Chapter 25

[Smallville Medical Center—Forty-five minutes later]

Clark sat in the quiet waiting room apprehensively. He knew that Drs. Reed and Sanders would take the best care possible with Lana. As in the barn, he felt warm and sweaty from his nerves. He wiped his forehead off with a damp cloth. He tried thumbing through several magazines to no avail.

Around him loomed a maze of empty seats. The few other patients had gone through the motions, been checked over by the doctors and went home.

His heart beating boomed in his ears.

His nerves over his beloved's condition burned in his brain.

His fear over what said nerves would set off inside of himself—namely another potential Kal outing—burned in his brain. The accompanying numbness refused to abate.

He worried about potential complications concerning Lana's legs. He silently panicked about the aftereffects of Kal's rampage.

Now that the proverbial cat had escaped the bag, the world knew something was out there. Even if the united friends had brought Kal to heel before big time exposure could ensue, the signs remained behind. Even if Lex's and Dr. Swann's rebuilding (and looking the other way) efforts succeeded, it couldn't be a secret anymore.

And, he worried, others like Morgan Edge and the corrupt cop from two years earlier would find the farm and him….They would force him to do things.

He just wanted his life back as it had been….But things had changed again.

And with all of his power, he couldn't do a damn thing about that.

He paced a few times while trying to burn off his nerves. He glanced at his watch expectantly hoping to will the seconds away. He glanced in the direction of the receptionist desk hoping for some sign from the nurse….

…Alas none came yet….

"Come on. You know it's going to be okay. She's alive. We're all going to make it," he told himself. He got up. "Coffee sounds good." He knew the main waiting area had the coffee machine there. He hoped the magic java would help him to forget. He hustled from the office toward that point.

Alas he had a surprise waiting there too…..

[Personnel Office—Five minutes earlier]

In the adjacent hall, Sandra finished filling out her paperwork for the medical center. After the fight between Kal and Byron, the investigative clinic had closed its doors for a few months. The clinic sadly needed structural repairs even before the fight. Now the area had cracks along the walls and roof.

Not to mention the administrators had blamed her for starting the whole thing.

It's not my fault that savage tried to rape me! I'm thankful that Mr. Moore could save me. She trembled in revulsion remembering Kal's cruel intentions. She feared he'd hurt her or worse….

Then her heart warmed at the thought of her Poet Prince. While she knew of his Other, the nurse knew neither persona would hurt her. She knew he'd protect her no matter what. He's here somewhere. I'll find him. Hopefully his parents won't be too put off by my just showing up. At least Mr. Luthor helped me to get this job. She eyed the job description in front of herself. Home health care. Well at least I can help this girl out. Poor Miss Lang. Having her legs broken for the second time! She shook her head sadly. I can make a difference!

The director, a portly dark haired man, smiled at her. He looked over her forms and nodded. "Thank you, Miss Riley. Everything's in order. Miss Lang's doctor is down two halls and to the right. If you'd like, you have time for a cup of coffee before she finishes her appointment."

"That would be lovely. Thank you, Mr. Tweedle," she expressed with a pleasant smile. "Room 2300. I'm looking forward to meeting her and that host family."

"The Kents are great people. You'll like them. In fact their son, Clark, is here with Miss Lang. You'll meet him up there," Tweedle assessed. "See you back here day after tomorrow then?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you. Have a great evening. See you then!" Sandra headed toward the waiting room in question. She really wanted that cup of coffee to help with the tickle in her throat. She maintained a rapid pace down the hall and entered the waiting room in question.

Contrary to her expectations, the room lay mostly empty. The lone exception, a tall dark haired man, stood at the coffee machine with his back turned to her. He seemed to wait as the machine whirred his drink into the cup in question sitting in its slot.

As he turned to face her, her eyes went wide…..

[Two minutes prior]

Clark meandered into the waiting room desiring his caffeinated nirvana. I know Lex has that get together planned at the Talon but I really need something! He put his change into the machine and selected "Light Coffee with Sugar".

The machine kicked to life, dropping a paper cup into place and starting the dark flow into said container.

He tapped his fingers on the dispenser's side anxiously while trying to dispel nervous energy. He heard the light footfalls on the tile behind himself. He grabbed the cup and turned toward the next person to excuse himself.

"It's you!" Sandra exclaimed wide eyed. She backed away in a dead panic.

"Me what?" he wondered. He didn't recognize her but, for some reason, she seemed familiar. "What's wrong?"

"Just get away from me!" She bolted from the room and toward the office.

