Discoveries

Clark rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Someone was pounding on his door and they didn't sound too happy. Well, neither was he. It was almost three in the morning! Clark opened the door. "Chloe? What are you doing here?"

"Clark, you haven't called since Friday. I know something's up." Chloe said as she stormed inside.

Clark closed the door behind her. "Nothing is going on, Chloe. Besides, it's only Monday or very early Tuesday, whichever you'd prefer. And what are you doing here so late? Do you know what time it is?"

"Yes, Clark it's two forty-eight. Clark, you're mom is really worried about you. You haven't called her in a week. And then she finds out that Lana has legal custody of Evelyn?"

Clark sat down on the couch. "You heard about that."

"From Oliver." Chloe sat down next to him. "Clark, is everything okay?"

Clark sighed. "No. It isn't. Lois' gone, Evelyn's gone. Nothing is going the way it's supposed to."

"What about Margaret?"

Clark looked at Chloe thoughtfully. "I don't know. I have these weird feelings inside of me whenever I'm around her. And for some reason, it feels as if I should know her. She reminds me so much of…" Clark turned away and began playing with his hands.

"Reminds you of who, Clark?"

"She reminds me of Lois."

Chloe gulped. She was so going to have to get on to Lois for acting so like…Lois. She needed to be Margaret right now.

"It's been eight years, Chloe. Eight long and hard years." Clark said softly, thinking back on all the time that passed.

Chloe grimaced. "You've never talk about it. Maybe now's the right time."

Clark began playing with his fingers. "She was trying to expose more dirt on LexCorp." Clark spat out the name like some vile drink. "I told her it was too dangerous. Too many people died from trying to expose the same thing. She said that's why she had an alien for a boyfriend. To keep her from too much trouble. She never thought that it would happen. The same day, I get this mysterious phone call. Whoever it was, they said that they had Lois and they were going to kill her if I didn't show up. I ran as fast as I could to the warehouse. I walked in and it was made entirely of kryptonite. Lois was in the middle tied to a chair. She was yelling at me to get out of there. I couldn't leave. I couldn't leave her there to die." Clark closed his eyes as several tears fell.

"It hurt so much, Chloe. The kryptonite and knowing that I couldn't get to Lois. Lex was there. I don't know how, but he found out about the kryptonite. He said that we had crossed him too many times and we were going to pay dearly for it. He pulled out a bomb and timed it to go off in a minute. He left the warehouse as quickly as he could. But someone tried mugging him outside the warehouse. I heard the gunshots and Lex's body fall to the ground. I crawled closer to Lois, the entire time she was yelling at me to get out. I didn't, though. I refused to listen to her. I heard the explosion and I felt it. I guess I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in Oliver's loft. They didn't find any of Lois' remains." The tears from his face were flowing freely. He had never told anyone what had happened. After he finished relaying the story to Chloe, it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off of him. Like he could finally breathe after being under water for so long.

Chloe pulled Clark into a hug and they both cried. Chloe wanted to tell Clark so badly that Lois was alive. That she was really Margaret Kidance, but Lois told her not to do that. There were still too many things that had to be resolved. But she hated seeing her friend like this. Sure, there was a good reason for keeping this secret, but at what cost? Clark's heart going numb?

Oliver looked in through a window and saw Clark reading the Daily Planet, a half-empty cup of coffee was on the table. He began knocking on the door. Clark got up and answered the door. Oliver held up a folder. "I have some news."

"Is it good or bad?" Clark stepped aside to let him in.

Oliver frowned. "I guess it depends on how you look at it." Oliver laid the folder down and opened it. "Evelyn's results came back."

"Was she drugged?"

"Remember that time at that 33.1 facility at Black Creek?"

"How could I forget? You almost killed me." Clark replied grimly.

Oliver grimaced, "Yeah, well, it wasn't my fault. It was that spinal fluid from Moira mixed with some kryptonite."

