Downward Spiral Part IX: Sequel to The Sins of the Father
A Smallville story by Merrie
Disclaimer: Smallville, created and owned by Merrie. I can see it now. In my dreams, that is. Sigh. Oh well.
Summary: Sequel to The Sins of the Father. Lex needs Chloe's help in a big way, but will she be around when he needs her?
Characters: Any and all, including Lance Thorne and Dr. Ryan Kendomere, OFCs.
Author's Note: Thank you to all of those who have reviewed, especially psychogroupie, scifichick774 and Hope, thank you so very much!!!! You guys truly make my day! Also, I have finally been forced to decide on a time frame for this story, but it is still mostly AU. Here's the deal, Lionel is blind and lives with Lex at the mansion. Martha Kent doesn't yet work for him. Pete doesn't yet know about Clark's powers. And Desiree never happened, as Chloe is and always will be the only woman for Lex. Hope this clears up any confusion you might have had otherwise. Enjoy the chapter!
Rating: This story is rated PG-13 for language, angst-filled dramatic scenes and drug use.
Chapter Nine: Withdrawal II
Lionel Luthor's sightless eyes widened behind a pair of dark glasses as he listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. "Lex? In a car accident? When did this happen? Why wasn't I informed sooner?" He shouted in the mouthpiece in anger. After listening to a few feeble excuses from the man on the other end of the line, Lionel slammed the phone down. "Johnson!" He bellowed down the hall for his aide.
"Yes sir, Mr. Luthor?" The man sounded out of breath. 'I'm obviously not running him around enough if he sounds this winded after only a few seconds.' Lionel thought with a grim smirk apparent on his face.
"Get my limousine ready. We're headed to Smallville Memorial Hospital." He said standing up from his desk slowly.
"Yes, sir." Johnson said. He knew better than to question his employer's whims by now. He took his leave to inform the chauffeur on duty to get the car ready and left Lionel alone to his own thoughts.
Dr. Ryan Kendomere surveyed the group of people packed in the small room. He counted quickly, noticing a few more than before. 'Let's see, there's Mr. Luthor and Miss Sullivan, they're actually the only ones who really belong in here, then there's Mr. Sullivan, the entire Kent family, a Pete somebody, some guy I've never seen in town before by the name of Lance or something like that, and Miss Lang. Where did all these people come from?' Dr. Kendomere had never much cared for the Luthor family's involvement in the lives of the people in Metropolis, his home town, and Smallville, his new place of residence. No, he had never cared much for them, but couldn't help but notice that each and every one of the 9 people crammed into the room wouldn't want to be anywhere else. They cared for the younger Luthor and Miss Sullivan. He briefly considered informing them again of the hospital's rules on visitation rights, but he figured he would most likely get the same answer. It didn't help matters that Miss Sullivan was adamantly refusing to let him kick anyone out. She had said that she had wanted everyone to be there for her and Mr. Luthor. When he had reminded her that only family was supposed to stay this long into the night, Mr. Sullivan spoke up and said that he considered the people around him family and that they should be treated as such. Dr. Kendomere sighed, and leaned over to check on Lex again. He was definitely getting worse. His arms were starting to goose bump, and his nose was starting to run. Still rather minor signs of withdrawal, but signs none the less.
"How is he doing, doctor?" Miss Lang asked. She had taken a seat next to Mr. Sulllivan and the Kent's on Miss Sullivan's now abandoned bed. He had tried to get her back into it, but had soon seen that she wasn't budging from her chair at the side of Luthor's bed.
"Not too good, Miss Lang. The withdrawal is lasting longer than I thought it would. It looks like Mr. Luthor here is in for a very, very long night." He turned to gauge the reactions his statement brought up. "Once again, are you sure you all want to be here to see this? It's not a pretty sight, believe me."
"We're here for Lex, no matter what happens." Chloe said defiantly. Her eyes widened as a now familiar voice boomed from down the hall.
"Where is my son?! Take me to him right now, or by God, you'll all be looking for new jobs by tomorrow morning." Chloe looked at the other people in the room with a grimace on her face. They all knew there was only one person who could still manage to say things like that at a time like this.
