Confrontation [Facebook verse]

[have_no_mercy]

Tess has barely been back in Kansas when her attention gets pulled in a hundred directions at once. It isn't a while until she realizes she's forgotten one very important thing: Lena's lost barette, probably somewhere at the Kent Farm.

After a call to Clark to make certain the coast is clear, she drives over intent on making a quick search of the property and then heading back to the mansion. Naturally, it would be rude not to say hello so her first stop on arrival is the farmhouse itself, letting herself in the kitchen door.

Comments

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

Conner's out seeing a movie with Lois, so it's the perfect time for Tess to come over. Clark's folding Conner's laundry in the living room when Tess arrives, and he stops momentarily to go greet her.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe was reluctant to agree to this impromptu day trip to Smallville, but she knew Ollie was right, there is no point searching the Watchtower again and looking for clues that aren't there while J'onn looked into the fingerprints.

They are almost at Smallville when she talks after being silent for a long moment, she couldn't seem to stop replaying the short conversation with Jimmy in her head, "I hope we don't upset Conner by coming over and then leaving him here when we go home."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"He'll be okay. Clark said he was looking forward to spending the weekend at the farm," Oliver assures her quietly, reaching out and giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

[have_no_mercy]

"Hey, Clark." Tess says somewhat awkwardly, as this is the first time they've seen each other since she returned from New York. Her smile, however, is sympathetic. "I don't even know if the barrette is here, but she demanded I come look for it anyway."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

"If it's here, we'll find it." Clark could have looked already, but then he'd just have to hand it over to Tess and she'd leave. He wants a few minutes with her, at least.

He walks over and takes her hand, tugging her closer and pulling her into a hug. "I'm glad you're back."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

She squeezes Ollie's hand back and nods a little, "I know, I just don't want to scare him."

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"I know," he says softly, offering her a small smile as he pulls into the driveway.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess returns the hug, almost more firmly than she'd like, so she backs away fairly quickly. "I really just need to find this and get back home. She wants me there for dinner and tucking her in tonight for sure."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

Clark glances over at the clock. "You have plenty of time for that." He nods to himself, thinking up a plan. "We were mostly out in the barn and field, so I'll go look there, if you want to look around in here."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

She takes a deep breath and offers Ollie a soft smile then turns her attention to the familiar yellow house. Maybe a couple of hours in Smallville will help her ease her nerves some and help her focus on getting answers when they get back.

"Thank you for insisting on this," she tells Ollie softly, looking back at him and leaning in before pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome," he whispers, smiling back softly as he shifts the car into park. Hopefully it will help get her mind off of everything else.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess sighs a little in relief. "That sounds great. It's fairly small, pink and it has a horse on it. And don't go out of your way. If we can't find it, she'll just have to accept it and I'll get her a new pair."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

"We'll find it." Clark taps his glasses to indicate he'll be using some of his eye powers, then whooshes away to the barn, leaving Tess alone in the house.

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe takes a deep breath and nods slightly, undoing her seatbelt and getting out of the car a moment later. She knows they have some things in the trunk that needs to be brought inside, but she doesn't really care at the moment. She wants to make sure Conner is okay and not upset with her because he was just sent away out of the blue.

She knows he probably doesn't know what is going on, but she needs to make sure he knows she's not going anywhere like her mother did.

A moment later, she's opening the door to the kitchen and stepping inside, raising her eyebrows, "Conner?" She calls, not liking the sudden silence, unless he was napping, there is no way the house would be this quiet with a child in it.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver watches her head inside even as he lingers at the car, unlocking and opening the trunk to get out the things they'd brought along in case Conner wanted them while he was with Clark.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess had moved into the sitting room, beginning to look around and almost freezes in place at the sound of the voice. That voice. And since she has no intention of trying to hide or sneak away, she simply pokes her head back into the kitchen area.

"Chloe?"

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

Clark, meanwhile, is just finishing up his search of the barn when he hears the car pull up. He puts a few tools back in their correct place before he goes outside, and seeing that it's Oliver, he walks over to talk to him.

"Hey, Oliver, I didn't know you'd be stopping by today."

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

Chloe stills instantly as she hears her name, not from Clark, not from Lois, definitely not from her son, but from the very last person she wants to see. From the person who is not supposed to be anywhere near the farm when her son is there.

Her stomach and jaw both clench tightly as she turns to look at the other woman, "what are you doing here?" And she hopes this time she really hallucinating because if she's not, she will have to kill Clark.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver offers Clark a small smile as he pulls a bag out of the trunk. "I thought it would do Chloe some good to get out of the clocktower for awhile."

[have_no_mercy]

Right. Of course it's going to be like this. Tess steps into view, crossing her arms. "I'm picking something up for Lena."

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

"Chloe's here?" Clark looks in the car and doesn't see her, then stops and turns to Oliver, a sense of dread overtaking him. "Did she already go in the house?"

[chloeas.livejournal.com]

"You're not supposed to be here when my son is staying with Clark," she reminds Tess, stepping forward and placing her hands over her hips.

[dl-greenarrow.livejournal.com]

Oliver's eybrows furrow in confusion. "Yeah, why?"

[have_no_mercy]

Allow Tess to roll her eyes. "I'm well aware what your rules are regarding Clark's son. What is this, a spot check?"

[smallvillekent.livejournal.com]

"Tess is here. Lois took Conner out to see a movie, and Tess came to pick up something for Lena." Clark rushes the explanation and runs toward the house, expecting to have to break up a fight.