to put the... mind whammy on him again, do you think?" He glanced at Dean sideways, smirking when he saw his brother roll his eyes.
Chloe flinched visibly. "No. She won't be." She turned away, shutting her eyes tightly.
Sam knew he had hit a nerve, though he had no idea why. His impression was that this female... whomever she was... knew Chloe. Might have been close to her, for all he knew.
"Okay, so no mind whammy," Dean said out loud, watching Chloe's every motion like a hawk. "So where do you think this guy went?"
She was silent for a moment. "I don't know. There hasn't been a pattern I can discern."
"So is there a way to track this guy, then?" Sam asked slowly, sitting down on the bed near them. "I mean, if he's a wanted man, certainly the cops are looking for him."
"You're overestimating the local police. They're not very bright. They think they're looking for some kind of wild animal." She turned to face them once more.
Dean ran a hand over his face. "Cops, man," he grumbled.
"Dean, they're just doing their job," Sam pointed out... again.
"Dude, we are so not having that conversation again," he retorted hotly, his eyes sharp with irritation. Glancing at Chloe, he continued in a calmer voice. "Do you know of some way to track him?"
She was quiet for a moment. "Yeah. There might be a way. But it involves highly illegal acts."
Dean wanted to laugh out of sheer pleasure over her words. "We invented highly illegal acts," he told her proudly, ignoring the warning look Sam shot his way. "I think Sam should help you, though. He's very Geek Boy with the research and computer hacking."
"Well, that makes two of us." She offered Sam a tiny smile.
"God, Dean, would you stop with the name-calling?" Sam ground out, though he smiled politely at Chloe, sensing a slight change in the air where she was concerned.
Dean grinned winningly at both of them and knew they would find this guy and take care of him in no time.
Title: Sweet Surrender
Authors: clarksmuse and xtremeroswellia
Fandoms: Supernatural/Smallville
Characters: Dean, Chloe, Sam, Clark, Lex, Dean/Chloe pairing
Rating: R to NC-17
Spoilers: General spoilers for the latter half of both SV and SPN
Disclaimer: Still don’t own any of these characters. Please don’t sue.
Feedback: is love and totally needed. It’s our crack that keeps us writing.
Sam simply raised an eyebrow as he watched his brother fume silently behind the wheel of the Impala as he drove them toward a motel on the outskirts of town. "So she shot you down, huh?"
"Shut up, Sam," he growled, fists tight on the steering wheel. "She's mouthy, obnoxious. I don't know why I even bothered."
"You like her," he responded with a smirk.
Dean snorted. "I do not!" He pushed on the gas harder.
"Yeah, you like this guy," Clark replied with a slight smile, watching Chloe pace around her tiny apartment, her movement filled with irritation.
"Oh yeah. Aside from the fact that he's mouthy and completely obnoxious he's also arrogant and cocky. That's hardly a combination of qualities I'm looking for in my ideal guy," Chloe said, rolling her eyes.
"Good, Chloe, because for a second there I really thought he was the perfect guy for you."
She shot him an annoyed look, irritated by the smirk on his face. "You haven't even met him."
"Maybe I should," Clark replied with a knowing smile, "because I've never seen you so worked up over a guy before. This is definitely a first."
She opened her mouth to protest, but found she had no words. Instead she picked up one of the pillows from the sofa and threw it at him.
Clark sped around the room, making the pillows suspend in mid-flight from the velocity of his movement. When he stopped, he laughed at her.
"Dammit, Sammy, this isn't funny!" Dean fumed, screeching to a halt at the only motel near Smallville. "She pissed me off with her 'you don't know how to seduce a woman' crap. It was... insulting."
Sam nearly choked on his laughter. "She actually said that?"
He nearly kicked the door open and off its hinges. "Yes," he ground between his teeth, seeing red for a second before turning to look at his brother. "Don't make me kick your ass, because I know your pickup lines are pansy, at best."
