Lex walked into Summerholt, and made his way directly into the memory well.

"Ah, Lex. Right on time. I've taken what you said under consideration, and have decided to. . .increase your sessions. As long as you sign off on it, on a contract, of course. Stipulating, among other things, that I strongly disagree with this course of action, and you are indemnifying me, making me not liable for any injuries that occur to you. Furthermore, no action, civil or criminal, can be taken against Summerholt, by any parties associated, or representing you, your estate, or any organization, such in." Dr. Garner said, holding out the contract for Lex to sign.

"Very well, doctor. In the interests of recovering my memory, as soon as possible, I will sign your contract." Lex said, grabbing it and reading through it quickly. He crossed out a few sections, giving it back to Garner. Garner didn't see any problems with the crossed out section, and accepted it. Lex then signed it, and gave it to Garner.

"I'll make a copy, and be right back, Lex." While Garner was gone, Lex poked around the lab, and inspected the equipment. If he was putting his life on the line, he sure as hell wanted a reasonable assurance that this stuff would work.

"Here's your copy, Lex." Garner said, announcing his return. Lex took it, and pocketed it. Then he proceeded to strip, and get onto the slab of metal.

"Think about the time immediately after the first memory of those 12 weeks, Lex. Think through the hole, the gap." Garner's voice faded, as the memory took shape.

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"Are you always this nonchalant, Clark?" Lex asked from next to his Porsche. Clark had just apparently run home from school, and right now, if looks could kill, Lex would be a goner.

"No one usually is in back of the barn, Lex." Clark pointed out.

"Usually, Clark? What if it's an unusual day?"

"Usually is." Clark grinned. Lex shook his head.

"I could've been my father, very easily. You need to think, Clark." Lex said.

"Don't bother, Lex. He's got a stubborn streak almost as big as mine. Sometimes I'd swear he is my biological son." Johnathon said, walking outside.

"Clark, there's a fence that needs building, over on the east side."

"Sure thing, Dad. Gimme a second." Clark said. He supersped into the house, and came back barely 10 seconds later, dressed in work clothes.

"Impressive. Indeed your skills are complete as the Emperor has foreseen." Lex intoned.

"Lets go, Vader, you can use the Force to choke the logs into place." Clark deadpanned, leading the way to the east side of the farm. On the way, they detoured through the barn, to pick up the wood for the fence.

"Shall I get the truck, Clark?" Lex asked.

"Yeah, please."

"Was that Lex I saw in jeans?" Chloe asked, making Clark turn around.

"Yeah, it was. He's helping me out, we're going to build a fence."

"Lex Luthor is going to work on a farm?"

"Nothing wrong with manual labor, Chloe." Lex said, coming back with the keys. Clark gave him a look, and pointed to the logs.

"Lex, I kinda need help carrying this wood. Why don't you pull the truck into the barn?"

"OK, Clark."

"I can see you boys are busy, I'll go."

"I'm sorry, Chloe. Is there anything you needed?"

"Chloe, you might want to get out of my way." Called Lex from the truck.

"Nah, rich boy, I'll let my family sue you for something or other when you hit me." Nonetheless, Chloe did scoot up the steps to Clark's loft, and Clark followed. Lex got out, and Clark came back down.

"Shotgun!" Clark yelled. Lex instinctively ducked, knowing Clark's way of saving people. Clark looked at him like he was the alien.

"Lex? What the hell are you doing?"

"You yelled shotgun, Clark. What else should I be doing?"

"I was. . .oh never mind. Lets go, Lex. You drive." Lex got into the drivers seat, and he drove out to the east side. Clark grabbed 7 of the logs, and carried them over to the spot his Dad had marked, while Lex, no slouch in the strength department, struggled with two.

"That's. . .some strength you have there, Clark. What else, exactly, can you do, besides setting bars on fire and ripping open ATMs?" Lex asked, leaning on his log and breathing hard. Clark gave him a guarded look, and looked around. He smiled, and picked up one of the logs, and slammed it into the ground. Lex stared in amazement as seemingly exerted no effort whatsoever. Clark picked up anotherof the wooden posts, and slammed it into the ground.

"I'd hate to see you pissed off, Clark." Lex said, staring in wonder at his best friend.

"It's lucky I'm not, usually." Clark said, grunting as he slammed a third log into place.

"All the strength in the world won't help you nail boards to the stakes you're so effortlessly putting in the earth, farmboy." Lex said, a smile tugging at his lips. It felt good to forget about the mansion, Luthorcorp, or anything like that for a while.

"That's why you're here, Richie Rich." Clark deadpanned. Clark picked up another log, and slammed it into the ground, before doubling over in pain. Lex stared in wonder, before grabbing Clark.

"Clark! Clark!" Lex yelled, pulling Clark back from the log.

"Lex, there's kryptonite here. . ." Clark panted, already breaking out in sweat. Chloe, meanwhile, had seen Clark collaspe, and she came running.

"Clark! Lex, what's wrong?"

"Go get Mr. Kent, Chloe, go now!" Lex said, dragging Clark along the ground. What the hell was kryptonite? He didn't have a clue.

"Lex! It's all in this field. You're not helping. My leg!" Clark gasped out. Lex flipped Clark over, and saw with terror that his dragging had only opened up a wound, and the meteor rock was inside it.

"Stupid Lex!" he berated himself. Johnathon came running, and surveryed the scene.

"Lex, grab his legs." He said, grabbing Clark's front, and carrying him off towards the barn.

"Whatever it is or was, some of it entered his bloodstream, Mr. Kent." Lex said.

"HOW?" Johnathon fumed.

"That would be. . .my fault. I'm sorry. He complained about something called kryptonite, so I dragged him on the ground. I didn't know it was all over the field. Some of it must've scrapped him when I was trying to get him out of there. I don't think any entered his bloodstream, since they're big pieces, and not small fragments. So I can assume the meteor rocks are called kryptonite around here?" Lex was getting more and more of the puzzle by the second, and he was very happy about that. He didn't like the fact he caused Clark any additional pain, though. He didn't want that.

"How could you be so stupid, Lex?" Johnathon yelled.

"Dad, it's not Lex's fault. He didn't know." Clark said, already feeling a bit better. Johnathon and Lex let him down, and he leaned against the barn.

"If it's anyone's fault, it's YOURS! You know I can't be around kryptonite, why didn't you clean every acre of this farm?" Clark said, a little mad.

"Clark, son, I did. I don't know where that came from. Lex and I will go over that area right now."

"I think you owe Lex an apology, first, Dad."

"Clark, no. He was worried about you, he wasn't thinking straight."

"What was all that about, guys?" Chloe asked from behind them.

"Well. . .um. . ." Clark said, not knowing how to explain this.

"Mr. Kent, don't you think Clark needs a couple of band-aids for his leg? And shouldn't Mrs. Kent take a look at those cuts? Make sure they don't get infected?" Lex said, swooping in and saving the day.

"Yes, Lex. Why don't you take Clark inside, I'll deal with Chloe." Johnathon said. Lex did that, helping Clark inside.

"Martha, I think you need to take. . ." Lex started, watching in amazement as the cuts on Clark's legs started healing.

"Lex? OH Clark! How'd you get cut, sweetie? Johnathan!" Martha was immediately concerned.

"Dad knows. He's out there fielding 20 questions from Chloe, I'm sure." Clark was more concerned about Chloe then the kryptonite.

"What we talked about this morning, maybe, Clark?" Lex put in.

"I'm not sure, Lex. Pete and you. . .both of you found out by accident. I've never actually completely volunteered this information." Clark was very scared of how his two best girl friends would react to the news.

"Look, Clark. Whenever you think the time is right, let me know. You know I'll be here to help out, in any way that I can." Clark sat down in a chair, and his Mom got out her leftover pie.

"Want some, Lex?"

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Kent." To tell the truth, Lex was famished, and he was looking forward to Martha Kent's homemade apple pie.

"So tell me the truth, Clark, can you read the cave wall?" Lex asked. Clark nodded, taking a swig of milk.

"It's in Kryptonian, though, not Kawatche."

"Your. . .home. . .world?" Lex stammered. He still couldn't believe his best friend wasn't even human. Not from this world! How exciting must that be?

"Krypton." Clark said, flatly.

"You don't sound endeared by that prospect, Clark." Lex smiled. Clark sounded like he'd love to go and blow the planet to hell.

"What prospect, Lex?" Chloe asked from the door.

"I wanted to allow Clark to do a full expose on me for the Torch, Chloe. Maybe boost your circulation and give you some more credibility." Lex said, smoothly.

"But I didn't think I could be fair and balanced, since I am his friend. Maybe you could do it, Chloe?" Clark played off Lex's lie very easily.

"Of course! When do you want to do it, Lex? Right now? On the kitchen table, or would you rather be on the couch? Or maybe the comfort of your office?" Chloe sounded positively bubbly.

"Right now's not a good time. We still have to put up that fence, and do other stuff around the farm. I'll make sure to let you know when I have enough free time." Lex said. Clark caught Lex's eye, and nodded once.

"Chloe, maybe you and Lana would like to come over to dinner the day after tomorrow? I think we need to talk, about. . .everything." Clark said.

"Everything. . .as in. . .what, exactly? We've heard this before, Clark."

"EVERYTHING, Chloe. All the answers to all the questions you've asked. The reason why I can save all the people I do, and walk out without a scratch. And more, much more, Chloe. Everything will be revealed to you. And Lana."

"This is your last chance, Clark. You'd better not blow us off this time. I'll tell Lana, and we'll be here day after tomorrow, around 7ish." Clark nodded. Chloe just gave him a look, and left.

"I think it's time for us to take a field trip, Clark. To the caves, where you can reveal it's secrets to me." Lex said.

"Now hold on, there, Lex. I don't think that's such a wise idea. Too much information too soon, and all." Johnathan said. He wanted to keep Lex in the dark as much as possible, as long as possible. Not for Clark's sake, for Lex was proving himself time and again. But because he didn't want to overload Lex on information. But Clark wasn't having any of that.

"I think it would be easier to show Lex alone, then when I tell Chloe and Lana, he can totally help me, along with Pete.

"Chloe and Lana? I thought we agreed that we shouldn't be telling anyone else."

"My agreement with that plan must've ended around the time I left for Metropolis." Clark said, turning on his Dad. He wanted his friends, all of them, in on this, and he wasn't going to be taking no for an answer any more.

"Johnathan, maybe it would help Clark. . .feel more normal." Martha said, as always, trying to play peacekeeper.

"As long as you MAKE SURE they will NEVER reveal this to anyone, Clark. Lex, you're a businessman, please make sure they don't breathe a word of this to anyone." Johnathan finally relented.

"I'll do my best, Mr. Kent." Lex promised.

