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The sound of medics working was a familiar one to Kent. He had been present at many crime scenes, and witnessed many accidents, in his time with the Metropolis Police. Now, as he heard the E.M.T's conversation, it seemed surreal to think that he was the one dying. I wonder what they will think I died of when they take me in...
"Clark?" Kent stopped his morose thoughts, recognizing the voice, and knowing it was much closer than the medics he could hear talking. "Clark? Come on, I can't very well carry you out of here..."
Clark felt a gentle nudge, and responded with a grunt. "Don't prod so hard, it hurts!" He flinched, and then unscrewed his eyes slightly to see Lex's battered face looking down at him. "For a minute there when I heard the paramedics, I thought I was..."
Lex put a hand to his head, as exhaustion took a hold. "When I found you in there," He gestured towards the level 3 doors, "I thought you were too, but once I dragged you out here, you began to improve. I went back then to check on the sheriff..."
Suddenly remembering Walters, Clark dragged his body up onto his elbows, so that he could see where she had fallen. It was then that he understood who the medics had been working on, and the sight that waited made him cringe. The fake cop had been loaded onto a gurney, a blanket covering her whole body and face. It didn't take a genius to work out that she was dead, and he felt instantly guilty. I shouldn't have hit so hard...
Lex saw his friend's face, and looked to the floor. "I know what you're thinking Clark, but I had little choice, and to be honest she got what she deserved."
"You had little choice?" Kent raised a brow, becoming more confused by the second. I thought it was my blow that did the damage...
"I had no clue who she was, not when I went back in there. But when I tried to drag her out she came at me with one of these spray things..." Lex opened his bruised palm, and showed Clark the offending canister. "It was kill, or be killed...and frankly, I find it ironic she died by her own weapon. In fact, I think she was the one who kidnapped me, and brought me here... "
Clark searched deep into Lex's eyes, looking for the real truth. He had expected the quote 'Live by the sword, die by the sword' from his friend, or at least some suitably sardonic citation, but instead all he got was silence. Did Lex snap, and finish Walters when he thought I was dead? Or did she really attack him?
The expression on Lex's beaten face gave no clues away, and he seemed simply relieved it was all over. Whether Clark believed his story or not, it didn't matter; a person could only be pushed so far.
Appreciating how much Lex had endured, Clark changed the subject, abruptly recalling his partner and father were missing. "Have you seen Lois? Or my dad?" He groaned as he finally sat all the way up, "Lois came in here with me, and I'm kind of worried..."
"She was the one who found me...Lucas would have killed me, if not for her..."
Kent frowned. He didn't like the way his question hadn't been directly answered, but he was afraid to ask more, because he was sure what the response would be. He gulped, thinking of how they had worked together, and of how fond of Lane he had become. "Was it quick?" He eventually queried.
"Quick yes...painless no!"
Both Lex and Clark fought aching muscles, and fading strength, to turn towards the voice. And both called out her name in unison, at her very alive presence. "Lois!"
Lane staggered a few yards, and then grabbed the wall for support, her head still reeling from the earlier blow she had taken. A nearby uniformed cop noted her plight, and offered a hand over to her two fatigued chums. She thanked him, then collapsed to the floor and exhaled. "You two guys look about as bad as I feel..."
Lex gaped. "But I saw you take two shots to the chest..."
Reluctant to move, Lois tugged open her jacket slowly to reveal body armor. She smiled over at Clark, and then closed her eyes briefly, understanding how close to death she had been. "Kent really is a gentleman; he gave me his vest..." She let her head lean back on the wall, wanting to sleep suddenly, and from the amount of blood on the back of her skull Clark guessed she had a concussion.
"Hey guys!" Kent shouted over the now redundant paramedics, intending for them to take care of Lois. "Can you take a look at my partner? I think she has a pretty nasty head wound here..."
Lane immediately scowled. "I'm fine!"
The E.M.T. carried on unabashed however, and Clark soon realized what he'd gotten himself into. "I don't know which one of you people to look at first!" The young medic shook his head as he drew closer, and saw the state of the trio. "I think you all need to get checked out at the hospital...!"
This time there were three unanimous shouts of 'No way,' and even the medic had to smile. "Jeez, one Metropolis senator, and two seasoned cops, and I can't even talk some sense into any of them!" He kneeled anyway, opening his bag, "At least let me clean you guys up..." Starting with Lois's gash to the head, he began to clean up the ugly wound, while the friends continued their conversation.
"So we found Lois...but what about my Dad?" Clark looked back to Lex, and this time got a bemused, and yet apologetic stare.
