Chapter 37 [Luthor Mansion—Twenty minutes later]

Lex sat behind his desk sipping on a cup of coffee and reviewing the latest LuthorCorp prospectus. He fully anticipated that the next day's meeting in Metropolis would prove the usual snooze fest de jour. Still he knew Lionel would also have the usual snarky, withering and abusive challenges waiting at that gathering. Consequently the younger billionaire had met with his own plant managers at the Smallville plant just hours earlier. He also pondered the deeper sense of parental relations.

Father-Son relations….

He thought his own dealings in that regard were complicated. They most certainly were. A lifetime of scars and emotional starvation following Lillian's death and Lionel's meritocratic obsessiveness had insured that score. He'd long since stopped being the little boy who wanted—at least outwardly—his father's love. He stood toe to toe with the old man on every score. He assumed he could've written the book on that type of relationship singlehandedly…

…Clark's situation blew his out of the water…by plenty…..

Jonathan Kent, while a good man, proved obsessive in his own right. Not that he didn't have reason. While it chafed on the younger Kent's friends before, those in the know now understood why the levels of protectiveness remained at Defcon 5 constantly. Yes he competed with his own father, Hiram, and the latter's memory in keeping the farm going and in being a good parent….

…something that now Jor-El was challenging….openly and with disdain….

No wonder Clark keeps everything so tightly packed in. Damn! Lex shook his head. He'd wanted power like Clark's. He mused over what he might do with it. The feats he'd accomplish. Hell the women he'd impress…

…then he felt the baggage weighing him down….

That thought drove another hot caffeinated draught down his throat. Triangles like Clark had in his life would drive anyone crazy….

…the one Chloe Sullivan tried to keep open with him and Lana….

…and now the one Jor-El had forced open with Jonathan and Martha Kent….

He gazed up on his mother's portrait wishing again she were there. He remembered Lillian's strength, determination and never-compromising morality even in the face of Lionel's worst ambitions. You'd know what to tell Clark, Mom. Unreal.

"She'd tell us to keep our minds in the present, Lex," Patricia advised while entering the study. "Excuse me for barging in."

"No sweat, Patricia. My mind is on our current situation. Coffee?" he assured her with a nonchalant shrug added for appearance's sake. "Your Dad know anything?"

She peered out the door into the hallway. "Is it clear?"

"Jasmine's with her father's bodyguard. I've asked the staff to clear the wing just in case. Clark and Lana will be here in a few minutes. All taken care of." He poured her a hot mug and handed it to her. "This Javanese blend will really take the edge off. You should sample some."

She fixed it and drank a sip. "It is rich but not so much so. Much like our situation. Dad wants care taken where Clark's concerned."

"And we are. What's going on? Don't keep us in suspense, Patricia." He resisted the temptation to roll his eyes at her flair for the dramatic…to announce everything in the most grandiose manner possible….

…He had hated it when they were kids. It grated on him more so now….

"Your boarder is on the Torch. Besides we believe Chloe Sullivan knows too," she asserted.

"Is that all? I thought you were going to suggest my father had kidnapped Lana or something. Those scenarios we can deal with. When Clark and Lana get here, we can talk about it with them. Meantime I've taken another step to insulate us. Assure your Dad of that if you would," he deadpanned.

"Lex, this is serious! You shouldn't be so cavalier!" she protested.

"When it comes to Clark, never. I understand perfectly well the stakes here, Patricia. We can trust Jasmine in not peering too deeply yet being supportive. Chloe will take some managing…." He took a long draught at that last thought.

"To put it mildly," she assessed. Having Chloe in the know was an unfortunate headache.

"She would have found out at some point. I just don't want Dad getting his claws into her again if she does know," he declared. "I've also taken steps to get her aunt into that nursing home. While it's been great for Clark and Lana to cement their own bond and get more stable, we need to have all of the players on the same board to keep an eye on them."

"Agreed," she concurred with a feeling of relief. "And the step you mentioned?"

"Patience. Relax. Enjoy your coffee. It's my turn to make an announcement." He smirked with a combination of pleasure and one-upmanship on her own tendency.

At that moment, the buzzer went off on his desk. He walked over and answered it. "Yes?"

"Mr. Luthor, Mr. Kent and Miss Lang have just arrived. Should I show them to the elevator?" a distinguished voice inquired.

"Please do, Holmes. Thanks." He turned back to her. "See? Everything is on schedule. Chill."

She shook her head still thinking he was being way too cavalier about the situation. Still it was his mansion. "And you have swept this place for bugs?"

He leaned close to her and whispered, "The exterminator's on his way up. Trust me. I'll be back." He strolled out of the room in as cool and controlled manner as he could manage.

Exterminator? Whatever, Lex. She slumped onto the couch and rubbed her forehead in consternation.

Clark glanced around the elevator impatiently. Ever since Lex's manservant had taken his and Lana's coats and showed them to the ascending device, he felt unusually on edge. He welcomed an invitation from their friend of course. Still he wanted to get her back home and out of risk of any potential reinjury. His x-ray vision picked up nothing out of the ordinary in there.

"It's okay, Clark. Lex isn't going to spy on us," she insisted from her wheelchair. Her legs burned and hurt from the time in the doctor's office. Still her mind was on Lex's purpose. "I hope it isn't about the Talon. It isn't like this is my fault."

"As you just said, it's okay. I'm sure it isn't anything like that," he replied in a like tone. He rubbed her shoulder softly and gave her hand a warm squeeze. "We'll face it together just like everything else."

She marveled at his opening up. Since returning from the 'Kal-Out', he'd been the dream boyfriend where she was concerned. "Just like everything else," she echoed with a dreamy smile as the door opened.

"Now that is a great sight," Lex complimented. "Take it that the doctor had good news?"

