Chapter 26: Hero- Family
He came back in soaking wet, the dirt on his hands now mud as he stumbled up to her.
"She's gone. They took her."
She placed a sullen hand on her chest and took a deep breath before speaking. "Do you know where she is?"
His head dropped as he spoke. "We never found her." He whispered.
Lois nodded her head numbly and sat down on the couch. She looked to the other soaking wet figure on her right. His face was red from anger.
The older Clark spoke once again. "I found her car. There was blood all in it. The windshield was broken from where it had been crashed into a tree not too far from here."
She wasn't surprised to see no reaction from either one of them.
Clark stood and walked to the window, looking out at the crumpled car, listening at the hard pitter-patter of the rain. The heavens cried for him. He could see her purse in the back seat where she always put it. The leather of the seat worn in where she sat in the same place every time she drove.
He could see her smiling through the window. Her hand came up and pressed to the window, inviting him to do the same with a small, loving smiled.
He starred at the offered hand for a second then looked into her ghostly eyes. As soon as he pulled his shaky hand up and pressed it to hers, he felt the guilt pull at his gut, knocking the wind out of him.
The strain was evident on his face as he fought the tears he knew would come. He kept reminding himself that he has to be strong. He has to conquer this fear of losing everything.
Lois put a hand on his shoulder and leaned into him. She watched as the rain wouldn't relent to this sorrow.
"No forgiveness." He whispered. He turned and faced his older half who was watching him intently. His lips tucked in between his teeth as he thought about his next words.
"Where's the kryptonite?"
He looked at him sternly as he tried to remember the reason. The memories quickly clicked into place and he was gone for merely a second before returning with that familiar lead box in his hands.
"This will end your training with me. As soon as you can handle the pain, I have to leave."
Clark nodded and took the box. "You might as well go now. Lois can help me with this."
The older man looked at her then shook his head. "She can't-"
There was a knock at the door. "CK? You home?"
They turned and looked at the older version. He simply ushered them on.
Lois went to the door and opened it to a more than drenched Jimmy. He had a box in his hands as he stepped in.
"Hey Jimmy. You got something for me?" Lois asked eagerly.
He smiled at her. "Yep. Right here." He threw a confused looked over at the older Clark who simply waved at him. "You think we can go somewhere private?"
Clark about stepped in when Lois cut him off. "Yeah sure. I know of a place. Let's go." She grabbed her keys and turned back to Clark who was starring at her questioningly.
She walked up to him and grabbed his hands. "I have to take care of this on my own. Please…please…don't get all protective on me." She begged him with her eyes.
He simply smiled and leaned down and kissed her. "I trust you Lois."
She turned and walked out the door. "Love you Smallville."
"Love you too."
-
She paced around the room with the letter in her hand. She reread it carefully two times before grabbing a highlighter and running it across the paper. She looked up at a curious Jimmy.
"Is this enough to get her released?"
"It should be. I mean what else could?"
"Let's hope you're right. Thanks Jimmy."
He started to walk out the door when he stopped.
"Oh…and about your house…"
"Yeah?"
"It wasn't Oliver who did it."
She looked up from the paper intrigued.
"It was Lana." He said, the smile now evaporated from his face.
-
He had heard it from miles away and dropped his plate. The food bounced on the floor only once with a residual thud. The fork popped in his mouth fell soundless onto the table. His mouth was left agape as he listened to her heartbeat.
It was normal and calm. Now it beat with the intensity of drums, the play on them hard as if in heavy use.
When he searched the house for his older half, he found that he was no where to be found. He couldn't find his heart beat or his voice in the radius of which he could hear.
Where did he go without word or sound?
"Clark."
He heard the whisper and he tried to follow it. It was the sound of the older hims voice. He had to admit that it was odd to follow his own voice.
"I know you can hear me."
He didn't know what to do. "Yeah?" He whispered cautiously.
"Follow my voice until you find me. There's something that you have to see."
"Ok."
