A Long Way

Chapter 1

Lex Luthor held a beaker full of green liquid in his hand. He handed it over to Dr. Rosenthal to be examined. The two of them were standing in his huge dark laboratory. Around them on dark metal tables a great deal of white mist was coming out of about four glass beakers on metal stands. Colored tubes were filling with bubbling liquid before them.

"I believe this is the final ingredient, doctor." Lex said with much conviction.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor. Our research shows that this mixed with the formula already in these beakers will produce the effect that you want. But I must tell you, it could be incredibly dangerous. We are unsure of any physical problems it may cause. Not to mention it seems immoral."

"I'm not paying you to give me a lecture on ethics or the environment, doctor." Lex snapped. "I'm paying you to do a job and I expect you to follow through. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Mr. Luthor" Dr. Rosenthal said. "I should be finished with the work by tomorrow morning. But to mass produce it like you want, it will take over two weeks."

"I'm a patient man," Lex replied cooly.

With that he made to leave. Being that his back was turned he did not see the scowl that the doctor had on his face. What also distracted Lex was a thought that had been on his mind ever since he discovered that this formula could be possible.

"Soon I will finally learn the truth about Clark Kent," he said softly to himself.

The same day, at the Kent farm, Clark and Lana were building some tension of their own. For the past week Lana had been pretty distant. She had spent a great deal of time with Chloe and Nell. Clark thought it may have something to do with her being taken by Brainiac as hostage to lure Clark. He sure was glad he destroyed him.

Clark presently had come out of the barn and walked into the house when Lana had passed him by as she was walking in the kitchen.

"Hi," she stated blankly.

"Hi," he stated back in the same tone. To tell the truth, he was pretty worried. "Lana, is something wrong? You've been acting like this all week."

"Look, Clark, I need to talk to you about something. I need to know where we stand, as a couple."

"What do you mean, Lana?"

She thought for a moment. "I'm glad you told me your secret. That you were finally able to be completely honest with me for once. That we could now be a healthier couple because of it. But having that knowledge also comes with a price. The price of being in danger, and the price that I would never be able to have a normal life if I am with you."

Clark couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But, Lana, Pete and Chloe know my secret."

"Yeah, and Pete moved away because he couldn't handle it. And I talked to Chloe the other day about how I was feeling, and she told me about the time she almost gave up and did a similar thing."

"Still, if we want to be together, we could. I'm still me."

"I know Clark, and I love you. And I also know you are meant to do great things for the world. That takes time away from living a normal life with someone you love."

"So are you saying you don't want to be with me anymore?"

"I'm saying I'm not sure yet, Clark. This isn't an easy decision to make. I'm going to go away for a little while and think everything through."

She grabbed her bag from the kitchen counter and walked out the door. Clark didn't know how long he had stared at that door hoping she would run back through the door and into his arms. When she turned away and didn't look back, all he wanted was to lye down and be alone.

It was two days until Lana walked through the doors of the Kent farm again. She set her bag down on the kitchen counter and began rummaging through it when she saw Clark walk in the room. Her eyes then went back to the bag.

Clark saddened at this. He knew things had not been the same between them. He hated to admit it to himself. Lana was the only girl he had ever been in love with. And she finally knew his secret and he could be happy with her. But it was tainted now. And as much as it hurt, Clark had to face reality.

"So this is what it comes down to," he stated to Lana. She looked up. " You can't even look at me anymore."

"Clark, we have to admit things have changed"

"Yeah they have, Lana. We don't seem to really know each other anymore."

"You're right. We have obviously been drifting apart. And I think the best thing is to just let go. No matter how hard it is."

Lana started to walk toward the kitchen door. Clark followed her and caught her by her wrist. "Lana, no matter what I'll always wish the best for you. I'm sorry things didn't work out. I'm glad I got to be happy with you, even if it was for just a little while.."

"Me too Clark. And I'll always want the best for you. But if it's just going to be heartache in the end, this is probably best. You have bigger things in store for you, and this would only hold you back. The world needs you, and I need to accept that. I'm going to go up to see Nell. I think I'll stay with her until I find something. I'll come by to pack my things tonight." With that she picked up her bag and started to walk out.

Before she walked through the kitchen door, however, she turned around to look at him one last time. "I'll always love you Clark. That will never change."

"I know, Lana. I feel the same way."

