I’m in Here - ENGLISH VERSION (Chapter 2)

Title: I’m in Here - ENGLISH VERSION
Author: Roberta Clemente
Rating: NC/17
Translation: Malu
Beta: Jamie
A/N: some thoughts are events that happened on season 5 and may have mistakes... sorry
Summary: Chloe and Oliver are being monitored closely, very closely

Chapter 2

Chloe looks at her cell again to see what time it is. The cell phone never leaves her hand while she crosses the empty hotel lobby and is still between her fingers while the elevator rises to the top floor.

She feels a mix of anxiety, nervousness and a little healthy dose of fear. Not because she fears being face to face with Lex, she always knew that what he did silently was the most dangerous, but because no one really knew what happened to him, how much he knew, how much he remembered from the past and being in the dark left her at a disadvantage and it never pleased her.

Some floors before the last she takes a deep breath once again. The time she gave Oliver to stop her is almost up and as soon as the doors opened she'd have to do it. Face Lex, alone. The man that was the biggest personification of evil she ever met.

She holds her breath when the elevator stops and the doors open. This was it. And right now. Leaving everything behind, all the past full of possible guilt, conflict and lots of anger, she takes a step forward, knocking her heels on the black marble, making herself known to whoever was waiting for her.

There should be someone to welcome her and bring her to Lex, but the penthouse is empty and silent, just the soft sound of the air conditioning could be heard on the first floor. The doors open behind her and Chloe walks to the small, but very luxurious room. In the back a glass wall displayed the city view and made it environmentally friendly. A Grand Piano rested on the side.

She wouldn't show any nervousness, even feeling like someone was watching her. Instead, Chloe slightly raises her head and walks to the window. If this was some kind of game she could calmly play. If she had learned anything with her double life it was having patience and coldness when she needed it.

-Chloe?

Chloe feels a shiver through her back when listening to that voice, hearing him saying her name, calling her. Calmly she turns around and looks up. Lex was watching her from the top of the stairs, with a smirk.

He looks exactly the same as the last time she saw him, even though she couldn't remember when that was. Lex didn't seem like he had aged a single day, if she didn't know better she could swear she was having dejà vu. They could be at the Luthor Mansion, where Lex acted just as elegantly.

-Mr. Luthor - Chloe answers keeping a neutral voice, even when he starts coming down without taking his eyes from her.

-Sorry. I thought we could use our first names, Chloe. After all, we are not two strangers - he gets close to her.

Unfortunately, Chloe thinks immediately, trying to see if there was something behind that statement. But he keeps staring at her, with a gentle, friendly smile.

-No, we are not strangers, but we were not close - she instinctively puts some space between them.

-You were a bridesmaid in my wedding. It's enough to me - he answers unfazed.

Chloe swallows dryly. She tries to read anything in his expression, normally Lex would have the usual mysterious look, superior smile, but he was exactly the opposite.

He smiles at her in a way he'd never done before, relaxed. He seems happy to see her.

-We didn't spend Sundays in the backyard barbecuing because of this - she looks straight at him, hoping for some reaction. Now was when Lex'd give a sharp answer, but he keeps smiling, almost amused with her resistance. - But that's okay, if you'd prefer it this way.

-I do - Lex smiles satisfied at her. - It'd be weird being called Mr. Luthor, even if you're here for professional reasons, knowing you never called me that.

Chloe raises an eyebrow at his words.

-How do you know I didn't call you that? I thought you lost your memory - she says shrugging her shoulders, not letting her huge curiosity show.

-And I thought we'd have some time before the interview starts - Lex laughs and walks leisurely to the bar.

-To a journalist, the interview doesn't have a start or an end - she answers easily watching Lex serve a finger of scotch.

-True, he agrees, - Do you want a drink? Maybe to relax and stop seeing the Ghost of Christmas Past while you look at me, huh Chloe? - he offers not looking at her.

-Thanks, but as you said yourself, I'm here for professional reasons. What kind of reporter would I be if I couldn't ask the right questions? - she says calmly.

Nodding, Lex turns to her.

-You'd be like most of them, I guess - he raises the glass. - not Chloe Queen, the columnist that scares a lot of people, but Chloe Sullivan, intrepid reporter - he takes a sip looking into her eyes, like that's his turn to wait for a reaction.

Chloe feels her stomach tighten, but keeps a blank face. He knew her. She was almost sure that this version of herself would be remembered by a few, by her close friends, by Oliver. But not by him, not when memories from an entire life were lost. She wasn't important.

-Investigating the journalist. Smart - she forces a smile.

-I had no idea you'd be the one to interview me, but like I said, we're not strangers - Lex comes near her. - And between us, I researched everyone around me after I woke up lost - his look falters - not knowing who I was.

Chloe holds her breath. They never knew the details about what happened that day, almost 6 years ago. Everything lead them to believe that Tess was responsible for this and Lex for her death. But those were assumptions, theories, questions and more questions, that were never answered for years.

And his lost look made clear, or almost, that he had asked himself the same questions. It was baffling seeing Lex Luthor falter. It was baffling too dealing with this version of him.

-But I confess I only found you thanks to the Queen name - he says smiling again, going to the couch, pointing at the other for her to sit.

-Really? - Chloe asks sitting in front of him.

