A Death In The Family

by Phaze

A death has occurred in Smallville, but as Clark soon discovers, not all is, as it seems when you are dealing with the Luthors. *COMPLETED*

21. Chapter Twenty

A Death In The Family: Chapter Twenty

   The hot summer sun had given way to a balmy night sky over Metropolis by the time Clark Kent had made his way to the city.  He had run the whole way from Gotham and it was the furthest he had ever jogged in his life at such a high speed staying to the side roads and cropped filled fields in hopes of avoiding being seen.  He ran at his top speed, and much to his surprise, he found himself barely winded, but a slight bit tired from his ordeal still setting heavy on him from the night before. 

   The sprint between the two sprawling gateway cities had taken nearly two hours and when Clark Kent finally made it to the city of his destination, he was still unclear of where he should go.  After circling the city for about a half hour, he found himself standing in front of the mostly darken Luthor Corps building.  He stared up at the tall structure that reached to the heavens before him.  It was late, and Clark's true purpose for being here was unclear, even to him.  He had begun the journey several days earlier with a diffident intent to find his best friend who everyone had declared dead, and he thought he had heard his voice in a cry for help over a phone line, and thus a mystery was born.  In the past twenty-four hours, that mystery was solved and still the friend he had so diligently sought out was still among the deceased.  Yet a nagging feeling in the young man's heart was leading him to believe otherwise.  The same feeling that had leaded him to Metropolis and this building.

   Clark knew his only hope of satisfying the nagging nudging sensation was investigate further this long thought fortress of the Luthor secrets.  He entered the lobby and found that the entire building was buzzing with police activity and what must have been Luthor Corps employees answering questions and speaking with the various law enforcement agents.  The whole matter was puzzling at such a late hour, but Clark paid little attention as he made his way over to the elevator bank.  He watched back over his shoulder as he waited.  It surprised him that with so much activity, no one even gave him a second glance.  Nor did the police, who he was sure, have been searching for him only a day earlier even approach him.  The car door slid open, and Clark stepped into the silent elevator and began his assent to the main Luthor Corps offices on the top floor.

   The silence was at first welcomed, and then Clark remembered back at his last visit and could not help but wonder what had become of Lionel's reading of the annual report over the speaker system.  Everything about the Luthor Corps building seemed missed guided and out of place on that night, He simply took a deep breath and braced himself for what he was about to face in the corporate offices above.

   The door hummed opened and Clark stepped out onto a much more peaceful floor.  Much to his surprise, all the doors were opened and unlocked with the main entrance being propped open by a large planter.  It seemed that the police had wanted easy access to the entire facility and made sure that no doors would be beyond reach.

   Clark had to step out of the way as two uniform officers made there was pass with several Luthor Corps computers on a rolling cart.  They stepped onto the same elevator Clark had just exited and began their decent to the ground floor.

   Spinning in a circle, Clark could see a few other law enforcement officers and employees collecting files, disks and other office record keeping devises.  He made his way down the long corridor inside the executive offices until he was standing outside of Lionel Luthor's private domain.  He peaked his head in to find that there were two men still walking around.  One man looked up and recognized Clark and he made his way over to him.

   "Clark Kent," Perry White beamed his bright smile as he steadied his arm in the cast.  "I heard you left Gotham, but I had no idea that you would get here so fast."

   Clark gave him an uncomfortable smile.  "Mr. Wayne's butler helped me get the quickest flight out," he lied to protect his real mode of transportation.  "What is going on here?"

   "A police investigation, young man," the second man said making his way over to the desk where they stood.  "Perhaps you could enlighten us as to your involvement."

   "Easy detective," Perry tried to calm him.  "Detective Henderson, this is Clark Kent.  He's a good friend to Miss Sullivan and he was very helpful with her uncovering the Luthor corps deception in the Gotham City poisoning."

   "Clark," Henderson shook his hand with a cautious smile.  "It seems that I heard your name in association with the Luthors before.  I seem to remember that you were wanted for questioning in the death of Mr. Luthor's son."

   "Yes sir," Clark shifted his weight nervously.  "I knew that my parents had nothing to do with Lex's death, and I had to try and find some proof."

   "Well the alleged confession of a presumed dead man would be very convincing in getting your folks in the clear," Henderson pointed out.  "But I must tell you that until Miss Sullivan's claims are substantiated, you and your family are still not in the clear."

   "That's okay for now," Clark nodded.  "We know what really happen, and it's just a matter of time before the proof comes out."

   Henderson shook his head.  "I have to tell you kid," he sighed.  "I never thought a simple DUI would be responsible for bringing down the Luthor Corps Empire."

   "I still don't understand," Clark gave him a questionable look.  "What has happen?  Why are you raiding Luthor's Corps offices?"

   "You haven't heard?" Perry spoke up.  "I guess that makes sense since you were not there when I spoke to Chloe a few hours ago.  Lionel is in big trouble kid.  Morgan Edge sent me a whole gaggle of documents linking Luthor Corps, the Smallville fertilizer plant and Lionel himself to the polluted water in Gotham City."

   "You mean all the stuff Morgan showed Chloe before he tried to kill her?" Clark's eyes grew wide.

   "That would be them," Perry grinned from ear to ear.  "It seems that it was enough to slap Lionel with a few hundred warrants and he decided not to block the cops and allowed full and immediate access."

   "Oh my God," Clark spun around as if to take it all in.  "He admitted it?"

   "Don't get ahead of yourself, kid," Henderson warned.  "Lionel's lawyers are still stone walling us as much as possible and Lionel has not said two words since he was taken down town, but when we arrived with the search warrants a few hours ago, he seemed to be a little distracted in his own thoughts."

   "You wouldn't believe it, Clark," Perry added with a grin.  "In all my years of trying to out maneuver the big cheese himself, I have never seen Lionel so passive.  It was almost as if his whole world had been ripped out from under him even before we got here and Henderson let me in on the ground floor of this investigation."

   "Lionel was distraught?" Clark seemed a little distant himself as he spoke.  "So something big must have been weighing on his mind."

   "He must have known we were coming," Henderson concluded as he stepped away.

   "Do you think that was it?" Clark asked Perry.

   "You tell me, Clark," Perry shrugged.  "You're the expert in all things Luthor, here.  Would knowing the police were closing in on him upset Lionel so much that he would become almost catatonic before they got here?"

   Clark thought for a minute.  "It doesn't make sense," he finally spoke again with a heavy concern in his voice.  "The Lionel Luthor I know would have had his lawyers lining up and setting up a ton of road blocks."

   "My thoughts exactly," Perry agreed.  "So we agree that Lionel was preoccupied with something else?"

   "But what could have him so troubling that the possible demise of Luthor Corps would take second place in his concerns?" Clark reasoned out rubbing his chin.

   Perry sat silent for a moment.  He thought back and then said with a hint of skepticism.  "Maybe what your friend Pete Ross said he saw here last night was truer than we suspected."

   His statement surprised Clark, "Pete was here?"

   "Yeah," Perry nodded leaning against the desk.  "It seems that he took it upon himself to do a little under cover work of his own," Perry peaked over Clark's shoulder to make sure Henderson was out of earshot in the next room.  "This is on the QT since it was not what our friend over there would consider legal, but Pete was in these offices last night."

   "Pete was trying to help?" A slight smile came to Clark's face as he thought about his speech back at the camp grounds must have touched something in his other best friend that would cause him to want to aid in the investigation.

   "Yeah," Perry continued when he was sure that no one else would hear.  "He made it all the way up here in the guise of a night janitor, but was knocked out in the dark room back there.  When he came to, Lionel was playing possum and his assistant claimed that the old guy had been loosing his mind since Lex's death."

   "Oh my God," Clark gasped.  "Could it be true?"

   "Your friend had his doubt, and personally so do I," Perry explained.  "Like I said earlier, Lionel was distracted when they served him, but hardly the basket case he wanted Ross to believe that he was."

   Clark turned towards the dark room that Perry had pointed to during the conversation.  

   "What was in that room that they had to knock Pete out and gave a cover story to hide?" Clark asked out loud.

   "Beats me," Perry shrugged again.  "All I can tell you is that there is enough hospital equipment in there to bring Walt Disney back to life."

   Clark gave him a wide-eyed look.  The metaphor was not lost on him as he thought 'back to life'.  Could it have possibly been so well planned and hidden under his nose after all this time?

   His steps were slow and steady as Clark made his way across the living quarters of Lionel's personal apartment off from his office.  He knew that the police must have gone over everything with a fine toothcomb, but he still had to see with his own eyes what Lionel must have been hiding from him all these weeks.

  The door, like all the others in the building was propped open and Clark stepped into the archway.  He stood silent inspecting ever-visible inch of the room from his vantage point.  He even gave the space a once over with his x-ray vision.  Much to his disappointment, he saw nothing other than what Perry had already told him.

   Clark stepped in and made his way over to the hospital bed that sat emptied in the center of the room.  He eyed the various machine and medical equipment the lined the walls.  Some had even look familiar to him as he thought back to when he saw Lex on his deathbed.  Some of these same machines were attached to him and said to be keeping him alive.

   A sad look took over his young face as he ran his hand over the clean sheets.  Grief seemed to be consuming him as Perry walked up behind him.

   "What is it, Clark?" Perry asked softly.

   Clark lifted his eyes towards the heavens as he spoke meekly.  "What if he was here the whole time, Perry?" he gasped.  "What if Lex was here the whole time while I was coming in and out of Lionel's office trying to size him up?"

   "Don't go there, Kent," Perry placed his hand on Clark's shoulder.  "I mean it's a long shot at best, but if Lex was still alive and being held here, it was by his own father.  He was not being tortured or anything."

   "He called me for help, Perry," Clark's chin sank to his chest.  "He was being held against his will and he felt compelled enough to call for me to rescue him.  You don't need to be rescued from someone who has your best interest at heart and is not harming you."

   Perry pulled his hand away.  He had no response to Clark's statement, but he was also not so sure that even Luthor heirs did not need saving from their own families from time to time.

   "I failed him," Clark sighed heavily.  "If Lex really was being held here, then I failed him."

   "Listen, Kid," Perry interrupted.  "You can't be beating yourself up because the Luthors are a dysfunctional family.  The way I see it, you have bigger concerns."

   Clark turned to him.  "What do you mean?"

