Chapter 3 [Two hours later—Washington, DC]

[H Street Office]

Even as events unfolded in Metropolis, the nation's capital maintained a subdued level of predawn activity. Cars pushed through downtown toward the clubs and other places. A few people walked guardedly down the streets. Several Congress members' windows were lit showing that work continued even at that hour.

Martha Kent walked out of the front door of her H Street office building. In the year and a half since she'd been there, she had been behind several key bills and served on four important committees. Her hard work inspired her colleagues, helping her to climb the ladders of influence in seemingly record fashion. That night was no exception. She had just finished the latest revisions to an important appropriations bill that the President needed as soon as possible. While she knew Jonathan would not have wanted her working so late.

Jonathan….

She sighed to herself. Despite the time since his death, she still struggled with it. No matter how much she buried herself in her work, the farm called. She felt that she was neglecting her responsibilities as a mother for Clark.

Clark….

His calls to her had come less and less frequently. When he did call, he was more and more distant. She knew he was involved at the Daily Planet in his new career. His last call almost made her drop everything and come home for him. The latest return and split with Lana had devastated him.

Lana….

Martha shook her head wondering what had happened between Clark and Lana to force the traumatic break. From what Clark said, it was the bomb that Lex had planted on top of the Planet. Through some string pulling, she'd acquired the security footage showing what had happened.

She felt proud of the two lovers and their sacrifice.

But her heart broke for them as well.

She knew that the decision for reelection was fast approaching. Even though Governor Granger and other key figures wanted her to run for a new term, she wanted in her heart to be back in Smallville. How could Lex do this to them? She could almost hear Jonathan's admonitions to Clark about the bald billionaire from the earliest days. We should have listened to him. Meantime when recess comes, Clark and I are going to have a serious talk about things. She rubbed the back of her neck and walked toward the parking lot twenty yards away.

As she did so, an Asian male and a Hispanic bruiser in a biker jacket slithered out of the shadows to block her path. Behind her, a white slender man in a red shirt and jeans cut off any retreat.

The Asian announced, "Hey, Lady! We want a contribution!" He pointed a 9 mm pistol at her. "NOW!"

The white man grabbed her arm. "You heard him!" He shoved her against the office building's brick wall and cut her purse's strap.

"J…just take it!" Martha relented. "Don't hurt me!" She wished she could scream for Clark but even with his super hearing, half a country was too far.

"Too late!" Hispanic fired the gun.

The bullet streaked through the inky cool night toward her on an appointment with her head.

Martha shut her eyes. Clark, I love you! As she thought that, she felt a breeze.

The bullet never struck her, ricocheting off of something else instead.

"WHAT THE HELL?" Asian bellowed. "Who's the chick?"

Chick? Martha squinted into the shadowy passage to see that the three men had forgotten her. She saw what seemed to be a slight yet toned young masked woman watching all three of them. What are you doing? She would have used her cell to call the police but the muggers still had it. She couldn't make out who this new person was.

Then the woman commented in a low voice, "You're up late, guys. Harassing people past curfew?"

Martha immediately recognized the voice and her eyes went wide. Lana?

"Get her!" Asian growled while brandishing a knife and slashing it at her.

In the blink of an eye, Lana grabbed the hand, twisted it behind his back and threw him down the length of the alley into the dumpster beyond. Then she remembered to pull her punch as Clark had taught her but still knocked the Caucasian mugger out cold.

"Die, Witch!" Hispanic spat while emptying his gun's remaining shots.

Lana easily evaded the shots with her super speed before knocking him out. Then she grabbed a piece of cloth and tied him and Caucasian up faster than the eye could blink. Finally she retrieved their Asian comrade and did the same to him. "Not quite as good as the Red and Blue Blur but he'll like that." She hustled over to the victim's side. "Are you okay, Ma 'am? I just need to make sure you're okay before I take off…." Her eyes went wide. "Martha Kent?"

Martha nodded. "I'm fine, Lana." She recalled what Clark had told her about Lana and the Prometheus project. "It really does work."

"Yeah it does. I can do what Clark does for the most part," Lana noted while helping the woman she considered to be a mother figure to her feet. "Too bad we couldn't….couldn't…." She tore off her mask and began sobbing. "This time, it was so perfect! He opened up to me! We were really equals! Partners! It was so right!"

