Chapter Fourteen: Too little, Too late

Clark jolted awake on the couch in the barn, only to be greeted by Chloe's face as she placed a hand on his chest, pushing him back onto the couch, 'Lie down. You've bruised your ribs-' Clark groaned in pain, he felt weak, 'Why haven't I healed yet?' he wondered aloud.

'That thing...whatever it was...it was pretty strong Clark.'

Clark nodded, he sat up whilst wincing, his eyes met Chloe's, the tear stains on her cheeks reminded him suddenly of what had happened.

'Lana?'

Chloe shook her head but didn't say a word. The silence was enough to understand the reality of the situation. Lana was dead. He had failed to save her.

Clark felt tears sting his eyes, Chloe reached out to comfort him but he pulled away.

'It wasn't your fault-' Chloe said comfortingly as she felt tears fill her own eyes.

'Chloe-' his hoarse voice landed on deaf ears as Chloe continued comforting him and put a hand on his shoulder.

'Don't blame yourself for this Clark-'

'Just...leave me alone.' The bluntness of his words came as a ton of bricks to her, she silently pulled away. Hurt by his distant behaviour, she climbed to her feet.

'Look if you have to mourn, then mourn. But we're ALL mourning Clark.'

Clark didn't look up from the ground. He wanted to ask her where Lois was, he wanted to ask her how much Lois saw and whether Lois had said anything, but the guilt he felt at failing to save Lana was too overwhelming. He couldn't form words.

After a long pause he asked Chloe, 'How long was I out?'

'Three days.' She replied as she stood at the top of the stairs.

Clark inhaled deeply, letting the air fill his lungs, he felt his ribs throb under his t-shirt. He ran two hands through his short wavy locks as Chloe turned to face the staircase.

'She's been buried.' Chloe added, her voice was still shaken.

Clark looked at Chloe, the great distance between the two old friends resonated throughout the room. They were no longer as close as they once were, Clark didn't want Chloe to be the one to make him feel better, when she agreed to marry Jimmy, Clark had pushed her out of his heart. He couldn't rely on her or expect her to be there for him. It wasn't fair for Chloe.

And if cutting the apron strings hurt, then they'd have to bare the pain, because it was the only way forward and they both knew it.

'You had her buried whilst I was unconscious??' This time his tone had a layer of anger and betrayal in it. He felt robbed of the right to say goodbye.

'I didn't do anything. Nell did.'

Clark stared at her. Chloe smiled sadly, 'So much for a happy ending.'

Clark paused as he looked at her, uncertain as to what she meant by that.

Chloe smiled through her tears, 'the wedding is off...' Clark felt another wave of guilt spread across him, he regretted being so standoffish towards her moments earlier.

'Chloe...I'm sorry.'

'Don't be,' she said with a sad smile.

'Thanks...for taking care of me when I was out.'

'That was all Lois.' Chloe admitted, 'She didn't leave your side for a second, I had to practically beg her to take a shower and have some coffee this morning.'

Clark straightened slightly as Chloe turned and walked away. He looked at the floorboards, trying to get his mind around everything. Lana was dead. She was really dead. And he had failed to save her. Not to mention the fact that Lois knew about his powers now, and he had lost two of his abilities with no clue as to how he could get them back. Out of frustration, he punched the wooden wall-his hand splintered and stung, Clark pulled it back as he let out a pained groan. The wall had cracked, but it hadn't broken. He had somehow lost his superstrength. He closed his eyes as he felt his hand heal. What was he going to do?? It began to rain outside, as defeat set in.

'Hey Clark...' Clark lifted his head to see Jimmy, who had a bandage on his forehead from where he had been injured by the creature.

'Jimmy...I'm sorry about the wedding.'

Jimmy smiled sadly, 'don't be. I just want what's best for her...'

Clark studied Jimmy, Chloe must have ended the wedding.

'I'm sorry about Lana...' Clark stared at Jimmy who walked towards him, 'You okay?'

Clark frowned slightly, 'I don't know.' He lifted his eyes to his friends, 'Is it wrong that even though there's so much going on...even though so much has happened, I just wanna see Lois?'

Jimmy smiled and put a hand on his shoulder, 'Clark...when I woke up this morning and found Chloe sitting by my side, I didn't care that some creature out there was trying to kill us a fews days earlier, I didn't care that I hadn't rang work, I didn't care that the wedding was ruined...When things go crazy, everyone has somebody who can slow it all down. I guess for you...' he said thoughtfully, 'That person's Lois.'

Clark smiled gratefully as Jimmy turned and walked away, 'Jimmy?'

Jimmy looked at his friend, Clark nodded sincerely, 'Thank you.'

'I didn't do anything CK,' he said politely, 'Chloe and I are heading back to Metropolis, she wants to keep busy...you know Chloe,' he said as shook his head, 'she'll go crazy if she isn't busy.'

Clark smiled sadly, he wondered why he didn't feel worse. He had never thought how he would react if Lana died, but now that she was gone, it scared him how little heartache he felt...maybe it was because Lana didn't have his heart anymore, despite his mixed thoughts, his heart still felt heavy. He decided to leave the barn, he walked down the stairs, he didn't feel strong enough to use his abilities just yet.