   "I mean," Perry continued.  "You seem to think that this Luthor kid might still be alive, and I'm incline to believe you given this whole ICU set up in here, but first you need to find out if your friend really did survive that crash and if he's being stored away somewhere."

   The wheels in Clark's mind began to spin as he thought.  "Doctor Burns," he blurted out.  "He was uncooperative before, but now that Lionel is having legal problems that could get him in trouble, he might be willing to talk."

   A smile came across Clark's face a he took two steps forward only to be stopped by Perry's grip on his arm.  He turned back and saw the serious brow over Perry's eyes.

   "What?" Clark asked hesitantly.

   "Burns is dead, Clark," Perry told him.  "He took his own life earlier tonight.  It seems he did have something to hide, and when I turned him over to the authorities, he panicked and decided to take the cowards way out."

   Clark's own brow became creased as he took in what he was being told.  The shock made him slightly week in the knees and he braced himself on the corner of one of the large machines.

   "Are you alright?" Perry questioned with alarm.

   "Yeah," Clark nodded.  "I just need a minute."

   Perry patted him on the back.  "Try not to take it so hard kid," he tried to comfort him.  "It hit me like a brick wall when they first told me, and I still feel somewhat responsible, but if he hadn't have been working the angles for Lionel Luthor to start with, then he would not have had anything to run from."

   "Did," Clark closed his eyes tightly.  "Did he leave a note?"

   "Yeah," Perry sat on the edge of the bed.  "It was a goodbye letter to his wife and kids.  He apologized for soiling the Burns name, but gave no examples of how."

   Clark opened his eyes and looked down at Perry.  "How did you know he was hiding something?"

   "It was a hunch at first," Perry returned.  "But when Nell Potter ended up in a coma after a meeting I asked her to have with Lionel, and Burns being the attending, I put two and tow together and came up with a doctor who had tons to hide."

   "Nell's in a coma?"

   "She's awake now," Perry, continued to tell the story.  "I was able to talk Burns into not using the drugs I think Luthor was supplying to keep her under, and she woke up this morning.  It seems that she stumbled onto Lionel's secret as well, but she is unable to remember what it is just yet.  All she knows is that it might have had something to do with this room."

   Clark's mind was again off on it's journey of intrigue when he finally voiced his thought.  "She saw something in this room," his eyes lit up.  "Something that would have been in this hospital bed."

   Perry smiled as he watched Clark work out the scenarios.  He had good investigative instincts for a teenager, and he thought he could see the makings of a great reporter behind those deep green eyes.

   "It was Lex," a glint came to Clark's eyes as he mentioned his friends name for the first time with real hope behind his words.  "Lex was here, and Nell saw him.  Lionel did something to her so that she wouldn't be able to tell anyone."

   "Why, Clark," Perry decided to play devil's advocate.  "Why would Lionel fake Lex's death and then hide him away from the people like you who cared so much for him?"

   "I don't know," that determined stare returned to Clark.  "But I intend to find out why and what he has done to Lex."  He turned and walked to the door.

   "Kent," Perry called out.  "Where are you going?"

   Clark placed his hand against the doorframe and turned part way back towards the bed.  "I need to find Nell and help her remember what she saw here, and then I'll find Lionel and rip his heart out if he doesn't tell me what he has done with Lex."

   A chill ran up Perry's spine as he realized that Clark's words were truthful and deliberate.  He stood up and watched as the younger man made his way out of the offices.  For the first time since he could remember all of this starting, Perry felt a little pity for Lionel and the hell he would have to face at Clark's hands should he not tell him what he wanted to hear.

   Clark had a good idea of the layout for the Metropolis streets, so he was able to find General Hospital easily from the Luthor Corps building even using the lesser known side roads and alleys where he hoped he would not be seen running at top speed.

   After he had asked for Nell's room number, Clark made his way down a long corridor on her floor.  Rounding the corner, he could here a loud banging sound from a few feet ahead of him.  A smile came to Clark's face as he saw his good friend Pete Ross rubbing his head angrily as he stared down the large candy vending machine in the hall.

   A smile began to shine across Clark's face as he approached the young man who was not aware of his presence.  He stopped behind Pete and spoke.  "Vending machines are sometimes harder to break into than say the private office to a major CEO."

   Pete turned quickly and a grin wiped across his face also, as he saw his friend standing.  "Clark," he hugged the tall youth.  "Dude, am I ever happy to see you."

   Clark returned his embrace.  "I'm happy to see you too," he assured him as he pulled away. 

   "How did you get here so fast?" Pete asked.  "We called Gotham a few hours ago, and they said you must have just slipped out."

   "I got some help from Alfred," he explained.  He knew that Alfred would help cover for him if any questions came up later.  "He flew me in on the Wayne jet."

   "Cool," Pete gushed.  "It must be nice hob knobbing with the filthy rich."

   "Actually Bruce was a little cold and stand offish, but his butler Alfred was kinda cool," Clark responded.  "I think he and I became pretty close friends while I was there."

   "Well maybe you should call Chloe and Lana on Mr. White's cell," Pete said with a concerned voice.  "They were pretty rattled by your sudden disappearing act, they didn't want to leave Gotham until they knew where you were and that you are okay."

   "I'll do that," Clark agreed.  "The last thing they need is more worry.  Things in Gotham were a little hectic for them, too."

   "I heard you were puking your heart out while that Wayne guy was playing hero for Chloe," Pete reviewed what he had been told.  "I guess it must have been hard for 'healthy as a horse' Clark Kent to know what it feels like to be sick."

   "Let's say it's wasn't my idea of a fun night," Clark laughed.  "But then again, I hear we were not the only ones who had an eventful night."

   Pete shied away from his statement.  "Yeah, I guess."

   Clark lowered his head as he spoke.  "I know," he shuffled his foot.  "I know it must have been hard on you to do what you did.  I mean you stepped in and tried to help even after the fight we had at the camp."

   "Clark," Pete placed his hand on his friend's arm with a creased brow.  "Hey man, we are friends and friends fight from time to time.  It's no big deal."

   "It is, Pete," Clark's eyes met his.  "I know how you feel about the Luthors, and still you stepped in when you thought there was something you could do.  I also know you didn't do it to help Lex or even to get some kind of revenge on Lionel," Clark paused to let his words sink in for a moment.  "I know you did it for me."

   This time Pete lowered his head with a slight bit of shame.  "You're my best friend, man.  I had to help."

   Clark smiled at his confession.  "And you're still my best friend too, Pete.  Even with me being close to Lex, you, Chloe and Lana are still very special."

   "Good old Clark Kent," Pete grinned looking up.  "Coming from anyone else, I would have to doubt it, but I know you, Clark.  You are the only guy I know whose heart is big enough to have more than one best friend."

   "We're a team, Pete," Clark grinned back.  "I think the events of the last few weeks have proven that.  No matter what happens, we always come through for each other."

   Pete stood silent for a moment as Clark looked over to the vending machine.  "Is that your Three Musketeer bar hanging off that spinner?"

   "Yeah," Pete turned sheepishly towards his failure again.  "Me and the machine had a fight, and I lost.  I even tried shaking the stupid thing, but it won't come loose."

   Clark raised his hand to the glass partition and Glanced back at Pete.  "Well, have you tried this?" He curled the index finger of his right hand over and thumb, and then released it with a swift tap against the glass.  It made a small pinging sound, and Pete's jaw dropped as he watched the candy bar fall from its position a split second later.

   "Dude," Pete turned and reached down pulling the chocolate from the dispenser draw with excitement.  "How do you do these thing?"

   Clark gave him a large toothy smile.  "The Kent charm," he returned.

   "Sixteen and already able to charm a your way to a candy bar," Pete gave a mock look of shame.  "Yeah Clark, that charm is going to get you far."

   Clark laughed at his small joke and then his face got serious.  "Pete," he started lowering his head.  "I need to ask you,"

   "What I saw at Luthor Corps last night," Pete finished his sentence.  "I picked up on the 'vending machine' to 'corporate offices' remarked when you first got here."

   "I'm sorry," Clark said hating him self for putting a frown on Pete's face.  "I ran into Perry White, and he said that you were in Lionel's office last night, and you saw something."

   Pete took a deep breath and leaned against the wall behind him.  "Its okay, Clark.  I went there to see if I could get you some helpful information and maybe catch Lionel on what he did to Nell.  So I knew you would be asking."

   Clark stood at Pete's right side and leaned against the wall too.  He looked at Pete and waited for him to talk when he was ready.

   Pete held up the candy bar to Clark as he spoke.  "I did see something, Clark.  I saw someone take a swing at me with a wooden object, and then I saw stars and the back of my eye lids."

   Clark took the candy bar and bit into it.

   "When I woke," Pete continued as he took the bar back.  "I saw Lionel all spaced out and acting crazy.  His assistant, that Randolph guy told me that he was suffering a mental break down since Lex died."

   Clark swallowed the chocolate.  "Did you believe it?"

   Pete looked up into Clark's eyes.  "I wanted to, Clark," he said honestly.  "I mean it was the a win win situation for me.  Lex was gone and Lionel was doing a melt down.  It would have been poetic justice."

   Clark had to look away from his friend.  Pete was finished holding back his true dislike for the Luthors, and he would have to learn to accept that just as Pete had to accept Clark's closeness to Lex.

   "I almost bought it, Clark, but somehow the pieces didn't fit in my mind," Pete continued as he too looked away.  "My suspicion was proven when Randolph started a man hunt for me.  Then," Pete stopped for a moment.  "I found something that had me questioning who it was that really attacked me."

   Clark turned back with great interest.

   "It was dark in that closet off the bedroom," Pete looked back up into Clark's eyes.  "I saw someone in the dark swinging something at me, but it wasn't until I woke up again a while later that I actually saw Lionel in the corner holding a baseball bat.  I didn't question it since the bat had blood on it, but I was bleeding all over the place at that point."

   Clark reached up and touched the bandage on Pete's head with a gentle hand.  "That must have hurt."

   "No worst than the time Whitney pitched a fast ball in forth grade gym and it cracked my protective batting hat," Pete shrugged with a grimace.  "Only this time it was my skull that got cracked."

   Clark chuckled at his small joke and reached down for the candy bar that was in Pete's hand.

   "Anyway," Pete got back to the point releasing the candy.  "When Randolph was chasing me through the building, I was able to get back to the storage room where I had found the uniform I borrowed and where I left my jacket, and I saw something I didn't see before." 