"He's in here, Mr. Luthor. Come toward my voice." Chloe yelled out into the hall. After a moment of cursing the hospital orderlies, Lionel Luthor's form could be seen at the doorway. A kind of shocked silence overtook the room. Even though the elder Luthor was blind, he was still a man not to be trifled with.
"Who are all these people? I can hear at least 9 other people in this room. And where is that doctor? Kendomere or something? I was told he was in here as well."
"I'm right here, Mr. Luthor." Dr. Kendomere said, moving closer toward the man.
"So you are the one in charge of my son's care. Tell me, is he in here now? I know Gabe Sullivan is. I can smell his cheap aftershave. I can guess who most of the other people are simply by his presence. Mr. and Mrs. Kent are most likely here, and I assume their young boy as well. I'm sure Miss Lang and Mr. Ross are here as well. I hear they often travel together in packs around my son."
"Yes sir, Mr. Luthor. All of the people you mentioned are here to see your son. He is in the bed furthest from you. Let me guide you to him." Dr. Kendomere waited until Lionel nodded sharply and took his arm. Guiding him carefully around the many obstacles of people and equipment in the room, he was finally able to place him on the opposite side of Lex's bed from Chloe. "He's right below you, sir. He is currently conscious and most likely aware of your presence." Lionel reached down a hand slowly to touch Lex, who flinched. Lionel frowned at this, but continued to run his hands lightly over Lex's body.
"Why is he in restraints, doctor? And believe me, your reasons had better be good ones. Speak quickly now."
Dr. Kendomere sputtered a moment before Chloe finally took pity on him and spoke up.
"He's going through heroin withdrawal, Mr. Luthor. Dr. Kendomere here says that the restraints are needed should Lex try and harm himself or any of us. He's already tried to get out of here once." Lionel's head snapped toward her at the first word out of her mouth.
"I was told he was in a car accident." Lionel said slowly, a slow clenching and unclenching of his jaw and a whitening of his right hand as it grasped his cane tightly were the only reactions to Lex's current predicament.
"He was, Mr. Luthor, with me. That's why I'm here too." Chloe said slowly. She hated talking to Lex's father. He always somehow managed to make her doubt herself and what she was saying. Lex had the same bad habit at times, but she had learned that he didn't really mean to do it. She had no doubts however that Lionel did.
"So what does his being in heroin withdrawal have to do with him being in a car accident?" Lionel asked. Secretly, he was fuming. He had had no idea that Lex had gotten re-addicted to heroin, and they had lived with each other for weeks now. 'He has gotten entirely too good at hiding his emotions around me.' He thought grimly.
"Apparently, his heroin addiction," Dr. Kendomere paused at the glare he received from Lionel. "was what cased the accident in the first place. I assure you though, once the heroin works its way out of his system, he should be fine."
"Should be fine? What do you mean by that?" Lionel asked pointedly.
"Well, uh, he seems to be in a kind of deep shock due to the accident with Miss Sullivan. I don't think he's entirely aware of his surroundings and what is happening to him right now."
Lionel paused, letting what the doctor had told him sink in. He didn't have to be able to see to know that he was currently receiving the stares of each and everyone in the room. He wanted to shout at them and tell them all to leave, but he knew that they wouldn't, no matter how he tried. He had come to accept these people in Lex's life, even Miss Sullivan. Lionel had been aware of his son's growing relationship with the young girl for some time now. His being blind hadn't taken anything away from his quick mind and acute powers of observation. He could hear the subtle changes in Lex's voice whenever he mentioned her name. 'Did she know about his heroin addiction? It doesn't sound like it. Damn these eyes!' Lionel Luthor had often relied on his ability to see people's reactions to things he told them. He could easily pick up on if someone was trying to lie to him just by the way they looked at him. He was getting better at listening to the nuances of people's voices, but it was still not as useful a method for finding out what you needed to know as staring them down was. He reached a hand down to touch Lex's face again. He felt his son's quick breathing on the underside of his palm. He felt the clamminess of his skin on his fingertips. Then, without giving warning to anyone in the room, he reached his hand back sharply and slapped Lex hard across the face before anyone could stop him. "Damn you, Alexander! How dare you do this to me again!" He shouted. He heard gasps from the people in the room, but no longer cared about them. The only person he cared about right now was Lex.
