-1"Confrontation"
Clark waited downstairs for Alex to get home. It was late and Lana seemed to have a lot on her mind. He had forced her to go upstairs and get some rest. She argued and said that she wanted to help but he thought it better to talk solo. So reluctantly Lana had gone upstairs. It was well after midnight when Alex 'snuck' in. Before Alex left the kitchen Clark coughed and Alex jumped.
"Uncle Clark! What are you doing sitting in the dark?" Alex asked when he realized it was Clark sitting at the kitchen table.
"Turn on the light and come sit with me," He said.
Alex walked over to the switch and flipped on the light. He saw Clark learned back in his chair with his arms across his chest. On the table was his weed and Steve's needle. Clark knew that Alex knew he was busted. Alex looked him in the eyes and took a seat.
"Where'd you get that?" Clark asked Alex after a few seconds of silence.
"A friend," Alex answered.
"Seems like you're hanging out with the wrong crowd," said Clark.
"They're alright people," Alex defended.
"No they're not. They're selling you drugs," Clark snapped, pointing to the drugs on the table.
They were both quiet for a minute.
"So why?" He asked wanting to understand.
"They're numbing," Alex answered truthfully.
"Why did you turn to drugs?" He asked.
"You trying dealing with everything I have," Alex snapped back.
"I have to deal with things just as badly. And I'll be honest, I turned to drugs too," Clark confessed.
"You turned out alright," Alex shot back.
"Years after the fact. I lost everything before I cleaned up," He said.
"Yeah, it looks like it," Alex said rolling his eyes.
"Let me tell you a true life story and really listen to me. During my senior year I was overwhelmed with playing football, classes and I had the farm to run by myself. I felt a sense of duty to my father to fix the farm and get it running again. It was too much for me to handle. So Max, your father, found a solution. A drug that made it easier and it was. Things were great for a while but eventually I had to have more and I could time out when to take the next dose," He said leaning forward on his elbows.
"So?" Alex asked showing no concern.
It was making his nerves tense.
"You remember Chloe?" asked Clark and Alex nodded, "She was trying to help me and in my anger I tossed her through the barn doors and put her in the hospital."
"She's still alive," Alex said rather coldly.
"Barely. When I took her to the hospital Pete and Lana came. Pete nearly broke my jaw and Lana…she left me," He said.
"And look at you now. What's so wrong with me finding a little peace?" Alex asked.
"What little peace is worth losing everything in your life that matters to you?" He asked.
"Live in the moment," Alex answered.
"I lost everything because of drugs. You can't just live in the moment," He explained.
"You lived in the moment and lost everything. Look at you now, you've gotten it all back," Alex pointed out.
"Because I wanted it back. I went cold turkey and fought. When I was clean I still had to earn back the trust and respect of my friends and peers," He explained again, hoping Alex would get the point.
The boy sounded more and more like an addict.
"I'm not an addict," Alex said.
"No? You defended yourself by taking shots at me and you've already said the drugs make you numb," He said.
"Whatever," Alex snapped.
"I want to help you. What do you need? I'll take you to talk to someone," He offered.
Clark didn't want Alex to follow his same path. He didn't really have anyone with authority over him. But he could be that for Alex. He could do whatever it took to help him.
"You and I talk. I don't need someone," Alex said.
"No? We talk but you don't tell me if you're in pain or need something. You want to talk to me than talk," He said.
"I can't really talk to you, you're never around and it's guy stuff so I can't talk to Lana," Alex said.
"I'm sorry that work has kept me away but I'm here now. Let me help," Clark offered again feeling guilty that once again he was slipping because he was stretched too thin.
"I don't want your help so drop it," Alex snapped seeming to pull away.
"You've turned to drugs for help. Drug addictions don't solve anything. All of this is a cry for help and I'm going to help you. Whether you like it or not," He snapped back.
"I don't want you help," Alex said again with a bit more force.
"Fine, you don't want my help then I'll take you somewhere where they can help you. We're going tomorrow first thing in the morning," said Clark.
Alex obviously had a problem and him alone wasn't going to be enough to help Alex. Especially if Alex didn't want help. Alex's ex coach had warned him. He should have seen the signs, should have known that he was failing Alex as a guardian.
"I have a date with Amy tomorrow," Alex said.
"Then she'll just have to understand," said Clark.
"You can't control my life," Alex snapped at him.
"When you put your life in danger then I will do what's necessary to help you," He said.
"I don't want your help. You're not my father!" Alex shot back at him, yelling.
Alex jumped from his seat knocking it over. Clark watched, stunned, as Alex ran upstairs and a second later heard his door slam shut. He slumped back in his seat and stared at the end of the staircase. After a handful of long minutes he stood and picked up the chair Alex had knocked over. Clark only had a few hours to get some sleep before he had to make some phone calls and find out where he could take Alex. There was nothing he could do before morning so he headed upstairs completely numb.
