Disclaimer: These characters are on loan from the Smallville television series and the DC Comics Group with out permission and are not my property. They belong to the Warner Brothers Empire, which include the WB network, and DC Comics. No harm or malice is intended.
I would like to thank Christin Haney for her work and dedication to making my work look good. And to Macayla Jo Adams for all her grammar and editing suggestions. I thank them along with Holly (Sasa), Ruth Despirito and Karen Poitras for all their support and inspiration.
Thank you for taking the time to read and please enjoy. Comments are always welcomed.
A death has occurred in Smallville, but as Clark soon discovers, not all is, as it seems when you are dealing with the Luthors
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Smallville: A Death In The Family: Part One: Chapter One TC \l1 "
DEATH
(This story takes place about a week after Tempest. The events from the season finale will be pretty much ignored, and I am working on the assumption that everything will work out.)
The Kent family farm house on the outskirts of Smallville, located in Lowell County Kansas. The night was crisp and clean with a gentle breeze blowing across the corn filled planes. The Kents kept several heads of milking cattle on their modest farm, but on cool clear nights like this one, it was the smell of the wild flowers and crab grass with a distinct odor of fresh hay in close proximity that caught your attention first. All these smells and the cool night air were why two young men sat out on the hood of the late model Porsche' in the front yard's dirt paved driveway.
It had been a few months short of a full year since the two young men had met, but they had become close friends in the short time. Clark was fifteen and the adopted son of Jonathan and Martha Kent who owned the farm. He was tall with dark features and a wide smile across his handsome face, while Lex Luthor, son to the Billionaire Lionel Luthor, was only close in height to Clark. Instead, he was lighter in complexion, completely bald, and six years his younger friends senior. The two were from different worlds completely, but had some how forged a relationship based on their differences rather than their likenesses.
They each sat in the same position that they had for the last twenty minutes just talking and sharing a few laughs when the older Kent, Jonathan, stuck his head pass the screen door at the front of the house.
"Clark," he called to his son.
"Yeah, Dad?" Clark answered from a few feet away.
"Your Mother and I are going up to bed," he told his son. "Be sure to lock up when you get in. Don't stay out there too late either. You have school in the morning."
"Sure, Dad," Clark replied politely with a small wave of his hand. "Lex and I were just saying good night."
"Good night, Mr. Kent," Lex called out.
Jonathan grunted and closed the door as he stepped back into the house.
"That was warm," Lex gave Clark a fake grin.
Clark laughed. "He's actually getting better," he told his friend. "There was a time I would have never gotten you a dinner invitation. He's really thawing."
"We were doing better before the chemical spill on your land that killed all those cows a few months back," Lex remembered.
"I know, and I think he really believes that you were not involved, but it's hard for my dad to let go some times," Clark gritted his teeth at the thought
"My dad is the same way," Lex said back looking at his watch. "It's nearly half past eleven. You guys should be reverting back to pumpkins any minute now, so I guess I'll let you go to bed."
"There's no hurry," Clark said. "You never did tell me what you thought of the movie we watched."
"I'll admit, I didn't think it was all too bad, but why The Outsiders?" Lex asked. "Is there some type of message in there for me?" He gave Clark his best-raised eyebrow suspicious look.
"You mean like you being the perfect outsider, yourself?" Clark joked.
"I guess," Lex replied. "Then again, if I were to be a greaser I would have to have something to but the grease in, like hair," he ran his hand over his head to illustrate the point.
"Yeah you are a little lacking in that department," Clark laughed again.
"All right, Pony Boy," Lex warned. "Only you would believe that by putting some grease in the hair of a bunch of Hollywood pretty boys and shoving a cigarette in their mouths they make a believable street gang."
"It was the fifties, Lex," Clark reminded him. "It's not suppose to be the Bloods and Crips or whatever they are called. It's based on a book."
"I know, S E Hinton's Outsiders. I read the book when I was in high school, too," Lex told him.
