Two weeks ago: the crash
Lex woke on the beach, the sand grainy beneath his soaked and pained body. He opened his eyes slowly, finding it difficult to breathe, his gasps short and sharp. He looked down to his chest, and retched at what he saw there. His shirt was tattered and torn around him, ripped and bloodied by the shards of metal and glass that were stuck into his flesh. More noticeable though, was the bloodied sheet of metal that protruded from his stomach. He screamed in terror on the silent predawn beach, and moved his hands over himself, removing the smaller pieces of shrapnel first, surprised that the blood wasn't still freshly flowing. His mind reeled in shock as he reached around his body to his back, and felt metal there too, supposedly from the shard that was through his stomach. Breathing as deeply as he could, he braced one of his hands on the sand beneath him, digging his palm into it as deep as he could to get purchase, and then brought his free hand round to the piece of metal embedded in his stomach, and screamed again. As he screamed, he pulled.
The noise that he made startled him from the pain. It was an animalistic shriek, almost like the howl of a wolf caught in a trap. Tears flowed from his eyes, blurring his vision as the metal was wrenched free of his body, the pressure he exerted using the remainder of his energy. He tossed the metal sheet aside and collapsed onto his back, coughing and sputtering, trying to find the air to breathe, when suddenly he found it easier. His eyes opened in wonder as he watched blue and white lightning sparks dance across his torso, the ripped skin folding over itself, and repairing. Stunned, he pulled his hands up to his body, and ran them across his now smooth skin, gazing in wonder as the bloody cuts and scrapes disappeared, leaving behind nothing but blood and sand.
For the first time in his life, Lex didn't know what to do. His life had been turned upside down in a matter of - well, he didn't know how long it was - nevertheless, turned upside down it was, and all he felt was a wrenching pull of devastation and heartache. He was heartbroken, stranded somewhere after his wife had attempted to murder him, no doubt in cahoots with his father, Lex presumed, with a weird lightning-type thing mending his skin and stopping him from dying. His first thought regarding the latter was the meteors in Smallville. He'd not been sick since they hit and he lost his hair, perhaps, for once, he had been blessed, and they had given him the power to heal himself. After all, others had been affected by the meteors in such ways - but it seemed so farfetched an explanation, Lex didn't really know whether he could honestly believe it.
Then there was the question as to where he was. He looked around, scanning the area for any signs of life, finding none. He decided to try moving, needing to work out how to get back home.
Home... There was a word he didn't think he'd ever use for Smallville, but it was all he had left now. If his father was involved in whatever had happened, which Lex believed he was, he wouldn't be expecting his return to Smallville. He wouldn't be expecting him to return at all. Obviously the plan was for him to have either died from the impact of the crash, or drowned. Luckily, Lex thought, neither had happened. Taking a deep breath, expecting pain, he stood. When he didn't feel any, he sighed with relief. The heat was making him more uncomfortable than he already felt. He was covered in his own blood, and sand from the beach. He hated being dirty and impulsively attempted to clean himself off, brushing his legs with his hands roughly, trying to dislodge the crap on his trousers.
"Well, this is fucking marvellous!" he exclaimed to himself. "Way to go, Lex, marry a friggin' psycho." As he said the words, his stomach clenched, and his face reddened. Tears welled in his eyes and they fell freely. He began walking, heading away from the beach, though going nowhere in particular. The foliage was scratchy, and marred his skin as he waded through it, stopping on occasion to wipe his eyes, the tears seeming endless. After what seemed like hours of walking, his legs gave out on him, and he collapsed into darkness.
---
Jonathan Kent was pacing the length of the front room of the farmhouse. His face was furrowed with concern for his missing son. Lana sat on the sofa next to Martha, watching him intently.
"Mr. Kent..? Are you okay?" She sighed. "I mean, obviously you're not, but." She looked at Martha pleadingly, who offered her a reassuring smile.
Martha was released from the hospital's care early due to overcrowding after the anomaly that had passed through the town. The Kents had arrived home to find Lana in hysterics on the steps of the porch, crying about Clark, rambling nonsense. When Jonathan had gotten Martha inside and rested on the sofa, he calmed Lana down. She told him how Clark had just left, told her that everything was his fault, even asked her to go with him. Jonathan had phoned Pete's house, hoping to find more answers from him, but he wasn't there. All they could do now was wait.
