Disclaimer: The characters of Smallville aren't mine. I just borrow them for fun.

Chapter 3

The drive to the castle was quiet as both men kept their eyes forward watching the road and thinking. Lex's hands were rigid on the wheel and his mouth was set in a grim line as he watched the lane cutting through the fields.

I still don't know who landed me on that island for three months. It could be—Dad—or Helen. Both of them are my enemies at this point. Even if Helen wasn't responsible for the crash she betrayed Clark to my father. No one sells out my friends especially to Lionel. I need to consolidate my resources before "Dear ol' Dad" will start looking for that kid if he hasn't already…

Clark stares ahead searching the darkness for anything that might be unfortunate enough to get in Lex's path. His eyes shift from Lex to the road at regular intervals. He can see the castle looming closer. With a sigh he breaks their silence.

"Lex, what's the plan?"

"Can you get us past the gate without being seen?"

"Yeah," sheepish grin, "that's how I get in a lot of the time."

Lex nods, slowing the car, "Will you be able to see through the walls, and tell me where people are?"

"No problem." Clark's voice grows smug, "what else do you need?"

Lex smirks at Clark's willingness, "I need you to find Helen, leave me outside the room where she is, and then go pack up my library. You know the books I read most, pack them separately."

"You sure you want me to leave you with her?" concern edges Clark's voice. His green gaze scans Lex for signs of stress or frailty. Things didn't turn out in your favor last time.

Lex parks on the side of the road and turns to Clark, "I don't want her to know you're here. I'm going to confront her as if she's the first person I've talked to in Smallville. I need to know how much she knows about you, and what my father may or may not be doing. I can't afford for her to guess that I know she sold you out."

Clark frowns as they get out of the car. Lex walks around to his side and arches an eyebrow waiting, "Oh, I'm gunna have to carry you." Lex nods and Clark scoops him up with an arm under Lex's knees and the other at his back, "Hold on." A few seconds later they stopped outside the door. "I don't have to check. I can hear her in your study." He looks back at Lex's face, concerned by his lack of respiration, but his heart was thudding.

Lex exhales from the rush of the speed, "Alright, you can let me down and go on with the plan." Clark sets him on his feet, and Lex straightens his clothes, he turns again to find Clark gone. I'll have to get used to that. He's being himself around me. It didn't bother him carrying me—bridal style—easiest way to describe it. Right, speaking of brides. He walks to the door and strides into his study, "Helen, I'm home."

The study is mostly dark with the exception of a fire; which is unnecessary in the late August heat. He doesn't spare a further glance for his surroundings; not really caring if she's changed Lionel's interior design. Helen is there as Clark promised, sitting at his desk with her computer. Her distractingly beautiful face—dark hair, wide eyes, pale skin—shows shock, and she is slow to leave his leather chair. Once on her feet she rushes to him, wrapping her thin arms around his neck, and pressing her frame to his.

"Lex," her whisper is relieved, and he slowly brings his arms up to loosely hold her, "I never thought I'd see you again."

Very cliche Helen, and you didn't waste any time settling into my space now did you? Her chill fingers pressed against the back of his scalp, her frizz clouded his vision, her purfume seaped into his sinuses. What he found so familiar and comforting was now constircting and loathsome. It took all Lex's training in Lionel's education to keep his new revoltion from his face and voice.

"Someone tried very hard to make sure we never reached our destination. I fully intend to find out who stole your honeymoon, and nearly cost our lives." She pulled back opening her mouth to interrupt, inspired he lay a finger over her lips. "I am relieved to find you here safe at the castle." Because it keeps me from having to hunt you down to find the answers I need.

"Lex, we're safe, that's what matters." She pulled my face down for a kiss. I remained still, and she pulled back searching my face. "What's wrong?"

"Helen, I need to know what happened."

Taking his hands she leads him over to sit on the couch before the fire. "I woke up, and the pilot was already gone; I tried to wake you—"

He nodded, "You saved yourself. It's only human nature, Helen." He stood and began to pace the room. "I understand the need for survival. Hell, that's why I'm still alive." He reached the stained-glass windows, and spun to face her, "What I don't understand is why you betrayed me."

"Betrayed?" She got up and drifted around the desk to stand between it and him. "You said it was survival; I thought you—"

"You really are a Luthor now, Helen." He took a step closer to her, "What you fail to understand is that if you betray my friends you betray me—especially to my father."

"Friends? Lex what are you talking about?"

"Blood, from your office, Clark was sick and your patient. I took it from you, I gave it back, and you sold it to my father."