"Then you know why I rented the movie."
"Because the Cliffs Notes were too involved?" Lex coaxed with a playfully suspicious eye.
"No," Clark laughed trying to conceal his amusement at the dumb joke. "I actually read the book, but I wanted to compare it with the movie. I even got extra credit for my in-depth comparison of the two. My teacher thought it was a creative approach to the project."
"So why show me?" Lex asked looking away like he was unsure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"Because I wanted a reason to invite you over and give my folks a chance to warm up to you, and I thought you might enjoy watching it," Clark explained.
"And since my own father has been in town for the last few days nagging me about the plant, you thought it would be the perfect time to get me away from the old guy before we ended up killing each other," Lex explained, making a forwarding motion with his hand.
"And a clever plan it was," Clark grinned shaking his index finger.
"Well I have to give you credit. Two hours of flexed muscles, chiseled faces, and a young Tom Cruise is really the way to make a pale, bald guy with father issues feel special," Lex remarked with a grin.
"Oh come on, Lex," Clark gently pushed him. "You enjoyed it. Admit it. I even saw you tear up when Ralph Machio died near the end."
"I was all emotional because the end wasn't coming soon enough," He joked.
"Fine, have it your way," Clark slid off the hood. "I know your secret now. You have a weakness for dead teenagers in old movies. Maybe next time you come over I'll show a Little House on Prairie marathon. I think a kid either died or went blind every other week on that show."
"Next time I pick the movie, Kent," Lex slid off the other side. "How about Urban Legends?"
"That movie was so lame, Lex." Clark sighed. "I mean the guy in the bathroom with the Drainoe was so stupid, and talk about bad acting."
"I thought he was rather good," Lex said back.
"Whatever," Clark shrugged.
"I guess I should be going now," Lex said. "The light in your folk's bedroom is still on. I would hate for them to lose their sleep over me."
"Okay," Clark smiled. "So you did like the whole movie night thing?" He spread his arms waiting for and answer.
"I had a good time, Clark," Lex smiled back with a small boy's charm and opened his door.
"Good night, Lex," Clark stepped back.
Lex slipped into his seat and roller down the passenger's side window. "Stay gold, Pony Boy." He grinned.
"Do I look like a Pony Boy to you, Lex?" Clark leaned down to look in the window.
"Well, I always did say you could be a nag," Lex gave him one last joke and a big evil grin.
"Owe," Clark slapped himself in the head. "That was so bad."
Lex revved the engine and then skidded out of the driveway grinding his gears.
Clark stood in the cloud of dust as he watched the taillights disappear into the night.
The night slipped by like a blink of an eye for Clark and the next morning he dragged him self out of bed and followed his usual daily rituals of a shower and hygiene needs followed by his farm chores. It was nearly an hour later with the sun peaking over the plains when he made his way back into the house for a quick breakfast before his bus ride to school.
Martha was standing in the corner talking on the phone with a worried look on her face when both Clark and Jonathan came into the country style kitchen.
"I'll fix the east fence when I get home this afternoon, before homework." He was telling his father when he saw his mother's concerned look. She held her finger up to him.
"Chloe," She said into the receiver. "Clark just came in the door. Do you want to tell him yourself?"
She was silent and nodded her head slightly listening to the response. "I understand," She replied. "I'll tell him, and you please call if you learn more."
"Tell me what?" Clark questioned as she hung up the phone.
Martha turned back and stood silent for a moment. She seemed to be searching for the right words in her head.
"What's wrong, Mom?" Clark asked with a concern gesture. "Is Chloe alright?"
"Chloe is fine," She finally said. "She was calling with news her father gave her about Lex."
"Lex?" Clark repeated. "What news does she have on Lex?" His words were coming quicker and more uneven.
Martha turned her worried stare at Jonathan and then back to Clark.
"Mom, you're scaring me here. Is he okay?" Clark's hands began to shake
"There has been an accident," She let the words slip out. "Lex was in a accident on his way home last night."
