Title: Collide to Connect By: Amber Esme Hermione
Disclaimer: The characters and settings of Smallville aren't mine. I borrow them and put them together to suit my whims. My rewards are reviews.
A/N: Thank you to for adding our dear Justin to the character list. This fic is to establish how the Jitney (Whitney Fordman/Justin Gains) ship begins.
Chapter 1: Proximity and Pain Killers
It was a bad day to be on the roads of Lowell County for drivers and pedestrians alike. Smallville Medical Center received two accident victims from opposite ends of the town in quick succession. First was Whitney Fordman; miraculously unscathed considering his truck had exploded. Second was another student from the high school, Justin Gains who'd been severely injured in a hit and run. The trauma staff were scrambling to stabilize Gains when their other patient regained consciousness.
Whitney opened his eyes, and heard the commotion beside him. Lana? Was she with me? The blond managed to shift enough to see a mass of short curls passed a scrubs clad arm. Shit! Did I hit this guy? The last thing I remember is fighting with Kent about Lana's necklace.
A doctor turned and spotted that he was awake. "Whitney, I'm Dr. Sinclair, and you're at Smallville Medical Center. Do you know why you're here?"
Whitney rasped, "I was in a car accident. Did I hit that guy over there?"
"No, he came from a different location. What do you remember about your accident?" The lined features of the doctor creased as he peered into the teen's eyes with a pen light.
Whitney flinched from the brightness. "I was leaving the Farmer's Market. I... something must have caught my attention. My window smashed, and I think my truck flipped." He shook his head, "I'm sorry that's all I remember."
Dr. Sinclair nodded, "You're very lucky the Kents came along. The EMTs said their boy pulled you clear of the explosion."
"Clark?" The quarterback sighed. I guess I owe Kent for this too. The blond tried to sit up as a word registered in his mind. Explosion? "What about my truck?"
The physician glanced to the other patient in the trauma team's care. "I'm afraid I don't know, son. We'll be keeping you overnight for observation, but you should be fine." He slid the chart into a pocket at the end of the bed.
Whitney groaned and closed his eyes. Fantastic! My truck is totaled, I owe Clark Kent my life, and I still don't have Lana's necklace.
"Whitney?" Lana's frightened voice snapped his eyes open. He had no idea how long he'd been asleep. The worry on her face melted away when she saw he was awake. "I'm so glad you're ok. What did the doctors say?" She stepped forward to take his hand.
"That I'm in a lot better shape than my truck." His ability to smile abandoned him. "I know I'm lucky." His eyes drifted to the now drawn curtain separating them from the next bed.
"Yeah," Lana followed his gaze. "Justin Gains is hurt pretty bad. I saw his parents talking to the Sheriff on my way in to see you."
"What happened?" He didn't bother asking how she knew the kid's name. Lana's always aware of more than me. It's her job to know the fans, and mine to make the plays.
His girlfriend pushed her brunette tresses behind her. "They're waiting for him to wake up to see if he knows who hit him." Her forehead creased, "someone left him there to die."
Damn Kent, waste your rescuing talents on me. This Gains kid needed more help than me... He deserved it more.
"Ms. Lang?" A nurse poked her head around the curtain. "Whitney needs his rest."
Lana nodded, "of course." She lent down to press a kiss to his forehead. "I'm glad you're ok," she whispered.
"Me too." The bright fabric rippled as Lana left, and he caught a glimpse of chestnut curls and bandages.
The next morning Whitney pulled on the clothes his mother had brought him. His body still throbbed from the accident, but it wasn't more painful than a rough football game. The rings scraped across the bar as the quarterback revealed the other bed, and his path to the door.
For a moment Whitney gazed down at the damage done to the other teen. Both hands were encased in gauze, stitches closed a gash across the boy's forehead, but the rest of him was hidden by the hospital blanket. Whitney's eyes moved back to the patient's face and he saw brown eyes staring up in confusion.
"Uh, sorry. Do you want me to get you a nurse or something?" The senior ran a hand through his blond locks.
"Nah, s'ok. They make me sleep. I don't want to do that anymore." The coco orbs closed.
At least he's on some good pain meds. Maybe, I should let the know he's awake before I leave. Thinking the boy was out again Whitney made his way around the bed.
"You're leaving?" He looked over his shoulder to see fear before a half-smile pushed away the expression. "You are my only visitor."
"Sorry," Whitney put on his school-spirit-smile. "I think they're kicking me out'a here."
Justin nodded, and winced, "If you have the get out of jail free card you should use it." He looked down to his hands, "I'd wave, but..."
"No sweat," Whitney shrugged. "Seeing you awake is a good enough send off. I mean it was pretty creepy being in a room with an unconscious person."
Justin cracked a smile, "At least your stay wasn't boring." Then his sallow face contorted again. "You think you could call that nurse?"
"Sure," Whitney stepped into the hall. He spotted the nurse's station, and approached the desk. "Excuse me, Justin... Gains, wants some more pain meds."
"I'll be right with him, in the meantime, here's your discharge papers." She slid a clipboard across to him. "You know we were all worried you were seriously injured in that accident. After the homecoming game you're sure to get a scholarship to Metropolis University. I got my nursing degree there..."
Whitney looked up from signing the papers, "Thanks for the concern. Um... Gains' was in a lot of pain when I left."
"Oh where did my mind go." The woman got up and went to prepare the syringe. With a sigh the quarterback left the signed form on the desk. He returned the nurse's wave as she entered his old room.
"Good luck with her, Gains," Whitney muttered as he headed out to the lobby of the hospital.
