Chapter Eight: Found

Lex was sitting in a chair in his father's hospital recovery room early the next morning, trying to read over the latest copy of 'The Daily Plant'. But his eyes focused more on his sleeping father then the printed words in front of his face.

Lex had flown down to Metropolis as soon as he finished going over the final rebuilding plans for the mansion with the builders. They promised to get to work right away and be finished with the mansion by within the next two weeks.

Lex put down the paper and sighed again, for what seemed like the tenth time the past hour. His eyes wondered over Lionel's peaceful looking face and Lex's mind began to turn as he thought.

'It's all my fault that he's blind. It was my own weakness that caused this. All my life, my father has told me to be strong and never show or pay any attention to feelings of any kind. I can't stop these feelings of guilt.' Lex sighed again.

"Haven't you got anything better to do then to sit there and stare at me?" Lionel asked suddenly.

Lex jumped in surprise. "I thought you were asleep."

Lionel's eyes opened slightly. "How do you expect me to sleep with all that sighing?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I was bothering you." Lex leaned closer to his father.

"You sound tired Lex. Haven't you been getting any sleep? Or are you like me? To busy to worry with a thing like sleep."

"I hope I'm not like you." Lex muttered. "I seem to recall that last week, you didn't even want to claim me. I was your rival."

"That's not true, Lex. Your my son. We could never be enemies."

"Never is a long time. Isn't that what you always say, dad?" Lex said, the words coming out more harshly then he meant them to. He decided to change the subject. "Oh, by the way, dad, I'm reopening the plant in Smallville."

Lionel laughed. "Really? And how do you plan to do that? I bought the Savings & Loan."

"But you never finalized the papers so I made a deal with the S&L. If they would call off the whole deal, I'd give them forty percent of LexCorp profits."

"Well, Lex, you-." Lionel's voice trailed off. "LexCorp?"

Lex smiled and stood up. "Yeah. That's what the plant in Smallville will be called from now on."

Lionel laughed. "LexCorp? You have got to be kidding. Please tell me you are joking."

Lex didn't answer. He just turned and walked out the door.

"Lex?" Lionel called out. No answer. "Lex?"

"So Chloe, what did you find out?" asked Clark, later that afternoon. He stood over Chloe, who was seated at her computer. Pete and Annie stood behind Clark, talking.

Chloe pointed to the screen. "Well, Doug sent me some interesting information. 'Staten Labs' were doing experiments on some hush, hush projects. A little of it leaked out and as it turns out, it was experiments on humans. Scientists were trying to turn the ordinary man into super humans."

Clark looked at Annie who was now listening to Chloe with a blank expression. "How?" he asked. "Meteor rocks?"

Chloe shook her head. "No. Some kind of new formula. That's why 'Staten Labs' was on probation. The authorities found out about the experiments and threatened to close them down unless they stopped their plans."

"That's sick!" Pete said in disgust. "Did they stop?"

Chloe logged off the internet and turned him. "I don't know. Nothing's been said about it for over six months."

Clark could feel Annie tense up beside him. He looked at her. Her face was white. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Annie nodded. "I just remember something. That's all. Um, Clark, do you mind if I go back home? Alone?"

Clark hesitated for a second then nodded. "I think I better go with you."

"No! I mean, please stay here. I don't want to rush you. I'll be fine." she gave a weak smile to Pete and Chloe then hurried out the door.

"Okay, that was weird." Chloe commented.

Clark stared at the empty doorway a moment, wondering if he should follow after Annie.

Before Clark could make up his mind, Chloe's father, Gab Sullivan, came into the room. He carried a stack of large cardboard boxes in his arms. "I brought you those boxes to start packing your clothes." Gab said to Chloe, sitting them down on the floor.

"Thanks, dad." Chloe said, slowly. "I'll start just as soon as we finish."

Gab nodded and smiled at Pete and Clark. "I'm so glad you two are here. I need help moving the dresser in my room. Do you think you guys could help?"

Pete and Clark looked at one another and smiled. "Sure. No problem."

Annie opened the door to the Kent home and closed the door. She leaned against it for a moment, taking a deep breath. Then she turned and walked to the living room.

Jonathan and Martha were bound and gagged on the living room sofa. They both looked at her and started muttering something behind their gages.

"What the-." Annie started. She hurried over to the sofa and began to untied Martha. "Who did this to you?"

"I did!" someone suddenly called out.

Annie's eyes widened and she slowly turned around. "You!" she exclaimed.

I'm sorry this chapter is so short but I've been busy. The next one will be longer. I promise!