"Ah..." Lex licked his dry lips, and the corners of his mouth wrinkled in mirth. "The last time I saw him, he was being placed in the back of a patrol car by a State Trooper. Something about running amok with a stolen police issue shotgun..." The millionaire smiled fondly as he thought of Jonathan, "I always knew that temper of his would get him in trouble one day! I'm sure it's nothing we can't sort out though..."
Clark sighed, and began to drag his weary body into a standing position. From the corridor however, a scuffling and his father's voice cursing made him pause. Moments later Jonathan appeared, still cuffed, and with a very exasperated Trooper.
"Son, Thank goodness! We have to get to the hospital right now..." Jonathan glanced pleadingly at the cop who had handcuffed him, and after a brief look to his superior, the Trooper relented and freed his prisoner.
Clark shook his head, not yet comprehending his dad's meaning. "It's okay. I'm just a little bruised, nothing serious..."
"You don't understand Clark. I just listened to a call over the police cruiser's radio; there's been some trouble at the farm. Apparently someone used Chloe's cell phone to call for help...The dispatcher was pretty vague, but I heard enough to know they're sending an ambulance..."
In an instant, Clark's face grew ashen, abruptly realizing most of his family and friends had been at the farm. While everyone had made it through the ordeal here, perhaps the others had not been so lucky. Chloe...Mom...Karyn...Terrified, Clark turned back to the young paramedic as he tended Lois.
"Maybe we need that ride to Smallville Medical Center after all..." He knew it was against procedure, but now that he had no speed of his own, an ambulance with lights and sirens blazing might be the quickest way to the hospital.
The medic nodded, understanding Clark's anguish, and also wanting to get Lois to see a doctor. "You can ride in the back with your partner." He winked, and then peered at Lex, "You should get that arm sutured too..."
This time none of the trio refused his offer of help. But as they loaded Lois in the back of the rig, Clark desperately hoped the ambulance at the Kent farm, had only been sent as a precaution. Please don't let anyone be hurt...Somehow though; he suspected the Kent luck had just run out...
Smallville Medical Center...
There had mostly been silence on the way into the hospital. No one wanted to speculate on what might have occurred at the Kent's, although Clark had a pretty good idea it had been Lucas behind it. Lucas had engineered the entire mess, and now it was their turn to pick up the pieces.
Clark glanced over at his long time friend, as the rig finally slowed to deliver its burden to the E.R. "I know Lucas had you and Berman attacked on the way to the farm...I'm sorry you both had to go through this because of me..."
Lex breathed in through gritted teeth, cradling his injured arm, then hopped out first, as the rear doors popped open. "It wasn't your fault Clark. Lucas would have gotten around to me in the end anyway. I'm just sorry Dr Berman paid the price with her life..." He looked solemnly to the ground, and a flash of both anger and despair crossed his features.
Kent knew that feeling well. It was one that weighed heavy on his mind right now, as they jogged wearily up to the help desk together, while Lois was taken straight through. Dare I ask if anyone was brought in from home? What if...?
A teenage girl was already making an inquiring at the nurse's station as they approached, and Clark paced as he waited his turn, then whirled to look at Lex as a thought suddenly hit him. "Berman isn't dead Lex! Lana found her yesterday after you were kidnapped. I think she was pretty badly hurt, but..."
A sparkle of hope, and a sudden realization that he was in love filled Lex's broken heart, and he too began to get impatient at the help desk. He held back however, wanting Clark to be the first to have peace of mind; he owed him at least that much.
Finally at the front of the queue, Clark hastily explained who he was, and why he was here, and to Lex's consternation was led instantly away down a nearby corridor. He had heard the nurse mention the doctor had wanted a quick chat, and also the word wife. I hope I'm wrong, and if not that it's nothing serious...It took Clark so long to get his act together with Chloe...
"Ouch! I think we better get someone to look at that arm...In fact I think you better sit before you drop... " Lex looked up, and realized he had gone into a brief daze, and that the nurse had retuned without him even noticing. She was now staring at his battered body, with a mixture of concern and disbelief.
The millionaire shook his head, propping himself up on the desktop. "No, not yet, I can wait. I'd like to inquire about a Doctor Angela Berman...I believe she was brought in yesterday afternoon?"
The nurse tapped at her keyboard, and then sifted through a pile of paperwork in front of her, before shaking her head. "We didn't have anyone admitted under the name Angela Berman..." Her voiced trailed, and the inflection as she said the first name, made Lex frown.
"But you do have a Doctor Berman?"
The nurse smiled, wondering if Lex had taken a knock to his head, as well as a laceration to his forearm. "Yes...Jacqueline Berman, brought in yesterday..." She checked again, "Are you a relative, Mr....?"
"Lex Luthor...And no, I'm not a relative, but surely you can tell me how she is doing?"