Martha felt her heart sinking. If she'd had any doubts about Lana's fidelity to Clark before that (which she didn't), they would've been gone at that point. She knew the younger girl still loved her son desperately. Instinctively she embraced Lana. "I know. Let me take you back to my place. You can stay with me as long as you'd like. Okay?"

"Okay. I'd like that." Lana followed Martha to her car. In the distance, she could hear the sirens approaching.

"Head for this address," Martha instructed while scribbling the location on a piece of paper and handing it to her. "Can you find that?"

Lana nodded. "I slept across the street from there last night."

"Lana, that's a vacant lot! You were out there?" Martha winced. "We can talk about this later." She handed Lana the key. "That'll get you in."

"Thanks, Martha." Lana disappeared in a burst of super speed heading for the residence.

Barely two minutes later, a cordon of police cars surrounded Martha and the captured criminals. Here we go. She braced herself for a round of questions from the Capital's Finest.

****

[Two hours later—Martha's Apartment]

Despite her fears, the police's apprehension of the three muggers red handed with her purse in their possession kept the questioning of Martha to a minimum. She lied about being out cold when the standoff occurred.

A surprisingly early call from Senator Art Reinstadt, her ally and supporter, buried the matter completely. He assured Martha to take the day off and they'd do the vote on the following one.

I guess I should count myself lucky! Martha drove back to her apartment and parked the Nissan in the designated place. Instinctively, she looked back to make sure she hadn't been followed by anyone friendly or otherwise. For a minute, she stared at the fenced in lot across the street. She didn't want to imagine her guest spending any length of time amidst the construction rubble or vermin—animals or otherwise. She slipped into the three story wooden structure and down the dimly lit hallway. Reaching the door at its end, she knocked three times. "Lana?"

Lana opened the door allowing her hostess inside. "Glad you're okay." She closed it again before hugging Martha. "You didn't get in any trouble, did you?"

"Everything's all right. The three muggers are in custody. Fortunately you were wearing a mask so they can't identify you. I'm free to spend the day with you here," Martha assured her before rubbing the younger woman's arm supportively.

"What about your Congressional duties?" Lana protested. "I can't ask you to put your life on hold for me."

Martha shook her head. "You are my son's girlfriend. Besides you're safeguarding his secret."

Lana sighed. "Martha. Please."

"What happened with that bomb, Lana? What did Lex do to you? Why didn't Clark help you with it?" Martha wondered. "He wouldn't tell me what exactly happened."

Lana sat quietly for a minute while collecting herself. Then she sucked in a deep breath. "The bomb was made from green kryptonite. Lex told us that we could walk away and let it blow or we could stop it at a price. Clark and I decided to stop it." She bowed her head. "I absorbed so much of that radiation that I can't go near him again!" She started weeping profusely. "I can't deal with this, Martha! He forced himself to kiss me in the Loft." She stared at the older woman through tear-blurred eyes. "He nearly killed himself to show his love for me."

"That's Clark all right," Martha agreed. "And you're sure you can't do anything about discharging it? Perhaps Lionel's old cronies might know something?"

"Oliver Queen and one of Lionel's associates checked. There's no chance," Lana disagreed.

Martha squatted down in front of Lana. "Lana. Lana, look at me."

"Martha, please. I…I…"

"Lana, look at me," Martha reiterated while staring her right in the eye. "If there's one thing that I've learned, it's this. Love can move mountains. It can break down any barrier. We will find a way around the situation. We'll get that radiation out of that suit. We will get you and Clark back together. I promise you."

Lana nodded. "I appreciate that."

"Lana, you're like the daughter I never had. Clark's waited forever for you. Have faith." Martha smoothed Lana's hair. "You're now the answer to his prayers as well as mine and Jonathan's."

"And you all are the answer to mine," Lana admitted in a hoarse whisper.

"Let's get you set up out here. Then I want you to get some sleep. Later, we'll get caught up. Right now, you relax." Martha headed for the bedroom to get her spare sheets and comforter for the couch bed.

Lana sat back on the couch. She stared at the ceiling wondering how Fate had brought her to Martha of all people at this point. But the older woman had been just what the doctor ordered. Could there be a way? Please, God! Let there be a way to get this radiation out of the suit without damaging it!