Chapter 9

Clark walked into the barn to find Jonathan struggling to pull on a chain that pulled a generator up into the barn rafters.

Clark, seeing his father struggling, said, "Dad let me help you with that."

Jonathan stepped back as his son pulled the generator all the way up with one arm with no problem.

Jonathan muttered under his breath, "Don't break a sweat."

Clark felt embarrassed and moved away from his parents and went to tie the chain to a post.

Martha smiled knowingly at her son, "So big night out in Metropolis. How was it?"

Clark didn't look at his mother, "Fine."

Martha asked in disbelief, "Come on, a reception at the Metropolis Museum and it was just fine?"

Clark corrected himself, "The Museum was amazing it's just…." He looked down at his feet.

Jonathan asked, "It's just what?"

Clark took a deep breath, "Something happened."

He showed his parents a copy of today's newspaper. An article read: Metro Bus Crashes Museum Gala.

His parents looked up at him

Clark looked guilty and said, "It could have been worse. I stopped the bus before anyone was hurt."

Martha asked horrified, "Clark, are you alright?"

Clark quickly replied, "I'm fine."

Jonathan asked, "But what if someone had seen you do it? Where was Tess during all of this?"

Clark looked away and lied, "She was still in the Gala. I had gone out to get some air. She doesn't have a clue."

Clark had yet to tell his parents Tess knew his secret. He hated lying to them but he knew his father's thoughts on Luthors.

Martha said, "I'm not worried about that. It doesn't mention any witnesses in the paper."

Clark feeling lousy for lying, said, "I better get to school."

As he walked away his mother glared at her husband.

Getting the hint, Jonathan said, "Hey Clark. I am real proud of what you did."

His mother smiled, "We both are."

Clark smiled then speed off to school.

In the back ally of the Metropolis Museum, the dirty cop pulled up to a parked car.

The cop asked the driver of the other car, "Did you bring them?"

The driver, a guard for the Museum sighed, "You know I'm not supposed to do this."

The cop smiled, "And I'm not the one with a DUI on my record."

The guard sighed and after a moment of thought, handed the cop an envelope.

The cop opened the envelope and looked at a number of pictures of security photos of the last nights Gala.

The picture that caught his eye was the tall kid talking to Mr. Lex Luthor.

The cop smiled the thought of seeing his ol' pal Lex Luthor too good to pass up.

While Tess was away at work, Lex had taken over the Mansion's Study.

He was pouring some coffee mailed straight from Brazil.

He asked his latest "conquest", "So how do you like Smallville?"

Victoria answered, "It reminds me of an old village my grandparents live in Wales. Very quant, very safe, and the last place I'd expect to find Lex Luthor."

Lex smiled, "My Father has finally brought me back to Metropolis after the years he sent be abroad. And he plans to make me a full partner."

Victoria smiled seductively, "He's lying."

Lex answered, "I know."

Victoria said, "You deserve better."

Lex asked, "And you crossed the pound to tell what I do deserve?"

Victoria smiled, "Catching up with an old friend isn't reason enough?"

Lex said, "As much as I love to flatter myself, the daughters of multi-national industrialist usually don't fly around the world to rekindle old flames. Neither to executive vice presidents."

Victoria smiled, "Then you've heard."

Lex replied, "Working for your father? I keep up. How is Sir Harry?"

She answered, "Distant. Inaccessible and rich. I believe you know the type."

Lex asked, "What does he want with me?"

She answered, "Your sister too. He understands that you two may have some….negative feelings about your father."

Lex smiled, "Sir Harry has always had a firm grip on the obvious."

Victoria continued to give her pitch, "He was hoping those feelings could work to our mutual advantage. He'd like you and your sister to reexamine your individual positions at Luthor Corp. Your sister, graduating from Harvard at 17 in Marine Biology, doesn't sound like someone who would be content running a Fertilizer Plant. And you've always had Daddy issues."

Victoria set in Lex's lap so he said, "So he sent you to be incentive to me."

She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I did miss you Lex."

Lex responded non-believing, "I'm touched."

Then he looked up at her with a hint of lust in his gaze, "Do you have a proposal?"

She whispered, "First I think I'd like something else."

As Lex started to consummate their future non-developed deal, Tess burst into the room.

Tess had come home for lunch.

After Clark's miraculous save, he had ran all the way out of Metropolis and finally ended up at a bridge. The trip took only 5 minutes for Clark.

He had put her down and she backed away.

Tess could see in Clark's eyes he was worried that she would see him as a freak for what he had just accomplished.

To quiet down his fear, she gripped his hands and looked up into his blue eyes, "Clark, that man is alive because of you."

Clark wasn't reassured, "Because I'm a freak you mean."

Tess said, "Clark your powers are a gift. And you used them to save someone you didn't even know. Clark you're a hero."

To prove her point, she gripped the sides of his face and pulled him down for a kiss.

After Clark got over the initial shock, he started to return the kiss in earnest.

