Anything Smallville and Superman is owned by THE WB network and DC COMICS respectfully. I do not write these stories except for pleasure of the reader and myself. Hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoy writing it. Please review and send feedback. Criticism is much appreciated, and I do not mind the flaming if it is done for the benefit of the writer's skill/talent development.
AN: For those who have read my stories, I have revised the story mostly due to the speed of events. The original First/Third tense issue was only due to uploading the stories in Microsoft word. I should have saved it in web layout and uploaded in web format. I intend to do the same with all my stories.
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CHANGESJonathon couldn't stand this any longer. Wife and husband could not speak to one another without there being a fight. Every conversation between Jon and Martha was heated with accusation and censure. In every exchange, Martha continuously blamed him for the loss of their children, and he blamed Martha for miscarrying. That impugn, however, was only on a conscious level; thus, subconsciously he didn't believe a word of his thoughts regarding his wife. Besides, how do you hold the mother of a recently miscarried child accountable? You do not, because it's illogical and irrelevant. There is only one way a mother can and should held responsible- when a pregnant lady would purposely harm the unborn child. Martha never deliberately placed their baby in harms way. She had taken very good care of her self, so in no situation, can someone accuse the wonderful, lovely, vibrant middle-aged Martha for an accident she didn't cause. He understood why it isn't her fault that Clark made a rash decision that left him with no choice but to leave. It was difficult for him to comprehend the 'why it was his fault' that Clark ran from his home. Yes, he lashed out at Clark because he was hurting, but he never ordered Clark to the streets. He hadn't told Clark that he never wanted to see his face again, 'cause how could he ever do something like that to his son? Maybe he said some things he shouldn't have said while they were waiting for a prognosis on Martha and the baby's health, but he'd never said any such words to his son when he came to visit him. However, according to Jonathon's way of thinking, that wouldn't be a reason for Clark to leave his home behind.
Another thing that bothered him was his inability to prevent information about Clark from reaching Lionel Luthor's hand. It hurt him as a father that could not protect his son when he was nowhere near his home, cause for the passed week and a half, he'd spied Lionel Luthor's men collecting info on his son, and he didn't do thing to stop it. The first time he had seen Lionel Luthor's men snooping through his house, he was helpless to stop it. He didn't want to be caught watching Luthor's men in the act. The original phrase to come to mind when he had caught them that first time was 'catching them in the act'. All he was left with was limiting the damage, and the only way to do that was trailing after them. All they did was, make a mess of everything, copy his papers and take the key. Some of those things held very precious items: any thing to do with Clark's origins. The thought of Lionel investigating his son, nearly rips the man to shreds. Who knows if Lionel is even keeping track of his son. That thought makes Jonathon want to kill Lionel with his own bare hands, not that the thought never crossed his mind, because it did and plenty. He has to keep his son safe and he cannot do that, because he has no idea where Clark was currently located.
He has been looking for Clark from the moment he found him missing. He remembers how he found out, and the heartbreak it caused him, and Martha. Even thinking about it makes him want to lock himself inside a room and just cry in there, forever. How can he not want to just crawl into a wall and die? When you are missing your own son, and when you know subconsciously that it is your own fault, you don't want to have anything to live for.
Finally his damn of emotions broke and a few tears escaped his eyes as he remembered the events that had transpired since finding out he lost not just one, but two children.
Two weeks ago:
Jonathon held Martha, the two crying over the miscarried baby. The baby that will never get to see life, because its life was taken before it had a chance to experience its own birth.
It was becoming a very annoying habit, just sitting in this hospital room and shedding tears for a child that will never get a chance to grow. Two days had passed since Martha lost her baby, and Clark hadn't visited and that hurt her. She wanted to make sure she at least had one of her babies, but he hadn't come around to say, "Mom, how are you holding up?" and giving her a shoulder and a chest to cry on. She was so tired and she just wanted to go home. She had tried different tactics to getting out of this prison, but none of them had worked because the doctors refused to release her, even though they have given her a clean bill of health.
Most residents knew of the friendship between Clark and Lex, and that the Kents were warming to Lex. Since most of Smallville heard of the accident that the Kents found themselves in, they were reluctant to share the news of the crash that Lex and Helen were involved in. They were reluctant to tell them the seriousness of Lex and Helen's condition. Some of the citizens knew of a second tragedy: Clark leaving town when his parent needed him most.
Lana had walked into the hospital head bent and shoulders and back hunched. How could anyone blame her when it was left to Lana to share the heart shattering news of Clark's withdrawal and leaving? There was no easy way, but she was the one who had to do this. After all, she was the last person to see Clark, so at least, she could explain to the Kents a little into what had happened at the storm cellar. She had a feeling that Clark had come by the hospital and had explained to his father the ruins that she had seen there. Therefore, she will not have to tell them the state of ruin that their farm is in.
She needed to walk into that room before she lost her nerve, so to prepare herself for the inevitable confrontation, Lana took a few deep breaths and reached for the doorknob, as she cautiously entered the room.
