I don't know what else to say, other than Thank You as ever for reading!
Lois Lane helped her tired partner onto the old family couch, then took a seat in a nearby rocking chair. It was cozy here, just like she had always imagined the Kent home to be; a throwback to better days when the world was far more sublime and unsullied. She could just envisage Clark here, growing up and realizing that outside Smallville life wasn't like this anymore, and that maybe he could make a difference and change that.
"Do I look that bad?" Clark's blue-green eyes danced momentarily as he saw Lois in deep thought, and wondered just what was going on in the darkest abyss of her mind. Then he lay back as Martha re-entered the room, and insisted on covering him with several blankets till he was almost smothered.
"You look fine," Lois lied blatantly. "Just get a few hours sleep and we can get to work figuring this thing out. Okay?" Feeling almost as maternal as Martha, the young cop couldn't stifle the urge to tug the blankets just that little bit higher, till they reached right under his chin.
Clark smiled, suddenly grateful of her presence, then snuggled in as best he could, considering the writhing sensation that coursed through every cell in his body. After just a minute his fatigued eyes slipped closed, and he dozed under the watchful eyes of both Martha and his partner.
"What is it that Mr. Kent needs to get from the bank so urgently?" Lois' mind couldn't help but wonder just what would drive a father to leave his dying son so easily. "Shouldn't he be here with Clark?" Her expectant stare bored deep into the doting mother's eyes, searching for the truth.
Martha squirmed; she had never wanted her son to reveal so much to Chloe's cousin, but he was a grown man, and had made the choice on his own to tell her about all his abilities. "Mom, I spend every day working with her, and she already knows about some of the things I can do! If I'm to do any good out there on the streets, she has to know the rest. I don't need to tell her how I can do all these things; she already thinks I'm a meteor freak..."
"There's something we can try..." Martha wiped moisture from her already reddening cheeks, about to try and explain, then jolted bolt upright in her seat as someone rapped on the door unexpectedly.
The vigorous knocking saved her from further explanation, but caused a deeper dread when Martha saw the whirling lights of a local cop car through the opaque door glass. Oh Lord, not Adams at a time like this...
Reluctantly, Martha clicked off the latch, and swung open the aged wood to reveal a uniformed stranger. "Is there a problem officer?" She asked, just a little too curtly.
"I hope not ma'am." The accompanying smile couldn't help but warm Martha's aching heart. "It's just that, other than the Luthors, we don't see too many choppers around these parts, and someone reported seeing one land in your back field." The cop indicated with a jerk of her thumb in the approximate direction. "Seeing as I'm new in these parts, I thought I better come over and check it out."
Inside Martha sighed with relief, then realized she had no clue what to say. "It brought my son home; he's not been too well of late..." The sentence came out before she even thought about it, and hoping for no further queries, she threw a question of her own. "Where's Sheriff Adams?"
The thirty-something brunette cop shook her head. "I'm afraid she was involved in an R.T. A. over on the edge of the county. I'm standing in as acting sheriff till she either returns, or Lowell County appoints a new peace officer." With a polite nod she tucked a thumb under her belt and turned back to her patrol vehicle. "Sure hope Clark is feeling better soon..."
"You know him?" Martha was both surprised and concerned.
The woman turned back and smiled so hard her pure white teeth sparkled in the light, and her worldly hazel eyes danced like flames. "Not personally, but any respectable cop's heard of the guy who solved the Rain man case Mrs. Kent! If there's anything I can do for your son while he's in town, just gimme a call. " She offered her hand, "I'm Sheriff Linda Walters ma'am."
"Thank you, it was nice of you to bother to call." Martha gave a desultory smile back, and wished she had more time to meet the new town protector. They hadn't really gotten off on the best footing, but already she preferred the younger, much politer version of law enforcement that Walters portrayed, compared to Adams.
"She's nothing like the ogre Clark told me was sheriff here..." Lois popped her head around the doorframe as the muddied cop car pulled away. "In fact, maybe this new gal can help us get into Luthorcorp before it's too late..." Her last words came out ominous, like a black cloud appearing in an unadulterated blue sky.
Martha whirled, observing the inflection in Lois voice. "Something's happened hasn't it?" Without waiting for a reply she barreled back into the house and headed straight for the couch. Lois was still younger and faster though, and just managed to cut her off, spinning her around with one arm before she could get to Clark.
