Methos shook his head in disbelief as he listened intently to the young
Luthor talk about what had happened. He was astounded that a father could
orchestrate such a plot, and use a woman to make Lex vulnerable to his
scheming. Looking back into his own past, Methos knew that he used
manipulation and vulnerability to acquire the lifestyle he had set for
himself. He used to believe that his ruthlessness was what had made him -
the reason that he had survived for so long. Lex's belief that his father
had arranged everything regarding Helen and the eventual plane crash, in
order to acquire the Smallville plant for himself, was, in Methos' opinion,
taking things too far. Of course, he'd killed for less in his own past, but
that was due to his survival instincts, and yes he felt guilty, but not
enough for it to ruin his inevitably long life. It wasn't about survival
for the senior Luthor. It was about power. It seemed that it was all he was
interested in, if what Lex had theorised so far was true. Which Methos
thought it was.
There was a hopeless sincerity and an obvious dislike when Lex talked of his father, explaining his various plots and plans to ruin Lex's career. From placing highly technologically advanced bugs in his home, to feigning blindness, it seemed that there was no line that Lionel would not cross.
The two moved from the kitchen back into the comfort of the office. Lex poured two glasses of bourbon, and handed one to Methos' as he sat down.
"But that's my father. Perhaps now you understand my. concern regarding your visit. There's no level he won't lower himself to. I haven't left the mansion since Mr. Kent brought me here two weeks ago." Methos frowned at him. "Not through fear, of course; purely because I want him to believe he has won." Lex fell silent for a moment, thinking of Helen, trying to force his painful emotions down under the surface. "I want to know why they did it. No, that's not true. I want to know why Helen did it. I was willing to change everything I was for her; I did change everything I was for her. I just." he trailed off.
Methos nodded in understanding, and noted tears shining in Lex's eyes. The young man looked so heartbroken; he realised why Duncan always involved himself in the personal lives of his students, and helped them find peace. It wasn't something that the older Immortal would usually do, but he felt an overwhelming urge to help Lex, not only by training him in the ways of Immortal life, but also by guiding him forward to the future, and not letting him get caught in his past. All too often, Methos had caused himself unnecessary heartache and distress by concentrating on what he had done, so much so that he occasionally felt no reason to live. He wanted to help Lex avoid the situations he had been in, save him from going through more pain than he was already suffering.
---
Two weeks previously
Bay Minette, Baldwin County, Alabama.
Jonathan Kent arrived at the stationhouse early evening, nearly 24 hours since his call from Lex. The farmer pulled his car over to a space, turned off the engine of the rickety old truck, and sighed, his head dropping to his arms, crossed on the steering wheel. At a few points in his journey to Alabama, he'd thought the old truck would give out on him, and he'd wind up stuck in the middle of nowhere, trying to find his own way home. Thankfully, it had survived the long haul, and he hoped would make it back home. His worries for Martha, and Clark, had done nothing but grow since he'd left his wife at the farmhouse with Lana. He'd called, of course, both women desperately trying to convince him that everything was fine, and that there was nothing to worry about. Clark still hadn't called, or returned home, and that thought played on Jonathan's mind more than anything else. He prayed that Clark wouldn't get into trouble, and that he still had some sense left, some of the real Clark left in him, that could keep himself under control, and not do anything stupid. Those red rocks were a curse to Clark and everyone around him when they affected the teenager. Jonathan sighed again. Images of Clark's possible escapades were running away with his mind. He shook himself out of his reverie, and exited the truck. He entered the stationhouse, walked to the desk, and addressed the officer behind it.
"I'm here for Lex Luthor."
The officer, apparently busy, ignored him.
Annoyed at the lack of response from the officer, Jonathan tried again. "Will you please tell where the hell Lex Luthor is?"
The desk sergeant looked up then, and looked more than a little ticked off. He put his paperwork down, and looked at Jonathan, before glancing over to another officer, who walked to where Jonathan was.
"Go and get Mr. Luthor for me, please, Joe. Tell him his lift home is here." He turned to Jonathan then, his eyes still cautious. "Mr. Luthor will be out in a minute, sir. I'm sure he'll explain everything to you. Now, why don't you calm down, and wait over there?" With that he pointed to a set of chairs placed against the wall, and returned to his paperwork.
