"Clark…" Lex coughed out, a hand straining through the rubble that littered the floor of the Kawatche Caves. The cave in had been as violent as it had been thorough, buring both of them in at least 4 feet of rubble, rocks and other debris.
"Clark…" Lex called out weakly, once again straining to claw through the rubble which had probably broken one, if not both, of his legs. He found a rock which was pretty well seated in the debris pile, and managed to pull himself up, slightly. Enough to see green specks glowing about 30 feet to his right.
"Oh, f." Lex said, deperately clawing the rubble around him, in an effort to get loose from his rock prison cell. He moved his right arm, and felt a gigantic surge of pain, causing him to see stars.
"F!"
"Lex…" Clark managed to whisper, hand feebly flopping into the rubble, not really helping his cause. His body was aching, the kryptonite that had dislodged in the cave in had broken into many small pieces, and these pieces were all around him, making him feel as bad as he had ever felt.
"I'm here, Clark, I'm coming. Don't move."
"K…k…krypt…"
"I know, Clark, I know. Just try to hang in there." Lex grunted out in pain as he moved his leg the wrong way. He heard a snap, and knew he'd just broken a bone in his foot.
"F!" he yelled out. He didn't stop, though.
"Clark, Clark buddy, stay with me. Keep talking, Clark."
"Head…hurts…Lex…I love my parents…"
"No way in hell are you dying on me, Clark. Not after what we've been through." Lex started to frantically claw at the rocks picking whatever he could up, and chucking it as far to the left as he could.
"Clark? Hang in there, Clark. Please."
"Cold…so cold." Clark's voice was getting weaker with each passing minute, Lex wasn't sure how much longer he had. He redoubled his efforts, grunting as he broke more of his toes in a frantic bid to escape his prison.
Madeline's apartment
"I keep getting voice mail whenever I try calling Lex. That's weird, he told me to call him, or Clark, and one of them would come pick me up. I'll try the farmhouse." Chloe said, picking up the phone.
"Hello?" Jonathan's voice came over the line.
"Hi, Mr. Kent, it's Lois. I was wondering if Clark was home? He was supposed to zip on over to give me a ride home." She smirked internally.
"No, I haven't seen Clark since the helicopter last night."
"Oh, well, you need to get that boy a cell phone, or convince him to buy one. Tell him to call mine when he gets home, OK?"
"Yeah, sure, Lois. Will do." Jonathan laughed.
"Goodnight, Mr. Kent."
"Night, Lois." They hung up.
"I guess I'll sleep here tonight." Lois mused out loud.
Kawatche Caves
Lex had managed to get out of his prison, and get to his feet, and he was now slowly walking to his friend, ready to help in any way.
"Lex…go … to car…farm…Dad."
"Clark, that'll take too long, I've got a broken leg, I can barely walk as it is." Lex collasped next to his friend, and began to pick out anything green, and chucked it as far away from Clark as he could.
"Under…" Clark whispered, slipping into unconsciousness.
"No you fing don't, Clark!" Lex yelled, wildly flinging as much rock as he could behind him, quickly filling up the hole he'd recently vacated. As he began to expose Clark's body, little by little, he was shocked by the sheer volume of kryptonite that was buried along with Clark. For a moment, he doubted his ability to save his best friend.
"Theres too much, even if I get rid of it all, it won't be in time." Lex said out loud. He kept at it, though, because for his friends, he would do anything. He managed to uncover about half of Clark's body, however, he wasn't sure if he had the strength to do anything with his progress. He needed to do something desperate, and necessity was the mother of invention, so what the hell did he have to lose? He grasped under Clark's arms, levered himself using a couple of the rocks on the ground, screaming obscenities as his feet were abused some more. After making sure he had a good grip on Clark, and his feet wouldn't go flying off the rocks, he grunted once, and pulled as hard as he could. He managed to pull Clark further out of the kryptonite laced coffin, but not enough to clear his friend. Quickly, he pushed Clark to the side, so he wouldn't slip back into the hole. Then he crawled down into the hole, and pushed Clark's legs out of the hole. Lex then clawed out of the hole himself, and lay gasping for breath, beside Clark. A few minutes later, Lex wearily got to his feet, and grabbed Clark's arms, and dragged him along the ground, kicking whatever loose debris he could, out of the way.
"Almost there…almost to the entrance…" Lex whispered to himself, willing himself to the front of the caves.
"Ughhhhhh…" Clark moaned out in pain.