"How about that field trip, Lex?" Clark asked. Lex pulled out his keys and smirked.

"Think you can beat my Porsche in a race?" Lex asked. Clark nodded.

"Of course I can, Lex."

"You're on."

"Tell you what, Lex, I'll even give you a 2 minute head start." Clark grinned and sat down. Johnathan smiled.

"Just this once, boys! I'll time it, Lex." Lex ran out of the house, and soon the roar of the engine could be heard.

"Minute 57, minute 58, minute 59, GO CLARK!" Johnathan yelled. Clark smirked and took off out of the house, zooming through the corn fields, and arriving at the caves. He looked around, and saw no sight of the Porsche. He walked into the caves and sat down. 5 minutes later, Lex arrived.

"Clark? Just what I thought. Never get overly cocky, Clark! I am the man!" Lex walked into the caves to wait for his young friend. Clark jumped down from the roof.

"ARGHHHHH!" Clark yelled. Lex jumped high enough to almost hit his head on the cave roof.

"It's called confidence, Lex, not cockiness." Clark said.

"Clark Kent, that's not funny. What did you do, run through a wormhole?"

"Not exactly, Lex." Clark smiled at him. Clark motioned with his hands, and led Lex into a relatively unknown portion of the caves. Lex could feel the ground sloping gently downward as they walked along. Clark stopped at a wall, and pointed.

"What're we doing down here, Clark?" Lex asked, flashing his flashing on the walls of the caves.

"You said you wanted answers, remember?" Clark retorted. Lex nodded.

"This, right here, says that I am going to be a hero, a superhero, it seems, and my greatest enemy will be one who used to be my friend." Clark said.

"Me?" Lex asked, a suddenly shocked expression coming over his face. Clark nodded.

"Clark. . .I know we aren't exactly the model friendship, but to suggest that one day I'll become your greatest enemy is a stretch, don't you think?" Lex said. Clark walked over to another wall.

"This, here. This says in the city of lights, a man will reign over an empire, and another man will struggle to keep the balance. What is your greatest desire, Lex?" Clark said.

"To reign. . .over my father's. . .emp. . ." Lex said, grasping the meaning.

"Exactly. Everywhere you turn, our destinies are preordained." Clark said.

"But with you telling me all this. . ."

"We fight, Lex. You fight your father, and I fight mine." Clark said, motioning to the octagonal keyhole.

"It won't turn out like this, Clark. Like what it says on these walls. I'll make sure of it." Lex said.

"There's more, Lex. Much more. Unfortunately, the reasons I ran to Metropolis are very complicated, very. . .hard to explain." Clark said.

"You mentioned a space ship, Clark. That's not complicated, that's literally other-worldly."

"I told you, Lex, I destroyed it. There was a voice. . .it was coming from the ship. It was my biological father, Lex. He was ordering me to begin my quest to rule the third planet. I either could do that, or everyone I ever loved would be hurt. And it happened, Lex. I hurt you by not being at your wedding, I hurt Chloe by lying about Lana and I, I hurt my Mom by blowing up the ship. I. . ." Clark said, sinking to the ground.

"Listen to me, Clark. None of that is your fault. You pursued the best course of action you saw, and something happened. You can't prepare for every contingency, Clark. None of us can." Lex said, sinking down to maintain eye level with Clark.

"But you don't get it, Lex. If you make a mistake, you lose money, if Pete makes a mistake, he gets grounded. If I make a mistake, it hurts everyone." Clark said.

"Tell me exactly what this father of yours had to say, Clark." Lex again shone the light on the keyhole.

"He told me the day was coming when I was to begin my quest to rule the third planet from this star Sol. If I did not fulfill my destiny, then I would hurt everyone I ever cared about. And I tried fighting it, and it happened, Lex. Everyone I cared about got hurt. You almost crash landed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, lucky you, by the way, for knowing how to fly an airplane. Mom nearly died, her baby did, my father was devasted, Chloe was hurt because I couldn't bring myself to tell her about Lana and I." Clark said. Lex put a hand on Clark's shoulder.

"It changes, Clark. From now on, we write out our own destinies. These walls, they'll have to be redrawn, because once we're through with this, none of this will come to pass. I swear it, Clark." Lex sounded about as determined as Clark had ever heard him.

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"That was good, Lex. Come back tomorrow." Garner said, as the tablet lifted Lex out of the solution, and back onto the prep table. Lex got dressed, having a lot of new information to think about. He slowly walked out of Summerholt, and this time, sped off to the caves.

Kent Farm, next morning

"Time to get up, sleepyhead." Johnathan said, shaking Clark.

"This isn't working. Lets try this one. CLARK! SCHOOL!" Johnathan yelled. Clark shot up out of bed.

"BE DOWN IN A. . .wait a second. I don't go to school anymore." Clark said. Johnathan smiled.

"Never fails. You have work in a half hour, Clark." Johnathan said, still snickering as he went downstairs. Clark zoomed through the morning, and then sped off for Metropolis. An odd feeling of something not being right went through him, however, and he diverted course, and ended up at the Kawatche Caves. He walked inside, on guard.

"Lex?" He said in wonder, eyeing his friend laying on the ground, fast asleep. He hoped Lex was just asleep. He knelt down and felt for a pulse. Strong as ever. He looked up at the images that Lex had fell asleep under.

"I guess it happened, after all. Despite our best efforts." Clark whispered. He nodded, and went to wake Lex up.

"Clark? Where am I?" Lex was disorientated, and more then a little curious as to why he was where he was.

"The caves. Don't ask me what you were doing here."

"What time is it?"

"A little before 7. I was speeding to work when I felt something. . .almost calling me here. So here I am."

"I drove the Porsche, Clark. Want a ride?"

"Yeah, why not?" So they walked out of the caves, and to Lex's car.

"I uncovered a fascinating memory yesterday, Clark." Lex said, over the engine noise.

"What was it?"

"We were down in the caves, it must've been right after I brought you back home from Metropolis. You showed me a wall, with some drawings. . ." Lex said.

"That showed our destinies. And you told me you'd fight your father, and I'd fight mine. And we both lost, Lex." Clark finished, nodded slightly.

"But things changed, Clark, that night you came and confronted me on the street. You again altered our destinies. And this time, nothing will stand in our way. I can change, Clark. I can be who I was in Smallville, only better. Together we could be a force for the advancement of humanity."

"Perhaps, Lex. It depends on how this power struggle ultimately plays out between you and your father. One way or another, it has to end soon, right, Lex?"

"Yes, Clark, it does. And it will end with me as the ultimate victor!" Clark's superhearing picked up the sound of someone screaming up ahead.

"Lex, I need to go. . .take care of something. Please pull over, I'll be right back." Clark unbuckled his seat belt, and as Lex's car came to a stop, he ran into an ally.

"This looks like a job for Superman. Whoopdee doo." Lex groaned, twirling a finger in the air, though he would deny such actions later. He saw Superman fly out a minute later, from a different direction, and fly into an ally.

"Can I be of some assistance?" Superman said. The woman who was screaming turned and looked around.

"She was trying to kill me! She's got a gun!"

"Where is she?"

"Right here, you idiot!" he heard from behind him, as a round of bullets was fired at him. He turned as they bounced off his back, and flashed a Kal-like grin. He supersped after the woman as she ran, and caught her easily.

"Wrong move, lady." He flew her to the police station, after going back and picking up the victim. Then he flew in back of a building, and changed back to Clark. He walked the rest of the way to work. Lex, meanwhile, had made it into work, and was in his office, when a sudden headache hit him, and he laid his head down on his desk.

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"Lillian, why don't you take Julian up to his room? I'll send Lex along in a minute with both your dinners." Lionel said, smiling at his wife.

"Lionel, I don't. . .I can't. . ." Lillian started. Lionel shushed her, and put his arms around her shoulders.

"You can, Lillian. And I will, I'll change, dear. I'll be the father you want me to be. That my father never was." Lionel was trying to convince her, or maybe himself, that things could change. He didn't need to be a Luthor, not all the way. Lionel could combine the best of the Sullivans, with the best of the Luthors. "I don't want to be that which caused me to blow up my own parents."

"You'll never change, Lionel. You'll be your father's son, just like Lex is your son. Well, Julian is my son, and you can't take him from me! I won't let you!"

"We'll discuss this later, Lillian. Away from. . .Lex." he picked up Julian and placed him in Lillian's arms.

"Now, go, Lillian. And make sure Julian is sleeping comfortably." Lionel kissed Lillian on the cheek, and smiled as she walked upstairs with Julian.

"Now, how was your day, son?" Lex looked up at his father.

"I chased Julian around all day, Dad. He's fast!" Lionel smiled at that.

"Julian's not fast, son. Julian is . . . quick. He knows how to not get caught, Lex. As all Luthors do. He knows how to slip through people's fingers, and always, always, get what he wants. And so do you, and so do I. We are Luthors, son." Lionel said, rubbing Lex's shoulders. Lex groaned and his head slumped down on the desk. Lionel shook his head smiling, and went to sit down and eat his dinner.

"Eat up, Lex." He said, lightly admonishing his son. Lex looked up and started to eat the meal Mom had made for him. Once he finished, his head went back down on the table. Lionel finished eating a good 20 or so minutes after Lex, and took both their plates into the kitchen.

"The best of the Sullivans, combined with the best of the Luthors." Lionel said, opening the tap water a little, and awkwardly cleaning the dishes. Once he finished, he put them in the dishwasher, and left it for Lillian to deal with.

"Lex, why don't you go bring this tray up to Mom, OK? She must be really hungry. And here's some formula for Julian." Lionel said, putting his hand on Lex's shoulder. Lex was still slumped over on the dinner table.

"OK, Dad." Lex smiled, carefully picking up the tray and walking out of the dining room. Lionel smiled behind him, finally, now, they were a family. He may not like some of the things he was doing, and they might feel foreign to him, but feelings be damned, he would change. He wouldn't turn his sons against each other, he would be a father to them. Both of them, Lex, and Julian. He could do that easily. All that was needed was some self-sacrifice, some swallowing of self-pride. Surely, he, Lionel Luthor, could handle that just as easily as he handled business mergers. No problem. Lionel walked into his den office, to check on his latest takeover target. A family was all Lionel Luthor wanted, and now, a family was what Lionel Luthor had.

Lex slowly climbed the stairs, as the faint sounds of Julian crying hit his ears. He smiled a little, Julian was a bit fussy whenever he was with Mom, but Dad was really good with him. As he hit the second floor, all of a sudden, Julian gave one more strangled cry, and fell silent. Lex dropped his tray on a table, and raced up the stairs. Once he hit the top, he turned right, ran down the hall, and into Julian's room.