He snorted in an attempt to hold back another round of laughter. "I like this girl already."
"Good, then maybe you can get information out of her." Dean got out and stalked towards the front lobby for a room key.
"Seriously, Chloe," Clark continued, watching her try to leave her own apartment, "you didn't tell this Dean anything about this guy your mother was controlling, right?"
"Of course not, Clark. I don't even know anything about him." Except the fact he hadn't taken advantage of the fact she was drunk, she thought, frowning a little as she considered that for a moment.
Clark saw through her pensive look and grinned. "But you want to get to know him, don't you?"
She groaned involuntarily, turning away from him as her cheeks flushed with warmth. "Maybe," she responded after a moment. "He was different."
"Different, huh?" Clark knew that was her way of saying his guy had peaked her interest. "How so?"
"Sam, can you let it go already?" Dean asked, tossing his brother a room key. "Can't we go hunt down this demon and get the hell outta Dodge?"
The way his older brother was protesting, Sam knew Dean didn’t' just like this girl. He really liked her. And for Dean, that was unusual. "Well it sounds like she's got the information we need."
"Great, then like I said, you get the info on this thing from her. I don't want to be anywhere near her." That was a lie, of course, but Dean wasn't about to tell Sam that.
He grinned involuntarily as he set up his computer on the small table by the bed he'd dropped his stuff on. "Yeah, you're right. She sounds like she's more my type anyway," he said casually.
Dean nearly knocked his brother against the wall for that remark, but he refrained. "Nerdy and geek-like? Hell, she's a journalist. Go for it." He hoped his voice sounded casual.
Clark grinned at Chloe's obvious indecision over Dean Winchester asking her for help on the same case they'd been working. "Hey, you're the journalist. Why not take him on a wild goose chase or something?"
"I don't exactly have that kind of time, Clark, intriguing as that idea might be." She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "We have to find this guy and stop him." Guilt tugged at her.
He moved to her and put his hands on her shoulders, a friendly yet concerned smile on his face. "Yes, we do. I can run around town to see where he is, but Chloe... maybe these two guys could help out." He saw the irritation return and did his best to look sheepish. "They're looking for the same thing, apparently."
"Look, even if they are some kind of...paranormal investigators, Clark...what do they know about meteor freaks?" She shook her head a little. "They'll just get themselves killed."
"Don't these paranormal investigators know how to take care of themselves in weird situations?" Clark replied with a small shrug.
"Against a meteor freak that crushes people to death with his bare hands effortlessly?"
"What the hell do you think she knows about this case, anyway?" Dean spoke aloud, resting his head against the headboard and flipping through channels as quickly as possible.
"You said her name's Sullivan, right? Chloe Sullivan?" His eyebrows raised as he stared at his computer screen.
"Yes, Einstein. Chloe Sullivan. Need me to spell it for you?" He glanced over at Sam, who seemed engrossed by whatever he'd found on his laptop. "What is it?"
"Well..." Cocking his head to one side, Sam turned to look at his brother. "Come look for yourself and tell me you don't think she knows exactly what's going on in this town."
Scuffling to his feet, Dean strode across the small room and looked down at Sam's computer screen. His eyes widened with shock and anger when he saw a very long list of articles -- all written by Chloe Sullivan -- for the high school newspaper. Everything about the weird and unusual. "Bullshit," he grumbled, pissed off. "She could have said something."
"Yeah, well apparently you pissed her off."
"Not a mistake I'm going to make again," he stated evenly, going back to his original position on the bed.
"Maybe he didn't mean to make you mad," Clark insisted, giving Chloe a look.
"No, he meant to seduce me," she retorted, returning the look with one of her own.
Clark shifted and looked down, not interested in where this conversation was headed. "Okay, TMI, Chlo," he said softly, a slight blush crossing his face. "I still say go talk to him and see if he knows anything. Maybe Dean and his brother could help out."
Chloe groaned. "Since when do we need extra help hunting down meteor freaks?"