"I know, Clark, but I can't lift you. Unless you want to stay?" Lex said. He got the practically lifeless body of Clark to the entrance to the caves, and then slowly, using the cave walls as braces, got Clark to his feet. Slipping an arm around Clark, he dragged his friend to the Porsche. Forced to use his fractured arm, Lex tensed himself and then plunged his hand into his pocket, fishing for his keys. His fingers hitting the keys set off more pain shooting through his arm, and this time, the pain almost causing him to collaspe to the ground. Instead, he gritted his teeth together and clenched his fist around the keys, pulling them out. With his keys in hand, he knew he needed the use of his good arm and hand, which presented a problem.
"One of us needs to break the window." He mused aloud. He didn't want to put either of them through that, so he tried lifting his bad arm as high as the lock, and managed to shakily insert the key into the keyhole. Then he slowly turned it, groaning in pain as he did so, all the while maintaining a hold on Clark, who didn't appear to be getting any better, which was another concern. When the lock sprung, Lex slowly pulled on the door, opening it. He reached around and grabbed the keys, leaving them on the ground. He cringed for his friend, but using one of Clark's hands, pushed the door the rest of the way open.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHH!" Clark whispered in pain.
"I know, god I'm sorry, Clark. I needed to. I really did." Lex was as close to tears as he'd ever been. He laid Clark down on the ground, and then unlocked the rest of the doors, and then wincing in pain, opened the back door. Grunting with effort, he also opened the door on the other side of the car, and then lifted one of Clark's leg into the seat. He did the same with the other leg, and then tugging gently on the pair of legs, he managed to get most of Clark into the backseat. He pushed Clark's legs down to the floor, and then climbed out of the car. In the middle of walking back to the other side of the car, to get Clark's head and upper body into the car, he collasped on the ground, legs finally giving out from under him. By this time, he was basically completely spent, and was running on the fumes of adrenaline, completely exhausted from the ordeal in the caves.
A few moments later, he remembered he wasn't quite done being the hero, and reached up to grab hold of the trunk, and hauled himself to his feet. He took one step before once more collasping to the ground, this time on his knees. He shrugged, and crawled to Clark, wincing as, this time, fingers gave way under his abuse. He wearily lifted Clark's upper body up, and into the car. Leaning in, still on his knees, he grabbed the seat belt and somehow managed to strap Clark in. He crawled past the door, slamming it shut. On his way to the drivers seat, he picked up the keys he'd left behind, on the ground. As he entered the driver's seat, and propped himself against the seat, he could almost hear his back signing in relief. He strapped himself in place with the seat belt, and then put the key in the ignition and turned it, rewarded with the hum of the engine. He put the car in gear, and pressed the accelerator, taking off for the Kent Farm.
He slumped against the steering wheel as he rounded the corner onto the Kent driveway, turning the car slightly. As the car picked up more speed, it rammed into the side of the barn, and then hit the work table, and multiple piles of hay luckily sitting on the floor, helping to slow the momentum of the projectile, before it gently rolled to a stop, an inch from the farmhouse.
Jonathan came tearing out of the house, stopping on the porch, staring out at the trail of destruction left behind by Lex's car. The fence had a huge gaping gap in it, the barn was totalled, the woodshed was gone, and the car had torn up Martha's flower garden. He stormed towards the Porsche, fully intending to give Lex a piece of his mind.
"Lex Luthor, what the hell do you think you're do…in…g." Jonathan trailed off, seeing his bruised and battered son stuffed like a sardine in the backseat of the car. He quickly ran around to the driver's seat, and saw an equally horrifying sight. Lex was slumping over the steering wheel, his arm was hanging limply by his side, and he looked in a worse off condition then Clark.
"MARTHA! Come quick! Lex and Clark are hurt, HURRY!" Jonathan reached into the open driver's side door, and unhooked Lex's belt, then cradled his arms around Lex, and slowly lifted him out of the car.
"Clark…" Lex whispered, barely opening an eye and looking at Jonathan.
"You worry about yourself, I'll worry about Clark." Jonathan said. Despite Lex's further protests, Jonathan carried Lex up the porch stairs, into the house, and deposited him on one of the couches. He ran back outside, and opening the door that remained on the backseat, he reached in, unhooked Clark's belt, and pulled his son out of the Porsche, headfirst.
"Lex…" Clark whispered, cracking an eye to look at his Dad.
"Lex is inside, lets worry more about you, all right?" Jonathan said, carrying his son into the house, and depositing him on the other couch.
"Honey, why don't you get Lex cleaned up, I'll handle Clark." Jonathan said, kneeling by his son, and taking off his shirt.
"Kryptonite…cave in…caught…" Lex managed to get out, before finally succumbing to the abuse his body had taken, and slipping into unconsciousness.