"What about it?" Clark asked with a blank look

"Come on, Clark! Connect the pieces!" Oliver said. It was beyond Oliver how much Clark really used his brain after Lois had died. "Someone put that same drug into Evelyn and apparently made her really love Lana."

The understanding finally dawned on Clark. "I have to tell the judge."

"You might want to find something a little better than Evelyn was brainwashed. You know how unbelievable that sounds."

Clark grimaced. "You're right."

"Well, I was glad that I could be of assistance. I've got to go now. The team really needs me."

"Is everything all right?" Clark asked. "I mean when you called me a couple nights ago, you sounded scared. Was there something else besides that information leak?"

Oliver paused. What was he supposed to tell him. "Let's just say that I found something out that I wish I never knew." Oliver walked to the door. "Watch your back, Kent." He opened the door and was about to walk out, but there was someone else at the door. He narrowed his eyes. "Margaret Kidance."

Margaret tried her best to seem confused. "Um, I'm sorry. Have we met before?" Margaret felt Love push her way inside. She made herself comfortable on the couch.

Clark looked in on the conversation, apparently interested.

"Oh no. According to your files and records we haven't met, but I know exactly who you are."

Margaret gulped. She looked uneasily at Clark, to Love, and back at Oliver. "Look, I don't know who the heck you think you are, but you have no business poking around in my records."

"Oh right. Margaret doesn't know me. Well, I guess I better introduce myself to Margaretthen. Margaret Kidance, I'm Oliver Queen. Clark Kent here is my best friend, but sometimes he seems so distant that he's practically an alien. Oh, and on top of being the owner of Queen Industries, I'm the Green Arrow."

"Oliver!" Clark said as he grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"She hasn't told you yet has she, Clark?" Oliver said looking at Margaret. Margaret suddenly found a very interesting splotch on the kitchen floor. "Margaret Kidance isn't who she says she is Clark." Oliver said. With one final disgusted look at Margaret, Oliver left.

Margaret looked back up at a stunned Clark. "Clark, I have no idea who that man was. You have to believe me."

Clark looked at her, now very cautious. "Me and Oliver may have our differences, but he's always right when he tells me to be careful around someone." Clark's suspicion was evident in his voice.

"Clark, I really wish I could explain some things, but right now, I have to go. I'm going to be late for work."

Clark sighed as he watched her leave. "Margaret,"

Margaret turned around. "Yes?"

"Say hi to Evelyn for me. Please."

Margaret smiled. "Of course."

Love sat in the loft looking through a book that Clark had laying on the chest. She had no idea what it was talking about, she was just flipping through the pages. But a common idea was about some guy called Namaan and another one called Sageth. Love closed the book. It was becoming too boring for her. Love got up and began looking around the room. Normally she wouldn't look into other people's stuff. She respected their privacy if they respected hers, but she was just so curious right now. She wanted to find out everything she could about Clark Kent.

Love opened one of the drawers in the desk and pulled out a shoe box. She took off the lid and found several newspaper articles from the Daily Planet. They were all by Lois Lane and Clark Kent. She dug through the box some more and found a picture. It was Clark with a woman that looked eerily like Margaret. Love studied the picture for a moment before placing it back in the box and put the lid back on. She looked deeper in the drawer and found a big box that was made of some kind of metal. She couldn't tell what kind. Love's curiosity got the better of her and she grabbed the box. She carried it to the couch and began looking at it. It was very smooth and there were no kind decorations on it. Love undid the latch, but she left the top alone. That man in her head told her not to open it.

'How come I can't open it?' Love asked him.

'It will bring you great pain, little one.' he replied in his all-knowing voice.

'I don't think it will.'

'You are just as stubborn as both your mother and grandmother. Do not open it.'

'But I really want to.' Love whined.

'If you open it, you will suffer great consequences.'

Love considered his words. 'Didn't you hear that I was suspended? I'm already suffering great consequences.' came her smart reply.

