Orcale
*Lana and Chloe's Dorm room, earlier in the day.*
Lana was putting the finishing touches on a present with Chloe walked in. "If I didn't know any better I would think you were wrapping a gift." Chloe said as she stared at the gift.
"I know you were an investigative reporter for a reason." Lana grinned and Chloe stuck out her tongue.
"Yes and being the reporter I am, I must ask why?" Chloe looked at her curiously.
"Its Clark's birthday tonight and I was going to send him a gift." Lana confessed.
"Oh and I'm sure that wouldn't be awkward." Chloe paused and shook her head. "You two are horrible at hiding your feelings, lucky for you, we're dealing with Clark and he's oblivious." Chloe pointed out.
"I know….." Lana sighed, remembering she needed to be strong.
"I'll make sure he gets it." Chloe took the gift.
"What are you going to tell him?" Lana wanted to know.
"I'll think of something." Chloe said thoughtfully and Lana smiled.
"Thank you." Lana and Chloe embraced.
"Least I can do." Chloe replied.
*Kent House*
Clark walked into the house with groceries. He noticed the all the lights were out. "Mom you home?" He called out.
"Surprise!" Martha, Chloe and Lois called out as the lights came on.
"What's this?" Clark questioned.
"Your birthday party Clark." Martha informed him and Clark looked taken aback.
"Don't tell me you forgot Smallville? Did you lose your memory again, because if you did maybe you would be better off not getting it back with the way you often seem to lose it." Chloe slapped Lois lightly on the shoulder for her comment.
"Come in the kitchen Clark, we made you a cake." Chloe led Clark into the kitchen as Martha and Lois followed.
You made a cake for me?" Clark was amused.
"Yeah, me and Lois pulled together to bake one." Chloe paused and looked at the kind of deformed cake. "At least we think it's a cake." They all laughed.
"We'll save that for later, because it's presents time now." Lois said and handed Clark a journal. "You're a private guy and I can always tell you have a lot on your mind, so I thought a journal would help. It helped me as a kid." Lois shrugged.
"Thank you Lois." Clark put the journal down.
"With my budget I was barely able to afford dinner last night, so all I can give you is a return on all the IOUs that you owe me." Chloe informed her, then Martha handed Clark two tickets.
"These were your dads, they're to the Wolverines baseball team in Metropolis. Two tickets, just for the two of you. There was no one he would rather go to a game with, than you." Martha explained with a heavy heart.
"I love it mom." Clark hugged Martha, when Chloe remembered Lana's gift.
"Whoops, I forgot about this one." Chloe pulled a gift from out under the table and handed it to Clark. Clark opened the gift and pulled out a Metropolis sharks jersey with his name on the back with the number 12.
"Wow and this authenticated too. Chloe, how is this from." Chloe looked around for a second.
"Uh, Lionel heard it was your birthday and offered to buy it. He remembered that you were a big fan and could have went there." Chloe lied as Martha shoot her a glance.
"I'm not sure I can accept this." Clark said with a guilty look.
"Of course you can Clark, it's your birthday." Martha butted in.
"But…." Clark began to say before Martha stopped him.
"No, take it Clark, do it for me." She asked of him.
"Alright." Clark gave in.
*Later that night*
Chloe and Martha are cleaning up the kitchen. Lois had went home for the night and Clark went to visit the graveyard. "I think he had a good time." Chloe said, kind of convinced.
"Me too." Martha agreed and Chloe finished clearing the table.
"Well, everything looks good, I'm going to head out for the night. Thanks for having me." Chloe politely said and turned to the door.
"Be sure to thank Lana for the gift." Martha said as Chloe stopped dead in her tracks and turned back to Martha with a wide-eyed look.
"Huh?" Chloe muttered.
"I know Lana was the one who gave Clark the gift. Lionel knows by now that Clark wouldn't accept any of his gifts and we know Lex isn't going to send anything, so that leaves one person. " Martha told her.
"Santa Claus?" Chloe grinned.
"Try again." Martha folded her arms patiently.
"Ok Lana." Chloe gave in and Martha motioned for her to sit down.
"Is there something I should know?" Martha looked questionably at Chloe.
"I've been sworn to secrecy. " Chloe let her know.
"But to me, right?" Martha said and Chloe nodded.
"True." Chloe took a breath and began. "Lex knows the truth about Clark." Martha eyes widened in horror.