"Jonathan, will these two ever catch a break?" Martha asked, walking back into the living room with a bucket full of water and a dozen washcloths.
"I don't know, Martha, I really don't. A cave in full of kryptonite doesn't seem like a break to me." Jonathan took one of the washcloths, dipped it in the bucket, and began wiping Clark's face. Martha followed suit, cleaning as many of the cuts on Lex that she could see.
"Martha, honey, go get the iodine. We have to disinfect these cuts." Martha nodded, and left to go upstairs. Jonathan got up as well, and headed into the kitchen, and picked up the phone. He thought for a minute, and then dialed a number, hoping to get someone at this late hour.
"Hello?" a female voice answered.
"Kitty? It's Jonathan Kent."
"Hello, Jonathan. What can I do for you?"
"I need a doctor over to the farm, ASAP. Clark's been severely injured."
"How did he get hurt, Jonathan? Was anyone else with him? What's his current situation? How urgent do you need me there?"
"He got caught in a cave in, and there was kryptonite involved. Lex Luthor was with him, and he's in really bad shape, too. Maybe worse then Clark. Both of them are currently unconscious, Martha and I cleaned most of their cuts and wounds, and we disinfected them with iodine. I need you here ASAP, Kitty. I'm really worried both of these kids won't make it through tomorrow night."
"OK, Jonathan, OK. I'll take the company helicopter, and I'll bring along an assistant of mine for Lex. I'll be there in less then an hour."
"Sorry about the lateness of the call, Kitty."
"No problem, that's why we're here." Both hung up the phone, and Jonathan headed back to the living room.
"Come on, Clark, wake up, son. I need you to tell me what happened out there tonight." Jonathan stroked Clark's forehead, in a loving, concerned parental fashion.
Upstairs
"Jeesh, Lex, what were you doing in order to get this messed up?" Martha asked, talking to calm herself down, knowing Lex probably couldn't hear her. In a purely professional manner, she took off all his clothes, and cleaned up any cuts and wounds around his body, not worrying about modesty, at all. Then she dressed Lex in a pair of Jonathan's old pajamas, which fit loosely on Lex. She noticed bruises on every one of Lex's toes, and she grabbed some medical tape, and some tongue depressers, and went to work. She snapped the depressers in half, and sandwiched a toe in between, then taped the depressers to the toe. Repeating the process for each one of his toes, on both feet, she made sure to not constrict any blood flow, but also making sure to tape them firm enough to not allow the toes to bend.
"Martha, make sure Lex is presentable! Kitty Faulkner and her assistant are coming to help heal the boys!"
"OK, Jonathan!"
Metropolis
"I think I'm going to go grab a taxi to my apartment, Mom. I wanna go check on why Lex isn't answering, so I'll probably stop by the mansion."
"Be careful, Chloe."
"I will be, Mom." Chloe smiled and headed out of the apartment, going downstairs to hail a cab. She found one, and got in, directing the cabby to her apartment. Once she arrived, she smiled, paid her fare, and got into her car, driving off towards Smallville. She was definetly in a hurry, so she didn't pay any heed to the speed limits, and arrived at the mansion in just under 90 minutes. Chloe parked in the driveway and used the old fashioned knockers to announce her presense.
"A multi-billionaire, and he doesn't invest in doorbells. I guess what they say about powerful rich people is true." She thought to herself. The door opened, and a butler answered.
"Hi, I'm looking for Clark Kent or Lex Luthor. I'm a personal friend of theirs."
"Sorry, miss, neither Mr. Kent or Mr. Luthor is here right now."
"Have they been in tonight?"
"No, miss, they haven't. And they have not called ahead any alerted me to their impending arrival, either."
"I see. Thank you. Please tell them that Lois Lane is looking for them, and that I owe them an ass whooping of a lifetime."
"I'll be sure to pass that along, Ms. Lane." Chloe nodded and headed back to her car, deciding to head to the Kent Farm.
Kent Farm
"Clark probably has some minute amount of trace kryptonite in his blood stream, from the cave in, and likely from however Lex got him out of the cave." Kitty told Jonathan.
"He should wake up really soon, if he doesn't, give me a call, I'll be staying at the Smallville Inn until Clark's completely healed. And make sure he drinks a lot of water, and doesn't use his powers extensively, he will be slightly weaker and more vunerable then normal."
"What the HELL is SHE DOING HERE?" Jonathan smirked as he turned towards the stairs, actually glad to hear Lex's outburst.
"Wait, she didn't mention she knows Lex at all." Jonathan turned to Kitty and grinned.