Helen turned her back on him. Facing the desk she grabbed a gun from her bag and aimed it at Lex, "I never labeled it. I didn't even tell Lionel whose it was. You're so obsessed with Clark that a day doesn't go by that I don't hear his name. I can't believe I was foolish enough to leave you without a bullet in your brain; that I fell in love with you." She gasped in anger as Clark appeared between them.

Lex sighed, "I can't believe I asked you to save me. No one but Clark has ever been able to do that."

"He's not even human, Lex!"

"A person's humanity isn't determined entirly by their biology, and Clark is more human than you or my father. He's never used me for personal gain."

Helen swiped angry tears from her eyes, "Maybe he doesn't treat friendship that way, but what about you? You know his secret does he know yours? That you have an entire room devoted to 'the Mystery that is Clark Kent'."

"Lex, I asked you to stop investigating me." Clark said evenly maintaining his position between the gun and Lex.

"I did," he explained tightening his grip on Clark's shoulder. "But I keep it here, and I'm the only one who has access. Lionel doesn't even know the room exists. I want you to help me destroy it tonight."

"Now, that you know." Clark accused. "How does she know?"

"I trusted her; like your family did. Clark, I'm sorry, but we were both wrong. We can't have her running to my father with all she knows."

"It's too late for that." Helen raised the weapon higher pointing over Clark's shoulder. "Clark, are you really going to trust the man who's been investigating you for two years?"

Clark shifted putting himself closer to her. "What is that about the devil you know verses the unknown? I've sided with Lex before, and he's had this information for some time. I'll give you credit; you didn't tell Lionel it was my blood, but Lex has been keeping me off people's radar longer. It's time I prove I trust him with my secret." He heated the weapon with is eyes so she dropped it. He swooped in to grab her.

"Alright, we can tie her up and hand her over to the authoreties later. I have more important things to deal with." Lex helped Clark bind his wife, "Oh, and Helen, I'm going to find out what you did on that plane."

CK/LL-CS/LL-CK/LL-CS/LL

"Thanks for your help, Clark." Lex drove away from the mansion. Clark held the remains of Lex's research in a box. The smoldering equipment leaving an acred oder in the sports car.

Clark smiled, "I'm just glad I could save you again. What could she have accomplished by shooting you, here?"

"Our revelation backed her into a corner. Thanks for sticking by me back there."

Clark grasped Lex's arm, "I knew I couldn't trust Helen. I just hope I can still trust my best friend."

"There's no more need for deception between us, and I'm going to fight to keep it that way." Lex slowed his car as they neared the Kent's drive. "Clark, once I drop you off I have to get ready for my father's response to my—theft. I don't want you to worry about your secret, but I will likely be gone for several hours."

They got out of the car together. Clark bringing the box with him. "What are you going to do?"

Lex joined him as they walked up to the porch, "I'm not expecting to have access to company assets much longer. First, I'm going to sign the Talon completely over to Lana. Then I'm going to be making donations and auctions to charities and museums; liquidating my assets as it were. Speaking of which I'm going to make sure there is no question who owns this farm."

"Lex, Dad's not going to want you—"

"No, Clark, I know he won't. You grew up here, and look how well that turned out. I want your—daughter—to have the same chance."

The conversation stopped as they entered the kitchen. Sitting at the table was Jonathan with the baby in his arms. He looked up at the pair and nodded.

"Your mother was sleeping, and I didn't want the crying to disturb her."

"When did this start?" Lex asked, walking over to peer down at the baby's face.

"After the two of you left." Jonathan met Lex gaze evenly. "I'm sorry, Lex, it was wrong of me to throw around accusations. I just want to protect my family."

Lex nodded stepping back again. "That makes two of us Mr. Kent. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you, Mrs. Kent, Clark, and Claire stay safe." Pausing for a breath he turned gripping Clark's shoulder before leaving cell phone in hand.

"This is Lex. Yes, I'm alive. This experience has given me a new perspective. I want to make some changes—"

CK/LL-CS/LL-CK/LL-CS/LL

Lionel sat at his desk reviewing the security footage showing his dead son breaking into his lab. Now, with the blood gone, and the successful experiment missing; he needed to get both back into his posession. A draft entered the smashed window, but Lionel took no notice. He reached for his phone dialing. "Morgan we need to meet."


A/N: Hi again, sorry for the long wait. I was having trouble getting the confrontation exactly right. I'm debating having Helen out of the picture after this, or working with her later in the plot. I've also decided I'm going to follow as much of season 3 as possible within the contect of this plot. Oh, and Lionel has some morally questionable plans ahead. Thanks for reading, and please leave a review. I feel unloved. :(