Chapter 6
Lana sighed in her sleep and reached to the opposite side of the bed. When her hand touched only the sheets, cold from Lex's absence, she slowly woke. She used one hand to brush her long, deep brown hair out of her eyes, the other she used to push herself into a sitting position. As her eyes focused she saw Lex across the room.
Lex was standing at the large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the manor's grounds. The heavy curtains were pulled back, letting in a light glow from the moon. Lex's hands were tucked into the pockets of his black robe.
Lana stood and slipped her pink silk robe over her small shoulders. She walked silently until she was behind Lex, then wrapped her arms around his waist and settled her chin on his shoulder.
Lex jumped slightly at the touch. "I didn't mean to wake you," he said softly, still looking out the window.
"You know I can't sleep without you," Lana said, tightening her arms slightly. "What are you thinking?"
Lex pulled back and walked to the closet. He started getting dressed.
"Lex, what are you doing?" Lana asked, walking into the large closet.
"I have to get out of here," Lex said, pulling on a pair of dark grey sweat pants and a deep purple t-shirt.
"Where are you going?" Lana asked, stepping further into the closet.
"Clark's and Chloe's," Lex answered after a moment of thought. Lex pulled on a pair of white socks and sneakers.
"But they're asleep," Lana pointed out, putting a hand on Lex's arm.
Lex paid no attention to the touch and strode out of the closet to retrieve his watch. "It's almost five. They'll be up soon, anyway," Lex said, turning to Lana. "Lana, I just have to talk to someone."
Lana could see the need on his face and couldn't bring herself to argue. She wanted to know why he couldn't talk to her, but she didn't. Instead she said, "I'm going with you." Before Lex could protest Lana threw on a pair of light grey jogging shorts and a pink t-shirt.
The ride to the Kent farm was silent. When they got to the farm Lex pulled into the drive and cut the engine before opening the door for Lana. The two walked to the door and knocked lightly.
Clark answered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Chloe was peering over his shoulder. "Lex," Clark said at the same time that Chloe said, "Lana."
"I need to talk to someone," Lex asked, stepping into the house.
"Of course," Clark answered, shutting the door behind them.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to Chloe," Lex said, his eyes moving from Clark to Chloe.
"Lana?" Chloe asked, looking at Lana's distressed look.
Lana sighed. "I'll talk to Clark. You guys talk."
Chloe nodded. "Let's go in the kitchen Lex. I'll fix us some coffee."
* * *
"You don't look so good, Lan," Clark pointed out, scooting closer to her on the couch.
Lana's eyes began to water. "I already talked to your mom. I thought everything was better. Then I talk to Lex. Clark, you've always known what to do. Lex obviously doesn't want to talk to me."
Clark looked at Lana. "He doesn't want to talk to me either," Clark said, searching Lana's face.
Lana laughed quietly. "You're right. Can you make it better, Clark? You've always been our savior; when Lex was kidnapped by Lionel last year, when I almost fell and broke my leg a few months ago. You always seem to be there when we need you. Can you fix this?"
Clark sighed, reaching out and taking her hand.
"Chloe always joked about your savior complex. She thought it was so funny until she found out why you had developed it. Well, I need you to be our savior now, Clark. I can't fix this. Lex can't, either," Lana said breaking into sobs.
Clark wrapped strong arms around Lana and let her cry into his shoulder. "Lana, you know I can't fix this. I wish I could. With all my powers I want to do *something.*"
Lana hugged Clark as tightly as she could. "I know, Clark. I know. I knew it when I said it. I just want it to be better. I don't want to feel like this. My husband is in so much pain and I can't do anything about it."
* * *
"I knew the meteors had screwed up my life, but I didn't know they screwed it up this much," Lex said, running a hand over his scalp with a tired laugh.
"Can I be honest with you?" Chloe asked, leaning at Lex from across the table.
Lex almost smiled. "That's why I wanted to talk to you. I knew you would be."
Chloe broke into a smile. "Okay, you know I only say this with the utmost love for you. Why do you feel like you have to be strong? Lex, this isn't just bad, it sucks. It sucks shit, Lex. You know it does. No one expects you to be strong. Lana isn't made of glass, Lex. You know that. She can handle this. She can take this in stride. Stop trying to be macho. This is devastating. If you want to cry, go ahead. I'm right here; just let me get a towel to put on my shoulder so you don't get my shirt wet."
Lex emitted half a smile at the comment.
"You want to cry? Do you? 'Cause I won't think any less of you if you do, Lex," Chloe said, reaching out and taking Lex's hand. "You have to show some emotion. You can't keep it bottled up. Cry, scream, throw something. I have some old dishes I'm getting rid of. We can go to the barn."
This brought a full-on smile from Lex. "Maybe later, Chlo," Lex said, his voice almost a whisper.
"Okay, so you don't want to cry, scream or throw things. Then do something about it. You can't get Lana pregnant, what are our other options?" Chloe asked, squeezing Lex's hand.
Lex seemed to think for a moment. "Well, there's artificial insemination," Lex said with a heavy sigh.