"Mr. Luthor, that was-" Martha Kent sputtered in shock. "That was unnecessary and uncalled for!" Lionel paid her no attention.
"You son of a bitch!" Chloe yelled at him, standing up from her chair beside Lex, forgetting any fear she had ever felt from the older man. "How dare you do that to-" Her voice died off in shock as she witnessed something she never thought she'd see from Lionel Luthor in a million years. A single tear, clear and sparkling in the bright fluorescent light, made a slow path down his cheek. Clark moved to her side to help defend Lex as well, but let out a small gasp as he saw the tear too. He looked back at his friends and family members, each with an angry look on their face for observing such an action against Lex, but all became silent when they saw the look of absolute shock and wonder on Clark's face.
Lex however, did not see the look on his father's face after he had hit him, and shied away from him in fear, trying his best to bury his face behind Chloe's leg at the side of the bed. Chloe noticed and placed a hand on his sweaty forehead and wiped away the trickle of blood that had crept down his chin from the corner of his mouth. "It's alright, Lex. Everything is going to be alright. He's not going to hit you again. Isn't that right, Mr. Luthor?" She stated in his direction.
After taking a moment to collect himself, Lionel cleared his throat and spoke slowly. "Correct, Miss Sullivan. I won't hit him again." He turned back down to Lex. "Alexander?" he said quietly. "Alexander, I'm sorry. It's just that-" He looked up sharply, remembering suddenly that there were other people in the room. Even though he couldn't see them, he knew that each and every pair of eyes was most likely focused on him. After taking a deep breath and deciding that he didn't care what they thought anymore, he continued. "It's just, why didn't you tell me, Lex? I could've helped you like last time. I would have." He waited a moment, waiting for a response from Lex but not receiving one. He then sighed, sorrow creasing his features, and sat down heavily in a chair behind him, not saying another word.
Chloe over Lionel for a long moment, convincing her still doubtful mind that he meant what he said and that he wouldn't hurt Lex again. In fact the man looked.defeated was the only word to describe it. He looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, a look she would have attributed to Clark alone until now. "It'll be alright, Mr. Luthor. Lex will be alright I know it. I don't think Luthor's are the type to give up easily, do you?" It was hard not to flinch under Lionel's surprised and piercing stare, but she managed.
"Indeed you're right, Miss Sullivan. And Lex certainly is a-" He was cut off by a low and loud groan from the bed beside him as Chloe watched in horror, Lex curled in on himself and began convulsing. "What-what is happening!" Lionel shouted at hearing Lex's groan and Chloe's gasp.
"It's-it's Lex, Mr. Luthor. He's beginning to convulse. Doctor!" She shouted.
"I'm here, Miss Sullivan, you don't have to shout." Dr. Kendomere said, leaning over Lex. "Don't worry, these are just other symptom's of withdrawal. They should pass soon. It's too soon to give him another sedative or I would. The only thing you can do for him right now is to be there for him and help him through this. It may not look that way now, but I assure you, this will all pass."
"When?" Clark asked, looking down at his friend. "How long does Lex have to go through this? How long does heroin withdrawal usually last?"
"Too long." Lionel muttered to himself, placing a hand on Lex's still shaking arm.
"Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week." Dr. Kendomere said with a small frown. "Do you see why I kept asking you whether or not you actually wanted to be here for this? Things are just going to keep getting worse. His symptoms are just going to keep getting worse."
"48 to 72 hours? You mean Lex has to go through all of this for that long?" Clark asked in shock.
"That's correct. Perhaps even longer."
"We understand all of that, doctor." Martha Kent cut in. "We know that Lex is going through a tough time right now. That is why we're here. We're here for him."
Dr. Kendomere sighed deeply. "I'm not going be able to get rid of any of you, am I?" He chuckled at the quick shakes of the head he got. "I just hope young Mr. Luthor here realizes what you're all doing for him. It's not easy to find and make friends who would stay by your side through something like this. Since there is nothing more I can do for him right now, I should get back to work. I'll check in with you in a half an hour or so."
"Thank you, doctor." Mrs. Kent said. He nodded briefly and left.
TBC
A/N: Ok, wow. This story just seems to keep going doesn't it? Again, sorry that there aren't any real withdrawal scenes in this chapter. There will be in the next one, I promise you. Thank you for reading!!!