"I just thought he was sleeping, but Klein says it's more...he thinks he's slipped into a coma..." Lois hugged Martha hard as yet more sobs came from the mother. At police academy they had been prepared for telling relatives the worst, but right now it was doing nothing to stop the distress and anger Lois felt. Lucas will pay for this...
The door clicked again, and this time Jonathan reappeared, shortly followed by Karyn. In their sorrow, they hadn't even heard the pickup approach, or the metallic slam of its cab doors. Now at her husband's presence, Martha visibly livened, running into his arms as if he were some kind of savior.
"Oh Jonathan, Thank God, Please tell me you have it?"
Jonathan Kent screwed his eyes closed and bit deep into his own lip. "Honey, our deposit box was empty..."
An Hour Later...
Martha hadn't said anything in over fifty minutes. She simply sat by her son's side, ignoring the people around her as if they didn't exist. Jonathan had never seen her like this before in all their years of marriage, and at one point he had even considered calling a doctor out to her. Klein might have medical knowledge, but in situations like this he just had no clue how to handle a distressed mother. To his credit, the little man had done his best for both parent and son, and in the end they couldn't really bring in a doctor for Martha, not without answering some harsh questions about Clark.
Jonathan sat up as he heard the droning approach of yet another car, and knew just who to expect. As he reached the door, the sight of his daughter in law storming up the path brought a new hope to him. If anyone was strong enough to help solve this puzzle now, it was Chloe. She would do it for Clark; no matter how upset she was, because her love knew no bounds. Behind her, looking equally resolute was Pete Ross.
"What's going on Mr. Kent? I got a frantic call from Lois..." Pete tugged off his overcoat and placed it on the back of a chair, looking at Jonathan for all important answers. Chloe ignored them both, preferring to race to her husband's side, and ask questions later.
"Someone poisoned Clark..." Carefully he tugged Pete out of Lois' earshot, "and it gets worse. The ship's key is gone Pete! Whoever is behind this knows far too much, and frankly every one of us is agreed on just who that is..." Jonathan rubbed a hand across his unshaven face out of nervous habit, and deep seated fear. "For once in our lives Martha and I are just so helpless..."
Pete tapped Jonathan's arm reassuringly. "We'll figure something out, we always do." Then dejectedly he walked to his deteriorating friend, who lay so hopelessly still on the couch. There were no more words to say, no more hope to give.
As he crossed the room, Chloe turned from Clark's side, gazing at them all suddenly with a look of antipathy. They all just stand here, how can they just leave him like this without even trying? In her soul she knew the Kents would gladly die for their son, as would she, but her own fears were taking hold with a vengeance, and all she could see now was defeat. I waited so long for Clark, we've been through so much together, and now, now that I'm...Tears swelled, as her eyes became puffy with a mixture of both undying love and terror, but Chloe refused to cry. Crying meant she was scared, crying meant losing Clark, and there had to be an alternative to that scenario.
Tenderly Chloe flicked a stray lock of hair from his face, and realized for the first time that he had let it grow just that little bit longer; the way she liked it. She remembered teasing him over it, and he had laughed, saying long haired cops just weren't 'en vogue' this year. Chloe wanted to see that grin again, that oh so innocent smile and flash of white teeth, that had never changed from his childhood. I have to take charge, I have to show them we can still beat this thing...Someone needs to show some courage for you Clark, and I guess it has to be me...
Finally letting go her vice-like grip on his lifeless hand, Chloe rubbed the moisture from her eyes, and decided to stand tall and do what she did best. "I don't understand all of this yet, but one thing I do know is Clark wouldn't be standing around like this if one of us was dying." The embittered wife rose to her feet and looked from parents to friends, one at a time. "You've all gathered in here like some wake before he's even dead!" Throwing her arms in the air angrily, she turned to Lois. "I want to know everything, and NOW!"
Shaken and surprised, Lois realized her cousin was correct. They had all had given in to the inevitable without as much as a fight. Nodding the cop escorted Chloe to the dining table, shortly followed by both Pete and Jonathan. Only Martha never moved from her bedside vigil, with Klein close by for support should she need him.
Jonathan looked back to her as he pulled out a heavy pine chair; if anything happened to Clark he was afraid he would lose Martha too, and neither thought was one he wanted to dwell on. Crossing his arms he nodded for Lois to start her story, clarifying what had happened in every detail. Once she had finished the account, he looked back to Chloe for a reaction, or for some sign of what she was going through. There were no tears, and no tantrums as she cried 'Why us' like a normal wife would. Instead, the tiny blonde reporter seemingly went into overdrive, her inner strength letting her view this as simply another case she could solve in the nick of time.
