A/N: You can't imagine how much all the wonderful reviews for this story make my day! I never thought it would become so well liked. Thank you all so much! I hope this chapter is just as good. I can never tell. As a writer you always tend to be pretty hard on yourself.
I would also like to thank VisAVis2 for editing this chapter. She does a good job at making sure I put those commas in the right place :)
Thanks also to guest reviewers: Brittny, Chewbie, Alison and two other, just, guest reviews. The support has been wonderful! Very much a highlight in my life right now.
Warning - this chapter does contain some angst.
That said; enjoy!
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Chapter Ten.
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Clark's heart was racing, but in a good way. His initial worries melted away as he held Lois in his arms. She knew his secret, and she didn't see him any differently. Of course she wouldn't, though; Lois was accepting. It was a trait he had gladly discovered about her.
Pulling back he gazed down at her face, seeing the reassurance in her eyes. Her hand rested on his chest.
"It's okay Clark."
Sudden relief coursed through him with those simple words. "H-How did you know?"
Tilting her head to the side, she studied his face. "I kind of put two and two together."
She was smart like that. There was no pulling the wool over her eyes.
"I guess you really are from somewhere exotic after all," she quipped.
He felt a hesitant, brief smile crossing his face. "When did you figure it out?"
She shrugged. "The morning you came home from the hospital."
That was weeks ago! She'd kept his secret all that time. He was pleasantly surprised.
"I found that page with the symbols, and then there was that night you were drunk. You kept saying you were an alien," she continued in a breathless voice. "Of course I thought maybe Chad had laced your drink or something - but then," pausing for breath, a speculative look in her eyes. "It made sense."
He raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Those looks you and your mom would share as if you had a secret that no one else knew about." She drew a deep breath. "Those crazy ramblings were not so crazy after all, and then you had those dizzy spells, which you still haven't explained …"
"I don't understand it myself, Lois, but they were sort of like visions."
She frowned. "Visions?"
He swallowed and nodded. "I found myself in another place."
Now she would think him crazy and this moment was surreal. He'd never thought he'd see the day when he could openly discuss who and what he was with another person outside of his parents.
It was a relief to finally be able to be honest for the first time in his life. "And – there was this voice."
"So, that's how you found out you were from Krypton?"
"Yes," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Apparently I'm the last of my kind."
"Like the Doctor."
He frowned, "Doctor Who?"
Smiling, she shook her head. "You really need to watch more television, Smallville."
The sound of her pet nickname warmed his heart. Nothing had changed, only she now knew the truth and it was liberating. For just a moment the pain of returning to this place lessened. Maybe he didn't have to do it alone?
Lois stopped smiling and her face grew serious as she continued to study him. He could see the curiosity mingled with amazement in her hazel eyes.
"You really had those special powers? Could run faster than the blink of an eye?"
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he nodded. "Had - not anymore."
She bit down on her lip, clutching her hands together. "What happened to them?"
"I don't know." He turned slightly, his eyes resting on the rubble that covered the crypt below - what was left of it. He inwardly shuddered.
"Clark?"
Hearing the concern in Lois' voice, he glanced back at her. She needed answers. He needed someone to listen, even if it pained him whenever he talked about that fateful event.
"It happened on the day my father died," he murmured. "This reporter, Roger Nixon, had discovered what I was and wanted to reveal it to the world. He'd videotaped my space ship …"
"Whoa, hold on there, Clark," she interrupted, grabbing his arm, an incredulous look on her face. "You have a space ship?!"
He couldn't help smiling a little. "It's in the storm cellar. It's not very big either, because I was just a baby when my birth parents put me in it."
She blinked, with the same look of astonishment on her face.
"That's where the symbols come from," he continued.
"Pinch me, Clark."
He frowned. "What – why?'
"Just do it!"
If she insisted, but not liking it all the same, he pushed back the sleeve of her jacket and pinched her skin just above her wrist.
"Ouch!"
Scowling down at her arm, she rubbed it. "Guess I'm not dreaming."
"Are you okay - Lois?"
Raising her face to his, she smiled. "I'm – great, just that I never really believed in space ships before now."
Her eyes wandered over him before returning to his face. "You look so …"
"Human," he finished for her.
"Amazing," she added.
He couldn't help the smile that crossed his face. "Thanks." A compliment from Lois, that was rare.
"So these symbols," she began, clearing her throat as if embarrassed for blurting that out. "What are they?"
"I have no idea."
"And this Nixon reporter …"
"Threatened to reveal my secret, and my father went after him during a tornado storm."
Now the pieces were beginning to fit in, Lois mused. She was still in a state of disbelief at Clark talking about what had happened, who he was. She couldn't help staring at him, mesmerised. There was an openness about him now that hadn't been there before. As if it was a relief to be able to share his secret with her. She had to restrain herself from hugging him.
She could understand Clark's fathers rash actions in stopping Nixon. Clark needed to be protected. He was special and different; unique, in fact; possessing a certain innocence that could so easily be destroyed if he were to end up in the wrong hands.
