Chloe's desk. We can tell because there's a big, obnoxious "Chloe Sullivan" nameplate there. Pete, who got through security somehow, strides in (get it?) saying, "I always knew The Torch would light the way to the big leagues." Chloe hugs him. She says it's so good to see him. Pete hugs her really tight, his eyes closed. Easy there, tiger. Chloe says she went from being a big fish in a small pond to a minnow in The Atlantic. Pete says he's read all her stories and that some things never change. Chloe tells him that she's mopping up Lex's daily carnage. Chloe says Lex is playing Big Brother with all the computers. He's putting a bunch of roommates together and making Julie Chen host? Pete asks if Chloe can't just work some of her "Virtual voodoo" to get her files back. Chloe says that short of a massive virus, all the files will forever be in possession of "Citizen Lex."

Pete, chewing his gum, says that maybe he can give Lex something else to focus on. He stretches an arm and grabs a rose for Chloe from across the room. Snakey! "Cool, huh?" he says. Chloe puts down the rose and pulls Pete aside. She tells him that he shouldn't let anyone see him do that. Pete thinks Chloe is running scared because of Clark's secret. She says it's not about him. Pete says he remembers what it was like to cover for Clark. Especially the lying. "To you," he adds, clearly hurt. Chloe says sometimes you don't have another choice. Pete says he's glad not to follow in Clark's footsteps. "Put it on the front page," he tells her. Chloe jokes that Pete could literally reach for the stars right now, but she asks about all the meteor-infected people who might want to keep their privacy. Pete thinks it's fine if they want to keep living a lie. Chloe gives him a hurt look. Pete notices Lex walking by. He says it's time for people to realize that a real hero doesn't hide in the shadows. Unless he's SPF Man, who gets burned by direct sunlight. Pete excuses himself to follow Lex. Chloe gulps.