Tess would later think back, her mind currently turning to jelly, that for an inexperienced 14 year old, what Clark lacked in experience he made up with passion. Her toes had curled and she knew despite their age difference and his mysterious origins that they were meant to be together. She had never been more sure of something in her life.

She pulled away for a moment and the two stared into each others eyes. Both saying everything they were both too afraid to say with words, both could feel the love radiating off the other. But neither would say the words.

Then with a flirtatious smile, Tess stepped out of her high heels, and stood on Clark's feet so she could be taller, then pressed her lips to his.

This was the best feeling either of them had ever felt. Felt like they were floating. After a few breathless moments Tess broke away a second time and rested her head against Clark's.

What neither of the two realized was they were actually floating. In there heat of the moment, Clark slowly rose the couple three feet off the ground.

As Tess laid her head against Clark's, Clark grinned in contentment and slowly landed. Neither of the two noticed a thing.

Clark thought for a moment then asked, "What are you doing tomorrow?"

Tess grinned, "Work."

Clark returned the grin, "Tomorrow's Friday. How about I recreate that date neither of us got to have last week."

Tess kissed him on the cheek, "I would love that Mr. Kent. That farmboy charm never seems to stop does it?"

Clark chuckled, "Would you want it to?"

Tess burst through the Study's doors, having left work early in preparation for tonight's date. After their last attempt she didn't want to take any chances.

When she came in the room she found her half brother and the heiress from last night going 9 1/2 Weeks on her desk.

Tess was pissed.

She cleared her throat to get their attention but to no avail.

Finally Tess said, "Lex I know your new in town but do we really have to have the talk about Boundaries?"

Lex broke away from Victoria and smiled, 'Hello dear sister."

Tess frowned, "As much fun as this is, get the hell off my desk."

Lex smiled, "Oh but you see Tess this is my desk."

Tess said, "Bull shit. I've lived here for two months. You just got here. You may be Lionel's favorite just because he kept you, but that doesn't give you the right to take over my Study."

Lex said, "But I do have a right. You see has the Elder, what's yours is mine and what's mine is mine."

Tess asked, "What gives you a damn right?"

Lex replied, "Dad does. I'm the executive here not you little sister. You run the Fertilizer Plant and I'll help run the company. Speaking of which, why aren't you at work now?"

Tess answered, "Took the rest of the day off. It seems the manager can do that from time to time."

She turned to leave when Victoria gave Lex a look and he said, "Victoria is sleeping in your room."

Tess turned to her brother, "I thought she was sleeping with you."

Lex smiled, "Oh she is. But she needed a place to put all of her clothes. Your stuff has already been moved."

"Then where the hell is my stuff?"

Lex smiled, "In the guest room next to the servant's quarters."

Tess frowned and turned to leave again before her brother asked, "Your going to see the Farmboy aren't you?"

Tess answered, "Clark might not have your wealth, but he's more of a man then you'll ever be."

Lex smiled at the venom in her voice, "Victoria has a proposition for the two of us."

Tess asked, "Is that what you call it? Well you can both keep it in your pants."

Lex said, "Victoria would like us to help her and her father to overthrow Dad."

Tess smiled, "Oh now I see. Sir Henry whores out his daughter to get you to use your shares to take over Luthor Corp. But I don't see anything in it for me."

Lex said, "Tell me Tess. A year ago before we found you, did you really see yourself being the manger of a Fertilizer Plant? Doing paper work all day while your diploma in Marine Biology goes to waste. How much of the planet have you saved in your current job?"

Tess asked, "So I help you two love birds overthrow Lionel and what?"

Lex said, "I'll let you do whatever the hell you want sister. Save the whales, save the penguins, I'll even get you into bed with Al Gore. What do you say?"

Tess smiled, "How about...Hell No."

Then she turned and left to get ready for her date with Clark.

Lex sat in contemplation for a while, then he turned to Victoria who hadn't said a word during the siblings spat, "Remember the Farmboy that Tess had at the party?"

Victoria nodded.

Lex said, "His names Clark something. When I find out, how about you pay him a visit. We'll show Tess how loyal that hick really is. Soon she'll see that I'm the only person on her side. And then when her shares in the company, I'll overthrow my father and LuthorCorp will be mine.

Sorry for the late review. I've developed fatal case of Writer's Block. I rewrote the scene with Clark and Tess on the bridge three times. Hopfully I got it right. In my second draft Tess found out Clark could fly. And that is just way to soon for me. I like this the best.

So Clark floated while awake but didn't notice, Lex has a diabolical scheme, sending a pretty lady to seduce him (the actress who played Victoria does porn now) So if Clark was anyone else he'd be in trouble. But we all now Clark has an ability to resist losse women.

And the dirty cop is closing in on Clark's identy, don't forget about that. He'll play a major role in the next chapter.

I'll try to update sooner next time. On a lighter note, while I was combating my writer's block I came up with an idea for a one-shot I will be writing in the near future. I havent got a title yet, but the story will be an alternate look at the season 10 episode Luthor filled with a more Cless ending. When I say more I mean total Cless ending. So stay tuned, will be enjoyable.

Until next time,
Dex-El of Krypton