"It's just as well the Kent's found you, Clark." She couldn't help blurting that out, even if off topic.
His face softened. "My Mom would say it differently. She would tell you that I had found them."
Lois clasped her hands together. "Do you remember it?"
He nodded, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "It's the first memory I have."
"Can you tell me?"
His instant smile melted her heart. "I remember waking up, seeing the blue sky, not knowing where I was. There was fire and debris all around from the meteor shower. I was looking for something familiar so I could make sense of who I was."
Lois watched the way the light played on his face. She could picture the small boy, lost and alone. She tried to imagine what it must have felt like for him.
"And then I saw a red truck. It had landed it on its roof. I peered inside of it. I saw two people, and they were just like me. My Mom wrapped me up in a blanket and that's when I knew – I was home."
A knot formed in her throat. Tears threatened; she held them at bay. Unable to help herself, she threw her arms around his neck. "Just as well. You couldn't have had two better parents," she murmured in his ear, his hair tickling her nose.
Oh crap. She was being too sappy and it wasn't like her, but then it wasn't every day you found out your best friend was an alien and admitted to it.
She hastily pulled back. "Sorry about that, Smallville, couldn't' help myself."
His cheeks reddened.
"It's all right," he began, a slow smile crossing his face, "I didn't mind it."
He was being adorable again, damn it. Wringing her hands, she attempted to pull her errant thoughts into some semblance of order.
"So when did you first discover you were different – had special abilities?"
"I seemed to be immune to certain things. I didn't get hurt like other kids. When I was four I pulled a boiling pot of water over myself and there wasn't a mark on me. I didn't seem to feel the cold either."
Lois shivered; she couldn't help it.
"I mustn't have been more than five when I'd crawled under this big old oak bed, terrified of a thunder storm. My Dad tried to crawl under to reach me. I could see he was struggling. It was an instinctive reaction. I just lifted the whole bed up with one hand."
He paused, a wry grin crossing his face. "My Dad had that same reaction on his face as you have now. I don't think they knew what to make of it, but one thing my Dad was adamant about was that I should never tell anyone about my abilities."
Clark drew a deep breath and the shadows were back in his eyes again. She longed to wipe them away, but the pain of having to lie and being isolated in many ways was also part of who Clark was.
"The world doesn't accept different," he continued. "It doesn't leave it alone. It pokes and prods to unveil the truth no matter what the cost. Dad said they wouldn't see me as being human, with the same thoughts and emotions as everyone else. They would only exploit me."
His face darkened, as his eyes returned to the cordoned off site, the orange tape flapping eerily in the wintery breeze. "And he was right."
She didn't know what to say to make it any better for him. "What happened to Nixon?"
His jaw clenched. "He died when the roof caved in."
A long empty silence followed. Lois waited for Clark to speak; after all, there was really nothing she could say to make this alright for him. Turning away from her, he took a few steps towards the rubble.
Lois waited. The silence continued. She never had been good with long silences. She was about to talk when Clark finally continued.
"There were these green rocks. They made me sick to the point that I couldn't do anything; otherwise I could have gotten Dad out of there."
He kicked at a loose rock and shoved his hands in his pockets. "My Dad used his body as a shield to protect me." His voice caught in his throat.
And he'd blamed himself ever since. Lois understand what that felt like. She went and stood alongside him, gazing up at his face. She could see the storm raging in his eyes.
"It's what any father would do," she spoke softly.
He turned his tormented gaze to hers. "But if I'd been normal …" his voice broke off there.
"Your unique, Clark. Special. You didn't ask to be what you are."
Surely he had to see that for himself. "Nobody asks for the life they are born into, or even who their parents are."
His shoulders slumped. Taking that as her cue, Lois rested a hand on his arm. "Least you did get to choose yours. And your birth father found a way to save you, as any father would do if they really loved their son."
Lois recalled the words from his journal: We will live on through him.
"It's not your fault." He needed to realise that. "Would your Dad be happy seeing you continually beating yourself up for something that you couldn't help or stop?"
Doubt flickered in his eyes. She remembered those early days when she'd first met Clark. How aloof he had been.
"Would he want to see you become a recluse, shut yourself away from the world all because you couldn't get past the guilt?"
There was no way she would let him resort back to that again.
"When I first met you, Clark, you barely smiled or even socialised. You hid yourself behind farm chores, study and books. You hardly involved yourself in anything, using your weight as some sort of protective shield and wearing loose ill-fitting clothes."
"Thanks Lois," he muttered, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "And if memory serves me correctly, you did nothing but endlessly tease me."
She smiled. "I just couldn't help myself when it came to you, Smallville."
He shook his head. Least the pain in his eyes had lessened. It was now replaced with curiosity.
"Why?"
She hadn't thought he'd ask that. Damn. She had to be honest.
"On some subconscious level I must have liked you."
A hint of a smile turned up the corners of his mouth.
"Plus I have a thing for strays and lost causes."
He raised an eyebrow. "So I'm a lost cause now?"
