Disclaimer: Only any original ideas in here are mine. All characters belong to the respective copyright holders, including DC comics, Warner Bros., December 3rd Productions and anyone else with a stake in the Superman franchise.

Summary: Lex Luthor has figured out Superman's true identity. He has captured him and proceeded to torture him with kryptonite.

AN: Thank you for checking out my story. I still miss this terrific show and what the fourth season and beyond could have been like, but weren't. Oh well. At least we have four great seasons to still enjoy.

This story takes place in season one.

Clark thought he'd always hidden his steps well. That no one ever trace Superman back to ordinary, nondescript Clark Kent. Especially Lex Luthor. Somehow, though, he must have gotten cocky and slipped up. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out how. Not as he's sitting in a cell, with kryptonite basically keeping him a prisoner here.

The day had started off pretty unremarkable. Except that Lois was out of the office early on a story, alone, and Clark was finishing one up at his desk when he received a phone call. It was a tip about one of the bigger crooks in town, Big Eddie. A crook whom Lois and he had been trying to track down for months. So he grabbed his notepad, wrote down the address, and tore off the sheet. As he stood up in preparation to leaving, he crammed the notepad back into his desk drawer and grabbed his suit coat off the back of his chair.

Clark leaned into Perry White's office. "Chief, just got a tip about Big Eddie. I'm meeting a source now."

"Now? Thought snitches only worked at night, Kent."

"This one doesn't. Let Lois know when she gets here, alright? I should be back this afternoon."

Perry nodded, returning his attention to the papers on his desk and Clark sped out.

~~LnC~~LnC~~LnC~~

Clark approached the meeting place with his usual caution. He wasn't too crazy about the meeting taking place in broad daylight. Kinda went against all common sense, but seemingly, what did he have to be afraid of? It was off the beaten track, but in an alley off of a busy street, during the day. Should be secure enough.

Senses on the alert, Clark walked down the alley to its end. Not too busy with hardly any cars or pedestrians going by. Looking at his watch, he realized he was a few minutes early. But not too much; his contact should be arriving soon. Looking at the building's wall with distaste, he decided not to lean against it. He took out part of the newspaper, opened it, and pretended to read.

"Mr. Kent, how courteous of you to be on time," broke into his concentration from behind him.

Clark turned only to take in simultaneously the familiar ill feeling of kryptonite being nearby, and a punch to his face, knocking him down. Unable to control the impulse to bend over due to the abdominal pain brought on by the kryptonite, Clark couldn't fend off another punch to his head, followed by a punch to his stomach. Shaking his head, he attempted to rise to get away from his assailant, only to be knocked back down onto his back with another punch. A bag was slipped over his head, rope tied around his arms binding them to his torso, and Clark found himself being lifted into what felt like the back of a van. He then saw lights and stars flash as he was hit again on the head, knocking him out.

The next thing he was aware of was a bright light shining in his eyes. Instinctively, his eyes shut tighter to avoid the discomfort. Just as he became aware of a pounding in his head, he received, in an opposite beat, three kicks in his stomach.

"Kent, even a low-life extraterrestrial like you should be awake by now!" he heard through the waves of pain and nausea shooting through him.

Clark knew he recognized the voice, but momentarily couldn't place from where. He barely registered he was lying on his side, on a cold cement floor, his arms still tied to his sides. He could sense kryptonite still in range as well. After another kick to the stomach, he opened his eyes to look up at his assailant sideways, too weak to raise his head.

Clark knew he shouldn't be surprised by the man standing there in front of him, his satisfaction in having his enemy restrained and helpless in front of him radiating from him in waves. Somehow, though, a little thread of astonishment did flow through him with seeing Lex Luthor standing in front of him, dressed in his usual black three-piece Armani suit.

"Surprised to see me, Kent? You should be. I must admit, it did take me longer to figure out how you were hiding down here on Earth than I would like to admit."

Clark rallied all of his strength to rasp out, "Luthor! You're not going…"

"To get away with this?" Lex laughed. "Was that what you were going to say, Kent? How… 'Superman' of you to say. How...heroic. And how absolutely fruitless. For I am getting away with 'it'. You name it, I'm getting away with it." Walking towards Clark, bending down to grasp Clark's chin and force his head up, Lex smiled. "You thought you were better than us? You thought you could come to Earth, and take over? To lord your abilities over us? A few weeks with me, and those powers will be mine."

Clark attempted to wrest his head away from Lex's hold but was too weak. Lex let go and brushed his hands against each other while walking back to a few steps beyond Clark's grasp.

"What are you carrying on about, Lex?" Clark asked, attempting to hide the weakness in his voice. "I've never attempted to take over Earth, and you know it."

"If that's true, you are a bigger fool than I thought. All those powers, and you only want to do good?" Lex shook his head. "Doesn't matter. You will live out your remaining life in my lab, as my prisoner. As my lab rat. As whatever else I decide." Picking up the kryptonite, he said, "All thanks to this little piece of home. Just can't get over how this little piece of green crystal makes you powerless."

Clark attempted to hide his fear of the rock Lex held, but the effects overcame his resolve. Clark bent over in pain even as Lex held the rock closer to him, unable to hide the discomfort.

"Oh, this is so much fun! If only I had discovered this little rock sooner!"

"What…what is it you want, Luthor?"

"World domination, never-ending power, the works." Sighing, Lex walked to the cell door and opened it. Turning around, he said, "Well, I'll be back, Kent. We shall have lots of fun and games later. But there are a few things I have to do first." Nodding to the two men outside the cell, he said, "Restrain him."