"Since you developed a crush on said help," Clark replied, a knowing grin on his face.
"No, Sam, I do not want to go talk to her again," Dean protested, turning the sound on the TV up as loud as it would go. Anything to drown out his brother's insane suggestions.
Sam rolled his eyes in annoyance, wishing for once his brother wouldn't be so pigheaded. "Fine. I'll go talk to her."
He folded his arms across his chest, faintly annoyed Sam actually was going to talk to her. "No, I'll go," he sighed heavily. "Though if I come back missing body parts, it was all in self-defense."
A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched his brother head for the door. "Good luck."
"Luck has nothing to do with it," Dean whispered inaudibly as he shut the door behind him and headed for the Impala, a smile tugging on his lips at the thought of seeing her again. Her obnoxiousness and everything.
Clark headed for the apartment door and turned the knob. "I'm going for a run. I think based on the break-in at Lex's and those other murders, the guy's heading east. He might even be out of town by now." He turned to look at Chloe, who appeared lost in thought.
"Yeah, all right," she said, slowly sitting down on her sofa, distracted.
Shaking his head, amused, Clark disappeared, the door slamming behind him as he left.
Less than five minutes later, she looked up as she heard a knock on the door. "I'm guessing you didn't find anything?" she asked as she pulled it open, startled to see Dean, and not Clark standing before her.
"Was I supposed to?" Dean asked, an amused smirk on his face. Her face turned a delightful shade of pink and he nearly groaned at his gut's tightening in response.
"I wasn't expecting you," she said, giving him a look.
"Didn't think I'd be back so soon," he replied, gazing at her intently, unaffected by her scornful look.
"Didn't think you'd be back at all," Chloe responded.
He was about to state he wasn't going to come back, but he didn't want the door slammed in his face. "So, uh, can I come in?"
"Depends. Are you going to insult me again?" she asked evenly, folding her arms across her chest.
"Depends. Are you going to let me show you I know how to seduce a woman?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Chloe was so caught off guard by his remark, she almost didn't know how to respond. "Guess you'll have to find a willing woman to prove it."
A glint entered his eye. "Who says I haven't found one already?" He leaned against the doorjamb, staring intently as her flushed face. She looked unsure of herself, something he found interesting... and arousing.
She stared back at him just as intently. "Are you gonna come in or are you just gonna loiter in my door all day?"
Standing upright slowly, Dean stared at her and moved towards her, sauntering through the door, stopping mere inches from her body. "How's that?" he queried softly, grasping her chin and pulling her large green eyes up to meet his.
Her stomach tightened involuntarily at his nearness. The feel of his hand on her chin and the way he was searching her eyes caused the breath to hitch in her throat and she wondered how she could be so affected by a man she barely knew.
Ignoring the mass of nerves he felt squirming in his stomach, he lifted his hand to her hair, brushing stray strands away from her face. Why was he so attracted to her? he wondered briefly, watching her gaze settle on his lips. Lush curves aside, the only thing they seemed to share was a mutual ability to irritate each other. Maybe it was because he suspected that she hid her true self from the rest of the world.
He could get to know that woman, he thought, wrapping her hair around his fingers, pulling her face towards his.
She shifted closer to him, an almost involuntary reaction as their lips met in a warm embrace that left her craving more. She rested her hands lightly against his chest, closing her eyes as he slowly deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding along her mouth. She parted her lips, giving him silent permission to continue.
Her response confused him, but that didn't stop him from taking advantage of it. Kicking the door shut with his foot, Dean put a free hand on her hip, pulling her closer so their bodies bumped together gently. His lips plundered hers, tongue sliding against hers slowly. His heart thudded in his chest, lost in the sensations she was creating, feeling his body harden with need.
She slid her hands up to his neck, pulling him closer as her body flooded with heat. She wondered if maybe this was exactly what she needed. Just to forget all her problems for a few hours. Hell, even a few minutes. She found her back pressed firmly against the front door and she groaned softly against his mouth, biting his lower lip lightly.