Lana stood, and moved to Jonathan, stopping him from pacing. "Clark's smart, Mr. Kent. Smarter than he knows. He'll do the right thing. He always does." Jonathan looked at her in wonder, the tone of her voice reflecting just how much she believed in his son. His son who he had turned away when he needed him most... The son who believed that he was the cause for Martha's miscarriage... He should have comforted Clark, let him be part of the family when he had the chance at the hospital, but he was angry and upset, and Clark just turned up at the wrong time. Jonathan felt guilty for taking out his own hurt on him, not even thinking about how Clark must've felt at the time. He was just a kid who thought he was doing the right thing.
Just then, the back door flew open, revealing Pete sporting a nasty cut on his head.
"I'm so sorry, I tried to stop him, tried to tell him. He just went mad; he." Spotting Lana in the living room, he rethought his sentence. "He's not himself."
Jonathan ushered him over to the sofa, and Lana went to the kitchen and came back with the first aid kit. She cleaned his forehead, and listened while he told the Kents what had happened.
"He pushed me into the lockers," Pete said warily. "Sometimes, he doesn't know his own strength." Realisation dawned on Jonathan as he began to understand what Pete was trying to tell him. Clark had obviously used his powers against Pete. He sighed. Noting the confusion on Lana's face, he spoke to her.
"Lana. Perhaps you ought to get home; it's getting late, and I'm sure you're tired, and want to tell Chloe what's happened. She'll want to know." Lana moved to protest but something stopped her. Jonathan continued. "I promise; you'll be the first person we call if we hear anything."
She smiled at him and said her goodbyes. "He will come back," she said, seemingly trying to convince herself more than anyone else in the room. "He's a Kent; he knows where he belongs." Jonathan smiled at her, and watched her leave.
"What's going on, Pete?" he asked, hurt evident in his tone.
"He found Chloe's class ring..." Jonathan whipped round to face the young man. "I tried to stop him. I did, but he pushed me... next thing I know, I'm waking up in the dark in the school corridor. It's bad, Mr. Kent. Real bad. I've never seen him like it before. Even when he's pissed, he's never that bad." He paused, putting his head in his hands. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him. I'm so sorry."
"It's ok, Pete." It was the first time Martha had said anything since she'd arrived back and listening to Lana's story. "He'll be okay." She looked at Jonathan. "Lana's right. He'll come home. He knows we love him."
She rested her hand on her stomach and began to cry. Jonathan moved over to her, embracing her in a hug. Neither of them heard Pete leave.
---
Lex woke to a light shining in his eyes. Reflexively, he raised his hands over his face to block out the glare from a flashlight pointed at him by a man in uniform.
"You stay where you are!" the man ordered, moving away from Lex, but still pointing the light at him. He got on the radio, and spoke. "Deputy Malloy reporting from Baldwin County, State Route 59. I have a Caucasian male, looks like he's just been through hell. I'm takin' him to the hospital, get him checked out. I'll stay with him there, and then bring him in." The deputy glared at Lex. "Just in case. I'm working on benefit of the doubt here, Sergeant."
"What's your name, son?"
"Lex Luthor. And don't call me son."
The deputy reached his hand out and offered it to Lex, who took it, and used it to help himself stand.
"Now don't you try anything, Mr. Luthor. It looks like you're hurtin' pretty bad, let me help you." The deputy guided Lex into his patrol car.
Lex nodded, and moved without hesitation. "Where are you taking me?"
"To the hospital, get you checked over. Then to the stationhouse, where you can tell us what the hell happened to you, you're a mess."
"Yeah." He paused. "I'll need to make a call."
The officer nodded, and shut the door, and got into the drivers driver's seat. He started the car with a sharp, "All in due time, Mr. Luthor," and headed to the hospital.
---
The phone rang shrilly, echoing through the Kent's living room, and waking Jonathan. Martha was curled up next to him, stirring slightly. He jumped up and ran to the phone. "Clark? Is that you, son?"