"Mom?" Lex said, looking at his mother leaning over Julian's crib. She was facing Julian, so her back was turned to him. She didn't answer him, so he tried again.

"MOM!" Lex said, urgently. She turned around, her face lined with tear tracks. She was holding a pillow in her hands, which just moments earlier she had been holding in the crib. She dropped the pillow onto the ground, and Lex looked at his mother, understanding. He walked closer to her.

"What did you do?" Lex asked, trying to contain his mounting rage. With a dazed smile, she walked closer to Lex.

"Ssh. You'll wake the baby. He's sleeping." Lillian's eyes glazed over, and she started to rock back and forth on her hands. Lex looked past his Mom, at the crib, and then ran to it.

"No, no!" Lex was startled and horrified that his Mom could betray him like this. Just when Lionel, when his Dad, was starting to love him.

"What about Dad?" Lex asked. This couldn't be happening. No, he was imagining this. He'd wake up and Dad would be over him, shaking him from a nightmare.

"Ssh. Dad has nothing to worry about, sweetheart. Julian's happy now." She kissed Lex on the head, and then staggered out of the room. Lex looked back down at the crib and the motionless baby inside.

"No. . . . . . . . ." Lex whispered. He kept looking back and forth, between the door, and Julian's crib, whispering the word no, over and over. Somewhere along the way, between the looks, he came to a decision. He had to make sure Lionel didn't know his Mom had done this. He would murder her. Maybe not physically, but pump her full of drugs, and send her off somewhere, never to return. No, Lex couldn't let that happen. He NEEDED his mother. Needed her desperately. Without Julian, Lionel would be unbearable, and Lex needed his Mom to keep that part of himself alive, the part she created. The love, the smiles, the secret hugs. All that would die with Mom, and he wasn't about to let that happen. Suddenly, Lex heard the faint sound of his Lionel's footsteps on the stairs. He stood back up, and positioned himself over the crib. He was extremely scared, of course. Lionel had a very nasty temper, and this would really piss him off. He wouldn't dare kill Lex, of course, since Lex was, after all, his sole remaining heir, but still, Lex wasn't in an enviable position.

"Hello, son. What are you two boys up, to, huh?" Lionel's voice rang out from the door. Now it was Lex who didn't, who couldn't, turn around. Lex closed his eyes, fearful, resigned. Almost. . .catonic.

"Lex?" Lex turned around to face Lionel.

"He wouldn't stop crying. I tried to rock him, and then. . .I. . .You have to believe me!" Lex said, whispered, quietly, in a defensive voice. He was desperate for Lionel to believe him.

"NO! HE'LL NEVER LOVE YOU AGAIN! CONFESS WHAT YOU SAW, LEX! At least you'll have your father's love." Somewhere deep inside Lex, a voice screamed for recognition. Lex ignored it by force of will.

"What have you done, Lex?" Lionel walked towards the crib. As Lionel approached, Lex slowly backed away, he couldn't bear to see his Dad this way.

"What. . .Lex. . .what have you done? What. . .WHAT DID YOU DO, LEX? WHAT DID YOU DO?" Lionel became increasingly agitated and angry. He turned to Lex, a wild rage in his eyes.

"What did you do!" he growled, backhanding Lex across the face. Lex fell to the floor, heart racing.

"What I had to do." Lex thought to himself. "What I needed to do."

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As Lex slowly came to his senses, he gasped once, loudly.

"OH my god! How could you do this to me?" he whispered. All his faith, all his integrity, his good ora, had just been killed, eradicated, forever erased from his soul. He was about to go get himself a glass of water, when his door opened and a man walked in.

"EMILY! I didn't get a message that anyone was coming this morning!" Lex yelled.

"I'm surprised you don't recognize me, son. Checkmate." His father's voice floated out of the hood.

"No. . .no you're dead. I buried you myself!" Lex yelled, keeping up appearances. No need showing Lionel how much he knew.

"No, son. I am very much alive. And that's not the only ace in the hole I have. Once I draw my next card, it will forever change the dynamic of your life. I am very surprised and dismayed, Lex. You should have uncovered my plot a long time ago. Beware strangers bearing gifts, Lex." Lionel walked out of the office. Lex, galvanized, instead of stunned, turned to his computer. He turned on the surveilance program, and honed in on the warehouse Clark and Chloe had told himself about. He didn't see any movement, none at all. Lex shut down the program, and went to his secetary.

"I'm going to go see Mr. Kent. Hold my calls, take any messages." Lex said, walking down the hall. Lex then walked down the street, and into the Daily Planet. He took the elevator up to the third floor.

"Clark, can I see you in your office, please?" Lex said, walking towards Clark's desk.

"Of course, Lex." Clark said, getting up and motioning for Lex to follow him. Once they were in the office, and Clark locked the door, Lex let out a big breath.

"What's wrong, Lex?"

"My father just visited me, Clark. In my office, at Luthorcorp. He wouldn't make a bold move like that unless he had a plan, and that plan was going to be implemented within a matter of days, maybe even hours. But inside a week, for sure. I just wanted to come warn you."

"Are you sure it was him, Lex? It could've been a tape, a double, anything to get you riled. What if he's going through your office, right now? What if Emily is on his payroll? I never did like her."

"Clark. . .my office has important information on my activities with Luthorcorp! If my Dad somehow got a hold. . ." Lex said. Clark walked to the door, opened it, and supersped out.

"Of it, then I'd be compromised. Clark? Clark? Oh to hell with it, he's gone to my office." Lex said, walking out of the office, making sure to shut the door. He walked over to Chloe, and whispered in her ear. She got up and went into Clark's office. Lex sprinted to the stairs, and flew down them, charging out the front door of the Planet, and down the street. He burst into his office, and saw Clark sitting, feet up on his desk, staring at the computer.

"Ah, Lex. What took you?" Clark grinned.

"You moron. Did you find anyone in here?" Clark looked down at the street through the window behind Lex's desk.

"You're kidding! Oh god I hope you're kidding!" Lex exclaimed, running to look out his window. Clark started laughing.

"No one was in here, Lex."

"You. . .you. . .FARMBOY!"

"Ouch, Lex. That hurt. I think I might have to go all evil on you now." Clark grinned as he headed for the door.

"Tonight?" Lex asked. Clark nodded, and then walked out the office. As Clark made his way back to the Planet, he decided to zip over to the warehouse, to see if anything was amiss, now that it seemed Lionel had made his first move. As he carefully approached, he saw nothing different. He took off his glasses, and x-rayed the building, at the same time, engaging his super-hearing, to make sure no one was sneaking up around him. He wasn't going to allow himself to be caught the way Jimmy was. Especially not this deep inside what he considered enemy territory. He saw a skeleton laying in a bed, and as he tried to focus to see who it was, he saw it was Lionel, hooked up to many machines and medical scanners.

"Is this really necessary, doctor?" Lionel asked, barely containing his anger.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor, it is. If you don't submit to at least 10 tests every day, you run the risk of dying from over-doing yourself. You've been in stasis for years, and your body isn't used to the sudden activity. Why do you think we didn't let you leave this warehouse?"

"And I suppose my son is supposed to be fooled by a hooded man with a sound amplification device, and a microphone? He may have heard my voice, but he didn't see me, doctor. If there's one thing about Lex, he is smart, after all, he is my son. He will see through this as easily as you and I see through air. No, we need to move soon, the ploy backfired. Are you sure this plan of ours will work, doctor?" Lionel, himself, gave up the plan. Clark smiled and zipped away.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor, we have looked into every possibility. Clark Kent is, in fact, Superman. And he has made the mistake you told us he would, he's told Lex. With these facts confirmed, nothing can stand in our way."

"Chloe, what are you doing here?" Clark asked, walking into his office.

"CYA, Clark. You couldn't resist disappearing on me, again, could you? At least Lex had the decency to let me know what was going on."

"Now, just a minute, Chloe, we thought. . ."

"Yes, I know, Clark. Lionel's. . .made his move. Now we have to be extra careful."

"Not exactly. I went down to the warehouse, and "saw and heard" some things. Lionel didn't set foot outside that building. He used some guy, who is probably dead right now, to walk into Lex's office, and Lionel had this guy wearing a mic, and it wasn't Lionel, but his voice."

"So when do you plan on telling Lex?"

"Right now. Be right back." Clark again zipped out of his office, and to Lex's.

"I'm here. . ." Clark started.

"Yes, to see Mr. Luthor. Step right in." Emily said.

"Clark, this is a surprise. I didn't expect you back so soon, sit down. What can I do for you?"

"It wasn't your father, Lex. Lionel hired some guy to come in here with a sound amplification device, a mic, and Lionel just "talked" from his bed. I heard his doctor tell him that he could kill himself by overexerting himself. His body is still weak from being in stasis for years."

"And I suppose you went down to the warehouse to hear and see all this, right? Isn't that the same thing you went after Lois for?"

"That's different."

"Only because not as many people can. . .hurt you. Unless, of course, they know your weakness, which my father certainly might. I caution you, Clark, be cafeful. Don't underestimate my father."

"No, that's a mistake I'll never make, Lex. I just wanted to come by and let you know what was going on. I'll see you tonight." Clark walked out of the room, softly shutting the door behind him. He went back to the Planet, and was immediately called into Perry's office, along with Lois.

"Now, guys, I know you're. . .fighting, or whatever, but there's this new mayor of Granville, and he's making a big push for Luthorcorp to move there, from Metropolis. I want you guys to investigate this guys angle, see why he wants Luthorcorp in his city." Perry laid the assignment down for his two star reporters.

"I don't see a big story here, Chief. I see some guy who wants to make a splash, get his city economy going, and get the biggest employer in the midwest to move to his city." Lois said.

"I just don't like his angle, guys. Call it a hunch, but something's fishy with this guy." Perry responded.

"So you want us to investigate a hunch?" Clark asked.

"Yes, Kent, that's what I said. And you're wasting time questioning me, when you should be questioning his constituents. So get to it!" Perry turned to his files, leaving his two reporters stunned.

"Granville, huh. Wonderful. What do we do about our. . .project?" Lois said softly.

"Nothing's changed, Lois. We can still. . .work on our project, in fact, this should get us out of Metropolis for a few days. Which should help."

"Lets go get some dirt on this guy, then, Smallville." Lois said, walking ahead of Clark to the elevator. Clark grinned and followed. They went down to the Planet's research room, which was just a big computer lab with printers.

"Name. . .Ray Dinsmore. Clark. . .you don't think this is. . ." Lois looked at him. Clark was sitting next to her, staring at the computer in horror.

"I think you need to channel your cousin, right now, Lois. We need more then this guys willing to tell."

