Name: Mercury (reviews written as april' I just set up my new account)

Authors E-mail: apriljack2@aol.com

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. The WB and the ink bottle guys do. (But if I did my more devious plot bunnies would come true and Smallville would be a much more interesting place.)

Pairings: Mostly focusing on Lex's father issues and his and Clark's friendship. Slah will ensue later on.

Spoilers: None, but you must be versed in the premise of Smallville.

Archive: Fanfiction.net; anywhere else e-mail and ask me first so I know where to find it.

Thank-you: Everybody that writes fanfic for Smallville.

Nymph Du Pave: Sorry but since I am almost certain you'll read this I want to say that I really enjoy all the series you are writing now and everyday I sit down at my computer with my little triangle preppy Nymph Du Pave' Flag with my customized hat and a pop to await your latest post. Write on sister! It's easier for me to write reviews this way it's the only way I can keep track of which stories I've reviewed.

J.D.: Hope you enjoy this one it gets better as it goes along. (But I don't know it you'll read this.)

Feedback: Always appreciated. But in all actuality I'm addicted to it. I crave it. Even if it's a one liner acknowledging that you read it any feedback would be accepted with open arms. Just to let you know I prefer rotten vegetables to people chasing me down with pitchforks. Thanks

Weird Side Note: All the reporters on my local news channel have three letter names. Do they think that we're that simple?

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Part I: Lionel's Predicament

The moonlight filtered into the small, dank, barred room. Its occupant shifted uneasily in the progressing twilight. Lionel Luthor lay there on the concrete floor. Shaking from the cold winter air that sank to the bottom of his cell. He looked battered and broken a wispy allusive shadow of his former self. Everything in his world had become cruel and unusual punishment; sleeping became one of the hardest tasks of all. Everything they had given him in his entire stay at this hotel of hell had been cold except for the occasional dousing in boiling water to wake him up when they put him through the living hell that was sleep depravation torture. And he was now sure he had caught pneumonia all it's symptoms were there the fever, aches, vomiting, coughing, and the labored respiration.

And so he lay there unable to sleep from the fear that he no longer would be able to breathe. Then he began to do what he had never done since he was a little boy. Lionel Luthor wept. His captors wanted the names of the assassins that had killed a former chinese business partner of Luthor Corps. And the ironies of all ironies had come after they had asked him for the information; Lionel truly had no clue about who was involved in the hit. The only time Lionel was held accountable was for something he had not even done.

The numbness that accompanied the shock of his new situation had worn away and the utter despair and searing hopelessness had sunk in to his weary bones. He had hoped at the beginning of his incarceration that Lex would use all the resources in his power to find him, but Lionel knew that hope to be in vain. Lex had probably used all his power to hinder the search for him, and playing the part of the mourning son at had most likely held a funeral to grieve for his lost father. But it was no concern to Lionel now he knew he was no longer knocking at deaths door, but sitting down to tea in his foyer.

Lionel regretted causing his one and only child to hate him so, but it was for the best. The main reason he had pushed him away was because he cared for the boy with all his heart. He knew what he was becoming and as much as that realization hurt him he knew it would hurt Lex more. He knew he would hurt Lex; once all the humanity was drained out of him Lionel knew he would hurt what he held so dear. When his wife passed he regretted not being around in her final days, but that was when his soul had just begun to fade into blackness; when he still held on to his morals and values, but those days had passed. Now he was no longer Lionel he was Lionel Luthor. And a Luthor had no regrets. Lionel held Lex at arms length with a hope that his young heir would not have the same fated befall him that had captured all Luthors in its wake; he hoped that he would not become his father. Often times Lionel pondered who in the long lines of Luthors that preceded him had been the one to get it all the answers wrong? The one to doom all his posterity to a lonely friendless existence.

But Lionel still hoped that his son's only friend would be able to do what his father could not: pull a Luthor back into the light. Jonathan had tried his Kent heart out to save Lionel from the blackness as it enveloped him but his attempts had proved in vain. Jonathan had remained strong throughout the entire ordeal being the rock that Lionel could always fall back on; taking the insults and lies with saintly patience. He had believed in Lionel's heart and remained strong until the bitter end. Lionel had always thought that Jonathan would be the one to give up on him. He tried with all his might to push his only friend away, but Jonathan remained at his side; a loyal and faithful friend. But in the end it was Lionel who proved himself to be the weak link in the chain. He surrendered himself to the void that had enveloped his father and those before him. But he knew he had hurt Jonathan more than he had hurt himself. The elder Kent had never forgiven himself for not being able to save Lionel and still in an odd way loved the man as his best friend still after all those years. But he cared for the Lionel he had once knew the Lionel who would be as loyal a friend as he was. And through it all Jonathan always remained waiting at the edge of light and dark waiting patiently for his friend to come back to him.

When Lionel had heard that his son had fallen in with the Kent boy he had hoped that Jonathan would take him under his wing and care for him like he never could. But he was equally as pleased when he saw how much the Kent boy cared for his son. When he looked at Lex in pain it was like his entire world had come crashing down the concern that was in his eyes could not be matched by anything in the world except for Jonathan's past friendship with Lionel. However much Jonathan liked to denounce it he would do anything to go back in time and be able to save Lionel from the self implosion that left him dark and desolate. Lionel could only hope that Lex wasn't as blind as he was to the concern and unconditional friendship the Kent boy offered him.