"Mr. Kent? What's happened to Clark? Is he still missing?"
"Lex?" Jonathan questioned.
"Yes, it's me. Why did you think I was Clark?"
Jonathan sighed. Lex was the last person he'd expected to be calling. He was supposed to be honeymooning in St. Thomas, not phoning the farm. Exasperated, Jonathan answered.
"It's nothing really, Lex, we just had a fight and he took off, y'know how kids get. Did you want to speak to him? How's the honeymoon going?"
Lex winced at the mention of the honeymoon, and shrugged it off. "No, I... I'm sorry, I--" he stuttered, "I need your help. I had no one else to call."
"What's happened, Lex? Where are you?"
"I'm in Bay Minette, Baldwin County, in Alabama. It's off state route 59 from Interstate 65 from Montgomery. There's been an accident, if you can call it that." Jonathan noticed the cautious tone of the young man's voice and decided against questioning him about the accident. Obviously, whatever had happened was important enough for Lex to call him, and regardless of Jonathan's feelings for Lionel Luthor, this was a friend of his son's, and someone whom he found himself wanting to believe in.
"Are you hurt? What do you need?"
"No, I'm okay, I'm just a little, well, and I'm a mess. I need for..." Lex gulped audibly. Asking for help was harder than he thought it would be. "I wondered if you could come and pick me up from here. I'm at the stationhouse. Please? I wouldn't ask but I have no one." He broke off. "I'll settle up with the gas costs and the."
"Lex, it's okay. Let me work something out. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thanks, Mr. Kent."
"Jonathan."
"Thank you, Jonathan."
Jonathan placed the receiver on the hook, and sighed. He went into the kitchen, and grabbed a batch of road maps from the drawer, scattering them over the table. Finding the Mapsco for the Southeast, he set to work planning his route to Lex.
Some time later, he woke Martha and relayed to her the details of his earlier conversation with the younger Luthor. She burst into tears almost immediately, an emotional wreck.
"I won't go, Martha, I'll call Lex back right now, and stay with you. You need me here."
"Jonathan Kent you will do no such thing!" she yelled at him through her tears. "I've already lost two children today. I don't intend to lose another!"
Jonathan looked shocked. He knew that Martha had a maternal instinct towards Lex, but he had no idea that she cared for him so deeply. As if reading his mind, she continued.
"I know he's not our child, but Clark believes in him. I believe in him, and I know you want to. He's a good man, Jonathan; he just needs someone to show him the way to stay like it. You have to help him." She sighed, "Think about it. Why on earth would Lex call us, when his own father has enough money to just fly there and pick him up? Something's wrong and you know it, or you wouldn't have gone to the trouble of getting directions. Lex needs you."
Jonathan nodded. "But you need me too, everything that's happened, I mean, how can we even start to." Martha shushed him by placing her fingers to his lips, and shaking her head. A tear fell from Jonathan's face, his bravado and strength for his wife's sake giving out for just a moment before he composed himself again.
"Okay, I'll go. You're right, he does need me, but I want you safe. You want to be here if Clark calls, but I don't want you alone. I'm going to call Lana and ask her to stay over until I get back. She's young, but she cares, and that's good enough for me. Perhaps you can show her some embarrassing pictures of Clark, exchange stories, so that when he comes back, she can." he trailed off. "Well, whatever, but I'm calling."
Knowing better than to argue, when it was obvious that Jonathan had made his mind up, Martha nodded. The trip to Baldwin County was at least 17 hours, possibly more, especially seeing as Jonathan would be using the old truck. Besides, Martha thought, it would be good to have company, something to make her forget, at least for a little while.
Lana agreed to stay while Jonathan was out of town, and turned up less than half an hour after his phone call to her. After a quick change of clothes, a kiss goodbye from his wife, and a thank you to the teenager, Jonathan grabbed his jacket and took his keys from the kitchen table.
As he started the truck and headed for the nearest gas station to fill up before his journey, his thoughts turned to Lex, and what could have happened that was so bad he needed to ask for help. Help from a Kent at that...