A Smallville story by Merrie
Disclaimer: Smallville, created and owned by Merrie. I can see it now. In my dreams, that is. Sigh. Oh well.
Summary: Sequel to The Sins of the Father. Lex needs Chloe's help in a big way, but will she be around when he needs her?
Characters: Any and all, including Lance Thorne and Dr. Ryan Kendomere, OFCs.
Author's Note: Thank you to all of those who have reviewed, especially psychogroupie, scifichick774 and Hope, thank you so very much!!!! You guys truly make my day! Also, I have finally been forced to decide on a time frame for this story, but it is still mostly AU. Here's the deal, Lionel is blind and lives with Lex at the mansion. Martha Kent doesn't yet work for him. Pete doesn't yet know about Clark's powers. And Desiree never happened, as Chloe is and always will be the only woman for Lex. Hope this clears up any confusion you might have had otherwise. Enjoy the chapter!
Rating: This story is rated PG-13 for language, angst-filled dramatic scenes and drug use.
Chapter Nine: Withdrawal II
Lionel Luthor's sightless eyes widened behind a pair of dark glasses as he listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. "Lex? In a car accident? When did this happen? Why wasn't I informed sooner?" He shouted in the mouthpiece in anger. After listening to a few feeble excuses from the man on the other end of the line, Lionel slammed the phone down. "Johnson!" He bellowed down the hall for his aide.
"Yes sir, Mr. Luthor?" The man sounded out of breath. 'I'm obviously not running him around enough if he sounds this winded after only a few seconds.' Lionel thought with a grim smirk apparent on his face.
"Get my limousine ready. We're headed to Smallville Memorial Hospital." He said standing up from his desk slowly.
"Yes, sir." Johnson said. He knew better than to question his employer's whims by now. He took his leave to inform the chauffeur on duty to get the car ready and left Lionel alone to his own thoughts.
Dr. Ryan Kendomere surveyed the group of people packed in the small room. He counted quickly, noticing a few more than before. 'Let's see, there's Mr. Luthor and Miss Sullivan, they're actually the only ones who really belong in here, then there's Mr. Sullivan, the entire Kent family, a Pete somebody, some guy I've never seen in town before by the name of Lance or something like that, and Miss Lang. Where did all these people come from?' Dr. Kendomere had never much cared for the Luthor family's involvement in the lives of the people in Metropolis, his home town, and Smallville, his new place of residence. No, he had never cared much for them, but couldn't help but notice that each and every one of the 9 people crammed into the room wouldn't want to be anywhere else. They cared for the younger Luthor and Miss Sullivan. He briefly considered informing them again of the hospital's rules on visitation rights, but he figured he would most likely get the same answer. It didn't help matters that Miss Sullivan was adamantly refusing to let him kick anyone out. She had said that she had wanted everyone to be there for her and Mr. Luthor. When he had reminded her that only family was supposed to stay this long into the night, Mr. Sullivan spoke up and said that he considered the people around him family and that they should be treated as such. Dr. Kendomere sighed, and leaned over to check on Lex again. He was definitely getting worse. His arms were starting to goose bump, and his nose was starting to run. Still rather minor signs of withdrawal, but signs none the less.
"How is he doing, doctor?" Miss Lang asked. She had taken a seat next to Mr. Sulllivan and the Kent's on Miss Sullivan's now abandoned bed. He had tried to get her back into it, but had soon seen that she wasn't budging from her chair at the side of Luthor's bed.
"Not too good, Miss Lang. The withdrawal is lasting longer than I thought it would. It looks like Mr. Luthor here is in for a very, very long night." He turned to gauge the reactions his statement brought up. "Once again, are you sure you all want to be here to see this? It's not a pretty sight, believe me."
"We're here for Lex, no matter what happens." Chloe said defiantly. Her eyes widened as a now familiar voice boomed from down the hall.
"Where is my son?! Take me to him right now, or by God, you'll all be looking for new jobs by tomorrow morning." Chloe looked at the other people in the room with a grimace on her face. They all knew there was only one person who could still manage to say things like that at a time like this.