"Right, Clark. OK. . .first the basics, lived with his cousin, Emily, in Smallville. Mom died when he was 9, Dad when he was 13, grew up practically as a brother to Emily. Went off the deep end when Emily died, was admitted to Belle Reeve's juvie facility, at 16, out at 17, turned over a new leaf. Nothing much that's major, Clark. Ran for mayor at 28, first time, lost. Ran the next election, and won. Been in office for the last 16 years."

"No, there's nothing there, unless. . .that stay in Belle Reeve. I wonder if we can get access to his doctor's files."

"I can't, Clark. Not anymore." Chloe whispered. Clark sighed.

"I can. But it's best if we don't ask where I can get them from." Chloe nodded. Clark walked out of the building.

"Duh, you idiot. You're running to Lex, of course." Chloe whispered.

"I HEARD THAT!" Clark shouted. Chloe rolled her eyes. Clark went back to Luthorcorp, and once again made his way back up the flights of stairs, leading to Lex's office.

"Clark, I think you should buy the office next to Mr. Luthor's. Save yourself the trip." Emily said, motioning to the seats.

"Lex busy?"

"Meeting with a . . . Mr. Dinsmore, about a private matter." Clark nodded, not entirely surprised. Someone was a mole for the Planet inside Luthorcorp.

"Mr. Dinsmore, we'll keep in touch. But I have to say, we do like our headquarters here in Metropolis. I don't think there's much chance of you convincing us to move." Lex said, opening the door.

"Clark! Three visits in one day, I'm starting to get a complex." Lex smiled.

"OK, Mr. Luthor. We'll have you come by for a tour real soon." Ray Dinsmore walked out of the office. Clark stood up and stared after him.

"Clark? Did you want something? Clark. . .Clark. . .hello?" Lex said, finally waving his hand right in front of his friends eyes. Clark was x-raying the man all the way down to the ground floor.

"Lex. . .this is going to sound strange." Clark started, as he walked into Lex's office. Lex shut the door.

"Not the most promising way to kick off a conversation, Clark, but go for it." Lex sat down behind his desk, and Clark took a seat across from his friend.

"Drink?" Lex asked.

"No, thanks, Lex. Listen, Lex, I don't think you can completely trust that man."

"Who, Ray? Why do you say that, Clark? He seems honest, forthcoming, eager about the business opportunities. He may have a colored past, but that hasn't stopped you, has it?"

"Lex, this guy was utterly destroyed by his cousins death, he spent. . ."

"A year at Belle Reeve's juvie facility. Yes, I know. And his cousin was Emily Dinsmore, was she not? I believe Lana was somehow involved with her death, wasn't she? Some sort of swimming accident?"

"Yes, but it runs much deeper. How much do you remember about . . . Luthorcorp funding cloning projects?"

"My Dad was funding some human cloning projects around 2002, if I recall, a few months after receiving word of his terminal liver disease. It was abandoned when the blood platelette's were found and harnessed. No significant advances were made, Clark."

"Wrong, Lex. One very significant advance was made. Emily's father was so heartbroken that he cloned his daughter, gave the clone all of Emily's memories, and she became his daughter."

"Oh, yes, Clark, now I remember. He cautioned me about the clone being unstable, immoral, and highly dangerous. But I never located her, Clark. As far as I know, she disappeared into thin air."

"If only it was that simple, Lex. Emily was also locked up, by your father. In one of his many secret research facilities. She escaped about a year later, kidnapped Lana, and held her in a glass cage."

"Wait, Clark. Wasn't this around the time Lana was heading off to Paris?" Lex asked. Clark nodded.

"I don't know what happened to Emily after that, but I had to rescue Lana, and neutralize Emily's ability to pass through solid objects. Once I did that, and took care of Lana, I tried looking up where Emily disappeared to, but I couldn't. It's like she. . .vanished into thin air."

"So, human cloning. You think. . .this Ray Dinsmore is a clone?" Lex asked, incredulous.

"No, Lex. Ray Dinsmore blames Lionel for Emily's death. He. . .believed almost as firmly as Emily's father did, in the clone being Emily. So when it came out that Lionel had captured Emily, Ray went physco. But, he controlled it, and now that he's got the power he has. . ."

"You think he's luring Luthorcorp to Granville to get to me?"

"It's a leap, Lex, but I think yes, Ray wants revenge, and his revenge will come against you."

"Clark, I appreciate this, I really do. But this isn't a stretch, this is insane. There's no proof, no backing up of your facts, I can't be expected to make a business decision based on your advice, no matter how . . . adept you are at keeping all of us alive."

"Give me his medical records, Lex. Lois and I have an assignment to do on this Ray Dinsmore for the Daily Planet, and we need to have access to his physcological records from Belle Reeve."

"What makes you think I have them, Clark?" Clark gave a tight smile.

"Lex, despite your. . .reformation, you're still your father's son. You'd have those records just in case something were to. . .go wrong with this. Blackmail, Lex, is what you would have them for. And I'm asking you, as a friend, for a copy." Lex got up and went to his file cabinet.

"You would make a worthy advesary, Clark. You have made a worthy advesary." Lex pulled out a file and tossed it on his desk.

"That's everything about Ray Dinsmore. Every medical procedure, every hospital stay, it's all there."

"Thank you, Lex." Clark went for the door.

"Clark." Lex said as he sat down and turned to the window.

"Lex?" Clark turned and looked at his friend.

"Be cafeful what you do with that. I wouldn't want. . .anything to happen to you. You may think no one knows about your weakness, but word spreads, especially when you're from a town called Smallville." Clark walked back to Lex's desk.

"Is that a threat?" Clark glanced down at Lex, as he slowly turned to face Clark.

"No, Clark. Not from me. But. . .if the connection between Emily and Lionel exists, then there also is a connection. . ."

"Between Lionel and Ray. But what would they gain from working tog. . ." The pieces finally formed into a cohesive picture in Clark's head.

"They want to clone you, don't they, Lex. Clone you, put Lionel inside the clone, and then kill you." Lex nodded.

"If you're right about the connection between my father and Emily, then yes. Hence my warning to you. Be careful, Clark. We don't know how much my father knows about you, and as such, we don't know how much he's shared, and with who." Clark nodded and turned to leave.

"Clark, I'd like to. . .go down to the caves with you, if you don't mind."

"OK, Lex. I get off work around 5, say. . .5:30?"

"Sounds good, Clark. Thanks for stopping by. Be careful, Clark."

"That goes double for you, Lex." Clark left, shutting the door behind him. Lex poured a glass of scotch and stood at the window.

"Well, Dad, at least now I know you're still alive. The next move is mine, it would seem." Lex turned and flipped on the surveilance equipment.

"Any time, now, Dad. Your move's going to happen, but mine has to happen first." Lex smiled a dark smile, as he opened his drawer. A dark green glow eminated forth.

Warehouse

"How long is this going to take, doctor?" Lionel asked, frustrated with the progress report in his hand. The longer he waited, the longer the project was delayed, the more likely it would be that Lex either found him, killed him, or he died of the liver disease.

"These things take time, sir. Another couple of days, at the least." Sal said, sitting by Lionel's side.

"Time, Sal, is one thing I do not have in abundance. And therefore, neither do you. I want this completed in 48 hours, or there will be hell to pay. And somehow, I don't think you have enough to pay me. 48 hours, Sal, not a second more." Lionel turned from Sal, and confronted Ray.

"Well, Mr. Dinsmore? How soon until Luthorcorp is relocated in Granville?"

"We may have a problem, sir. I saw Clark Kent sitting outside your son's office. I don't know what they talked about, but it can't have been good for us."

"Ray, I am not paying you for problems, I am paying you for results. You want revenge for the death of your daughter. You first went after me, but after I explained that Lex was in charge of the operation to find and kill Emily, we had an understanding. You capture Lex, clone his body, and then place my essence into the clone. Then the real Lex could be disposed of, and I would be in charge of Luthorcorp, and you would reap the rewards of that. Don't make me. . .reconsider our partnership, Mr. Dinsmore. I assure you, as much pain as you intend to inflict on Lex, I could inflict that much more on you. Are we clear?"

"Yes. . .Mr. Luthor. I won't fail."

"You'd better not, for your sake. Once Lex is in your. . .care, Ray, there is no doubt Superman will be soon onto you. I suggest you take advantage of. . .Lex's knowledge of Superman's weaknesses, and put them to good use. My son will gladly help you, Ray, if he thinks it will save his life."

"Sir, it's time for another shot." A female voice cut in.

"Ah, thank you, Glenda. I'll be right with you." Lionel turned and smiled at his private "nurse".

"I need to get back to our lab, Mr. Luthor. I'll try and . . . hurry along the process." Sal said, getting up.

"I suggest you do more then try, Sal, unless you want to become our latest research project. I am sure we could come up with some interesting. . .humanistic studies." Lionel smirked evilly, looking at Sal.

"It'll be done in 48 hours, boss." Sal assured, walking out of the warehouse.

"And you, Ray. You better prepare one hell of a sales pitch to get Lex to even show up at your meeting tomorrow. My son is an able businessman, but he lacks the ruthlessness to really become a ruler amongst mortals. Tell him about enviromental benefits, tax breaks, anything that appears to benefit humanity. Throw in a couple of brown haired women, and you should have yourself one. . .hostage. Is everything ready at your lab?"

"Yes, Mr. Luthor, it is. We are prepared for Lex's arrival."

"And Clark? We don't want him dead, Ray. Imagine how much we could make on the studies of superpowers, aliens, and the like! We will be rich beyond our wildest dreams."

"And Sal?" Ray asked.

"I grow tired of an inept second in command. You, on the other hand, are much more efficent. Sal will be. . .exterminated once he serves his purpose. Do your job well, and you'll rise to new heights, Ray. Heights you never dreamed possible. The world will be ours for the taking." Lionel smiled. His son would pay dearly for underestimating him, he would make sure of that. As Ray left, Glenda made her way to him. He reached a hand out and stroked her face.

"My dear, why don't you let me come into the back room, for a more. . .personal encounter?"

"Of course, Mr. Luthor. Right this way." Glenda was showing more clevage then a normal nurse, just the way Lionel wanted her. Spunky, and energetic. As Glenda walked into the back room, she shut the door.

Kawatche Caves

Clark sped into the caves, 5 minutes early for the meeting with Lex. He slowly walked around the caves, looking at everything that fortold his destiny. Once again, he was trying to defy it. Clark walked around to a section of the caves he hadn't explored before, noticing how different this section was.

"I'd like to think we're adding drawings to this, as we go, Clark, wouldn't you?" Lex asked, shining a flashlight at his friend. Clark turned.

"You said something like that the last time we were in here together." Clark said.