Love's hand hovered over the lid before she gained the courage to finally lift it and open it. There was a green rock inside and it began glowing. Love grabbed her stomach. It was hurting so badly. It was as if someone had lit a match inside of her. She fell to the ground in pain. She wanted to scream and yell, but nothing would come out, just weak groans of pain. When she fell, the box fell alongside her and the rock rolled right next to her, almost touching her cheek. Hot tears burned Love's face as the pain intensified. Love didn't want to, but her eyes closed and she gave in to the black abyss.

Clark walked into the entrance of the barn. Love was still up there and it had been nearly two hours. He was starting to get worried. "Love? Are you still up here?" he called out.

There was no answer. Clark frowned and he began climbing the steps leading to the loft. "I know you're up here, Love." Clark said. He reached the top and found Love laying on the floor unconscious. "Love!" Clark began rushing towards her, but he began feeling sick. He looked around and found a huge chunk of kryptonite lying beside Love.

Clark grabbed the handrail to steady himself from the dizziness that always came with the wrenching pain. "Love, you got to get up." Clark said as loud as he could.

Love was non-responsive. Clark really didn't want to get near the kryptonite, but that's where Love was and she wasn't looking very good. Her skin had turned a sickly pale green color. It almost looked as if she was made of wax. Clark knew that whatever was wrong, it was going to kill her if he didn't do anything. Clark slowly made his way towards her, each step more agonizing than the last. He had gotten within five feet of her and he finally collapsed on the ground. His body yelled at him for continuing to near the deadly meteor rock, but he would not let Love die.

Through the pain, Clark pushed his body closer to Love and closer to the kryptonite. It pained him so much, the burning inside his body, the feeling of his throat closing up not allowing him to breathe. He reached out and grabbed the kryptonite, yelling in pain as he felt his hand beginning to bleed. He looked around quickly. Blackness began creeping up on him. He refused to give in though. He saw the lead box that could hold the kryptonite and grabbed it. He clenched his teeth as the pain continued growing. He placed the rock inside of it and had just enough strength to shut the lid.

Clark laid on his back, finally able to breathe again. He inhaled deeply, thankful that no one had seen him. He looked to his hand. The wound from gripping the kryptonite had been healed, but blood was still there. He got up and wiped it away on his jeans.

Clark remembered about Love. She was still laying on the floor, but she was looking a little better. Clark carefully lifted her up. He sat on the couch and held her in his arms. He wiped away the sweat that covered her face. He checked her for any injuries, but didn't find any. "Come on, Love. Wake up." he said softly.

Love began stirring in his arms. She opened her eyes slowly, squinting at the bright sunlight. She saw Clark looking down at her. He looked so worried. Love still didn't feel all that good, but she was feeling better. "Clark?'

Clark breathed, not realizing he had been holding his breath. "Thank goodness you're okay. What happened? Are you okay?'

Love nodded and sat up in his lap. "I don't know what happened. I was looking around and then I found that box. I don't know why, but I opened it. When I opened it, I started feeling really sick. My tummy felt as if somebody put it on fire." Love looked over at Clark. "I got really scared."

Clark was getting confused. Was Love saying that it was the rock that was making her sick? Only Kryptonians would get that way around kryptonite. It was impossible for her to get sick around it. Or was it? "Love, did the rock start glowing when you opened it?'

Love thought a moment. Her thoughts were still so scattered. "Yeah, but I thought that rocks don't glow."

Clark looked down at the box. "They're not supposed to." he said partly to himself.

Love looked from the box to Clark. "Am I different?"

Clark snapped his head back to Love. "No, you're just really special." Clark got up. "Come on. Let's go back inside."

Love got up and began walking down the steps. Clark lingered behind a little. He saw that his box with all of his hidden treasures was out. He walked over to it and lifted the lid. The first thing he saw was the picture of him and Lois. They were at the county fair and Chloe really wanted to take a picture of them together. Right before the camera flashed, Clark snuck in a kiss on her cheek. When the picture came out. It showed him kissing her cheek and a shocked expression on Lois' face. He smiled at the memory.