"Oh no." Martha put her hand over her mouth.
"And Lex told Lana that if she didn't agree to be with him, he would tell the world about Clark." Chloe explained the details as Martha looked on in sadness.
"I shudder to think of the way I treated someone who I always thought of as my daughter, when she was the one sacrificing herself to protect my son." Martha said in disbelief.
"I was right there with you, until I walked in on her and Lex talking one day. Ever since then she made promise not to tell Clark and I'm good at keeping secrets by now." Chloe admitted.
"Clark needs to know!" Martha said emphatically.
"No! You can't tell him, Lana will never forgive me." Chloe said in a pleading tone.
"Chloe this is very serious, Lana's in danger." Martha reasoned.
"Please, at least talk to her first." Chloe tired to convince her.
"Ok, but we can't just let Lana pay the price and Lex knowing Clark's secret without his knowledge isn't good either." Martha decided to talk to Lana and Chloe let out a breath in relief.
*Graveyard*
Clark walked up to his dad's grave and kneeled in front of it. "Hey dad, I just needed to come by and see you. Today was my first birthday party without you and it was okay….." Clark paused. "It was actually fun by regular standards, but I can't find it within myself to celebrate anything these days, not without you or…..Lana." Clark stared away for a second until he heard a voice.
"I'm sorry to hear that son." A voice came from behind Clark and he turned to see Jonathon.
"Dad?" Clark asked not believing what he saw.
"It's me son, sorry you didn't enjoy your birthday." Jonathon sincerely told him.
"It's ok, I just miss you." Clark confessed sadly.
"I miss you too, but you're grown up now and with your gifts you need to stop the evil in the world. You need to stop him." Jonathon said as Clark looked confused.
"Stop who?" Clark wanted to know.
"Lionel Luthor." Jonathon answered and Clark looked away for a second, but when he looked up Jonathon was gone.
Clark needed a goodnight sleep and thankfully he got it last night. He sill couldn't believe what he had seen. It was his dad, standing right in front of him, like he never left at all. Although, stranger things had happen, could it really have been him? Last he knew there were no more Tina's around, it must have been him.
As Clark made it to the bottom of the stairs, he spotted Martha heading for the door. "Another early meeting?" Clark asked somewhat irritated.
"No, well, actually it is." Martha reluctantly lied to him. She was really going to see Lana, knowing how urgent it was.
"Do you have a minute?" Clark wanted to know as Martha went into mother mode, sensing that something was wrong.
"I always have a minute for my baby." Martha smiled warmly as did Clark as his mother's words.
"I went to the graveyard yesterday…." Clark paused, trying to find the words. "And I saw dad…." Clark trailed off.
"Oh…." Mother paused, not knowing where this was going.
"When I say I saw him. I mean I…..saw him standing in front of me." Clark explained as Martha looked sadly at him.
"Clark, sometimes people imagine things they want to see when they lose someone they love." Martha tried to reason.
"I wasn't seeing things mom, he was there!" Clark emphatically replied.
"Alright, I believe you." Martha gave in, knowing Clark was getting upset.
"He told me I needed to stop Lionel." Clark let her know.
"Lionel? Why?" Martha's was at full attention.
"He didn't say why." Clark looked down confused and Martha walked up to him.
"I guess we'll just have to wait until he comes back." Martha shrugged. "I would skip this meeting and stay, but it's very important." Martha sincerely said and Clark nodded.
"Go, I'll be fine." Clark mumbled and Martha kissed him on the cheek, before leaving.
Lana strolled into the Talon, sent on an errand by the bald guy himself. Although, to her this was like a cruse to the Bahamas. Anything away from the dungeon and bald guy felt like a cruse to the Bahamas. Maybe she would spill a coffee or two, so she would have to order twice or a couple of hundred times. Lana then walked to the counter and order Lex's coffee, nothing for herself. Anything that would keep her awake isn't a good thing. "So what are you? His errand girl too?" Lois quipped as she walked Lana to the counter.
"I don't have time for this Lois." Lana rolled her eyes.
"Well, I'm going to make some time for it. I haven't forgotten what you did to Clark and I don't care what Chloe says." Lois got in Lana's face.
"Fine, you want to go?" Lana threw her bag down in anger. Lois smiled in anticipation, but her eyes were diverted to a recite on the floor. She then picked it up and looked at it.