"I doubt she would've mentioned what their history together is."
"Lex, I can only help you if you stop trying to get away from me." The frazzled doctor said, sighing in frustration.
"You never wanted to help me before, only see me into a watery grave." Lex shot back.
"Lex, that was over 10 years ago. People change."
"Leopards never change their spots, Helen."
"Being stranded when the earthquake hit, Lex, and seeing the devastation all over Thailand and Indonesia…it put everything in perspective. I swear to you, I wouldn't ever hurt you again. But right now, you need immediate hospitalization. You've likely got broken ribs, you've broken all your toes, your left forearm is broken, in all likelihood, you've got at least one damaged lung, not to mention a fracture cheekbone. You are, as we like to say in the medical community, a mess. So swallow your pride, or I'll have Martha hold you down and I'll knock you out and you'll wake up in a hospital somewhere." Lex's eyes flashed, but then Martha swam into his view.
"Honey, she's right. You could have internal injuries and internal bleeding. Just accept her help in getting to a hospital, and her medical care. And then, if you don't want to see her again, she'll accept that, won't you?" Martha spun towards Helen.
"Yes, Martha. If Lex doesn't want me in his life, I'll leave."
"Fine. But don't try to talk to me." Lex said. Helen nodded.
"KITTY! I need a stretcher for Lex!" Helen shouted downstairs.
"OK!"
Chloe's POV
"What the hell happened here?" she thought to herself, driving slowly up the driveway to the Kent Farm, looking at the trail of destruction Lex's car had left. The white picket fence, so long a staple of the warm home Martha and Jonathan kept open to all of Clark's friends, was completely totalled. The barn where she'd first kissed Clark, it looked like a wrecking ball had torn it in half.
"OHMYGOD!" she exclaimed, seeing Lex's car sitting right next to the Kents house, on top of Martha's flower garden. She sprung out from her car, and ran up the porch stairs, frantically knocking on the door.
"I'll try and get rid of whoever it is, Kitty." She heard Jonathan saying, before he opened the door.
"Lois. Um, listen, right now isn't…"
"Yeah, tell me after I see Lex and Clark." Lois barged into the house, facing off against Kitty.
"Mr. Kent told you he didn't want you inside."
"Yeah, well, until I see how my boyfriend and one of my best friends are, you better not try and get rid of me." Jonathan sighed, and ran a hand through his hair.
"You'd better sit down, Lois." He said.
"What happened, are they both OK? They are alive, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, both of them are alive. And relatively none the worse off, though Lex is messed up. I need to run out and get a stretcher." Kitty went to her car, leaving Jonathan and Lois alone.
"What happened, Mr. Kent?"
"Um, as far as I can tell, Clark and Lex were caught in some freak cave in, and got buried pretty good. Since there was kryptonite, and a good amount, I bet, Clark was really of no use. Lex broke his toes, forearm, and ribs in trying to get Clark out of the cave. I guess Lex managed to get both of them into his car, and well, they got here." Jonathan looked out across the field, whistling at the trail of destruction Lex's car had left.
"It looks like a tornado went through here." Lois said, eyeing the gaping holes on both sides of the barn.
"Yeah, it'll take a long while to fix." Jonathan said. Kitty rejoined the two, bringing the stretcher with her.
"Just be glad Lex got to the driveway before going unconscious, or who knows where he would've ended up." She said.
"Yeah…" Jonathan mused, turning and heading towards the living room, where Clark was still out.
"How long will he be unconscious?" Lois asked, softly brushing some hair back from his eyes.
"I don't know. As long as it takes his body to fight off the kryptonite in his blood, I suppose."
"Wait, bring me into the living room." Lex's voice came downstairs, and then Kitty and Helen came into the living room, carrying Lex on the stretcher.
"How is he, Jonathan?" Lex asked.
"He's going to be OK, Lex, thanks to you. I just…I just want to tell you that I'm…I'm sorry for doubting you, Lex. You…you saved my sons life when I couldn't, that…" Jonathan choked up, and settled on patting Lex's left arm.
"Thank you, Mr. Kent. Clark … saved me from myself, the least I could do is save him from any danger he might be in. Not often I get to save Clark, now is it?"
"You're on your way to becoming a man I'd be proud to call my son, Lex."
"That means more to me then you could ever know, Mr. Kent." Lex gave a thumbs up to Kitty, and they resumed taking him out towards their car.
"I suppose you and I can carry Clark up to his room, Mr. Kent?" Lois asked. Jonathan nodded, picking up his sons torso, leaving the legs for Chloe. She grabbed them, and they slowly moved him up to his room.