   Clark took a bite and waited for Pete to continue, but he went silent.  "What, Pete?" he coaxed.  "What did you see?"

   "I saw what looked like broken plaster from a body cast," Pete finally said looking up at him again.  "There were allot of small pieces, but there were also a few larger ones that looked like they would be covering a leg and maybe an arm."

   Clark pulled his head back and lightly tapped it against the wall.

   "Lex had a cast on his leg and one arm," Pete reminded him.  "You were in there with him, but I could see the cast from the hall when you were holding him."

   Clark shut his eyes tightly and gritted his teeth.  He was desperately trying to keep control of his emotions, but was loosing the battle quickly.

   "Clark," Pete touched his arm.  "Are you okay, man?"

   All Clark could do at that point was nod his head twice.

   "There's more," Pete spoke very softly as not to spark any more grief in his friend.

   A sudden shutter ran up the back of Clark's neck and he snapped his eyes open.  He tilted his head down slowly and met with Pete's gaze.

   "I found something when I saw the plaster stuff," Pete knew he had better explain quickly.  "It was a wooden object shaped like a horse, and I knew I had seen it before, but I couldn't remember where."

   By that point, Clark's chest was beginning to heave up and down, and he closed his eyes again to keep back the tears.

   "I took the horse with me, and it wasn't until I came here and met up with your folks that they reminded me where I had seen it before," Pete said reaching for both of Clark's arms. 

   "Lex's" Clark spoke the one word with so much grief, that even Pete's heart ached for his friend.

   "Yeah," Pete said as Clark's head fell on his shoulder.  "It's the one you made him for Christmas.  I remembered I saw you when you were carving it once.  That's why I knew it."

   "I went there," Clark shook his head into Pete's shirt.  "I search that room and the police were all over the place.  Lex wasn't there."

   Pete placed his right hand on the back of Clark's neck.  "I never saw him either," he said softly.  "But I remembered that I was hit by the horse and not a baseball bat."

   Clark pulled his head up and stared hard at Pete.

   "I think it was Lex in that closet," Pete said.  "He either didn't know who I was or maybe he did, but by the time I came to, they had replaced him with Lionel and a lame story that would explain all the hospital equipment in the room."

   Clark wiped his eyes with the palms of his hands.

   "Clark," they heard another voice from a few feet away.  When they turned, they saw Jonathan Kent standing outside of Nell's room with a concerned look.

   It took Clark only a split second to jump from the wall into his father's embrace.  He used all his resolve from running at his top speed in public, but he knew he could not risk the rush.

   "Pa," Clark hugged his father tightly.  "They let you out."

   "We had a little help from some friends," Jonathan hugged him back.  "Thank God you are alright, son."

   Clark pulled himself away and Jonathan saw his tears.  "Pete told you what he found?"

   Clark nodded his head and wiped away the last tear.  "Yeah," he sniffed.  "But I would still like to see it.  To make sure."

   "Of course," Jonathan patted him on the head.  "Your Mom has it in Nell's room."

   "Ma," he smiled brightly at the thought of seeing his mother again.

   Without delay, the three men made their way back to the private room and walked in to see Martha sitting next to Nell's bed where she was asleep.  "Clark," Martha's eyes lit up as she ran across the floor into her son's arms.

   "Mom," Clark returned her embrace.  "I'm back,"

   "Thank you Jesus," Martha exclaimed.  "Chloe told us all about what happen with Lionel and that Morgan Edge guy."

   "Don't remind me," Clark pulled away gently.  "That part of my life is over and now it's Lionel Luthor's problem.  My job is to find out what really happened to Lex."

   Martha dropped her gaze from her son's face as she thought about what they had discovered

   "I need to see it," Clark said with a gentle tone.  "Please let me see it."

   She nodded and walked over to the curtains in front of the window.  Her mood was somber and remorseful as she reached behind the drawn drapes and pulled out the wooden Trojan horse Clark had carved for Lex on their first Christmas as friends.  She held it up in her hands as she slowly walked back.

   A tear rolled down Martha's cheek as she saw the great welts of pain that came to Clark's eyes when he looked down at the object in her hands.  She knew that the memories of his friend were breaking his heart.  She wanted to hide the horse, but she knew it was a valuable item to Clark, and perhaps proved that Lex was not really dead.

   Slowly raising his hands, Clark grasped the toy and pulled it in for a closer inspection.

   "It's Lex's horse," Martha told him.  "I recognized the carving you did and the work I did on painting the features.  It's been beaten up a little, but I would know that horse anywhere."

   "No one would have this," Clark almost whispered.  "Lex was the only person who even thought it was worth keeping.  He was the only one who had a connection to it.  If Lionel was concerned enough to keep it, then he would have known what it meant, and he would have burnt it at the first chance."

   "Are you thinking that Lex is alive?" Martha asked her son.

   Clark looked deeply into her eyes.  "I don't know, Ma."

   "Clark," Nell opened her eyes where she lay on the bed behind Martha.

   "Nell," Clark forced a brave face past his grief.  He smiled sweetly at her.  "I'm happy to see that you are doing better.  I'm sorry we were not here for you.  We didn't know what happened until today."

   "That's okay," Nell smiled back with weary eyes.  "I'm just so happy that everything worked out.  I got to speak with Lana over the phone earlier, and she was telling me how worried she was for you."

   "Lana was worried," Clark perked up slightly.

   "Lana thinks allot of you, Clark," Nell told him with a grin.  "She tells me that you are a real sweet friend."

   "Thanks," Clark lost his smile and returned his attention to the horse.

   "What is that?" Nell asked as they all gathered around her bed.

   "It's a gift I made for Lex," Clark said sheepishly as he stood next to her.  "Pete found it at Luthor Corps."

   A blank stare came over Nell's face as Martha leaned in from next to Clark.  "Nell," she called.  "Are you okay?"

   Jonathan turned to Pete from where they were standing on the opposite side of the bed.  "Pete, go get the nurse."

   "Sure," Pete replied as he took a step away.

   "Wait," Nell called out to all of them, as her eyes seemed to return.  "I'm okay," she took a deep breath.  "I was just having a flash of memory.  I saw something when I was at the Luthor Corps building, too."

   They all gave her their undivided attention as she turned to Clark.  "I saw him in Lionel's private bedroom," she said with a haunted look.  "I saw Lex."

   Every jaw in the room dropped as they all turned to face Clark who was gasping for air.  "Are," he started.  "Are you sure?"

   Nell thought about it for a moment and then stared into his eyes.  "Yes Clark, I'm sure what I saw now.  Just before Lionel drugged me.  I saw Lex laying in a hospital bed."

   Clark braced himself on the side of the bed as Martha attempted to hold him up.

   "Clark," Nell placed her hand over his as he returned her gaze.  "Lex is alive, Clark."

   Jonathan and Pete had to run around the bed and help Martha pick Clark off his knees on the floor where he had fallen.  His knees had given out, and Clark was gasping for life saving air as he tried to recover from the startling news.

   Martha and Jonathan wrapped their arms around their son as he began to shake.  He looked up at them with teary eyes and the look on his face was part shock, grief, surprise and joy.  "He's alive." Clark gasped.  "I knew it, and I was right."

   He leaned his head against Martha's arm and closed his eyes.  "Lex is alive."

   It was a half hour later when Jonathan was finally able to trace his son's journey, and he found him in the small waiting room outside of the ICU ward.  The room was emptied, and Clark sat alone in the corner on the very chair he had rested on for all those hours a few weeks earlier waiting for word on his friend.

   "Son?" Jonathan made his way over to Clark.  "Clark, are you okay?"

   Clark had a pondering look in his eyes and had his head resting on his folded hands.  He only glanced up at his father as he took the seat to his right.  The tears were long since dried from the younger man's eyes, and Jonathan could only guest what mysterious thoughts were lingering behind his son's bright green eyes.

   "You made your mother worried the way you just left Nell's room like that with no word," Jonathan spoke as he placed a tender hand on his shoulder.  "And I must admit that it scares me a little that you would come back here, son."

   "I didn't know where else to go," Clark rubbed his face with his hands.  "I didn't mean to worry you, but I could not think while you were all staring at me."

   "We are concerned, Clark," Jonathan told him softly.  "Pete, Nell, your Mother and I are worried about what must be going through your mind right now.  You took the news of Lex being alive and hidden, real hard back there."

   "I know," Clark leaned on his knees and turned his head to face his Dad.  "I just can't believe that I was stupid enough to let Lionel pull the wool over my eyes that whole time while I knew in my heart that Lex was alive."

   Jonathan took a deep breath and leaned on his own knees with his elbows.  "I know, son," he sighed. "We should have believed you when you told us.  You have always had some strange sixth sense when things were not right.  You always seemed to know when someone needed your help, and with Lex, that sense seems to be heighten."

   "I don't understand it either, Dad," Clark's eyes grew weary.  "All I know is that somehow Lex and my destiny are tied together, and we are suppose to be around each other in some way or other for the rest of our lives.  It's almost like we are soul mates, but in a nonromantic way.  Lex Luthor is Clark Kent's other part."

    Jonathan gave Clark a questionable look.

   He gave a small snort when Clark saw Jonathan's expression.  "I don't understand it either, Dad."

   His father gave him a short smile.  "I think I do, Clark," he grinned weakly.  "I'm just trying to get use to the idea of having Lex at the farm for every Christmas dinner in the for seeable future."

   Clark gave his joke a chuckle as he looked back down at his hands.  "First we have to find him."

   Leaning back in his chair, Jonathan put his arm over Clark's seat.  "I'm sure Lionel saw the police coming, and has Lex safely locked away somewhere.  Lex won't be seen until his father is ready."

   "I have to save him Dad," Clark leaned back in his own seat.  "I mean he called me, and now he must be wondering where I am."

   "Lionel won't hurt him, Clark," Jonathan gave him a raised eyebrow.  "He may stink as father material, and we all know he has hurt allot of people to keep his little secrets these last few months, but he has never given any indication that he would hurt his son.  He has gone out of his way to make sure that people may have been hurt, but he hasn't killed anyone."

   "Still," Clark looked up at the ceiling tiles.  "Lex wouldn't have called me if he didn't think he was in trouble.  He's never been very good as fighting off Lionel.  Even when he bought him out of the fertilizer plant, he still needed and excepted help from his employees."