Lex woke on the beach, the sand grainy beneath his soaked and pained body. He opened his eyes slowly, finding it difficult to breathe, his gasps short and sharp. He looked down to his chest, and retched at what he saw there. His shirt was tattered and torn around him, ripped and bloodied by the shards of metal and glass that were stuck into his flesh. More noticeable though, was the bloodied sheet of metal that protruded from his stomach. He screamed in terror on the silent predawn beach, and moved his hands over himself, removing the smaller pieces of shrapnel first, surprised that the blood wasn't still freshly flowing. His mind reeled in shock as he reached around his body to his back, and felt metal there too, supposedly from the shard that was through his stomach. Breathing as deeply as he could, he braced one of his hands on the sand beneath him, digging his palm into it as deep as he could to get purchase, and then brought his free hand round to the piece of metal embedded in his stomach, and screamed again. As he screamed, he pulled.
The noise that he made startled him from the pain. It was an animalistic shriek, almost like the howl of a wolf caught in a trap. Tears flowed from his eyes, blurring his vision as the metal was wrenched free of his body, the pressure he exerted using the remainder of his energy. He tossed the metal sheet aside and collapsed onto his back, coughing and sputtering, trying to find the air to breathe, when suddenly he found it easier. His eyes opened in wonder as he watched blue and white lightning sparks dance across his torso, the ripped skin folding over itself, and repairing. Stunned, he pulled his hands up to his body, and ran them across his now smooth skin, gazing in wonder as the bloody cuts and scrapes disappeared, leaving behind nothing but blood and sand.
For the first time in his life, Lex didn't know what to do. His life had been turned upside down in a matter of - well, he didn't know how long it was - nevertheless, turned upside down it was, and all he felt was a wrenching pull of devastation and heartache. He was heartbroken, stranded somewhere after his wife had attempted to murder him, no doubt in cahoots with his father, Lex presumed, with a weird lightning-type thing mending his skin and stopping him from dying. His first thought regarding the latter was the meteors in Smallville. He'd not been sick since they hit and he lost his hair, perhaps, for once, he had been blessed, and they had given him the power to heal himself. After all, others had been affected by the meteors in such ways - but it seemed so farfetched an explanation, Lex didn't really know whether he could honestly believe it.
Then there was the question as to where he was. He looked around, scanning the area for any signs of life, finding none. He decided to try moving, needing to work out how to get back home.
Home... There was a word he didn't think he'd ever use for Smallville, but it was all he had left now. If his father was involved in whatever had happened, which Lex believed he was, he wouldn't be expecting his return to Smallville. He wouldn't be expecting him to return at all. Obviously the plan was for him to have either died from the impact of the crash, or drowned. Luckily, Lex thought, neither had happened. Taking a deep breath, expecting pain, he stood. When he didn't feel any, he sighed with relief. The heat was making him more uncomfortable than he already felt. He was covered in his own blood, and sand from the beach. He hated being dirty and impulsively attempted to clean himself off, brushing his legs with his hands roughly, trying to dislodge the crap on his trousers.
"Well, this is fucking marvellous!" he exclaimed to himself. "Way to go, Lex, marry a friggin' psycho." As he said the words, his stomach clenched, and his face reddened. Tears welled in his eyes and they fell freely. He began walking, heading away from the beach, though going nowhere in particular. The foliage was scratchy, and marred his skin as he waded through it, stopping on occasion to wipe his eyes, the tears seeming endless. After what seemed like hours of walking, his legs gave out on him, and he collapsed into darkness.
---
Jonathan Kent was pacing the length of the front room of the farmhouse. His face was furrowed with concern for his missing son. Lana sat on the sofa next to Martha, watching him intently.
"Mr. Kent..? Are you okay?" She sighed. "I mean, obviously you're not, but." She looked at Martha pleadingly, who offered her a reassuring smile.
Martha was released from the hospital's care early due to overcrowding after the anomaly that had passed through the town. The Kents had arrived home to find Lana in hysterics on the steps of the porch, crying about Clark, rambling nonsense. When Jonathan had gotten Martha inside and rested on the sofa, he calmed Lana down. She told him how Clark had just left, told her that everything was his fault, even asked her to go with him. Jonathan had phoned Pete's house, hoping to find more answers from him, but he wasn't there. All they could do now was wait.