"Careful," he panted, grinding his body against hers, "I bite back." His hands dove under her shirt, caressing her heated skin as if memorizing it. Her passionate desperation made him think twice about whether this was a good idea, but when her hands grasped his hips and dug into his jeans, he knew she wasn't letting him go.
"Is that a threat or a promise?" She slid her hands beneath his shirt, exploring his own heated skin, not a bit surprised at the well-toned muscles she found there as she bit him lightly once more.
"At the rate you're going?" he rasped against her lips, picking her up and wrapping her long legs around his waist. He backed up and started walking slowly towards the large bed he'd seen earlier, his hands holding her sides tightly.
She groaned softly as his hardness pressed against her thighs through their jeans. His fingers dug into her hips and she slid her hands through his hair, lowering her lips to his neck.
His legs hit the foot of the bed, sending them sprawling onto it, his weight nearly crushing her as he collapsed onto her. Dean buried his face between her breasts, taking several heavy breaths, steadying himself, before tackling the buttons on her shirt, his fingers nearly ripping them off as his lips kissed her exposed skin.
Chloe bit down hard on her lip, closing her eyes tightly at the feel of his lips against her stomach. Her fingers knotted in his hair, the breath hitching in her throat.
"Ow," he grunted, feeling her hands tug in his hair. He smelled her arousal, felt the heat radiating off her skin, and smiled. "Didn't know you were so violent." His fingers unhooked her bra and tweaked a nipple as he spoke.
A bitter smile touched her lips. "That's because you don't know me." She reached out and yanked at the front of his shirt, watching in satisfaction as the first couple buttons popped off.
Dean's eyes lit up with an almost feral gleam. "I plan to remedy that," he whispered, shucking off his shirt, the remaining buttons scattering onto the floor. He resumed his gentle torture, licking her navel as his hands unbuttoned her jeans.
Chloe watched as he tugged the jeans off her hips, leaving her naked except for the black underwear that covered her. She shivered involuntarily as the cool air hit her bare skin, causing goose bumps to rise up on her skin.
"Dammit," he whispered, taking a moment to look at her. She was beautiful, he thought, sliding his hands up her legs. Skin smooth and creamy. Flawless. He had never seen perfection. Nuzzling her mound, he slowly peeled her underwear away, feeling her shiver with pleasure. His cock pulsated, straining against his fly.
She drew in a breath and let it out slowly, opening her eyes to look at him, her green eyes intense.
Rubbing her clit slowly, his eyes connected with hers and he watched those wide orbs turn dark with pleasure. A sensuous smile graced his lips.
"Dean." Her voice was low, her fingers bunching the sheets beneath her hands.
"Tell me," he whispered, leaning down and kissing her inner thighs, his finger easing into her hot wetness.
She hissed involuntarily. "Don't be gentle," she whispered.
He sucked in a breath of surprise, of intense pleasure that raced through his veins at her words. He pulled away long enough to discard his jeans, freeing his hard manhood, and grabbing a condom. He ripped the foil in half, sliding the thin shield on and then hovering over her, his eyes hot and needy.
Chloe gazed at him, her body tense and her breathing heavy as he leaned over her. Wordlessly she pressed her lips against his in a hard, demanding kiss.
Positioning himself, Dean pushed into her, filling her quickly. He felt her gasp, her shock, and shuddered with pleasure. She was tight, and her muscles around his cock felt so good, it nearly made him come. "Jesus," he rasped hoarsely, letting go of her lips for a moment when he began to move quickly.
A soft cry escaped her as his length stretched her painfully tight, and she shut her eyes, arching up against him and winding her legs around his waist even as her fingernails raked down his shoulder blades.
He pounded into her, shuddering at the feel of her fingers on his skin, her inner walls massaging his cock. "Chloe," he panted in her ear, biting her earlobe as he pounded into her.
