"It's time!" Lionel yelled, rushing into Lillian's hospital room. Lex stood up and smiled, he'd been sitting in that damned hospital chair for the past 5 hours, waiting. He turned around and shook Chloe awake.
"The baby will be here soon!" he told her, smiling.
"Oh. Well, whyd you wake me up?"
"Don't you wanna see the baby?"
"I guess." She got up and followed him to the window. They watched as Lionel held Lillian's hand and as Lillian pushed hard, and a few minutes later, they were rewarded as a cry could be heard, the baby was born!
"What's it's name?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know. Dad hasn't told us yet, what he wants for boy, and what he wants for girl."
"Hey, Lex, Chloe, come on in here and meet your new brother and cousin." Lionel called out, walking to the door and opening it, with the baby in his arms.
"What's his name, Uncle Lionel?"
"Julian, Julian Augustus Luthor." Lionel carefully placed Julian in Lex's arms, and the baby quieted, and cooed up at Lex. Lex smiled back and tickled under Julian's chin.
"Hush little baby... don't say a word... I'm gonna buy you a mockingbird... and if that mocking bird don't sing... I'm gonna buy you a diamond ring... If that diamond ring turns brass... I'm gonna buy you...a looking glass." Lex smiled down at Julian, who was fast asleep in his arms.
"You're a natural, son." Lionel smiled at Lex, and taking Julian, deposited him in Lillian's arms.
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"OK, so you can dance, Bruce. You're still uptight a lot of the time." Oliver said, after Bruce cooled down.
"And even though you have shown you can be calm and collected, you're a wild partier." Bruce shot back.
"But each of us have qualities the other likes, so why don't we try and live with those?" Lex asked.
"I suppose I could do that. . .if Oliver tried harder to be less. . .disruptive all the time."
"And I suppose I could learn to like Bruce, so long as he doesn't try to calm me down, and try and interest me in his hobby."
"You mean the meditating? I tried that, and it really worked for me!"
"No, I mean Bruce is unusally fascinated by bats. He's like, got a room at the Wayne Manor devoted to bats."
"Bats?" Lex turned to Bruce.
"Well, they're fascinating creatures. Totally blind, but able to function using sonar pulses. Night creatures who don't come out during the day. I just really am interested by them."
"Well, um, that's interesting to know, Bruce. So, while we're here, what do you say we have some fun?" Lex smiled as he got up and headed out to the dance floor, Oliver following, and Bruce sitting back and watching. After one quick dance, Lex returned, slumped over, and ordered a drink.
"Having morals is one thing, but forgetting to live a little is something entirely different, Mr. Wayne." Bruce turned to face the bartender.
"What if I've forgotten how to live?"
"I think you haven't forgotten, I just think you like to let people think that. Your little. . .display earlier, on the dance floor? Young Mr. Luthor's been coming here for a couple months, he's probably one of the best dancers I've seen, and you put him to shame in 5 minutes. That proves you know how to live, it just, you've buried that part of yourself deep down. Let it out, Mr. Wayne. As they say, you only live once."
"And you weren't hitting on clichés until that last sentence, pity." Bruce smiled to soften the effect of the barb.
"See? That's what I mean, that's funny. Do some more of that." Bruce looked comtemplative.
"That's funny, cause I told Lex that this afternoon."
"Well, Mr. Wayne, practice what you preach, and you'll be OK."
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"Lex, son, why didn't you tell me you were using Claire Foster as your psychiatrist?"
"How did you find out?" Lex had been called into Lionel's office for a meeting, but little did he know Lionel had been digging around into Lex's own life.
"I have my ways, Lex. Friend of a friend and all of that. So, why didn't you let me know? These games, son, they do little to inspire confidence."
"Well, Dad, you started the games, I'm just playing by the rules."
"Secrets may be a part of the Kent family, Lex, but Luthors don't have any. I expect you to tell me such things are who your psychiatrist is."
"Why, Dad, so you can pay her off and have her turn me into one of your mindless yes drones?"
"No, son, Lex. I would never do that, I. . .what benefit would I have if you were just another one of the employees? You're my heir, Lex, you will be running the company when I am gone. Luthorcorp gains nothing if you are just another employee."
"Well, then, Dad, I guess I have nothing to worry about, do I? And since we don't have secrets, tell me again why you want me to submit to a psychiatrist? Is it really for my own good, or for your own twisted agenda?" Lionel moved closer and put his arms on Lex's shoulder, intensely staring into Lex's eyes.
"Oh, Lex, despite my. . .ruthless reputation, I would never play with my own flesh and blood, not like that."
"You haven't answered my question, Dad, why do you want me on the couch?"