Lana stood, and moved to Jonathan, stopping him from pacing. "Clark's smart, Mr. Kent. Smarter than he knows. He'll do the right thing. He always does." Jonathan looked at her in wonder, the tone of her voice reflecting just how much she believed in his son. His son who he had turned away when he needed him most... The son who believed that he was the cause for Martha's miscarriage... He should have comforted Clark, let him be part of the family when he had the chance at the hospital, but he was angry and upset, and Clark just turned up at the wrong time. Jonathan felt guilty for taking out his own hurt on him, not even thinking about how Clark must've felt at the time. He was just a kid who thought he was doing the right thing.
Just then, the back door flew open, revealing Pete sporting a nasty cut on his head.
"I'm so sorry, I tried to stop him, tried to tell him. He just went mad; he." Spotting Lana in the living room, he rethought his sentence. "He's not himself."
Jonathan ushered him over to the sofa, and Lana went to the kitchen and came back with the first aid kit. She cleaned his forehead, and listened while he told the Kents what had happened.
"He pushed me into the lockers," Pete said warily. "Sometimes, he doesn't know his own strength." Realisation dawned on Jonathan as he began to understand what Pete was trying to tell him. Clark had obviously used his powers against Pete. He sighed. Noting the confusion on Lana's face, he spoke to her.
"Lana. Perhaps you ought to get home; it's getting late, and I'm sure you're tired, and want to tell Chloe what's happened. She'll want to know." Lana moved to protest but something stopped her. Jonathan continued. "I promise; you'll be the first person we call if we hear anything."
She smiled at him and said her goodbyes. "He will come back," she said, seemingly trying to convince herself more than anyone else in the room. "He's a Kent; he knows where he belongs." Jonathan smiled at her, and watched her leave.
"What's going on, Pete?" he asked, hurt evident in his tone.
"He found Chloe's class ring..." Jonathan whipped round to face the young man. "I tried to stop him. I did, but he pushed me... next thing I know, I'm waking up in the dark in the school corridor. It's bad, Mr. Kent. Real bad. I've never seen him like it before. Even when he's pissed, he's never that bad." He paused, putting his head in his hands. "I'm sorry I couldn't stop him. I'm so sorry."
"It's ok, Pete." It was the first time Martha had said anything since she'd arrived back and listening to Lana's story. "He'll be okay." She looked at Jonathan. "Lana's right. He'll come home. He knows we love him."
She rested her hand on her stomach and began to cry. Jonathan moved over to her, embracing her in a hug. Neither of them heard Pete leave.
---
Lex woke to a light shining in his eyes. Reflexively, he raised his hands over his face to block out the glare from a flashlight pointed at him by a man in uniform.
"You stay where you are!" the man ordered, moving away from Lex, but still pointing the light at him. He got on the radio, and spoke. "Deputy Malloy reporting from Baldwin County, State Route 59. I have a Caucasian male, looks like he's just been through hell. I'm takin' him to the hospital, get him checked out. I'll stay with him there, and then bring him in." The deputy glared at Lex. "Just in case. I'm working on benefit of the doubt here, Sergeant."
"What's your name, son?"
"Lex Luthor. And don't call me son."
The deputy reached his hand out and offered it to Lex, who took it, and used it to help himself stand.
"Now don't you try anything, Mr. Luthor. It looks like you're hurtin' pretty bad, let me help you." The deputy guided Lex into his patrol car.
Lex nodded, and moved without hesitation. "Where are you taking me?"
"To the hospital, get you checked over. Then to the stationhouse, where you can tell us what the hell happened to you, you're a mess."
"Yeah." He paused. "I'll need to make a call."
The officer nodded, and shut the door, and got into the drivers driver's seat. He started the car with a sharp, "All in due time, Mr. Luthor," and headed to the hospital.
---
The phone rang shrilly, echoing through the Kent's living room, and waking Jonathan. Martha was curled up next to him, stirring slightly. He jumped up and ran to the phone. "Clark? Is that you, son?"
