Chlark Fanfic: Crisis, Chapter 35
Aug. 19th, 2012 12:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
babydee1Got some more Crisis for ya. This story is just flyin' outta me right now.
Enjoy!
Title: Crisis
Author: BabyDee
Pairing: Chlark/Kaloe
Rating: NC-17 for disturbing themes
Warnings: ***Angst***
Timeline: Season 2-3 (Exodus – Exile; Clark’s RedK Summer & beyond)
Disclaimer: All characters belong to the CW & DC comics
Summary: A violent encounter between Chloe and Clark threatens to destroy their friendship forever.
Feedback: …would be appreciated. :)
Read previous chapter here.
Read story from the beginning here.
Chapter 35
“You’re going to love Wisconsin,” her father declared over breakfast.
Chloe raised a quizzical brow. “How do you know? You haven’t been there yet.”
“No, but I’ve had a look at the tourist guide, and it looks like a great place to live,” he said. “Lots of fresh air and wide-open spaces, and best of all - a great educational legacy.”
“State-wide, maybe,” she mused, pushing a waffle morsel around her plate. “But what about schools in Glendale?”
“I’ll check them out when I get there, but I’m sure they’ll all match up to the national standard,” he assured her.
Chloe nodded and moved the waffle to the side of her plate, soaking it in syrup. Her father continued to regale her with fun facts and figures about Wisconsin, and she did her best to smile and stay positive, but as hard as she tried she couldn’t mask her emotions completely.
Her dad sighed. “Okay, so maybe Glendale isn't the most glamorous place in the world, but neither was Smallville and you warmed to it immediately,” he pointed out. “Wisconsin’s a great state, and Glendale sounds like a wonderful little town. And there's not a lot of crime there, either.”
She pasted on a bright smile and nodded. “It really does sound nice, Dad.”
He wasn’t fooled for a second. “Cheer up, Peanut,” he said. “I know you’re worried; who wouldn’t be?”
She sighed and stared down at the now soggy waffle on her plate. “I guess it’s all beginning to sink in,” she admitted. “Dad…we’ve never been apart for any length of time, ever.”
“You won’t be at the Kents for very long, I promise,” he reassured her. “And they’re nice people; they’ll look after you.”
She hoped so; assumed so, even. No doubt they felt they owed her for keeping their son out of prison and would try and overcompensate in one way or another. Still, she’d probably spend as much time as possible at the Torch; try and keep out of their way as much as possible.
“Are your bags all packed?” she asked, changing the subject.
He nodded. “Yep, since yesterday.”
“And your ticket?”
“Right here,” he said with a smile as he tapped his pocket. “I always keep things like that close by. Can you imagine what a nightmare it would be if we had to go over to the Kent Farm and start trawling through our stored luggage trying to find it?”
She knew he was trying to make her laugh, but his words only reminded her of her pending situation. From tonight, she’d take up residence in Clark’s bedroom. It was the one thing she was trying not to think about.
“Are you done with breakfast?” she asked, and he nodded.
“I’ll call Room Service to pick up the tray, then,” she said brightly. “Can we catch one last Sunday morning TV show before we leave? It’ll be a while before we get to do it again.”
***
Martha Kent was waiting for them in the hotel lobby when they checked out at noon.
The journey to the airport was quick, and by one o’clock they were in the departure lounge. Check-in was swift, and Chloe still had close to an hour to spend with her father before he had to go through to the travellers-only section. Martha dutifully wandered off and gave them some privacy for a final father-daughter moment, and her dad treated her to her favourite coffee-flavoured ice-cream.
For a while, it was like old times; just after her mother left and her father, unable to cope with her long hair, had taken her for her first salon cut. This was immediately followed by a trip to the ice-cream parlour for a double-scoop for being so brave.
They talked and laughed and took pictures as the minutes ticked by, and all too soon the hour of reckoning approached.
Martha returned and peeped into the ice-cream parlour. “There’s a queue beginning to form at the departure desk,” she said gently. “You might want to get a good space in the line, Gabe, before it gets too long.”
Chloe’s heart sank, and she slowly put the rest of her ice-cream down on the plate, her appetite for it completely gone.
“Don’t forget to take your hay fever medication,” she reminded him as he hoisted his carry-on bag onto his shoulder. “And remember to set the iron to Cotton before you press your shirts, not Linen!”
“Yes, ma’am,” he chuckled, turning briefly to Martha. “She’s right, you know. I have the burnt collars to prove it.”
Just then an announcement came over the public address system declaring that the 14:30 flight to Milwaukee had been assigned a gate number and passengers we expected to make their way through security. Gabe’s happiness faded slightly, and he turned to face her with a sombre expression.
“That’ll be me,” he said wistfully. He took her hands and held them tight. “Now you be a good girl for the Kents, you hear me?” he said.
She nodded tearfully. “I will. Don’t worry, Daddy - I’ll make you proud.”
“Oh, Chloe,” he breathed, hugging her tight. “You always do.”
Chloe smiled through her tears and looked up at his kindly face. “I’ll see you again soon, won’t I?”
“Of course, Peanut; the end of the term is only about 6 weeks away, but I can get you down for a weekend before that, if you’d like.”
She shook her head. “It’ll cost too much,” she chided. “And then I’ll start being miserable because I’ll expect to fly down every week!”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” he asked softly. For a quick second her resolve faltered, and the fear she’d struggled so hard to conceal crept to the forefront of her mind.
Please don’t leave me, she pleaded inwardly. I’m so scared…
He didn’t miss it. “Chloe?” he said, narrowing his eyes. “What is it?”
But her trademark smile was back in a second. “I’m fine,” she insisted. “But you’re gonna be late if you don’t get a move on. Go on, Dad. I’m fine.”
“Okay. Martha…” he shook her hand warmly and gave her a chaste peck on the cheek. “I can’t thank you enough for all your help. Please look after my little girl, she’s the most precious thing in the world to me.”
His voice cracked a little towards the end, and Martha gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t have to worry about her, Gabe. We’re all determined to ensure that she feels at home on the Farm.”
He composed himself and smiled. “Thank you. Once again, it’s just until the end of the term,” he reminded her.
“She can stay as long as she needs to,” Martha replied. “You just focus on getting settled.”
Her father turned to her and enveloped her in one last hug.
“Goodbye, Peanut,” he said gruffly as he ruffled her hair. “I’ll miss you so much.”
“See you again soon, Daddy,” she whispered. Gabe stepped back and joined the fast-moving queue for departing passengers, and turned for one last wave before he went through the barriers and disappeared from view.
“Can I get you anything before we leave, Chloe?” Martha asked. “Coffee, sandwich, a soda…?”
“I’m okay, Mrs Kent,” she replied, determined not to break down. Suck it up, she thought sternly. Be brave. “We should go now; it’s a long drive back.”
***