She whimpered involuntarily, the pain heightening the pleasure as she felt her body tensing for release. Her head fell backwards onto the pillow, exposing her neck as her back arched up toward him again.
Sucking on her neck, Dean rode her quick and hard, feeling the heat rise between them. Her climax rippled through her, making her cry aloud as she wound her legs around him, pushing him into her deeper. His cock pulsed and he drove into her once last time, releasing himself with a wild jerk and muffled cry into her tender flesh.
She shuddered against him, swallowing hard as she panted for breath, collapsing beneath him.
Stifling a satisfied chuckle, Dean rolled onto his side and pulled off the thin film from his cock, tossing it into the trashcan by her bed. He then pulled her back to his front, spooning her. "That good enough?" he whispered, kissing her neck, a smirk on his face.
Chloe shut her eyes, shuddering a little against the feel of his mouth against her skin. "All right. So what do you wanna know?"
"Besides everything about you?" he whispered, licking her earlobe.
"Not about me. About the case."
Dean frowned and took a deep breath. "What do you know about what killed those people?"
"Not a what. A who."
"Who?" He moved back and turned her over so he could look at her. Chloe's eyes spoke of a sadness he understood too well, though he had no intention of asking her about it. Yet.
"A super-powered meteor freak." She gazed at him.
"A... what?" His voice carefully hid the shock and disbelief at hearing her words. What the hell was a meteor freak? he asked himself, his hands pulling a cover over their now cool naked skin.
"In 1989 there was a meteor shower here. Biggest one the planet's seen. A lot of people died and a lot of others got hurt. Well, the meteors alter people's chemical makeup. It gives them abilities to do things other people can't."
His body stiffened and he stared at her. "Wait, you telling me some random dude juiced up on these... rocks did that?"
"Yes." Her gaze was even, her body tense. "His ability is super-strength."
Wonderful, he thought, rolling onto his back. He needed to get this news to Sam, though how they were going to take this guy down, he had no idea. "Great, superpowers. That's something you don't hear everyday."
Unless you're me, Chloe thought, closing her eyes for a moment before moving off the bed and quickly pulling her clothes back on.
Closing his eyes, Dean listened to the gentle rustling of her clothes sliding over her body. A tense awkwardness fell between them, and he wondered if it was time to go. She seemed to want him to leave.
She raked a hand through her hair quickly, straightening up and looking at where he still lay in her bed. "We should probably tell your brother what's going on if you're going to try and help find this guy."
His eyes shot open. "Wait a minute," he said, pulling himself up to look at her. "Help find this guy? Sweetheart, Sam and I are the ones to find him. That's why we're here."
Chloe's eyes narrowed. "The name's Chloe. And FYI, I know more about the meteor freaks in this town than just about anyone else. And you're not gonna get very far without me," she informed him, turning and heading for the door.
Watching her leave, Dean jumped out of bed and yanked on his clothes. "Yeah, right," he grumbled, wondering how he and Sam were going to protect this stubborn headed woman from herself.
Chloe was already down the stairs and across the cafe to Sam's table by the time Dean made it out the door. "Hi, Sam. I'm Chloe." She stuck her hand out.
Startled out of his thoughts, Sam dropped the newspaper and looked up at the pretty blonde that had Dean wound tighter than he'd ever seen his brother. "Hi. Sam," he stated, taking her hand and shaking it briefly. "I guess... Dean's talked to you about our case?" He saw his older brother nearly running down the stairs and couldn't help the smirk that flitted across his lips.
"Yeah. He has." She gazed at him for a moment, consciously aware that the two were brothers but already sensing their differences.
Sam let go of her hand and lumbered to his feet. "Please, have a seat," he replied, offering her the empty chair across from her.
"I'm guessing the newspapers were a bust, huh?" Dean said, noticing the papers scattered across the table, as if Sam had been tossing them around in frustration.
