A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

By Allegra

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters & appreciate that they are the property of Miller/Gough & various TV studios.

Author's Note: This is a little birthday gift to Polly. I'm sorry I'm not here to ring you on your special day so here's the start of something I hope you'll appreciate. As usual, it gets going a little slowly but you know me, it'll end up a whopper!!

CHAPTER ONE : TRUSTWORTHY

"Clark? What are you doing here?" Lex tried to hide his surprise. He would expect to see the dark-haired teenager at the mansion any time of day or night but popping up at the local plant was hardly the place for a farm kid. His mind wandered back to the day Earl had held Clark Kent's school party hostage inside and Lex smiled. Clark never did seem to be flustered by a life and death situation. Where most of his friends saw the plant as a place full of memories and experiences they'd rather forget, this kid seemed to seek it out instead.

"I stopped by the mansion. They told me you were here." Clark strode across the car park, hauling his heavy book bag onto his shoulder as if it weighed no more than a feather.

"What's the urgency?" Lex inquired, sticking his hands in the pockets of his black greatcoat.

Clark pulled his mouth into the lopsided grin that Lex had come to interpret as his friend's way of plucking up the courage to say something important. "It's not urgent, it's just..." He paused, weighing up the ways to say what was supposed to be an invitation but sounded more like digging a grave.

Lex could sense his friend withholding and tried to help him out. "It's just what, Clark? After the meeting I've just had, it'd have to be pretty dire to top it, believe me."

Clark blurted out, "My parents have invited you to dinner."

Lex drew himself to his full height, taking in the news. There wasn't much that could surprise him after so many years in Metropolis, but this was an offer he certainly had missed coming. His eyes surveyed Clark's open face. "You mean Martha Kent has invited me to dinner."

Clark shrugged, dismissively. "Dad's going to be there."

Lex nodded as if weighing up the possible directions such a meeting could go. His eyes bore into Clark's and the teenager shifted uncomfortably beneath his friend's piercing gaze. It was like Lex was always seeking the lies and deceit hidden beneath the kindness. No matter how good friends they became, Lex always kept Clark at arm's length. He never shared a problem even though the millionaire knew everything about his...well, except maybe one. The pair were almost a fascination to each other, the different walks of life two people could walk and still find some common ground.

Finally, Lex spoke. "Tell Martha I'd be honoured to take up her offer." He turned back to his black porsche. Starting the engine, he swung the vehicle round to where Clark was standing where he wound down the passenger window. "Get in, Clark. I'll drop you off at the farm."

Chloe glanced at the wall clock as she edited the last article for the Torch. She hadn't realised how late it had got but her sore eyes told the same tale - it was time to put the paper to bed. The cleaners had finished their night's work and she had already made the call to home to say she wouldn't be back for dinner.

The blonde newspaper editor switched her monitor off and grabbed her coat. "Chloe!" She jumped out of her skin at the voice and turned to see Pete standing in the door.

"Jesus, Pete! You scared me!"

"Yeah, well if you hadn't stood me up then I wouldn't have had to come down here, would I?" The irritation in his voice told Chloe she had gone too far this time. Pete was normally the picture of a good mood but even he had a limit to his benevolent nature. Still, Chloe couldn't blame him. She hadn't exactly been available to her friends lately. It was this damned portfolio she had been asked to get together for the summer programme at the Metropolis Globe. It had eaten into her time at the Torch and then she had to spend every other spare minute catching up on her editing duties.

"Oh, Pete, I'm sorry. I was just editing this one feature and then..."

Pete waved his hands at her, "On, wait, wait, I remember this one. You lost track of time, right?"

Chloe nodded, helplessly. "I'm really sorry. Listen, I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"I don't want you to make it up to me. I want you to be at the Beanery when you say you're going to be there, or at least call me. You know, I've got stuff to do, too, Chloe. You can't keep treating people like this." Chloe just let her friend get it all out. She deserved it after all. He had borne the brunt of her neglect for the past weeks and she had acted abysmally.

When he had fully vented his annoyance, she ventured another apology. She put on her best forlorn puppy expression and sidled up to him. "Will you give me one more chance? If I muck up again, you have my complete permission to string me up for it. Pretty please?"

Pete turned a steely gaze on his friend's doe-eyed desperation. He had planned to come here and give her his lecture then storm out but, as usual, Chloe knew just how to get around him. Sighing loudly, he relinquished his anger. "Fine." He waggled a warning finger in her face, "But if you do this again, I promise you I'm going to come down here and delete every file I can get my hands on."

Chloe feigned horror, "My God, Pete! I didn't think you had it in you to be that cruel. Tomorrow? We could go to the movie theatre together. There's tons of good stuff playing."

"Sure. I'll meet you there after lunch." Pete headed for the door. "Oh, and call Clark. He needs digging up out of the Lana bog."

"Absolutely not! I can't believe you didn't even consult me about this!"

Martha Kent braced herself against on the onslaught of abuse directed at what she had been hoping would be a dinner guest. "Jonathan, please. Calm down. It's just a meal!"

Jonathan took a deep breath and rested his arms on the back of a dining chair. His hands tightened around the wood, knuckles whitening. Trying to control the tremor in his voice, he spoke quietly and deliberately. "Ever since he came to Smallville, Lex Luthor has trying to inveigle his way into our lives. First, his friendship with Clark then offers to pull us out of debt...all out of the kindness of his heart? I don't think so."

Martha moved her hand soothingly up and down her husband's back. "Honey, why is that so implausible?"

Jonathan looked at her sternly. "Because the Luthors don't have hearts." Martha widened her eyes in motherly admonition but he continued. "You tell me I shouldn't judge Lex by his father's actions but don't forget that Lionel Luther raised him. You can say what you like about the person Lex seems to have become but his whole take on life was the teachings of a tycoon who would rather take over another town than go fishing with his son. Lex's principles are so far removed from ours that I doubt he even knows how deep the coldness runs in his veins."

Jonathan loosened a little and sank into the chair opposite his wife. "If you invite him to dinner here, he'll play the part of a gracious guest but inside he'll be looking for his next opportunity. He'll use any information you give him about our family to turn a profit. Don't doubt it."

Martha had expected all this bitterness and it wasn't going to alter her decision. "Then we'll be careful of what we say. Please, Jonathan. I'm trying to make a bit of peace...for Clark's sake. He and Lex are friends. Don't let your feelings for the Luthors affect the relationship you have with your only son."

"I can't stop you, Martha. Just don't doubt how much Lionel there is in Lex."

THERE YOU GO. JUST A LITTLE TASTER SO FAR. I'VE GOT TO BE IN LONDON IN AN HOUR SO I'VE GOT TO STOP! MORE COMING SOON. ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS OF WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT GO NEXT?