"I just want to, um, ensure that Luthorcorp is getting the complete Lex Luthor. Free of any and all burdens, anything that may be weighing on your mind. You've, um, had a very rough time in Smallville, I want to, uh, make sure that it hasn't diminished your bright future. Desiree Atkins, Helen Bryce, Clark Kent's secrecy, the hostility you must have endured, it takes a toll, Lex, and I want to . . . give you the opportunity to vent in front of a professional."
"OK, Dad. I appreciate the concern. Is that all?"
"Yes, son. I just, uhm, wanted to let you know I agree wholeheartedly with your choice of psychiatrist. Claire Foster is highly recommended, accredited, she's written a couple of highly regarded books, she'll um, clear up any problems you may have."
"I'm sure she will, Dad." Lex turned and walked out of the room, missing the calculating smirk on Lionel's face.
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Lex walked into his study and saw Chloe nervously chewing on her bottom lip.
"Lex, I was thinking about what you said, and I. . .I need your help." Lex walked around behind his desk, and looked intensely at Chloe.
"All right, you've have the floor. But I'm interested to know why you didn't go to Clark with this. Considering he is virtually. . .invincible." Chloe quickly glanced around the room, in a vain attempt to search for surveilance devices.
"Don't worry, I check this room throughly, everyday. Nobody could plant anything in here, not since the disaster last year.
"He's your father, Lex, so I'm coming to you. If you'd rather, I can go elsewhere."
"No, Chloe, I was just curious why you picked me over Clark. Please, continue. How did you get entangled in this web?"
"It all started with the Wall of Weird. Your dad was interested in the effects of the meteor rocks. He wanted me to start feeding him information about the more bizarre incidents." Lex pondered this for a couple of minutes, before nodding.
"It's always been an obsession of his. But I can't imagine that's the extent of your arrangement." Lex got up and headed over to his bar, and Chloe followed. Lex poured himself a generous drink of scotch.
"He wanted me to spy on a friend."
"Who?" he asked dangerously. There was only one person who Lionel would remotely have interest in, and if Chloe said his name, a whole different game would be unfolded.
"Does it matter?" Chloe cringed, her nightmare of revealing the deal was coming to pass. Lex would tell Clark, Clark would tell Jonathan, and she'd be practically ostracized from the Kent family. Lex sipped his drink, waiting for Chloe to respond.
"Clark." She whispered, finally.
"WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS? Does Clark know? Did you? HOW IS HE SUPPOSED TO TRUST YOU?"
" I. . .I didn't, Lex, not at first. But. . .Lionel Luthor can be very. . .persistent, and he. . .he threatened me, threatened to fire my Dad, so I. . .so I started feeding him information, all useless, nothing incriminating. Nothing to do with his secret, I would never do that. Clark is my friend, and I told him that."
"Are you still working for my father, Chloe?" Lex sighed as he sat back down in his chair, rubbing his temples. What in the hell was he supposed to do now? Clark and Jonathan would definitely need to know this, but where would that leave Chloe?
"No, I. . .I've been trying to get out of that deal ever since I made it. So I. . .I figured that in order to get out of my agreement with him that I had to find something on your father. You know, something damaging enough so that I could blackmail Lionel Luthor." Lex raised an eyebrow and smirked at Chloe.
"First of all, Clark and Jonathan are going to hear this from your lips as soon as we're done here, and secondly, that was a very dangerous decision. I. . .I would say I'm proud of you, but you shouldn't have been in that situation to begin with! What made you go to my father, of all people?"
"I know, Lex, and believe me, I don't know what possessed me to do that. I guess. . .I guess that when I saw Clark and Lana . . . together in his barn, I . . . I snapped. That was right after we had a talk about secrets, and being honest, and he hadn't told me, so I . . . I wanted to hurt him like he'd hurt me." Lex leaned forward in his seat.
"I'll protect you, Chloe. You have my word. On two conditions, number one, you tell Clark and Jonathan yourself, and number two, I need to know what you found out about my father."
"Have you ever heard of a man named Morgan Edge?" Chloe slid a file across the coffee table to Lex.
"Before he was killed, he was the biggest crime lord in Metropolis." Lex opened the file and saw a newspaper article with a picture of Morgan Edge. The headline said "Morgan Edge - Metropolis Crime Lord Missing, Believed Dead."
"What have you found out, Chloe?"
"Your father used to run with a pretty tough crowd in Metropolis, Lex. Including Morgan Edge. In fact, Morgan was Lionel's closest childhood friend." Lex again thought over the facts, and came to a startling conclusion. One he kept to himself, for now.
"OK, Chloe, thank you. Now, we're going to take a nice drive out to the Kent Farm, and you're going to confess your deal to them." Lex got up and headed for the doors, and Chloe meekly followed.