"Doctor Berman is stable, and all things considered, I'd say that was a miracle in itself." The nurse looked over her glasses at the bloodied individual, unsure if she really was talking to the one and only Senator Luthor. "I wish I could tell you more but..."
Lex waved her off and limped to a seat, again going into a state of bewilderment. All those months ago, a kid had told him someone special would come into his life, and she would be named Jacqueline. For a time he had almost believed Daryl's prediction, but as weeks had gone by, the foretelling had faded to obscurity, and had been lost to his all consuming job. Now though, he knew the love he felt was more than just a passing phase. If she is the one, why is she listed as Angela Berman on my employee database? And why didn't my security people pick up on the anomaly?
There were still doubts in his mind, perhaps there always would be following Helen, but after more than ten years, Lex was ready to risk it once again. He would wait here until his arm had been sutured, and he had heard any news of the Kent's, and then he would put his world in order. Lex smiled the first true smile in all his life, feeling finally at peace from the demons of the Luthor family name, and all it brought with it. And as his mind relaxed, he let his body surrender, and in a few minutes was gently dozing under the pale fluorescent lighting...
Clark's heart skipped a beat, as the nurse on the desk confirmed his worst fears. Chloe had been hurt back at the farm, and although they said it was nothing serious, the doctor still wanted to speak to him. If she's okay, why have they kept her in? What isn't this nurse telling me? He followed obediently down a corridor, and as they reached a side room he saw Martha, Daryl, Karyn, and Lana waiting for him.
"Oh Clark!" Martha couldn't help but grab her son, and almost squeeze the life out of him. It had been the first time in nearly two days that she had seen him conscious, and after everything she'd been through, she almost collapsed with joy at his return to health.
He patted her on the back, but she refused to loosen her grip on him. "Everything will work out now Mom...I just need to speak to the doctor about Chloe..."
"Clarkie!" Karyn joined in the group hug, before her big brother could say anything more. She wrapped her arms around his waist, fighting her mom for his attention, and love.
Finally prying from Martha's and Karyn's grip, he glanced over to Lana, and she nodded to confirm she would keep an eye on his mom and sister awhile longer. "Dad should be along shortly..." He explained, "There wasn't enough room in the ambulance we came in..." He decided not to add Jonathan might be getting a ride in a patrol car, courtesy of a certain Trooper he'd irritated earlier.
Without saying more, he quietly entered private room and gulped. Chloe lay on the bed, looking peacefully asleep, and beside her stood a doctor checking her chart. The physician smiled as he entered, giving him some kind of hope. Surely she wouldn't look at me that way if it was bad news...
"Mr. Kent I presume?" The doctor held out a hand, "I'm Dr Rusch."
Clark shuffled to Chloe's side, and exhaled when he at least saw no visible injuries. "How is she?" He dared to ask, "I don't even know what happened..."
Rusch smiled again, this time at the thought of her patient's tenacity. "Your wife took quite a tumble, and was pretty upset when they brought her in. She wouldn't do anything we told her until she knew you were safe...and of course the baby..." The doctor looked at Chloe, who slept on, blissfully unaware of their presence. "In the end I had to give her something to calm her down..."
Clark didn't even hear the last part of the sentence. His mouth dropped open, but he found he struggled to say any words. "Baby?" He eventually mouthed.
"You didn't know, I take it?" Rusch pulled out a chair for the shocked husband, knowing from his face, that his legs had just turned to jelly. " They're both doing fine." She said softly, "We just want to keep an eye on Chloe for the next few hours, just to be sure..."
Clark nodded, but he still wasn't taking it all in. In the midst of everything Chloe had never had the chance to give him the news, and now he was finding out the hard way. What if I'd lost them both? Almost shaking, he took Chloe's tiny hand and held it, not wanting to leave her ever again.
"I'll be just outside..." Rusch offered, knowing the devoted husband would want more information, once he recovered from the surprise. "Don't worry; we'll take care of her."
"Thank you...Thank you for everything..." Clark's voice quivered, as his anxiety turned to excitement, and then joy. "Is it alright to stay awhile?"
The doctor nodded, tucking her hands in her pockets as she exited. "Take your time."
Clark looked back to Chloe, so angelic and restful, and suddenly wanted to sit here all night. Everyone was safe now, and anything else could wait until morning, including any statements he might need to make. As the reality of what he had been told sank in, a warm fuzzy feeling crept over him, and he couldn't shake it. In fact, he didn't even want to try. Instead he beamed, and could think of only two things. Chloe's safe... and I'm going to be a Dad!
Crater Lake
A Few Days Later...
Chloe watched as the partially submerged car was dragged from the murky and mysterious lake. For a time, its wheels seemed to stick into the muddy bed, holding it fast as if the water didn't want to give up its dead. The idea alone made her shiver, and subconsciously she grabbed Clark's hand, as he too watched the spectacle.