Giving his brother a look, Sam turned to look at Chloe, seeing the hesitation in her eyes. "Please," he urged. "We need to know what you know."
Chloe glanced around the nearly empty cafe and slowly sat down across from Sam, sneaking a sideways glance at Dean but remaining silent. She couldn't help but wonder who they really were.
Always aware of her, Dean took a seat next to her, resting one hand on her knee.
She felt the light pressure and bit her tongue lightly to keep from shivering, focusing her gaze on Sam. "The person you're looking for is a meteor freak with super-strength." She quickly gave him the same rundown she had Dean, studying his features and trying to determine whether or not he believed her or thought she was a lunatic.
What Chloe was telling him was the craziest thing he had ever heard, yet there was something in her eyes that told Sam she was telling the truth. Believed it, had seen it with her own eyes. Leaning in and resting on his forearms, Sam looked at Chloe. "So, uh, how do you catch this guy?" He snuck a glance at Dean, who wore a serious expression.
She leaned toward him, lowering her voice. "Trial and error."
"What the hell does that mean?" Dean asked, squeezing her knee and glancing at Sam.
"It means every meteor freak is different. They all have different weaknesses. It's a matter of figuring out what this one's is."
Sam swallowed hard. This was definitely something they had never encountered before. "You got any leads on... what kind it is?" he asked quietly.
"Not yet. But I'm working on it." Her voice was grim and she started to say something else when the bell over the door tinkled. Her face paled a little as she spotted the familiar, attractive bald man she'd once considered a friend.
Dean felt her body tense, almost shudder with revulsion, and he turned to look at her sharply. Her face was pale, almost ghostly, and the question fell away from his lips. He turned towards the door, following her stare.
"Great," Sam whispered under his breath as he watched Lex Luthor himself stride through the door like he owned the place.
He spotted her immediately, as though he'd known all along that she was there and for all she knew, he really had. "Good morning, Chloe." His voice was filled with false cheer, his eyes dark.
"Well it was," she responded, meeting his gaze with an even one of her own.
Dean stood up and eyed the bald man carefully. "Who's this?" he drawled, his voice low and rough.
"Lex Luthor," Sam replied, cocking an eyebrow and standing as well, though he hung by his chair, never taking his eyes from the newcomer.
Lex cocked an eyebrow and looked at them with sudden interest and it made her blood run cold. "And you would be?"
"Tourists. They got lost on the way to Metropolis," Chloe answered, her voice tense as she too, rose to her feet.
Dean fought the urge to roll his eyes at the obvious lie she was feeding this guy and turned to look at her. "Chloe's been very helpful in showing us how to get out of this cornrow town."
"Yes, she's always full of useful information," he said with a smirk, gazing at her intently. "Runs in her family."
Chloe's eyes darkened a little, her body tensing even more. "Was there something you wanted, Lex?"
Sam's focus shifted to Chloe, who was trying very hard to keep her composure. Suddenly it had occurred to him that there was a longer and much deeper story they'd stumbled upon. And she seemed to be in the middle of it. He looked sharply at Dean, who simply nodded at his brother, sensing the tension.
"No. I can see you're busy. We'll talk later," he responded smoothly, still smirking. "Have a good day." He turned and headed out of the Talon once more.
Dean's head immediately whipped around to stare at Chloe, whose face was white as a sheet. "What the hell was that about?" he whispered, taking her arm to steady her.
Her heart was pounding so heavily in her chest she wondered if they could hear it. "That was about unfinished business," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"What kind of unfinished business?" Dean responded, grasping her arm tighter.
"Dean..." Sam whispered, looking at the blonde with compassion and concern for her. She was scared of Lex Luthor, so much so that if Dean let her go, she'd crumple onto the floor.
"What, Sammy?" he countered, glaring at his brother.
It took her a moment to regain her composure, and she slowly sat down in the seat. "I need some water."
"I'll get it," Sam replied quietly, giving her a sad look before striding off towards the front counter for a glass of water.