"Were," she hastily added. "Until I came along and sorted you out."
A warm smile crossed his face. It was a relief to see it.
"You did sort me out, Lois. You just take the bull by the horns, even if that bull is kicking and screaming, and you don't let go."
She grinned, feeling pleased. "Oh, you know me, Clark. I think I was born for that sole purpose."
He let out a brief laugh. It sounded like music to her ears. Lois shoved her hands in her pockets. Despite the beanie and woollen scarf it was bitterly cold.
"Okay, so why are you here, torturing yourself, Smallville?"
His face grew serious, "Looking for answers."
He obviously hadn't found any.
"On that day I woke up in hospital only to discover I no longer had my powers," he continued, "I felt pain for the first time."
"Like us mere mortals."
A ghost of a smile hovered on his lips. He shook his head causing his hair to fall into his eyes.
"I didn't mind. It meant I didn't have to lie anymore. I could be like everybody else. I always wanted to be normal and – now I was."
"It's not all what it's cracked up to be."
"Yeah, I've had three years to figure that out," he dryly quipped.
Raising a hand he brushed his hair back from his forehead. Despite his efforts, the errant strands fell promptly back into his eyes. He really was gorgeous and totally unaware of it. But she was getting distracted. She pulled her thoughts back in line. Focus Lois, she silently chided.
"Your Mom told me this was the place you had lost your powers; guess that's why she was …"
His eyes widened in disbelief. "You told my Mom!" he exclaimed, "She knows you know?"
"How else do you think I found out you were here?"
He was stumped. Having never been in this position before he didn't know what to think. It had always been about the secrecy. His father had drilled it into him growing up.
"Relax, Smallville; she was cool about it."
Her hands rested on her hips. "But she was really upset with you. She said that you shouldn't be here alone."
Seeing the accusation in Lois' eyes made him realise that he hadn't thought about his Mom's feelings when coming out here. She had already told him to take Lois with him, and he hadn't listened.
"She was right, Clark. What were you thinking?"
"Clearly I wasn't," he murmured. "Just that I'm used to – doing it alone."
Her face softened. "You don't have to anymore."
No, he didn't. Lois had come bustling into his life, turning it upside down and never would he have ever thought in a million years that she would be the first friend he'd share his secret with.
"What makes you think the answers lie here?" she asked.
"The voice from the visions. I think it's my birth father."
Frowning, her puzzled gaze met his. "How does that even work?"
He shrugged. "I don't know."
"It's a bit like ET," she mused, "He had a telepathic link with the boy. They felt each other's pain and thoughts."
"Did the movie explain how that worked?"
She shook her head. "Not really; I just assumed it was an alien thing. I guess the same goes with you."
There was so much he didn't know about himself. He was filled with a sudden desperation to find the answers. Time was running out.
"Lois, I have to restore my powers or else …" he swallowed.
What he was about to tell her was something he hadn't even told his Mom. But Lois wasn't his Mom, and she could handle it.
"In the last vision I had, the voice told me that my body will continue to break down if I don't fulfil my destiny."
He averted his eyes from the disturbed look in hers.
"I will feel pain. It will be my constant companion. A reminder of what I failed to do."
Taking a deep, shaky breath, his gaze returned to the rubble. "He said the pain would be minimal to what the world will suffer if I do not fix what has been done to me."
There, he had said it now. Lois probably thought he was crazy. Maybe he was? He couldn't even bring himself to look at her, half afraid of what he'd see in her eyes. There was a long painful silence. The wind mourned pitifully through the trees.
"Wow, and I thought my father has a hard man," she murmured with a catch in her throat. "But he can't really hurt you, Clark."
She didn't understand; it was out of his control. Feeling her hands take hold of his, he forced himself to look at her.
"He can get inside of my head somehow. The ringing in my ears makes it so I can't function; that's what happened on the football field. And I ended up with a torn ACL, which I have to have an operation on in just a couple of days."
A determined look blazed in her eyes. "Okay, you need answers so let's find them."
Letting go of his hands, she turned away from him and marched across to the cordoned off rubble. He watched, with some trepidation, as she put one leg over the fence.
"It's not safe in there, Lois, that's why it's roped off."
As usual she didn't listen to him. "I'll be fine." He watched her walk towards the entrance to where the crypt had been, feeling anxious.
"The whole ground is unstable; be careful."
This was one time when he wished she'd listen for a change. He should be the one going in there, not her. About to follow suite, Lois glanced at him.
"Stay there, Clark. You're right about the ground being unstable. I don't think it'll hold both our weight."
He gritted his teeth. "Why don't you come back and let me do it."
"I'm a lot lighter than you."
She was right about that, as much as he hated to admit it. He watched her lean over and pick something up.
"See anything?" he called out.
"Lots of green rocks."
"They're from the meteor shower."
"Yeah, Chloe's wall of weird and unexplained."