Clark followed his voice for 3 miles until he reached the edge of some woods.
"Stop. When I say so enter the woods." A few seconds later he heard his go ahead and entered, his breath stripped from him once again as the woods opened up before him.
Pictures of him and his father hung freely from trees, pictures of Lois and him side by side.
Candles set in random places were already lit, illuminating the sewing kits, the blankets and a box carefully wrapped with a letter on top.
He approached the box carefully, squatting down beside it to get a better look when he saw his name inscribed on the envelope. His mothers hand writing, smeared with tear drops.
Clark.
He paused before opening it, almost fearing as to what it would say.
But what would his mother say to him now that she was gone?
He had to know. He grabbed the envelope and opened it carefully, with shaking hands, revealing the light blue paper pressed upon with black ink.
What can I say to a man that is so much more than I ever thought he would be? I've thought about this for so long and now the time has come.
I am so proud of you Clark. So proud of you for becoming my son again. So proud of you for stealing Lois' heart and making her see what an amazing woman she truly is.
So proud of you for being so much like your father. I know he's just as proud of you as I am, maybe even more.
When you first came back to me, us, I was more than ready to lose my life for you. That's why I was shot. I thought I was ready.
For those 2 years I waited for someone to find a clue that you were at that mansion.
I am sorry for never saying anything. I knew that if I told someone, every one you care about would suffer and I also knew you would have resented me for that. More than holding in the truth.
But do believe me when I say that on more than one occasion I thought about killing Lionel, Lex and Lana. I thought about it.
I only wanted my son home.
You have always been my ray of hope, even from the very second you walked into our lives. You were meant to walk into my arms, just as you were meant to walk out of them when the time was right.
That time is now.
Do you really believe your mother would let you fight your enemies without her help?
Inside the box is a gift, made from a Kryptonian fabric that Lionel created. It's mostly indestructible, and is a very breathable fabric. It's something you'll need when you take your next journey in life.
Something that will make you into the man you will be proud of.
Also in the box is another something that I only want you to use when you find the right moment.
And I know you will.
Thank you my son for bringing me so much happiness that I never thought I would have. Thank you for never killing and being so brave. Thank you for finding your way back to me and forgiving me even after my decease.
I knew this day was close, which is why I wrote my final farewell. Never regret what has happened to me because all things happen for a reason.
Love with everything you have, every ounce of your heart. Never lose your compassion for this race and never feel the need to lose yourself. Never forget who you are and where you were raised. Have faith in yourself.
I have faith in you.
I love you my son. Make me even more proud.
He withstood the tears that threatened to fall and he simply smiled.
He smiled at all the memories he had shared with her and smiled at her kind words.
All he had to do was have faith that everything would be ok and it would. It really would be.
He carefully folded the letter back into the envelope and closed it shut before turning his attention to the box. He slowly pulled apart the bow that bound the box, admiring her choice of the shiny metallic red that he loved. He laid it on the ground beside him.
He removed the top slowly, not bothering to peek under the lid. He set it aside and turned back, finding a light blue tissue paper incasing something inside.
He removed the paper and was greeted with something foreign to his touch. He lifted it from the box and looked at it.
His mouth dropped in awe as he gazed at it. It was a suit.
Not just a suit. A suit made from his mothers love.
His family crest lay rose up from the middle. The texture of the piece allowing the S to stick out even more. He ran his fingers across it, loving the feeling of this new element to him.
Then came the rest. The suit it self almost felt like suede, very soft but yet had a rubber texture about it. It was so bizarre to him but yet it felt nice. He pulled at the cape and felt the same fabric, raising a smiled to his lips. The boots at the bottom weren't that heavy but they seemed to be hard as rocks.
He didn't want to try it on yet, he wanted to wait for Lois to see it first. He folded it back up and began to stick it in the box when he noticed the small package at the bottom.
There was another note on it.
You already know what this is and what it meant to me. Take good care of it.
He smiled and opened the box.
"My mother's engagement ring."