A/N: This chapter had me freaking out to say the least, but I do like that it's finally getting somewhere. So, I'm letting it go. Enjoy! Thanks to my wonderful beta for helping me pull this one together. Please R&R. Thanks, everyone.

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Act III: The Fight of Their Lives

Chapter 10 – Confrontation

Previously:

Clark focused his attention on the abandoned warehouse up ahead. The entire building must be lead-lined. Well, I'll just have to knock down all these doors to find him. He called to the kidnapper. "Buster, Buster? Are you in here?" There was no answer. He tried the upper floor. There was only one more door left, and he must be in here. He knocked the door down and then it hit him and it was too late to do anything. The room was full of kryptonite. He tried to leave but his legs wouldn't move. He hit the floor gasping for breath. He tried to reach inside his cape where the ice crystal El locator was hidden. Just a little more and I'll have it in my hands.

"I don't think that's such a good idea," Buster said taking the crystal from Clark.

"Neither do I," Luthor said walking into the room. "I'll take that," he said, taking the crystal from Buster. He stared at it for a few moments narrowing his eyes. There was something teasing him at the edges of his memory, something that was just out of his reach. I can't quite grasp it, but it's there.

End of Act II: Lex Luthor Returns

##

"Boss, what is that thing?" Buster asked.

"Quiet," Lex commanded, as he continued to stare at the crystal.

Clark watched the scene and it suddenly dawned on him that Lex may not remember after all. Is the crystal jarring his memories? Oh, no, please don't remember.

Lex smiled for a moment or two as he continued to look at the crystal, then he smashed it against the wall.

Clark closed his eyes trying to concentrate. The crystal was his only chance of anyone finding him in this place. Sam knew he was coming here, but he had to take care of the kidnapper and that could take hours. He should have called Lois. Clark suddenly realized he didn't have hours. He didn't think he could last twenty minutes, let alone an hour. Oh, this is bad. I can't seem to think straight. The pain is unbearable. I have to think, but all I seem to be able to do is feel and I can't seem to keep my eyes open. He thought of his family then. Lois, Jonny, Lara … I love you, I love you. If this is goodbye, please know that I love you all very, very much. I have to stay awake, but the pain is getting worse. I can't pass out; I may never wake up again.

"What now boss? He's fading pretty quickly. Shouldn't we leave before someone comes?" Buster asked.

"No, I want to see him suffer. I want to see him take his last breath. It won't be long now." Luthor leaned down and whispered in Clark's ear. "Clark, open your eyes."

Clark slowly opened his eyes not believing his own ears. Did he say … Clark?

##

Lois was at the office finishing up her article concerning the press conference being put together for Superman and several prominent city officials to make a statement to the press, and to take a stand in an attempt to get the kryptonite either moved or destroyed. Everything would be perfect if her father were there too.

She got the call then. "Hello," Lois said.

"Lo, honey," Sam said.

"Daddy, oh my goodness, it is you. Where are you? Are you alright?"

"I'm alright, Lo. Didn't Clark call you and tell you I spoke to him? He said he would call."

"No, I haven't spoken to him in a while now. What's going on? Where have you been all this time and where's Clark?"

"I was kidnapped, honey. I was held captive by a couple of Luthor's henchmen. I know because I got one of them to confess. We're at the hospital and the police are on their way here to meet me. Why didn't Clark call you? I don't like this, Lo."

"Where is he Daddy?" Lois was getting upset now.

"I asked Clark to contact Superman to pick up the lone kidnapper at the warehouse where I was held captive." Sam gave her the directions. "He said he would try and give him the message. I haven't talked to Clark since then."

Lois got a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Oh, no, you said Luthor was behind your kidnapping? Daddy, it appears it was all a set up to trap Superman."

"Oh, honey, I should have realized. I didn't know. What can we do to help Superman?"

"Luthor probably has both of them by now. We'll find them, Daddy. Let me think for a minute. I have a few calls to make. I'll call you back in a few minutes. Meet me at the house when you're done with the police. Bye, Daddy." She hung up and called Oliver.

##

Lara and Jonathan were on the school bus on their way home from school. Suddenly, Lara heard a piercing high-pitched noise inside her head. She knew immediately what it was. She took hold of Jonathan's hand. He too had heard it. They stared at one another. Just then their bus stop approached and they got off the bus. Their father was usually there to greet them, but they didn't see him anywhere. The noises in their heads were getting louder. It could mean only one thing.

"Lara, did you hear it?" Jonny asked his sister.

"Yes, but what are we supposed to do, Jonny?"

"I think we can find him."

"Jonny, we're just kids. We can't do anything."

"But we're strong, right, and nothing can hurt us," Jonny said.

"Jonny, that's not true. What about the green rock Dad told us about? You know, kryptonite?"

"Not if we hurry and get away from it. Dad's in trouble, Lara, and we can help him."

"Jonny, I don't know."

But Jonny was determined, so he took Lara's hand and they went around to the back of the house.

"Lara, we have to hurry. Let's go." They put their backpacks behind the bushes out back and began to run really fast."

