Save Me

Chapter 4

"Lemme guess…" Chloe quipped as she watched Lana give the detective a run down of the night's events like it was an everyday occurrence.  "You saved her from the clutches of certain death once again," Her banter was light and only a cover; for she too was concerned at the changes her friend had seemed to make over the past few years.

Clark didn't say anything, but watched in concern as Lana led the cops to Ian's body and then pointed up above to the top of the building. It wasn't a particularly high drop and while you'd be lucky to survive if you fell, you most likely wouldn't end up looking as bad as Ian did.

"How in the heck did you know where Ian was going to 'poof' back into existence Clark? This is a big place." Chloe's mind calculated the possibilities and was able to find none that satisfied her.

"Adrenalines a super drug…didn't you know that?' Pete walked up, having just finished talking to another one of the detectives. "They were messing with the two girls Clark thinks the world of, I'd expect no less of the man" He slugged Clark in the arm. "Right Clark?"

"Right…" Clark slowly dragged his gaze away from Lana. "...uh...well I heard Lana scream, so I knew the general direction."

"But that mutation Ian has…it must have carried him up there faster then you can run right?" Chloe wasn't ready to let it go with so many unanswered questions.

 "Well you know Lana, she can put up a good fight… guess it bought Clark enough time." Pete suggested.

"Chloe… you're bleeding." Clark changed the subject, but was truly concerned about the blood that had begun to seep through a tattered spot on the back shoulder of Chloe's dark red jacket. The color had hindered anyone from noticing it right away.  He reached out to inspect it, but stopped when Chloe winced.

"Yeah, I guess I shed a couple of layers of skin there when our lovely 'escort' Ian shoved me against that glass medicine cabinet." Chloe laughed it off as she carefully tried to pull her arm out of the jacket. "I can't believe I fell for that guy in high school."

"That looks pretty deep." Pete moved closer, "come on, the paramedics want to take a look at us anyways," Pete gestured towards the ambulance where the paramedics had just finished temporarily wrapping up the hand of the crony that Clark had kicked the gun from. "And don't beat yourself up about that old flame…this Ian was a new improved all around creepier breed...the brainy high school version was actually a little bit more likeable"

Clark looked at Pete like he was nuts and Pete just shrugged his shoulders.

Chloe sighed and she and Pete walked towards the ambulance, "Clones, mutants…can't live with them, can certainly live with out them."

~s~

The wind was light but insistent and cold. The days were still warm enough being that it was the only the beginning of September, but it was after 1 in the morning and the chill had caused Lana to rub her hands up and down her arms in order to create some warmth. She'd lost not only a shoe in the ordeal, but somehow her jacket too, leaving her with only the thin black t-shirt she quickly threw on before they left.

Clark walked up and noticing she was cold, offered some warmth by putting his arm around her. Lana accepted and allowed him to lead her back towards the burgundy Jeep Liberty. "Watch out for the glass," he pointed out as Lana hobbled next to him across the abandoned construction site.  The police had insisted on keeping her shoe for evidence, so along with trying to walk across the debris with a barefoot, her leg was also very sore from having a 180 pound man hang from it. "If you won't let the paramedics take a look at you, at least let me carry you to the car."

"I'm fine Clark."

"Lana", Clark stopped walking, his usual patience quickly turning into frustration, "no your not. You're not even in remotely near fine," he wasn't talking about her physical cuts and bruises from the night's events. "WE are not fine and if you want the truth… I'm completely miserable."

Lana appeared shocked at Clark's outburst. They'd gotten into such a routine of not discussing their feelings. It was safe and it worked. She laughed inside at his use of the word truth. Why in the hell was he once again starting something he could never finish?

Clark sighed and then gently touched Lana's face. "I know you must be too."

She let out a frustrated breath as she closed her eyes turned away. Her brows were furrowed and she lightly shook her head 'no'; it was as if she were fighting to gain control of an emotion she didn't want to let loose. "Don't even go there Clark." She warned.

Clark's instincts wouldn't allow him to believe her words, as her actions still often told him otherwise…and so he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

Lana didn't fight him, she allowed his strong arms to engulf her yet she did not return the embrace. "Damn it Clark, I can't do this again…you know I can't," her voice sounded panicky, yet muffled from being nuzzled into his shirt. "I've fought too long to be okay with the ways things are now," her breathing started to become slightly erratic and she pushed away from him. "Please don't do this, not again," her eyes pleaded.

His heart ached watching her like this; knowing her pain was always his fault. She used to be so open with her feelings, so willing to walk along side him no matter what. Although he couldn't comply, he both secretly and selfishly depended on that part of her. And all the while he kept pushing her away until finally somewhere, somehow she gave up.  It had been so arrogant of him to think she would always be there. 

Clark worked his jaw; wrestling with what he felt in his heart and with what he knew in his mind.  Only one thing had remained clear to him…then, he'd needed to protect her from the truth…now he believed it was the truth that would protect her. Once he told her, if she still chose to remain just friends, it would be more then he deserved.

 "Not with out honesty this time," Clark lifted her chin and searched her face for acceptance. The ability to infuse everything into her mind with a single kiss; his deep concern, his honest compassion, the truth… he thought, now that would be a power worth having.  His moved his hand from her face and instead grasped her delicate cold hand, "I know I've spent a lifetime apologizing to you, but please believe me when I tell you that I am so sorry for not letting you in. Yes it was wrong if I expected to have a relationship with you, but at the same time I had very good reasons…ones I hope you will understand once I tell you the truth."

"Clark, you don't have to." Lana shook her head in concern. As much as she had come to hate his secret for keeping them apart, she had come to accept and respect that Clark's reasons were very important. They had to be important, because nothing simple should ever have been strong enough to keep them apart all these years.

 "I already made the decision earlier; I'm going to tell you everything, but not here." He looked back towards the buildings. Pete and Chloe were making their way towards them and what needed to be discussed required more privacy. "Please, just let me help you to the car…okay?"

Lana looked back up at Clark, noticeably unsure, for accepting help this time seemed it would symbolize something more. Finally she relented. "Okay," she said and allowed Clark to scoop her up into his strong arms. As he carried her across the debris, across the field and to the car, she couldn't help but notice the beat of his heart and how good it made her feel. 'You love him….you love him…you love him' seemed to repeat itself in her mind with every beat.

Clark knew there would be no turning back this time. Getting involved with Lana again without the truth was not an option, and not getting involved with Lana was an option his heart could stand no more.

End chap 4