"He's in here, Mr. Luthor. Come toward my voice." Chloe yelled out into the hall. After a moment of cursing the hospital orderlies, Lionel Luthor's form could be seen at the doorway. A kind of shocked silence overtook the room. Even though the elder Luthor was blind, he was still a man not to be trifled with.
"Who are all these people? I can hear at least 9 other people in this room. And where is that doctor? Kendomere or something? I was told he was in here as well."
"I'm right here, Mr. Luthor." Dr. Kendomere said, moving closer toward the man.
"So you are the one in charge of my son's care. Tell me, is he in here now? I know Gabe Sullivan is. I can smell his cheap aftershave. I can guess who most of the other people are simply by his presence. Mr. and Mrs. Kent are most likely here, and I assume their young boy as well. I'm sure Miss Lang and Mr. Ross are here as well. I hear they often travel together in packs around my son."
"Yes sir, Mr. Luthor. All of the people you mentioned are here to see your son. He is in the bed furthest from you. Let me guide you to him." Dr. Kendomere waited until Lionel nodded sharply and took his arm. Guiding him carefully around the many obstacles of people and equipment in the room, he was finally able to place him on the opposite side of Lex's bed from Chloe. "He's right below you, sir. He is currently conscious and most likely aware of your presence." Lionel reached down a hand slowly to touch Lex, who flinched. Lionel frowned at this, but continued to run his hands lightly over Lex's body.
"Why is he in restraints, doctor? And believe me, your reasons had better be good ones. Speak quickly now."
Dr. Kendomere sputtered a moment before Chloe finally took pity on him and spoke up.
"He's going through heroin withdrawal, Mr. Luthor. Dr. Kendomere here says that the restraints are needed should Lex try and harm himself or any of us. He's already tried to get out of here once." Lionel's head snapped toward her at the first word out of her mouth.
"I was told he was in a car accident." Lionel said slowly, a slow clenching and unclenching of his jaw and a whitening of his right hand as it grasped his cane tightly were the only reactions to Lex's current predicament.
"He was, Mr. Luthor, with me. That's why I'm here too." Chloe said slowly. She hated talking to Lex's father. He always somehow managed to make her doubt herself and what she was saying. Lex had the same bad habit at times, but she had learned that he didn't really mean to do it. She had no doubts however that Lionel did.
"So what does his being in heroin withdrawal have to do with him being in a car accident?" Lionel asked. Secretly, he was fuming. He had had no idea that Lex had gotten re-addicted to heroin, and they had lived with each other for weeks now. 'He has gotten entirely too good at hiding his emotions around me.' He thought grimly.
"Apparently, his heroin addiction," Dr. Kendomere paused at the glare he received from Lionel. "was what cased the accident in the first place. I assure you though, once the heroin works its way out of his system, he should be fine."
"Should be fine? What do you mean by that?" Lionel asked pointedly.
"Well, uh, he seems to be in a kind of deep shock due to the accident with Miss Sullivan. I don't think he's entirely aware of his surroundings and what is happening to him right now."
Lionel paused, letting what the doctor had told him sink in. He didn't have to be able to see to know that he was currently receiving the stares of each and everyone in the room. He wanted to shout at them and tell them all to leave, but he knew that they wouldn't, no matter how he tried. He had come to accept these people in Lex's life, even Miss Sullivan. Lionel had been aware of his son's growing relationship with the young girl for some time now. His being blind hadn't taken anything away from his quick mind and acute powers of observation. He could hear the subtle changes in Lex's voice whenever he mentioned her name. 'Did she know about his heroin addiction? It doesn't sound like it. Damn these eyes!' Lionel Luthor had often relied on his ability to see people's reactions to things he told them. He could easily pick up on if someone was trying to lie to him just by the way they looked at him. He was getting better at listening to the nuances of people's voices, but it was still not as useful a method for finding out what you needed to know as staring them down was. He reached a hand down to touch Lex's face again. He felt his son's quick breathing on the underside of his palm. He felt the clamminess of his skin on his fingertips. Then, without giving warning to anyone in the room, he reached his hand back sharply and slapped Lex hard across the face before anyone could stop him. "Damn you, Alexander! How dare you do this to me again!" He shouted. He heard gasps from the people in the room, but no longer cared about them. The only person he cared about right now was Lex.
"Mr. Luthor, that was-" Martha Kent sputtered in shock. "That was unnecessary and uncalled for!" Lionel paid her no attention.
