More Time

Title: More Time
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Smallville
Pairing: Chlark, Chlois
Spoilers/Timeline: Post-Series
Disclaimer: I own very little, certainly not these characters. Please don’t sue!
Author’s Notes: Sleeper made me want to slap the crap out of Clark. Call this the reset button I want to push when SV finally comes to an end.

--

“Hurts, doesn’t it?” Brainiac’s hand on his crown is a twisted benediction.

He huddles more tightly around her, pulling her limp form closer as the tears stream. “You, you can’t…”

“Ah, but that’s the beauty of it all, Kal-El. I didn’t.” He smirks. “She did. So did you, if you think about it, letting her think that was all you wanted. Humans are so predictable, especially when they’re noble.”

When the machine touches her hair, Clark practically growls and snatches her away from the seeking hand.

“You don’t get to touch her.” He spits. “Bring her back. Now.”

“Such demands from someone with so little understanding.” The construct circles them, unconcerned with the fortress’ defense systems all targeting him. He pauses. “You want your little reporter back?”

Clark tries not to break her with the strength of his grief. All he manages is a strangled. “Yes.”

Braniac crouches low, meeting his broken gaze. “And just what would you offer me in return?”

“Anything.” He whispers, and it’s true even if Chloe would hate him.

“How about…a little more time?”

“W-What?”

“Time, boy.” His tone is a mockery of kindness. “What if you never met your little blonde sidekick, Kal-El?”

“She…she’d still be...”

“Alive, yes.” Brainiac speaks as if talking to a particularly slow child. “And what else do you suppose would be different, if you hadn’t had her to save all those years ago?”

“I…uh.”

“You would have completed your training when this fortress was created, yes?”

“I…I guess.”

“Trust me. You would have had no other reason. Your relationship with Miss Lang would have been pursued without regret and you’d have parted as friends by graduation.”

The machine rises and begins to circle casually.

“And do you know what wouldn’t have happened?”

“No.” Clark is confused and all he wants is Chloe and how is he supposed to make sense of this when she’s so…gone?

“No, I don’t suppose you would.” Braniac sighs, frustrated. “You would not have disobeyed your father’s Artificial Intelligence, and it would have left the wormhole closed. There would be no lesson to teach.”

“Wormhole?”

“Yes, wormhole. You didn’t actually think Jor-El was able to summon a meteor shower by himself, did you?”

“Jor-El made that…?”

“No, you twit. He merely sped it up because of your constant rebellion. He felt you needed to understand your importance to this inferior race.” At that, the android stills and pins Clark with a penetrating glare. “I can save her from you. And all I ask for in return is a little more time.”

“But what-?“

“Zod will have another chance at this world. You will be older and fully trained. And any failure will fall on his shoulders.”

“Why would you want that?” Confused doesn’t begin to cover where Clark is right now. “Why the do-over if I’m going to be better prepared to fight him?”

“I merely want to be absolved of the constant blame. It was her who caught me by surprise last time, and I’d like to see what happens without her in the equation.” For the first time, the machine looks weary. “It really is a win-win.”

“I...I won’t know her at all?”

“Kryptonians are unique in their innate understanding of time’s flow, so no, I can’t make you forget. But with some minor adjustments to the events of 1991, Chloe Sullivan as you know her never moved to Smallville.” He looks solemn, as though he knows what he’s saying when he continues. “It is she who won’t know you, Kal-El.”

Clark looks down at her still features, relaxed in death as he’s never seen them in life. There’s no choice, not really. Chloe Sullivan gave up everything for him. He’d give more if he were asked.

Searching his heart, it’s a little scary when he considers what he’s willing to give to get her back. This is a bargain for both him and the world.

He looks up at Brainiac, wishing he could wipe that smirk off the machine’s face permanently. Instead, he nods.

“What do I need to do?”

“Oh, just this.” He starts when the android leads his hand to a crystal on the console. Energy flows through their joined hands and the world explodes in a cacophony of light and color.

It feels a lot like being turned inside out and upside down at the same time, and when reality spins to a stop, Clark finds himself across the street from The Daily Planet.

The globe spins, golden and bright, and he draws comfort from the fact that this one thing remains constant.

“Move, Kent!”

“Excuse me?” He turns, pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose without thinking.

The woman in the car looks exasperated. He stares dumbly at the open door for a moment before taking the hint.

He slides into the passenger seat of the microscopic hybrid and finally gets a good look at his companion. He can’t contain the gasp.

Two sets of memories collide in a supernova of what is and what wasn’t. Despite the long dark hair, slightly different nose, and entirely different attitude, he is reminded of days at the lake and a grin that could outshine the sun. He also remembers an unsteady alliance and a star reporter whose editor thinks she needs a little balance.

“Chloe?” He asks, and even as he does he knows that’s not her name. She stops cold.

“Where did you hear that name?”

“Uh…um, you mentioned it?”

“Doubtful, Kent. I don’t talk about that. Ever.”

“Why?”

“It was the worst day of my life, that’s why. I lost my baby cousin and my uncle and my own face in a single car accident. That’s a lot for a six-year-old to take in.” She smirks at his silence. “Happy now? Can we please move on with our day, Mister Intrusive?”

“Uh-Of course, uh, Lois. Sure we can.”

“Gee, thanks, Smallville. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to have your permission.”

“Me too.” It just slips out and he can’t imagine a universe that would be this kind after…everything.

“You too, what?”

“I’m relieved, too.” She looks over, suddenly curious at his serious tone.

“You okay, Kent?” The last of his doubts evaporate at the care in her eyes. Chloe is alive and they’re a team again.

“I’ve never been better.”

---

End