"Sharks number 12 uniform, authenticated for Clark Kent, 200 dollars." Lois read off in shock.
"Lois….." Lana began, knowing she was in trouble.
"Why would you get this for him?" Lois questioned as Lana looked away. "There really is something going on here, isn't it?" As Lana nodded, while she still looked down.
"Yes." Lana muttered.
"I'm sorry for what I said and did." Lois honestly replied.
"It's ok, I understand." Lana sighed.
"Can you tell me what's happening?" Lois took a shot and asked.
"Sorry." Lana said apologetically.
"Ok." Lois gave in and Lana grabbed her coffee from the counter before she turned back to Lois.
"I can trust you not to tell Clark, right?" Lana asked in a pleading tone.
"You can trust me." Lois smiled reassuringly and Lana meakly smiled back.
Lex worked on his laptop when Lionel walked in. "Doesn't it ever occur to you to call before you grace me with your presence?" Lex asked, his eyes not leaving his laptop.
"Come now Lex, I'm family." Lionel answered.
"Even more reason to call." Lex said, finally closing his laptop. "So what's on tap for today?" Lex wanted to know.
"I've heard that you found a new business partner Lex." Lionel said as he walked to the scotch.
"I often do dad, seeing as how I do own a billion dollar company." Lex sarcastically smirked as Lionel smiled at his remark.
"Right you are, but do all of them smuggle in deadly viruses?" Lionel questioned Lex with a curious look.
"We're working on a project, it isn't your concern." Lex shook off Lionel's questioning.
"Of course it's my concern, you're my son Lex. No matter where we stand, you well being is always my utmost concern." Lionel explained as Lex rolled his eyes.
"I'm fine, nothing I can't handle." Lex cavalry told him.
"I wouldn't be too sure, Milton Fine isn't who he seems to be." Lionel let slip.
"And what is that dad? An alien? Like I said, I have all bases covered." Lex said calmly.
"For your sake, I hope so." Lionel seriously said.
Clark and Chloe walked along side each of other in the Daily Planet, discussing what happened to Clark the previous night. "I must say, this is weird, even for us." Chloe joked as she and Clark finally made it back to her desk for more private discussions.
"It always seems to get weirder, but what should we expect? I know I don't like talking about destiny, but I was destined for weird things the day I was born. There's no getting around that." Clark said with a hint of pain in his voice and a hint of acceptance.
"True, time to throw weird out the window when it comes to us. Weird is the normal, but doesn't this does seem kind of far-fetched and again, I say, even for us. You're dad coming back from the dead, I just don't know." Chloe admitted her skeptical ness.
"I wasn't seeing things Chloe, that's for sure." Clark replied, showing his frustration at being question.
"Ok, let's just say that this is real. What are we going to do? I hate Lionel as much as the next girl, but he hasn't done anything with the knowledge of your secret. I mean, the old Lionel would have had you thrown away long ago for his own personal experiments, but he didn't." Chloe explained, hoping she wasn't totally wrong.
"Yet, this is still Lionel we're talking about here. He could have something we've never even imagined planned and it could revolve all around me. Maybe some how my dad knew that and came back to tell me. With Fine still out there, I can't take any chances, I need to stop him." Clark said with conviction as Chloe nodded her head in defeat.
"What do you have in mind?" Chloe wanted to know and Clark smiled at her willingness to help.
"Follow me." Clark ordered as he and Chloe walked out of the Daily Planet.
Lana walked slowly into the mansion, as she always did. No need to rush some where you didn't want to be…..ever. But as Lex would remind her so many times, she was here for a reason and that reason keep her going. It was a reason that would have to keep going for her entire life or at least until Lex got disinterested, like he did with most other things. If only she could make herself look like the wicked witch of the south. Lana laughed at that thought as she enter Lex's "work" area. "Here's your coffee." Lana placed the coffee on his desk.
"Thanks." Lex smirked.
"Welcome." Lana said in half emotionless tone that she had grown a custom to. Lana turned away before Lex began again.
"Did Clark like his gift?" Lex wanted to know with a grin attached to his face. Lana stopped with a grimace on her friend and turned back to Lex, putting on her best face.
"What gift would that be? I'm sure you know that I'm not invited to Clark's party, remember?" Lana replied with a hurt look.