All he wanted to do was crawl into bed next to his wife where everything was perfect. He didn't have to worry about hurtful words, or secrets. Everything that made him sane and complete was waiting in bed for him to wrap his arms around.
The next morning he woke up alone. He had slept in but only a little bit. It was still early enough that he could get his phone calls done and have enough time to wrestle Alex out to the facility. He pulled himself out of bed and pulled on a t-shirt before heading downstairs. Lana was downstairs in the kitchen. He could smell the bacon that was sizzling in the cast iron skillet.
"Why didn't you wake me?" He asked walking up and kissing her cheek.
"I thought you could use the extra minutes since you were up late with Alex," She said turning to give him a proper good morning kiss.
"You heard?" He asked once his lips were free.
"Hard not too. You were both yelling at each other before Alex went to his room," She said turning back to finish cooking breakfast.
"I didn't mean to wake you," He apologized.
"I wasn't asleep so don't worry," She said with a soft smile.
"Okay. I'm going to go make a few phone calls before Alex wakes up," He said.
Lana nodded and went back to cooking. She wanted to tell Clark and Alex about the baby. She wanted to be one big happy family that she had dreamed about. She was worried that Clark would freak out and say he wasn't ready. That he couldn't do this. In her heart she knew he would be a great father. He was doing everything he could for Alex but it just wasn't a good time. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the kitchen door. She saw Clark finish up on the phone and head towards the back door.
"I've got it," He said reaching for the door knob.
When he opened the door he came face to face with Steve who looked up and smiled a bit shaky.
"Steve, you're here early," He said standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his broad chest.
"Alex left his books last night after we studied," Steve said holding up a math book and a paperback novel.
"Really? He got in awfully late last night to have been studying," said Clark suspicious of what Steve was really bringing Alex.
Perhaps Steve was the one selling Alex the drugs.
"Uh yeah. Big test coming up," Steve said.
"You do realize it's Saturday morning? You could have waited until a more decent hour to bring by books," He said trying to corner Steve into spilling the truth.
"Really?" Steve asked like he didn't even know it was Saturday which was very suspicious.
Clark reached out and took the books. He opened the paperback first and found a cut out section with a small bag of drugs hidden inside. He set the books down on the table and tried to not let his anger get the best of him. Steve was still a kid, but that thought only made him more angrier.
"Oh shit," Steve said realizing he was busted.
Clark reached out and grabbed Steve by his shirt and slammed him into the doorframe.
"Now listen to me, If you ever come around this house again I will have you locked up. And if I hear that you've been hanging around my godson anymore, so help me god-" He said getting into the boys face.
"Clark!" Lana said shocked when she turned to see what was going on.
"Don't mess with me mister. My boss will protect me," Steve said trying to have a backbone but fear pooled off him in waves.
"Then tell your boss to do a good job cause my threat stands. Stay away from my godson," He said slamming Steve into the doorframe one last time before tossing the kid off his back porch.
He watched as the boy took off at a run, not looking back. He closed the door and turned to see Lana looking at him with shock and Alex at the bottom of the stairs with his arms folded over his chest. Clark held up the paperback.
"Great friends you have," He said before tossing it all into the garbage.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Alex asked.
"I'm your guardian and I'm doing my job. I won't stand for any of this. You're going to get your act together and stay clean from drugs. You understand?" He asked using force in his voice.
He refused to let Alex make his mistakes anymore.
"Just leave me alone," Alex shot back.
"No. I won't leave you alone until you're better. Now go get dressed. I've got an appointment for you," He said.
"I don't want your help," Alex yelled.
"Fine but you're still going. Now get dressed or I'll take you in your underwear," Clark yelled back.
They stared each other down before Alex turned to go back upstairs but not before telling Clark he could go to hell. Clark slumped against the counter and rubbed his eyes.
"Was I too…mean?" He asked looking up at Lana.
"No, you were firm. He needs that," She said walking over and resting her hand on his shoulder.
"I can't help but feel like I've let Max down," He confessed.
"No. You're doing what you can. That's all Max could ask for," She said reaching up and cupping his cheek.
He sighed and leaned into her touch.
"I should go get ready," He said softly.
"Okay. I'll have breakfast ready when you come back down," She said.
Alex came down after Clark went up. Lana saw this as a good chance for her to talk to him. Alex took a seat at the kitchen table. When breakfast was done she carried it over and sat down.
"Eat what you can. You have a busy day," She said.
"Whatever," Alex said grabbing some eggs and piling them up on his plate.
"You do know that you can talk to us about anything," She told him.
"Clark's never around," Alex said.
"But I'm here," She said.
"It's guy stuff," Alex shot back.
"Dealing with those condoms I found?" She asked.