Lionel's mind raced through topics of interest to keep himself awake and alert. He couldn't afford to fall asleep now; not when his breath was coming in short wheezing gasps. He knew that they wouldn't come and check on him now. His captors had left him alone in his cell for the last two days only coming in once in the afternoon to give him a glass of water and piece of bread. He knew that they still thought that he was involved in the assassination of this business man they spoke of that Lionel vaguely remembered. He had assumed that they were leaving him in his cell to asphyxiate. He thought that they had finally given up on getting any information out of him and had left him to a slow and agonizing death. As his mind raced Lionel tried to repress the memories of his tortured imprisonment. He tried to focus on good things, but there were few good things in his present life so he found himself drifting more into the realm of the past to fond memories of his beloved family before he brought it to ruin.

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Part II: Lex's Role

Lex strode purposely back and forth the width of his study. His features set in a tight agitated state. He had just received word from his father's captors that his payment had been received and they would be dropping off his father soon. Lex truly didn't care whether the man lived or died; in all truth he actually would prefer the later. But he had crumbled against Clark's sense of justice and agreed to pay for his fathers return.

Lex marveled at how Clark could instantly care for anyone no matter how rotten their soul was without even thinking about it. Although Lex loved this quality in Clark it made him unsure if their friendship was true. Or if the entire breadth of feeling Lex had for Clark was nothing, but pity for the poor lonely Luthor boy stuck out in the sticks by his mean old father on Clark's part. But any doubt about Clark's devotion to him was quickly squelched time after time when Clark either came in the nick of time to save him from death and destruction, or just accepted him for the rich brat he was. Patiently waiting for Lex to either tell him the truth or waiting for it to surface; for Clark was one of a gifted few on Earth who could read Lex like a book.

The chime of the grandfather clock awoke Lex out of his train of thought and he glanced down at his own watch to confirm the time. Jesus 2 o'clock already! Where is Clark I can't do this without him.

Lex although true to Clark did not think that if he saw his father in the battered state he had been forewarned he would be in upon arrival he could resist the urge to just take a pistol and end the war that had raged between them since he was a young boy. No you can't do this by yourself you need Clark with you. He's the only you can trust will have your father cared for properly. Just then Lex felt the wait of hand on his shoulder he turned to counter his assumed attacker and saw it was Clark. How the hell did he slip in here without making a sound. Lex was toying with the thought of making a joke about their situation to Clark when he looked his teenaged friend in the eye. Seriousness was chiseled into his features and in his eyes there shown a wisdom of someone beyond his years; someone who has had to grow up and face the responsibilities given to him by the world before his time.

"Lex we need to get going." Clark's tone was stiff and unwavering leaving no room for Lex's protest.

All Lex could do in response was nod curtly and fish the keys to his porsche out of his long black coat and head for the door of the study.

"We should take something bigger than the porsche Lex. Like my truck we need somewhere to lay him out. I already have blankets and others supplies in the back; I'll drive you navigate." Clark's tone was firm but quiet and distanced like he was running on a programed rescue mode type auto pilot.

Lex and Clark rode in an errie anticipating silence both of them staring ahead into the mist that settled over the never ending flat lands made up the surrounding area. The occasional tree stood stunted in a patch of thistles over rag weeds looking almost ashamed to be there. Lex slowed to a stop to the right of a small ditch made by a burbling spring that ran down the length of the open field. Unlike the rest of the landscape the trees stood quite tall around it inhibiting them from seeing down inside of it.

Both of them climbed slowly out of the truck and approached the small clump of trees slowly dank grass squishing beneath their shoes as the trod towards their destination. They continued down the embankment until they caught sight of a figure laying face down in the cold mud. They only signs of life that Lionel let on to having was his breathing that had since turned shallow. Lex and Clark slowly approached the wheezing Luthor. Lex bent down and rolled the inanimate body over to look at the face of the man. He barely recognized it to be his father. His slim form had lost weight over his long stay with his captors, his once proud and flowy mane of hair was now matted and greasy clinging to his face, and the many bruises, welts, and cuts left him looking weak.

Lionel moved his assaulted lips in a attempt to vocalize something to his son, but not to his surprise nothing came out. Then he caught sight of the Kent boy moving in the background unfolding a blanket to warm him. Lex knelt unmoving by his fathers side staring in disbelief at his once regal father. Clark moved to the other side of Lionel and wrapping him in the blanket picked his slim frame up effortlessly.

Lionel whimpered in the young boys arms and squirmed trying to get away from the pain induced by this new pressure. But then he heard a whispered soothing reassurance that set his mind at ease.

"Shh, you're safe here no ones going to hurt you anymore. I won't allow it." Clark assurance held no doubt and he felt the elder Luthor relax in his arms.

He nudged Lex with his foot as he made his way back up to the truck. Lex silently shifted into the drivers seat while Clark loaded Lionel into the padded warm bed of the truck he climbed in and sat beside the older Luthors head. While the Lionel stared at him intently through half closed eyes.

"Rest now," Clark whispered close to his ear. And for the first time in a long time Lionel felt secure enough in the fact that he wasn't going to die that he slept.

Lex is going to need me to get through this and more over his father will need me. But the question is which one needs more reassurances?

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