   "Lex Luthor is a whole lot stronger than you want to believe, Clark," Jonathan assured.  "You can't protect everyone all the time.  If you are going to use your abilities to help people, then you must accept that.  You have to understand that not everyone can run at super speed, but some of us can also do some amazing things by walking at a normal pace, and Lex has a good strong stride."

   A single tear rolled down Clark's face as he spoke to the light fixture above him.  "I shouldn't have believed that he was dead when I was holding him in there," he said with grief.  "I should have used my abilities to realize the truth.  I should have seen through the act."

   "Clark," Jonathan pulled him closer.  "Your friend had just died, and Lionel went through allot of trouble to make it appear that way, so you were not thinking straight.  You did what every human being in the universe would have done, and you believed what you saw and then you mourned for your friend."

   There was a long silence as he continued to look up, and then, "Oh God," Clark's voice became almost shrilled as he gasped out with tears flowing freely.  "He wasn't dead, Pa.  I let them take him away to be locked up somewhere, and he wasn't dead."

  "Clark," Jonathan quickly pulled Clark to his chest.  "You didn't know.  It wasn't your fault."

   Clark held tightly to Jonathan's shirt.  "Oh God, forgive me Lex," he sobbed uncontrollably.  "Forgive me."

   Martha Kent and Pete Ross stood in the doorway as they saw Jonathan wrap himself around his shaking son.  He rocked him gently as Martha joined the embrace, and still Clark wept.

   Pete stood silent, and wiped away his own tear as he watch his closes friend fall apart in his parent's arms.

   It was another half hour before Clark was able to pull himself together and sat back in the chair.  Martha handed him a cup of water, and he drank it eagerly.  He crushed the paper cup in his hand and leaned his head against the wall.

   "Do you need more water?" Martha asked taking the discarded cup and placing it on the coffee table.

   "No," Clark answered softly.  "I'm okay."

   "You should get some rest," Jonathan recommended.

   "No," Clark said again. 

   "Clark," Martha gave him the mother look.  "What are you thinking of doing?"

   He lowered his eyes to meet hers.  "Where is Lionel?"

   Martha and Jonathan glanced over at each other.

   "He's in jail, son," Jonathan answered.  "I heard on the news that he was arraigned earlier tonight, and was refused bail."

   "They said he was a flight risk," Martha almost gave a quirky look.  "The strange thing is that said the same thing about us."

   "Only Lionel has the means to disappear forever," Jonathan added.  "So that must be why they are holding onto him."

   "I have to go speak to him," Clark sat up straight.

   "Wait," Jonathan pulled back on his arm.  "You can't just go in there and demand that he tell you where Lex is."

   Clark turned hurt but determined eyes towards his father.  "He is the only one that knows where Lex is, and I am going to make him tell me."

   "Clark," Martha tried to reason with him.  "Lionel went through all this trouble to hide Lex this long.  He's not going to just hand him over to you."

   "Lionel has no more control over what happens to him," Clark gritted his teeth.  "I won't let Lex get lost before Lionel either goes to jail, or escapes and goes into hiding forever."

   Martha opened her mouth again as if to say something, but Jonathan stopped her with a cautious look.

   "Listen," Clark stood up and turned to face them.  "I know this sounds crazy and may even have Lionel send Lex further into hiding, but I need to do this.  I need to use any resource I can think of to find Lex and get him to safety."

   Jonathan stood up and eyed his son proudly.  After a long pause, he nodded his head once.  "Okay, Clark."

   Clark was not sure what to make of this approval at first, but then he allowed a smile to cross his lips and he hugged his father.  "I won't let Lex down, and I won't let you down either."

   Jonathan returned the smile as he pulled away.  "I know you won't, son."

   "Be careful," Martha took her turn with a hug.  "There no telling what Lionel has up his sleeve now."

   "I will, Mom," he kissed her cheek. 

   "Clark," Jonathan pulled Martha to his side.  "Give us a call when you find Lex, and we'll come pick you up."

   "I will," Clark nodded with a big grin.  He turned and walked to the door where Pete was still standing.

   The two young men eyed each other for a long moment.  Clark was the first to give him a short smile.  Pete returned the same, and then looked into Clark's eyes.  He straightened his form and took a deep breath as if bracing for a punch.  Then he let the air out and gave a small smirk.  "Bring Lex home, Clark," he spoke the words softy and with out his usual dislike for the name.

   "I will, Pete," Clark placed his hand on Pete's shoulder.  "I will."

   Again Clark knew the lay out of Metropolis well enough that he was able to find the police station with no difficulty.  The sergeant at the desk gave him a hard time at first since he was asking to see Lionel Luthor at such a late hour, but Clark pleaded fore his help, and was eventually let into the holding block with the promise of not letting the word get out.  The slightly heavyset grayed hair officer lead Clark to a small white washes room with a small table and two chairs and told him to wait there.

   It was another ten minutes before Clark heard the door on the opposite side of the room being unlocked, and then he saw a heart breaking sight.  Lionel Luthor was lead into the room wearing a loosely fitted orange jump suite and his hands were handcuffed behind his back.  The life seemed to be drained from his eyes and his walk was slow and drawn.  He hung his head low with his long hair cascading over his face.  The sight gave Clark a reminder of Charles Manson being interviewed on Sixty Minutes.  However, it seemed Lionel's fire was gone, and his arrogance seemed to be a long since departed vise.

   The guard removed the cuffs from his back, and instead chained his wrist in front of him to the table as he pushed Lionel down into the seat.  He stepped back and pointed for Clark to sit in the chair across the table.  Clark did as expected, and the guard took his place in the corner.

   The whole matter was unnerving, but Clark knew he had come with a purpose, and he was intent of seeing his mission through to the end.  He took a deep breath and leaned on the wooden platform between them.

   "You shouldn't be here, Clark," Lionel peered up through his locks with a sneer.  "Have you come here to see me at my lowest point?"

   Clark wanted to give a snappy and rude response, but he decided to take to polite approach.  He leaned closer and spoke softly.  "Where is he, Mr. Luthor?  What have you done with Lex?"

   Lionel raised his head slightly with a surprised look.

   "I have more than enough proof," Clark continued.  "We found the wooden horse, and Nell Potter finally remembers what she saw in that room."

   "Nell," he almost spat the word.  "Nell is sadly mistaken, Clark.  Lex is dead.  I buried him myself."

   "I've seen the horse," Clark eyes sparked with determination.  "It had blood on it.  Some of it was Pete Ross's where Lex hit him with it, but judging from the cast he found in the janitor's closet next to the horse, I'm willing to bet that even more of the blood belongs to your son.  Maybe I should have someone run a DNA test."

   "It could be my blood," Lionel's stare met Clark's.  "An actually DNA could take a long time not to mention money, and I can assure you that I shall not pay for it."

   "Maybe I should have a court order issued?" Clark threatened.

   "What proof, Clark?" Lionel grunted.  "You have the word of a woman with a head injury and a little horsie?"

   "He's alive," Clark gritted his teeth.  "You and I both know it, and now I need you to tell me where he is so I can protect him while you are locked away in here."

  Lionel sat up straight and shook the hair out of his face.  "You are very sure of yourself, Mr. Kent.  What makes you think that you could protect my dead son from people like Morgan Edge when even I could not?"

   "Lex is my friend, and I won't let anyone hurt him," Clark growled back.  "Not even you, Mr. Luthor."

   "Words!" Lionel said sharply.  "You had your chance, little boy, and my son still ended up dead, driving home from your house."

   "I had no idea that someone hated you enough to try and kill Lex for your lies," Clark's eyes were on fire.  "No one could have known how much of an old sadistic sick man you truly are.  My God, you risked an entire city to study a pet project, and now your son is paying for your sin."

   Lionel had wanted to say something and retort the teen's attack, but he could no longer defend his own actions.  He could not admit them here and now, but he could not refuse what harm he had inflicted on all these people.  He knew that he had done a horrible thing, but it did not affect him until he saw his deeds reflected in Lex's eyes, and now he was seeing those same horrific results in Clark's eyes.  His head sank to his chest again.

   Clark had seen that the powerful Lionel Luthor was now a defeated man, and he no longer had the desire to fight.  He too let down his attack, and he lowered his tone as he spoke again.  "Please," he said softly.  "Let me help Lex."

   Lionel wrestled with his own thoughts for a few seconds as he allowed his breathing to be the only sound heard in the small room.  Finally, as if a pain of grief hit him, Lionel turned his head slightly away.  "It's too late," he said under his breath.  "It's all too late."

   Clark was taken aback as he realized that he had broken through Lionel's barriers, and he was actually about to tell him something.  He chose his words carefully as he continued.  "It's not too late," he insisted.  "Tell me where Lex is, and I can help."

   "You don't understand," Lionel raised his head.  "It's too late, Clark.  Lex is gone."

   It was the first time Clark could ever remember seeing hurt and remorse in the older man's eyes.  Even when he was faking his grief for his lost over Lex, there had never been such displays of anguish.

   "What do you mean?" Clark reached over and almost touched his hand, but pulled away.  "Where did he go?"

   Lionel again took a long pause before he continued.  He looked deeply into Clark's eyes as if looking for something.  Then his lips parted and he released the words.  "I tried," he almost choked on the sounds.  "I tried to help, but I destroyed everything."

   His tone alarmed Clark as his eyes widen.  "Destroyed?" he repeated.  "What are you talking about?"

   Lionel glanced down at his hands.  "I was protecting him," he croaked.  "I was suppose to keep him safe from people like Edge, and he was going to see that I had to do it, and then he would thank me.  Maybe not at first, but one day, someday." His eyes met Clark's again.  "He was supposed to understand, Clark, and then we would be able to work out our differences and we would work side by side and rule Luthor Corps as a team, as it was always meant to be."

   The grief was tearing at Lionel's face as he spoke.  "He is my son," he sneered again.  "He is a Luthor, and Luthors never give in.  They may fight at first, but eventually they do what is right for the good of the company."

   Clark listen patiently as Lionel told his riddle of the story; until he knew he had to speak up.  "Please Mr. Luthor," he stopped him mid sentence.  "What happen to Lex?  Where is he now?"

   A spooky empty look came to Lionel's face as he sat motionless.

   "Please," Clark's voice cracked.  "Please tell me what you did to Lex."

   "He's gone, son," Lionel finally spoke again.  "Lex is no longer Lex.  I destroyed my boy."