He sighed, unable to stop feeling worried. The last thing he wanted was for anything to happen to her. His father died protecting him, and he had the sinking feeling that Lois would do the same. She was fiercely loyal. He loved that about her. No – wait, he didn't love her, he couldn't – could he? His eyes rested on her. Only yes – he did. How had that happened? There was no way he was losing her too.
"Lois, I think you should come back now." There was a desperation and urgency to his voice.
She must have picked up on it and, much to his relief, walked back towards him.
There was something clutched in her hand.
"This made you sick?"
Opening her hand, she thrust it towards him. He flinched. An automatic reaction when exposed to the green rock. It felt like fire flowing through his veins. It wasn't something easily forgotten even if it no longer affected him.
"How come it doesn't make you sick now, Clark?"
He shook his head. "I don't know."
"Something happened to you down there," she continued, gesturing to the rubble. "When you woke up in hospital, what did the doctor say?"
He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off. "You obviously suffered some injuries, like the scar on your leg."
"I was pretty traumatised at the time." He raked a hand through his hair. "It's hard to remember."
"And I found this."
He watched her pull out a similar looking rock, only this one was blue.
"If the green rocks came down in that meteor shower, maybe this one did too?"
She drew in a breath, her blazing eyes searching his. "Just maybe the rocks come from your home planet – were part of it?"
She really was astute. And there was a niggling, nagging thought in the back of his mind – a memory. "I've seen this before."
She smiled, looking pleased. "Great, we're finally getting somewhere." Taking the rock from his hand, she pocketed it. "I think I know of a place where we can get these tested, find out what they are made of."
She really did take the bull by the horns. She was amazing. She was just what he needed and she was – beautiful.
"Lois," he began, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Thank you."
A slow smile crossed her face, and he wanted to kiss her, so badly. His eyes lowered to her lips. Should he? She knew his secret now, there was nothing more to hide. But Lois was commitment shy. And he was half terrified. Lois had been right; he had shut himself away from the world. He knew nothing about opening his heart, risking having it broken again.
They had kissed before; the memory of it came rushing back. It was so long ago. He'd never forgotten it. Raising a hand, his fingers lightly caressed her cheek. His eyes met hers. He saw the same longing there. She wanted it, as much as he did.
"Lois, I-I …" He brushed a thumb across her bottom lip.
"Oh hell, just kiss me, Clark," she muttered in a hoarse voice.
Suddenly feeling hesitant and shy, because he really was no expert at this, he traced the outline of her mouth with his fingers. Then he replaced his fingers with his lips.
Lois' heart hammered in her chest. For a guy who had little experience at kissing, he was oddly very sensual. She would probably live to regret this moment. Right now she didn't care. Every other thought vanished as his lips roamed over hers with such urgency, and an unchecked passion. She had never felt the jolt of electricity coursing through her veins at his touch. Never had she felt so completely connected to another person as she did with him.
A low moan escaped her throat. She deepened the kiss, her hands ploughing through his tangled hair. He had no idea on what he did to her.
The kiss eventually ended. Time hung suspended as he gazed at her, his face only inches from hers.
For one long moment she couldn't breathe, couldn't move or even think.
"Lois," he murmured.
His hand closed over hers, and a rush of heat surged through her. His thumb caressed the inside of her wrist.
"Say something."
Hearing the anxious tone in his voice, her eyes met his. "For once I'm speechless, Clark."
He stroked her face. "That's never a good thing," he quipped in an attempt to lighten the mood.
His heart was still beating erratically. The kiss had been amazing, as he knew it would be. But now he felt unsure, hesitant and exposed.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the two love birds," came a mocking voice.
Clark spun around. His heart sank at the sight of Chad with his fellow tormenting buddies. What lousy timing and to make matters worse, Chad would have seen everything.
What were they even doing out here? This place was so isolated.
"I owe you one, Kent!"
Chad made a bee line straight for him. His first thoughts were of Lois, but Lois, in typical Lois fashion, positioned herself in front of him.
"You'll have to go through me first," she growled.
This had now become his worst nightmare. Someone else knowing his secret and willing to protect him no matter the cost to themselves.
"Lois – no."
Reaching out a hand, he grabbed her by the arm.
"I have a black belt in karate, Clark."
Chad burst out in laughter. "And there are five of us."
"I can still get a few good licks in."
Seeing the fierce determination in her eyes, Clark didn't doubt it. But she would still get hurt.
He glared at Chad. "Do what you have to do, but leave Lois out of this."
"Fair enough; I don't fight with girls."
"Afraid you'll lose," Lois retorted.
Chad's jaw clenched.
"But then – there's a first time for everything."
Clark anticipated the punch directed by Chad to Lois. Pushing Lois out of the way, adrenalin pumping, Chad's fist connected with his jaw instead. Dazed as he was, Clark punched him back with all the strength he had. With the frustration of being laid up these last few weeks on top of all the emotion turmoil he'd been through it felt good taking it out on him.
Chad stumbled backwards. His eyes glowered. He touched the trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. "You'll pay for that, Kent."
Clark tried to curtail the white hot rage coursing through him. "You really are a coward."