They arrived at the warehouse in mere minutes. They didn't see any cars around. They headed inside. "Jonny, I can hear him," Lara whispered. "He's inside and it sounds like he's hurt."

Jonny used his x-ray vision, but he didn't see anyone around. Dad told me about lead and how he couldn't see through it. It's the same for me, too. Jonny whispered to his sister. "We have to surprise the bad guys. That's the only way to get Dad out. Follow me." Jonny placed his finger in front of his mouth for Lara to be very quiet. He pointed to the upper floor. They both floated to the top floor hovering, not making any noise. The door to Clark's cell was open. They both heard their father moaning and groaning on the floor.

Jonny held up three fingers, silently letting Lara know they would enter the room on the count of three. He counted down ... one, two, three. Then, they burst into the room running fast enough that Luthor and Buster did not see who it was. They took them both completely by surprise. It also helped that they weren't facing the open door either. Jonny shoved Luthor away from his father. Luthor's head hit the wall with a thud and he didn't get up.

Lara, meanwhile, also pushed Buster against the wall knocking him unconscious. Their father wasn't moving but between the two of them, they managed to lift him and carry him outside away from the kryptonite. They didn't stop until they were several miles away from the warehouse.

Jonny turned his father over to look more closely at him. "Dad, can you hear me?" Clark was sweating and breathing heavily, and his face was very pale. "You'll be alright in a few minutes, Dad. We have to get out of here before the bad guys wake up."

"Kids, how did you ... get here and how did you find me?" Clark asked as he tried to sit upright but failed. He felt so weak. He should be feeling better, but he supposed it would take time. He was just so shocked and afraid to see his children anywhere near Luthor or the kryptonite.

"The beacon sounded in our heads and we followed it here," Lara said.

"But Luthor smashed it … against the wall. I don't … understand," Clark said completely baffled that the crystal actually worked.

"All we know is that we heard it and it lead us here," Jonny said. "We have to get away from here, Dad."

Oliver and Bart arrived just then taking in the scene. How did Lara and Jonny get here? It is a good thing the area is secluded and off the main roads, Oliver thought.

"My powers are gone kids. I can't fly," Clark said beginning to feel a little better.

"Clark, you don't look so good," Oliver said, looking Clark over, as he tried to help him to sit up. "Kids, we'll take him somewhere where he'll get better really quickly. I want you to go with Bart. He'll take you home where your Mom is waiting for you. But before you go Bart, make sure Luthor is tied up and can't escape. He won't get away this time." Bart headed to the warehouse. Luthor and Buster were still unconscious, so he tied them up good and tight. He came back minutes later. "They're not going anywhere," Bart said.

"Bart, when you see Lois, please ... don't say anything about the kids. I want to break it to her myself." He turned to his children. "And kids, please just ... tell your mother I'll explain everything when I get home." Clark told his children, already dreading the conversation with his wife.

"Sure, Clark, no problem, I won't say a word," Bart said.

"Alright, Dad, we won't tell Mom what happened," Jonny said as Lara nodded understanding about secrets.

"Come here kids." Clark hugged his children as best he could. "I'm very … proud of you. Thank you … for saving me. I love you." He kissed them each on the cheek. "Now, go with Uncle Bart, alright?"

"Alright, I love you too, Dad," Jonny said.

"I love you, Dad," Lara said.

"Alright, kids, let's go before it gets really crowded around here," Bart said as he could hear police sirens in the background. He picked them up and sped away.

"Wow, Clark, we have two new members of the League," Oliver said shaking his head and not quite believing that Lara and Jonny really were growing up.

Clark sighed. "No way, Oliver, they're only … five years old. I still can't believe … they found me."

"I can't believe it either, but they did. When you told me about the ice crystal device, I thought it was a brilliant idea, but I thought it was for locating the kids, not you."

"I know, but Luthor destroyed it and I plan on replacing it. We have to have it, Oliver. It's invaluable to my family." Clark thought about that for a moment. It must have worked before it was smashed. Luthor must have activated it somehow without realizing it. Well, it doesn't really matter. They found me. Should I tell Oliver that Luthor knows the truth about me? In due time, I will, but not now. I have to see Luthor again. He won't tell anyone about me as long as he can hold it over my head and use it against me somehow. He thought of Lois then. She must be frantic with worry. "Oliver, we have to call Lois right away," Clark said.

"Clark, Bart will be there in about ten seconds. Look, the police are here, and we'll have to make a statement. What are you going to tell them?"

"Oh, just that you got the jump on Luthor and his goon ... and rescued me."

"I like the sound of that. What are you going to tell Lois?"

Clark's head began to swim. "Oh, no, I think I'm going to be sick … again."

Oliver chuckled.

Detective John Jones pulled up in his car then as several other patrol cars rolled up behind him a few minutes later. "Well, well, my two favorite superheroes. Clark, you don't look so good."

Clark and Oliver looked at each other then as they both shook their heads.

TBC!

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A/N: See, I told you it made me crazy! Next up, Lois learns the truth about everything!! Thanks for reading. Bursts of sunshine, remember? Reviews are loved by all the Kents!! *me too*