CHAPTER 2: Wounded

Chloe came to the hospital the following morning and was welcomed by a smiling Martha carrying a bundle in her arms.

“ Isn't she a beauty, Chloe ? “ asked Martha with a catch in her voice.

“ Can I hold her, Mrs Kent ? “

“ Sure, “ she replied, handing the baby over to Chloe.

Chloe looked down at the sleeping form and felt a sweet tug in her heart. The girl seemed so innocent and vulnerable, completely unaware of the tragedy that had surrounded her birth. Chloe couldn't help but wonder how Lex was going to manage with two small babies on his own when he must be clearly devastated.

“ Where's ..., “started asking Chloe.

“ Lex ? “ finished Martha. “ He's signing the papers for Lilly's discharge and the documents concerning Lana. As to how he actually feels... I'm worried, Chloe. This morning he looked like his old self again- I mean, he put on that mask of cool detachment we were so used to before he married Lana. “

“ That's his mechanism of self-protection, Martha. Are you afraid of what he might do ? “

“ I hope he won't choose the wrong path this time, Chloe.I don't really know what happened between him and Lionel last night but before he fell asleep he told me he had begged for Lionel's help and was met with a flat refusal. “

“What could you expect of an unnatural father like Lionel ? “

“ I still can't understand their twisted relationship. “

“ Here he comes, Mrs Kent, “ said Chloe quietly.

“ Chloe, thanks for coming, “ said Lex with a tremor in his voice.

Looking adoringly at his daughter, who had just started to cry, he stretched out his hands for Chloe to hand the baby over to him.

“ There you are, honey, “ he said to his daughter, putting the dummy in her toothless mouth and rocking her gently. “ She looks just like her mother, doesn't she ? “he asked with eyes brimming with tears.

“ She takes after both of you, Lex. She's an angel, “ responded an emotional Martha. “ Come. Chloe's parked outside. You're staying on the farm, Lex. Everything's settled, “added Martha motioning him to the exit.

The drive to the Kents' farm was quiet and the deafening silence in the car was only interrupted by an occasional gurgling from the back seat. Chloe stopped near the picket fence and saw Jonathan approach the car.

“ Welcome home, son, “ he said embracing Lex paternally.

“ Thank you, Mr Kent, “ said Lex croakingly.

“ I've brought up the cradle I slept in when I was a baby and my mother's old rocking chair. You can use Clark's room for as long as you want, son, “ said Jonathan to a speechless Lex.

“ Come on, sweetie. You need to lie down. Chloe ? “

“ Yes, Mrs Kent. “

“ About Alex..., “ she said in a low voice.

“ Shall I bring him later this evening ? “

“ I think it'd be wiser. As much as we'd love to shelter him, we can't lie for ever. “

“ See you at about six. OK ? “

“ Thanks, Chloe, “ said Martha climbing up the stairs to the storm door.

Chloe got into the car, turned on the engine and drove for a while until she couldn't control her pent-up emotions any longer and was forceed to pull up. She cried her eyes out for twenty minutes solid for Lana, Lex, the children and her own pathetic romantic life. Would she ever find someone who could return her love in measure ?