Clark knew Lana would be gone the whole day. In the meantime, though, he needed advice on what to do. He decided he needed to see Chloe in Metropolis. As he ran faster than a speeding bullet to The Daily Planet, he realized that amongst all of the problems he has had to solve in his lifetime, he would never understand romance.

The Daily Planet was packed with a great deal of hustle and bustle as usual. Papers and bins we're on each desk, phones were ringing, and people stormed around and talked. While Clark stood in the middle of the room searching for Chloe, Lois walked by. She was wearing a black, business attire skirt outfit and held a large manila envelope in her hand.

"Oh, hey Clark," she said as she busily walked by. "If you're looking for Chloe she's out on assignment."

"Oh. Thanks Lois," Clark said. He wore a worried expression. Lois studied him.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"I just need someone to talk to."

"Well, you let me cry on your shoulder the other day. The least I can do is return the favor. Just give me a minute to deliver these forms and you will have my undivided attention."

Clark simply smiled softly. Lois walked off. His eyes followed her to an office down the hall. She turned the corner and was back in front of him fifteen seconds later.

"So why do you look so sad Smallville?"

Clark couldn't help but giggle when she called him that. Then his face got serious again. "Well, it's Lana. We're breaking up because, well, things just aren't working out." he couldn't give her anymore details.

"Wow, that's tough. Look, I know I don't have the best history with romance, but things don't always turn out the way you expect. Sometimes that's a good thing. I know you thought Lana was the love of your life, but maybe someone else will come along."

"Thanks Lois. I hope you're right."

"Anytime. And, I just want to say, that Lana is a lucky girl to have had a guy like you. And if she doesn't see that, then it's her loss." With that she left again and Clark was just about to speed back to the farm when Jimmy Olsen came running into the room, the camera around his neck bumping up and down, yelling, "Lois, stop what you're doing! I just found out Lex Luthor's been shot."

"Whoa, calm down there Jimmy. How'd you find this out?" Lois asked him.

"Chloe called me on her way back from assignment," he responded through his panting. "She saw the police on the side of the road but they couldn't give her any information."

"That's why I'm going to find out on my own," Chloe said as she came up behind them typing frantically on her laptop.

"Hey, slow down there cuz. You mean we're going to find out," Lois said pointing to her, Clark, and Jimmy.

Chloe gave Clark an inquisitive look. "Yeah, not that I mind your spontaneous visits, but what are you doing here, Clark?"

"I, uh, came to talk to you about something." he said shyly.

"Oh, ok," she said. "Well, can it wait until we get some more information here?"

"Actually, Lois helped," he answered.

"Oh," she said, stunned. "That's a different turn of events."

"Don't be so shocked, cuz, just because I can be a bit abrasive doesn't mean I don't have a soft side too," Lois said defensively.

"Hey, I didn't mean to offend," Chloe said with her hands in the air.

"Ok, can we focus on the situation at hand here?" Jimmy asked nervously. "A man has been shot."

"Where was Lex last seen?" Clark asked.

"It took place in his mansion. I was going over there to tell him something I found while on assignment when there were some ambulances and police cars. The shooter had just left. Lex was unconscious so they couldn't get any information from him."

"I'm going to go to the clinic to see if Lex can identify the shooter," said Lois.

"I'll come with you," said Clark.

"I don't think so, Smallville. I'm a big girl and can handle this on my own," Lois protested.

"Well, why doesn't he come with you, Lois?" Chloe asked. "Jimmy and I can stay here and dig up any information we can. Maybe find out if Lex made any calls on his cell phone or something." She secretly thought that Lois and Clark would make a good couple and hoped that they would think so too. Lana had been telling her what was going on with her and Clark, so Chloe had figured that ship had sailed. It was the investigative reporter in her.

"Alright, but if I get any attitude from you," Lois said giving Clark a stern look.

Clark looked at her shyly. "I'll be good, I promise."

"Ok, then. Let's go," Lois said not all too enthused.

They strolled off together through the big double doors of The Daily Planet while Jimmy and Chloe stared intensely at a computer.

Lois and Clark wandered the gloomy, dimly-lit halls of the Smallville Medical Center. There was a definite awkward silence between them.

"Don't look so tense, Smallville. I don't bite."

"I know." Clark said as he looked at her awkwardly.

