Part 12
The Truth Will Set Us Free
By MacGateFan
Disclaimers in Part 1


Jonathan watched the couple from the window. He was happy his son was finally able to find someone as great as Chloe... Even if she did go about finding his secret the way she did. They just had to remember that that was Chloe. He had no doubt Clark was going to tell her soon anyway.

"Jonathan Kent, what do you think you're doing?"

He jumped. How did she do that? "Nothing," he replied.

She crossed her arms and shook her head. "Pull the other one, honey. You were watching our son and his new girlfriend."

"Maybe."

Martha laughed. "No 'maybe' about it," she said, taking her roast out of the oven. She smacked his hand when he attempted to pick a piece of it off. "Go wash your hands and let Clark know dinner's ready."

"Aye aye, Captain," he teased. She rolled her eyes at him as he gave her a peck on the cheek.

Jonathan entered the barn and called out to the young couple. He ran up to the loft, wondering why there was no response. He was not expecting to find the place in shambles and Chloe unconscious on the floor.

He ran over and knelt next to her. He noticed a small gash abover her right eye. "Chloe!" he called. He sighed in relief when she stirred.

Chloe blinked a few times, trying to remember what happened. "Oh my God! Clark!" she cried, sitting up a little too quickly.

"Calm down, Chloe," he replied, holding her steady.

"Mr. Kent, don't worry about me! He took Clark!"

"Who?"

"Lex."

Jonathan had a bad feeling about all of this. "What do you mean he 'took' Clark?"

Chloe took a deep breath. She hated to have to be the on to tell him this latest piece of news. "He knows, Mr. Kent. Lex came here with Kryptonite."

In all the times she had spoken to Jonathan Kent, she had never seen the look that was currently on his face. Anger mixed with despair. He helped her up. "We'll find him, Chloe," he told her, helping her to the house.

Martha genlty cleaned Chloe's wound as the young girl recounted what happened. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Kent," she said, tears in her eyes.

Martha hugged her close. "It wasn't your fault, Chloe," she replied.

Jonathan watched the two as they hugged. "There has to be a way to track Clark down. Chloe, do you think your uncle could help?"

"Uncle Sam?" she asked. "I wouldn't doubt it! He always said Clark was like the son he never had. I'll give him a call right now!"

"You'd better call Pete and let him know what's going on," Marth said as she cleaned everything. She sank into the chair and began to cry. Jonathan immediately ran to her side. "He'll be all right, Martha. Clark's strong."

"I know," she replied, "but I still can't help but wonder if I'm going to lose him."


Lana read the files Vance had on Clark. She couldn't believe what she was reading. Although she understood now why Clark had kept it a secret. She needed to destroy this evidence, though. This Vance guy had experimented on Clark once before, who's to say he wouldn't do it again.

She glanced over at the fireplace, then quickly looked around the room. With resolve, she gathered everything and, without so much as a second thought, tossed it all into the flames. She was not going to have any part in a plan to hurt the one man she could always count on.

Lana turned when the door opened. "Lex," she said, plastering on a smile. She was secretly surprised he was back so soon. "Are you ready to show me what you have planned?"

He nodded. "Let's go. There's someone who wants to see you."

Lana followed Lex to the basement of the mansion. She had no idea he had a lab built down there. She froze in place when she heard a blood curdling scream ring out. "Oh my God!" she gasped. Lana recognized that voice. "That was..."

He didn't have to say anything. The look on his face gave it away. She immediately felt sick to her stomach, but was able to compose herself. Lana nearly screamed when they arrived at the observation window.

"Welcome to the new Luthor Corp project, Lana."

She watched in horror as Vance injected Clark with something. "What is that?" she asked, eyes wide in fear.

"A nasty strain of the flu," Lex replied. "We want to see how his body chemistry reacts to it and how long it will take to heal him."

"Why are you doing this, Lex? Clar has always been there for you. Stood by you when no one else would!"

Lex shook his head in exasperation. "That doesn't matter when you count how many times he's lied to me."

"Well, Lex, I can see why he did if this is how you were going to treat him."

"Lana," he said, taking her hands. "Are you telling me you want no part of this?"

Lana looked back and forth between Lex and her friend being tortured. If she remained, maybe she could somehow free him. Besides, she was a little nervous as what Lex would do to her if she didn't stay with him. Not that she cared so much about her life, but Clark's was hanging in the balance as well.

"Only if you agree to let me keep him company. Maybe I can convince him that this is for the greater good."

Lex looked thoughtful for a few minutes. He finally nodded. Lana was in too deep now, there was no way for to get out of this. "All right, Lana. It's a deal."

Why do I have this sinking feeling that I just made a deal with the devil, she thought.


Clark lifted his head weakly and looked around the room. There were small flecks of Kryptonite embedded into the walls of his room, but he didn't think they were the reason for the cold chills, the high fever, or the massive headache he currently had.

No, to him it felt like what Chloe had described as the flu. That must have been what Vance injected him with. Just great, Clark thought, I have the flu and I'm in a room that dampers any abilities of mine to heal.

His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening. The person who entered was someone he never thought he'd see again. "Lana..."

"Please," she said, placing a tray on the table and walking over to him, "I'm not here to hurt you, Clark."

He glared at her. "I think you've already done that by being here, Lana."

She sighed. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, but now she couldn't even get him to look at her. "Clark, I realize this isn't something you're likely to believe right now, but please trust me! I want to help you!"

Clark slowly turned his head to face her. "Lana if you want to help me, then get me out of here."

She took her hand in his. "That's what I'm going to do, but," she added with a small smile. "I have to come up with a plan of my own. For right now, though..."

Lana pointed to the items she brought into the room. He hadn't even noticed. "Soup does sound pretty good," he told her.

She nodded and helped him sit up. "Clark, there's something else you should know if you're going to trust me to help you."

"What's that?" he asked.

"I know about your meteor induced powers."