What happened next, he hadn't anticipated.
Chad's leg kicked out, with much force, straight at his injured knee.
There was a resounding crack. Sharp, sudden pain shot through his knee as he went crashing to the ground.
"Clark!" Lois exclaimed, horrified.
She was by his side in an instant. He was swamped in a world of excruciating pain, unable to focus or stop the tears that rolled down his cheeks.
"Clark! Clark!"
He could hear the panicked note in her voice. He felt her hands stroking his face.
"Clark – look at me."
That voice was so compelling, but he couldn't. He couldn't force his eyes open. It hurt too much.
"What have you done!" he heard her scream as she turned to face Chad. "You bastard!"
He was aware she'd left his side. Lois – she had to let it go – she had to. Hearing the angry exchange of voices, he forced himself to focus. Lois was vulnerable; she needed him.
Somehow he managed to force his eyes open. Propping himself up on one elbow, he looked up to see Lois and Chad facing each other. It didn't look good. Lois' stance told him she was ready to strike Chad at any given moment.
"Lois," he called out, "Stop – please."
She spun around at the sound of his words. Her heart twisted in a knot at the sight of his tear-streaked, pale face. She was still so furious.
"Now we're even, Kent. Too bad your season is over."
She whipped her head around and glared at Chad.
"Yeah, you really sound sorry about that, smug bastard," she spat out. "You haven't heard the last of this. I'll make sure you're charged with assault."
"Really," Chad sneered, "There are five or us, and only two of you. Who do you think they'll believe?"
His mocking gaze raked over her. "I've got this," he pointed to his cut lip. "All I have to say is that we got in a tussle. It was unfortunate that Kent re-injured his knee."
Lois' clenched her fists by her side. How she longed to wipe the smug look off his face.
Chad's gaze met with hers. "As for you," he began, his benign smile giving her the chills. "I've got something special planned for you."
"Is that a threat?"
"It'll happen when you least expect it."
With that, Chad turned around and walked back to his so-called friends. All the fight drained out of her body. The anger was replaced with concern for Clark. She had heard his knee crack. It had sounded bad. Worst possible scenario, he'd fractured a bone.
She rushed back to his side, heart thudding painfully in her chest.
He was shaking uncontrollably, beads of perspiration dotted his forehead. It didn't look good.
"Clark," her voice shook, "Please tell me you are alright?"
"I-I'm alright," he stammered.
"No, you're not. You need help."
As she fumbled in her pocket for her mobile phone, his hand rested on her arm.
"Lois. You need to stay away from Chad. I heard him threaten you."
Trust Clark to think of her when he was so obviously in agony.
"Okay," she sighed. Anything to sooth him at present, but she was still fuming inside.
One way or another she was going to bring him down. Right now her concerns were taken up with Clark. Gut instinct told her he needed urgent attention.
"What are you doing with the phone?" he asked.
"I'm dialling 911."
"Lois …" he began, "I'm fine …" his voice broke off there and he promptly threw up.
Oh god, he really was anything but fine. His head slumped back to the ground. His eyelashes fluttered darkly against the pallor of his cheeks. Lois swallowed down the panic that threatened to erupt. Cradling his face with her hands she called out to him. "Stay with me, Smallville."
But he was out cold. Lois couldn't even fathom losing him.
"Clark! Clark!" she called, shaking him. Damn it.
The tears blurring her vision made it difficult to see the buttons on her phone. Her hands were shaking so badly.
"Pull it together, Lois," she chided, and attempted to press 911.
"I need help here. I think my friend has fractured his leg and he's passed out." Her voice shook so much it was a wonder anyone could make sense of what she'd said.
"Just remain calm, ma'am."
Yeah, like hell she could.
"Where are you?"
"Near Hobson's Pond."
"Is he breathing?"
"Yes."
"Can you check his pulse?"
Leaning her head on his chest, she heard the steady rhythm of his heart. It sounded strong, it offered some relief.
"His pulse is steady."
"He's probably just passed out from the pain. We will be there soon as we can."
Gazing down at Clark's still body, the tears threatened all over again.
"You think – you could stay out of trouble – just once, Smallville? Because, seriously this is starting to get ridiculous." Her breath caught in her throat.
In the space of less than an hour she had been through a host of emotions. Clark admitting his secret, then there was that kiss and finally Chad coming along to screw it all up. Now Clark lay unconscious, and she was all alone.
She didn't want to be alone. "Wake up, Clark," she begged.
The wind had picked up, whistling through the debris she had, just moments ago, found the rocks. Clarks words came back to haunt her. In the last vision, the voice told me that my body will continue to break down if I don't fulfil my destiny.
She shivered.
'I will feel pain. It will be my constant companion. A reminder of what I failed to do.'
Tenderly pushing a strand of hair from his forehead, she whispered. "You won't fail, Clark. We'll find a way."
There was nothing but silence. He felt no pain. He didn't feel anything. Opening his eyes he was greeted with the brightest white light.