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"Jonathan! We've got a slight problem." Lex called out, as he walked into the barn. Chloe, he noticed, was hanging back, clearly afraid of what Clark and Jonathan might do.
"Hey, Lex, how're you? What's the problem?" Jonathan walked into the barn from behind them, startling Chloe.
"Well, actually, Mr. Kent, uhm, I have the problem. Clark needs to be here, though."
"CLARK! We need you in the barn!" Jonathan yelled. A second later, Clark came whoosing out of the house, and stopped as he entered the barn.
"What's up, Chloe, Lex?"
"Um, I . . . Clark, I didn't mean to, but. . ."
"Whoa, Chloe, it's OK, just tell me what you did. Did you let my secret slip?"
"No, Clark, I . . . it's worse. Oh, it's so much worse. I'm so sorry, I'll understand if you never want to speak to me again." Clark, clearly puzzled, turned to Lex, and raised an eyebrow.
"It's her news to tell. I'm not bailing her out."
"Remember when you and Lana were making out last spring? Just before you took off for Metropolis?" Clark closed his eyes and looked away, guilt and shame written all over his face. He nodded silently.
"You aren't the only one who regrets what happened back then, Clark, believe me."
"What did you do?" Jonathan asked, staring intently at her.
"I. . .I went to Lionel Luthor. He. . .he wanted me to research Clark, his background, his family history, everything. Lionel said Clark was. . .special, somehow."
"You said no, right?" Jonathan's eyes went wide as he thought of all the ramifications of letting Chloe in on the secret.
"No. I said yes." It was as if the barn itself came crashing down around them, as Jonathan drew in a breath, and Clark just stood, rooted to the spot, sure his life was over.
"I didn't tell him anything! I swear. And I wouldn't! Ever. Clark, you're my best friend, you have to believe me. I've been trying to get out of it ever since. You told me yourself, Clark, that everybody has their weak moments, you were at yours in Metropolis, under the red kryptonite, and I was at mine when Lionel approached me. We both regret it, and I'm trying to get out of my deal. I promise. I would never betray your trust."
"You already have! I feel like I don't even know you anymore!" Clark spun on her quickly.
"You didn't know what you were doing, I grant you that, but you still do NOT betray your so called best friend to someone like LIONEL LUTHOR!" Jonathan yelled, standing still, restraining himself from throwing her off the farm forever.
"Chloe, it's. . .it's not enough that you didn't tell him anything. By accepting the deal, you let Lionel sink his claws into you, and he's going to scratch and claw you until theres nothing left. That's just the way he works." Clark said, looking Chloe in the eye. Lex raised an eyebrow, Clark was smarter then he let on, if he knew how people like his father operated.
"So what do we do now, Dad?"
"I don't know, Clark. This is what happens when you let people like the Luthors into your family." Jonathan said, not paying attention to who was in the barn. He quickly remembered, though, and glanced at Lex, and saw a flicker of pain on his face, before it disappeared.
"Lex. . .I, I didn't mean you. You're different. I'm sorry, son. It just, it slipped out."
"No, you're right, Jonathan. People like my father can't be trusted. I've always tried to distance myself from the Luthor name, so, you know, it. . .it didn't hurt. You were just speaking your mind. Forget about it."
"You still haven't answered Clark's question, Mr. Kent, what are you going to do?" Chloe asked, sighing as she spoke. This was all her fault.
"Chloe, I just, I think it'd be best if you left for the rest of today. You can call your Dad to come pick you up, or something." Jonathan said, turning to Lex and Clark.
"I think I should leave, as well. My father has been asking too many questions about why I hang around here, as it is. Besides, I'm Chloe's ride, so I should get her home. Jonathan, Clark, why don't you come by the mansion later so we can. . .discuss this at greater length?" Lex walked out of the barn, Chloe followed, again, meekly.
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"OK, Lex, so what's the game plan?" Jonathan asked, sitting down by the fireplace. They'd been at the mansion for an hour, just shooting the breeze, but now, they got down to business.
"Dad's always been fascinated by Clark, ever since the adoption. Ever since your two paths crossed for the first time. I did some checking, and Metropolis United Charities only handled two adoptions, Clark's, and Lucas'. I don't know what you gave him back, Jonathan, but it had to be something. That's not the point, though. Ever since then, Dad's kept up with you, Clark. All the saves, the lack of any revelant medical history, it's all in his files. Last year, for some reason, probably your fascination with the Kawatche Caves, he got more intrigued, and decided to try and hire someone to spy on you. Who better then a high school journalist with a penchant for the truth, at any cost? So he did. It's not really Chloe's fault, as she said, Dad took advantage of a moment of weakness. You, more so then anybody, can understand that."
