Smallville, KS, April 14, 2008. The next two days went as well as could be expected, and Jason was the only one unaware of the change in mood between his parents. Clark was respectful towards Lois but still adamantly refused to touch her; worse still he tried to keep his distance from his son, who didn't quite comprehend why his Daddy wouldn't pick him up or hug him close anymore. Martha left the issue well enough alone until she and Lois were by themselves in the kitchen after breakfast that Tuesday, the boys having gone to play and talk outside.
"So…" Martha said, settling down in her chair with a second cup of coffee. Lois lowered the paper she was reading and looked at her.
"So…"
"You and Clark seem to be…ok…"
Lois grimaced. "Yep, that's us, just ok!" she said, dripping with false cheer.
"You know, I always thought yours was an interesting relationship," Martha started saying, ignoring Lois' sarcasm. "Jonathan and I, we rarely had a difference of opinion on anything. The only thing we ever really disagreed on was what lengths to go to to conceal Clark and his abilities, and if it had been left up to me…well, let's just say he probably never would have left the farm. But Jonathan knew that someday our boy would have to leave and spread his wings, literally and metaphorically speaking of course," she said with a wink.
Lois put the paper down on the table and stared back at her puzzled. "Martha, are you saying Clark and I aren't right for one another because we fight?"
"Heaven's no! Complacency worked for me and Jonathan, but you two are perfect for each other because you fight. You disagree, you argue, you talk things out…and eventually you make up; that's a very important part of a healthy relationship. Besides, you keep Clark on his toes, which is just what he needs, while he keeps you grounded, which is what you need. You compliment one another; anyone can see that. What I'm trying to say is that I think I'm to blame for Clark's…distance." She pursed her mouth in anger at herself before continuing on. "When it comes to relationships, Clark hangs back. He observes the situation, gauges how he should act and react so as to try and best fit in and that's my fault because I taught him that he had to do that. The good news is that when he does act he's all Jonathan, heart and soul. All I'm saying is just be patient with him, that's all."
The younger woman let loose a sigh. "I know, and I'm trying, I really am. It's just so difficult knowing that months and years have gone by that didn't have to, and when you know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone you don't want to waste anymore time than you already have!"
Martha looked over at her with wide eyes. "You mean…has he…?" she glanced down at Lois' ring finger.
She blushed. "No. We haven't even talked about that, but I'm hoping he feels the same way. I know that I want to stick by him, no matter what; even if Jason weren't in the picture my feelings for him would be unchanged. I'm just having a hard time convincing him of that."
"Oh Lois…" she reached a hand out and the younger woman held onto it from across the table, both wishing the man they were discussing weren't so slow and stubborn to see what he had right in front of him.
While Lois and Martha were having their heart-to-heart in the kitchen Jason was chasing Shelby around in the yard while simultaneously peppering Clark with questions.
"Dad? Grandma says she and Grandpa found you in a cornfield. Is this it, is this the one?" he asked, pointing to the field in front of the house.
"No, your grandparents found me in another cornfield on the other side of Town. It was on somebody else's property. Maybe later on today we can drive over there and I can show you."
"COOL!" He seemed to puzzle over something for a moment before finally asking, "But how exactly did you get here?"
"My biological parents, Jor-el and Lara, sent me in a spaceship they designed," Clark replied matter-of-factly, nonplussed at his son's curiosity over his Kryptonian heritage. Looks like we'll have to take a trip up to the Fortress in the near future...If only Luthor hadn't taken all the crystals...
Jason's eyes went wide. "Can I see it?"
Clark considered the request for a moment before looking down at his son's face. It was Lois' inquisitive look only in miniature. "See the ship? Why not? Come on over with me to the barn here," he led him just inside the doorway. "Now, I want you to take a deep breath in, as deep as you can, and blow out with me on that spot there." He pointed to the center of the barn floor which was covered in hay. "Ok? 1…2…3!" Father and son inhaled together and quickly blew aside the straw covering the barn cellar door.
"This is so neat!!!!" Jason cried out, running over to open the door by himself in an attempt to get to the ship faster.
"Hold on there, let me get that, it's heavy…even for a strong little guy like you," he gave him a playful ruffle of the hair as he bent down to pull up the doors. They were barely open before Jason bolted into the cellar in search of the spaceship, enough ambient light filtering through to make his search easier while keeping the corners dark.
He scanned the room. "Grandma sure has a lot of old newspapers…oh, is this it?! Is this it?!" he asked exuberantly as he pulled off the coarse woolen blanket. Underneath he found a small crystalline ship, about as long as he was tall, that looked as pristine as if it had been made thirty minutes ago and not thirty-three years ago. Jason marveled at it's structure, running his hand over every inch of the ship before scrutinizing the Kryptonian symbols etched into the hull. "Dad, what does this one mean? And what about this one here? Dad? Dad…?"
The boy had been so engrossed in his discovery that he'd forgotten entirely about his father. Clark had descended into the cellar immediately behind Jason, but when he got to the base of the stairs he felt his heart rate spike dangerously. The room was dark, and everything smelled damp and musty, reminding him of the countless hours he'd spent locked away. The memories of the trauma took over, and while Jason was busy exploring the mysteries of the ship Clark retreated to a corner behind the stairs, readying himself for a fight.