"You son of a bitch!" Chloe yelled at him, standing up from her chair beside Lex, forgetting any fear she had ever felt from the older man. "How dare you do that to-" Her voice died off in shock as she witnessed something she never thought she'd see from Lionel Luthor in a million years. A single tear, clear and sparkling in the bright fluorescent light, made a slow path down his cheek. Clark moved to her side to help defend Lex as well, but let out a small gasp as he saw the tear too. He looked back at his friends and family members, each with an angry look on their face for observing such an action against Lex, but all became silent when they saw the look of absolute shock and wonder on Clark's face.
Lex however, did not see the look on his father's face after he had hit him, and shied away from him in fear, trying his best to bury his face behind Chloe's leg at the side of the bed. Chloe noticed and placed a hand on his sweaty forehead and wiped away the trickle of blood that had crept down his chin from the corner of his mouth. "It's alright, Lex. Everything is going to be alright. He's not going to hit you again. Isn't that right, Mr. Luthor?" She stated in his direction.
After taking a moment to collect himself, Lionel cleared his throat and spoke slowly. "Correct, Miss Sullivan. I won't hit him again." He turned back down to Lex. "Alexander?" he said quietly. "Alexander, I'm sorry. It's just that-" He looked up sharply, remembering suddenly that there were other people in the room. Even though he couldn't see them, he knew that each and every pair of eyes was most likely focused on him. After taking a deep breath and deciding that he didn't care what they thought anymore, he continued. "It's just, why didn't you tell me, Lex? I could've helped you like last time. I would have." He waited a moment, waiting for a response from Lex but not receiving one. He then sighed, sorrow creasing his features, and sat down heavily in a chair behind him, not saying another word.
Chloe over Lionel for a long moment, convincing her still doubtful mind that he meant what he said and that he wouldn't hurt Lex again. In fact the man looked.defeated was the only word to describe it. He looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, a look she would have attributed to Clark alone until now. "It'll be alright, Mr. Luthor. Lex will be alright I know it. I don't think Luthor's are the type to give up easily, do you?" It was hard not to flinch under Lionel's surprised and piercing stare, but she managed.
"Indeed you're right, Miss Sullivan. And Lex certainly is a-" He was cut off by a low and loud groan from the bed beside him as Chloe watched in horror, Lex curled in on himself and began convulsing. "What-what is happening!" Lionel shouted at hearing Lex's groan and Chloe's gasp.
"It's-it's Lex, Mr. Luthor. He's beginning to convulse. Doctor!" She shouted.
"I'm here, Miss Sullivan, you don't have to shout." Dr. Kendomere said, leaning over Lex. "Don't worry, these are just other symptom's of withdrawal. They should pass soon. It's too soon to give him another sedative or I would. The only thing you can do for him right now is to be there for him and help him through this. It may not look that way now, but I assure you, this will all pass."
"When?" Clark asked, looking down at his friend. "How long does Lex have to go through this? How long does heroin withdrawal usually last?"
"Too long." Lionel muttered to himself, placing a hand on Lex's still shaking arm.
"Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week." Dr. Kendomere said with a small frown. "Do you see why I kept asking you whether or not you actually wanted to be here for this? Things are just going to keep getting worse. His symptoms are just going to keep getting worse."
"48 to 72 hours? You mean Lex has to go through all of this for that long?" Clark asked in shock.
"That's correct. Perhaps even longer."
"We understand all of that, doctor." Martha Kent cut in. "We know that Lex is going through a tough time right now. That is why we're here. We're here for him."
Dr. Kendomere sighed deeply. "I'm not going be able to get rid of any of you, am I?" He chuckled at the quick shakes of the head he got. "I just hope young Mr. Luthor here realizes what you're all doing for him. It's not easy to find and make friends who would stay by your side through something like this. Since there is nothing more I can do for him right now, I should get back to work. I'll check in with you in a half an hour or so."
"Thank you, doctor." Mrs. Kent said. He nodded briefly and left.
TBC
A/N: Ok, wow. This story just seems to keep going doesn't it? Again, sorry that there aren't any real withdrawal scenes in this chapter. There will be in the next one, I promise you. Thank you for reading!!!