She sighed. "Another week before I can start therapy. Otherwise everything's on schedule. I can do some work on the laptop while I'm propped up in bed or in my chair at least. Maybe I can see what the Talon's been doing the last couple of weeks?"

"Definitely." The billionaire grinned at his partner's enthusiasm. "Just don't try to take on the world all at once, okay?"

"I think I can handle a few things, Lex," she interjected. "I certainly have enough time on my hands to kill."

"I don't see anything wrong with it," Clark supported her.

Lex chuckled. "No. I'm sure you wouldn't." The kid's learning. "Follow me. I have coffee ready in the study. Patricia's waiting there too."

"I was wondering when we were all going to talk again," Lana indicated.

"She's been dealing with her Dad. No biggie. Say, Clark, you have anything for a deep look around in that arsenal of yours?" Lex supposed.

"On it." As they entered the library, the farm boy walked the area scanning every inch with his x-ray vision and listening with his enhanced hearing. At several points on the upper floor, he'd toss a book down onto the marble floor below. At others, he'd rip a bug from its hiding place and crush it in his hand.

"Thought you said it was secure?" Patricia chided the host.

"I have it all under control," Lex asserted. "Let Clark do his thing. Then we'll talk." He saw the farm boy walk over. "Everything set?"

"We're clear. Get those books out of here and we'll be fine. They're bugged," Clark reported.

"Bugged?" Lana queried.

"My father, Lana. Nothing that man does surprises me," Lex replied with an edge to his voice. He gathered up the books and carted them out into the hall. Then he shut the oak doors behind himself. "There."

"You see why I'm so concerned?" Patricia pointed out.

"We all are, Patricia. I keep telling you that. Clark, coffee's fresh. Pour yourself and Lana one," Lex offered. "Then we'll start."

Clark fixed Lana's and then his own cups. He handed his girlfriend her mug. Then he sat down at her side. "Okay, Lex. What's going on?"

"Did we do something?" Lana wondered.

"No, Lana, you're both fine. I wanted you to know I've reached an understanding with the medical center where Sandra's concerned. Rather than have several nurses potentially rotating on your case, she'll be your personal home nurse as long as you need her to be," Lex announced.

Even Patricia had to nod at that move in approval.

"We don't want to cost her the job though, Lex. My parents and I can handle things when she's not there," Clark argued.

"It happens all the time. I'll reimburse the medical center for her time. Look, guys, in case something happens, Sandra knows about the deal. I'd rather not be bringing more people into it," Lex explained. "We do have to be careful."

"Such as with Jasmine and Chloe," Lana presumed.

"Chloe might know," Clark surmised.

"What? Clark, how?" Lana asked tensely. "Pete and I wouldn't say anything!"

"Probably saw what happened in Central City. If Dad and I could, so could Miss Sullivan," Patricia deduced. "We need to know how much she knows. Then she has to understand how important this secret is to keep under wraps."

"Chloe's not like that," Lana defended her roommate.

"Actually…." Clark grimaced. "She was spying on me after she saw us together last spring." Seeing his girlfriend's shocked expression, he pressed on. "She was working for Lex's Dad. He wants information on me."

"I can't believe that!" Lana denied. "Not Chloe!"

"Actually, Lana. Clark's right. Chloe was working for Dad. However she refused to give him anything damaging. That's why Gabe was fired from the plant." Lex exhaled sharply. "Another reason to close ranks. We can watch out for and protect each other."

"And why I'm here," Patricia interjected. "Dad needed Brigid Crosby back in New York. Otherwise she'd be here and not me. I understand the Traveler story and what you are, Clark."

"What about Byron? He knows," Clark wondered.

"We're keeping an eye on him. If anything happens to either Sandra or him, we'll know. Jasmine doesn't concern me at least for now. She's a loyal and trustworthy friend. She asked me about the Torch. I hope you add her to the staff, Clark. She'd be a great reporter. Lots of insight and spunk," Lex assessed.

"She's probably a spoiled harem girl," Patricia guessed.

Lex smirked. "You really need to meet people before you judge them. Jasmine may be a princess but there's a lot more to her than meets the eye. Try challenging her to spar sometime and see how far you get. She doesn't like to brag but she definitely isn't the harem type. If she did find out—although she won't from me—she'd defend Clark's secret with her life now that they're friends."

"Much as I'm sure Miranda would. I don't want that pressure on her though," Lana insisted.

"As we agreed, Lana, we're not spreading this secret any further than we have to," Lex disagreed. "Miranda, like Jasmine, is a dependable person. I just don't want any one having an opening that they shouldn't. If they knew, they'd be targets. We all are." He drank from his mug. "Hence why we need to speak with Chloe as soon as possible."

"We can text or call her," Clark chimed in. Even if I don't want the jealous pressure.

"I just don't want to leave her out there as a potential target. Let's just work on getting her back here," Lex urged.

"Too bad we don't know for sure if she knows. Clark could run out there and back," Lana suggested.

"For now, I can pay for the train ride back. I'll speak to her and see what she says." Lex refilled his own mug and then offered every one else the same. "Anything you want to add? Any one?"

Everyone else pretty much had nothing to say. They'd covered everything.

"Fine. I know your parents are waiting for you both, Clark. Have a great dinner and evening. Lana, let me know if I can do anything," Lex offered.

"We will, Lex. Thanks. Be careful with your Dad," Lana agreed before Clark wheeled her out.

After the couple had left, Patricia looked at Lex skeptically. "You really want to get the Sullivan girl involved? I'd find a reason to keep her in Star City."

"Knowing Chloe, she already knows something. Trust me. It'll be better to get her back here before Dad has other ideas," Lex disagreed.

Patricia shook her head. I sure hope you know what you're doing, Lex!