Supervising the vehicle's extraction was the new temporary sheriff, Paul Stillwater. He had called on the Kent's early in the morning, with the news that a car had been found abandoned here, and that they possibly knew its driver. At first the news hadn't been that alarming, and Chloe, ever the reporter had wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Now though, things had taken a darker turn, because Stillwater had found a note in the waterlogged car. It was brief, and to the point, but most of all it was saddening.
I have tried to put right, some of the wrongs I have committed in my lifetime, and perhaps those I have aggrieved will one day forgive me. What I cannot do however, is forgive myself. I abandoned my own son to his fate with a crime lord, and even now, because of me his life may be at risk. There is only one way to end this nightmare, and give him peace. If I am dead, Lucas has no hold on my child any longer, and maybe I can find solace in that one last thought.
I pray that Michael, if that is the name my son still has, is alive, and that one day we will be reunited in a better place.
To those I have wronged, I am truly sorry, but justice will be served...
Sheriff Stillwater had let Clark view the note, out of courtesy as a fellow officer. And even through the evidence bag, its message had been a haunting one. Helen hadn't really been a bad person, she had merely been a statistic, and had now paid the price.
"Do you think they'll find her body down there?" Chloe peered at the water, her face ashen and grim.
Clark looked across the expanse that was Crater Lake, his eyes skimming the surface. "I don't think there's a diver in Smallville, or even Kansas that will want to go into that water. Not with all those meteor fragments still down there..."
"So we'll never know for sure?"
Clark shrugged. "Perhaps not, Helen could have faked this to make a clean break, or maybe Lucas' people wanted it to look like a suicide. They did chase after you from Metropolis..."
Chloe knew he was right, but it didn't really matter how it had occurred. It was just another wasted death. "Did the Sheriff have any word on Lucas yet?" She looked hopefully for a moment, but Clark's negative expression told her there was no news.
"No, and I doubt there will be, at least not for awhile. The police and F.B.I are assuming he was wearing a vest, because there was no blood trail, and yet Lex was adamant he hit him twice. Even so, he won't resurface till this mess has died down, hurt or not. Stillwater tells me they'll be cleaning illegal weapons and chemicals out of Plant three for the next two weeks...it was a big operation, and I'm thinking Lucas is not going to be flavor of the month with his crime buddies for getting caught..." So far they haven't found any trace of the key from my ship either, but I can't tell Chloe that...Maybe Lucas still has it?
"Have you heard from Lex? I mean I know how bad he felt, especially when he thought he'd killed his own brother." Chloe squeezed Clark's hand and smiled, appreciating how much Lex meant to him.
"I don't know if he's relieved or angry, but I do know Angela will help him get through it now that she's recovering. Lucas getting away has weighed heavily on him, but he'll be okay now he has a good woman...Just like me." Clark turned to face his wife, taking her other hand in his. "There's something I have to tell you Chloe..."
She put a finger to his lips, stopping him before he could go on. "I have something I need to tell you first...I waited a few days after my fall...until I was sure everything was alright..."
Clark beamed, knowing what she was about to tell him, but he had yet another surprise to come. "I know Chloe, but first my question..." He tormented for just a second, and then gazed deep into her eyes. "Do you want to know if it's a boy, or a girl?"
Chloe's brow furrowed, and her eyes shrank to points. "Who blabbed?" She queried, her voice rising before ultimately realizing something. "How do you know if it's a boy or girl? Even I don't..."
The euphoric cop cocked his head towards the lake. "The same way I can tell you there's no body in that water...at least not as far as the eye can see..." He winked, and then amended his last statement, "Well at least as far as my eyes can see! Of course it doesn't mean Bryce isn't dead but..."
"You mean you have your x-ray vision back? What about everything else? Oh my God...you saw what sex the baby is!" Suddenly feeling too excited to even think, Chloe punched her once again invincible husband, and found herself lost for words.
Clark beamed. "The doctor at the hospital told me about the baby, and then when I realized I had my gifts back, I couldn't resist taking a peek. Don't you want to know too?"
Chloe swatted him again, and then tugged his huge frame down to her height. "Don't you dare blab!" She whispered in his ear, and then kissed him, before he could tell anymore secrets. Clark didn't argue, he simply surrendered to his wife's wishes, perhaps a little too easily...As he finally pulled away he grinned. Losing my gifts and then slowly getting them back did have some advantages after all...
Several Months Later...
The snow flurries seemed to eddy around the car, reminding Kent of some fictitious starship entering warp speed. He smiled at the thought. Did my pod look like that as it sped through the heavens, hurtling past stars in a blur?