   Clark fell back into his seat with shock.

   "I broke him," Lionel's voice trailed on.  "I was helping him and keeping him protected, but all I ended up doing was breaking him, and Lex is gone."

   "Gone?" Clark had to fight the veil taste that filled his mouth with that word.  "How do you mean he's gone?"

   Lionel again studied his hands on the table.  "Lex has lost his mind."  His words were direct and with out emotion, but Clark knew they were ripping at the old man almost as much, if not more, than they were at him.

   Lowering his head, Clark fought off the onset of more grief.  He had to stay strong and keep his mind clear if he was going to help his friend.  "How?" he continued to crack his sounds as he spoke.  "What happen?"

   "I don't know," Lionel lowered his head to rub his face in frustration.  "Maybe it was the drugs or all the pain he had been in.  Perhaps even a delayed reaction to the head injuries, but he snapped."

   Clark studied him closely.  There seemed to be no deception in his tone, but he still reacted cautiously.  "Was," his voice again squeaked.  "Was there a breaking point where you realized he had gone?  What was it that you think would make him snap?"

   Lionel looked back up at him with a hint of anger.  "It was you, Clark."

   The young man's jaw dropped as he listened.  "I had to do something," Lionel explained.  "When your friend broke in last night, Lex thought that you would be coming for him, and he had risked himself by breaking away the cast that help to hold his body together.  He was sure that someone would come and take him away, and he was determined to help even if he killed himself in the process, and so I had to destroy that hope so he would stay where I could protect him."

   "Oh my God," Clark gasped.  "What did you do?"

   "He remembered that he saw someone in the closet and that he had attacked them, but he had not seen the face," Lionel told him.  "He was unaware that your friend was posing as a janitor, and I knew this was my chance to stop his foolish attempts of getting out and risking himself."  Lionel leaned forward again.  "I had to think fast, and I did.  I told Lex that it was you in that closet who had come in answer to his phone call, and that when he struck you with the wooden horse, he had killed you."

   Clark loss his breathe as he heard the cruel story.  He braced himself against the table and stared across at the man he now felt distain for.

   "I had to do something, Clark," Lionel defended himself.  "I couldn't let him try and run and be caught by Edge."

   With his teeth gritted and his fist clenched, Clark fought off all instincts to reach over and choke his senior.

   "It was after that," Lionel's voice grew solemn again.  "He became very quiet and did not speak again.  I thought it was the drugs at first, but he never again opened his mouth, and even his eyes stopped moving when they were force opened.  He retreated into his own mind, and he never returned."

   Clark was able to calm down and again took a relaxed stance.

   "The doctors said he was only getting worst, and the chances of him snapping out of it any time soon, are becoming less likely."

   "Where is he?" Clark questioned holding back his own wall of emotions.  "He' not at Luthor Corps anymore, is he?"

   "No," Lionel sighed.  "The police were coming, and I had Randolph take him somewhere safe."

   "Where?" Clark fought him with the insistence of knowing the location of his friend.

   "I don't know," Lionel raised his eyebrows.  "I only knew I had not come this far only to risk my son further, so Randolph told me he knew of a place, and I had him take him away."

   "You don't know where your own son is?" Clark spat.

   "It's better this way," Lionel said still low enough so the guard would not hear.   "Lex is gone and helpless now.  It's better that no one associate him with me.  Leave this alone, Clark."

   "But what if something happens and you have to reach him?" Clark asked with shock at the way the Luthors lived.

   "I am sure that Randolph has left some details about Lex's where about in my personal office safe," Lionel Explained.

   "Wait a minute," Clark stopped him.  "When I was there earlier, the police were all over the building and they were taking everything they thought they could use against you.  I'm sure that they would have had your safe opened."

   "Yes," Lionel almost smirked.  "The one that they knew about, but there is another safe well hidden that only Randolph and I know about.  It's where we keep my most treasured assets."

   "Including the location of your own son," Clark sneered.  "Well I'm going to find that safe and Lex," he stood up.

   "Stop!" Lionel yelled after him startling the sleeping guard.  "Don't do this.  You have no idea what will happen if someone finds out that Lex is not dead."

   Clark looked back over his shoulder.  "I will protect Lex."

   "You fool!" Lionel screamed not hiding his dislike for the boy.  "If you take Lex out of there, you will be signing his death certificate."

   "He's already dead!" Clark screamed back as he knocked on the door.  "You killed him, Luthor, and now I am going to try and bring him back."

   "It's too late," Lionel's voice almost pleaded as the door opened and the guard held him back.  "He's gone.  My son is gone and you or I can never bring him back."

   Clark stopped in the doorframe as he lowered his head.

   "Please Clark," Lionel's voice was much softer.  "Leave well enough alone.  Lex has to stay hidden for his own good.  You can't save him."

   Clark looked back one final time.  "But I have to try, Mr. Luthor," he said with soft and sorrow filled eyes.  With his point made and a new lead, Clark stepped out of the room and never looked back.

   Lionel was dragging the table with him as he continued to scream at the open door.  "You can't do this, Clark!  My son will be dead the moment Morgan Edge and everyone like him knows that Lex is still alive."

   The police officer in the hall closed the door as two guards pulled Lionel back through the other door.  "You will be killing him!" Lionel screamed one last time.  "You will be killing my son."

   Clark stood outside the door and took a deep breath as everyone in the hall stared at him, but he no longer cared.  He now had a clear course set, and he would find Lex even if he had to rip the Luthor Corps building from its foundation to achieve it.

   The run through the Metropolis streets took only mere seconds for him as Clark moved at his fastest speed possible in and through the Luthor Corps building.  Much to his advantage, the primacies were not armed with video surveillance as he had thought it would.  Clark reason this out to the fact that there was perhaps allot more going on behind these glass walls that Lionel did not want to be seen by possible out side eyes.  Rushing up the stairwell, Clark made his way to Lionel's private office with no difficulty, as the rush of people who had been there earlier all seemed to have gone home.  He stood before the double doors eying them with great care and then gave them a solid smack with the palm of his hand, which force them to fly open.

   Taking a step into the room with caution, Clark wasted no time and began to scan the area with his x-ray vision.  He found the prop safe against the far wall opposite Lionel's desk that he had been told about, and it had already been emptied of any contents.  Clark already knew that there was nothing in there to find, but the police would have to discover that fact on their own.  His mission was much more personal, and perhaps even more crucial since the damage had already been done to Gotham City and there was little he himself could do to correct it, but Lex still had a chance if he could get to him and time and help his friend find his way back to reality.

   Clark closed the doors behind him, and after several minutes of scanning, Clark saw something behind the large letter 'C' of the Luthor Corps symbol on the wall of the inner office.  It took only a second for him to reach for the solid steel object that was bolted to the wall and rip it from its settings.  The piece of sheet metal flew across the room as Clark set his eyes on the cleverly hidden wall safe.  He glanced over his shoulder to make sure that the door was still closed and he fixed his eyes on the safe and saw that the box contained several stacks of papers and a few small hardbound journals. 

   Clark reached up and smashed his hand through the knob of the safe and ripped a gapping hole into the two inches of reinforced metal.  He searched around and pulled a few of the books out.  Most were secret bank accounts and stock portfolios that held little interest for Clark as he searched. Then he came across a small black book with several pages of scribbling, but it also had a flyer sticking out between the white sheets.  Clark examined it closely and found that it was a pamphlet for a private psychiatric hospital in up state Kansas.  A short line was written on the page where it sat. 

   "Patient 106," Clark read.  He glanced through the pages and found the flyer had an address, and a grin crossed his lips.  This is where Lex was taken, the journey soon would be over, and he would bring his friend home.

   "Hold it right there!" A voice called out as the doors behind him swung open.

   Clark tuned quickly and saw that there were three guards and a man in a smart black business suite standing with guns drawn at him.

   "Don't move kid," The man in the suite told him with a matter of urgency. 

   Turning slowly, Clark tucked the pamphlet in his back pocket.  "We don't want to do this guys," he said with a frown.

   "Get your hands up, kid," the man instructed.  "My name is Carl Mathews, and on behalf of the Luthor Corps security, I am placing you under arrest."

   "Like I'll ever see a police station after discovering the secret safe and all of Lionel Luthors deepest darkest secrets," Clark said matter of fact.  "I know how LC security works, guys."

   "Then you know the drill," Mathews said as he took a step forward.  "We can't let you run free, kid."

   Clark raised his arm and stared down at his watch.  "Think about it guys," he smirked.  "Do you really think that if I know how to get this far and about the secret safe, that I would have come unprepared?"

   The three guards behind Mathews glanced at each other.

  "Nope," Clark tap a button on his watch and the timer began to tick away.  "It's time to pull out all the stop guys.  You have sixty seconds to clear this floor, or we all go together."

   "You're bluffing kid," Mathews snarled.

   "Like I said," Clark leaned against the desk with a relaxed stance.  It was taking everything he had to keep up his cool exterior, but too much was at stake if he didn't get out of there now.  He forced a grin.  "I know how this story ends, so why not take a few rent-a-cops with me.  It's beats a lonely poison pill." He glanced again at his watch.  "Forty five seconds, guys."

   "Mathews," one of the uniform guards called out. 

   "He's lying," Mathews insisted.

   "I ain't taking any chances on my salary," a second guard stepped hastily out of the room.

   "Alright," Mathews looked over his shoulders.  "We'll play along kid, but we'll be back in thirty seconds, and don't try to run, because this floor is blocked off.  There's no way out."

   "Twenty," Clark glanced up from his wrist.

   "Go, go, go," Mathews, screamed as he ushered them out and closed the doors.

   Clark reached for his watch and turned off the timer.  "Works every time," he grinned walking back to the safe.  He pulled several stacks of papers from the box.  He then returned to the desk and dialed the number to Nell's room he had committed to memory before leaving the hospital.

   "Dad," he spoke into the receiver as he looked out the window.  "Meet me at the intersection of route nineteen and forty six in about an hour.  I think I found what I came for." Clark told his father.  "Oh get a hold of Perry White and tell him I will be dropping off a package for him in the Daily Planet Lobby in a few minutes.  It will be in a Luthor Corps envelope."  He said as he dropped the papers into a large gray envelope.

   "Yeah," Clark nodded licking it shut.  "I'll be careful, and tell Mom I love her too.  See you soon."  He took one last look out the window down at the street as he tossed the phone away.