"We need to get a lead on this e-mail. If Clark thought it was important, we should try and get inside Luthorcorp and start digging."Chloe pushed back on her chair, "Pete, you coming?"
The Metropolis Mayor gaped at how quickly Chloe was moving. "Now wait, I agree we should do something, but your place is here with Clark! I'll go see what I can dig up; I still have some of my 'Torch' skills you know..." He smiled softly, "I'm sure Lois and I can handle it."
Lois rubbed her eyes, as lack of sleep began to tell on her normally acute senses, then she concurred with Pete sentiments with a 'don't even think about it' look straight at her cousin. "Pete's right, you should stay here, we'll do this. It's a police matter and it could get dangerous. I don't want to find myself with two casualties!"
"We don't have the time to argue, and there's too much ground to cover." Chloe's agitation was clear in her sharp tone, "I'll meet you half way. Pete and I will check out those addresses in the P.D.A. You check out the Luthorcorp lead." To show she wasn't going to back down this time, the journalist grabbed her purse and headed straight for the door.
As she exited, she looked back only once to Jonathan Kent, and in that second the father saw Chloe's true feelings clearer than he ever had. The hard attitude she had adopted was purely a defense mechanism, and once that failed she would slam back to reality with an immense and immeasurable crash. Already the sparkle had gone from her eyes as surely as it had from Clark's, extinguished by the tide of dread that they all were sensing. "Call me if there's any change..." The words were monotone and flat, indicating it was probably a call she wouldn't want to answer, and one she still hoped to prevent.
He nodded, finding no reassuring reply to give, and as Pete left the house too, Jonathan finally knew what he would do if their undertaking to save Clark failed. All my life I taught Clark restraint, taught him to be a better man in every situation, and for what? The disillusioned father looked to the cabinet where the farm's old shotgun was kept, his eyes never leaving its aged wooden stock, and dull metallic barrel. His mind wasn't thinking straight, too many emotions bombarding his already fatigued brain. One way or another Luthor, you'll pay for what you've done in this world...
Main Road Into Smallville...
Lex Luthor had spent over five years with his engineers, helping them hone the vehicle he had asked them to produce to perfection. It had been an arduous task, because nothing less than poetry in motion would be accepted. Now though, as he roared towards Smallville, the one of a kind Interceptor was proving worthy of its four million dollar price tag. It was the fastest car anywhere, and Lex had no qualms about its top speed being highly illegal... in any country. In fact right now, he just might break his own record.
"Don't you think you're pushing it a little?" Lex's female passenger flinched visibly, as the black car's wheels almost left the road, then juddered with the effort to stay horizontal as it hurtled through a sharp slippery bend.
Luthor never let his eyes leave the road, pushing the vehicle for more speed than even it could give. "On any other day doctor I'd confess to still having boyish indulgences, but with my friend's life at stake, I'm sure you can understand my urgency."
Berman shook her head, wisps of her long flowing blonde hair falling across her face in the backlash of air from the window. "I still think you should ease off, neither of us will do Clark any good if we're road kill!" To show her annoyance, the thirty nine year old geneticist powered down the window more, till the intense road noise became irritating even to Lex.
Daring to look over as he slowed to just over one hundred, Lex saw a glint of amusement on Berman's usually stoic face. "I can tell you're a woman who's used to getting your own way. I just hope you're worthy of it..."
The blonde cocked her head, becoming more staid at the thought of what lay ahead. "I'll do my best Lex, you know that, haven't I in the past?" Somberly she raised her window up, and sat back in her seat, pinching her nose in abrupt concentration.
Lex saw the move, even though he kept his own mind on the road, and realized he had upset someone he couldn't afford to. Berman was the best in her field, an expert in molecular biology and genetic engineering, she was also the most dedicated scientist he'd ever met, even more so than Klein. "I'm sorry..." It wasn't something a Luthor said very often, but Lex felt the need for a heartfelt apology. As he said it, he understood why, and that it wasn't just for Clark. I think I'm actually falling for her...
"Tell that to the cop in your rearview!" A wry smile appeared, indicating the scientist had never been offended in the first place, "I suggest you take my earlier advice though and slow down some more..."