Kitty and Helen, meanwhile, had checked Lex into Smallville Medical, and gotten him his own private wing. A doctor had come by, and diagnosed Lex with a broken left leg, broken toes on both feet, fractured right arm, bruised chest, 3 broken ribs, and a fractured cheek bone.
"The fact that he managed to get Clark out of a cave full of kryptonite in his condition is utterly remarkable." Kitty said.
"These two…had a friendship in Smallville, Kitty. It was mainly Lionel who managed to twist Lex into a version of himself. When that happened, Clark must've lost all faith in Lex, and turned his back on Lex. Lex takes thing very personally."
"Excuse me, ladies, Lex has been scheduled for surgery at 10am tomorrow morning. We're going to clean up the damage to his left leg, reset all his toes, and clean up his right arm." Doctor Huntington said. Kitty nodded.
"Well, I need to get back to the hotel. I'll leave the car, it's not a long walk."
"No, I'm all set to go, as well. I don't think Lex would appreciate the company, when he wakes up." Helen looked down sadly at Lex, before shaking her head and walking out of the room.
The next morning in the Kent household was interesting, to say the least. Clark, for the first time since entering the caves, got up and slowly walked down the hall, into the bathroom. Martha had breakfast all waiting when he got downstairs, and Chloe was sitting at the table.
"Clark!" she exclaimed, jumping up and running to him.
"Shhhhhh…not so loud. It feels like I have a thousand jackhammers pounding my skull." Clark whispered, slumping over at the table.
"Well, now you know what a hangover feels like, flyboy!" Lois retorted. Then she slapped him, hard.
"And that's for scaring me half to death, you big oof!"
"I didn't mean to." Clark whispered.
"What happened, Clark? Lex could only mutter something vague about a cave in? Were you in the Kawatche Caves?"
"Yeah, Mom. I wanted to go there, to just relax and think in peace. So Lex wandered off to a part of the cave network I don't go to often, and he called me over when he found a new drawing. It said that 'Only by standing together can Naman and Seegeth ever overcome their differences.' I think Lex and I are meant to be at each other's sides now. But I can't imagine how. Anyway, right after I saw that drawing, I heard a low rumbling echoing throughout the caves, so Lex and I began to leave. But the cave in happened so fast, before I knew it, I was buried in kryptonite and rocks. I couldn't move, it felt like my back was on fire. It felt like I was being suffocated in the worst possible way, I really thought I was going to die. Much more so then when Van shot me, even. But then…Lex, he…he somehow dug his way out of his grave, and dug me out of mine. The next thing I remember was waking up this morning. How is Lex?"
"Lex is pretty messed up, Clark. He's at Smallville Medical. We'll take you to see him after breakfast. But, Kitty Faulkner was here, she warned us that you might feel woozy, light headed, and very…human, for a few days, as your body overcomes the slight amount of kryptonite you have in your blood. So no using your powers for a few days, OK, honey?" Martha said. Clark nodded, and then ravenously began eating the pancakes she'd prepared for him.
"Hey, thanks for all your help, Kitty, Helen, I know this can't have been the most fun morning you could've planned out." Jonathan said, a smile in his voice as he came into the house, followed by Kitty, and then Helen.
"What the f are you doing here?" Clark spat out.
"Clark Jerome Kent, watch your language!" Martha yelled.
"As for what I'm doing here, I came to take care of Lex."
"Lex has been taking care of himself, something you seem very good at, thank you very much."
"Much as you won't believe me, Clark, I did not go into the relationship intending to hurt Lex."
"No, but that was a nice consolation prize, wasn't it?"
"Clark, eat your breakfast and stop arguing with Helen, son. Like it or not, she's here to help your friend, and I will not have you disrespecting somebody who is here as a friend, to help a friend." Jonathan said sternly. Clark shot him an evil look, but went back to eating.
"We're going to go see Lex in a few minutes, if you want to come, Clark." Helen tried an olive branch.
"OK, as soon as I change."
"OK, Clark, we'll be waiting out in the van." Helen headed back outside.
"You don't have to like her being here, Clark, Lex doesn't, but you have to be civil, I will not expect anything less of you, or him, for that matter." Jonathan said, fixing a stern gaze on his son before walking out of the house. Lois patted Clark's arm, the one which wasn't in a temporary sling, before getting up and heading outside, as well.
"Just try to be understanding, honey. Helen's been through a great deal in the past 10 years. You've never been judgemental, don't start now." Martha said, shooing Clark out the door. Clark nodded, and purposely got into the van with Helen and Kitty.