Jonathan sat and waited for no more than a minute or two before he spotted Lex at the end of the corridor. His clothes were filthy and bloody, and he looked like he hadn't slept or eaten for a week. It was obvious that Lex had been through an ordeal, and for the moment, Jonathan wondered if he should ask what happened. He looked at the boy in front of him again, noting that he did indeed look like a boy, and not the man he was used to dealing with. This was not the charismatic, powerful man he had seen deal with situations that were seemingly out of control. This was a scared boy who had needed help, and didn't know who else to go to, so of course, he had called the only man who had no reason to help him. At that moment, Lex looked up, catching Jonathan's assessing look, and did something unexpected. He smiled. That was all the encouragement Jonathan had needed. He walked to Lex and stretched out his arm, wrapping it round his shoulder protectively.
"Mr. Kent." Lex sounded relieved. "Thank you for coming."
Jonathan shook his head. "It's not a problem. Now, let's get you out of here."
"I just have to sign these statements, and I'll be right with you."
Jonathan waited while Lex signed his releases, and thanked the officers. As Lex walked up to him, he smiled, opened the door and followed him onto the street.
Waiting until they were far enough away from the station, Jonathan turned Lex to face him. "Are you okay, Lex? You're not hurt are you?" Jonathan lowered his head to his hands and sighed. "What the hell happened to you..? No actually, don't answer that." Lex lifted his hand in protestation, but Jonathan shook his head. "Give me a minute, I need to say this." Lex nodded, and Jonathan continued, looking at Lex head on. "I know I've said this before, but I'm gonna say it anyway. I don't like your father, not one little bit, and I didn't like you. not at first. Now I'm getting to the stage where I'm used to having you in my life. Martha dotes on you, and I don't want anything to change that." Lex frowned. "My point is, that, well, I've become quite fond of you myself, and I just wanted you to know, that if you want to. if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. You don't have to tell me anything now, or ever; and I'd understand if you didn't. but the offer's there. If you want it." He reached out his hand and as Lex took it, Jonathan took the opportunity to pull the young man into a leisurely hug. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm glad you're safe." He released Lex, watching the emotions play over his face, and decided to give the young man some time to absorb what he'd said. Spotting a diner across the street, Jonathan tilted his head. "Hungry?"
Lex looked down at himself.
Sensing his discomfort, the older Kent smiled, and slapped his hand across Lex's back. "C'mon, you can pay me back later..."
---
Again the older Immortal listened as Lex spoke of his return to Smallville. He seemed to talk of the Kents wistfully, admitting that it was them who were taking care of him, until he decided what to do about the current situation he was presented with. As far as Lex knew, Lionel had no idea that his plan hadn't worked. There was a search party sent out to look for any survivors of the crash, when it had been discovered that the newlyweds hadn't arrived at their destination, and a few days had passed by. Lex's admiration for the Kents seemed to only grow as he recounted his conversation about what had happened with Mr. Kent; he'd told Jonathan the basics of what had happened, leaving out the part about being inexplicably healed when he should be dead, and just putting it down to luck, which Jonathan agreed with.
On arriving back at the Kents' farm, as Lex had insisted on seeing Martha after hearing about the loss of her baby, and Clark going missing, Jonathan had been the one to tell his wife what had happened, while Lex had sat on the sofa opposite her. Martha's immediate reaction shocked both men.
---
"That bastard..!" Martha yelled across the room to no one in particular. "How could he even think about doing that to his own son?" Seemingly forgetting the presence of Lex, she ranted on. She looked at Jonathan, and went to him. "What he's done to us, and having that information about Clark was despicable, but this is. well there aren't any words for this." She moved across to where Lex sat, and knelt in front of him. She placed her hand on his chin, and raised his face to her own, seeing tears in his eyes. "Oh, Lex..! I'm so sorry."
She trailed off and pulled him towards her, and he went willingly into the embrace. It was the first time anyone other than Pamela had seen him cry, and embraced him like a mother. His emotional barriers collapsed around him, and his silent tears became anguished sobs. His mantra of "it hurts so much" echoed through the Kents' home, and for the first time, after years of being told how wrong it was to show weakness, he let go. He clung to Martha like a lifeline, grasping at her for all he was worth. She stroked his scalp, and shushed him, whispering reassurances to him as she rocked him like a baby in her arms, and as he drifted off to sleep, her tears took the place of his.
---
Methos watched Lex as he paced the office, replaying the events of his return, and silently noted the tears running down Lex's cheeks before they intensified and he began sobbing audibly. Mentally cursing emotion, Methos stood, and moved over to the young man, gently, yet cautiously placing a strong hand on his shoulder. Lex leaned into the touch; and Methos drew him closer into a hug. He stood there in silence as Lex's tears slowed and finally stopped.
When Lex looked up at him, his eyes were red and swollen.
