Okay, I'm not really *that* mean...

***

"So you're saying the gun just happened to overheat and fall out of his hand?"

"Yeah," Chloe said.

Lex pressed the icepack harder against the lump in his skull. "It does happen."

Charlie looked very confused. "It does?"

Both Lex and Chloe shrugged.

There was a cheer from the field, and Charlie jumped. "You two are taking this all in stride, aren't you?"

"He's not from around here, right?" Lex asked.

Charlie gave them another bewildered look, and Chloe had to laugh. She should take him to Smallville some time and show him how craziness was really done.

There was a commotion behind them, and Lex motioned to the security guards. Two men came rushing through.

"Dad!" Charlie was on his feet instantly--it was the first time he'd let go of Chloe's hand since everything started--and threw his arms around his father. "Dad, it's okay, I'm okay."

"I know," Mr. McCall said, but he didn't let go.

The man behind him, who Chloe recognized as Dan Rydell, clapped Charlie on the back and then looked around him. "You must be Chloe."

She nodded and stood. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Rydell," she said, holding her hand out.

He took it only to pull her into a hug. "We've known Charlie longer, you understand, but we're glad you're all right, too."

"Thank you." Chloe was surprised to find tears in her eyes. She gave in to the urge to lean against him for a minute.

"You didn't tell Mom, right?" Charlie was asking his dad.

"No, but you need to. You don't want her hearing about it from a news story."

"She didn't know I was coming today."

"Charles," Mr. Rydell said, "Never underestimate your mother's ability to know everything."

Chloe pulled back and swiped a hand under her eyes. "Charles?" she whispered to Mr. Rydell.

He winked down at her.

Charlie looked back at them. "Oh, damn--I mean--Chloe, this is my dad. Dad, this is Chloe Sullivan."

"It's very nice to meet you, Chloe." Charlie's dad was just as cute in person. Cuter, really, because his eyes didn't crinkle like that when he smiled on television. "I might have wished for better circumstances, but it's still a pleasure."

"Thank you." She was half relieved and half disappointed when he didn't hug her, too.

"Isn't your family here?"

She shook her head, but before she had to say anything, Lex insinuated himself into their group. "Mr. McCall, I want to extend my sincerest apologies. Your son should have been safe here."

Mr. Rydell said, "These things happen."

"So I hear," Charlie muttered.

Mr. McCall didn't look quite as convinced, but he smiled politely. "I'm sure this was an isolated incident. And we do appreciate your help in getting us here so quickly."

Charlie blinked. "How did you get here so fast?"

Mr. Rydell leaned across Chloe and stage-whispered, "On a really neat jet."

"Whoa. Cool!"

Mr. McCall loosened up enough to grin at Charlie, and the two of them looked unnervingly alike in their glee. "It kind of was."

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like," Lex said. "The jet--and anything else LuthorCorp can provide--are at your disposal."

"Who's doing the show?" Charlie asked.

"Peter and Paul," his dad said.

"What? Dad, you have to go back."

"They'll be fine."

Mr. Rydell and Charlie both snorted in exactly the same way. Chloe giggled.

Lex, of course, had an answer for everything. "Charlie, why don't you go back with them? I'm sure the Planet will give you a day off, considering the circumstances." That meant he knew who to call over there. "You can talk to your mother in person and spend a little more time with your family."

"But--" Charlie looked over at Chloe.

And that was how she left her apartment for a football game in the morning and ended up on a jet to New York in the afternoon.