"Clark, your Dad's going to the hospital, as well." Helen said.
"I know, it just took a couple swift kicks in the ass to realize how much of a bitch I was being."
"No, you werent." Helen laughed.
"You were defending your friend, that's understandable and commendable. I totally understand. But Clark, I'm on your side, even if you don't believe that, just let me help."
"I can do that, Helen."
Upon arriving at the medical center, Clark slowly and deliberately got out of the van, then suddenly shot an arm out, steadying himself as a wave of dizziness took him over.
"You should be drinking water, Clark, all day. Let that be a warning." Kitty said, thrusting a water bottle into his hand, after he'd let go of the van.
"Thanks, and I just woke up!" Clark said, taking a swig.
"This thing feels like a tree branch, Kitty. Is it really necessary?"
"Yes, because…" she leaned closer.
"If you want to keep up appearances, you were in that cave in as a human, and as such, you broke your arm, and leg. We got away with no cast on your leg because we just said it wasn't broken too badly. So be thankful for small favors, Clark."
"I am thankful, Kitty. I just wanted a reason, and you gave me one. Nuff said." Clark headed into the hospital, with Kitty right behind him. She tapped him on the shoulder, and directed him up a flight of stairs.
"Thanks." She smiled in return, trailing him.
"Fourth floor, room 28." She said.
"You're not coming?"
"We are, but you guys should talk in private. We'll make sure no one disturbs you." Clark nodded, and walked down the hall, into Lex's room.
"You don't look so hot." Clark said, smiling and slowly sitting down next to Lex's bed.
"I don't feel as good as I look." Lex shot back.
"Look, Lex, I just…you saved my life. And I just wanted to say thank you. All that stuff about not trusting you…"
"You had every right to…" Lex trailed off, coughing violently for a few seconds.
"Should I get a nurse?" Clark asked, holding a cup of water to Lex's mouth.
"Ahhhhh. No, no, Clark, it's just a result of the surgery. And the finite dust which got into my lungs. I see you have a perpetual water bottle with you, that's a good idea."
"It's to assist in…kryptonite removal. Now, what were you saying?"
"You had every right to not trust me, Clark. Especially after everything we'd been through in the past few weeks. But I've told you, I will strive to be everything Jonathan expects in a son, and everything you expect in a friend."
"No, Lex, don't conform. Just be everything Lex Luthor can be. That's enough for me and Dad."
"Clark, I just wanted you to know…I'm very … happy and grateful that you…confronted me that night a few months ago. I didn't…I didn't know how much I missed…this. People visiting me in the hospital because they wanted to, not because they feared what I'd do if they didn't. I missed being part of a family, Clark."
"Yeah…" Clark didn't know how to respond to that.
"Well, my Dad's outside, so I'm gonna go, and let him get some time with you. You take it easy, OK, Lex?"
"You do the same…" Lex coughed. He picked up a water bottle and took a swig.
"How're you, Lex?" Jonathan asked, walking into the room and sitting in the chair Clark had just vacated.
"I've been better."
"Yeah, well, about that. You could've saved yourself some…toes and fingers, by coming to the farm after digging yourself out of the cave in, son. Don't get me wrong, I am eternally grateful for what you did in those caves, but you…you could've come and gotten some help, Lex."
"I didn't think I had time. Jonathan, I didn't think I even had enough time to dig him out of the hole, let alone driving to the farm, arguing with you about me coming back, and then getting back to the caves. I took a chance, and it worked out."
"Yes, but losing either one of you wouldn't have been acceptable, Lex. Taking that sort of risk wasn't wise. But, it worked, and both of you escaped with your lives, at the very least, so that's a consolation. Either way, I want to say thank you, Lex, for saving Clark's life. You keep on proving to me why it was wrong of me to be so stubborn before that summer. Thank you, Lex." Jonathan said, smiling at him before walking out of the room and joining Clark.
"Hey, Clark, Perry gave us one day off, not two. And I know what happened, but since you're…functioning, we should go to work."
"No powers, son." Jonathan whispered. Clark nodded, and then walked downstairs with Lois.
"How are you feeling, Lois? With everything that's gone down the past few hours, we haven't had a chance to really talk. Did you spend the night at your Mom's?"
"No, Clark, I went looking for you and Lex, I wondered what had happened to you guys."
"Yeah, well, you found out, huh?"
"That I did. Anyway, I'm all right, I think. Mom told me why she did what she did, and she put it very bluntly. If she hadn't left, she would've died in Smallville. So, if that's my choice, I am glad she left."
