Another Chance (Post-Eppie for "Hex")

DJ Dubois

September 2009

Pairings: Clana, Oliver/another character, some Clois, Chloe/Davis

Notes: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. All spoilers through Hex included. Please send comments to .

Dedication: This one goes out to Sumee and all Clanas out there. While well acted by Kristin and Tom, the writers messed up (again).

Chapter 1 [Three Days After "Hex"]

A clear black stillness hung over Smallville. The full moon shone down over the prairie, washing it in a reflected glow. The stars twinkled. A slight breeze blew across the summer evening. Most of the town's denizens relaxed at home or over coffees at the Talon. For most concerned, it was a picture perfect evening.

But not on the Kent Farm….

Clark finished with his chores while summing up his situation. After the long shifts at the Daily Planet, he'd kept things going around his home. There had been a great deal going on lately. The question of Davis Bloome and Doomsday perplexed him. Jimmy had everyone concerned over the sudden ending of his marriage to Chloe. Lois, as always, drove him nuts with her "rules of reporting" and ambition to become the Red and Blue Blur's private mouthpiece. Oliver rode him about Doomsday. The whole 'wish gate' deal with Zatanna also floored him.

He shook his head. Some times I do wish I could be normal. Then I'd have what I really want. He sighed and bowed his head. Despite Chloe's advice to him about moving on, his mind still locked on one person…his lost love…his Lana. How could it all go so wrong? We were such a great team! He thought over how she'd returned to his life and took an active stand in resolving issues. The romance bloomed once more. Clark even took a page out of Bizarro's book and let his passion for her show. Especially after gaining the Prometheus power suit, she became his partner and equal in every way.

Alas, Lex screwed that one up. In a jealous scheme, the billionaire set a kryptonite bomb atop the Planet. He made the couple choose between their love and the Greater Good.

For Lana, it was no choice. Even as she wanted to walk away, she readily gave up their chance to save Clark's fellow reporters. She absorbed a large dose of radiation in the process ensuring that Clark could never go near her again.

But that didn't stop him from crawling up the Loft stairs. Over her protests, he held back the tide of Fate. In a nearly fatal push, he forced one last kiss with his beloved. His veins bulged. He forced his nausea down. His blood boiled. The drag across the burning boards left splinters in his hands.

But for Lana, he didn't care. He often said he'd go through a kryptonite minefield for her. Well that time, he did it. He collapsed from the effort but he'd let her know that she was His True Love.

He heard a creak in the Loft once again. He looked up the stairs wistfully.

There the ghost memory of his love looked down at him.

He ground his teeth and wiped his watering eyes. Once more, he started up the wooden stairs. Then he buckled and collapsed about three steps from the top.

Clark, stop! The mirage shook her head.

He felt the meteor sickness but kept going again. This time, he'd find a way to save her and their love. He'd rather die than let her go again. He forced himself to his feet and put his arms around her.

I'm sorry, my Love. With that, she vanished into the night air.

"NO!" Clark beat the floor boards hard, putting his fist through them three times. His tears stung his eyes and ran down his cheeks. He felt nauseous from the renewed loss. "NOOOO!!!!!!!!!" He felt a hand grabbing his shoulder. "Let go! I don't care!"

"Clark! Hey! Calm down!" a familiar voice bade.

Clark shuddered but did so. Through tear blurred eyes, he saw Oliver standing over him. "Oliver? What's going on?"

"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by. Glad I did," the industrialist/fellow hero replied. "Maybe we might want to sit on the sofa instead of punching holes in the floor though?" He winced at the thought of Clark truly going berserk. Chloe had filled him in on what Clark was like under red kryptonite's influence. He had no desire to go through that himself. "I brought coffee."

"Yeah. Thanks. Sorry you had to see that." Clark pulled himself off of the floor and lumbered toward the couch.

"No sweat, Clark. The girls think you've moved on. I know better than that. Take it from someone who's lost his heart. It isn't easy," Oliver assured him while handing him the coffee in his hand.

"I take it that the Green Arrow needs help?" Clark presumed.

Oliver rolled his eyes. "No job tonight, Clark. I'm here as a friend." He sighed. If only I could've disarmed that bomb. That way, they'd still be together! At least I took care of Lex. He won't hurt anyone again! "Well maybe one…I had the coffee run." He handed the Farm Boy a large paper cup with a lid. "It'll take the edge off."

"Doubt it but I'll give anything a shot at this point," Clark indicated mournfully while sipping on his coffee. "Life's been busy around the office not to mention dealing with Lois and Tess Mercer."

"Yeah, they're something all right." Oliver shook his head at the reference to his own Women that Got Away. He gulped down a heavy dose of Irish Crème coffee. "You never forget. You just move on, I guess." He frowned. "I know you don't want to hear that."

Clark nodded having seen how his friend was around his journalistic partner. "We all have to deal with things. I'll do that. At least I know she still cares." He finished the coffee. "Sorry I'm not more talkative, Oliver. Thank you though."

"No problem, Clark. You take it easy. If you need anything, just holler," Oliver accepted while getting up from the couch. "I mean that."

"I know. Thank you for the support, Oliver. I appreciate it," Clark expressed before lying back down on the couch.

The archer nodded and headed down the stairs. He wanted to desperately do something to get Clark out of the doldrums and back on the beam. There were so many issues that would demand everyone's attention. What can I do? He jammed his hands into his pockets. As he did so, he felt a slip of paper. He pulled it out to find Zatanna's business card on it. I thought I left this at the office. How did it get here? He glanced around the barnyard half expecting to find the dark haired magician watching from some angle.

But the yard was empty.

Still Oliver knew what the cue meant. Something just gave me the answer. She owes me a wish. Fine. If it'll get those two on Doomsday's trail then fine! He climbed into his Ferrari and sped off toward Metropolis.

There was another mission that night after all…..