A/N: Been stuck on this one for a few days. Sorry, guys and girls. Anyway, I hope this doesn't disappoint. -AtrophysFinest.

You're Not The Only One

Chapter Thirty-Six: Visiting Hours

The Smallville trio walked up to the main reception desk, and saw the receptionist in the middle of a phone call. John squeezed Chloe's hand and Chloe responded with a squeeze of her own.

The receptionist finished on the phone a few painful seconds later and looked up at the trio. Her eyes shone with exhaustion, most likely due to overworking. Things got more hectic in the winter months.

"Can I help you?" Clark nodded. "Hello, we're here to see Jonathan Kent. He was brought in with a... Gunshot wound." Clark's eyes flared with pain. He saw first-hand what the monsters did to his adoptive father.

The receptionist looked through her files and found the correct one, opening it as she relayed the necessary information to the trio. She nodded at them. "Yes, yes, Jonathan Kent. He's up on the third floor, Ward Seven, Room Six, Fourth Floor. You're cutting this a bit fine, visiting hours are over in less than forty minutes."

Clark nodded his thanks and walked over to the elevator, struggling to hold his nerve. He pressed the 'CALL' button and waited impatiently for the large, metallic box. With a ping, the two steel doors opened and the trio walked inside, Chloe and John's hands were still joined tightly.

The robotic voice in the lift drove John insane. He didn't realise he suffered from Claustrophobia until he was trapped in the lift. He broke free from Chloe's hand and slumped down on the floor, struggling to breathe.

Chloe immediately knelt down next to him and placed her arm around her boyfriend's shoulders. "John! What's wrong?" John panted heavily, rocking on the floor. "I... I can't... Breathe...!" Clark was worried about his brother but his gaze focussed on the LCD screen just above the elevator's buttons, praying that no-one would be calling for the lift on the way up.

When the lift finally reached the fourth floor, Clark crouched next to his brother and grabbed his arm, pulling him up to his feet. John weakly nodded his thanks and the trio left the elevator, following the directions to Ward Seven.

John wanted to run into Jonathan's room, but he managed to resist. He knew it wouldn't do good to cause havoc in a hospital. Taking Chloe's hand, he intertwined his fingers with hers, all-the-while looking at the signs hanging from the ceiling.

He read them aloud as he passed each one, worry clearly etched on his features. "Ward Six to the left... Oncology Department... No idea what that is, could be to do with the head... Oh, God... Ward Six... Nearly there..."

As they walked along the white hallway, Clark turned his head to his brother. "Hey, John. Try and keep calm. I know Dad's been through a lot, but he needs us to be strong. Come on, brother." John nodded weakly, but kept reading the signs, only quieter.

Chloe had remained silent, she didn't know what to say, all she did was squeezed John's hand tighter. When the trio reached the sign for Ward Seven, they turned port to their target ward. When they reached the Ward, John, Clark and Chloe made their way to the sixth room.

When they reached the sixth room, Chloe noticed a couple of chairs in the hallway, hugging the wall next to the door. Chloe let go of John's hand and kissed his cheek before sitting down. Clark turned next to his brother and nodded. John mirrored the nod and allowed Clark to walk in first.

When Clark saw Jonathan, he was deeply saddened. He'd never seen his father this weak. Clark smiled weakly at his mother and sat down next to his father. He turned to his mother and spoke quietly, not wanting to wake his father.

"Mom... How... how is he?" Martha tried staring at her son but her eyes were red and sore from tears. "He came out of surgery a while ago, the doctors all said that he's gonna be fine, the bullet missed his stomach and hip, it was a clean entry and exit path for the round. I, just... Oh, Clark..."

Martha nearly collapsed on the floor, but Clark grabbed her and helped her back to her seat. Martha silently nodded her thanks and turned her head to look at the door, noticing a certain Kryptonian on the other side, visibly shaking, even from this distance.

Martha understood her son's look and nodded with a small smile. John cautiously walked in, every slow step filled with nerves. He found a chair next to his brother's and sat down. Clark explained everything to John and the younger Kryptonian merely nodded, focusing all of his energy on remaining as calm as possible.

All that could be heard in the room was the steady, beeping rhythm of the heart monitor, and the slower dripping of the intravenous filled with an unknown substance that was keeping Jonathan peaceful.

After about of ten minutes of silent thoughts, a weak groan was heard. John picked it up with his enhanced hearing and knew who it was. His insides lit up. Jonathan Kent coughed and slowly opened his eyes, blinking to adjust to the soft light of the private hospital room.

"M...Martha...?" Martha took her husband's hand and grinned with tear-filled eyes. Her voice was filled with joy, but it was quiet. "How are you, my love?" Jonathan grunted. "I'm... I'm getting there, Martha... Clark... John... Glad... Glad you could make it..."

John and Clark grinned at their adoptive father. They couldn't be happier, knowing he was awake. Clark was the first to speak. John couldn't conjure up his words. "Hey, Dad. We all missed you." Jonathan smiled and turned his attention to his other son.

"John, how... How are you... Holding up?" John smiled at his father, managing to recover his strength. "I'll be okay, Dad. I don't think I like hospitals very much, but I know they're essential. I also don't like cramped, closed spaces."

Jonathan merely nodded in Clark's direction and smiled at his two sons. He looked up at the clock on the wall behind his family and sighed. "Looks like it's... Last call for h... Happy Hour... Come on, kids... Dad needs his rest."

John and Clark nodded and left the room. When John turned to Chloe, his girlfriend hugged him and the trio made their way back to the elevators. When they reached the elevators, John smirked when he saw the sign and the door which led to the stairs.

John turned to his brother and his smirk morphed into a full grin. "Clark?" Clark smirked. "Race you."

As soon as the doors to the elevator pinged, John made his way down the stairs, feeling full of

energy.

End Of Chapter Thirty-Six