Was he dead? Squinting, he began to make out what looked to be pillars of ice. Where was he? Scrambling to his feet, the first thing he noticed was the sudden freedom of movement. Quickly glancing down at his knee, he was surprised to find it was perfectly intact.
He had to be dead – no – he couldn't be. It didn't make sense.
He wandered in awe, through the ice pillars. He'd never seen anything like it before; it was strangely beautiful, but so sterile and empty.
'Kal-el, my son.'
That voice again. What did he want now?
'Are you my father?' he called out.
'Yes.'
'Why am I here?'
'This is where you come from, Kal-el. This was your home planet before it was destroyed.'
He slowly turned around, gazing up at the massive ice structures.
'On earth I left three crystals for you to find. These three crystals will form a replicate of the fortress on this planet you inhabit. There you will learn the Kryptonian way.'
It sounded grim and lonely.
'What if I don't want too?'
'You are not human, Kal-el. The fate of this world rests in your hands.'
Sounds of crying and screaming filled his ears. In front of him flashed images of people burning, a planet disintegrating. It chilled him to his bones.
'This is what happened to our planet. The same fate will happen on earth. You are the only one that can stop it.'
'I don't understand,' he murmured.
'Restore your powers, Kal-el.'
'I'm trying to! I went back to the site of my father's death like you told me to.'
The only answer that greeted his ears was silence.
'So now you choose to ignore me?'
He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Was any of this even real? Maybe it was nothing more than a pain-filled hallucination.
'Clark … Clark,' a voice called.
He spun around. 'Lois.' What was she doing here? He ran through the ice fortress searching for her, filled with a desperate longing. Then he saw her, and himself. She was leaning over him, tenderly stroking his hair and calling out to him. He placed a hand on the sheet of ice that separated them. She looked so sad.
'The human girl is strong.' Now his father decides to talk to him. 'She can help you.'
'I won't put her in harm's way.'
'You must let her, Kal-el. One human life to save many is a small sacrifice.'
Horrified, he screwed his eyes shut. 'No, this isn't real.'
'Your attachment to the girl is governed by emotion. You have grown up in the human way. It'll be your undoing.'
'So you are saying I must let Lois help me, even if it could cost her life, but then I am to form no attachment to her?'
'You are Kryptonian.'
'I don't care! I am not you! I don't want to be Kryptonian!'
'Then your world will burn and you with it, Kal-el.'
He shoved his hands over his ears. 'Get out of my head!'
Agonising pain radiated through his body. He collapsed to the ground, screaming, clutching his knee.
'You disappoint me my son.'
Martha paced the confines of the kitchen floor.
Lois had been gone a whole hour.
Lois knew about Clark. Was that a good thing or not?
If only Jonathon was here. He always knew what to do, how to handle Clark. Clark had looked up to him. Those were big shoes to fill.
Her eyes rested on the two dozen blue berry muffins that now sat on the bench. She always baked when feeling overly worried. What would she do with them? Not even Lois could eat that much. As for Clark, he hadn't had much of an appetite since injuring his knee.
It was a concern.
He was a big concern. In many ways he always had been.
Once upon a time she had Jonathon to share her fears with, now she was all alone.
Perhaps it was a good thing Lois knew the truth. She adored Clark; Martha saw it in her eyes whenever she looked at him. Clark was different with her. He was more outgoing, smiling and laughing, reminding her of the son she used to have before Jonathon had died.
For so long it had just been her and Clark. The two of them trying to get past their grief in whatever way they could.
Clark withdrawing to a place he couldn't be touched.
She had tried to remain strong, but there were so many nights she had cried herself to sleep. Reaching out an arm in the big empty bed, searching for the familiar warmth of Jonathon's body, only to find nothing there.
She would wake up in the morning, having to face another day. Jonathon was dead and Clark needed her. She had to be strong.
Martha buried her face in her hands. 'What do I do?' she murmured to herself. How could Clark even think of going out to Hobson's Pond on his own? Why did he persist in shutting people out?
The sharp, sudden shrill of her phone startled her. She glanced down at it, almost with dread. Something was wrong. She could feel it. Picking it up, she answered it.
She could barely make out the gargled ramblings. "Lois?"
"Clark – is hurt."
The last three words Martha just didn't want to hear. It brought back the memories of that awful day three years ago.
"We are at the hospital."
Feeling the bile rise in her throat, she swallowed. "What happened to him?"
"It's his knee – Chad did it – there was a fight – it ended badly."
"But Clark is okay, isn't he, Lois?"
"He's conscious again – he'll be okay, but his knee – it's bad Mrs K."
Lois must have drunk five cups of disgusting hospital coffee and bitten all of her fingernails off. She looked down at them in dismay. What a mess. Just like this day had turned out to be. She was going to kill Chad, she was going to hurt him as much as he'd hurt Clark. She'd find a way.