"Daddy?" the boy's scared voice cried out in the darkness. He circled around and unknowingly drew closer to where Clark stood when he came out of the shadows, fists extended like a boxer.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" he snarled through clenched teeth, the hair falling in his face and framing the menacing glare of his eyes. Jason cowered back in fear as his father came toward him a completely different man. "I'M STILL SUPERMAN!" Clark took another step forward, the muscles in his arms flexing dangerously.
"Daddy???" Jason's heart beat like a wild rabbit's in his chest as his eyes darted around the room looking for a means of escape. Without a second thought he super-sped up the stairs and out of sight.
Jason blew in through the back door so fast he caused his mother and grandmother to yelp in surprise. "Come quick, something's wrong with Dad!" he yelled before speeding back out the door, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Martha and Lois fled the kitchen and ran through the hallway, reaching the front porch in time to see Jason waiting worriedly by the barn entrance.
Clark's chest was heaving as he grew more and more indignant at his phantom mistreatment. "YOU CAN'T KEEP ME HERE! ARGH!!!" he yelled out, still half-hidden in the shadows. Without warning he slammed a fist into one of the support beams and debris shuffled overhead while tufts of hay rained down on his shoulders.
Lois heard his angry screams and shouts as she crossed the front yard toward Jason. "Where is he?" she asked, kneeling down to his eye-level.
"He's in there…" the boy replied somberly, pointing inside the barn to the cellar door she'd never seen before. "He was showing me his spaceship."
She looked up anxiously at Martha. "What else is down there?"
"Nothing, just the ship and a lot of old newspapers, that's all!" the older woman said as she stood behind Jason, placing her arms on his shoulders. They turned as if one, listening to him shout at unseen captors just below the surface.
"I'm going to go get him…" she stood up and prepared to go after him.
"Don't! It's too dangerous!"
She turned to face her again. "He won't hurt me." Lois tried to make herself understood with her eyes. "I know him, he won't." Martha nodded. "Now stay here, and no matter what, DO NOT ENTER THAT BARN, either of you, do you understand?!" The boy shook his head no.
"Jason," Lois said, her voice rising, "You are NOT to go in that barn, do you hear me?!" He still refused to agree. "Martha, hold him back, I don't want him coming down there." And with that she strode off into the barn, leaving Jason squirming in his grandmother's tight grip.
It grew eerily quiet as she descended the steps; even the animals were on edge, waiting for whatever was going to happen next as they stood silently in their stalls, their eyes trained on her. She reached the landing and called out his name. "Clark?" The question hung in the air, unanswered, and she turned to her left to explore her surroundings.
Her eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness when she half-tripped on the woolen blanket left lying on the ground. Turning to the right she saw the exposed ship that had carried Clark halfway across the galaxy as an infant, sitting apparently unscathed on a few bales of hay. Unconsciously she stretched a hand out to touch it when the sound of his heavy breathing reached her ears.
"You can't keep me here," his deep voice bellowed deliberately, making him sound all the more imposing. He was an arm's length away from her.
"Nobody's keeping you anywhere, Clark," she told him gently but firmly, inching forward. He scuffled back and away from her. "Do you know where you are?"
"How can I know where I am when you keep me locked up down here?! UGGHH!!" he swung at the support beam he'd hit earlier and punched it again. It groaned from the strain of the blows while holding up the floor above. Lois stopped and looked up to make sure the ceiling would stay before creeping forward again.
"You're in your barn in Smallville, Clark…you're safe…you've been safe for the last two months. Now come with me and we'll go up the stairs and get some fresh air…"
He let out an evil laugh as he turned around to face her again. "You'd like that wouldn't you? You won't trick me anymore, Finneran!" He raised his fists and made to strike the post again.
"I'm not going to leave you, but I wouldn't do that or you'll bring the whole roof down on us," she said, barely hiding the concern in her voice.
Up above ground she heard Jason giving Martha a hell of a time as he was screaming for both of his parents while his grandmother restrained him.
Clark's eyes narrowed into slits as he spoke, unaware of his son's shouts. "So long as I take you with me, Luthor, it doesn't matter…" and he purposefully swung at the post, snapping it in two.
It all happened in the space of three seconds. Lois heard the crunch of wood as his fist made contact and she saw the floor above their heads give way, bringing it and the crates and bales of hay resting on it down around them. She ran toward Clark without a moment's hesitation and wrapped her arms around his waist, willing him to protect her from the falling debris, and it was her touch that brought him back to reality.
Oh God what have I done? he thought, shaking his head before forcing her into a crouching position at his feet. Clark folded himself over and wrapped his arms protectively around her as the wood came toppling down. Please let her be alright, please let her be alright…
Jason stopped squirming just as he and Martha witnessed the partial collapse of the barn floor. She absent-mindedly let the boy go as her hands rushed to her face to stifle a cry, wondering what Clark had done and whether the two of them were alright. He took off toward the barn, standing just outside the door, scanning the dust that escaped through the cellar opening for any sign of either of his parents.