"I know, Clark. I ended up eating those words, but it's different this time. I recovered the memory of us down here, Clark. You explained to me what a couple of these. . .pictographs said. About us, what we would become."

"And it happened, Lex. Because you didn't trust us enough." Clark turned to face Lex, looking right into his friend's eyes.

"No, Clark. If that letter you had me read is any indication, it's because I didn't want you to get into my father's web anymore then you already were. And knowing what I do about you now, it's a small wonder why I didn't want you involved with him. I would do anything to keep you out of his clutches, Clark. Even now."

"Did you ever consider that maybe your safety was above my own? You have many more weaknesses then I do, Lex."

"That may be so, but I also don't have near as much value as you do. What if my father had uncovered your true identity through me, Clark? Do you think you would've had a normal life from that point on? And what if he uncovered a way to harness your incredible. . .powers, Clark? Imagine an army of corruptted super-powered humans, bent on world domination. With no weakness. We wouldn't stand a chance. The very thing you stood for, still stand for, would mean nothing."

"Lex, I know why you did what you did, but I don't have to like it. What did you want, meeting down here?"

"I was thinking, Clark, about the last time we were down here together. We didn't have much success trying to change our destinies the first time around, Clark. What if I can't change? What if I am destined forever to be an evil, vile, despicable man, and what if we're always going to be at each other's throats?"

"Things are different now, Lex. For one, your father isn't operating above ground. He can't do much to you, right?"

"He came to see me, Clark. My father. Whether it was him in person, or someone he hired to do the job, Lionel still announced his superiority, Clark. He wanted to taunt me, torment me, torture me. Unless he is erased completely, none of us will ever be safe, again." Clark grew alarmed at Lex's words. He held out a hand to Lex, gripping his shoulder.

"You can't kill him, Lex. Then that would cement your downfall. To kill him means to become him." Lex nodded.

"I know that, Clark. But it would make everyone's life much easier."

"Your father killed his parents, Lex. You killing your father would complete the circle, it would forever cement your place as the next Lionel Luthor. Isn't that what you fought against once, and isn't that what you're fighting against again?"

"Clark, the first time around, I was fighting for all the wrong reasons. I was fighting NOT to become my father. I was fighting so you WOULDN'T lose faith in me. I was fighting so Johnathan Kent DIDN'T hate me anymore. Now I'm fighting for me, my life, and the lives of my friends. Big difference, Clark. From negative to positive." Lex said, shining the flashlight on the cave paintings.

"These are. . .new." Lex said.

"No, I just don't come down this way often. These say that. . .well, look here. See that?" Clark pointed to the wall right above Lex's head.

"Yeah, that's the Superman symbol with an 8 inside it."

"Nope. That is my family crest. The family of El, from the planet Krypton. And this, right here, is a second one. The 8 is the Kryptonian letter for S. I think the second one is Jor-El's symbol, from when he was here."

"Jor-El being. . .your father?"

"Yeah, Lex. Jor-El is my biological father." Lex turned and looked at the vast expanse of the caves, and a thought worked it's way through his head.

"Clark, there is so much you haven't seen in these caves, yet. Why don't you explore every inch?"

"I don't want to know the future, Lex. I prefer making it up as I go, not having it drawn out for me on cave walls. Don't you?"

"It seems that whenever I try forging my own path, Clark, it inevitably reverts back to what others expect of me. Even, it would seem, aliens." Lex motioned all around them. Then he zeroed in on the double El symbol.

"Clark, what if. . .what if that second El symbol isn't Jor-El's symbol? What if. . .it fortells another of your kind falling to Earth?"

"Another of my. . .kind, as in. . .from Krypton?"

"Yes, Clark. Another person from Krypton. It could mean that, and not Jor-El."

"Lex, that. . .that's been my dream, ever since I found out I was an alien. To have someone like me, who could do the things I can, who I could teach. But I found out that Krypton blew up, around 1986 or so, Earth time. There were no survivors."

"Who says that, Clark?"

"Dr. Virgil Swann, he. . ."

"I know who he was, Clark. But he could be wrong, he was based on Earth. Krypton was. . .a long way away, to say the least. More ships could've been sent from Krypton, diverted off course, sent to different planets, made pit stops, run out of fuel, gotten delayed, a number of things could've happened, Clark."

"Well, any way, I'd love to be a brother again, Lex. Having Ryan around was. . .the happiest time of my life."

"What if the person in question is a girl, Clark, and not a boy? Or did only guys have super-powers on Krypton?"

"I don't think Kryptonians had super-powers, at least not on Krypton. Something about a red sun versus Earth's yellow sun. But I don't know if only males would be. . .endowed with super-powers on Earth."

"I think there can't be only one of you, Clark. If other people on your planet knew the world was going to end, I think they would've saved their children, or even themselves. Logic says there have to be more of your kind somewhere. Perhaps not on Earth, not yet, but on other planets. And some of them have to be girls, as well."

"I never saw myself having a sister, Lex. I never took that under consideration, I always wanted a brother."

"I had a brother, once, Clark. He was ripped from me far too soon. I know you want a brother, but should you end up getting a sister, love her fiercely, as fiercely as you would love a brother." Clark was silent, thinking about the possibility of a little brother or sister from Krypton. Lex pulled Clark back to reality, after giving his friend a few minutes to think.

"Yes, well, Clark. No use dwelling on something which may or may not happen. I think we need to concern ourselves with more. . .relevant topics."

"Like your father, Lex? He made a. . .public move, at least a semi-public one. Does that mean he is now able to operate above ground? From what I heard, he can't leave his headquarters, without risking his life."

"If the ends justified the means, my father would risk his life. But, if he does, then you'd better believe that it's going to be one hell of a plan he's got."

"Don't you think we should talk about this during the meeting at the farm? Instead of in the caves?"

"Yeah, Clark, I do. But it can't hurt talking it over twice, can it?"

"No, I suppose it can't. But we've already been down here for an hour, Lex. We're expected back by 7. Which means we should probably leave now."

"OK, Clark. But I'd like you to reconsider what I said earlier. Knowing your destiny can't hurt, not too much." They walked out of the caves together, and got into Lex's Porsche. Lex drove, at his usual maniac speed, to the farm.

"Clark, I still find it funny that you can run about 1000 times faster then I can drive, and you still turn green whenever we drive together."

"I can't die, Lex, but you can."

"Point taken, farmboy. Lets go in."

"Hello, Clark, Lex. You're just in time for a hot dinner. Gather round. Clark, Lana and Lois are in the barn, why don't you go get them? Lex, Pete is out back with Johnathan, you should go get them, as well." Martha said, taking out a roasted chicken from the oven. Lex raised an eyebrow, amused that Martha wasn't intimidated, or anything of the like, when dealing with him. She ordered him around like she ordered Clark around. With love. He smiled a bit and headed out to the back. Clark supersped to the barn.

"Hey, Lana, Lois, it's dinner time. Mom just took a steaming hot chicken out of the oven, I suggest you get there before it's gone."

"OK, Smallville, no fair using your. . ." Clark sped out.

"Superspeed. Dammit, he did it again. Come on, Lana." Lois climbed down the stairs, and followed Clark, albeit at a much slower pace. Lana followed. She'd spent the whole day conflicted over Clark, and in deep thought. Lana spied Lex over by the fence, and walked his way.

"Johnathan, Pete! Martha just took a roasted chicken out, better get it before it gets devoured." Lex called, turning around and nearly smacking into Lana.

"Sorry, Lana. I didn't see you there. Did you want something?"

"I. . .thought about what you told me the other day, about Clark. I still don't know how I feel about him, or his. . .origins, but I do know he's my friend, and that's all that should count."

"But that's not how it is with you, is it? C'mon, Lana, I know you. Your parents meant a lot to you, that incident defined you for a good number of years. I don't think Clark would appreciate you putting up a façade for him. Be civil with him, yes. Be nice, yes. But don't be what he wants you to, be who you want to. Come to a decision, about your feelings, and tell him. He's a grown up, he should accept it. Now come on, I bet the overgrown boy scout is eating our share of the chicken." They laughed together, and ran to the farmhouse.

"Hey, the two stragglers are here. We saved a couple legs and part of the breast, but it was close. Clark and Mr. Kent nearly overpowered us." Pete smiled as he handed a plate to Lana. He pointed out a plate to Lex, and his smile turned down a notch. Subtle, but Lex picked up on it. Lex didn't choose to comment, though. When the dinner was finished, everyone moved into the living room, for a light dessert, and the nightly meeting.

"Lionel came to see me this afternoon." Lex began. That drew a variety of gasps and whispers.

"Relax, it wasn't really Lionel. Jeesh, Lex, scare everyone, why don't you." Clark said, putting his feet up on the coffee table. Johnathan cleared his throat, and Clark took them back down, and gave his father a sheepish look. Johnathan shook his head, mentally sending "don't try that, Clark" to his son.

"Anyway." Lex said, catching the interchange and smiling inwardly.

"Lionel hired some guy, some poor guy who is probably dead right now, to come into my office. This guy had a microphone, sound amplification devices, and speakers hidden inside his coat, or something. Lionel spoke to me from his headquarters, basically mocking me. I think that the time is close at hand when my father is going to make his move. We should all be prepared for anything, and I do mean anything."

"Like what, Lex? If we knew at least somewhat what to prepare for, it would help." Pete asked.

"I'm not sure, Pete. Maybe another kidnapping? Maybe he will come here and do something, maybe I'll be dead tomorrow. Any number of possible outcomes are likely. My father is caged, and there is nothing more dangerous then a caged Luthor."

"So we should just be on our toes until god knows what happens? There's no way in hell I'm going to let Lionel tear this house apart, Lex. One of you guys is going to tell me where Lionel is based, and I'm going to do down there and. . ." Johnathan said, getting up and grabbing his coat. He then grabbed his trusty rifle, and headed for the door. Clark got up and caught his father's arm.

"And what, Dad? Kill him? Threaten him? I don't think so. You're not leaving." Clark said, grabbing the gun from his Dad's hands.

"Son, I'm not going to let that man terrorize us, or this family, anymore. Not while I can still protect it."

"And I'm not going to let you go running around, half-cocked with a shotgun in your hands! The last time you did that, I got shot!"

"What? Clark? When did. . .Clark!" Johnathan took a step back like HE'D just been shot. He couldn't have shot Clark. No way in hell would he ever do that. But, judging from the look on Clark's face, he must've done exactly that.

Clark also had a similar reaction. 'Nooooooo, I wasn't supposed to say that! He didn't know! This is not going to be pretty!'

"When did I shoot you, Clark?"

"Dad. . ."

"Clark, when did I shoot you? I have to know."