-It was a reverse path. Reading about Oliver, a colleague from Excelsior, I found out that Chloe Anne Queen was actually Chloe Anne Sullivan.

Nodding, Chloe forgets about her own thoughts and asks herself what Oliver'd think of that. How much Lex's presence would affect him. She knew he blamed himself for taking Lex's life once, she closely saw how much guilt consumed him. Lex's years of exclusion helped Oliver prepare for this moment, but the way a person handles the past can be unpredictable until it's really happening. She looks through the window for a second, asking herself where he was right now. In the building across the street, watching, or in his office totally oblivious to everything?

She looks at Lex again.

-This is a long story. maybe another day. Today, you're the interviewee, Lex - she changes the subject, takes out Oliver's name from the talk with a delicate warmth.

-Sure - Lex agrees watching her moves carefully. The drink was to calm his nerves. This was the first time they were face to face, that he could finally show any emotion now that he was looking at her closely.

-Can we start? - Chloe asks blocking any calls, starting the recorder and putting the cell on the table between them.

-Please - Lex gestures for her to continue.

-Very well. Can we speak, or keep talking about your amnesia. What was the real motive? - Chloe is straight on her first question. She sees him pressing his lips not to smile, like he was waiting for this from her.

_The doctors that took care of my case never found out what really happened to me - his answer comes easily. He rehearsed those words lots of times, - No physical damage was found - he lies, he wouldn't tell her that his body was actually a composition, from several others, that had scars everywhere, scars that he couldn't even look at for a long time.

Chloe observes Lex closing his right hand, the only one under a leather glove, wonders if that meant something hidden. His face contracts slightly, almost like there is pain with that movement.

-No physical damage? - She insists.

-None - he raises his eyes back to her, - the final verdict was that some toxin must have entered my system - he answers sincerely. It was what every doctor that took care of his case told him.

-Yes, that was what we knew at the time. You're a victim of an outrage - she stops a laugh of disgust. Lex became an innocent victim in the eyes of everyone.

-Victim - Lex mocks the word, looking away immediately.

Chloe is surprised at his reaction. He didn't seem to believe that affirmation. Nor agree.

She wanted to talk about the cloning, about how Lionel could clone the real Lex. She wanted to ask, to finally find an answer about what happened with Tess, but it'd be crazy and virtually impossible to confront him without exposing them all.

-So I can deduce that finding out where you were before the... attack, is a lost cause or your doctors told you something besides the cloned diagnosis? - She throws the bait, keeping her voice neutral to not raise any suspicion.

Lex takes a deep breath, trying not to react. This was the woman he was dreaming of, the face that kept him sane for years. He couldn't betray himself, let her know what he really was. A copy.

-All I know about myself is information on paper. I can give you the address of where I was four years ago, but before that? You'd probably know more than me.

-I doubt it. I'm just a retired journalist. I bet there are lots of people to solve this puzzle for you - she pushes, smiling lightly.

Lex knew her smiles well enough to know that this one wasn't real. He lowers his head. He hoped she wouldn't trust him. He didn't trust the Lex he knew.

-No matter what I do, my past is there, people know it. So I chose to concentrate on something I really have. The future - Lex looks straight in her eyes.

Chloe takes some deep breaths. His eyes suddenly change, they seem to glow with expectation.

-And what it holds would be the reason for your sudden appearance? - she asks without hesitation.

-Yes! Exactly - he answers nodding, smiling tenderly, waiting for her next question.

Chloe feels obliged to continue. Even feeling hesitant.

-So, tell us. LuthorCorp is very well, the business is a success, everything without you needing to leave your house. Why now? What changed?

-I want more. Do more, make a real difference - his eyes grow and his posture rises. - Go where a CEO can't go.

Chloe couldn’t miss the incredible difference. Lex never spoke passionately about something. He always addressed from his pedestal and now his eyes really glowed, full of intention, without mystery. It was like two completely different men.

-And where would it be? - she barely notices the question leaving her mouth.

-The White House - he answers, voice full of determination, leaning forward to look right in her eyes, not missing a thing.

Chloe tries to hide the shock. She forgets to breathe trying to swallow the knot that had risen in her throat. Lex in the presidency of the United States. Opening and closing her mouth for some time, she forces herself to recompose, but that was too much, even for him.

Face to face it was like looking and talking to his twin brother, a slightly improved version of that man that didn't hesitate to torture, enslave or manipulate to get what he wanted, and she was almost convinced that it was really him, but that... was scary just to imagine.

-Really? It's taking the CEO job to another level - she can't hide the interest in her voice anymore.

Lex says nothing. He smiles, satisfied for impressing her. Suddenly he wanted to talk and talk. Tell her everything that was on his mind and ask about her life.

The closeness was creating something new to him. He didn't know exactly what it was yet, but he wanted... to know her.

Chloe moves in place, looking away. She felt more than uncomfortable with the intensity of his look, felt almost naked. It was like he wanted to unveil her.

-One more question. In which part of this is Star City included? - she asks trying to force the talk and mood of the room in another direction.

Lex sighs, leaning back against the backrest of the couch. He needed to be more careful with his emotions. He couldn't exaggerate or he'd scare her. He was opening his mouth to answer one more question to which he had prepared himself when the elevator doors opened again and 5 strongly armed men in black invaded the floor.

A/N 2: make the author happy and comment!!