Dean sat down next to her, reluctantly dropping his hand. "So, uh... you know Lex Luthor?" he asked lamely, kicking himself. Obviously they knew each other, he thought, looking down at the table. The question was more about their history.
Chloe rested her face in her hands for a moment, struggling to decide on what she should do next. "You could say we're more than casual acquaintances."
"Oh God, you two didn't...?" he started with a grimace.
She jerked her head up to stare at him in horror. "Of course not!"
Despite the sudden rush of relief at seeing the intense irritation and disgust cross her features, Dean frowned sheepishly. "Hey, that's good... because for a second there I was gonna question your taste in men."
"Maybe she already is," Sam replied, having heard his brother's off-color comment as he returned to the table. Handing the glass of water to Chloe, he sat down again, studying her intently.
"Thanks," she said softly to Sam, taking a sip of the cool liquid and closing her eyes for a moment, forcing herself to take a couple of deep breaths. Then she slowly opened her eyes again and glanced around the cafe, her body tense as though she expected a monster to jump out any second and attack them right there.
Looking at Dean, Sam whispered to Chloe, "Let's get out of here." The girl looked like she was about to jump out of her skin, so being here obviously wasn't a good idea.
Nodding, Dean covered her hand with his. "So, uh, where can we take you?"
She was silent for a moment, then she slowly rose to her feet, not willing to take them around Clark even though it was her natural inclination to head to the Kents' when there was trouble. They hunted the supernatural, and she wasn't convinced they were entirely trustworthy. She hesitated a moment, looking from Sam to Dean, and said the only place she thought might be safe from listening devices and other equipment Lex had no doubt stashed in every corner of her life. "Your car."
Sam glanced at Dean worriedly. "Dean, can I talk to you for a second?" he said, standing up and looking at Chloe apologetically.
She gazed at the taller of the two brothers with hesitation and uncertainty as he pulled his older brother aside.
"Dude, I don't think taking Chloe with us is the best idea," Sam said when they were out of earshot.
Dean crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow at his brother. "Oh yeah? Why not? Doesn't she have the goods on this dude who can smash things with his bare hands? Isn't that the point?"
"Look, clearly we walked into something a lot bigger than we'd anticipated," he said in a hushed voice.
"And now that we're in the middle of it, we need to see this through," he replied sternly, giving Sam a look.
He was silent for a moment, casting a worried glance at Chloe, and then looking back at his brother. "Dean, Lex Luthor is...not something we're prepared to deal with."
"What? He's a monster... we kill monsters last time we checked." He grumbled, a low sigh on his lips. "We can't just... leave her like this, dude."
Sam glanced at Chloe once more, almost able to feel her fear and fatigue. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right," he murmured.
"Gee, that's a first," he grumbled under his breath, glancing in Chloe's direction. Her hunched shoulders distracted him, made him want to take her burdens from her. He shook his head, this feeling totally alien to him.
"Whatever we're doing, we better do it quick. I don't think she trusts us."
"No, she doesn't," he agreed, taking a step towards her. "Normally you'd be good at this, but since she's so attracted to me..." He smirked at his brother, then moved back to where Chloe sat.
Sam rolled his eyes and watched his older brother move back to Chloe's side.
Holding out his hand, Dean looked earnestly at Chloe's down turned face. "Let's get you outta here," he said evenly.
She hesitated a moment, then rationalized the fact that they'd slept together and he hadn't tried to kill her. Nodding a little she slowly stood up.
Sam held the door for Chloe and watched her exit the Talon quickly, almost as if the Devil himself was on her heels. What had they gotten themselves into? he wondered, following Dean out the door and watching him take Chloe to their Chevy Impala.
"Sam, you're in back, dude," Dean called, holding the front passenger side door open for Chloe.
She hesitated a moment before climbing into the passenger seat of the classic car. At another time she probably would have taken the time to admire it, but she just didn't have it in her right then.