Lois set yet another pie down on the surface top in the Kent kitchen. She let out a tired breath. She gave her large collection of freshly baked pies a satisfied nod. She was keeping busy. The only thing she knew how to do. She had showered, she hadn't had breakfast yet, the thought of sitting down and having a coffee might allow reality to sink in. And she knew for a fact she wasn't ready to let that happen. Not yet. Not with Clark unconscious and Lana dead.

For the past few days Lois Lane had banned herself from feeling anything. If she let herself feel what had happened, she'd probably go crazy or sob hysterically for four hours straight.

Lois jumped at the sound of the door closing, she felt a wave of warmth wash over her as a semi-confused, drenched Clark Kent gazed at her and all her pies. Lois ran into his arms, clutching him tightly.

'Oh thank god you're okay...' she whispered, her warm breath made his neck tingle, he enjoyed her warmth as he tightened his hold on her. He thought he was dreaming for a moment. Lois seemed completely unaffected by the revelation of his abilities, instead she was hugging him tighter than she had ever hugged him. She ran her hands through his wet hair as she gazed up at him, he was really there. This wasn't a dream, Lois cupped his face and kissed him firmly. Clark closed his eyes, for a moment he felt miles better, almost forgetting about everything that had transpired over the past few days, but only for a moment. As Lois pulled away from him, she handed him a towel, 'Here...'

Clark took the towel gratefully and patted himself dry, he had always enjoyed the rain, but wished he could have felt the way it feels when raindrops landed against his skin.

Clark watched Lois as she headed over to the oven and switched it off, she put the oven gloves aside and took a good look at Clark. Clark glanced at the pies.

'That's alot of pies.'

'When losing your mind...bake.' Lois said decidedly, 'Its what my little sister taught me.'

Clark raised an eyebrow, 'I guess you're losing your mind...alot.' He said as he counted the number of pies.

'I haven't lost it all just yet...' she said with a smile. Their banter somehow calmed them both, it made them feel better, maybe it was because it felt so familiar to them, or maybe it was because they bantered with eachother.

Either way, they felt better when they were together.

'How are you feeling?' Lois asked in a concerned tone.

Clark took in a deep breath, 'I honestly...don't know.'

'Clark...' Lois said, her expression showing just how dissatisfied she was with his answer, 'Lana's dead. Chloe isn't getting married, you almost died-'

'We ALL almost died-'

'Just...talk to me.'

'What do you want me to say Lois?' He shot back.

Lois frowned at his change in tone, 'I don't know Clark...' she put her hand son her hips, 'Maybe...'Gee Lo, how are you coping with the fact that I've been lying to you about a particular secret over the past four years??'

Clark frowned, 'you want me to call you Lo-?'

'NO.' She let out a sigh, Clark studied her, 'How are you doing?'

'Not good. Clark...I'm not doing good at all.'

They both let out a defeated sigh and sat on parallel stools, they watched the pies. Clark paused, 'Is that pineapple?'

Lois shrugged, 'Yep, you're out of apple, peach, apricot, berries, banana's and toffee by the way...' she paused, 'oh-and pineapple.'

Clark gave her a small smile. Lois tried to smile back but she struggled to hide her emotions.

'I'm sorry you missed her funeral Clark. I know how much you loved her.'

'How much I used to love her.' Clark corrected, Lois glanced at him.

'It's okay to let yourself feel what you feel where Lana's concerned, Clark...'

'You wanna know what I feel Lois?'

Lois nodded, Clark felt a sting of restlessness hit him, 'I feel like I failed. I feel like I could have stopped it if I was there moments earlier. I feel like I failed to protect everyone I care about-you, Jimmy, Chloe, Lana...I've lost three of my abilities, so I'm feeling pretty human right now and I'll be honest with you Lois...I don't like it one bit. I feel so...so...' he trailed off for a moment, his vulnerable gaze met hers, 'Powerless. I feel powerless.' He admitted finally to himself as well as Lois.

'Do not blame yourself for what happened. Atleast you had your abilities to start with Clark...if you weren't here-we'd all be dead.'

Clark stubbornly tried to argue, 'That thing wouldn't have attacked us if-'

'You had nothing to do with Davis and his 'Jekyll and Hyde complex'-whether you were there or not-Chloe still would've met him. He still would've had this side to him...'

Clark hung his head for a moment, she was right. Lois climbed to her feet, 'Look Smallville, either we can sit here and feel sorry for ourselves wondering 'what if...' and 'why didn't someone who's been in my life for four years trust me enough to be themselves around me...''

Clark glanced at Lois, as a wave of guilt poured over him.

'Or we can get off our butts and try saving Metropolis and our friends from that...that THING.'

Clark nodded, Lois Lane was stubborn, brutally honest and unstoppable, she was amazing. Lois grabbed her keys and headed for the door, Clark followed.

'Lois?'

Lois turned and cast him a sideways glance in the doorway, 'what Smallville?'

Clark smiled slightly, the look he gave her was enough for her to get the message.

'Your welcome, now come on. After this we might just have the greatest story of the century to write...'

Clark grinned as he shook his head. He loved Lois's attitude towards life, when bad things happened, she'd sulk barely for a moment and then dive headfirst into finding a solution. And today, he was endlessly grateful for her restlessness. Who knows what he might have felt if he let himself dwell for a moment too long.

End chapter fourteen: