/Lex, I'm your father! \\

Lex felt frozen in place as he listened to his Father screaming., barely hearing the teens panicking all around him.

"Dad? Dad!"

…

Jonathan chased Roger through the woods, growling as the man maintained his grip on his camera, only to trip, taking the tape out of the camera as he got back up.

"NIXON!"

Jonathan grabbed the man by the waist, pulling him to the ground, only for Nixon to punch him in the face.

A punch that Jonathan eagerly reciprocated.

"Give me the camera!"

"Get the hell away from me!" Nixon threw the camera over Jonathan's shoulder, moving to run away again. Jonathan went to go and grab the camera, only to see a motor home heading straight for them. Thinking quickly, he grabbed Nixon and threw him into a hole, jumping in after him, the pair of them rolling down a flight of concrete stairs into an underground shelter, just as the motor home landed, blocking their way out.

…..

"Lex, I- "

Lex turned to Clark, who looked completely panicked.

Mercy had managed to save his Father… but what about Clark's parents.

"Go on." He whispered, "Go and help them."

Clark smiled softly in relief, leaning over as though to kiss him, only to remember where they were and instead taking his hand and squeezing it gently, before disappearing.

…..

"Ma!" Clark glanced around the storm cellar, "Pa!"

He turned to see his Mother's feet poking out from around the corner.

"Ma! Ma!" She startled awake as Clark knelt by her, "Are you okay?"

"Clark…" She didn't seem to recognise him, only for her eyes to widen a moment later, "… Clark, we have to find your father! He was outside when the tornado hit."

"I've got to get you to a hospital first."

"No, no, Clark, listen to me!" She begged, "That reporter was in the cellar!"

"Nixon?"

"He videotaped the ship; he's going to expose your secret." She glanced at the exit, "Your father chased him out into the storm."

"I'll find him, I promise." Seeing that essentially, his mother was fine, Clark moved to leave, only to notice something strange.

"Ma… where's the ship?"

Martha turned to follow his gaze.

Clark's ship was indeed gone.

…

"The swelling in his vertebrae resulted in partial loss of nerve control in his legs."

Lex glanced over at his Father, who was unconscious in his bed, wearing a neck brace with his head bandaged.

"His spleen is ruptured and he sustained severe trauma to his optic nerve."

"We need to get him to Metropolis General." Lex whispered, "Not that I don't think you guys aren't doing a good job, but he needs some specialists."

"Agreed… but we can't move him right now."

"… I understand. Please do what you can."

As the Doctor left the room, Lex turned to his Father who was starting to stir.

"Lex… Lex… Lex."

"I'm here."

"Weak." His Father whispered, "You're willing… to let me die… in here. Life would be so much easier if I… wasn't here."

Lex remained silent.

…

The sun was rising high in the sky, as Clark continued to search for this Father.

"DAD! DAD!"

Looking around, he spotted his mum rushing towards him.

"We have to go back to the house!"

"Did you call the sheriff? And the hospital?"

She shook her head, "The phones are down."

"Dad grew up in tornado country." Clark was starting to panic now, "You never get caught out in the open. The first thing you do is get to shelter."

"I don't know if he was thinking straight." His mother shook her head, "Clark… I've never seen your father that angry. He said he wasn't going to let Nixon destroy our family!"

A horrible thought crossed Clark's mind.

"Do you think he…" He trailed off uncertainly as his Mother frowned.

"No… he would never do that."

She didn't sound sure though.

…

As night fell, Clark didn't want to admit that he was completely panicked, pacing back and forth in his loft as he heard the door open.

"Dad?"

He span around, only to see Lex standing there, a guilty look on his face.

"I… ran into your mother at the hospital." Lex whispered, "She told me about your Dad."

"I've checked every inch of this place." Clark tried not to show just how panicked he was, "I should head for the woods." He then paused, eyes widening as he turned back to Lex, "Your Father, how is- "

"- It's not looking good." Lex tried not to sound too affected, though it was clear his father's hospitalisation had shaken him slightly, watching as Clark went to grab a flashlight.

"Oh Lex." Clark moved over to him, wrapping one arm around him to pull the omega closer, "Is there anything I can do?"

Lex accepted the half-hug eagerly, burying his face into Clark's, taking comfort in the Alpha's scent, "No… it's in the doctor's hands now." He took a deep breath, "During the storm… he was trapped beneath a column according to Mercy. She saved his life and I… can't help but think my life would be better if he'd just died."

Clark rubbed his back soothingly, seeming to understand that Lex just needed someone to talk to.

"This will just be another sign of weakness to him." Lex whispered.

"… So, what are you going to do?"

Lex pulled away from him slightly, looking him in the eyes, before smiling. "I'm going to help you find your Father. Do you have another flashlight?"

A little under half an hour later, the pair were searching the woods.

"Dad! Dad!"

"Mr Kent! Mr Kent!"

"Dad!"

Lex stopped to look around, only to yelp as something dripped onto his head. Running his fingers through the liquid and checking to see what it was.

Oil.

He looked up to see Nixon's car smashed into the trunk of the tree above him. Clark noticed that Lex had fallen behind, quickly moving back to him, following his gaze to the car.

"Do you know who's that is?"

"Nixons'." Lex stated matter-of-factly, "I should have his number somewhere on my phone."

"… Why?"

Lex winced, "I… might have been investigating you… before- " He gestured between them, "- before you told me about you." At the hurt look on Clark's face, Lex fought to explain himself, "I was curious, so I pointed him in your direction, but when you told me the truth, I told Nixon to leave you and your parents alone, I promise!"

"So… when we saw him the other day, and he was questioning me about the truck… you knew who each other were?"

"… Yes."

Clark nodded, turning away and taking a deep breath. "If you still have his number, you should call him." He whispered, "Dad might be with him."

"Clark- "

"- Please."

Lex pulled out his phone, taking a deep breath.

…..

"Great." Jonathan muttered, stopping his banging on the door, a candelabra in his hands as he walked away from the door, spotting Nixon searching for something, "What are you doing?"

"Looking for my cell phone. It's our only hope. The greatest story in human history and I'm not gonna get a chance to write it!"

"Clark is not a story!" Jonathan snapped, "He's my son, and I'm not gonna let you sabotage his life while you make yourself famous!"

"Is that why you chased me?" Nixon stared up at him, "What were you planning on doing, Kent? Were you gonna bludgeon me and bury me in a shallow grave?"

"You were trespassing on my property and you tried to kill my son in that truck!"

"You have the most amazing being on Earth doing chores on your farm! Why are you hiding him?! Tell the world! Let them see for themselves!"

"I think I should leave that up to him for when he's older." Jonathan sighed, trying to keep calm.

Nixon leaned forwards, "When do you suppose that'll be? Draft age? Drinking age?"

"When he's ready."

"Why don't you stop playing the protector and admit the truth? You and your wife kept him because you couldn't have children of your own!"

"We kept him because he's our son and we love him."

Nixon cackled, "He's not your son, you deluded hick! He's not even hum- UGH!"

Before he could finish, Jonathan punched him the face, knocking him to the ground.

"You can kill me if you want for saying this, but you know I'm right!" Nixon spat out, "You're just a small man whose son's destiny is too big for you to comprehend!" Jon darted forwards, lifting the journalist up by his shoulders, "Clark doesn't belong to you! He belongs to the world!"

For a moment, there was silence, the only thing that could be heard was their strained breathing…. And then Nixon's phone started to ring.

Wriggling free of Jon's grip, Nixon dived for the phone, quickly answering it. "Hello? Lex! Lex!"

…

"Nixon." Lex kept his voice stern and cold, "Where the hell are you? Is Mister Kent okay?"

…..

Jonathan grabbed the phone from Nixon, throwing it across the room, shattering it into lots of tiny pieces.

"YOU STUPID SON OF A BITCH!" Nixon screamed, "I though you wanted to get the hell out of here!"

"I did." Jonathan's voice was cold, "Until I realised that you were in bed with… Luthor. I would rather rot down here than watch you two destroy my son's life."

…..

"Nixon? Nixon?" Lex sighed, looking up at Clark, "We should call the fire department, see if we can get a rescue team out here."

Clark was quiet.

"Clark… please, I swear that I didn't know Nixon was going to go this far."

"Why should I believe you? You already lied about knowing him once!"

Lex found himself stunned in silence.

"I don't what to believe what everyone says about Luthors." Clark whispered, turning to leave.

"Clark, wait!" Lex moved to chase him, "You're tired and upset and- "

"- Don't try to turn this around on me!" Clark snapped, "Are you really here to find my Dad or to find Nixon."

"… Do you even have to ask?" Lex whispered, unable to keep the hurt from his voice.

"I don't have time for this. I've got to find my Dad."

"Clark!"

Nothing.

"Clark!"

Clark ignored him, continuing to call out for his Dad.

….

It had been twelve hours, and his Father was still missing.

"I'm going to stay and work the phone banks." Martha sighed, "If anybody's seen or found him, they'll call in. They just discovered an old couple trapped in their garage this morning, so there's still hope."

Clark was silent for a moment, before sighing wearily. "Dad's missing because of me… I brought this on us."

"You can't blame yourself." She placed a hand on his shoulder, "You can't change who you are. As long as you live, people will try to exploit you. Your Father and I have tried to shelter you as long as possible, but one day we won't be there for you… and you're going to have to carry the burden of your gifts on you own."

Clark had started to shake his head halfway through his mother's speech, unwilling to even consider the possibility that his parents would be gone one day, "Don't say that Ma."

"And when your day comes…" Martha was starting to get teary eyed, "…. I have no doubt in my heart that you'll make us proud." She took a deep breath, "Now… go back out there."

…..

Jonathan dug frantically at the wall of the small area they were trapped in, "These old foundations…" He grunted, "… they mixed lead in with the cement for stability."

Nixon scoffed, "What, you're afraid we're gonna die of lead poisoning?"

"… Clark can't see through lead."

"He can see through solid objects?" Nixon gasped, "Unbelievable! What else can he do? Do you have any idea what I would do with his abilities? The wealth, the power he could amass! It's unimaginable!"

Jonathan rolled his eyes at the barrage of questions, "You are exactly the reason why I keep his abilities a secret."

"If it wasn't me, it would've been someone else. It was just a matter of time before this story got out!"

"Hmm."

"The people have a right to know!"

"Without any regard to the consequences to my son?!"

"Mr Kent… since the beginning of time, people have been looking up at the stars and wondering 'What's out there?' Clark is the answer that they've been waiting for."

Silence.

"I think I know a way out of here." Jonathan eventually broke the silence.

"… You gonna tell me what that is?"

"You give me the tape of the ship and I will."

Nixon shook his head, "Not gonna happen."

"It's your life… or your story. You've gotta decide which is more important." A dark look flashed across his face, "I have."

Nixon froze at the look, hand slowly moving to his pocket as he pulled out the tape, tossing it to Jonathan. Jonathan stared at it for a few moments, before opening the top and ripping out the film.

"So…" Nixon sighed, "… are you going to share your plan with me?"

Silently, Jonathan handed Nixon a stick and lead him to the wall. "Feel that… go on."

Nixon did, only for his eyes to widen in realisation, "The mortar's weaker here."

"Yep. If we can get through here, I'm sure that we can tunnel up to the surface."

Quickly, they started to dig.

…..

Clark resisted the urge to groan as he stepped outside.

He should have known Lex wouldn't give up so easily.

Despite his anger, he couldn't help but appreciate how Lex looked in the early morning night, dressed in those well-fitted clothes, leaning against his car so casually.

Looking like something out of Clark's dreams.

He was speaking into his phone, turning slightly, only to finally notice that Clark was standing there.

"I gotta go." He hung up quickly, moving away from his car, "Clark, I- "

"- What do you want?"

Lex paused, before sighing, "I should have come out and told you the truth right away… I do know Roger Nixon. You were hiding something from me and I wanted to know what, but as soon as you told me the truth, I just wanted to protect you!"

"Protect me?!"

"Before the tornado, Nixon approached me. He offered to see me information about your family."

"What kind of information?"

"You know what kind of information… he doesn't care who he hurts for his stories. Whose lives he ruins, so I warned him to stay away from you and your family. When I saw his car, I realised he might have something to do with your Father's disappearance."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Clark asked, "I told you about… me, and you never said a word."

"I- "

"- I don't know whether I can trust you anymore."

A hurt look flashed across Lex's face, before he slowly nodded in understanding. "I'll earn that back." He whispered, almost under his map, before heading to his car and pulling out a map.

"What's that?"

"It's a map… a cellular frequency grid to be exact." Lex explained, "I had my people look into it. Only one cell tower survived the storm, meaning that Nixon and possibly your Father had to be within a one-mile radius of where we were last night… I don't know if it will help, but it's worth a shot."

"Thank you." Clark whispered, "I'm sure you have work to do."

It was a clear dismissal, one that Lex didn't have the energy to argue with.

"I do, yes…. Good luck Clark."

…

"Mister Kent!" Pete called out.

"Dad!"

Chloe, who was looking at the map, shook her head, "Well, this is the edge of the grid."

"And there are no structures marked on the map." Pete sighed, turning to his friend, "Sorry Clark."

"Wait!"

They both turned to Chloe who was pointing at a motor home in the distance.

"What's that?"

They made their way closer.

"The twister must have dropped it here."

Clark tuned out his friends, using his x-ray vision to scan the motor home, only to sigh. "He's not in here."

Chloe frowned, "What are you, part blood-hound?"

"Yeah!" Pete agreed, "How do you know? Mister Kent!"

As Pete moved even closer, to look inside, Chloe scanned the ground, finding a camera.

"Dad!" "Mister Kent!" The other two continued to call out.

….

"Did you hear that?" Nixon asked.

Jonathan listened for a moment, before beaming, "It's the kids! CHLOE! PETE!"

"HELP!"

"WE'RE DOWN HERE!"

Nixon cursed under his breath, "They can't here us!" He snarled, "They can't! I've got to keep on digging!"

"Roger, take it easy!" Jonathan grabbed the man, pulling him away, "It's not stable down here!"

As if on cue, the tunnel started to cave in.

"Roger!"

They both fell back into the shelter, half buried in the dirt and rocks.

…..

"Did you hear something?" Chloe asked, a frown on her face as she looked around.

Clark used his x-ray vision again, still seeing nothing, making him sigh wearily. "Come on… let's start again."

"Mister Kent!"

"Dad!"

None of them knew that Jonathan and Roger were unconscious nearby, several meteor rocks lying beside them.

"Mister Kent!"

"Mister Kent!"

"Dad!"

…

Jonathan and Roger didn't know how much time had passed as they slowly regained consciousness.

Roger coughed weakly, groaning in pain. "I-I can't breathe!"

"That cave-in must have cut off the air supply." Jonathan whispered, watching as Roger sat up to lean against the 'wall'.

"Dying in a tomb. That's ironic." He groaned, "At least you got a legacy to leave behind… and a son to be proud of."

The mention of Clark made Jonathan smile softly, "The first time Clark used his abilities, he'd crawled under a big oak bed that my grandfather had made, and I crawled underneath it to try and get him out. All of a sudden the frame just came up in the air." He laughed, "He- he was a toddler lifting- I don't know- 500 pounds over his head!"