"Yeah. I can understand that, Chloe. So, what else did you guys talk about?"
"How I was pre-Lois, what happened to Lex after he cut me loose, my relationship with you, how Dad was coping after she left, a lot of other things. Did you and Lex ever get to the mansion?"
"No, we went straight to the caves."
"What do you think caused the cave in, Clark?"
"I'm not sure, most likely some loose or unseated ground nearby, or maybe something unstable in the rock foundation. All I know is, I am not setting foot anywhere near those caves for a good long time, if ever again."
"I can certainly understand that, Clark." They'd reached the parking lot while they were talking, and now got into Lois' car, and she took off for Metropolis. She parked in the parking garage, and got out.
"Lois, I'm a little dizzy right now, I need some water." Clark shook his empty water bottle, looking a tab bit scared.
"Hang tight, Clark, I'll be right back." Lois ran towards the stairs, going to the newsroom. She reached Jimmy's desk, grabbed his water bottle, and ran back downstairs.
"Hey, that's my water, get your own!" Jimmy yelled, running after her.
"It's an emergency." She yelled over her shoulder. That piqued Jimmy's curiousity, and he followed her downstairs.
"Drink it slowly, Clark. We don't know what kind of internal damage you might have suffered." Lois admonished.
"Internal damage? What the hell is she talking about, Clark?" Jimmy asked, walking into the garage.
"What are you doing here, Jimmy?"
"That's my water you're drinking, CK."
"Way to be subtle, Lois." Clark smirked at her.
"So what happened?" Jimmy asked again, tapping his foot.
"I got caught in a cave in at the Kawatche Caves, there was kryptonite. Lex barely managed to get me out of there, we barely escaped with our lives. I guess I have some residual kryptonite stuck in my bloodstream."
"Wait, so should you be up and around, in your condition?" Jimmy asked, concern on his face.
"Probably not, but he's as thickheaded as Jonathan Kent, himself." Lois answered.
"Thank you for that lovely compliment. I'll leave you two to bicker about my health." Clark snapped, walking towards the stairs. Lois and Jimmy stared after Clark, before rushing after him.
"Your Dad told you to take it easy, Clark."
"And climbing stairs is strenous how, exactly?"
"There was a perfectly functioning elevator right next to the stairs, Clark." Jimmy pointed out.
"All right, you two, lets get something straight. I am slightly under the weather, if you want to use an analogy you would understand. I have a slight cold, and a temperature of 100 degrees. I will be all right, but for now, I'll be taking it nice and easy, and drinking lots of fluids. I AM NOT AN INVALID, SO STOP TREATING ME LIKE ONE. Thank you, I'll appreciate it." Clark went off on his two friends, before stomping up the rest of the stairs.
"I don't think he's … feeling as good as he claims to, Jimmy, we'd better keep a close eye on him."
"Will do." They followed their friend up to the newsroom.
"Clark, you look like hell, what happened?" Perry asked, looking over one half of his star reporter duo.
"Got caught in a cave in, I'm fine, though. What are we doing?"
"Well, hi, Lois. I actually need you and Clark to go out to City Hall. Apparently, the mayor's going to be indicted on money laundering and tax evasion, so it'd be big if we got the scoop first."
"OK, chief." Clark said, grabbing both his friends and heading onto the elevator.
"And don't call me chief!" Perry yelled after them. Clark grinned at the door.
"I love doing that."
"Until he comes up with some nickname for you, flyboy." Lois said.
"Flyboy?" Jimmy said, making a face.
"Yes, flyboy. Gotta problem, Jimmy Bob Thorton?" Lois shot back at him. Jimmy made another, not so nice gesture using his hand, grinning. Clark smiled and shook his head.
"That's asking for trouble." He said, laughing.
"Jimmy Bob Thorton is not a good nickname." Jimmy grinned. Mercifully, the elevator dinged and the doors opened before Lois could get any sort of retort out. They climbed into Lois' car, and she headed for City Hall.
Smallville Medical
"Why did you come? I didn't think you'd care for me at all, after what I did." Lex asked, looking at Helen.
"Like I told Jonathan and Kitty, after you…left me to go down in that plane, I floated around for a while, ended up in the Galapagos Islands. I did some humanitarian work there, then went to the Middle East to patch up victims of terrorist attacks, on both the Palestinian and Israeli side. Then I went to India, and helped out with the Kashmir disputes, before ending up in Indonesia, just in time for the terrorist attacks there, and then the two earthquakes and tsunamis. I spent a good 5 years there, just helping them get back on their feet. Lex, that changed me, it really did. I did that work out of the goodness of my heart, not for any compensation. And then I got contacted by Kitty Faulkner, she somehow learned of my knowledge of Clark's…uniqueness, his special blood type. She wanted me on board STAR Labs. Since I wanted to come back stateside, I said yes, and here I am."