Chloe noticed the slight unconscious grin appear on his face, and decided to question it. "Care to let me in on the fun?" She teased him, and then turned up the car's climate control a notch, as the sheer sight of the outside weather made her shiver.
"The snow kind of reminded me of something..." Clark watched his wife turn up the heat, and took his eyes from the road for a second to glance at her, concerned. "I knew driving to Smallville in these conditions was a bad idea. What if the baby..."
Chloe cut him off. "Clark, we're driving to your parents on Christmas eve, not trekking to the North Pole! Will you lighten up?" She shot him her best 'stop fussing' look, and then with a smile turned on the radio. "Besides, I can't think of anyone I'd rather be stuck in a whiteout with..." She winked, and Kent knew he had already lost the fight.
Resigned to the fact that he may be super, but would never outsmart Chloe, Clark flicked the wipers to maximum, and focused on the vanishing road ahead. The weather report had given out warnings, but so far this was far more severe than they had anticipated. Right now, Clark was glad he had snow chains fitted to his Ford, and just hoped they were up to the task. Out on the highway it was easy going, but once they hit Smallville's back roads, it would be simple to get stuck.
Clark smiled again. I guess it's a good thing I can lift this thing out of any drifts or ruts...He sighed, and risked one last fleeting look at Chloe. She was everything to him now. I love you so much Chloe...And soon, they would have the seemingly impossible, to add even more joy and love to their existence. Clark's smile grew to an ear-to-ear grin. I can't wait for this baby...I wonder which one of us will get to hold the little tyke first!
Chloe watched her husband, and knew without asking, just where his mind was wandering. It wasn't difficult, when all she doted on was the same thing. "How long do you think it will take to get there now?" She finally asked, bored of the incessant droning of winter tires on snow.
"It won't be long," Clark reassured, "And we can snuggle up in front of the fire then, and choose some names!" He smirked, and ducked a little, waiting for the swat he knew would come.
He wasn't wrong. Chloe cuffed him summarily around the ear with her woolly glove. "Don't you dare blab Clark Kent! I told you before, just because you cheated and know what sex the baby is, doesn't mean you have to spoil it for me!" She settled back in her seat eyeing him suspiciously, "You didn't tell your parents did you?"
Clark flicked on the turn indicator, signalling to pull off the highway towards Smallville, but didn't reply. It was much more fun to tease his wife all the way to the Kent farm...
Somewhere Near The Kansas Border...
The roads hadn't even been icy when the Lincoln had set out. It was supposed to have been a day's drive, maybe a little more into Smallville, but then the weather had drastically changed. The back roads the car now travelled on were perilous to the extreme, but the danger was a necessary risk, if the driver intended to make it to the Kent's without intervention.
There were people, and dark underworld sources who might still want this inconspicuous vehicle destroyed, if they knew who its sole occupant was.
The driver continued unabashed. The storm had hit this part of Kansas first, and the car was heading into more bad weather, instead of away, but it didn't matter. If I can still reach Kent, then maybe I can settle the score and finish this mess, like I should have all those months ago...
It was a dangerous thought, and one that almost got the huge, overbearing car tipped on its roof. Up ahead the road turned sharply, but the warning sign had been covered by a thick blanket of snow and ice. The driver reacted at the last moment, finally seeing the peril, and tugging the steering wheel too fast in a risky evasive maneuver. The car slithered over the glassy road surface, and in a strange way it was reminiscent of ice skating over Crater Lake.
The car slid helplessly into a nearby drift, but the driver refused to give in on the mission, cranking the engine till it restarted, and then rocking the vehicle until it was free. Nothing could get between this person and Kent tonight, not even mother-nature herself, because there was one last, old debt to pay...
The Kent Farm.
Clark tapped lightly on the car brakes, bringing it to a halt as near to the farmhouse as possible. The wintry weather was freakish even for Smallville, and he didn't want his wife out in it a moment too long. With a quick dash, he zipped around to the passenger side so fast that he was almost dodging the between the snowflakes.
"I could carry you...?" He offered, tugging the door open.
Chloe scowled. "Clark, I can walk!" She knew he meant well, but over the last few weeks, he had become frustratingly overprotective. Maybe he's still worried about the fall I took...She shrugged it off and ventured out into the white freezing haze. Mmn, maybe I should have let him superspeed me after all...
At the front porch, Martha and Jonathan were there to greet them, hastening the couple into the cosy interior, and out of the deluge of sleet and snow.
Clark stomped mushy snow from his boots, and smiled at his parents. "It's nice to be home for Christmas."
"Clarkie and Chloe are here!" A small giggle, followed by feet pounding down the stairs, signalled Karyn's arrival, but she wasn't alone.