"Johnathan, that's not important right now. We need to deal with Lionel, this can wait." Martha put in. She was just as shell shocked as her husband, but she also knew Johnathan didn't need to find out about this. So she tried, unsuccessfully, to stall him and divert his attention.

"Martha, no it can't. Clark, son, I need to know this. When did I shoot you?" Clark sighed, and leaned heavily against the counter. He was berating himself for letting this bit of information slip. He definitely did not want to see his father after he told him everything about the Nicodemus incident. And he had an inkling Lex may step in and mention what Pete did, which would further complicate matters. Clark decided to try and explain in as few words as possible.

"When you were infected with the Nicodemus flower."

"Where? When? How? Why? What was I doing? Why didn't you super speed out of the way?" Johnathan wanted the WHOLE story, not just the circumstances. Looking at Clark's face, he suspected it would be like pulling teeth from a hyper 8 year old.

"Exactly, Clark. I want all those questions answers. Where did I shoot you?"

"In front of the Smallville Savings & Loans. Around. . ."

"No, Clark. Where on your body did I shoot you?"

"In the chest. Right. . .here." Clark outlined the area on his chest where he'd taken the shot.

"And when was this?"

"Fall of 2001." Clark cringed as he said this.

"And why am I learning about this TEN YEARS after it happened?" Johnathan barely kept his veins from bulging.

"Because I didn't want this to happen. You're killing yourself for something you didn't have any control over, and when you weren't yourself."

"The fact remains, I SHOT my son. Nevermind that said son is invincible, I still SHOT you, Clark. I can't imagine how that must've made you feel."

"I knew you weren't yourself, Dad."

"That doesn't mean you weren't upset, or confused, Clark. But that was a long time ago. Still, son, I am sorry if I hurt you. You must know I'd never do that."

"Of course, I know, Dad. Don't worry about it."

"We haven't gotten to why, yet, Clark. Why did I shoot you?"

"You. . .were upset about getting turned down for a loan. You were going to . . . do something, I don't know what. I stopped you."

"So how did I end up shooting you?"

"I tried to wrestle the gun away."

"And it went off? Oh my god. . ." Johnathan fell onto the couch, shaking.

"Mr. Kent. . .this wasn't your fault. You didn't know what you were doing. Pete. . .he did something too." Lex put in, trying to soothe Johnathan's nerves. Pete turned to Lex.

"What did I do, Lex?" Clark rolled his eyes.

"Can we please stop uncovering old tragedies! LEX, for once, keep your mouth shut!" Clark snapped, trying to calm Johnathan down.

"Clark. . .you're best friends, I thought you told him. I . . . I didn't know. I'm sorry." Lex stammered, eyes wide as he took in the chaos of the room. Johnathan was slumped over on the couch, half out of it, Martha and Clark were trying to calm him down, Pete was now gaping at him, while Lana and Chloe were just looking around the room, trying to figure out who to deal with first.

"Dad, come on, Dad." Clark said, super speeding into the kitchen and getting a glass of water. He splashed it on his Dad's face, and that seemed to do the trick. Johnathan looked around, at Clark's concerned face, and at Martha's worried one. He grabbed his son in a fierce hug, rubbing his hair. Clark swore he could feel tears on his skin, but he didn't say a word, just held on as long as his Dad needed.

"Clark. . .I am so sorry, son."

"Dad, I. . .you, it wasn't you, Dad."

"Son, it was. When it comes right back to the heart of it, I shot you, Clark. And I won't ever be able to make that up to you."

"But you have, every day. You made up for it when I was on red kryptonite and threw you into a truck. You made up for it when I was sick and you cared for me. You made up for it by taking me in, in the first place. You made up for it by trying to like my friends, no matter your personal feelings." Clark held on to his father, knowing Johnathan needed Clark like a drowning man needs a life-raft. After a few more minutes, Johnathan straightened up, and his eyes were dry. Clark just looked at his father, and nodded, smiling. Johnathan grabbed Martha's hand and squeezed tight, and she squeezed right back.

"OK, we're done with this tragedy, why don't we talk about something else, now, huh?" Johnathan smiled, trying to deflect the attention.

"OK, we can talk about what I did to Lex. Well, Mr. Clean?" Lex smiled a bit at that.

"First, you barged in on me at the mansion, with a gun, threatening to shoot me. Clark showed up, as usual, pretended to side with you, delivered a pretty hard blow to my head, and then I assume he disarmed you and knocked you out, before apologizing to me."

"Lex. . ."

"Relax, Pete, I know it wasn't you. I don't hold it against you, at all. Anything else, or can we turn back to the matter at hand."

"I almost wanna ask if theres anything I've done that I don't remember." Chloe said. Clark smiled and arched an eyebrow.

"You must be kidding. Clark, I was joking! You mean. . .there really is something? Um. . .how bad was it?" 'Chloe combines shocked and excited really well,' thought Clark, looking at her face. 'I'd like to make her more excited, though."

"You made out with me in front of Lana, in the Talon, for starters."

"You told me I needed a toupee." Lex put in.

"You and Pete jumped Chandler's Gorge in Pete's car. I ended up catching you guys."

"We flew out the windows?" Chloe asked.

"NO, I caught the car."

"Oh, well. Um. . ." Chloe didn't quite know how to answer that one.

"Oh, yes, Pete slipped Clark a piece of red kryptonite, to bring him in on the fun." Johnathan smiled. Pete glared at him.

"Pre-make out, I might point out. Not that I need red kryptonite to make out with Chloe." Clark said, saving his butt.

"That's. . .pretty much everything, I hope?" Chloe said. Clark just grinning as he turned his gaze to Lana.

"Oh no." Was all Lana said, burying her face in Pete's shoulder.

"After everyone else's combined disasters, I want to hear this one." Lex said, smirking. Clark debated whether to burst his bubble now, or later. He settled on later, turning his gaze back to Lana.

"You, after becoming infected with the Nicodemus flower, dumped Whitney, dressed in a . . . highly provocative manner, and lured me to the Smallville High pool, where you did a 95 strip tease, dove into the water, and then quickly left, leaving me holding your shorts, and having to face Principal Kwan."

"Then, I'm assuming you went straight to the Talon, where you were dressed in all black, looking very good, I may point out, you took the rest of the day off, after giving everyone free coffee, then stole my car keys when I wasn't looking, and took off for god knows where."

"The mill. I found her climbing up the ladder, it was her deepest desire, to climb the mill and look out over Metropolis. She fell about halfway, and I caught her and ran her to the hospital."

"And then the Pete incident, I believe?" Lex said. Clark nodded.

"So that takes care of everyone. I know there's nothing I don't remember, except these blasted 12 weeks I'm getting back. So now, onto my Dad?" Clark again raised an eyebrow, this time at Lex.

"Clark, that's funny. Seriously, you got me. My father, Clark, we need to. . .OK, you're not looking away, Clark. Clark, this isn't funny anymore. Are you serious? What. . .what did I do?"

"You shot me with a submachine gun, and enjoyed every second of it." Clark said, flatly. Lex looked horrified.

"I did. . .what!" Lex looked like he was going to be physically ill, any second. How could he have done that? Under any circumstances, he would never shoot Clark. Even after their falling out, he wouldn't have shot Clark. Superman, yes, but not Clark.

"OK, see, there were these two guys, Kyle Tippet and Bob Rickman. Kyle used his . . . power for good, Bob used his for evil. They could make anyone do whatever they wanted them to, just by touching them, shaking hands. After a series of events, which included Kyle making Chloe kiss me, Bob used his handshake to make you torch the car Kyle and I were in, and then you somehow got a machine gun, and came into the gas station Kyle and I were hiding in. You found me, and proceeded to empty the gun into my body. I ended up kicking you across the garage and knocking you out, breaking Bob's hold on you."

"Clark. . ." Lex started.

"Wasn't you, Lex. Rickman had you under his control. I didn't end the friendship for it, did I?"

"No, but I bet you didn't exactly trust me as you did before."

"I'd be lying if I said I did, but I didn't totally condemn you for it. It's the fact you were enjoying every second that got to me. But I got over it, Lex. Don't beat yourself up for it."

"Yeah, well. I suppose you're right, Clark. I wasn't completely in control. Now for my father?"

"Yeah, sure, Lex. I think we're done sufficently humiliating everyone here." Clark grinned.

"OK, well, Lionel somewhat appeared at my office. Clark went down to the warehouse, which, Chloe, you get to ream him out for, later. Clark found out a great deal, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did, guys. For one, Lionel isn't recommended to leave his headquarters, or else he may die from over-exerting himself. Since he was in stasis for a good number of years, his muscles aren't used to the strain he is putting himself under. He has to submit to 10 medical tests daily, so says his doctor. Lionel wants whatever plans he does have to move quickly, because he thinks you saw through the ploy. That's all I know for now."

"Oh, yes, Clark seems to think the mayor of Granville has it in for me. A man by the name of Ray Dinsmore." Lana started at the last name.

"Em. . .Em. . .Emily's brother?" she stammered out.

"Clark, man, she's psycho. If she's in on this, we're in deep trouble. And there's no telling what she learned in Belle Reeve, who she talked to, things she overheard. If she's around, she could be a walking time bomb in regards to your secret." Pete put in. Clark held his hands up, trying to calm Pete down, while Lex spoke, to that end.

"Relax Pete, Clark and I both think she's not in on this, but we can't be sure, because we don't even know where she is. And Ray is Emily's cousin, not brother. But that's not really important. This guy, he held my father responsible for Emily's death, because he believed, as did Emily's father, that the clone was the real thing. Now that he thinks my father's dead, he wants his revenge on me, or so says Clark. I'm not so sure. However, if Ray and my father are working together, then the possibilities get much more scarier, and real world, too."

"Like, real world in what way?" Lana asked, eyes wide as she listened in.

"Well, Emily's Dad had a good thing going with that human cloning project, if Ray and my father have perfected it, they could, in theory, clone me, put Lionel's essence in the clone, and then kill me off. Then Lionel would become me, and none would be the wiser."

"Lex, that's the stuff of science fiction movies, not real world scenerios. Human cloning and brain transfers. That. . .none of that is possible." Johnathan said, trying to soothe Lex's nerves.

"So is extraterrestrial life, Mr. Kent. But we both know that that's come to pass, in the real world, don't we? Plus, you didn't see the Emily clone, Clark and I did, Clark fought her once, Lana was kidnapped once, and nearly killed, twice. So pardon us if we do believe."

"OK, Lex, all right. So then why are you trusting this Ray Dinsmore, enough to even consider moving Luthorcorp to Granville?" Chloe asked.

"Because, tax breaks, monetary incentives, other reasons. But I'm not going in eyes closed, if that's what anyone is worried about. I'll be on my guard. Don't you worry."

