May 17, 2010

Let Her Go

Banner By: Andrea
Title: Let Her Go
Rating: PG-13
Author: Reportergirl13
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Clark-Centric implied Oliver/Chloe
Word Count: 1,030
Prompt: Missing Scene from ‘Salvation’



Clark watched as Chloe spun on her heel and walked away from him. Something inside him squeezed at his heart. He swallowed hard and called out to her.

“Chloe…”

When she didn’t stop he took a step forward only to have Oliver block his path. He furrowed his brows at the leather clad hero in front of him as he watched Chloe disappear behind one of the doors behind Oliver.

“You gotta let her go Clark. She’s trying to be strong you know…when your oldest friend leaves forever there’s really no way to say goodbye.”

Clark knew he was right, but that knowledge didn’t lend him any comfort. He had known Chloe since they were thirteen years old and after how strained their friendship had become it seemed wrong to leave when they were just starting to see eye to eye again. He moved around Oliver, but he gripped Clark’s arm before he could get far.

“Clark don’t just leave her be.”

He turned angry eyes on Oliver as he spoke in a hard voice.

“I need to say goodbye. Chloe and I have been through too much for it to just end like this.”

Oliver sighed.

“Clark you’re only going to make it harder for her.”

You don’t understand...”

“Yes I do. I get how much you care about her Clark. I get that you have a lot of regret when it comes to Chloe, but you’ve got let it go. Think about her…how she feels.”

Clark hesitated and glanced back at the closed door. Twelve years of constant companionship. For twelve years she had stood by his side even before she knew what he really was. She’d saved his life dozens of times, never judged him, and was always ready and waiting to help.

He couldn’t picture his life without her in it. Sure they hadn’t really spoken too much in the last six months, but not talking to someone on a regular basis and not being in the same world as them was two different things.

Even when they weren’t talking he still knew she was safe and if he needed her she was only a super speed away. Now…he’d never be able to pop in on her again. He’d never be able to bring her favorite coffee from the Talon, not that he did that much anymore.

And that’s when it hit him. Leaving earth not only meant leaving the team and his mom and Lois, it meant leaving Chloe; the one person aside from his parents who had stayed by his side and protected him at all costs. His eyes met Oliver’s and he spoke in a soft voice.
“Promise me something.”

Oliver gave him a questioning look, but nodded.

“Promise you’ll take care of her. I haven’t been doing the greatest job of that lately…but she seems happy…more happy then I’ve seen her in a long time and I’m pretty sure that’s because of you. Chloe’s one of the strongest people I know, but even she needs someone there every once in a while to be strong for her.”

Oliver’s face softened as he glanced at the emotion on Clark’s features. He stuck out his arm and Clark looked at his offered hand before taking it. And as they shook hands Oliver straightened.

“You have my word that I’ll protect her with my life. She means more to me than you’ll ever know.”

Clark smiled lightly at a memory from not too many years ago where he’d said the same thing about her. Their clasped hands released each other and he nodded.

“I should go.”

“Stay safe.”

He nodded and turned heading back towards the entrance to Watchtower. He was halfway out the door when Oliver called out to him.

“Hey Clark…”

He glanced over his shoulder at the blonde and Oliver smirked.

“Thanks.”

He tilted his head in confusion.

“For?”

Oliver shrugged.

“I wouldn’t have met Chloe without you Clark. This whole team, we're together today because of her and she’s here because of you.”

Clark smiled and shook his head. There may have been a time when Chloe was here for him, for his cause, to make sure he was okay. But that time was long since over. Now she was there for Oliver, for the team, for the purpose. She was a hero in her own right.

“It might have started off that way, but now she’s here because this is where she belongs. She’s amazing Oliver…I’ve screwed up a lot in my life, but letting my friendship with her go sour…it’s one of the worst mistakes I’ve ever made and now…I’ll never have the chance to fix it.”

“She knows Clark.”

“I hope so.”

Clark pursed his lips together holding up the disk.

“Goodbye Oliver.”

He watched his friend disappear and swallowed hard. He knew how hard this was for everyone involved. He just hoped it wasn’t all for nothing. He walked in the direction that Chloe went making his way through the door. The sight that greeted him made his heartbreak.

She was standing there back facing him, hand gripping the window sill as her shoulders shook with her quiet sobs. He made his way into the room placing a hand on her back. Her body tensed for a second before she turned in his arms and buried her face into his chest.

She gripped him tight and he held onto her whispering words of comfort in her ear. Chloe relaxed against him. Saying goodbye was never easy. Clark had been her best friend for so long she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to do this without him.

She could feel Oliver’s hands strong and steady against her back and that’s when it hit her. She didn’t have to deal with this alone. Oliver understood how she was feeling and he would be there for her.

“We’ll find a way to bring him back. I promise”

She nodded at his quiet words. Clark was making the ultimate sacrifice, being a true hero and Chloe wouldn’t stop until she figured out a way to bring him home because the world needed Clark Kent. Their team needed him…she needed him.

4 comments:

  1. Wow, that was a brilliant, well-written and truly captured all of them so well. Poignant to the point I could barely keep the tears back. I managed somehow. A miracle. Really.

    //Clark smiled lightly at a memory from not too many years ago where he’d said the same thing about her. //

    Perfect tag for that scene, although I wanted Clark to hug her, Oliver was right to step in. There's just no way to say goodbye. And having him do it after not getting the chance to fix things between them would have been worse. :) The hiatus is going to be way too long.

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  2. OMG! I totally LOVED this story! Well done honey!

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  3. great story

    was it just me or did chloe not seem to care that much that clark was leaveing she talk him into it.

    would have been nice to see her broken becouse of it.

    a year ago she would not have let him leave.

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