The shy, and yet reassuring presence of Daryl surprised even Clark. "Hey Buddy; I didn't know you were joining us?" Clark hugged Karyn, and threw a small mock punch at Daryl, who simply gave a look of gratitude back.
"We have a little surprise for you Son," Jonathan looked to Martha and then took her hand, as he told his eldest child, "Daryl is going to be staying with us...Pete and Lex managed to pull a few strings between them. And well he kind of fits in with this family..." Jonathan winked at Daryl, who took the little light hearted quip with a smile, and then looked up to Clark for a reaction.
Clark beamed and ruffled the kid's hair. "We can shoot some hoops in the summer, but I warn you...Karyn cheats!"
Daryl grimaced and looked to Karyn with a sigh. "I know, I found out the hard way..."
Everyone had to laugh at the oh-so serious face he pulled, and then they ventured into the living room, while Martha popped into the kitchen to fix them all some supper. The tree sat in the corner, where Clark had opened his gifts every year since his unearthly arrival. It beckoned to him, its lights glistening and filling the room with seasonal cheer. Beneath it lay a multitude of presents, each one neatly wrapped by Martha.
"Oh boy..." Clark put a hand to his mouth, realizing they had sent Daryl's gift to Lana, thinking he would be with her. "We have no gift for Daryl in the trunk..." He whispered to his dad.
Jonathan smiled knowingly. "Your mom and I kind of guessed that, so we put something under the tree from you two..."
Chloe smiled appreciatively then took a seat, feeling a little tired. "So, what is Lana up to? I mean if you guys have Daryl, isn't she coming over?"
"She's spending some time with Paul Stillwater I believe..." Jonathan waited for Chloe's shocked reaction, but none came. Instead the intrepid reporter glanced to her husband and smirked.
"I told you those two would get it together! I could see it a mile off!" I mean it didn't take me long to find out she's been dating Smallville's newest sheriff, I just hope this time she finally got a good guy...
Clark grinned sheepishly. Chloe was just too good at knowing stuff sometimes. "I don't know who to ask for a prediction first, Daryl, or mystic Chlo and her crystal ball!"
The cute description got him another cuff with Chloe's gloves, and then she pulled him close for a quick kiss, before asking her next request. "While your mom gets supper ready, do you think Karyn would mind if we went out to your old loft and well, just kind of reminisced? I often think about our teenage years and how that place played a big part somehow..."
"Chloe, it's freezing out there! You should stay here, in front of the fire where it's warm..." He pulled away slightly, but knew the battle wasn't over.
"Clark please..." She carefully entwined her fingers around his collar, pulling him down for a more lingering kiss, "It is Christmas...and all I want for Christmas...is you..."
A chuckle from behind, made Clark blush like the day Chloe had kissed him in front of Kyle Tippet, and he hastily stood back up. From the far corner, Karyn had been watching the two lovebirds, and had found her brother's attitude extremely amusing. "You just have to take her to my loft Clarkie, it's so romantic!"
He waved a hand up in defeat, knowing the girls were ganging up on him. "Okay, okay, but I insist I speed you over there, and I want a blanket for you too, it's too cold..."
Chloe grinned, an impish sparkle gleaming in her eyes. "CLARK! Will you stop fussing!"
Clark carried Chloe across to the barn faster than the snow could fall, and as they arrived at the bottom of the old wooden staircase, he paused just to check her expression. She was grinning again, this time at her very special husband's abilities.
"I hate stairs..." He teased, defying gravity, and letting his body float gently up to the loft. At the top, he landed softly, and set Chloe down on the couch that had once been his, wrapping her in the blanket Martha had supplied with a hug. "I still don't know why you wanted to come out here though..."
Chloe looked around. The old barn hadn't changed much even though this part belonged to Karyn now. There was still the shelves lined with books, the hammock strung from the ceiling, and by the closed shutter stood Clark's telescope. "Memories..." She finally answered. "I just felt like being alone with you here, I have no clue why. Maybe I wanted one last glimpse of the past before I become a mom..."
Clark smiled, knowing suddenly just what she meant. Time had passed them by in a blur, and they had gone from teens to would be parents faster than he could run...at least it felt that way. "I just wish the weather was more suitable..."
"Me too," Chloe nodded towards the shutter. "You could have showed me the stars, and we could have guessed which part of the universe you came from Superdad!"
Clark cringed. "Chloe, do you have to tease quite so much?" He knew she did, and had accepted the fact long ago. "Want a snack? I'm sure I can go steal away some of the food mom was getting ready..."
"Oh, you read my mind! You can come snuggle up on here with me then," She patted the couch, "And we can munch away while we cuddle..."
"I'll just be a second!" Clark said, meaning it literally, and then vanished into the night.