"OK, then. Anything else?" Martha asked, anxious to do her own questioning of Clark. She understood why Clark didn't tell Johnathan about the whole gun incident, but she was wondering why exactly he kept it from her.

"Yes, as per Clark's. . .instuctions." Lex gave a tight smile at the word 'instructions'. "I will be staying at the mansion for the next few days. Goodnight, everyone." Lex said, departing.

"Stay tonight?" Clark asked Chloe. She nodded. Johnathan closed his eyes.

"She can sleep. . .in your room, Clark." He said. Clark smiled and nodded.

"Clark, honey, can I talk to you, in the kitchen?" Martha asked. This time, Johnathan laid a hand on her arm.

"Let it go, Martha. You can play 20 questions tomorrow morning. We all need to go to sleep." He half carried his wife upstairs.

"TOMORROW, CLARK! Don't try and run away! I'll come to Metropolis, if I have to." She yelled over Johnathan's shoulder. Clark laughed and okayed her.

"We're going to sleep, as well, man. Good luck with everything. If you ever need me to come down and stake out Lionel's shed, let me know. I've got your back, brother." Pete said, slapping Clark on the back, and heading for his temporary room. Lana smiled and walked right behind him.

"I'm beat, too, Chloe. C'mon. Lets jet." Clark picked up Chloe, and walked them upstairs, to his room.

The next morning, Lana and Pete were the second ones up, behind Johnathan, of course. They wanted their own piece of Clark, all the stories last night needed more clarification, in their eyes. Lana volunteered to wake up Clark and Chloe.

"You'd better walk in there with a full pot of coffee, or Chloe'll freak, you know that." Pete smiled.

"I. . .I still can't get over the fact she's alive, and here. And Clark's finally dating her. Like, duh! She was in love with him throughout high school."

"They did date, briefly, during junior year. But yeah, I know what you mean. And we really have to thank Lex for Chloe being alive, ya know? I mean, I'm not exactly crazy about the guy, but still, who knows what Lionel would've done if Lex hadn't protected her."

"I suppose so. I'm just glad she's alive, doing well, and finally has the two things shes always wanted." Lana smiled, walking down the hall. She knocked a couple times on Clark's door, and then slowly opened it. She gasped a bit, and rubbed her eyes, making sure what she saw was real. Clark. . .she and Chloe were. . .floating. Lana took a second to make sure she wasn't dreaming, and then smiled. Clark definitely was. . .unique in his displays of affection, that was for sure.

"Awwww. . .how cute." Chloe faintly heard Lana's voice. She opened her eyes, and saw the bed below her.

"CLARK!" she exclaimed. Clark opened his eyes, and saw the ceiling much closer then he remembered.

"Oh boy. . ." he said, quickly concentrating, so he wouldn't break another bed.

"Clark, if this is the Kryptonian version of. . .well, um, never mind, but whatever this is, I'm all for it, but we have company." Chloe snarked, eyeing Lana.

"Uhh. . .not quite, Chloe. And who's our company? Maybe they'd wanna join us up here?" Clark got a few points in Chloe's book for that one, not that she'd ever admit it.

"Lana Lang, reporting for duty!"

"Clean up my room, vaccum the house, and feed the cows! You know they won't feed themselves!"

"OK, Krypto-boy, once we get down from here, I'm feeding you kryptonite for that one."

"I can keep this up all day, Chloe."

"Yes, but we have to be at the Daily Planet in. . .a half hour. Which means you're going to have to fly us to work."

"Well, then, in the interests of time. . ." Clark turned them around, and slowly flew out of his room, and down the hall into the bathroom. Lana stared after them.

"I thought the FAA declared this a no fly zone!"

"Don't quit your day job!" Chloe snarked back, as the bathroom door shut.

"If the house starts a rockin and rollin, I'll get the kryptonite, you get the sledgehammer, deal?" Pete smirked, walking by and kissing her.

"Deal." She kissed back, laughing into the kiss. The bathroom door opened, and Clark flew back out.

"Heads up, people!" Chloe smirked. Lana and Pete ducked, just as Clark flew over.

"He's finally cracked. I knew this would happen." Pete grinned. Lana got up and ran after Clark.

"That's what a stove is for, Clark!" she heard Chloe yelling.

"This oughta be good." Lana thought to herself, walking into the kitchen. Clark was boiling water with heat vision.

"Not bad, Clark, not bad." Lana said, smiling.

"Order up!" Clark grinned.

"One dose of why did you keep the gun incident from me, with a side of I am sooooooo mad at you, oh. . .and I'll take a black coffee and two slices of toast, as well." Clark cringed as he turned around.

"Another mood bites the dust." Chloe said under her breath.

"Look, Mom, I knew you'd be mad at him, too. You were already wondering what was up with him, I didn't want you to worry about me, too."

"Clark Jerome Kent, just because I was occupied with your father does NOT mean I don't care about my son. You should've told me. I thought we didn't keep secrets in this family."

"I thought this family was all about secrets." Clark shot back.

"Oh boy, fireworks soon. Defensive Clark plus hot under the collar Martha doesn't equal happy endings." Chloe whispered to Lana, as they slunk outside.

"We keep secrets from everyone else, Clark. Not inside this family. I can't believe you were shot at close range with a rifle and didn't tell me."

"What would you have done about it? It's not like that would've hurt me, any. And what would you have done to Dad once he woke up? It's not like he remembered any of it. And even you know you couldn't have told him. So I didn't see any point in me mentioning that to you."

"Clark, when you put it that way. . .DON'T EVER NOT TELL ME ANYTHING LIKE THAT AGAIN! Is that absoultely and totally clear?"

"Yeah. . ." Clark said, not meaning to keep that promise.

"OK, then, why don't you call the girls back inside, I'll handle breakfast." Clark nodded, and walked outside. He made his way to the barn, where he thought the girls might be.

"We have to eat, Chloe. Then I have to fly us to work, because we have to be there in 20 minutes. Lana, breakfast. Get my Dad, too, please." Clark said, superspeeding back into the house. Chloe followed, and pretty soon, their breakfast was done.

"I'm ready." Chloe smiled at Clark. Clark gently smiled back at her.

"I love you, Chloe Sullivan." He kissed her, and then they walked out of the house. As Lana came around the corner of the barn, she saw Clark take off, with Chloe in tow, and pretty soon, they were specks in the sky.

"I don't think I'll ever be completely OK with that. I guess I see why you kept this a secret for so long, Mr. Kent."

"We did it for his sake, Lana, and for yours. All of you guys would've been in so much danger if word got out. He was crushed by your. . .rejection, and Chloe was there to pick up the emotional pieces, and they sparked. I don't really hold it against you, Lana, the meteor shower was so devastating for you. But Lana, Clark blamed himself for everything bad that happened that day, you know how he likes to shoulder the world." She nodded.

"I wish I could go back and redo that day, Mr. Kent. I wouldn't react like that."

"Believe me, Clark understands regrets, Lana. If you tell him what you just told me, I think he'd be OK."

Daily Planet

"We're just checking in, chief. We're heading out to Granville in a couple of minutes." Lois said, shuffling papers around on her desk. She and Clark were busying themselves for not only their main assignment, but also their own assignment, making sure Lex didn't get himself captured or killed in Granville.

"We're going to be busy, Lois. We have Ray to investigate, both for the paper, and for. . .other reasons, plus we've got to make sure Lex doesn't get himself killed."

"Yeah, well, I can do the investigation, solo, if you wanna protect your boyfriend." Lois grinned, poking Clark. That remark almost earned her a scorch mark.

"Anyway, I think it'd be better if we both did the research, and just let Lex do his own thing. He's a big boy now, he can protect himself. Or, he better be able to. I can't drop my job for him."

"Well, Clark, we better hope he can handle himself. We taking my car, or you?"

"Car. Definitely car. No more flights for you in the near future."

"Darn."

Proposed headquarters of Luthorcorp in Granville

"So, once Mr. Luthor arrives, we will tour the building, ending up in the sub-basement, where Lex will be exploring hitherto unexplored realms of pain. Is the room ready for our guest?" Ray asked, smiling tightly. He would finally have revenge on Lex for the death of his cousin.

"Yes, sir. Everything is prepared for Lex's arrival. We will be moving the remainder of the equipment into the room after Lex is . . . there. No sense in arousing any suspicion." Garrett Waters, one of Ray's minions, said. He didn't understand his boss's fixation on Lex, but he wasn't being paid to. He had been guarenteed a position within Luthorcorp after Lionel took control.

"Mr. Luthor just called, Ray. He's been. . .delayed in Metropolis, he says that he will be in Granville by 4pm, and once he tours the city, he will arrive here." Garrett said, holding the phone out for Ray. He grabbed it.

"Hello, Lex. Yes, I completely understand the delay, no, of course not, not an inconvience. Of course, you're understandably busy with Luthorcorp. Where would you like to meet me for the tour? City Hall? No problem. Say. . .6 o'clock tonight? Perfect. Thanks for calling, Lex. Have a nice day. Yes, goodbye." Ray hung up and turned to Garrett.

"He will be here at 8pm, our tour will have to look convincing, last a couple hours. By 10 tonight, Lex Luthor will be completely at our mercy!" Ray sounded about as delusionally deranged with power as Lionel. Meanwhile, Clark and Lois had arrived at the old building, and were at the main level.

"I don't like the looks of this place, Clark." Lois said, staring at the old building where Luthorcorp was proposing to move. They'd arrived there after going first to City Hall, and finding out Mayor Dinsmore wasn't there. They had decided to interview the mayor first, to see if they could gather anything useful from him.

"Well, onward and upward, Ms. Lane, unless, of course, you want me to do the interview all by myself." Clark needled.

"Psssh, farmboy. You can't even handle feeding the cows and bailing hay by yourself. I wouldn't trust you to do an interview if my life depended on it." The choice of words was lost on her, but Clark, the hurt of Chloe's verbal outburst a few days ago still fresh in his mind, took a double meaning.

"Well, then I guess you should be glad your life doesn't, since you blame me for your cousin dying." Clark bit off the word cousin, and stomped downstairs, where he spied a light on.

"Clark, I didn't mean anything by it! She trusted you with her life, and so do I! Clark, come on, please?" Lois ran after him, but Clark was already out of sight.

"Clark, wait. Please. Look, I'm sorry. I just. . .I guess I got used to you saving everyone from everything, that when you didn't show up for me, it just hurt. I don't mean from the house, because we set that up, but from Lionel."

"We can. . .discuss this later, Chloe. Right now. . ." Clark whispered back.

"Can I help you, lady and gentleman?" the voice of Ray Dinsmore cut through the slight tension in the air.

"Yes, Mr. Mayor, we'd like to do an in depth interview, if you've got the time." Lois spoke up.