"So much for me being in control!" he said hysterically. "You must think I'm seriously fucked up after hearing all this." He gave a distressed laugh at the sound of his words, and drew back from his visitor's touch, realising that he was still encased in strong arms. It seemed that being emotional was becoming a habit. He lowered his head, and tried desperately to return to the hard-faced Luthor he had been when Mr. Pierson had arrived, but failed miserably. Sighing, he gave up, and sank back down into the leather chair. His voice was quiet and wary as he asked his next question.
"What happens now?"
There was a hopeless sincerity and an obvious dislike when Lex talked of his father, explaining his various plots and plans to ruin Lex's career. From placing highly technologically advanced bugs in his home, to feigning blindness, it seemed that there was no line that Lionel would not cross.
The two moved from the kitchen back into the comfort of the office. Lex poured two glasses of bourbon, and handed one to Methos' as he sat down.
"But that's my father. Perhaps now you understand my. concern regarding your visit. There's no level he won't lower himself to. I haven't left the mansion since Mr. Kent brought me here two weeks ago." Methos frowned at him. "Not through fear, of course; purely because I want him to believe he has won." Lex fell silent for a moment, thinking of Helen, trying to force his painful emotions down under the surface. "I want to know why they did it. No, that's not true. I want to know why Helen did it. I was willing to change everything I was for her; I did change everything I was for her. I just." he trailed off.
Methos nodded in understanding, and noted tears shining in Lex's eyes. The young man looked so heartbroken; he realised why Duncan always involved himself in the personal lives of his students, and helped them find peace. It wasn't something that the older Immortal would usually do, but he felt an overwhelming urge to help Lex, not only by training him in the ways of Immortal life, but also by guiding him forward to the future, and not letting him get caught in his past. All too often, Methos had caused himself unnecessary heartache and distress by concentrating on what he had done, so much so that he occasionally felt no reason to live. He wanted to help Lex avoid the situations he had been in, save him from going through more pain than he was already suffering.
---
Two weeks previously
Bay Minette, Baldwin County, Alabama.
Jonathan Kent arrived at the stationhouse early evening, nearly 24 hours since his call from Lex. The farmer pulled his car over to a space, turned off the engine of the rickety old truck, and sighed, his head dropping to his arms, crossed on the steering wheel. At a few points in his journey to Alabama, he'd thought the old truck would give out on him, and he'd wind up stuck in the middle of nowhere, trying to find his own way home. Thankfully, it had survived the long haul, and he hoped would make it back home. His worries for Martha, and Clark, had done nothing but grow since he'd left his wife at the farmhouse with Lana. He'd called, of course, both women desperately trying to convince him that everything was fine, and that there was nothing to worry about. Clark still hadn't called, or returned home, and that thought played on Jonathan's mind more than anything else. He prayed that Clark wouldn't get into trouble, and that he still had some sense left, some of the real Clark left in him, that could keep himself under control, and not do anything stupid. Those red rocks were a curse to Clark and everyone around him when they affected the teenager. Jonathan sighed again. Images of Clark's possible escapades were running away with his mind. He shook himself out of his reverie, and exited the truck. He entered the stationhouse, walked to the desk, and addressed the officer behind it.
"I'm here for Lex Luthor."
The officer, apparently busy, ignored him.
Annoyed at the lack of response from the officer, Jonathan tried again. "Will you please tell where the hell Lex Luthor is?"
The desk sergeant looked up then, and looked more than a little ticked off. He put his paperwork down, and looked at Jonathan, before glancing over to another officer, who walked to where Jonathan was.
"Go and get Mr. Luthor for me, please, Joe. Tell him his lift home is here." He turned to Jonathan then, his eyes still cautious. "Mr. Luthor will be out in a minute, sir. I'm sure he'll explain everything to you. Now, why don't you calm down, and wait over there?" With that he pointed to a set of chairs placed against the wall, and returned to his paperwork.
Jonathan sat and waited for no more than a minute or two before he spotted Lex at the end of the corridor. His clothes were filthy and bloody, and he looked like he hadn't slept or eaten for a week. It was obvious that Lex had been through an ordeal, and for the moment, Jonathan wondered if he should ask what happened. He looked at the boy in front of him again, noting that he did indeed look like a boy, and not the man he was used to dealing with. This was not the charismatic, powerful man he had seen deal with situations that were seemingly out of control. This was a scared boy who had needed help, and didn't know who else to go to, so of course, he had called the only man who had no reason to help him. At that moment, Lex looked up, catching Jonathan's assessing look, and did something unexpected. He smiled. That was all the encouragement Jonathan had needed. He walked to Lex and stretched out his arm, wrapping it round his shoulder protectively.