Clark found himself lifted up into a sitting position and pulled against the wall by the men on either side of him. The ropes circling him were removed, but each of his hands were roughly grabbed by a man on either side of him. Clark hadn't noticed, but manacles were attached to the stone wall of his cell with sturdy links of chain which in any other circumstances Clark could easily break. The manacles were then placed around his wrists and the men left the cell.

Luthor smiled in satisfaction at the accomplished task in front of him and placed the opened lead box with the kryptonite on the floor right outside the door of the cell. Unfortunately, it was out of reach of even Clark's feet. Looking at the kryptonite resting on the floor, Clark shook his head. With it still within his proximity, there would be no opportunity for him to get back his powers.

"Yep, going to leave this here for a while. I know if I leave it too long, I will have a dead alien on my hands. But I want to see how long it takes you to succumb to a near-coma first. Doesn't that sound like fun?" Clark only glared at him in answer. "Aw, come on, Clark. No final words to give me for now?"

Laughing, Lex left the cell, banging the door closed. Shaking it, he smiled as he made sure it was securely locked. "Don't worry, Kent, I will be back." Clark watched his captor leave practically with a skip in his step. The only thing missing was a maniacal laugh coming from him as he left.

Wondering where he was at, whether he was still in Metropolis, Clark attempted to pull against the restraints, knowing it was a useless gesture regardless. Suddenly realizing something, Clark touched his forehead, his eyes. My glasses! I know Lex knows who I am, but I wonder where my glasses are. I hope they weren't left in the alley.

Exhaustion overtook him, to which Clark decided to succumb. He realized he needed to get as much rest as possible, before Lex would return. However, with the kryptonite present it was dangerous for him to succumb to sleep. He struggled for a while, but finally wasn't able to withhold it off any longer, and drifted into a restless sleep. He'd worry later about the possible ramifications of other people seeing him without his glasses. If he'd ever get out of here, that is.

~~LnC~~LnC~~LnC~~

Lois entered the newsroom in her characteristic fashion, head down, her focus only on getting to her targeted area, her desk. She sat down, booted up her computer, and immediately her hands furiously began flying across the keyboard. After fifteen minutes, she looked across her desk at Clark's desk. In puzzlement, she observed the computer off, the chair pulled in, the desk clean. Cleaner than usual, even for Kent.

As he flew by, Lois grabbed Jimmy. "Hey, Olsen, where's Clark? His desk looks like he's left for the day, and it's only 2pm."

"Oh, C.K. left this morning to meet a source. He said he'd be back this afternoon." Looking at the clock on the wall, Jimmy startled. "Oh, he should be back by now. I wonder where he's at."

He hurried away, leaving Lois to wonder as well where her partner was. She took out her phone and noted no calls or texts. "Where is that man?" Looking around, Lois called out for Olsen, who appeared once again in front of her desk. "Did Clark say where he was meeting this so-called source?"

"No, he didn't. He said something about it being regarding Big Eddie and took off like he had no worry in the world."

Lois rolled her eyes. "Why does he do that? Big Eddie? I'd even take back-up to meet someone about him." Going over to Clark's desk, she opened drawers, looking for…something. Her eyes fell on the notepad Clark had used. She grabbed it, partially shutting the drawer and pulled out the middle drawer. Grabbing a pencil, she lightly rubbed across the paper.

Grinning, she said softly, "Nothing like the old tricks working!" She ripped off the sheet of paper. "Jimmy! Let's go find Clark!"

Running after her, Jimmy asked, "Aren't we telling the Chief where we're headed?"

Stopping in mid-stride, Lois didn't want to turn around, but she knew it would be smarter. She headed to her boss' office and stuck her head inside the door. "Chief, Clark hasn't returned yet. I'm going to check out his location. He was to meet his source at the alley of Baker and 5th. I'm taking Olsen with me."

White nodded. "Okay. Let me know what you find. Be careful."

"Always!" floated back to Perry's ears as Lois ran out of the office.

Perry muttered as he shook his head, "Well, there's always a first time, I suppose."

~~LnC~~LnC~~LnC~~

Lois had practically just parked the car before she leapt out, grabbing her purse and heading for the alley. Jimmy swore under his breath, grabbed his camera, and followed her. He caught up to her right before she entered the alley.

"Lois," he loudly whispered. "Don't you think we should be a little more careful?"

"You think whoever grabbed Clark would still be here? If Clark was grabbed in the first place, that is." Lois shook her head. "No, I don't. but maybe you're right." Leaning against the cement wall of the building closest to the alley, she peeked around the corner. Not seeing anyone, she looked back and told Jimmy, "Let's go."

They proceeded into the alley, constantly looking to all sides of them. Not hearing or seeing anyone else, Lois walked to the end of the alley, stopped and looked around. Jimmy scrunched down and began searching the ground.

"Hey, wait!" He stood up and ran several feet away. Picking up something, he ran back to Lois. "Do these look like Clark's?"

Jimmy had handed her a pair of eyeglasses, one bow bent, one lens missing. Lois sighed, excited for the possible clue but disheartened by what it meant. "Yeah, they do look like Clark's glasses. Let's split up and begin looking for any witnesses."

"Why don't you do that, while I'll check to see what I can find on any traffic cams."

"Great idea, Jimmy! Let's meet back here in, say, an hour?"

AN: Thanks so much for reading! Sure appreciate it, and I hope you let me know what you think of this story. Always great to hear from readers.