The sweet smell of the farm permeated his nostrils, enticing his weary mind to awaken from the enforced slumber his body had endured. Birds chirped, and in the distance he heard the bellows of his father's cattle, as they awaited their first feed of the day. I must have overslept...I need to do my chores before school...
Clark stirred, wiping his bleary eyes to find he was stretched out on the trusty couch. As his brain recovered more, he soon recalled it had been a very long time since he had attended Smallville High, or done any regular farm chores. Someone poisoned me...
Remembering in vivid flashback just what had happened, he roused, glancing around the silent room as he pulled into a sitting position. To his left, Chloe lay on her side, curled in a fetal position in the family rocker, a small grey blanket covering her legs. Even in sleep, her face showed the suffering she had undergone, and it pained Clark to see it. What has she gone through these last few hours for me...?
On the table in front of Chloe sat a clean shirt and jeans, waiting innocently just as she had placed them in the certainty that against all odds Clark would live, and would want fresh clothes. She never gave up on me...
Suddenly feeling a chill, Clark glanced down and realized he had nothing on but his boxers. The sight brought a smile to his face, and he reached out, grabbing the clothes. Now all I have to do is manage to get them on without falling on my butt...
Kent grabbed the nearest chair to steady himself, and then shakily tugged on the jeans first. It was a slow and painful process, but he had almost finished when voices from the kitchen made him pause. The words were whispered, and it surprised Clark that he couldn't easily hear them by simply 'tuning' in to their resonance.
"Mr. Kent, you have to understand that even though Clark made it through the night, he still might never awaken. His body has been through so much...and even if he does, he may never regain his abilities. Pete has taken a blood sample to Dr Klein to check the amount of cell damage, but the fact that I can still even draw it doesn't bode well..."
The voice was female, and although it seemed familiar, Clark couldn't place it. Wanting to know if her assumptions were correct however, he squinted, trying to kick in his x-ray vision to view the kitchen, but all he got was an acute twinge behind his eyes. Feeling exhausted and dejected, he reseated himself and continued to listen. Jonathan's unmistakable voice came next.
"You can't leave Bryce; my son still needs your help! I have no clue what to do for him, and Martha and Chloe are in no fit state..."
Bryce was unabashed. "I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do here, and there's something I have to do for my own son...Klein can do as much as I can now, which isn't a great deal. If Clark does regain consciousness, just make sure he rests till Klein gets here, no heroics, his body won't stand it. Oh, and give him plenty of fluids, he'll be dehydrated..."
Both voices continued their conversation, but to Clark the words faded into insignificance. He had no idea how long he had been out, but the consequences of his coma were blatantly obvious. Without his gifts, how could he be of any use to the world? Looking down, he grabbed his boots and quickly slipped them on, then quietly moved outside into the sunrise.
It was a beautiful morning, the early dawn's rays shining down on him in abundance, as he leaned heavily on the outside fence for support. Normally the sun's radiation would have invigorated him by now, sending any weakness he might have into the far corners of oblivion, but today he felt nothing. Clark's powers were gone, and perhaps would never return, and even though he had once wished to lose them, he suddenly wanted them back. How can I be a cop who never draws his weapon, if I'm not bullet proof? What difference can I make to the world now? How can I carry out Jor-El's last wishes... In one harrowing moment, the awful truth hit the detective like a sledgehammer, and he gulped, not knowing how to face his family and friends.
"Clarkie?" Karyn's young, innocent tones made him turn. She smiled at the sight of her big brother awake, and offered up a glass if iced water. "I heard the doctor say you might be thirsty when you woke up..." A tiny grin appeared, as the eleven year old showed her delight at his return to the land of the living.
Clark smiled back and took the beverage, taking two gulps before answering. "Thanks, I hadn't realized just how dry I was..." The rest of the crystal clear water called to him, and he couldn't resist finishing it, then kneeled to his sister's height.
Before he could say a word, she threw her arms around his neck and heaved a huge sigh of relief. "I've missed you so much." The sentence came out startlingly serious for one so young, and as Clark pulled Karyn away, he noted her expression matched her manner. "Don't be so sad Clarkie; as long as you're better, nothing else matters..." The little girl smiled again, warming her brother's anxious heart.
Karyn had no way of knowing the innermost feelings that were haunting him, but somehow her young perspective seemed to console him like no adults wisdom could. "I'll be okay now, don't worry." He winked and grinned, "Now that I have my sister to look after me..." He took her tiny hand, "Come on, let's go tell the others I'm not a lost cause after all."
Karyn frowned, unsure what to make of his last comment, but nodded knowingly anyway. "Chloe said you'd wake today..."
"And it looks like my daughter in law was right!"
Clark and Karyn turned to find Jonathan staring at them, his unshaven and unkempt appearance betraying just what he'd been through. Running a hand through his hair, he couldn't take his eyes off his son for fear he was an illusion. "Oh God Son, we all thought..."