"The question remains, Lex, what are we going to do?" Clark asked.
"I don't think there is anything you can do. You have a savior's complex, Clark, and I've tried warning you that it'll get you in trouble sooner or later. And now, it has, to an extent. I suggest you keep up appearances, and keep doing whatever it is you normally do. I'll try and find out how much Dad knows. Chloe isn't going to be giving him any information, because she's trying to get out of the deal, so she clearly realized her mistake, almost as soon as she made the deal. We know, now, the ramifications of keeping this secret, and we know what's at stake. So don't worry, I doubt Dad will be able to buy anyone else off."
"I don't like just sitting around waiting for men in black to come take my son away."
"That isn't going to happen, Jonathan. I promise you that, I'll warn you before anything like that could happen."
"I think Lex is right, Dad. Don't let Lionel know we're on to his game, just go about life as normal, and if something happens, we'll deal with it. We should almost be thanking Chloe for letting us know how far Lionel is in his pursuit of me."
"I still don't like it, but I don't see what else we can do. Thank you, Lex. Please keep us informed of anything you find. You hanging around, Clark?"
"No, I think I should come home. Lex, I'll see you later. Lets go, Dad."
"Bye, Jonathan, Clark.
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Lex roared onto the Kent farm, just in time to see someone get off the back of a truck, and waddle/walk over to where Jonathan and Clark were standing. He quickly ran out of his car to see what the problem was.
"I didn't off-road my car for laughs, Mr. Kent. I swerved to miss your son. Look, I'll make this easy on you. I need a local who knows the territory to ferry me around. You loan me Clark for a couple days, we'll call it even."
"What seems to be the problem here?" Lex smiled as he walked up to the group.
"Lex Luthor? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Perry? I should be asking you that. Why are you in Smallville? Come to grill me on my father some more? Perhaps some noble fact-finding mission?"
"Whoa, wait a second, you two obviously know each other, but from where?" Jonathan looked back and forth between Lex and Perry.
"Metropolis. I was 16, and Mr. White here came to me looking for information on my father. Barged right into Excelsior Prep and started questioning me. It look an hour until school security managed to escort him away."
"You were a legit source, Lex."
"I was only 16, and all you wanted was dirt on my father. For what, I still don't know."
"Seems your father is still keeping secrets, Lex. Some that he can't even share with his son."
"Look around Smallville all you want, but I better not hear stories of you strong-arming any of my friends, or you're going to find yourself on a one way bus to hell. Do I make myself clear?" Lex strode right into Perry's face, glaring down at him.
"Don't worry, Alex, I won't bother with my old habits."
"See that you don't." Lex turned on his heel and walked away. A second later, all that remained was a cloud of dust.
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Lex was quietly resting his head on his desk, just trying to keep up with all of the past few days events. Clark had revealed his secret to him, albeit, under strange circumstances. Red kryptonite induced criminal behavior had forced Lex to take drastic measures to bring Clark home. Then, with his prodding, Clark had told the girls, and together, they'd defeated a powerful mutant. To top it off, Chloe revealed her own secret, a devil deal with his father, who was bent on figuring out the very secret he was now a part of. Oh, what Lionel wouldn't give to know that morsel of information. The sound of a throat clearing caused him to wearily lift his head up and look at whoever interrupted his little midday nap.
"Lana. What can I do for you?"
"Lex... I'm sorry. I'm interrupting."
"No, no. It's quite all right. The past few days have been a bit. . .strange. I was just trying to come to grips with all of it."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I. . .I freaked out so badly on Clark. I wouldn't blame him if he hates me."
"I wouldn't call it hate, exactly. He's not. . .enamored by you anymore, that's a given. But hate? Clark? Not possible. If you flat out asked him, he probably doesn't even hate my father. But you didn't come all this way to talk about Clark, did you?"
"No, um, this tabloid television reporter came by the Talon today, and he wanted to do an interview with me about the meteor shower."
"A succinct "no comment" didn't dissuade him?"
"Not really. He said he was gonna come back tomorrow, this time with a camera crew."
"And you don't want that."
"I've spent the last 14 years trying to put that day behind me, and in an instant he brought it all back. I know it's a lot to ask, but I was hoping that you might be able to do something." Lex took a look at Lana, and then turned away, taking a seat next to the fireplace.
"I'm surprised you didn't go to Clark with this."
"Clark's with him."
"It's Perry White? Lana, he's very. . .persuasive, trust me. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you anymore." Lana gave him a small smile, and she exhaled.
"Don't worry, Lana, Mr. White is going to be long gone by tomorrow."