   "Another clear quiet night in Metropolis," he sighed tapping on the glass.  "I'm sure this baby is at least bullet proof if not storm and artillery proof," he grinned walking to the opposite side of the desk.

  Placing one foot firmly against the desk, Clark glanced back at the doors.  "Well, Pastor Springs always says when ever a door closes, God always opens a window," a large grin crossed his face as Clark turned back with a mischievous look in his eyes.  "Good plan."

  Giving the large solid desk a sudden shove with his leg, Clark forced the object across the floor until in went smashing through the large plate glass that cover the entire wall of the room. Pieces of shattered glass went flying in all directions.

   Not giving a chance to error, Clark dived through the new opening and allowed him self to fall the several flight down to the street below.  Once his feet hit the ground with a large thud that left two huge indents, Clark began to run at his top speed before anyone could come in his direction, and hopefully before anyone who happen to be in the area happen to get a good look at him.  He knew it was a large risk he was taking by being so open with his abilities, but Clark knew it was a risk he had to take to save Lex.  It was only a matter of time before Lionel contacted Randolph and had Lex moved.  He was going to save his friend that night. And no one would stop him from accomplishing his goals.

   The next part of his journey took Clark twenty minutes, as he had to carefully follow the road signs.  Clark didn't travel out of Smallville much, and this section of Kansas just beyond Metropolis was not as familiar to him as Lowell County.  The run was filled with double-checking and even one event where he had to back track for a few miles, but eventually he found the small private hospital he was looking for.

   The building was fenced off with iron fences and high walls, and he could see uniform security guards patrolling the grounds.  Clark waited for a couple to pass as he hid in the bushes near by, and then he ran to the bars in a section that was not visible from the compound.  He easily bent the bars and slid his slender form through the new opening.  Scurrying through the landscaping, Clark made his way to the brick building and forces a window open to an emptied office. 

   Much to his surprise and delight, he had entered the admissions office and found the folder containing all the patient numbers and room assignments.  Clark marveled at how each person had been given a number, and there were no names to be found anywhere on the forms.  He was sure that the names were on record somewhere, but it did not matter to him.  Lionel's little black book had provided him with the number of patient 106, and he knew that the person in room seventy-five was Lex.

   Peaking into the hall, he found that the halls were mostly deserted at that late hour, and only a handful of nurses gathered around the nurse's station at the far end of the corridor.  Clack slipped into the hall and made his way in the opposite direction.  He was on the ground floor, and knew that the rooms must have been on a higher level.  He found the stares and made his way up to the next flight.

   Again the hall was emptied as Clark stepped out.  He saw that there was a rotating camera at the end, and Clark super speed his way around it as it shifted in the other direction.  Reaching up, Clark was able to pull the plug on the device, and he prayed that the guards who might be watching would consider it as a glitch and not sound an alarm just yet.

   Slowly working his way around, Clark Kent followed the series of room numbers until he came to number seventy-five, as the list had indicated.  Reaching for the doorknob, Clark's hand began to shake.  His stomach was already doing flip-flops, and he almost felt as if he were going to get sick again.  He had been uneasy and less than heroic in the past, but this was the defining moment for the teen.  All his hopes and prayers were set on this moment, and he was not sure if he could handle another heavy disappointment.  He had to find Lex behind this door, and Lex had to be all right.

   The sound of the knob seemed to echo through the building as he slowly began to turn it, but Clark knew enough that it was only his mind playing tricks, and only he could hear the low key sound.

   Darkness was cloaking the room as Clark looked into it.  He took a deep breath before slipping through the small passageway he had made for him self.  Once inside, Clark closed the door and stood with his back press against the wooden frame.  His pulse was racing and his breaths were heavy and strained.  The only light in the room was from a small intervenes drip monitor near the bed, and it was not enough for even him to see.

   Slowly Clark clunked his heavy boots across the floor until he was standing by the small red dot.  He glances up and saw that another small light on the wall indicated that it was a light switch, and Clark reached for it and pressed the button.

   The faint humming sound of the dim nightlight began, and it flickered to life.  The sudden brightness made Clark turn his head away, but his hand reached down and touched a warm arm on the bed.  It was then Clark froze.

   Not having the heart to look just yet, Clark took a second and felt around, and he could tell by the definition in the arm with the bicep and small hairs, that it was a man's.  The skin also gave him to know that it was still toned and soft enough to be a younger man.

   Mustering up all his inner strength, Clark shut his eyes tight, but turned his head to face the face of the person in the bed.  With one last deep breath and a resolve to stand tall, Clark shot his eyes opened and he peered down at the man in the hospital bed.

   The view hit Clark hard, and it knocked the wind out of him as he fell slightly forward and braced himself on the bed rail.  Clark took several more deep cleansing breaths and raised his hand to touch the patient's face softly.  His eyes narrowed into a pain filled frown, and Clark touched the pale tender face.

   "Lex," his broken and now horsed voice said with a sound just above a whisper.  "My God, Lex, you really are alive," Clark cried openly.

   Clark's hands hovered above his friend as if he were afraid to touch him any further.  They shook without resolve of ever being able to stop, and Clark fell forward.  The weeks of prayer and hopes all came flooding back to Clark as he began to weep.  Even he was unsure if they were tears of pain or joy, but all he knew is that they were tears for his best friend who had returned from the dead.

  Burring his face into the soft warm cloth of Lex's pajamas, Clark let all his pent up emotions go and he cried with the untamed remorse of a child.  The emotions were flooding him as his mind tried to finally wrap itself around the fact that he have grieved for a friend who was now once again before him.

   Regaining some composure, Clark lifted his head and looked up to his friend's unchanging face.  His eyes were pail and vacant as he stared up to the ceiling.  If it were not for the slow blinking movement from time to time, Clark would have been unsure if this man were still alive at all.

   He wiped away some of the tears with the sleeve of his plaid shirt, and Clark pulled himself slightly up and leaned over Lex's face.  He studied him for a good long time and tried to get his eyes to follow him, but Lex was not responding.  His stare was empty and void of all emotions.

   "Lex," Clark touched his face again with the same shaking hand.  "Lex, its me, Clark.  I came to rescue you," he grinned through his grief.  "I'm going to take you home now.  No one else is going to hurt you, I promise."

   His reassuring words were met only with the same vacant stare, and Clark pulled back slightly.  He wanted to shake Lex until he would wake from this self-imposed trance, but he knew this was not the way to handle it.  He had to be gentle and let Lex come back in his own time.  There was no telling the horrors the older man had been through at the hands of his own father, and Clark knew enough to know that it wouldn't be forgotten just at the sight of his face.

   Pulling back and studding the room, Clark began to look for the safest and easiest way out where he could take Lex with out risking any more pain.  The window was only one flight up, but he was afraid that the jolt of the jump might injure Lex's already fragile body even more.  After a few minutes, Clark decided that his only escape route was the one he had taken to come in.  It would be risky and not without detection, but he knew he would have to take Lex out the front door.

   Clark began to wrap the blankets and sheets around Lex and prepared him as best as he could for the trip.  He would have to carry the frail body like a child in his arms, but Clark knew it was the only action he could take and a task he would gladly endure.

   The IV was the first thing that Clark had to remove, and he was very careful to gently pull the tape off and then remove the needle from Lex's arm.  He placed the tube over the hanging bag and then tucked his arm under the covers with the rest of his torso. Ever so careful, Clark slid his hands under Lex and made sure the covers were firmly wrapped.  He then began to lift his body off the bed.

   The door gave a slight shushing sound as Clark turned to see that it had been opened.  To his surprise, he saw Lionel's personal head of security, Mr. Randolph, standing at the entrance with a pistol in hand.

   "Mr. Kent," he smirked.  "I've been waiting for your arrival."

   Clark gave him a harsh look.  "Don't try and stop me."

   "Oh but Clark," Randolph stepped in closing the door.  "As Mr. Luthors chief security man, I have to stop anyone who would try and kidnap his son."

   "Kidnapping is what you and Lionel do," Clark stood firm to his full height before the slightly shorter man.  "I came here to rescue Lex from what ever you people have been doing to him.  I won't let you hurt him anymore."

   "I don't think you have much of a say in the matter," Randolph grinned.  "You see Clark, this little gun in my hand tells me that I am in control here, and if you don't back off, then I'll have to place another bottle of ashes in Lex's grave."

   "This was all your idea, wasn't it?" Clark asked eyeing the man suspiciously.  "You may not have started Lionel's deceptive little game, but you have been using all these events for your own gain."

   "Really," Randolph nodded his head.  "What does a snot nose dirt farmer like you know about anything?"

   "I know how to read," Clark frowned.  "I read a few of those legal forms I dropped off at the daily Planet that I got from Lionel's secret safe.  I know that you stand to gain all controlling shares of Luthor Corps and most of Lionel's personal assets if he or Lex is unable to perform their duties.  With Lionel being in jail and Lex driven over the edge, then you have your stage all set for a hostile take over."

   "What gives you the idea that I want Lionel to go to jail, Kid?" Randolph waved the gun.  "I haven't done anything to frame the guy.  You and your reporter friend took care of that."

    "Yeah," Clark slowly moved himself to stand in front of Lex where Randolph would be unable to get a shot at him if he tried.  "But I also know that Lionel knew the police were on to him, and he took the time to hide Lex, but he left behind some very incriminating evidence.  You see I found Lionel's written agreements with the Gotham City's Counsel to dump the meteor rock waist in the drinking water supply and not the landfill.  I guess he kept them all these years as his insurance policy against them, but I also know that Lionel is smart enough to have those forms destroyed with the police so close, but you didn't want that.  You kept them in the secret safe and hoped that the police would find that one too.  Or maybe just me," Clark thought again.  "That's why you placed them with this address.  You knew I was looking for Lex, and eventually I would find a way to find him, so you set me up to find those documents knowing I would turn them in, and you would look like the innocent and faithful servant this whole time.  I wouldn't even be surprised if you were the one feeding all those inside forms to Edge the whole time."

   "Very good kid," Randolph nodded.  "You've been studying your Hardy Boys novels all these years.  Too bad you are not going to get out and tell anyone."

   Randolph raised his gun to Clark's head.  "You see, Billy Bob, I haven't been playing Luthor like a banjo all these months and using this whole mystery to my advantage just to have you come along and destroy it for me.  My God, kid, I took down the entire Luthor Corps Empire almost single handedly with not one person even looking my way, so I am not going to let some little corn feed yokel from Tiny Town come along and derail my plans."