It had been a relief when Clark woke up, and not. He was obviously in so much pain. She had never felt so useless before. The paramedics gave him morphine and that helped. But then he was kind of out of it and wasn't making any coherent sense. He was rambling on about an ice fortress, the planet burning, and he didn't want to be Kryptonian. Clark had obviously taken a trip to that other place, and by the sounds of it, it hadn't turned out well. It was almost amusing if the whole situation hadn't been so serious and traumatic. She felt emotionally drained.
Plotting Chad's downfall was the only thing keeping her sane. Clark wouldn't be happy. But what he didn't know wouldn't hurt.
The sight of Mrs K entering the room was a welcome relief. She flew into her arms. Mrs K held her tightly. "Thank god you were there, Lois."
Pulling back, Mrs K glanced around the room. "Where is Clark?"
"He's having an MRI scan. He should be back soon."
Martha could tell Lois was visibly upset. Welcome to my world, she dryly and somewhat painfully mused. It really was a relief Lois knew the truth. Martha had shouldered this responsibility for so long on her own. It was nice to finally be able to share Clark's secret with someone else. But when Lois recounted everything that had happened, Martha couldn't help but worry all over again. It didn't sound good. The visions disturbed her. Was it really Clark's birth father causing them? What did he want from Clark? She couldn't help the overprotective mother instinct that took hold. He was her son. He belonged to her. She and Jonathon had raised him, loved him and protected him. What right did this faceless voice have to control Clark's life?
Martha watched Lois pace, angrily, up and down the length of the room. She was raving about Chad, that he had done this to Clark and he had to pay for what he did. In part she agreed. She was furious with what had been done to her son. She would be going down to that school first thing Monday morning and talking to the principal. She didn't want that boy anywhere near Clark. Lois must have noticed the stricken look on her face. Next thing Martha knew, Lois hugged her.
"Don't worry, Mrs K. I'll make sure nothing further happens to Clark. Chad won't even get within ten feet of him at school."
Martha pulled back and smiled. She had no doubt about that. Lois was incredibly loyal, and brave. Reaching out a hand, she tenderly ran a hand through her hair, as a parent would to a child.
"I know you will. You're the best thing that's happened to him in a long while."
Lois couldn't help feeling a sudden shyness. It'd been a long time since she'd had a female role model to look up to. The death of her own mother when she was six years old had toughened her up, but how she secretly missed her Mom. Going to school had been torture. Watching the other mom's kiss and hug their children goodbye when she had no one. She had to be strong. Bottling her feelings deep down, acting the tough girl became part of her life. After a while it was all she ever knew. She could convince herself that she was meant to be this way for a reason. It was her allotment in life after all. Everybody had a role to play. This was obviously hers. But for just a brief moment, Clark had made her feel so very special. As if she was something precious, and worthy to be loved.
She swallowed the large lump that formed in her throat. "Thanks, Mrs K."
Not knowing what else to do, because it wasn't often she received compliments, Lois shoved her hands in the pockets of her jeans. It was okay. Mrs K understood, she was very astute. Lois guessed having raised an alien, even if he was every bit human, for a son would make you like that. The number of times she must have worried about him. Hell, she'd only had a few weeks of knowing, and after today she could totally understand Mrs K's concerns.
Any other thought was shoved aside, when Clark was wheeled back into his room. He still looked deathly pale but composed at least. The morphine must be beginning to wear off. Mrs K rushed to his side, fussed over him. Lois hung back in the shadows, watching and feeling oddly alone.
"It's okay, Mom," she heard him say. "I'm alright."
'As if,' Lois silently snorted under her breath. She'd been there. She knew exactly how bad it had been. Obviously Clark didn't want to worry his Mom.
"Luckily Lois was there, and you were right about that, I should have taken her with me and not gone on my own."
Trust Smallville to think of his mom's feelings when he must be completely shattered about what had happened to him.
"Where is Lois?" he quickly asked, a slight worried edge to his voice.
"I'm here," she spoke, stepping out of the shadows.
The instant relief that crossed his face was palpable and somewhat puzzling. Why was he so worried? If anything, he was the worry here.
The prognosis wasn't good. The kick to his knee had shattered the patella. To complicate matters he also had the tear to his ACL and meniscal damage. The surgery for that would have to be delayed till the fracture healed.
"I have to be straight with you, Clark," the surgeon told him. "The healing of this fracture takes time. You are in for a long haul."
Lois' nails dug into the palms of her hands.
"We've scheduled you for ORIF surgery in the morning."
This shouldn't have happened. This could have been prevented if Clark hadn't decided to be so heroic, and let her deal with Chad.
"You will have to wear an immobilizing brace for ten weeks. You cannot bear any weight on the knee for at least six weeks."
Her eyes flew to Clark's face. He was taking it so calmly. As if he'd resigned himself to his own fate. She hated seeing it.
"The biggest complication you will be faced with is muscle wastage in the quads. Which unfortunately doesn't help when it comes to the ACL tear. Your surgical options for that are now limited. The Patella-femoral graft isn't an option, which only leaves the Hamstring tendon graft or the Allo-graft."
"How long before he can have the surgery to repair the ACL tear?" Mrs K asked.