"But you'd need a donor, Lex," Chloe pointed out, taking a drink of coffee.
"I thought maybe," Lex trailed off.
Chloe's face softened. "Lex, I'm sure he'd love to, but he can't."
"Why not?" Lex asked, his face taking on a curious look.
Chloe shook her head slightly. "Clark can't be hurt, Lex. Meaning he also can't be stuck with needles."
"You don't need needles, Chloe," Lex said. "You just need the sperm."
Chloe looked Lex in the eye. "Lex, I am so sorry, but I have to say no. And I know after Clark thought about it he'd say no, too. You can't understand how hard it is to raise a superhuman child with one human parent. You can't take on the responsibility of raising a superhuman child with *two* human parents, Lex."
* * *
"Lana, I'd love to help, but you know I can't do that. You couldn't possibly grasp the repercussions," Clark tried to reason.
Lana reached for Clark's hand. "I know."
"What about Pete?" Clark asked, trying out all the options.
Lana laughed. "You're the only one who ever talks to Pete anymore. Since he started into politics he really hasn't been around. I could never ask that of him"
Clark thought for a minute, then his face lit up. "What about Whitney? I know he's married now, but you and he are close. So are you and his wife, right?"
* * *
"That's not a bad idea, Chloe," Lex admitted. "If Lana's up to it."
"She might have reservations at first. I know I would if I was going to have someone else's child, but she and Whitney are very close. So are you and him," Chloe pointed out.
"That's true," Lex said, running a hand over his scalp as he thought.
"Uncle Lex?" a small voice asked from the doorway. "You're dressed funny."
Lex grinned and turned. "Hey, Munchkin. Why are you up so early?"
Chloe laughed. "Lex, it's almost seven thirty."
"Really?" Lex asked, looking to the wall clock. "I had no idea."
Lauren yawned and scrambled into Lex's lap. She snuggled in close to him and laid her head on his chest with another yawn.
"It's time for little girls to get dressed," Chloe said, standing and putting the two coffee mugs in the sink.
"Let me do it," Lex said, standing and taking Lauren into his arms.
Chloe narrowed her eyes. "Alright, but only because you have better fashion sense than Clark."
"I take it you don't want her in flannel this morning," Lex said, his eyes shining.
Chloe laughed. "I swear, she would only wear flannel if Clark had his way."
Lex suddenly became serious. "Chloe, thank you. I needed someone to tell it to me straight. I can always count on you for that."
Lex reached out his free arm and Chloe moved to him, wrapping her arm around his waist. "That's what I'm here for."
Lana sighed in her sleep and reached to the opposite side of the bed. When her hand touched only the sheets, cold from Lex's absence, she slowly woke. She used one hand to brush her long, deep brown hair out of her eyes, the other she used to push herself into a sitting position. As her eyes focused she saw Lex across the room.
Lex was standing at the large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the manor's grounds. The heavy curtains were pulled back, letting in a light glow from the moon. Lex's hands were tucked into the pockets of his black robe.
Lana stood and slipped her pink silk robe over her small shoulders. She walked silently until she was behind Lex, then wrapped her arms around his waist and settled her chin on his shoulder.
Lex jumped slightly at the touch. "I didn't mean to wake you," he said softly, still looking out the window.
"You know I can't sleep without you," Lana said, tightening her arms slightly. "What are you thinking?"
Lex pulled back and walked to the closet. He started getting dressed.
"Lex, what are you doing?" Lana asked, walking into the large closet.
"I have to get out of here," Lex said, pulling on a pair of dark grey sweat pants and a deep purple t-shirt.
"Where are you going?" Lana asked, stepping further into the closet.
"Clark's and Chloe's," Lex answered after a moment of thought. Lex pulled on a pair of white socks and sneakers.
"But they're asleep," Lana pointed out, putting a hand on Lex's arm.
Lex paid no attention to the touch and strode out of the closet to retrieve his watch. "It's almost five. They'll be up soon, anyway," Lex said, turning to Lana. "Lana, I just have to talk to someone."
Lana could see the need on his face and couldn't bring herself to argue. She wanted to know why he couldn't talk to her, but she didn't. Instead she said, "I'm going with you." Before Lex could protest Lana threw on a pair of light grey jogging shorts and a pink t-shirt.
The ride to the Kent farm was silent. When they got to the farm Lex pulled into the drive and cut the engine before opening the door for Lana. The two walked to the door and knocked lightly.
Clark answered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Chloe was peering over his shoulder. "Lex," Clark said at the same time that Chloe said, "Lana."
"I need to talk to someone," Lex asked, stepping into the house.
"Of course," Clark answered, shutting the door behind them.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to Chloe," Lex said, his eyes moving from Clark to Chloe.
"Lana?" Chloe asked, looking at Lana's distressed look.
Lana sighed. "I'll talk to Clark. You guys talk."
Chloe nodded. "Let's go in the kitchen Lex. I'll fix us some coffee."
* * *
"You don't look so good, Lan," Clark pointed out, scooting closer to her on the couch.