"Of course, for the two star reporters from the Planet, I have all the time in the world. Shall we move upstairs?"

"What's wrong with this room right here?" Clark asked, pointing to the room Ray and his party had emerged from.

"We're moving toxic chemicals around in that room, it wouldn't be a safe place for an interview. May I suggest the conference room on the main floor?" Garrett said.

"Of course." Clark said, reaching up and 'accidently' knocking his glasses off.

"Clumsy me. I'll get them, why don't you run ahead, Lois?" Clark knelt down and quickly x-rayed the room in question, seeing several. . .machines he wasn't familiar with. He quickly grabbed his glasses and put them on, and then ran ahead to catch up with Lois. He caught her eye and winked slightly, then shook his head imperceptivity. Lois plead with her eyes, but Clark again shook his head. All this happened in the span of a couple of seconds, as they made their way into the conference room.

"Thank you, mayor. I'm Clark Kent, and this is my partner, Lois Lane. We'll try not to take up too much of your time."

"Take as much time as you want, Lois, Clark. As I said, for the Planet's star duo, anything."

"As mayor of Granville for the past 16 years, you've accomplished great things. But, why do you feel the need to bring Luthorcorp here?" Lois certainly didn't start small.

"Well, Lois, I feel that in my time as mayor, this city has taken great strides, but I have not made the one big coup. Bringing Luthorcorp here would quintuple our workforce, it would add roughly 200,000 new jobs to Granville. Last year's GDP was up 4.3 year on year, we feel that bringing Luthorcorp here would at least triple that. Plus, our revenue would at least quadruple. Our economy would be revitalized, our population would increase, therefore, our tax revenue would increase per capita, so we could even lower taxes for our citizens. Everyone would benefit."

"Are you also aiming to have a couple of Luthorcorp plants relocate to your city?" Clark asked.

"I am hopeful that once Mr. Luthor realizes how much we have to offer, yes, he will relocate some plants, or even start construction on new plants."

"Luthorcorp also puts out a great deal of harmful chemicals, as you know. How do you assure your citizens that pollution will not be a risk?" Lois posed.

"Well, we have run some computer models, and have come to the conclusion that the minimal reduction in air quality is well worth the benefits Luthorcorp will bring. Our air quality rating was a 9.7 on the EPA's scale of pollutants, and bringing in Luthorcorp, and restarting the two vacant plants on the south side of the city will reduce the rating by only half a point. Still well inside the EPA safety standard."

"How about the . . . rift people think exists between you and the Luthors, most notably the late Lionel Luthor?" Clark started putting the heat on. He knew Ray was hiding something, and he just wanted a speck to go on.

"I have gotten over that, Clark. I harbor no ill will towards any member of the Luthor family." Ray insisted. Clark, however, heard the mans heartbeat speed up.

"This is an interesting building, mayor. Is this the proposed site for the new Luthorcorp headquarters?" Lois questioned.

"Yes, it is. This building was chosen by Mr. Luthor, for it's unique design, and immaculate view of the skyline."

"Since this is an in depth interview, would you object if I asked about your stay in Belle Reeve?" Clark said, staring right at the man. He smiled as he briefly saw the man flinch, and then recover himself.

"No, of course not. I have nothing to hide. When Emily died, I was devastated. How could I not be? She was like a sister to me. I. . .was pretty out of it for a while, so of course my parents consulted doctors. When I exhibited some violent behavior, they had no choice but to commit me until I recovered. They were only looking out for me."

"Your parents?"

"I considered my aunt and uncle to be my parents. They were more so then my so-called real parents, that's for sure."

"So you harbor no ill will for any Luthor? This coming from the man who was, by his own admission, devastated to the point of mental breakdown over his sister's death. Then, when said sister reappeared, and then died again, at Lionel's hands, you didn't care? I find that hard to believe, Ray. Come on, you hate the Luthors, don't you? It's quite all right. I hate them myself. Lex Luthor was directly responsible for the death of my cousin. Believe me when I say this, I know the treachary their kind is capable of."

"Then why, Ms. Lane, do you condone Clark's friendship with your cousin's murderer?" Ray asked.

"WHAT? CLARK? What is he talking about? I thought you hated Lex Luthor as much as I did? How could you? Chloe was your friend. . .your girlfriend at one time! I thought she meant more to you then that!"

"Lois. . .I. . ."

"NO! Get out of here Clark! Before I throw you out! I don't want to see you again." Lois was basically screaming. Clark was trying not to smile, he knew what she was up to.

"But. . .Lois, I swear. . ."

"Mayor Dinsmore, please make sure he leaves!" Lois was playing this out to the hilt.

"Garrett, show our guest to the door."

"My keys are in her purse. Can I at least get them?" Lois waved her hand at her purse, not even looking at Clark. Clark rummaged around, found his keys, and then slowly walked to the door.

"Lois. . .please. . .I just. . ." Garrett shoved Clark out of the building, and locked the door behind him.

". . . want to thank you." Clark finished, grinning boyishly. Chloe was one hell of an actor, that was for sure. Among her many talents. Clark made a show of walking to his car, dropped his keys, picked them up, and supersped out to the room he'd seen Ray and Garrett coming out of. He closed his eyes, imagined himself floating gently upwards, and when he opened his eyes again, he was eye level with a window looking into the room. He glanced around, seeing vats of chemicals, some machines, nothing out of the ordinary, except for a metal bed in one corner. He heard someone coming around the corner of the building, so he quickly descended, and supersped back to the car.

"I could've sworn I heard someone back here." He heard Garrett saying.

"Well, no one is here. Ah, Mr. Kent, what are you still doing here?" Ray spoke up, eyeing Clark sitting in the driver's seat.

"Lois still needs a ride back, despite our fight. I owe her that."

"That's big of you, Clark. I suppose I can stomach a car trip back to Metropolis with you. Just don't expect to talk to me." Lois said, walking briskly to the car and opening the passenger side door. She got in, and Clark drove off, towards the highway.

"Well, Smallville?"

"You could work on Broadway, Chloe. Or in movies, or even on a TV show. Back to business, though. What happened after I left?"

"He told me that if I wanted to get my own revenge on Lex Luthor, I should be here tonight at midnight. He warned me to come alone." Clark smirked as he rummaged through her purse.

"Clark, what're you doing?"

"You're not the only one who can be slick, Ms. Sullivan." Clark grinned, pulling out a tape recorder. He rewound the tape, and played it. Everything Lois said was concretely on tape.

"So now, Mr. Kent, what do you suggest we do with this? Bring it to the police?"

"No, they'll not accept this as evidence of anything. We have to bring it to Lex." Clark said.

"You can get it there faster then this car ever could, Clark."

"This is true. I don't like superspeeding around the city, but flying is out. Drop me off here, I'll meet you back at the Planet. We'll say we're there to go over the interview you got with Dinsmore." Lois nodded, and pulled over. Clark got out, and looked around. Not seeing anyone, he supersped off towards Luthorcorp.

Summerholt

"Rest and relax, Lex. We're making definite progress." Garner assured Lex, as the slab was lowered into the kryptonite solution.

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"Lex, honey, could you please come in here for a minute?" Lillian called, coughing once. She was laying in her hospital bed, an IV dripping pain relievers into her bloodstream. Her chemo wreaked havoc with her system, frequently causing her nausea, and heart palpatations. She was also in excrutiating pain without the medication. Thirteen year old Lex Luthor stepped into the room, the light reflecting off his head, creating a momentary halo effect around his head. To Lillian, it seemed she was looking at an angel.

"Yeah, Mom?" Lex found it difficult, even two years after the Julian incident, to call Lillian "Mom", but seeing her like this. . .it stirred something inside him that he thought had been killed that night.

"Lex, you know I've been sick for a few months, right?"

"Yes, Mom. Dad says you're not going to get any better. He said you've got less then half a year left to live. But I need you, Mom. You can't die! You can't leave me with him! I need you!" Lex said, a few tears slipping down from his eyes. He meant what he said. His Mom was the only thing keeping him from truly becoming his father's son.

"Just like Lionel. Deliver the news, cold hearted SOB! Never once stopping to think how it'll affect a 13 year old boy. Dammit! Lex, listen to me. You are not only his son, you're our son. That means you have the best of me, and the best of him, whatever that may be. Remember to not listen too closely to what he has to say, Joesph. Emotions can only help, never hurt, the human condition. Be strong, Lex. Be bold, be cunning, but never ruthless. There is only one person in the world who can take on your father and win, and that's you. One day, you must bring him down, make him pay for all the crimes he's committed, and those he has yet to commit."

"Mom, I won't let you die. I promise. I'll make sure you live." Lex said, squeezing her hand once, and then walking out of the room.

"Lex. . .son, come back!" Lillian called, before a violent coughing fit hit her. A nurse raced in and increased the dosage of the pain medication. Lex turned, looking through the window, and then turned away, unable to bear seeing his mother that weak.

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"OK, Lex, that's it for today. Be here in a couple days. Have a good day. Oh yes, don't worry about sudden spontanious memories in the middle of the day. Side effects from this therapy. It is perfectly normal, nothing to worry about."

Lex, deeply troubled by the recent tragedies he'd been forced to live over again, needed some fatherly advice. Fortunately, he had a father to turn to. Clark's. He got into his car, and made a beeline for the Kent farm. Clark, meanwhile, had made a beeline for Luthorcorp, and not finding Lex there, decided to do a little aerial search. He changed into his suit, and then took off, covering Metropolis in a zig zag pattern. He spotted Lex's Porsche racing along Highway 23, heading for Smallville. He flew overhead, and then overtook the car.

"Clark is one weird person." Lex thought as he saw his friend disappearing in the distance. He drove on, reaching the Kent farm a little while later.

"What took you?" Clark grinned as he greeted his friend.

"Some red caped moron ran me off the road." Lex smirked as he climbed the porch steps. Clark stood in his dust, staring after Lex. He turned to look at the Porsche, as Lex closed the front door.

"I'm considering dropping the memory restoration procedures. I . . . I don't think I can handle going through childhood traumas all over again. It's like reliving your worst nightmare, day after day."

"If I had a 3 month hole in my memory, it would be worth the momentary pain I'd endure to have those months uncovered, Lex. You're a strong person, and you have a strong family here for you. We'll get you through this, son, I promise." Johnathan pulled Lex to him, engulfing Lex in a bear hug. Outside, Clark turned back to the house, and seeing Lex in his father's arms, he ran inside. Johnathan motioned Clark into the hug, so Clark wrapped his arms around both of them.

"You're never alone, Lex. Never." Johnathan said. Clark squeezed Lex's arm gently to reenforce that thought. All wasn't right with Lex, but with this family behind him, all would soon be right. Lex was sure of it.