Lex considered it. If Adams is her usual wiseass self, I could be stuck out here answering questions while Clark lies dying, on the other hand...Shifting down a gear, the millionaire slowed, subconsciously giving into Berman's wishes without even appreciating he had. In his mirror he watched as the police cruiser gradually caught up to them, then pulled up behind, lights rotating.
"I'm sure you'll appreciate Smallville's sheriff, she's so welcoming..."
Lex's sarcasm wasn't lost on his passenger, and she turned expectedly in her seat to see what the fuss was all about. As Berman pulled down her shades to get a look at the legendary Kansas tyrant, she guessed her boss was going to be a little disappointed. "Isn't she a bit young to be this Adams person?"
Lex didn't have time to answer, because the cop was expectantly tapping for him to lower the window. "Kind of in a hurry there weren't we Mr. Luthor? I think you baffled my speed camera, darn thing may never work again..."
"I have a sick friend..."
"Uh huh, that's what they all say when they get caught sir." The cop tugged out a pad ready to write out a ticket, then suddenly paused to glance at Lex's passenger. "Supposing I was to believe you, why would a sick friend give you the right to drive recklessly?"
"He's a cop, and he's dying, and right now you're holding us up!" Berman stared intently for a second, then let her gaze fall to the car floor when she realized she'd gone too far.
Lex continued for her, albeit it in a somewhat calmer manner, hoping not to have to divulge too much more information. "My friend is Detective Kent, you might know him, he lives nearby? He's been ill recently, and so I've brought Doctor Berman in..."
"Whoa! Say no more!" The brunette cop abruptly stuffed her pen away, and leaned in closer, shocking Lex by offering her hand. "I was out at the Kents earlier, Martha told me Clark was sick, but I didn't know it was this bad. I'm acting Sheriff Walters by the way..."
"Listen, I'd love to sit and chat, but Clark?" Lex's raised a brow, but still couldn't believe what was happening. A compassionate cop was something that didn't exist...except for Clark maybe.
Walters nodded, "I guess maybe my equipment was faulty, so you weren't speeding after all..." She winked roguishly, "you just make sure you take care of Clark Kent...Oh and maybe one other thing?"
Lex waited anxiously, looking at his gold Rolex to try and imply it better be quick, but the sheriff turned her attention to Berman, ignoring his alacrity. "Ma'am, would you mind driving the rest of the way? It's just I heard Mr. Luthor here once had a nasty accident on Loeb bridge, and well I'd hate for anything like that to happen again in his haste..."
The geneticist had to grin; it was nice to find a woman that was like herself... respectable, and most definitely not intimidated by Lex. "I'd be glad too." She climbed over, making the millionaire swap seats, and groan at the thought of a female in charge of his 'baby'. Were he not trying to save a life, he would never have allowed himself to be manipulated this way.
"Ya'll drive carefully now." Walters raised a hand and watched them off, then climbed into her cruiser and headed back the way she had come. If nothing else today was sure proving an interesting one...
Berman looked as the cruiser's taillights vanished over the horizon in her mirror, and then surprised Lex by slamming on the gas, almost as hard as he had. In the lab, the bald businessman had no doubt of her skills, but in his Interceptor he was skeptical... although only for a second.
"Where did you learn to drive like this?" He watched every fluid gear change with admiration, noting how the vehicle seemed to respond to her touch even more so than his, "I thought you didn't like speed..."
"I only like it when I know I'm in control, and as you said earlier, Clark can't wait. If Walters thinking I'll do a better job gets us there quicker, then I'm all for it..." Gently she gripped the wheel, and then braked perceptively as they approached another bend.
"I have to admit, I like Walters better than Adams, she even looks better..." Lex waited for a reaction to his typically male comment, but got none. Instead he found himself thrown forward into his seatbelt by gravity, as Berman suddenly threw the steering wheel hard over in a desperate evasive move.
Throwing his hand up, Lex felt his heart begin to pound in his chest as his mind expected an impact or severe skid. None came, and when he blinked he realized they had narrowly missed a diversion sign, and a recently excavated section of the highway. Cones marked off the area, as well as several brightly painted barriers, but for the time of day the place was strangely abandoned. There was no machinery to be seen, just simple warnings and a board indicating the new route to take. Lex didn't like the feelings the scene brought back to him. It's like getting on the plane with Helen all over again, I know something's wrong, but I can't tell what, and I'm powerless to stop it...