"Clark, what's for lunch? I'm hungry." Love said from the bottom of the stairs.

Clark looked at the picture and then to Love. The wheels in his head began turning. "Love, could you come back up here?"

Clark heard Love's footsteps up the stairs. She reached the top and waited for him to speak his mind.

Clark held up the picture of Lois next to Love. That's why Love looked so familiar. She was the spitting image of Lois Lane. Her auburn hair, the way her lips lifted into a mischievous smirk, even the little rise at the tip of her nose. But what terrified and mystified him at the same time were her eyes. Her eyes were exactly the same as his. The same hue, the same compassion and goodness hidden behind the same fears and shyness. Clark's heart beat began rapidly increasing as he began believing the improbable. "Love, have you met any of your family?"

Love looked at Clark weird. She didn't understand why he would be asking her that. "Yes, why?"

"Who was it?"

"It was my grandpa. Mommy says that we weren't supposed to meet him, but it happened by accident. I think that's why we moved to Smallville."

"Do you know his name?" Clark's voice was laced with urgency.

Love thought hard. "No…but he said that he was a general."

Clark stepped back a little. Could Love be his kid? It was impossible though, right? Lois was dead. He had seen it himself. "Let's go back inside." Clark mumbled still in shock. He kept looking at Love trying to figure out if it could be true. "Your mom's on her way."

Margaret walked inside the house. She saw Clark and Love sitting at the dinning table talking. Love was laughing so much. Margaret had never seen her laugh that much. "What's so funny you guys?" Margaret asked as she walked towards them.

Clark looked up with a big smile on his face. Margaret could see him watching her closely, examining every little detail of her face. It was unnerving for her. She smiled nervously and looked away. "Did you behave yourself, Lovely?"

Love nodded her head. "Do you know what happened?!" Love said as she jumped off the chair and ran to her mother.

"What happened?" Margaret asked. She saw Clark from the corner of her eye get up and stand awfully close to her.

"I found a picture of Clark and some lady that looked exactly like you and then I found this weird green rock. It made me feel really sick, but then Clark put it away and I got all better." Love said all in one breath.

Margaret tried to keep the surprise from her face. "Lovely, rocks can't make you sick." Margaret said, trying to keep her mask from slipping.

"But this one did." Love said, willing her mom to believe her tale.

"Love, why don't you let me and your mommy talk. You can wait for her outside." Clark said.

Love frowned, but did what he said. She walked outside and sat down on the porch swing, putting it to good use.

Clark stood there, watching every slight movement Margaret would take. Margaret hated the feeling of him watching her. "Thanks again, Clark. You really have no idea how much this means to me that you watch Love."

"Yeah, having her here makes me feel a little better with Evelyn gone." Clark said.

"Well, I'm going to go. I'll bring Love by in the morning. Same time tomorrow." Margaret began walking out.

"Wait!" Clark ran up to her and stopped her from leaving. He stared into her eyes. He saw it now. Clark could faintly see the hazel hidden behind the brown. "It's really you isn't it?"

Margaret made her expression confused. "Um, yes it's me. Margaret Kidance. Remember?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" Clark's eyes were filled with a pain that he tried to hide.

No matter how hard he tried, though, Margaret could see it clearly. As much as it pained her to continue on like this, it was the only way. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Clark."

"You never died in that explosion."

"Clark, you're really starting to scare me now. The most danger I've ever been in is when I passed a red light coming here. I have to go now."

Clark's voice came out full of pain. "Please, don't leave me again, Lois."

Margaret could feel her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at his desperate expression. "I'm sorry, Clark. I'm not Lois. I'm just Margaret Kidance." Margaret said with a sad smile. She walked out, turning her head only once to see a single tear falling down Clark's face.

a/n: this chapter was shorter than expected so i'm going to update really soon. maybe friday or even tomorrow. i was so surprised at all the reviews that came in for the previous chapter. i'm really glad that you guys like my story. :D continue reviewing! oh and something really big will happen in the next chapter.