Caretaker
DJ Dubois

July-September 2014

Notes: The characters from Smallville belong to DC and the CW. Please send comments to dante0220 .

Chapter 1 [Luthor Mansion—December 24, 2018]

Winter had settled in early across the Kansas prairie. A brisk icy wind swayed dead yellow grasses. Heavy grey and white clouds formed a checkerboard across the partly cloudy sky. A few stray flurries drifted down—a harbinger of the coming storm….

…or perhaps accompanying a lull of sorts….

In the structure's northwest wing, Clark opened his eyes with great effort. He couldn't move his arms or legs. His lungs burned from the effort of sucking in enough air to keep him going. His heart weighed down from another draught of old pain. "Wh…where?"

Then he noticed that a hospital smock had replaced his Superman outfit. "Wh…what?"

A slender woman in matching blue scrubs approached him. Her brunette hair was knotted on the back of her head. A surgical mask covered her mouth for some reason…

…a mask…infection….Lana?

"It's all right, Mr. Kent. Good to see you with your eyes open, Sir," she assured him while pulling his covers back. "We're going to see how you're doing." She eyed the bandages over his forearms. She saw no blood leaking through the other on his right side.

"Wh…where am…?" Clark whispered. "Where's…Lana?"

"Lana?" She straightened up with a start. "Who's that?" She walked briskly around the bedside to where his chart rested on the bedframe.

"La…na," he whispered almost feverishly. Tears welled in his eyes and burned their way down his cheeks dribbling toward his upper chest.

The nurse scribbled away almost anxiously. She knew of Lois Lane of course from the latter's career at the Daily Planet. But she had no idea of who Lana was….

…or why he'd react that way….

She heard the squeak of fine dress shoes behind herself. Turning she found Lex Luthor watching the scene silently. "I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor. I was taking notes."

"That's fine, Dr. Reardon. I admire an eye for detail. You know that," Lex assured her. "Why don't you take a coffee break? Is he stabilized?"

She shook her head. "His pulse is still declining from whatever passes for normal where Mr. Kent's concerned. He's depressed. The damage from the battle hasn't been reversed."

The billionaire frowned. "The Parasite and Mentallo did it then. Damn them." He held out his hand. "Chart, please?"

She handed it to him. "Sir, I know the history between you and he isn't the greatest. I don't blame…."

His eyes flared angrily. In his mind's eye, he could still see Clark bumbling about the mansion as he tried to figure life out at Smallville High School. He felt a momentary rush as his then best friend supported him against their fathers, the town and ultimately against himself. "We have more history than you think." He skimmed the chart and sighed. "Kryptonite poisoning. No wonder he's the way he is."

"But you've tried to kill him yourself…What?" She felt confused by the sudden regret.

"I've never wanted Clark dead. I just want him out of my way." He sighed heavily. "Just get that coffee. I need to be alone with him."

"But, Mr. Luthor."

"JUST DO IT!" Lex snapped. He stared her practically out of the room. When she had left, he reread the chart. "Well this time we've done it. Haven't we, Clark?" He managed a smirk for old time's sake while sauntering across the room. "Your damn hero streak may be the death of you yet."

Clark's eyes moved to see his one-time friend standing over his bed. His eyes went wide. "L…Lex?"

"Relax, Clark. I'm not those thugs. In fact you're here because of me. I arranged for you to be pulled out of there." Lex pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed.

"You…tried…to kill me. Just like…Lana," Clark insisted.

"Really, Clark? I didn't kill Lana. She chose to steal the Prometius suit. She chose to use it. She knew of the kryptonite storage inside of it. Yes I used the kryptonite to drive a wedge between you two. Should've known she'd try to get around it." Lex bowed his head. He rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand to alleviate the stiffness brought on by the thoughts of his ex-wife. "By trying to be a hero with it, she killed herself. Just like you're doing. Talk about a waste."

Clark stared angrily at the ceiling. "Not…waste. Just to you, Lex. You…want power."

"Yes I want power. I want to save the world from itself! Damn it, Clark! Quit being so naïve!" Lex demanded. "It's too bad you and she both deserted me! We all made each other what we are."

"Still feeling sorry for yourself, Lex. Too bad," Clark muttered angrily. His eyes skittered across the room wanting to see anything but their bald benefactor.

Through the skylight in the roof, a stream of late afternoon sunlight entered the room….

…In its midst, a familiar slender brunette woman floated. Her chocolate brown tresses flowed down her back and over the white robes she wore. Her dark eyes watched him intently. She smiled warmly toward him. Clark.

"Lana?" Clark whispered. He labored to move his arms and head but couldn't do so.

"Lana? What?" Lex looked around the area. He saw the sunlit area under the skylight but couldn't discern anything else.

But Clark could. He saw his love for the first time in four years…. "Lana, sorry."

She shook her head. You made my last days so beautiful! I know you love me. Let go of the anger. Soon it will be time. With that she disappeared from view.

Lex looked him over. "Are you sure you're okay, Clark? Lana's dead."

"Thank you so much for reminding me, Lex. I really appreciate it," Clark retorted sarcastically. "I just wish I could move."

"Yeah. I must admit that I wish you could as well. You're paralyzed, Clark. The doctor confirmed it. Whatever Metallo hit you with, it damaged your spine. It shut off that healing factor of yours. The only reason you're still alive is because I ran you through dialysis. The doctors cleaned about half of the meteor rock from your system. That…bought you time." Lex revealed.

"Want…my blood. Want to use me," Clark insisted.

Lex arched his eye brow and smirked. "Wish I could, Clark. Problem is your blood's now tainted and useless to me." He put the chart back on its bedframe resting place. "I'll let you rest. The staff will bring your dinner to you later. Be by tonight to check on you. Rest." He walked away somberly; the thought of his supposedly invincible friend lying in that bed as a quadriplegic eating at him.

He walked away angrily; the thought that Clark still was reaching out to his ex-wife…the woman he'd married….the woman who should have been his….

"Lana did it to herself just as Clark's doing. You're with Vanessa now. She's all the woman you need," the billionaire tried to tell himself while leaving the area and sliding the locked door into place.

Meantime Clark looked to the roof overhead. As with Lex, he remembered the better times from high school. He remembered Lex as a friend before their cursed relationship as Numan and Segith overtook everything else.

He saw Lana as she was in that time—the beautiful country girl and ex-cheerleader…the waitress and manager of the Talon…

…He felt her lips on his….

…He felt her giving power to him much like the nourishing yellow sun above….

He craved more. He wanted more of that. His heart felt empty.

"Lana," he whispered. With that, he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.

And he began to remember more still…More of Amor's duty and love itself….