Lex stepped between the reporter and Clark, who was all but cowering. He didn't dare soothe him too affectionately, not in front of the damn reporter.
"Clark. You're going to be okay." He kept his voice steady, almost dispassionate. He couldn't let himself sound too angry, either. "I'll explain to her that you don't remember."
"But she...she..."
"Shhh," he interjected, quickly. Would it be safe to leave her here while he brought Clark back to the house? A thought struck him and he thanked heaven he had put on his jacket before looking for Clark. Pulling out his cell phone, he called the house.
"Mr. Kent? Can you come out to the barn? Clark's all right, but he was cornered by a reporter who didn't quite understand the concept of 'memory loss' and is convinced he's got a story somewhere."
"Right." Putting a hand lightly on Clark's shoulder, he said, "Your dad's coming." By this time, the Lane woman was crouching as well, and had the audacity to look concerned.
"I'm really sorry, Clark," she said, quietly. "I did *not* mean to-"
"Drive a boy recovering from a major operation into a near breakdown?" Lex cut across her voice coolly. "Ms. Lane, if you have any questions about Clark Kent, you'll come to me or to his parents."
"No. I'm leaving this story alone."
Jonathan Kent had run up and Lex wryly wondered if it was native gallantry towards the woman or some other motive that made him all but shove Lex aside, rather than Lois, to get to Clark. "Come on, son. Let's get you inside." Lex helped him assist Clark to his feet, and then noticed the glowing rock. Not sure that it would help, but assuming that at least it wouldn't hurt, he put his foot firmly on top of it as he rose. "Thanks, Lex," Jonathan added.
He hoped the reporter hadn't noticed the look of astonishment at the sincerity in Jonathan's tone, as he watched Clark quickly recover his strength and on his way towards the house, seem to hang on to his father more for emotional than for physical support.
"I'm very glad to hear that you're leaving this story alone. After all, we live in a very litigious society. The Kents could well consider a suit, raise questions about your professional conduct in your approach to a very ill young man, and so on." He smirked. "It's a good decision."
"I'm not leaving the story because I'm scared." She headed to her car, but turned to deliver an parting shot. "It's an ethics thing. You wouldn't understand."
"Clark. You're going to be okay." He kept his voice steady, almost dispassionate. He couldn't let himself sound too angry, either. "I'll explain to her that you don't remember."
"But she...she..."
"Shhh," he interjected, quickly. Would it be safe to leave her here while he brought Clark back to the house? A thought struck him and he thanked heaven he had put on his jacket before looking for Clark. Pulling out his cell phone, he called the house.
"Mr. Kent? Can you come out to the barn? Clark's all right, but he was cornered by a reporter who didn't quite understand the concept of 'memory loss' and is convinced he's got a story somewhere."
"Right." Putting a hand lightly on Clark's shoulder, he said, "Your dad's coming." By this time, the Lane woman was crouching as well, and had the audacity to look concerned.
"I'm really sorry, Clark," she said, quietly. "I did *not* mean to-"
"Drive a boy recovering from a major operation into a near breakdown?" Lex cut across her voice coolly. "Ms. Lane, if you have any questions about Clark Kent, you'll come to me or to his parents."
"No. I'm leaving this story alone."
Jonathan Kent had run up and Lex wryly wondered if it was native gallantry towards the woman or some other motive that made him all but shove Lex aside, rather than Lois, to get to Clark. "Come on, son. Let's get you inside." Lex helped him assist Clark to his feet, and then noticed the glowing rock. Not sure that it would help, but assuming that at least it wouldn't hurt, he put his foot firmly on top of it as he rose. "Thanks, Lex," Jonathan added.
He hoped the reporter hadn't noticed the look of astonishment at the sincerity in Jonathan's tone, as he watched Clark quickly recover his strength and on his way towards the house, seem to hang on to his father more for emotional than for physical support.
"I'm very glad to hear that you're leaving this story alone. After all, we live in a very litigious society. The Kents could well consider a suit, raise questions about your professional conduct in your approach to a very ill young man, and so on." He smirked. "It's a good decision."
"I'm not leaving the story because I'm scared." She headed to her car, but turned to deliver an parting shot. "It's an ethics thing. You wouldn't understand."