"Mr. Kent? What's happened to Clark? Is he still missing?"
"Lex?" Jonathan questioned.
"Yes, it's me. Why did you think I was Clark?"
Jonathan sighed. Lex was the last person he'd expected to be calling. He was supposed to be honeymooning in St. Thomas, not phoning the farm. Exasperated, Jonathan answered.
"It's nothing really, Lex, we just had a fight and he took off, y'know how kids get. Did you want to speak to him? How's the honeymoon going?"
Lex winced at the mention of the honeymoon, and shrugged it off. "No, I... I'm sorry, I--" he stuttered, "I need your help. I had no one else to call."
"What's happened, Lex? Where are you?"
"I'm in Bay Minette, Baldwin County, in Alabama. It's off state route 59 from Interstate 65 from Montgomery. There's been an accident, if you can call it that." Jonathan noticed the cautious tone of the young man's voice and decided against questioning him about the accident. Obviously, whatever had happened was important enough for Lex to call him, and regardless of Jonathan's feelings for Lionel Luthor, this was a friend of his son's, and someone whom he found himself wanting to believe in.
"Are you hurt? What do you need?"
"No, I'm okay, I'm just a little, well, and I'm a mess. I need for..." Lex gulped audibly. Asking for help was harder than he thought it would be. "I wondered if you could come and pick me up from here. I'm at the stationhouse. Please? I wouldn't ask but I have no one." He broke off. "I'll settle up with the gas costs and the."
"Lex, it's okay. Let me work something out. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thanks, Mr. Kent."
"Jonathan."
"Thank you, Jonathan."
Jonathan placed the receiver on the hook, and sighed. He went into the kitchen, and grabbed a batch of road maps from the drawer, scattering them over the table. Finding the Mapsco for the Southeast, he set to work planning his route to Lex.
Some time later, he woke Martha and relayed to her the details of his earlier conversation with the younger Luthor. She burst into tears almost immediately, an emotional wreck.
"I won't go, Martha, I'll call Lex back right now, and stay with you. You need me here."
"Jonathan Kent you will do no such thing!" she yelled at him through her tears. "I've already lost two children today. I don't intend to lose another!"
Jonathan looked shocked. He knew that Martha had a maternal instinct towards Lex, but he had no idea that she cared for him so deeply. As if reading his mind, she continued.
"I know he's not our child, but Clark believes in him. I believe in him, and I know you want to. He's a good man, Jonathan; he just needs someone to show him the way to stay like it. You have to help him." She sighed, "Think about it. Why on earth would Lex call us, when his own father has enough money to just fly there and pick him up? Something's wrong and you know it, or you wouldn't have gone to the trouble of getting directions. Lex needs you."
Jonathan nodded. "But you need me too, everything that's happened, I mean, how can we even start to." Martha shushed him by placing her fingers to his lips, and shaking her head. A tear fell from Jonathan's face, his bravado and strength for his wife's sake giving out for just a moment before he composed himself again.
"Okay, I'll go. You're right, he does need me, but I want you safe. You want to be here if Clark calls, but I don't want you alone. I'm going to call Lana and ask her to stay over until I get back. She's young, but she cares, and that's good enough for me. Perhaps you can show her some embarrassing pictures of Clark, exchange stories, so that when he comes back, she can." he trailed off. "Well, whatever, but I'm calling."
Knowing better than to argue, when it was obvious that Jonathan had made his mind up, Martha nodded. The trip to Baldwin County was at least 17 hours, possibly more, especially seeing as Jonathan would be using the old truck. Besides, Martha thought, it would be good to have company, something to make her forget, at least for a little while.
Lana agreed to stay while Jonathan was out of town, and turned up less than half an hour after his phone call to her. After a quick change of clothes, a kiss goodbye from his wife, and a thank you to the teenager, Jonathan grabbed his jacket and took his keys from the kitchen table.
As he started the truck and headed for the nearest gas station to fill up before his journey, his thoughts turned to Lex, and what could have happened that was so bad he needed to ask for help. Help from a Kent at that...