"You did all that, and didn't take anything in return?" Lex asked.
"Yes, Lex, I guess…those months on the islands really humbled me. They…they showed me that money and greed wasn't everything, and I could survive on the barest of necessaties. I guess I … I changed a lot, huh?"
"Yeah, never thoiught I'd see the day you would be humble and helping and caring." Lex said.
"I guess I deserved that."
"No, not really. If there's one thing I've learned in the past few months, everyone deserves a second chance, Helen. Clark gave me mine, I'd be remiss if I didn't give you yours. As friends, just friends, nothing more." Lex said, slowly nodding his head. It was almost as if Clark was telepathically telling him he'd done the right thing just now.
"I don't want anything more, Lex, I wouldn't expect anything more. I didn't even expect…this."
"I bet Clark told you to talk to me, right? It's just like him." Lex grinned.
"Actually, Clark was very hostile towards me. I'm sure he's not at all happy I'm here." Lex raised an eyebrow, shocked.
"Jonathan had to reign him in, that's how upset and angry he was." She continued.
"That's not at all like Clark, he's usually all about giving people second chances."
"Apparently he thinks he was defending your honor, Lex."
"Probably."
"Well, I'll leave you alone, for now, you need to get your rest. Scuttlebutt is, if you're really good, they'll let you go home tonight."
"Jonathan won't, he'll let me go to the farm tonight." Lex said, laying back. He was getting a bit tired. Helen smiled, and walked out of the room.
City Hall
"Lois Lane, Daily Planet. These are my collegues, Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen. We'd like to get a one on one with Mayor Delanberg, get his thoughts on the indictment."
"Mayor Delanberg will be holding a press conference in 20 minutes, you are invited to attend then. Until that time, stay off the premises." The mayor's head of security said, slamming the door in their faces.
"He's obviously hiding something." Lois said.
"Why? Because he won't talk about an unoffical indictment on money laundering charges? He's not hiding anything, he's saving face in the public eye." Clark countered, looking at her.
"Think about it, Clark, why wouldn't he want an interview with the hometown newspaper, which would probably give him a bias?"
"Because he knows we don't operate like that." Jimmy put in. Clark nodded.
"Or, because he needs time to come up with a CYA strategy." Lois answered. Clark rolled his eyes.
"Not everyone or everything we come across comes with an ulterior motive, Lois."
"OK, Clark, we'll try it your way, but I'm on record protesting."
"Duly noted and ignored." Clark grinned. Lois smacked him, and Jimmy, too, as he burst out laughing. Clark winked at Jimmy, grinning. When the time came for the press conference, they went into the Hall, and down to the briefing room. As the 'hometown paper', as Lois put it, they got front row.
"Thanks for coming, everyone. Before I take any questions, I'll make a brief statement. As you no doubt know, the DA's office has announced their intentions to indict me on money laundering and tax evasion charges. To combat these charges, and to prove my innocence, I have ordered every major newspaper in the tri-city area to receive a copy of my income tax statements and Form W-2's for the past ten years. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, these documents will prove my innocence in all charges. My attorneys have instructed me to use my own discretion when answering questions, and with that said, I open the floor. Yes, Ms. Lane."
"Why is the DA going after you, now, instead of anytime in the past decade?"
"I cannot speak to the DA's mindset, nor to his timing. Yes, Mr. Kent."
"Do you feel this will affect your upcoming race for reelection, and if so, how?"
"Well, I really can't speak too much to that effect, but I can say that I will be running in 2 months. You can rest assured of that point, Mr. Kent. When November rolls around, I will absoultely be in the race, since I have no doubts I will be acquitted of all charges. Yes, Ms. Steiner?"
"Thank you, mayor. Do you feel this indictment is politically motivated in any way?"
"I really don't want to speculate on anything of that nature at this time. Yes, Mr. Kent?"
"Why are you releasing your financial records to the press, I'm sure you lawyers have advised you to not do so."
"Because I wish it to be known how I have not tried hiding from these charges, nor do I have any skeletons in my closet, or anything to hide. I hope the press will vindicate me, in every possible way. That is my motivation for releasing my financial records to you. Ms. Lane?"
"How do we know these records have not been tampered with?"
"You can go to the branch offices of Deloitte & Touche and verify the authenticity of these reports. Thanks for coming."
"Well, we'd better get back to the Planet and get cracking on this article."