Not having the will to say more, Jonathan closed the last few yards to Clark, and threw his arms around him. The caring father squeezed hard, tears forming in his eyes as he sensed Clark's pounding heart beneath his grip. I should show him my feelings more, what if I'd lost him and never had the chance of this moment?
Clark pulled away, wanting to calm his almost shaking parent. "It's okay Dad. I'm okay..."
Jonathan looked skeptical. "How do you feel Son? Honestly?" The mistrusting father raised a brow questioningly.
Hmn, my body aches, my head is pounding, and I have no powers... "I feel...I feel human Dad..." Clark inhaled, then glanced up to see his dad's reaction.
Jonathan nodded resignedly. It was just like Bryce had said, but at least Clark had lived, nothing else was of any consequence. "The important thing is that you're alive Son, we can deal with anything else, anything..."
"I should go inside. Chloe and mom must have been frantic!" Clark's worried puppy eyes appeared and he tugged at Karyn to follow as he and Jonathan walked back to the porch.
"Bryce gave both of them something to help them sleep...I don't know how either of them coped last night..." Jonathan looked at Karyn; she had been the only one to handle all of this well, and somehow he couldn't put it all down to her age. She would grow up into a daughter to be proud of, just like his son had.
Clark scowled as he trudged through the door and back into the kitchen, then glanced around to spot the doctor's whereabouts, but she had vanished. "Just how does Helen Bryce fit into the equation?" He searched more, "and where is Lois?"
Jonathan rubbed his head, not knowing where or how to start. Finally he poured three cups of coffee and pulled out a chair. "Bryce is a long story, and one I don't even know the half of yet. Lois...well we think she went after evidence against Lucas Luthor. Maybe she should add his brother on the list too..."
"Lex? Why Lex?" The detective sounded perplexed, and swiftly realized more of his friends were missing than present. "Didn't he follow us here?"
Jonathan sighed. He didn't want to be so harsh on his son's long time friend, but when Clark had been dying, where had he been. "Lex never showed up." He toyed with his cup, "I'm guessing something more important, like some business deal came up..." The sound of a car outside cut his sentence short, and he looked to Clark. "Since you got sick we've had more visitors than the Statue of Liberty!"
Clark grinned at his dad's humor, and slowly tagged along behind him to the door, silently hoping Lex had at last arrived to prove his worth. The vehicle that sat on the dusty drive though, was far too inexpensive to belong to a Luthor, and was in fact a rented car from Grandville.
"Lana, Daryl!" Jonathan couldn't hide the shock and surprise in his voice as he swung open the door to his latest guests.
Lana smiled wanly, and looked up to both father and son with an air of panic. "I'm so sorry for just dropping on you like this, but Daryl saw something, something bad about Clark, and well he's never usually wrong..." Her eyes fell on the detective, searching for signs of a problem. He doesn't look well; I hope everything is okay...
Glancing at Clark, Jonathan nodded. "You'd both best come in." He opened the door further, and Lana and her small companion entered.
As they all took seats at the table, Daryl peered at Clark, his dark, mysterious eyes piercing the cop's very essence. "I saw it too late didn't I?" He looked almost apologetic, as if the whole thing were his fault.
"I'm alright; the worst is over now..." Clark ruffled the kid's hair affectionately, "what say you go with my sister Karyn, and see her loft while we have a talk?"
Daryl smiled and looked to the girl he knew, but had never really met properly. He had saved her life once with one of his 'visions', and had hoped that someday they could meet under better circumstances. "Sure." He answered obediently, and was summarily dragged from his seat by the ever eager Karyn Kent, before he could change his mind.
All three adults' watched them head for the barn, then Clark put his attention back to Lana. "Exactly what did he see?" He chose his questions carefully, not wanting to alarm Lana, but needing to know as much as he could.
"Daryl woke up in the night, he was almost screaming that he'd seen you dying, and there was nothing anyone could do. I told him it must just be a nightmare, but I couldn't calm him till I said I'd get you on the phone. The trouble was, all I got in Metropolis was your machine, and when I contacted the precinct they said you'd come home. I'd intended to come over to Smallville next week anyway, so I just put my trip forward..." She looked at the two men, sensing their unease, "there is something wrong isn't there? I knew yesterday when we found that car it was a bad omen, and then when I couldn't get through on the phone..."
Clark raised a brow, and decided it was time for yet more drinks. Perhaps a warm soothing beverage would help calm their nerves, or maybe it was just his dehydrated body craving more sustenance, either way he put on a fresh pot. "What car?" He prompted, abruptly getting a bad feeling of his own.
Lana squirmed; the sight of the upturned vehicle and its occupant still bringing a pang of disquiet to her. "We were on our way into Smallville when we got diverted. The sign took us down Hopkins Road..."
Clark nodded, knowing the road was actually nothing more than a dirt track.