Clark stiffened up from the shock. "How bad?" He asked softly.
"Really bad from the sound of it," She told him. "They had to heliport him to Metropolis General. All Chloe's father knows is that he was unconscious the whole time, and then they had to rush him into surgery."
"Oh, my God," Clark stepped back with a stagger.
"Clark," Jonathan reached to hold his son up.
"I have to go to Metropolis," Clark said in a dazed state.
"Of course," Martha agreed touching his face softly.
"We'll drive you," Jonathan added.
"I can run." He said while his head was reeling with the possibilities.
"And get there before any car ride ever could," Martha pointed out. "I think it's best to play this at normal speed this time and drive."
"It will give you time to get over the shock, son," Jonathan told him. "You need time to let this sink in before you see him."
Clark could not focus his sight on anything. His eyes roamed the room as he spoke. "He was fine when he left here last night," Clark said to his father. "I always warned him about driving recklessly."
"Lex is his own man, Clark," Jonathan took his arms again. "He always does what he wants."
Clark seemed to be slipping from shock into grief as his eyes began to water up. He matched his father's gaze for a few seconds. "What if he dies, Dad?" He said with a grunt. "What if Lex dies?"
"Hey," Jonathan pulled him into a hug. "Don't go there, son. We don't even know how bad it is yet. Let's just concentrate on getting to the hospital."
"Your father is right, Clark," Martha came around and began to lead them to the door. "Lex is young and healthy. He can make it through anything."
"I pray you're right, Mom," Clark said taking one last look at her as they left the house.
The ride to the large city of Metropolis, several miles away, had taken longer than any other trip to the city that Clark could remember, yet in truth, Jonathan had cut a good ten minutes off the trip even after swinging by the high school to inform Clark's teachers that Clark would not be in today. Clark made his way into the emergency room and then up to the ICU floor where he was instructed Lex would be just now coming out of recovery from the surgery. Jonathan and Martha rushed to keep up with him.
The three walked though the Intensive Care Unit's doors when a nurse at the nurse's station, located in the center of the large hall encircled by small glass cubical rooms, looked up at them. "May I help you?" She asked.
"Lex Luthor." Clark said in a hurried voice. "We are looking for Lex Luthor."
"Are you family?" She questioned.
"No, he's a very good friend of mine," he said with a concerned stare.
"Then I am sorry, Sir. Only family can be in here," The nurse told him with a strong sense of authority.
"But…." Clark was about to protest when Jonathan took his arm.
"The nurse is right," Jonathan said. "We should see if we can find Lionel Luthor for any more information."
"I don't want information, Dad," Clark turned to his father with frustration. "I want to see Lex."
"Without Lionel's permission, you can't," Martha added.
Clark looked at both of his parents. After a few seconds, his better judgment set in and he agreed with them. "Okay. He knows Lex and I are close friends. He'll let me see him," Clark grabbed at his hair with his right hand trying not to get stressed out.
"Of course," Jonathan said with his voice, but his eyes and thoughts were contradictory to his words.
They were walking to the waiting room outside of the unit, when Lionel Luthor walked into the large hall accompanied by three men in suits and two doctors in hospital scrubs. One looked like he had a small stain of blood on his slacks. Clark wondered if he was the one who had preformed the surgery and if that was Lex's blood.
"Mr. Luthor," Clark stopped in front of him. "How is Lex? They won't let me see him."
Luthor looked up at the younger man with a sneer. Clark was well aware that he did not approve of his and Lex's friendship. Lex was the son to a wealthy businessman and he aspired his son to greater things in life. Why would he be wasting his time with the son of a lowly dirt farmer? A dirt farmer who Lionel himself had had dealings with in the past. "You have a nerve being here, Kent. After what you did to my son last night," he grunted out between his snarls.
"What?" Clark was shocked.
"Hold it right there, Lionel," Jonathan stepped in. "We all know that Lex can drive recklessly. Just because he had dinner with us before he crashed his car, is no reason to take out your frustration on my son."