   Clark crossed his arms across his chest.  "Try me, Randolph.  You would be surprise at how much bran this corn feed yokel really caries."

   Randolph's hand shook slightly as he aimed the gun.  "I'm not kidding, kid," he sneered.  "I'll do what ever I have to do to stop you."

   "Then do it," Clark said leaning forward with gritted teeth.

   Randolph could not be sure if it was out of fear for taking such actions, or a dislike for this boy who was taunting him, but he began to fire the gun frantically as the silencer muffled the sounds of the speeding bullets.

   After the first three rounds were released, Randolph was able to focus enough to watch Clark, and his jaw dropped as he watched the young man grasping at the bullets and pull them out of mid air and holding the hot and molting lead in his hands.

   When the clip was emptied, Randolph dropped the gun and stood in astonishment at Clark's efforts.  He was paralyzed with wonderment and fear all at the same time.  He stood slacked jawed as Clark jiggled the small lead objects in his hand.

   "How?" Randolph finally found his voice.  "How did you do that?"

   Clark looked up from his fist of lead with a grin.  "Adrenalin I guess."

   "You're a freak, Kent," Randolph gushed.

   Clark took each of the bullets one by one tossing them a great speed at the outside wall.  He made it a point for them to hit with a small puff of smoke as he spoke.  "You see, Mr. Randolph.  You don't want to make me angry.  You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

   "I'm going to tell the whole world what you just did kid," Randolph warned.

   "You do that," Clark grabbed his collar.  "And you'll be sleeping in the very next room." He held his free hand to the blond man's head and tapped his palm against his frontal lobe.  The thud was gentle, but still strong enough to knock Randolph out cold.

   Clark let his form fall to the ground, and he returned his attention to Lex.  Even after all the commotion, Lex had not been stirred back to reality.  In some small way, Clark had hope he would have witness his display of speed and strength and force himself back to the real world, but he knew now that it had not worked.

   Moving slowly and with great care, Clark scooped the warmly wrapped Lex up into his arms and gentle leaned his head on his chest.  Clark tried to rejoice within from the fact that he had found his best friend and brother, but a small part of him could not help but grieve as he pulled him closer and leaned his own head against Lex.  A small tear rolled down Clark's face as he spoke into his temple.  "I got you, Lex," he cried.  "I'm going to take you home."

   He took a few steps including a larger one to step over Randolph's slumped body.  Clark pause a brief second before he opened the door.  He allowed his eyes to drift back down to Lex's head.  "I'll do my part first, buddy," he whispered.  "Then you have to do your part and come home to me."

   With that said, Clark opened the door and stepped out into the emptied hall.  The next part of the journey had begun, and Clark was taking Lex home.

   The late evening air was warm and soothing as Clark sat in the back of the pickup truck cradling Lex.   He sat silently watching his friend after he had closed his eyes, and pretended that he was sleeping and not in a vegetable state of mind.  He held tightly onto Lex as he prayed to the merciful God above to show pity and allow this soul to be awoken, again.  His prayers went on for hours until his own trance was shocked back to reality by a thud on the side of the truck bed.

   "They're here," Jonathan, said stepping out of the cab.  "Get Lex ready to move."

   Clark began to tuck the blankets neatly around him again as he saw a small corporate jet landing on the airfield several hundred yards away.  By the time he had handed Lex over to his father and jumped off the truck, the plane was taxiing and pulled up about fifty feet away from them before coming to a full stop.

   "I've got Lex," Jonathan assured his son.  "Go greet your friends and I'll bring him along.

   Clark gave his father a long look before he allowed himself to know that Lex was safe with him, and he then broke away and walked towards the plane.

   The hatch to the black plane opened and even before the pilot had fully locked the door that doubled as the step in place, Chloe Sullivan came running down the tarmac and jumped into Clark's waiting arms.

   "Oh Clark," she hugged the stuffing out of him.  "We were so worried.  I thought you were going all Howard Huge on us, and were going to hide from reality."

   "I couldn't do that, Chloe," Clark returned her embrace with a large grin.  "Besides, I know you would hunt me down eventually."

   "So don't even try it," Chloe giggled as she pulled away.  "I'm so glad you are not road kill, Clark.  We had no idea where you went."

   "Yeah," Lana Lang came up behind Chloe and took a second to give him a kiss on the cheek.  "You had us worried Clark Kent.  Why didn't you tell us Alfred was having you flown back here?"

   Clark looked over their shoulder at Alfred who waited by the plane, and gave him a silent 'thank you for the cover' with his eyes.

   "I," Clark lowered his head.  "I wasn't sure if I had a lead to follow, but I knew I needed to get back here."

   "And you did it," Chloe shook his arm.  "You found Lex."

   "Yeah," Clark's face almost lit up, but there was still more that was not cleared up with his friend just yet.

   "Chloe and Lana," Pete came running from the truck and gave each of them a big hugged.  "Wait until I tell you what has happen to me."

   Chloe laughed at his excitement.  "Well it can't be any more dangerous than how I almost broke my shoulder," she said with a grin.

   "Oh yeah," Pete smirked as Martha walked up behind him.  "Lex almost broke my head and Lionel took the blame for it."

   They giggled for a few moments, as the pressure from their ordeal seemed to have finally lifted.  Then Martha looked over at Lana.  "So Lana, how about you?" she asked.  "Did you end up breaking anything in this whole mess?"

   "Yeah, Mrs. Kent," she looked away shyly.  "My heart."

   Martha gave them all a puzzled look, and then pulled Lana into a hug.  "Don't worry about it Lana," she spoke softly with a lilt to her voice.  "I'm sure it won't be the last time, but after a while, you will look at it as a journey of small aches until you find the right man who will pick up all the pieces and put them back together for you.  Bigger and better than ever."

   "Thank you Mrs. Kent," Lana returned the embrace.  "Right now I just want to see Nell and see with my own eyes that she really is okay."

   "It looks like the Scooby Crew has come through again," Pete slapped Clark on the back.  "Everything is back to the way it should be."

   "No everything," Chloe's tone became soft and solemn as they all looked over and saw Jonathan approaching with Lex in his arms.

   Clark rushed over and took his friend from his father's arms.  "I got him, Dad."

   Jonathan and Martha watched from each other's arms as he handled his friend with such great care and gentleness.  They didn't want to have to say it, but Jonathan finally broke the silence once they had all gathered around.

   "It's time, son," he spoke softly.  "You need to get out of here before someone discovers Mr. Wayne's jet has landed."

   "Yeah," Clark forced a smile as he looked up at them.

   "We left the car for you to drive yourself back," Chloe said softly.  "Alfred has the key and has promised to give you gas money."

   Clark gave her a cute and short smile.  "Thanks, Chloe," he turned to each of them.  "Thank you to all off you.  I know you all didn't believe me, but I want to thank you all for standing by me and for enduring this whole ordeal while I had to solve this mystery."

   "We were in this together," Lana said with a gentle smile.  "All of us worked as a team in one way or another, and we were able to achieve the goal."

   "We did," Clark forced back a tear as he looked down at Lex.

   Lana kissed his cheek again.  "Thank you for a summer I will never forget, Clark."

   "Me too," Chloe kissed his other cheek.  "How many other girls can say they have known two real super heroes."

   Clark blushed as the girls walked away.

   "Yeah, Clark," Pete smacked his arm.  "You're a real stand up guy.  Be careful and I'll see you in a few days."

   Martha brushed Lex's head as she and Jonathan stood before Clark.  "Chloe doesn't know how true her statement is, Clark," she looked up into her son's eyes.  "All your friends are lucky to have such a wonderful friend as you."

   "Hey," Clark refuted softly.  "I only learned it from the best."

   Jonathan glanced over at the jet.  "Bruce Wayne?'

   "His butler, Alfred Pennyworth," Clark corrected.  "I didn't know who else to call who could help me hide Lex, and Alfred has been a real good friend through all of this."

   "He knows, doesn't he," Jonathan asked while eyeing to see if Lex made any indication of being conscious.

   "Yeah," Clark gave him big puppy dog eyes.  "I was having a real hard time with the water and stuff over in Gotham, and Alfred kinda figured it out.  He saved my life, Dad."

   Jonathan took another glance over at Alfred.  "Well, I guess we don't have a choice in this, do we?"

   "He's a butler, Jonathan," Martha reminded.  "I'm sure he has all types of secrets to keep.  He should be safe."

   Jonathan nodded once.  "I have a feeling you both might be right on this one," he returned with a small smile.  "Now you go get Lex settled in, and get back here before anyone figures out where you took him, and the police don't brand you as a fugitive again."

   "I will," Clark assured them.  "I just want to give it a few days and try and help Lex wake up, but I'll work double time on the farm when I get back."

   "I'm sure you will," Jonathan patted his shoulder.  "Be careful, son."

   Martha leaned in and kissed his cheek.  "Remember that we love you and we'll be waiting at home when you get back."

  "I will," Clark kissed her back.

   "Clark," Jonathan grabbed his arm one last time and looked into his son's eyes.  "Where ever Lex is right now in his mind, don't let him pull you in there.  You are our son and we want you back with us."

   "I know, Dad."

   "I mean it son," Jonathan took a serious tone.  "Please don't let your guilt for what happen to Lex destroy you.  We know you care about your friend, but you have allot of other people who love you and need you with them, too."

   Clark nodded his head, and he knew his father was right.  Wherever Lex was right now in his own head, he could not allow that darkness to engulf him too.  At some point, if Lex did not wake up, then he would have to except that and move on.  With or with out his friend at his side, there was still a world out there for Clark Kent, and he needed to go on living.

   Clark gave them one last quick look and then made his way over to the door of the plane where Alfred greeted him with a smile.  Clark walked up the steps and took one last look at his family and friends as they gathered by the truck.  He gave them his best forced smiled and then disappeared into the hull of the plane.  Alfred followed and closed the hatch behind them.

   Jonathan and Martha Kent, along with Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross watched as the plane taxied away and then the bright lights on the wings disappeared into the night sky.