Lana's eyes began to water. "I already talked to your mom. I thought everything was better. Then I talk to Lex. Clark, you've always known what to do. Lex obviously doesn't want to talk to me."
Clark looked at Lana. "He doesn't want to talk to me either," Clark said, searching Lana's face.
Lana laughed quietly. "You're right. Can you make it better, Clark? You've always been our savior; when Lex was kidnapped by Lionel last year, when I almost fell and broke my leg a few months ago. You always seem to be there when we need you. Can you fix this?"
Clark sighed, reaching out and taking her hand.
"Chloe always joked about your savior complex. She thought it was so funny until she found out why you had developed it. Well, I need you to be our savior now, Clark. I can't fix this. Lex can't, either," Lana said breaking into sobs.
Clark wrapped strong arms around Lana and let her cry into his shoulder. "Lana, you know I can't fix this. I wish I could. With all my powers I want to do *something.*"
Lana hugged Clark as tightly as she could. "I know, Clark. I know. I knew it when I said it. I just want it to be better. I don't want to feel like this. My husband is in so much pain and I can't do anything about it."
* * *
"I knew the meteors had screwed up my life, but I didn't know they screwed it up this much," Lex said, running a hand over his scalp with a tired laugh.
"Can I be honest with you?" Chloe asked, leaning at Lex from across the table.
Lex almost smiled. "That's why I wanted to talk to you. I knew you would be."
Chloe broke into a smile. "Okay, you know I only say this with the utmost love for you. Why do you feel like you have to be strong? Lex, this isn't just bad, it sucks. It sucks shit, Lex. You know it does. No one expects you to be strong. Lana isn't made of glass, Lex. You know that. She can handle this. She can take this in stride. Stop trying to be macho. This is devastating. If you want to cry, go ahead. I'm right here; just let me get a towel to put on my shoulder so you don't get my shirt wet."
Lex emitted half a smile at the comment.
"You want to cry? Do you? 'Cause I won't think any less of you if you do, Lex," Chloe said, reaching out and taking Lex's hand. "You have to show some emotion. You can't keep it bottled up. Cry, scream, throw something. I have some old dishes I'm getting rid of. We can go to the barn."
This brought a full-on smile from Lex. "Maybe later, Chlo," Lex said, his voice almost a whisper.
"Okay, so you don't want to cry, scream or throw things. Then do something about it. You can't get Lana pregnant, what are our other options?" Chloe asked, squeezing Lex's hand.
Lex seemed to think for a moment. "Well, there's artificial insemination," Lex said with a heavy sigh.
"But you'd need a donor, Lex," Chloe pointed out, taking a drink of coffee.
"I thought maybe," Lex trailed off.
Chloe's face softened. "Lex, I'm sure he'd love to, but he can't."
"Why not?" Lex asked, his face taking on a curious look.
Chloe shook her head slightly. "Clark can't be hurt, Lex. Meaning he also can't be stuck with needles."
"You don't need needles, Chloe," Lex said. "You just need the sperm."
Chloe looked Lex in the eye. "Lex, I am so sorry, but I have to say no. And I know after Clark thought about it he'd say no, too. You can't understand how hard it is to raise a superhuman child with one human parent. You can't take on the responsibility of raising a superhuman child with *two* human parents, Lex."
* * *
"Lana, I'd love to help, but you know I can't do that. You couldn't possibly grasp the repercussions," Clark tried to reason.
Lana reached for Clark's hand. "I know."
"What about Pete?" Clark asked, trying out all the options.
Lana laughed. "You're the only one who ever talks to Pete anymore. Since he started into politics he really hasn't been around. I could never ask that of him"
Clark thought for a minute, then his face lit up. "What about Whitney? I know he's married now, but you and he are close. So are you and his wife, right?"
* * *
"That's not a bad idea, Chloe," Lex admitted. "If Lana's up to it."
"She might have reservations at first. I know I would if I was going to have someone else's child, but she and Whitney are very close. So are you and him," Chloe pointed out.
"That's true," Lex said, running a hand over his scalp as he thought.
"Uncle Lex?" a small voice asked from the doorway. "You're dressed funny."
Lex grinned and turned. "Hey, Munchkin. Why are you up so early?"
Chloe laughed. "Lex, it's almost seven thirty."
"Really?" Lex asked, looking to the wall clock. "I had no idea."
Lauren yawned and scrambled into Lex's lap. She snuggled in close to him and laid her head on his chest with another yawn.
"It's time for little girls to get dressed," Chloe said, standing and putting the two coffee mugs in the sink.
"Let me do it," Lex said, standing and taking Lauren into his arms.
Chloe narrowed her eyes. "Alright, but only because you have better fashion sense than Clark."
"I take it you don't want her in flannel this morning," Lex said, his eyes shining.
Chloe laughed. "I swear, she would only wear flannel if Clark had his way."
Lex suddenly became serious. "Chloe, thank you. I needed someone to tell it to me straight. I can always count on you for that."
Lex reached out his free arm and Chloe moved to him, wrapping her arm around his waist. "That's what I'm here for."