A/N : I'm back with a new chapter! I'm so pleased that so many people are enjoying this fic! Thanx to all the reviewers; Gemini, NickyJean, Merrie, Dark Phoenix II, hermione3, Corinne - Chlex, Cassie, C*h*e*r*r*i*e*s, mallville Obeed and Idiot Savant - you guys are the best!

Anyway, onto the next chapter...

(Disclaimer : see chapter 1)

"I don't believe it" Clark exclaimed to the doctor, as Lana gripped onto the boys arm. She had been at the Talon when Chloe had called and she'd told Clark to let her know what was going on as soon as he could. Once he had arrived at the hospital with the unconscious Chloe and Lex, he had called Lana and she had gone straight to his side.

"I'm afraid it's true. Uncharacteristic behaviour, followed by a high fever, shallow breathing, quickened pulse and unconsciousness, they're all the symptoms of the Nicodemus" the doctor explained.

"But they'll be okay because you've got the cure, right?" Clark looked hopeful as did the tearful girl at his side.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. The last Nicodemus plant had been revived by meteor rocks and while this illness seems to be caused by the same plant it must be mutated or revived by something else, because the effects are not quite the same" the doctor trailed off.

"Different, how?" Lana asked quietly.

"The effects of this new plant are more extreme, it doesn't take as long for it's power to take hold. The uncharacteristic behaviour is almost immediate and the illness follows much faster"

The two young people were beginning to understand. If all the effects of this plant were happening faster, they had less time to find a cure before the unthinkable happened. Lana's tears fell from her eyes now and streaked down her face. Clark thought hard as he peered through the perspex screen at two of his best friends. Even with all his powers there was nothing he could do, unless...

"Doctor, if you had one of these plants, the new Nicodemus I mean, could you find a cure?" he asked, quickly.

"Given that we have the cure to the original type, it would not take too much to find the second cure, but yes we would need a sample of the new plant"

"And I'll get you one!" Clark said running toward the door. Lana ran after him.

"Where are you going?" she called.

"To the road were Lex crashed his car, the Nicodemus has to be there"

"I'm coming with you" Lana told him, climbing into the passenger side of the truck.

"Lana, it's too dangerous"

"I'm not going to let you go alone!" she said, defiantly and in a very un-Lana like way, but it was not the power of the Nicodemus that made her act so strangely, it was the secret love she had for Clark. Right now he needed her and she was determined to be there for him. He relented and took her with him to where he had last seen Chloe conscious.

There was silence in the truck, from the hospital all the way to the part of the road where Clark had found Lex and Chloe just a few hours before. He parked the vehicle and climbed out of the drivers side whilst Lana got out of the other.

"I'll check around the car" Clark said, slowly and quietly, "You check along the road" Lana nodded and began to move towards the edge of the road.

"Be careful" Clark added, "if you see the Nicodemus, call me, don't go to close to it" He knew he had to keep Lana safe. She had come so close to death after her last confrontation with the Nicodemus, he couldn't let her go through that again. At least if he came into contact with the flower, he should be safe.

He began to search around the car, underneath it, around the wheels and finally inside. On the passenger seat, he saw something move. Before he had chance to even take in what it was, the Nicodemus sprayed it's poison into his face.

"Ugh!" he made a strange sound as the pollen got in his eyes and stung.

"Clark, are you okay?" Lana called, hearing the sound. There was silence and then she felt someone move behind her.

"I'm fine" Clark said quietly, placing his hand on her arm.

"Oh good," she sighed, "I thought I heard something"

"Lana, you know I love you don't you" Clark spoke, sincerely and Lana was astonished. She knew Clark liked her a lot and she had got closer to him since Whitney had left but for him to come out and say he loved her was a little surprising after all this time, unless-

"Oh no, Clark I think the Nicodemus has got you too" she panicked.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Clark was practically laughing, "It can't hurt me" he turned serious again as he took her hand in his "and I won't let it hurt you either, because I love you. I know I should have told you before but Whitney was always around and then I guess I was just worried that you didn't like me that way, but it doesn't matter because whether you love me or not, I love you"

Lana had waited to long to hear Clark say those words, whether he was sick or not she didn't care and when he leant down to kiss her she didn't stop him. After a moment they broke apart and the reality of the situation hit home.

"Clark, we have to get the plant and get you and it to a doctor" Lana told him, but he wasn't listening. Clark had his hand to his head and looked in pain.

"Clark, are you okay?" Lana started to panic again.

"Yeah, I'm fine I just..." suddenly the headache that had come so quickly vanished just as fast.

"What's going on?" he asked Lana who looked confused herself. "Oh yeah, I found the plant" he said quickly, "we have to get it back to the hospital" he continued as Lana gave him a strange look. He barely noticed her confusion as he slipped off his jacket and headed toward Lex's car. He appeared a few moments later with his jacket under his arm.

"I wrapped it in this so it can't infect us!" he said walking toward the car, "can you drive us back? What's the matter?" he added suddenly realising the look on the girls face.

"Nothing" she said, "yes, of course I'll drive" she got into the truck with Clark and they started the journey back to the hospital. Lana could've sworn Clark was under the influence of the Nicodemus but he looked fine now, well better than fine but this was Clark and to Lana he always looked better than fine! But if he hadn't been sprayed by the flower, doesn't that mean he had meant to say what he'd said?! Lana gave up thinking about it, turning her concentration to the road ahead. Whatever happened they had to get the plant back to the doctor if they were going to save Lex and Chloe's lives.

A/N : More coming soon! Please remember to review!