"… What did you do?"

"We decided to take him to a doctor… scientist… somebody more equipped to understand than we were. But when we got in front of the office, Martha… she said that if we left him there that… they would want to keep him and we'd never see him again. So, I took him home." He shrugged, "Now, that may have been a mistake, but it was a mistake I'd gladly make again."

…..

Lex watched emotionlessly as his Father was wheeled into the operating room.

"Time is of the essence." The first Doctor piped up, "The spine may heal, but the damage to the optic nerve will only get worse the longer it goes untreated."

"So… surgery is the only option?"

"No!" The second Doctor spoke up, ignoring the glare he got from his colleague, "I recommend against this! I say we let the patient's condition stabilize before surgery is attempted."

"Yes, surgery's risky, but the alternative could be worse."

There was silence, before the second Doctor turned to Lex, "It's your decision."

"… Do it."

"Fine."

…..

"Pete, where did you get these maps?" Clark asked, as he, Martha, Pete and Chloe poured over books and books of maps.

"My mom borrowed them from the county planner's office. They list every zoning change going back to 1920."

"Look." Clark pointed at one of the maps, "The plans from 1988 show an old church near Hobson's Pond."

"I've never seen a church near there."

"That's because it was destroyed in the meteor shower." Martha explained, voice quiet as Clark continued.

"Well, according to this, there's a crypt in the basement."

"… Your Dad could've known about it."

"I was right there! The motor home must have been concealing the entrance!"

As Clark moved to leave, Pete shot to his feet, "Clark, you can't go out there on your own!"

Clark floundered where he was for a moment. He couldn't tell Pete that he could the motor home up with his pinky… but he couldn't leave his Pa there any longer.

Seeming to see his internal distress, Martha straightened up, "Um, Clark? Pete and I will go into town. We'll get a rescue team and we'll meet you out there."

Sighing in relief, Clark, nodded, "Got it."

As soon as he could get away with it, Clark raced back to the motor home, kneeling down to grab the edge of it and tipping the whole thing over. He raced into the entrance and down the stairs.

"Dad?!"

"Clark?"

Spotting his Dad, Clark's face lightened up and he rushed over to him, "Dad!"

"Clark… Clark…"

Clark tried to drag him out of the rubble, only to feel slightly sick, vaguely spotting the meteor rocks on the ground before he collapsed.

"Kent!" Nixon cried out, "What's happening to him!"

"Roger, you've got to get him away from these meteor rocks! They make him sick."

Roger picked up one of the said rocks, staring at it in curiosity.

"Come on!" Jonathan begged, "Get him out of here!"

Silently, Roger walked over to Clark… and placed the meteor rock into Clark's jacket pocket.

"What are you doing?!"

"I don't need the tape." Nixon hissed in barely contained glee, "I've got all the evidence I need right here!" He then started to drag Clark to the stairs.

"What are you doing?!" Jonathan started to struggle furiously, trying to free himself, "Nixon! You don't understand! The rocks! CLARK!"

…..

Roger dragged Clark through the woods until he felt like he was far enough away. Dropping Clark, he pulled his key ring out of his pocket, pushing the button, only to hear his car beep above him.

"Oh, son of a- "He turned, just as Jonathan jumped onto him, sending them both to the ground.

"You are not- "Jonathan punched Nixon in the face, "-taking my- "Another punch, "- SON!"

Roger kicked him off, pushing himself to his feet to run, only for Jonathan to grab his leg, standing up behind him and pushing his face into a tree trunk. Roger then elbowed him in the stomach, bending to grab at a metal rod that was sticking out of the ground, pulling it out and hitting Jonathan across the face with it.

Jonathan fell back, knocking into another tree, his face bleeding from the hit.

"Like I said…" Nixon panted, "… the people have a right to know. And unlike you, Mr Kent, I am willing to kill for what I believe in!"

