Disclaimer: It is not mine, the idea is as well as its execution is; the characters are belonging to the WB, DC and their creators. I borrow them and receive no pay for doing so- thank you for reading!!

Oh, and if it is not immediately apparent- this is un-beta-ed, all mistakes are mine.

Chapter Four: Bad Reactions or A Car Ride

The doctors tried to explain, tried to comfort, but couldn't. Throughout it all Lex was beside him. Silent for the most part, but always there, keeping Clark together simply by his presence. By simply being himself, being Lex… Clark's friend. Clark could deal with the doctors and everything else as long as Lex was beside him- at least until his mom arrived.

Martha Kent walked into the hospital looking lost. She went searching through the stark hallways until she found them.

"Clark." Her voice was broken, hurt.

Clark could hardly stand to look at her- her pain too real, to reminiscent of the pain she'd displayed when she'd lost the baby. All of it was his fault, the baby, Lana, his father- all because of him; because he was alive. Shaking his head, Clark felt the reality of the situation sink in. "I…" Clark felt his feet move away. "I'm so sorry." His vision blurred and Clark was gone.

Clark was almost sure that he waited to use his speed until he was out of sight- at least until he exited the building. The caves were closed, so Clark started north. Running and moving and going until he felt as if he did not even touch the ground.

It took awhile, Clark was slower than he would be in the next few years, his body not yet used to the strain of actually trying to move fast- to use to holding back. So it took a few hours to reach the cold, the snow.

There was nothing. Nothing to see but ice and snow and utter whiteness from horizon to horizon, the fortress did not exist yet. It was not there, had yet to ever be there. The crystal from which it would spring was still in three pieces. One Clark had no idea where, One in China and the third with Dr. Swann, if he even had it yet. Who really knew? Or cared? Clark sure didn't. He could not bring himself to.

(=**)=HUGS=(**=)

Lex was more than a little surprised when Clark bolted. Up until that point, the kid had been fine. A little guarded but he seemed alright. Though looking back, Lex should have realized it had more to do with shock than anything.

When the red-haired woman had arrived and caused Clark to run, Lex's first reaction had been to try to go after him. But the woman had stopped him.

"He may just need some time alone." She had murmured after she'd grabbed his shoulder to stop him from following Clark. Offering her hand, she spoke, "I'm Martha Kent, Clark's mother. You are?"

"Lex Luthor, I was with Clark when he got the news." Lex shook Martha's hand, wondering if this moment was as awkward as it felt.

But Martha smiled. "Really?"

"Yes, he'd just saved my life." Lex elaborated.

Martha's smile seemed to falter for a moment but Lex couldn't be sure- after all, why would it? He'd just told her that her son had saved his life. But Martha was smiling again, if she had ever even stopped. "How did that happen?"

So Lex told her, briefly. "Mrs. Kent, if there is anything I can do-?"

Martha shook her head, "I'm sure we'll all work this out. Thank you, Mr. Luthor."

"Please, call me Lex." Lex insisted, Mr. Luthor reminded him to much of how he was supposed to be 'responsible' now.

After a stretch of silence that was uncomfortable before it began, a nurse came over and started talking to Mrs. Kent. Lex took the opportunity to politely excuse himself.

(=**)=HUGS=(**=)

When Clark finally accepted the fact that no amount of looking was going to make the fortress show itself- or rather let time get the best of him and started the journey back to Smallville, it was late.

Human speed was slow, Clark mussed distractedly. But shortly after he had passed Metropolis that had become the fastest he could go. His muscles actually ached, a feeling that Clark had not often felt- if ever. He really did get stronger as he grew.

Head lights blazed behind him and Clark stumbled farther off the edge of the road. This was the first car to pass in, what, a couple hours? But Clark was to far gone to care. He just kept moving.

"Clark?" Lex voice cut through the silence and Clark had quick footsteps behind him.

"Clark, wait!" Lex grabbed his shoulder and pulled him around. The two stared at each other for a moment.

"Lex." Clark's voice hung heavy with exhaustion.

"God Clark, what happened?" Lex looked truly concerned.

A concerned looking Lex made Clark want to laugh in his face. Lex couldn't actually give a damn. He never had, never would.

Clark felt his lips curl. "Why do you care?"

Lex's face betrayed a momentary hurt before he hid it. Nodding slightly, Lex was quiet for a moment before saying, "Let me give you a ride, Clark."

Clark looked at Lex almost as if he was trying to stare the man down. Lex meet his gaze calmly, waiting.

Finally, Clark looked away and down. "Alright, why not?" Clark wasn't entirely sure if his question was rhetorical or not.

Lex nodded again and led him to his car. This one was a convertible, though it was to dark for Clark to tell much else about the vehicle, and frankly, Clark couldn't bring himself to care.

For a long while, they drove in silence. Clark found himself drifting, thinking of things that hadn't happened yet- that maybe didn't have to happen at all; anything to stop himself from thinking about his father. Exhaustion soon lulled Clark into a slight, drifting rest. So it was a moment before he realized Lex had spoken.

"What?" Clark asked, looking around to find that they were entering Smallville proper.

"I was asking where you lived." Lex said, voice soft, smooth.

Clark shook his head, trying to clear it. "Ummm… That way." He pointed.

Lex turned the car and silence descended again.

"Why were you out there?" Clark asked, suddenly realizing that it was more than a little odd that Lex was out driving this late at night.

"I was… driving." Lex said an odd note in his voice.

Clark looked over at him. "Trying to get away?"

Lex looked over at him, sharply, before turning swiftly back to the road. "In a way."

"It must suck, being in Smallville after you've lived in Metropolis." Clark ventured after a pause.

"It's... " Lex seemed to think for a moment, "Different."

Clark nodded. "Have to drive slower?"

Lex looked at him again. Returning his gaze to the road, Lex smirked, "Not really."

Silence descended again, but this time it was more relaxed- comfortable, with Clark giving the occasional direction.

Finally, Clark and Lex found themselves turning under the "KENT FARM" archway at the head of the lane leading to Clark's home.

Lex pulled up before the yellow farmhouse and turned the car off. For a moment there was silence. Clark made no move to get out, instead staring at the little house, where the living-room light was still on. No doubt his mother had waited up for him.

Seeing this, Clark felt a stab of guilt. His father had just been in a accident, his mother shouldn't have to worry about him as well.

"Clark?" Lex's voice was soft, gentle. Clark turned to meet his gaze. "You saved my life today- if there is anything I can do to repay you or help out with your dad, tell me."

Clark blinked and suddenly remembered what his father had told, or would have told Lex. Grinning very faintly, Clark slid out of the car and shut the door, "Drive slower."

Making his way up the porch steps, Clark didn't look back- but he could still feel Lex's curious stare. Opening the door, Clark finally began to accept the fact that he could- officially- change everything now.

A/N: I give-up!! I have no idea how I'm going to fit everything in that I want to. The time-line just got thrown out the window! There it is- screaming as it falls, wailing about something called continuity and trying to reason with logic!! As if logic has anything to do with Smallville, honestly.

Jonathan might actually live… I am not entirely sure. But building Lex's relationship with Clark is harder than I thought…. damn.

On the bright-side, I like writing Lex- you have to use big words around him:)

*But this is a question for the readers- I did a count and the first episode takes place in four (really weird) days, but what I'm trying to ask is this- With everything going on, Would Lex still buy Clark a truck? I really want your opinion on this. So please click the little button and tell me. Thank you:)