The truth was, Clark was feeling weird around Lois. He did not quite understand why. He had been alone with her before, and he never really felt shy around her, but for some reason he did just now. Maybe it was because of the help she had given him earlier. He had never seen that side of her before. To him Lois was someone who never wore her heart on her sleeve. She just did what she wanted and did not let anyone stand in her way. She did not like to let people see her cry or anything of the sort. Part of that was like Clark himself. He didn't let people stand in the way, especially when it came to those he cared about. Clark had never realized that before. He also was always afraid of opening up to people, especially about his secret. He couldn't even tell his friends, they found out on their own. Lois had always been just a friend to him, someone who was just simply there. But they had something in common…

"Let's get one thing straight, Smallville. I'm going to do the talking. The last thing I need is for you to mess this up for me."

"Mess it up for you?" he repeated dully, this thoughts being interrupted.

"Look, this could be a really good story here. Billionaire gets shot in his home, one with massive security. There's got to be something here somewhere."

"What if Lex doesn't know who it is?"

"Well then my job is going to be more difficult."

"You know, Lex owns the paper. I don't know if he'll want this splashed all across the front page."

"Well that depends on the story."

"That's what I mean. Whoever shot Lex had a motive. He must have done something to them. He won't want you parading it around."

"Look, like I said before, I can take care of myself.."

" I know you can. I just don't want to see you get hurt. I know what Lex is capable of."

"Aw, little Clarky has a soft spot for me!" She said sarcastically.

Clark blushed a little. "You're my friend. That's all."

"Yeah, well, if we stand here any longer we won't get anywhere."

They walked the cold, desolate hallway to the front desk. Lois asked where Lex was staying. At first they were hesitant to give her the room number but as soon as Lois flashed them her Daily Planet badge they conceded. Clark had to admire Lois. She knew what she wanted and she would not let anyone stand in her way. It was part of what made her so amazing. It was part of what Clark loved the most about her…

He followed her to the room and when they walked in Lex was sitting up in bed. He had no shirt on because of the fresh wound on his chest, on which there was a white bandage which was slowly but surely turning red. He wore a tired and cold smile.

"Well, well, well. I never thought that my first visitors would be Clark Kent and Lois Lane." He laughed to himself. "On second thought, it makes perfect sense. Everyone else wants me dead anyway and you, Miss Lane, are one determined reporter. I assume you are here to get a story."

"Yes, that is precisely why we are here," replied Lois.

"Well, then I will tell you what I told the police and all of the other press. I know nothing. The man was wearing a mask and he didn't speak. His form was unrecognizable to me."

"He just walked in and shot you?"

Lex could tell she was not going to leave until she got what she wanted, and he was too tired to argue, so he gave in.

"Exactly. I had my back turned toward the door. I heard it slam open so I turned around and next thing I knew, I was recovering from surgery."

"Do you have any idea who would want to shoot you?"

Again, Lex laughed. "Miss Lane, that answer could fill up a lot more than your notepad."

"So you're unclear as to who may have done this."

"Yes."

"And how did this person get past all your security?"

"Now, that's a good question. I should find out this man's secret and reward him instead of pressing charges," he joked. "And I assure you that my security will no longer be employed once I am released."

"So, did a security guard hear the shot and find you?"

"Yes. But when he entered the room, all he saw was a big pile of ink flowing on the floor. Which is odd considering there was no ink in the room."

"That is strange. Is all of this in the official report?"

"Yes." Lex was beginning to get annoyed now. "You are as unintelligent as the police who tell me there are no leads. Now, please leave. I'm tired."

Clark did not like Lex taking that tone with Lois. She was just about to open her mouth and talk back to Lex when he snapped. "Look Lex, you have no right to treat Lois that way. She is just trying to do her job. No one deserves to be shot, even you. Although, come to think of it, none of us would be here if you hadn't done something to make someone want to kill you!"

Lois grabbed his arm. "Clark, that's enough. Come on, we're going." and with that they both exited the room.

When they were in the hall again Lois stopped and turned around to look at Clark. "What is wrong with you? I told you I could handle it. Why did you have to stand up for me?"

"Because what he said to you was unfair."

"Please, Clark. I'm a big girl. I'm not going to let an insult from Lex Luthor scare me."

"I know, I just don't like to see you being treated that way." He couldn't help but blush and she couldn't help but smile.

"Well, thank you. But next time let me fight my own battles, okay?"

He nodded.

" Good. Now, let's get back to Jimmy and Chloe and see if they have found anything."