Jonathan's eyes widened in alarm as Roger raised the rod above his head for the killing blow.

BANG.

Roger stopped, looking down at his chest, only to see blood staining his shirt. Eyes rolling into the back of his head, he fell to the ground, revealing Lex standing behind him, holding the gun.

Jonathan stared at him for a moment, before his eyes widened, "Clark!"

"Mister Kent, are you okay?" Lex cautiously made his way over.

He looked terrified.

"Yeah." Jonathan scrambled over to Clark, closely followed by Lex, "Help me get his jacket off."

Lex did, throwing it as far away as he could as Jonathan pulled Clark closer.

"Clark, are you okay?"

"I-I'll survive."

It was to Jonathan's credit that he didn't stop Lex from coming closer.

None of them glanced at Roger's body.

….

As Roger was being zipped into a body bag outside the motor home, Jonathan was getting checked out in a nearby ambulance.

Clark watched from the side-lines as his Ma fussed over her husband for a moment, before spotting him and making her way over.

"Your dad's got a cracked rib, but he'll be alright."

"Like you said, he's a survivor." Clark then smiled softly at her, "So are you Ma… I never realised how strong you were until today."

"Well, thanks Clark, but I was terrified."

"You didn't show it. You were like Super Mom!"

They headed back to the ambulance, where Jonathan was putting his shirt back on.

"Pa, how are you feeling?"

Jonathan thanked the paramedic, before turning to Clark, "I feel kind of like a house fell on me, that's how I feel."

Clark nodded in understanding, before he nervously glanced over at Lex, who was speaking to an officer.

"I-I'm glad you didn't, you know…"

As Clark trailed off, Jonathan quickly figured out what Clark was saying, "What? Kill Nixon?" He sighed wearily, "I have to admit to you, it was the hardest thing I ever did. It took every fibre of being… but I started thinking about you and what your Mom and I have tried to teach you. I realised if I'd done that, Nixon would have won."

"… It's a good thing Lex was there."

Jonathan frowned, "Clark… Nixon told me that Lex offered to pay him for information on us."

"Lex told me the same." Clark sighed, "And then he said that he warned Nixon away from us after I told him about who I was."

"Clark- "

"- I'm not going to just forget about it and move on." Clark interrupted, "But I… really care about him Pa. And… he did save your life."

They all watched as the cop seemed to dismiss Lex, allowing the omega to walk over to them. You didn't have to be an empath to see that Lex was nervous.

"Mister Kent…" Lex trailed off, clearly not knowing what to say

"Lex." Jonathan took a deep breath, glancing over at Clark, before turning back to Lex, "You saved my life, and I want to say thank you."

Lex stared at him in amazement, before a soft, but hopeful, smile appeared on his face. "To a fresh start?" He offered out his hand, as Jonathan shook it.

"Yeah… a fresh start."

Clark didn't know what it was, but it felt like a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders.

…..

Lex stared at the photos on his phone, flicking through them absentmindedly.

How was it, that only a few hours ago, he and Clark looked like the picture perfect couple?

"Lex…. Lex… Lex."

Startled by the sudden voice coming from beside him, Lex spun around to see his Father starting to wake up.

"Dad? How are you? The doctors won't tell me what's going on."

"I know." Lionel whispered, "I wanted to tell you myself…. There's every chance I'm going to get back the full use of my legs."

"Well, that's great news… isn't it?"

"I need to say something to you." Lionel sighed, "If I've acted ruthlessly, it was because I knew my opponents wouldn't hesitate to do the same. I know you've always seen us as opponents, Lex…. But you could have left me paralysed."

"I had the Doctors perform the operation immediately and- "

"- You blinded me instead."

Lex fell silent, eyes widening as a snarl appeared on his Father's face.

"It would have been better of you hadn't helped me! You should have just let me die… useless omega!"

Lex backed away towards the door, eyes on the hateful look on his Father's face.

"USELESS!"