"I blame all of you, Jonathan," Lionel said and shook a bony finger at them. "What were you thinking about when you let him drive off in that condition?"
"Condition?" Clark repeated. "Lex was fine when he left the house. He wasn't tired, because it was only eleven thirty. We have been out together much later than that, more than once. He was always able to drive with no problem."
"Even with all that alcohol in his system?" Lionel asked with piercing eyes.
"What?" Clark spat.
"Lex did not have any alcohol at our house, Lionel," Jonathan told him trying to set space between Lionel and Clark by placing his arm between them. "I don't even keep beer in the house on a regular basis. I can assure you that he was not drunk when he left our farm."
"Lex Luthor had a alcohol reading well over the legal limit when he was brought in last night, sir," The middle-aged doctor with the stain scrubs spoke up. "We had to treat him for possible alcohol poisoning before we could begin surgery."
"That's nuts," Clark said loudly. "Lex did not drink, and he would never drive under the influence either."
"I think I will take the doctor's word over my son's teenage playmate," Lionel told him with an evil look. "Keep all your high school secrets from your parents all you want, young man, but do not allow my family to be harmed by your juvenile behavior ever again."
"You have a big mouth with deep pockets," Jonathan stepped in again. "Don't you ever talk to my son like that again, and don't you ever accuse him of something without substantiated evidence."
"The Smallville police will get the evidence," Lionel told Jonathan with another sneer. "I had a warrant sworn out to search your property and trash bins this morning. They should be going through your garbage right about now."
"They can search all they want," Clark spoke up. "There are no empty bottles to find."
"Don't forget whom you are talking to son," Jonathan said crossing his arms in a defiant stance. "If Lionel Luthor wants them to find something, then most likely something will make its way into our trash. All of this while we are conveniently several miles away, unable to defend our property from tampering."
"It doesn't matter," Martha joined the conversation with a worried look. "Lex is of a legal drinking age, and we would have no say over his intake."
"Not so true, Mrs. Kent," Lionel said. "Even a bar can now be charged with neglect if they allow their patrons to drive while heavily intoxicated, these days. If it is proven that you provided my son with the booze that resulted in this accident, then you are as guilty as any saloon owner who sells to a legally drunk person who has given every indication that he will be getting behind the wheel of a car."
"You are a sick man, Luthor," Jonathan shot with a snort.
"Please," Clark shook his head. "This whole thing is getting out of control. Think or do what ever you want, Mr. Luthor. Please, just tell me how bad of a shape is Lex in. Is he going to be alright?"
Lionel looked at the doctor and then to Clark. He gave him a careful look over, but said nothing. He slowly stepped pass the Kents and continued on his way with out any explanations.
Clark spun around as the others with Lionel also walked pass. "Please," He said with a pleading voice.
"I'm sorry," The nurse approached them. "I need to ask you to leave now. We cannot be having these outbursts on this floor. We have sick patients who need their rest."
Martha took Clark's arm gently. "Come on, Clark. We'll go wait in the waiting room, and maybe they will give us some information after Lionel calms down."
Down the hall, Lionel pulled open the curtains to one of the small cubical rooms encircling them and Clark got a small glimpse of Lex's unconscious form laying in the bed with all types of tubes and wires connected to him. He was badly bruised, and his left arm seemed to be in a cast. He tried to take in as much as he could when the curtains were drawn again. Lionel had not even given him a backwards glance.
TO BE CONTINUED:
*** Thank you for reading the first chapter of my new story. Your comments and reviews are welcomed, but please be nice. I hope to include a small paragraph at the end of each chapter to answer any questions if need be. This is the first time I have begun posting a story before I have finished all the chapters, but I promise to do my best to get them out as quickly as possible. So please sit back, continue to read and enjoy the journey as we travel along with Clark, Lex and the gang.
My best wishes for you, and God blessing on all of you.
Phaze ***