Fly (Post-Eppie to Heat)

DJ Dubois

Original idea—September 2002. Written in June 2011

Notes Part 1: Admittedly this is a very old idea that's finally coming out…from Season 2 when I started writing my Clana pieces. It was inspired by the lyrics to Roxette's "Wish I Could Fly". Hope you enjoy!

Notes Part 2: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. Please send comments to .

Chapter 1 [Ten minutes after the end of "Heat"]

[Talon]

Lana switched off the video camera and slumped onto one of the counter's stools. She had finally done it. She couldn't believe it. She'd told Whitney the truth…not that he didn't know anyway. At least though she'd admitted that they couldn't work given the circumstances.

It was done…

…even if the timing was rotten as she had admitted to Clark….

Clark….

She gazed through the front doors into the downpour outside. She felt lightened by the water. It washed away both the heat and the duplicity. How Desiree had twisted the minds of several Smallville residents against themselves and their loved ones. How Lex's marriage had endangered this dream place around herself. Her own continuing issues with Whitney contributed. But there was also the issue of the Kents and Clark.

She felt stressed and tired. Admittedly she should've been home sleeping. However she wanted to resolve things. The tape and pressing Clark on the fires provided some balance to that.

A transition between the old and the new….With Whitney gone, her heart could now go with her heart's desire. Much as with cheerleading, she moved beyond "social acceptability" in a boyfriend. Why not her best friend? Despite his stumbles, he'd always been there for her. Couldn't she do the same for him? And yet….

A relationship built on secrets and lies is doomed to fail….

She winced at her own words. She truly cared for Clark. Her heart had flipped flopped for him since they were kids. But she'd always wondered why all the secrets?

Why were his parents always cautious to the point of meteor freakish paranoia? There'd never been any birthday parties. He rarely had friends over at the farm when they were kids. When she wanted to get close, Lana had noticed that despite how they liked her, the Kents were suspicious of her and everyone else around Clark. Maybe now that Mrs. Kent approves of me that'll change.

Why did he always used to get sick around her all of the time? Despite how much he cared for her, it seemed that Clark kept his distance. Anytime she'd approach, he'd immediately get sick and lose all coordination. For the longest time that was a burden. Then he overcame it without rhyme or reason. What was going on, Clark? Was I doing something to you? I didn't mean it! Oh please no!

Why did he carry that invisible yet tangible burden around with him all the time? Why is it that you feel like you have to have the weight of the world on your shoulders by yourself? I'd help you if you'd let me!

What was the deal with him always disappearing at the first sign of trouble?

And speaking of that…how did he always end up in the right place at the right time? If her mind hadn't been so tired, it might have flashed through all of her near misses in the past year: Greg, Tina Greer, the LuthorCorp plant standoff, catching her at Chandler's Field, the bee attack, finding her after she'd been kidnapped and worse of all…saving her from the tornado.

For a minute she allowed her panic to turn to a smile. Even as the truck was being ripped apart…even if he denied it later…his arms felt warm and secure around her. His floating form providing a structure in the wind driven death trap even as the truck shredded around her.

How did he do that? I know he did! Why do you lie, Clark? Why?

She sipped on her iced coffee and scratched her head perplexedly at her own musings. The riddle that is Clark Kent. Why are you such a mystery, Clark? You know you can tell me anything!

A heavy dose of the sleepies waylaid her hard forcing a stretch and a yawn. Drowsiness overwhelmed her. Wow. I must be more tired than I thought! This can wait until tomorrow…. She knew Nell was out of town in Metro again. Consequently she could use the bed upstairs. She gave the doors a hard shake to insure they were indeed locked. Then she trudged up the stairs; each one seemingly more of a challenge than the last. Five steps across the balcony, she unlocked the door and headed into the apartment.

A quick door lock later, she collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. On her mind a single question—the Big Question—what is the mystery of Clark Kent?

[Cowache Caves]

Meantime all seemed quiet in the countryside away from the town's center. The trees rustled in the sudden storm glad for the nourishment from above. The animals slept or sought cover from the downpour. The grass and wheat would grow more because of it.

Deep underground and forgotten by modern man, the symbols in the caves would prove an intricate challenge at some point. Were they Native American or alien in design? Or were they a combination of both? They waited for the coming of the Chosen One to start that search….

For the first time in almost a half century, the drawings glowed. As if in tune with Lana's probing issues, the red, green and blue lights flashed in a harmonious sequence. They gave off a brilliant flash and then all was dark again.

The journey, it seemed, was on…

And for Lana, nothing would be the same between her and Clark again…..