Rewrite

Chapter 4- Rewrite for a scene out of “Velocity”: While Clark is busy saving Pete from his mistakes, Chloe continues investigating Adam.

Chloe ran damp palms over her jeans. Everything in Smallville just had to be complicated. Lana couldn’t pick up some nice, normal guy at the hospital. Oh no. She had to find some guy who liked to inject freaky shit into his veins. A guy that demanded Chloe exercise her innate ability to ferret out a secret and sent her into the lion’s den... otherwise known as Lex Luthor’s office. With a small shake she knocked on the door briskly and entered his immaculate office. It was not the sleek, modern look of his father’s office. The wood paneling and enormous desk spoke of old money and old power.

“So I've been following up on our mysterious tenant in the Talon. It seems he has an intimate relationship with needles.” Chloe said as Lex looked up at her.

“I take it you're not talking about embroidery.” He smirked as he said and Chloe bit back a snort. What a smart ass.

“Hardly. I found a phial in his apartment,” at this she cut him a knowing look. “I also saw him injecting on school property.”

“Really?” Lex didn’t sound surprised. “Do you know what was in the phial?” As he spoke he rose from his desk, walking closer to her. He was trying to look uninterested and failing.

Chloe looked at the ground momentarily trying to decide how much to tell him.
“Here’s the thing... I took a look at Adam’s medical files and I’m pretty sure he’s into something serious. While he was in the hospital he had a doctor visiting him twice a week and the contents of the vile are... unique.”

“His medical files?” Lex let out a low chuckle. “Privacy laws don't seem to faze you much, do they?” His eyes wandered speculatively over her and Chloe suddenly felt like she wasn’t wearing enough clothing. She ignored the heated flush that threatened to steal over her face and concentrated on responding to his words and not his eyes.

“Not even on the best of days and especially not when I'm worried about one of my friends. As long as Lana has the Talented Mr. Ripley living above her, I'm going do whatever it takes to make sure he's not dangerous.”

“Is he?” Lex walked towards her, moving too close to her though he was still several feet away. There was something about him that was too distracting.

“His medical files wouldn’t tell me that.” Chloe hedged.

“That’s not what I asked.” Out came the classic Lex smirk.

“I know.”

“So tell me, what’s so dangerous about having a doctor visit you twice a week while you are in the hospital? Seems normal to me.”

Chloe silently thanked any gods- large or small- who had a hand in stopping Lex from coming any closer. Since that day she had done a little role-playing with him in this very office she had felt hyper-aware of his body and his quirks. It was weird, disconcerting and totally inappropriate.

“It is when it's not an M.D. Dr. Tang is a professor of molecular biology at Metropolis University... not your typical visitor in a rehabilitation center.”

“Have you spoken with him?” Lex tucked his hands into his pockets and rolled back on his heels. It was boyish action and one he did rarely. It was one of her favorites.
“Him is a her.” Chloe rolled her eyes. Really, such chauvinism. “And here we come to the reason I’m here. She's so high up in the ivory tower, I'd need a hook and ladder to get to her. That's why I came to you. A generous benefactor of the university is going have a lot more luck than a high school student.”

“I see. Why don’t you tell me what was in the phial and we can talk about it.” Lex was no longer trying to act as if this wasn’t of interest though he never really got excited about anything. I wonder what Lex looks like when he’s excited. Chloe dropped her eyes in mortification at the fleeting thought and ignored the dull roar in her ears. Please don’t blush. Please don’t blush.

“What?” Her voice sounded abnormal even to her and Lex blinked at her in surprise.

“I know we have trust issues but it’s going to be hard for me to get anywhere if you don’t give me somewhere to start. The phial... what was in it?” Lex stepped closer, trying to meet her eyes. Chloe stepped back automatically and Lex’s face closed off.

“Um, I took it to Smallville Med and the pathologist said that it’s a serum that contains minute amounts of cells resembling blood platelets. Now, even freakier, is the molecular makeup. The pathologist said he’d never seen anything like it... in any human or animal.” By the time she’d stop speaking she’d managed to get back some control over her face and her voice. Lex just nodded in response to her statement.

“Have you mentioned any of this to Lana?”

“I didn't want to say anything until I found out all the facts.” Chloe ignored the irrational stab of jealousy over his concern for Lana. Lana was sweet, beautiful, and really kind. Who could blame people for wanting to protect her? After all, that was pretty much what she was here doing.

“Let's keep it that way.”

“Ok. You’ll keep me in the loop?” Chloe winced at the childishness of the question. Lex looked at her closely and she struggled not shift awkwardly.

“Yes, of course.”

Chloe nodded and backed away.

“Um, ok then. I’ll talk to you later.” She turned and fled, barely hearing his amused goodbye.