7.03 United by MR and AoT (Part VIII)

As retold by RepairmanBob

TW: Daily Planet. “Chloe, we have talked about this. You can’t keep risking yourself.”
MR: “Or his precious secret. After all, Clark can’t let the world find out about his abilities. Not that he makes any effort to hide them from anyone… except you.”
TW: Hey!
JG: He does have a point.
KK: “Clark, I have been swimming with the sharks for years. I can protect myself from Lex.”
TW: “Chloe, that’s what Lana thought.”
MR: Ah, the sainted Miss Lana. I was wondering how long it would be until he brought her up.”
AM: How come you aren’t pissed at Michael for talking badly about Lana?
KK: Because I hate Lana, and I don’t have to appear in the episode. And he didn’t bring Lana back from the death!

MR: Mansion. “I don’t need advice from the likes of you.”
JG: “Clearly you do Lex. If you would just listen to me, you would not risk you life again and again on these fool’s errands.”
KK: “I have to agree with the old bastard on this one.”
JG: Old?
KK: “Just think of what we could accomplish together. I have all of Chloe’s knowledge, her drives, her (stares at Lex like a giant cup of coffee) hungers, with none of those nasty fears or ethics. Ask yourself, Lex – where would you be today of Chloe had published that article? If her fears for her family had not overridden her hatred for you? If she had been a little more… ruthless?”
MR: “So what are you saying?”

TW: Daily Planet. “I am saying that I will not lose another person I care about.”
MR: “Big talk from the man who drove Lana into Lex’s arms. Rather than listening to yet another verse of The Farmboy and the Fairly Princess, let’s talk about what I can do for you.”
TW: Come on, Michael.
MR: Sex hates Clark, what can I say. If you take all of Lex’s resentment of Clark, and add it to Chloe’s frustrated lust -
AM: Chloe doesn’t have any frustrated lust!
KK: Because she is banging Jimmy.
AM: She is not –
KK: Then she has frustrated lust. Or a vibrator. You can decide.
AM: Arrrrgh!
MR: As I was saying, you have someone who dislikes Clark. If it makes you feel better, Tom, Kahloe loves him. Or wants to bang him. Possibly both.
JG: Hello hoyah!
KK: “I can take care of myself.”
MR: “Yes, you can, but why should you? I know how Lex thinks, how he plans, how he acts and reacts. I know his secrets, and the dreams he hides even from himself. I can help keep you alive, help you reach those Tiffany lights… if it is what you really want.”

KK: The study. “I can help you, Lex. But there is a price. There is always a price, after all, for anything worth having.”

MR: Daily Planet. “I can help you be great, Chloe. If you want it. Do you want to be great? Are you still the woman who was the youngest intern in the history of the Daily Planet? Who was hired by the great and mighty Kahn? Who got her first front page story before she even left the basement? Or do you want to continue to follow this (looks at Clark with disgust) cretin around, hoping for his slightest praise while bury your own hopes and dreams?"
TW: “Damnit, Chloe, is your career really worth it? Is a stupid article worth dying for?”
MR: "Do you see? Does this flannel-wearing dullard even understand you? Ask him the real question that haunts your thoughts.”
KK: “What are you really afraid of, Clark?”

JG: The study. “You never learn Lex.” (Laughs.) “Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. After all this time, I would have hoped for more from you.”
KK: Kahloe smiles. “You want my help? Impress me. Show some backbone. Show me the real Lex, who can put his father in his place. (Sexy grin) Show me a man who is worthy of Chloe Sullivan’s affection.”
MR: “Actually, Dad, I learned something very interesting. Someone released an unstable Project Ares solider. The same person accessed the Level 33.1 database, and allowed an outside user to download certain files.”
JG: Lionel looks surprised. “Well, that is more proof of your ineptitude at managing your employees.”
MR: “Or how successful I am at predicting their behavior.” Hope walks out from behind a door, stands behind Lionel. “Hope and I had placed several protective files in place that, if downloaded, launch a virus that destroys the computer network that attempts to open them.”
JG: “I see.”
KK: Kahloe smiles.

TW: Daily Planet. “What are you talking about, Chloe?”
KK: “Are you scared for me? Or are you scared that I will accidentally let someone know about your secret? That after all the times I have covered for you, all the times I have buried stories or hidden evidence or lied to Lois, that I will stupidly let the whole world know about you?
TW: “I can’t believe you said, Chloe.”
MR: “Only because no one had ever pointed out hypocrisy of the great Clark Kent. Ollie, Bart, Arthur, Victor, even Alicia – he tells them everything. But his best friend? The person he goes to for help, guidance and emotional support? She is not worthy of his trust.”
KK: “Just leave. I have work to do.”
TW: Clark goes to place his hand on Chloe’s bare arm. She flinches and moves away.
KK: “Just go, Clark.”
TW: Clark looks sad, walks away.
KK: Chloe looks sad, turns to watch him go. She stands to stand, and Sex places his hand on her shoulder.
MR: “Let him go, Chloe. You have more important things to worry about that the feelings of a dim-witted farmboy, who cannot be bothered to clean up his own messes. You have work to do.”
KK: Chloe visibly gets herself under control. “Yes, I do. Work to do and people to help.” Chloe sits down and turns on her computer. Sex stands next to her, looking down at her with a smile.

MR: The study. “Unfortunately, the man behind the leak was killed during the PAS’s rampage. I would have been very interested in speaking with him.”
JG: Look a bit nervous. “Yes, I can understand that.”
MR: “Speaking of accidents, they often seem to happen if pairs. Lana disappears, and LuthorCorp is stolen from me. I am put into a coma, the doctor who released the PAS is hurt. From now on, if anything happens to me, Hope will be coming to check on you, Dad. Just to make sure you are… safe.” (Hope moves to stand between Lex and Lionel.)
JG: Gulp.
KK: Kahloe looks at Hope. “Ohhh, I like her.”
MR: I have a lot of business to do, Dad. You can see yourself out.”

Continued...