   The Wayne Enterprises jet had been in the air nearly an hour when Alfred finally stepped in to the main seating compartment.  He saw where Clark had belted Lex into one of the plush seats, and Clark sat across from him in the other seat facing Lex's, only he was not looking up.  Clark had his face buried in his hands and was speaking softly.  Alfred knew enough to know that the dark haired lad had been in prayer since the first moment they had lifted off the ground in rural Kansas.  He made his steps lightly as he walked through the cabin and checked on Lex's condition.

   They had placed a shoulder harness over Lex to make he would not fall or slump forward while in flight. Alfred checked the fasteners and made sure that they were secured and then he turned to Clark.

   "Master Clark," He spoke softly.

   Clark looked up from his hands with a sorrowful face.

    "Is there anything I could get for you, sir?" Alfred asked placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.

   Clark sat back in his seat with a sigh.  "No, Alfred," he let out a shallow breath.  "When do we arrive in Gotham?"

   "Not for a short while yet," Alfred said with a worried brow.  "We do have a bed in the next compartment," he told Clark.  "Could I not interest you in taking a nap.  I would be most happy to watch after Mister Luthor."

   "No," Clark shook his head.  His voice was getting lower and the weariness of the events beating on him the past few days were beginning to take their toll.  He could barely keep his head up or his eyes opened, but still Clark refused to leave his friends side.

   Alfred sat for a moment in the seat next to Lex.  "Would you like to talk about it?"

   Clark tilted his head to meet with Alfred's concerned eyes.  "There's nothing to talk about, Alfred.  I did it, I found Lex, and here he is," his hand lifted in a short live point.

   Alfred eyed Lex for a second then turned back to Clark.  "Indeed, sir."

   Clark ran his eyes over Lex again before meeting Alfred's stare.  "He's not waking up, Alfred."

   "Perhaps it is too soon," Alfred returned.

   "But I found him, I saved him," Clark words were almost insistent.  "I have been praying for him for hours, and still, he won't wake up."

   "Do you fear that moving him might have been a mistake?" Alfred asked.

   "I'm not sure," Clark shrugged.  "I know I needed to get him away from Lionel and Randolph before they could hide him any deeper or make matters worst, but I think by rushing him out of the hospital, I may have aggravated his condition."

   "Perhaps Doctor Thompkins will have more insight when she meets us in Gotham," Alfred tried to ease his worries.

   "I don't know," Clark sank in his seat.  "I don't know what to do to get through to him.  I've done everything short of shaking the living daylights out of him."

   "Perhaps you are not required to do anything for him," Alfred raised an eyebrow.  "Perhaps you have done all that you can and God has heard your prayer.  Perhaps now is the time to receive your miracle."

   Clark studied the stately older man with years of wisdom far beyond his age.

   "Perhaps," Alfred picked Lex's hand up off his lap.  "The work is already done, Master Clark.  Now should be the time for resting and receiving what you have prayed for."  He placed the limp hand into Clark's.

   Alfred stood up and smiled down at Clark again.  "Your family. Friends and your Lord know what you desire of your friend, Master Clark.  Perhaps it is time that you told him.  Call Lex back to this world.  Let him know that it is safe again, and you are here waiting."

   With his point made, Alfred stood tall again and walked back into the separate cabin area.

   Clark sat silent for a long time just staring at his sleeping friend across the aisle.  After several minutes, he rose from his seat and took the one just vacated by Alfred to Lex's left.  He still held firmly to the hand, and he allowed Lex's tilted head to rest on his shoulder.  Clark wrapped his right arm around Lex and he pulled himself in close.

   "So," Clark giggled to himself.  "Do you come here often?"

   His small joke was met with no response from Lex.

   Clark rested his chin on Lex's forehead.  "So here we are again," his already soft voice cracked.  "The last time I held you like this, you died on me, Lex."

   The memories still played hard on Clark's mind and his chest began to heave up and down again.  "You left me, Lex," his eyes began to welt up.  "And now here we are after all the land mines we have had to navigate through, and you are here but you're still gone."

   Clark's left hand shook Lex's slightly  "You can't do this Lex," he gasped for a second.  "You are the strongest and most determined guy I know.  You can't have given up so easy.  You cannot have lost your mind with out any possibility of returning.  I can not believe that the great Alexander Luthor could be defeated so easily."

   "What was it, Lex?" Clark asked as a tear rolled down his face.  "Was it the drugs?  Was it all the time they had you locked up in that room?  What did they do to you to break your spirit like this?  What did they do to break you, Lex?"

   Clark glanced down, but still there was no response.  He returned Lex's head to his chest and he continued.  "Lionel told you I was dead, but I'm not Lex.  I'm here and I want you to come back.  You're my best friend, Lex.  I don't think I could have made it through the last year with out having you and your mansion to retreat to when ever I thought I couldn't handle the ills of this world anymore.  You are my rock buddy.  The only person who accepts my faults with out any questions.  You don't expect me to have all the answers or the funniest jokes or to do the right thing all the time.  You don't even know who Clark Kent is, but still you welcome him as he is."

   Lifting his head in between his hands, Clark lifted Lex's face to his.  He pushed his eyes open with his thumbs and he search his deep blue eyes for any signs that he might be getting through to him.  "Please, Lex," Clark pleaded to his eyes.  "You are with me here and now.  Please don't still be dead."

   "I'm alive Lex," Clark's voiced cracked again.  "Be alive with me."

   Clark released Lex and placed him leaning back in the seat.  He knew that Lex was not in there, and wondered how long it would take to get use to that fact.  Clark tuned away and began to shake as his crying got the better of him, and he covered his face again with his hands.

   "Please God," Clark moaned.  "Don't take him again."

   Clark sat silent for several more minutes as he sobbed.  They were miles above everyone and miles from those who would do them harm, so Clark did not hold back his emotion.  He wept like a child for his lost friend, and he tried to hold tightly to what remained of the lost soul.  He was still deep in mourning when he felt it.  Something was slowly making its way up his shivering back.

   Clark turned slightly and he looked into Lex's eyes.  Those big blue strong eyes that had been dead a few moments earlier were beginning to glaze over with tears.  The pupils were reactive to light again. And they moved slightly when Clark's hand grasped his.

   "Lex?" What voice he had left was shrilled and horse all at the same time, but still Clark continued to speak as he held tightly to his hand.  "Lex, oh my God, Lex."

   Lex's lips tried to move, but there were no words and no sound.  His hand moved around to Clark's chest and it clasped firmly onto his shirt.

   "Lex," Clark continued to cry as saliva built up on the side of his mouth from all his tears. His nose was running and his eyes were blood shot red with puffy sacks beneath them, but still Clark cried with a brilliant smile pasted on his face.  "Lex, you're coming back.  Don't stop buddy.  I'm here.  I won't leave you.  I'm here and I'm alive and so are you, Lex." Clark had to watch his strength and not crush his friend's hands that were both now in his and the excitement built within him.  "I'm taking you somewhere safe where no one can hurt you anymore, Lex.  You're going to be okay."

    The hands in Clark's began to twist into vise like fist as the lips of Lex Luthor let out the most horrendous sound of a moan and a wale that Clark had ever heard.  The tears came streaming from Lex's eyes as he began gasping for air.  He was like a man drowning in water making his way above the waves.

   "You're okay," Clark assured him one more time.  "You're okay."

   Lex seemed to loose all his ability to control himself when Clark released the shoulder harness and he fell into Clark's chest tugging at the material of his shirt as if to burry himself there.

   Clark wrapped his arms tightly around his friend as they sank deeper into the seats.  He held Lex as they both cried into the night.  There were questions to ask and stories to tell, but all of that would have to wait as they held tightly to each other.  Two lost souls as ships in the night and had lost there way, had finally found their way back to each other.

   Lex Luthor and Clark Kent were cemented together that day as the legends they would surely become.  Each was a part of the other, and each would play a part of the other for the next eternity to come.

The End?

(Next week, the wrap up.)

Hey Gang, First off I want to say how sorry I am that this chapter has taken so long to post, but I won't go into details and bore you, just let me thank you for waiting.  I just hope this chapter and the final Epilogue to come will be worth it.

To Marrie: Thank you for your continued support and for reading.  I watch for your name after every chapter.  It's flattering to know that I have you talking to your computer.  I will sometimes crack up when reading stuff at work, and then everyone looks at me funny.  They don't do Smallville fan fiction, and then they want me to explain why what someone wrote was so funny.  I've also shed a few tears here and there too.

To LaCasta:  Thank you for your kind words.  It's always nice to hear that people like my stuff.

To MitchPell:  Thank you so much as usual, and for caring enough to send me an email asking/demanding the next chapter.  It's nice to know people care.  As you can see, Lex may be on his way back to reality after all, but there are allot of emotional and physical scars to be dealt with, and I hope the next chapter will be able to show that well enough to see what might be going on in his head.  Again, I want to let you know how much your interest and support has meant to me through this entire story.  THANK YOU.

To Robyn: Thank for the nod on using the song in chapter nineteen.  I have always been a big fan of musical montages on shows where the music fits the characters emotions.  Soap Operas do it allot, and now some of the more trendy shows are trying it out too.

To Suz:  Thanks again, and I hope that this chapter has answered allot of your questions.  My main problem now is making sure all the twist and turns along with the plot devices that I used along the way all work together and end up being believable in the end.  To be honest, that may have had something to do with why, on top of all the other issues with the holidays and stuff, that it took so long for me to actually get these last two chapter done.  Either that, or I'm just plain lazy.

To Dante de Troy: Sorry you haven't been enjoying the story because of all the trivial mishaps, but thanks for writing and giving your view.  I truly am sorry to all the people who are upset by my use of the wrong words or misspellings, but I do try hard and so does Christin in trying to catch these mistakes, but these things happen.  I guest my one true saving grace is that these stories are free, so try and enjoy them.

To jeannie81: Thanks for the nod and I hope you enjoy the ending.

To Angledust: Thank you for your kind words, and I'm glad you like the story.  I hope you enjoy the ending.

To Lauren: Thank you so much for your compliments and I'm glad you like the story.  It took me weeks to actually get through the death screen when I wrote them, so I really put my heart into them.  I'm glad you were able to enjoy them in the manner they were meant to be.  Thanks for reading.

Well that's it gang for another chapter, and the final epilogue is at the proofreader now, so I hope Christin will have it done soon.  It was actually going to be a ten page run down and rounding up of all the story plots, but I actually ended up with over thirty eight pages of story, so I hope you will enjoy it.  See you next time.

Best Wishes and God Bless

Phaze