Lana continued. "I don't know why, but I didn't like it, something felt off, and Daryl sensed it too. Anyway, a short distance down the track we came to a car..." She paused, putting a hand to her mouth as she recalled the horror. "At first it just looked like an accident, the car had turned over on its roof, but when I got out to check if anyone was inside..." Lana stopped again, this time not wanting to carry on.
"What did you see?" Clark placed a caring hand on her shoulder, helping her feel secure and comforted. His voice came out both soft and persuading, reminding her of happier days.
"There was a woman inside...Oh God, there was so much blood. I ...I thought she was dead." Lana's eyes filled with fear, "but that wasn't the worst of it Clark. I recognized the car as Lex's, no one else has a car like that, and the license was SLL5..."
Jonathan coughed, a surge of guilt washing over him as the truth sank in. What if Lex did try and get here, and paid the ultimate price? But then where is the body? What if I could have done something, had I not been so mistrusting when Klein said Lex's phone was off... "Maybe he just loaned this woman the car?"
Clark shook his head. "Lex said he had an idea of someone, a doctor, who could help when I was poisoned. I think he was bringing her here, but someone didn't want that to happen..."
Lana agreed. "The car had taken out a phone pole, that's why I couldn't call you, but I could still get through to the emergency services on my cell phone. When the sheriff arrived, she said the woman was a Doctor Berman...the paramedics said if I hadn't found her when I did she wouldn't have stood a chance..."
"She's alive?" Jonathan was surprised. "Maybe you could get some information from her Son?"
"I doubt it, when I went back to town to make my statement; the sheriff said she was still not out of the woods yet." Lana appeared disturbed by the whole ordeal, "anyway, by the time I'd finished with the police it was late, so Daryl and I stayed in a motel till this morning...I was just hoping his premonition was wrong, but?"
"I have been ill," Clark answered truthfully, "someone tried to kill me. I'm okay now, but Lois and Lex are both missing. From what you say I don't like this one bit..." He turned to the window, suddenly feeling inadequate when he was needed most. Why did I have to lose my powers now? I can't leave Lex and Lois in Luthor's hands. Special or not, I have to act before it's too late...If it isn't already...
Jonathan didn't need any powers of his own to sense his son's burden. It was one he would have felt too, had he been in Clark's position. He stood, gently placing a hand on Clark's shoulder, then pressed lightly, letting his son know he wasn't alone. "You can't do this all by yourself this time. You have to rest, and let the police handle this thing. We just got you back Son, I'm not about to let you risk everything again now. Think about your mom and Chloe..."
Lana listened. She hadn't been here in their darkest hour, she hadn't even known until Daryl had seen the unfortunate truth, but one thing she could relate to was the loss of a loved one. She had been in the situation far too often, and she didn't want to see it happen again. "Your dad's right Clark. You're not some superhero! I've met the new sheriff, she seems to know her job, you should go see her first. Please don't go off like you used to when we were young, you can't always keep walking away unscathed..."
Clark stared back out the window, watching the new day unfold for just a moment, and then he turned back. "Lex and Lois risked their lives for me; I won't leave them now, no matter what. For all I know Lucas could have the local police in his back pocket too, and even if he doesn't I can't wait for them. Lucas won't keep prisoners alive for long unless he needs to..."
"Clark!" Lana jumped from her chair, anger flashing across her normally passive countenance. "Think of Chloe!"
"I am," He whispered, "and for all the other wives who will lose a loved one if Lucas isn't finished this time..." He said no more, but slipped from the door without even grabbing a jacket.
Jonathan knew anymore words on his son would be wasted, and walked to the corner, back to his father's shotgun. It sat where it always had, never once fired in anger; another throwback from an era long gone. Hiram Kent had been a good man, an honest man, and it pained Jonathan to take up his weapon now to defend his family, but defend it he must.
When Lana realized he was hooking the gun down, she gaped. "Not you too! I thought you both had more sense than this!"
Jonathan's face grew grim. "Lucas won't stop even if Clark and I do, you have to understand that. He sent a hit team to kill Helen Bryce and anyone that helped her last night. There's no reason to think he won't send another here when he knows his plans aren't working..." The father brushed by, plucking Lana's rental keys from the table before she could protest. "I have to borrow your car..."
"Listen; even if you're right, what do you think you can do against Luthor's private army of security men? Sheriff Walters is a good woman. I think if you go see her she'll help you, she's much more receptive than Adams ever knew how to be. It's Clark's and everyone else's only chance!" Lana pleaded, and finally her words appeared to sink in.
Jonathan inhaled and nodded. "Alright, keep and eye on everyone for me, and I'll go get Walters help. At the first sign of trouble, lock yourselves in the storm cellar. It's the only safe place..."
Lana smiled, even though her stomach churned as Jonathan sped away. From the barn she heard children's laughter, as Daryl and Karyn played oblivious to it all, and for the second time in one day she wished she was that young again. Would I change the future if I had the chance though...?
"Clark?" A fatigued voice from behind told Lana Chloe had awakened, and that she had noticed her husband was once again missing. What on earth do I tell her? I don't even know as much as she does...