Alex was quiet so she took that as a yes.
"You're right. Clark should talk to you about this but I do have some knowledge on the subject," She continued.
"I think I figured it out," Alex said avoiding looking up at her.
"So you've had sex?" At his nod she continued, "I wish you would have waited. Was it safe?"
She was making sure that he had used the condoms she had found. He nodded again so she went on, "What did you need Clark for?"
Alex sat for a moment thinking if he should talk to Lana about this.
"How do you put on a condom or what makes her feel good. Things like that," He said finally speaking.
"It doesn't matter the question or the topic. I'm here to talk. You'll still be family no matter what. You know that right?" She asked.
"Yeah," Alex answered after a minute.
Clark had come down the stairs a few minutes ago and listened in on Lana's and Alex's conversation. He smiled when Alex had opened up to Lana. He believed it was the first time Alex had really talked to Lana and not just small talk or a joke. Despite the drama that was going on he felt that they were coming together as a family.
He walked around the corner and took a seat at the table. He still wore his smile as he piled some food onto his plate. It was getting cold but it didn't bother him. It was still food and he would need the energy for the day.
"What are your plans while Alex and I are gone?" He asked looking at his wife.
"Chloe's coming over. Doing girl stuff," She answered.
Alex looked up from his plate for a moment. Alex studied Clark's face for a moment.
"You really put Chloe through the barn doors?" Alex finally asked.
"He did. I remember how horrible Clark looked when Pete and I got there. He was sweating and really jerky. His eyes were shrunken in with dark circles. Completely bloodshot but void of all other color that his eyes normally held. But behind all that was guilt. Pete almost beat the hell out of him," She answered for Clark.
Alex looked over to her and saw the sadness in her eyes.
"I couldn't stand to look at him like that. When I saw him, I saw my brother," She added.
"Your brother?" Alex asked.
"He landed himself in the hospital doing drugs. When my parents were on their way they were killed. Shortly after my brother passed as well," She said, her voice cracking.
Clark reached over the table and took her hand in his for comfort.
"I didn't know," Alex said softly.
"I don't talk about it unless necessary. Alex, you're a good kid, just like my brother. I don't want to lose you like I lost him," She said looking back at Alex.
Alex cracked when he saw the emotion behind her eyes. The sadness, the love, the pain, the guilt. It all wore him down. He didn't want to hurt Lana like that. Or Clark. They were his only family. He needed them as much as they needed him.
"If you're done we can get going," Clark said.
He watched as Alex looked down at his half eaten plate while pushing his eggs around with his fork. Alex nodded softly and Clark prayed that they had reached him. It wouldn't be easy for Alex. He was doing some hard drugs and breaking away from that was difficult. He didn't want to take Alex but he alone felt like he wasn't enough to help.
"Where is this place?" Lana asked.
"Just outside of Smallville. About a thirty minute drive," He answered.
"Then lets go. The sooner I get help the better," Alex spoke up.
Clark and Lana turned to him. Alex had just asked for help and Clark wasn't going to let him down. Before they left Lana gave Alex a hug and Clark a kiss. She watched as they left. Once they were out of sight she cleaned up the kitchen and rushed upstairs to get ready. Chloe would be there soon and they couldn't be late for the doctor. Chloe knocked on the door right as she came back downstairs. She waved her in a moved to put her earrings in.
"Morning Lana," Chloe said coming in.
"Morning Chloe," Lana said.
"Where's Clark and Alex? I almost suspected World War Three," Chloe asked.
"Clark took Alex to a rehab facility outside of Smallville," She answered.
"Oh. I'm surprised they're going," Chloe admitted.
"Why? Alex wants help," Lana asked.
"Well, normally people fight it out before getting help," Chloe said.
"I know but Clark knows how hard that is and he doesn't want Alex to go through that," She said.
"Clark really does love that kid," Chloe said with a smile.
"He does," She agreed.
"Sounds like he'll make a great dad one day," Chloe hinted.
"I haven't told him yet," She said jumping to the answer Chloe was looking for.
"He needs to know. You know he worries about you. Imagine how he'll freak when he finds out you've been to the doctor while he's been out," Chloe pointed out.
"I'll tell him but things are too crazy right now. He needs to focus on Alex," Lana said defending herself for not having told Clark.
"Okay then. Thanksgiving is coming up. If you haven't told him by then, I will," Chloe threatened.
"Chloe," She turned to her best friend.
"Just saying," Chloe said tossing her hands up.
"I'll tell him. I promise," She said.
It was just a matter of telling Clark and with everything going on she was terrified. She loved Clark and he loved her. She wasn't terrified of him but of his reaction. That he wouldn't want to have a child so soon. She was ready. She always knew she would be when it came to Clark. It was just that so many things had happened. She had learned to not predict or think too far into the future. Life had a way of slapping reality in their faces.