"I've heard that before..." Chloe couldn't help one last poke of fun at her husband, knowing he could still hear her across the yard. "You never keep appointments!"
Clark zipped into the kitchen, just as him mom was putting out some homemade cookies. He grinned at her huge creations, and was about to appropriate some when she slapped his hand. "Clark! Those were for later."
"C'mon Mom, Chloe wants to nibble on something, and I can't think of anything better than your cooking..." He gazed longingly at the plate, but Martha still appeared reluctant.
"They just came out, they really need to cool some more. And besides, if you eat those now you won't want your real supper!" She eyed her son, and then conceded just a little. "Just let them cool a moment. I don't want to give Chloe indigestion..."
Clark agreed, trotting into the living room to catch his dad watching the TV. It was the local news report, and mostly it centered on the atrocious weather that had found its way to their State.
Jonathan turned as he heard his son approach. "This is some storm. It's already taken out the phone lines, and the forecast says it's going to get worse through the night! They say it's even harsher than the snow and ice storm we had back in January 2002..."
Clark recalled that storm too. Over three days it had taken down trees and power lines, causing major chaos across portions of both Kansas, and Missouri. It hadn't been pretty. "I sure hope Lex is okay, he's supposed to be taking Dr Berman on vacation tonight. I can't imagine them flying in something like this though..."
Jonathan agreed. "If he hasn't already set out, I would think they will cancel the trip Son, at least until this weather abates."
Clark stared out of the window, at the snowstorm raging like some white tempest as far as the horizon. I pray you're right Dad, because other than me, I doubt anything could stand flying in that kind of squall...
Lex sat back in the plush Learjet seat and smiled at his fiancé. Dr Berman had taken a long time to recover from the injuries Lucas had caused, but she was here now, and Lex was elated. They had just managed to get the last flight clearance, before the runway outside Smallville had been closed, apparently due to the bad weather. And now, as they relaxed, any kind of storm was the last thing on their minds.
Lex smiled, wanting to ask the doctor a question that had puzzled him for many months, but he still didn't know how to phrase it without sounding intrusive. I can't marry a woman who has a secret. What if it turns out like Hel...Lex shook the thought from his head. He was finding this flight difficult after past events, but in ten years he had to let go of Bryce and get a grip. So, just ask her why her records all say Angela Berman, and yet the hospital had her down as Jacqui...But then if she is like Helen, she'll have a suitable lie prepared...
"Something wrong Lex? You look a little nervous, and that's not like you." Berman seemed to sense his sudden unease, and leaned across the table. "Have some champagne and relax..." She poured two sparkling drinks, not realizing what memory it invoked.
Lex stared at the beverage, as a myriad of bubbles fizzed up in the glasses. "Angela, I have something to ask you..." His heart began to race, "Why do you go by the name Jacqui sometimes?" He waited for a reply, but instead of receiving one, the small private jet started to shake.
Berman saw a sudden terror in her partner's expression, and he turned white as a ghost, as a second vibration ran through the fuselage. "It's just turbulence Lex..." She smiled, cocking her head. "Are you sure you don't want a drink?"
Lex gulped. Am I paranoid, or hasn't she actually had a drink of her own yet? "No Thanks..." He pushed the glass back in Berman's direction, trying to tell himself not to panic, but then abruptly the cabin lights dimmed, and finally extinguished altogether. When the emergency lights kicked in, Lex found he was alone. It's happening again. I can't outrun my fate...
Looking from the window, the millionaire saw what looked like icicles forming on the wingtips. Perhaps it was some kind of storm, just like when Helen had been there. The Learjet rocked more, its frame seemingly bouncing on pockets of invisible air, until Lex was forced to grab onto the seating to keep his balance. An interior door at the back of the plane slammed, bringing more bad recollections. Maybe she's getting a parachute...
Determined not to ever crash again, Lex pushed his body to head towards the front, but even now the jet appeared to be veering at an odd angle. Another patch of turbulence almost knocked him to the cabin floor, and then he was at last at the cockpit. His hand shook as he reached to tug the door open, and he blinked, closing his eyes in case the pilot seat truly was as empty as ten years before...
Chloe peered around the loft, wondering where her husband had got to. She rolled her eyes, deciding to take a peek about till he returned. "Jeez, I thought you were going to get a snack Clark...Oh hum, don't tell me, Santa needed a hand delivering the world's presents huh?" She mumbled excuses to herself, gazing at some of Karyn's prize possessions and becoming swiftly intrigued.
On the wooden desk that Clark had once used to study, Karyn had photos and reports all laid out neatly ready to paste in a folder. Most were of what Chloe still called 'wall of weird' material, and the reporter was deeply impressed by how they had been put together. Hey, who would have thought it, but it looks like we might have a Kent becoming a journalist!