"Mr. Kent." Lex sounded relieved. "Thank you for coming."
Jonathan shook his head. "It's not a problem. Now, let's get you out of here."
"I just have to sign these statements, and I'll be right with you."
Jonathan waited while Lex signed his releases, and thanked the officers. As Lex walked up to him, he smiled, opened the door and followed him onto the street.
Waiting until they were far enough away from the station, Jonathan turned Lex to face him. "Are you okay, Lex? You're not hurt are you?" Jonathan lowered his head to his hands and sighed. "What the hell happened to you..? No actually, don't answer that." Lex lifted his hand in protestation, but Jonathan shook his head. "Give me a minute, I need to say this." Lex nodded, and Jonathan continued, looking at Lex head on. "I know I've said this before, but I'm gonna say it anyway. I don't like your father, not one little bit, and I didn't like you. not at first. Now I'm getting to the stage where I'm used to having you in my life. Martha dotes on you, and I don't want anything to change that." Lex frowned. "My point is, that, well, I've become quite fond of you myself, and I just wanted you to know, that if you want to. if you need someone to talk to, I'm here. You don't have to tell me anything now, or ever; and I'd understand if you didn't. but the offer's there. If you want it." He reached out his hand and as Lex took it, Jonathan took the opportunity to pull the young man into a leisurely hug. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm glad you're safe." He released Lex, watching the emotions play over his face, and decided to give the young man some time to absorb what he'd said. Spotting a diner across the street, Jonathan tilted his head. "Hungry?"
Lex looked down at himself.
Sensing his discomfort, the older Kent smiled, and slapped his hand across Lex's back. "C'mon, you can pay me back later..."
---
Again the older Immortal listened as Lex spoke of his return to Smallville. He seemed to talk of the Kents wistfully, admitting that it was them who were taking care of him, until he decided what to do about the current situation he was presented with. As far as Lex knew, Lionel had no idea that his plan hadn't worked. There was a search party sent out to look for any survivors of the crash, when it had been discovered that the newlyweds hadn't arrived at their destination, and a few days had passed by. Lex's admiration for the Kents seemed to only grow as he recounted his conversation about what had happened with Mr. Kent; he'd told Jonathan the basics of what had happened, leaving out the part about being inexplicably healed when he should be dead, and just putting it down to luck, which Jonathan agreed with.
On arriving back at the Kents' farm, as Lex had insisted on seeing Martha after hearing about the loss of her baby, and Clark going missing, Jonathan had been the one to tell his wife what had happened, while Lex had sat on the sofa opposite her. Martha's immediate reaction shocked both men.
---
"That bastard..!" Martha yelled across the room to no one in particular. "How could he even think about doing that to his own son?" Seemingly forgetting the presence of Lex, she ranted on. She looked at Jonathan, and went to him. "What he's done to us, and having that information about Clark was despicable, but this is. well there aren't any words for this." She moved across to where Lex sat, and knelt in front of him. She placed her hand on his chin, and raised his face to her own, seeing tears in his eyes. "Oh, Lex..! I'm so sorry."
She trailed off and pulled him towards her, and he went willingly into the embrace. It was the first time anyone other than Pamela had seen him cry, and embraced him like a mother. His emotional barriers collapsed around him, and his silent tears became anguished sobs. His mantra of "it hurts so much" echoed through the Kents' home, and for the first time, after years of being told how wrong it was to show weakness, he let go. He clung to Martha like a lifeline, grasping at her for all he was worth. She stroked his scalp, and shushed him, whispering reassurances to him as she rocked him like a baby in her arms, and as he drifted off to sleep, her tears took the place of his.
---
Methos watched Lex as he paced the office, replaying the events of his return, and silently noted the tears running down Lex's cheeks before they intensified and he began sobbing audibly. Mentally cursing emotion, Methos stood, and moved over to the young man, gently, yet cautiously placing a strong hand on his shoulder. Lex leaned into the touch; and Methos drew him closer into a hug. He stood there in silence as Lex's tears slowed and finally stopped.
When Lex looked up at him, his eyes were red and swollen.
"So much for me being in control!" he said hysterically. "You must think I'm seriously fucked up after hearing all this." He gave a distressed laugh at the sound of his words, and drew back from his visitor's touch, realising that he was still encased in strong arms. It seemed that being emotional was becoming a habit. He lowered his head, and tried desperately to return to the hard-faced Luthor he had been when Mr. Pierson had arrived, but failed miserably. Sighing, he gave up, and sank back down into the leather chair. His voice was quiet and wary as he asked his next question.
"What happens now?"