"We're looking at about four months. Depending on how well the patella heals. If all goes well, Clark should be able to walk without a limp by then."
Lois froze. Four months – Clark should be able to walk without a limp – in four months. Only then to have his ACL tear repaired which would only take god knows how long to heal. She asked the question that most needed to be asked. "How long before his knee will be back to full strength?"
The surgeon looked at her, then Clark, and given the grim expression on his face, it didn't look good.
"Knee surgery has come a long way in recent years," he began, "But given that the fracture to Clark's knee is to his tibial plateau, it is likely he could suffer long term instability. He won't regain full strength to his quadriceps muscles and in the worse possible scenario it could be as little as 14% recovery."
A deathly silence filled the room. Lois' eyes were fixed on Clark's face to gauge his reaction. It gave little away. She was even more determined to find a way to restore his powers, no matter what the cost. He had a destiny, whatever that was, but it was important. It wasn't a coincidence that he was sent to earth. He was here for a reason.
By the time the surgeon left it was approaching ten at night. Clark looked tired and spent. Lois felt as exhausted as he looked.
"We should go and let you sleep, Clark," Mrs K said.
His eyelids were already drooping with tiredness. "I need to talk to, Lois," he mumbled.
Mrs K glanced her way and nodded. "Okay. I'll wait for you outside, Lois."
Once his mom left the room, Lois could see Clark's guard drop. A look of complete exhaustion crossed his face. She didn't miss seeing the confusion and apprehension in his eyes before they glanced her way.
Taking the few steps to his bedside, she wearily sat down on the chair, unsure of what to say. She only had about a hundred question to ask, but now probably wasn't the time. However, there was one thing she needed to know.
"Did you slip into the twilight zone again, Clark?"
Given the expression on his face she had hit the nail on the head.
"You have that look of resignation of your face," she continued.
It wasn't the first time she had seen it.
"We have to find a way to restore your powers …"
"No," he said abruptly, cutting her off.
She shot him a puzzled look.
"Just leave it, Lois."
Just leave it – no way – she couldn't. How could he even suggest such a thing? Earlier on he had been so adamant about finding a way to restore his abilities.
"What happened to you, Clark?"
The haunted shadows in his eyes, worried her. "I won't risk anything happening to you."
What had he seen? Why the change of heart?
She slipped her hand into his, squeezing his fingers. "I'm willing to take that risk," she spoke softly.
"How can you – you don't even know me. I'm not even human."
His words pained her and he was wrong. Human or not, she did know him.
"You have the biggest heart, Clark. More so than any human, and you have a destiny. Maybe it's my job to help you find it."
"And if it were to cost you your life like it did my Dad?" he began.
She shrugged. "There never are any guarantees in life." She took a deep breath. "I lost my Mom when I was six years old – I'm well aware of it."
His eyes flashed with an emotion Lois could describe only as pain – deep, searing, gut-wrenching pain.
"I'm not …" he began. "Willing to take that risk – just for some random voice in my head."
He didn't know that voice, he didn't care who it was, his so called birth father. "As for my heart," he continued, "If I am to learn to become Kryptonian as my father wants me to, I'll no longer have one."
He waited to see how she'd react to that. A puzzled frown dented her forehead. "I don't believe that, Clark."
He sighed, and closed his eyes.
"You're distraught, and I don't blame you," she continued. "You've been put through the ringer."
He felt it too. A deep seated weariness had crept into his bones. The pain in his knee had subsided due to the drugs, but they had only taken the edge of it.
"You need to sleep," she continued, reaching over to brush a lock of hair from his forehead.
It was a tender gesture, he welcomed it. There were so many things they needed to talk about, but he just didn't have the energy for it. It could wait.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Smallville."
Opening his eyes, he saw the concern on her face as she stood to her feet. She managed a brief smile. It was still tainted with a sadness.
"Thanks, Lois."
"You're welcome."
He watched her leave, feeling a tightness in his chest. He wanted to reassure her, tell her everything would be okay. And one thing he was now adamant about; he wasn't going to get her involved in this. Tomorrow he would tell her to forget this day had ever happened.
His father might be right about his destiny. It was obvious, given his current predicament. But he was wrong about Lois.
There was no way he was ever going to let her risk her life - for his destiny.
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A/N: Thanks for reading. Sorry about the angst, but you know Clark. When it comes to protecting the people closest to him, he tends to shut them out. But don't worry I won't be dragging that aspect out in this story like it was on the show. After all, Lois really does have a way of dragging Clark out of flunks. She's stubborn like that :) One of the things I loved about them as a couple was the equality of their relationship. They both, very much, needed each other and also brought out the best in each other. It was such a pleasure to watch.
I always love it when people tell me their favourite scenes. Sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised by it too! I thought the scene when Clark and Lois went to the video shop, last chapter, probably wasn't that necessary. It was one of those anecdotal moments that I kind of like to write, so it was very nice that some of the reviews commented how much they liked that scene too.
Thanks again for reading. Reviews are always loved and appreciated.
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