After inhaling deeply, Lana knocked lightly on Martha's door as it was slightly ajar. Who was she to interrupt someone, but she wasn't sure the occupants of the room would have heard her had she not asked, "Mrs. Kent, Mr. Kent, I am sorry for your loss, but may I speak with you a moment? It's urgent." Upon hearing an answer to come in, she joins the Kents in the room. The only thing left for her to do is, in so many ways, the hardest. Lana, knowing the coming confrontation is going to destroy two lives, forced herself to speak.
Lana chose her words carefully; she couldn't give the Kents a heart attack to deal with on top of everything else. "Mr., Mrs. Kent, I am sorry for your loss, but we have some things that need to be discussed, although, here is not the best place. It involves Clark, why he hadn't come to visit in the hospital since Thursday afternoon. We also have another situation to deal with- the newly weds- Lex and Helen." She had their full attention, as they intently in her direction.
"What happened to Clark?" They question in unison, an edge of worry heard in the voices. Since here was the crux of the problem, Lana slowly and a bit reluctantly to explained to them that here was not the best place to have this conversation "Not here. This is not the place to talk, and many things must be said." She still could not get over the fact that Clark left her; she was hurting so much and was now going to share the hurt with his parents. Lana told them she would wait for the Kents near their home, and Jonathon gave Lana his keys. After Lana left, Jon helped Martha gather their things.
Upon reaching the farm, Jon and Martha searched around. The storm cellar, or rather, what was left of it, was in disarray. The sight they were greeted to was the destruction of their property. All the hard and torturous work was gone in moments, all of it destroyed because of Clark's irrational behavior. The pain of seeing all their hard work lost in just a few moments was nothing compared to the agony of realizing that Clark wasn't there. It was then that their fears took face. The fact that they hadn't seen Clark at all just heightened the intensity of their intuition that something is seriously wrong with Clark. They were not sure what, but they feared Clark might have run, to eliminate the voice of his biological father. Insane as it sounds, but something kept telling them that their son deserted them.
They have always known that Clark would have to leave them one day, but never thought so soon and to such a destiny. They never expected that he would have to leave his home in search of another city on this planet. They always feared his biological parents, or even someone from his planet, would one day come to take him to his home planet. For a while now, they had a source of information. As unexpected as it turned out to be, a scientist in New York had informed Clark that his birth planet was destroyed. His parents had sent him to earth to survive while his parents died with the rest of his home. Therefore, it was a shock when Clark was contacted by a hologram from his biological father who prophesied a quest to rule this world.
"Jon, What if he ran away? I can't loose him too. What did Clark do? It looks as if a war was fought here and a bomb went off right in the center of the cellar." If anyone were around them, they would have heard depths of anguish in her voice. Jon looked around a few moments longer, taking the time to gather his thoughts and answer Martha. It was pure hell for him. The destruction so bad that even with Clark's abilities, it would take years to get the farm running again.
"There was a battle, more like a war. Clark destroyed the ship, and this is the devastation it caused. I am so sorry. If he ran away, then it is my fault. Clark was in the hospital earlier, and I was so hurt and devastated and so, so angry, that I took it out on him. Although I hurt him with my words, he still wanted to comfort the both of us when we found out you lost the baby. I pushed him away, and I know I shouldn't have done that. He probably thought this was his fault, and that he has no right for comfort or to give it, that he didn't come to visit since. I am so sorry, gosh, I am so very sorry Clark. After pushing Clark away, I joined you in the room. I closed the door before Clark could enter the room. I didn't want to see him because I blamed for your being in the hospital, and loosing our baby. I haven't seen him since. I can't loose him too, and if he ran away, then it is my fault."
On her way to the Kent home, Lana stopped by the farm. When she dropped by yesterday, it was to confront Clark about why he didn't show at one of his best friends weddings. Just yesterday morning everything seemed normal, yet in her heart, she knew she was bracing herself for a big fall. She had felt that something would go wrong. Something would go so horribly wrong, that she had to tell Lex to postpone the wedding or at least delay it a couple of hours. Now she knew why, Clark did something that put himself into a hole, and instead of Lex and Helen enjoying their honeymoon, they are in a hospital fighting for their lives. She had never felt so alone and worried in her life then as she did now, although it wasn't for her that she concerned. Her fears were directed to Clark and coming home and the newly weds and winning the struggle over their lives.
She saw the Kents nearing her. They were just as stunned as she had been yesterday, but as she gave a closer look to what has gone on in this field, she could not believe she underestimated the destruction. It was worse than a war zone or even the ground zero of a bomb ruins. No, this looked much worse that no words can describe it.
She motioned for the Kents to get into their car, for they had to be told of the circumstances regarding Clark's disappearance. After looking around one last time she followed the Kents to their car. They drove in an uneasy silence until they reached the Kent house.
To her, and unquestionably to the Kents, the Kent Home no longer felt like home. Without Clark, the air of the house felt as if some of the Kent-home-warmth in this home vanished with the disappearance of Clark. Once inside, Lana seated the Kents, made them coffee and cake to help stimulate their systems when they are told of the events of the last two days.
The conversation lasted a few hours and all three were in tears by the time they parted. They promised to keep each other posted for any news or information.