It didn't take Dean long to jump into the driver's seat and speed off towards their hotel on the outskirts of town. No one spoke the entire duration of the ride, though Dean had a million questions. And by the time they'd reach the hotel, Chloe looked about has happy as someone who'd undergone root canal work.
"Want to tell us about it?" he offered, unlocking the door to the hotel room, glancing at Sam as he headed for the front desk to get another room for her. Just in case.
She stepped inside, looking tense and wary. "Like I said, it's gonna be trial and error."
"Have you ruled out anything that *doesn't* work?" he asked, shutting the door behind her.
"Not so far. We have to find the guy first."
Dean looked pensive for a moment. "When was the last time you saw him?" He really wanted to ask how she managed to confront this guy and survive, but something told him she wouldn't react well to that question.
"A little over a week ago."
Vague much? he thought with a wry smile, seeing Sam enter the room with another room key.
"Here, Chloe," the younger Winchester said, offering the key to her. "You're free to stay with us, if you want." He glanced over at Dean, hesitation and concern written on his face.
"Thanks," she said quietly, taking the key from him and looking between them. She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "If you're wondering how I managed to survive that particular encounter it was because I had him at gunpoint."
"Gunpoint, huh?" Sam asked carefully, not wanting to give away the fact that he didn't quite believe her. Not when this guy could have literally torn her apart from what he'd read about the other victims.
"He didn't... try to attack you or anything?" Dean asked, secretly pleased that she knew how to wield a gun.
"No." She hesitated for a second. "But he was under a form of mind control."
Sam threw Dean a *I told you so* look. "Mind control? From whom? For what purpose?"
Her eyes darkened a little. "Someone trying to stop Lex Luthor," she responded, her voice tense.
"Too bad he didn't succeed," Dean replied under his breath, voice hard as nails with determination.
"She," Chloe corrected him, not meeting his gaze.
Sam blinked. "She?"
"Smallville's an equal opportunity town when it comes to meteor freaks."
Dean snorted. "Sounds like a great setup here."
Hitting his brother in the arm roughly, San looked at Chloe. "Okay, so this guy got away and was basically a killing machine for someone else. Is she going to put the... mind whammy on him again, do you think?" He glanced at Dean sideways, smirking when he saw his brother roll his eyes.
Chloe flinched visibly. "No. She won't be." She turned away, shutting her eyes tightly.
Sam knew he had hit a nerve, though he had no idea why. His impression was that this female... whomever she was... knew Chloe. Might have been close to her, for all he knew.
"Okay, so no mind whammy," Dean said out loud, watching Chloe's every motion like a hawk. "So where do you think this guy went?"
She was silent for a moment. "I don't know. There hasn't been a pattern I can discern."
"So is there a way to track this guy, then?" Sam asked slowly, sitting down on the bed near them. "I mean, if he's a wanted man, certainly the cops are looking for him."
"You're overestimating the local police. They're not very bright. They think they're looking for some kind of wild animal." She turned to face them once more.
Dean ran a hand over his face. "Cops, man," he grumbled.
"Dean, they're just doing their job," Sam pointed out... again.
"Dude, we are so not having that conversation again," he retorted hotly, his eyes sharp with irritation. Glancing at Chloe, he continued in a calmer voice. "Do you know of some way to track him?"
She was quiet for a moment. "Yeah. There might be a way. But it involves highly illegal acts."
Dean wanted to laugh out of sheer pleasure over her words. "We invented highly illegal acts," he told her proudly, ignoring the warning look Sam shot his way. "I think Sam should help you, though. He's very Geek Boy with the research and computer hacking."
"Well, that makes two of us." She offered Sam a tiny smile.
"God, Dean, would you stop with the name-calling?" Sam ground out, though he smiled politely at Chloe, sensing a slight change in the air where she was concerned.
Dean grinned winningly at both of them and knew they would find this guy and take care of him in no time.