"Then what would you want with an authentic, number 12, Sharks Jersey?" Lex wondered as he folded his hands together awaiting an answer.
"Does it really matter? Clark doesn't know anything." Lana calmly told him as he nodded his head.
"And what reason could you give me to believe that he doesn't?" Lex asked with a curious look on his face as Lana walked up to the desk in a serious manner.
"Because if he was here, he would rip your head off." Lana said with spite as Lex laughed loudly and got up.
"You know, you're right. Clark would come rushing in to save the day, if he knew the truth. I do believe you in that respect, but I wouldn't be giving him any more gifts, birthday or not. We wouldn't want him getting curious, would we?" Lex placed his finger on Lana's face, moving his finger up and down in a sicken motion.
"No." Lana said dejectedly.
"Good, now I have an important meeting at six tonight, so there's no need to come by tonight." Lex explained and Lana nodded, before she walked out as Lex looked on , pleased with himself. After Lana leaves, a gust of wind comes thru the room as Milton Fine appears in front of Lex.
"That was another impressive display, Lex. I must say, you really are growing into your new role or should I say, your true self." Fine smirked as Lex took a seat on his couch.
"Glad you enjoy it, because I didn't envision a scenario where I would have to force someone to love me." Lex spitefully replied as Fine rolled his rolls at Lex's whining.
"What does it matter anyways Lex? You humans waste so much time on worthless emotions that couldn't mean any less. Why don't you spend more time concentrating at the task at hand, rather than complaining about how Lana doesn't love you or why Daddy didn't hug you more as a kid." Fine mocked as Lex gave an angry look.
"How do you think you are talking to me like that?" Lex demanded to know.
"You know who I am Lex?" Fine said in a cocky tone as Lex nodded.
"Right, but did you forget who I am?" Lex said in an equally cocky tone as Fine laughed.
"Ah yes, the human with all the resources and money in his little planet. Who could send masses of humans with their guns at me within a moment notice. Although, I'm also the machine that could take out every human on this planet without them evening knowing anything had happened." Fine paused and walked up to Lex in a threatening tone. "Don't forget why you're here Lex. Nor should you forget what I can do, remember, I have a mission and intend to complete it, with or without you." Fine walked to the door before turning around. "Remember out meeting tonight." Fine said before he speeded away as Lex looked on angrily.
Clark speeds into Lionel's office with Chloe in his arms. Chloe chuckles as Clark lets her down. "And to think, I never use to like amusement park rides when I use I kid. Now, I have my own personal ride and I love it." Chloe joked.
"Glad you could enjoy, now could we get serious for a second." Clark said in an irritated tone.
"Alright, alright." Chloe replied, immediately going to the laptop on Lionel's desk as Clark roamed the room, looking at all of Lionel's collection of highly expensive furniture.
"Find anything yet?" Clark wanted to know, obviously getting anxious.
"Nothing, except a huge phone bill." Chloe said staring intently at the laptop.
"And what does that have to do with us?" Clark questioned as his eyes wondered around the room.
"Well, it seems that night of your dad's election, Lionel made a lot of calls to him." Chloe pointed out, causing Clark to walked right up to the desk.
"How much is a lot?" Clark looked curiously between Chloe and the laptop.
"Twenty, it appears that Lionel really had something to say." Chloe mentioned as she stared at one particular call and then clicked on it.
"What could he want with my dad?" Clark asked to Chloe and mainly himself.
"I don't know, but his last call was only made a couple miles away from the farm. If I had a guess, I'd would say that Lionel saw your dad before he died." Chloe said, putting the pieces together.
"Which means….." Clark said, trailing off at his thoughts.
"Lionel might be responsible for your dad's death." Chloe finished his thoughts as Clark stared into space, anger written all over his face.
As Lana walked down the hallway to her room, thoughts circulated thru her head. 'What if my dream was right? What if Fine is really working with Lex? What would they be doing and it is as danger as my dream lead me to believe? I have to follow Lex tonight.' Lana finally concluded. She had to do something, before it was too late. But would Clark really believe her? What if she found the truth, but Clark didn't listen and something happened. After everything that happened, could he really blame her? She didn't know if she could have believed him, if the roles had been reversed. She really didn't know, all she knew is that she had to do this, by herself.
Sorry All but that is it there is no more this fanfic was not completed. I shall try to find a complete Clana fanfic for you guys