Forgetting her husband for a minute, Chloe leaned over, intent on studying Karyn's latest findings, but tonight destiny had other things in store. Without warning, she felt a rush of water flow down her legs and soak her jeans, followed by an overwhelming pain shooting through her abdomen. She doubled over, and grabbed onto the desktop to keep from falling, trying to keep her balance at the same time. The pain only lasted for a few seconds, although, it seemed like an eternity to Chloe. Once it subsided, Chloe realized that her water had just broken, and the baby was coming a little early, like it or not. She started to make her way over to the old couch, but then the pain abruptly came again. "CLARK!"
An anguished cry was all it took to cause her startled husband to come hurtling in from the Kent kitchen. Clark had been talking to his mom one second, and across the yard, and up the staircase in the next. Sometimes his hearing truly was a blessing.
"Chloe?" With one glance at his distressed wife, Clark guessed what was happening, and tenderly scooped her into his arms. Should I carry her across to the house, or would it be too much with the weather and the baby coming? Panic overwhelmed him, as he remembered the news broadcast, and that the roads were already blocked with snow. No ambulance would be able to get through to them tonight. I can't fly her to the hospital either, not in these blizzards...I wouldn't have a problem, but Chlo surely would...Making a swift choice, he laid her down on the couch she had been heading for.
"Clark the baby's coming...it's too early, there's something wrong...I know it..." Chloe gasped out the broken sentences, obviously in more pain, and mental anguish than she cared to admit.
"It's okay Chloe; it's always like this trust me. Everything will be fine. I'll go get Mom." He smiled, taking her hand for a moment to reassure her, but when he tried to pull away Chloe hung on for dear life. She knew the first time was supposed to be scary, but somehow she sensed there was something else. Her fingernails dug into his impenetrable flesh, and even though he felt nothing, Clark wished he could take the agony for her.
"No! Don't leave me..." Chloe panted out the words, having no intention of relinquishing her iron, leech-like grip on his arm. "Clark, please...I know there's something wrong. I can't have the baby here, not now..."
I can't just sit here, I need to convince Chloe everything is alright, and then go get Mom. Maybe if I take a peek and can tell her the kid is doing fine, she'll let me go...
Focusing his x-ray vision at just the right intensity, Clark sneaked a quick look at their unborn child. It was the first time since Crater Lake that he had stolen a glance, and it was both frightening, and awe inspiring. The little baby looked so different now, so adorable, even before its birth. And yet as Clark saw more, he became increasingly alarmed, realizing that intuitively Chloe had somehow been right.
The expression on his face, and the direction of his gaze, told Chloe just what he was seeing, and she squeezed down on his skin even harder. "What's wrong? Oh God it's the baby isn't it...I knew..."
Clark gulped, almost starting to shake. How do I balance the truth, and still not terrify her? "It'll be alright Chloe, but please try not to push till I get Mom, just in case..." Again he tried to tug free, but she held him fast, her terrified eyes pleading for an answer to what he had perceived was wrong. In the end he had little choice but to tell her. "The baby's not exactly in the greatest position to come out..."
Chloe's already pale features drained totally of all color, and her pounding heart almost skipped a beat. "Not breech...can't be..."
"Clarkie?" Another voice permeated the suddenly traumatic night. "Mom was kind of worried when you zipped off. Is everything alright?" Karyn's head popped into view, and her jaw dropped as she abruptly understood what was going on. "Am I gonna be an Auntie now?" She queried, innocently, "Only isn't it a little early?"
Clark inhaled, all kinds of harrowing ideas milling in his head. What if, what if...? "Karyn, I need you to get Mom, as fast as you can..." He begged urgently, and then looked back down into Chloe's eyes, hoping to offer some kind of comfort. "Not breech Chlo, honest..."
She didn't hear his words, and couldn't see his expression. Because she had screwed her eyes closed, both from the pain, and her innermost fear. It must have been the fall, even after all this time, and now I'm going to lose the baby. After I've been through so much...I can't have a breech baby, not in a barn...there's no chance...
"I can't get Mom, she's arguing with the visitor..." Karyn's head cocked to one side, and she obviously didn't grasp the seriousness of the situation.
"Clark...please don't let the baby die..." Chloe's unexpected, and gut-wrenching whimper cut every nerve in her husband's body to the core, but still his sister didn't comprehend what was going on. She simply watched, not understanding.
Agonized, Clark felt like yelling at Karyn, and telling her to get back to the house and call for help. But he bit his tongue, recognizing his emotions were out of whack. Then in the middle of the nightmare, something else hit him. What visitor? Who on earth comes out on a hellish night like this, and to our farm? He kicked back into x-ray mode in a flash, allowing his eyes to penetrate the barn walls, and deluge of snow.