He sighed and shook his head. Could she be somebody that Kal ran into? Great. He grimaced as the ghosts of anxiety past rattled through his head. He sipped anxiously from his cup while returning to Lana's doctor's office. He entered the room to find Sandra still glaring at him. While he wanted to help her, something told him to stay clear.

The receptionist noticed the standoff between them. "Young Lady, I don't know what the problem is. Clark's a nice young man. He's here helping his girlfriend."

Sandra shook her head. She really didn't want a scene. However the episode from Central City played through her head. If she was going to be working with Lana, she needed to know. "She's Lana Lang, correct?"

"That's right, Miss Riley. Mr. Kent, you know her?" the receptionist asked.

He shrugged. "Maybe I've seen her before but I don't remember."

Sandra gasped. "You most certainly should!" She saw him slump into the chair and rub his forehead with his index fingers. For some reason she saw confusion in his eyes not the manic intensity from Kal in Central City. What is going on with him? Why isn't anyone putting him in Belle Reeve or the psych ward here? Why do I have to put up with HIM just to find Mr. Moore? Why? She turned back to the desk primly."When will Miss Lang be ready?"

"Sorry. It'll be a half hour more. The doctor was held up in surgery. If you'd care to wait, you may," the receptionist informed her. She resisted the temptation to roll her eyes at the excitable new hire.

Clark, for his part, wanted to fall through the floor. His embarrassment spiked to record levels. While he didn't remember, he wished that he could do so. Kal did something. I know he did! Great. He took a draught from his cup and distracted himself with a science magazine to try and make the time pass faster.

Sandra tapped her fingers on the chair rest next to where she sat. She resisted the temptation to call 911 because nobody would believe her story. If she shared her information with Lex, she was afraid he'd yank the job offer and leave her with nothing. Now I know what a rat trapped in a cage feels like! It's his town and I'm the stupid newbie. Yeah right! Who's going to believe me? She felt her heart sinking into her stomach.

Finally, after what seemed an interminable amount of time, the nurse wheeled Lana out of the room on the stretcher. "All right, Miss Lang. You seem all right. Miss Riley's waiting to talk with you. And Clark's going to take you home."

"Thanks!" Lana expressed happily. Her mood lightened under the doctor's prognosis and the thought of seeing her friends again. "Hi! It's great to meet you!"

"Good to meet you too." Sandra forced a smile onto her face for Lana's benefit as they shook hands. "Just wanted you to know that I'll be your nurse. I'll be checking in at the Kents' every day at first. We'll see how we're doing from there." She eyed Clark guardedly almost like a dog who'd been mauled by a rival breed.

Clark grimaced. Now I know something happened.

Lana couldn't help but notice the nurse's skittishness. She glanced at her boyfriend and saw his reaction as well. Something else that creep Kal did! Marvelous! "Sounds great to me, Miss Riley. Please call me Lana."

"Please call me Sandra then. And I know Mr. Kent already even if he doesn't remember me," Sandra replied; her pain bleeding out at the end. "Sorry. Maybe we can talk back at the farm? There are some things I'd like to address in private."

"That'd be great. Sandra, it's okay. Would you like to accompany us for coffee first? We're heading for the café I co-own. It's called the Talon," Lana invited.

"I appreciate the offer but I need to find someone. I was told by Mr. Luthor that Byron Moore was here in town?" Sandra declined. Despite her trepidation with Clark, she felt relaxed around Lana in a paradoxical way.

"You bet he's here. He'd be at his parents' house until sunset. Do you know where that is?" Lana affirmed.

"If you'd like, you can follow us. We'll lead you to it," Clark offered hoping for any chance to redeem himself in the newcomer's eyes.

Sandra weighed the options in her head. To say that she didn't trust Clark was a gross understatement. However she'd be riding in her own car. Lana seemed nice enough. "All right. Maybe we could call first and let them know? I remember him saying his folks are really skittish of visitors?"

"That's putting it mildly especially before the sun goes down," Lana recalled from their earlier visits to the Moore house. She took out her cell and dialed it. After a brief conversation, she put the phone away. "Mrs. Moore says it's all right. We'd be delighted to lead you there, Sandra."

"Maybe I can have the address too? That way I kind of know where I'm going. Sorry," Sandra requested.

"Sure." Lana felt confused but wrote the address down on a piece of paper. She held it up. "There it is. Trust me; it's going to be okay. Follow us."

Clark took a deep breath. I hope so.

Sandra collected her things and followed them both out. Until she knew more, she definitely decided to keep an eye on Clark….a very watchful eye indeed…..