A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

By Allegra

See Part One for all notes & disclaimers.

Thanks to all my lovely reviewers who I must apologise to for not getting this chapter out quicker. I've never been working on so many stories all at once & I've been waiting for my next Smallville mood to strike, but I forced it out (ok, that sounds worse than it is). I apologise for any spelling errors, I just wanted to get it up quickly & didn't want to wait to re-read it.
NOTE TO SOME REVIEWERS:
Tandy - There's no Chlex in here this chapter, but I promise it's on it's way soon.
MitchPell - Thanks for all your lovely reviews. To be honest, I'm not really a Clark/Lana person either, I was just trying to appease that part of my readership & flesh the story out a bit. Hope this bit isn't too C/L for you, but I promise the tone is shifting next chapter.

CHAPTER 8 : WOOD FOR THE TREES

"Did you hear that?" Instead of clinging to Clark's arm, Lana roughly pulled herself away from him and wrapped her arms around herself.

Clark muttered, "Yeah, there's someone in the woods." He stood up and moved stealthily towards the tree line, carefully avoiding the dry twigs that would blow his cover. Homing in on the closest portion of the woods with his x-ray vision, Clark could clearly make out the shadowy figure. He was male and stooped as if old age had claimed him and the teenager could tell from the slow, deliberate movements that this person was no threat to him or his friends. He called out, "Hello? Who's there?"

The figure froze for a moment, face turned towards the direction of the voice. Then, he started to move closer to the edge of the field. Clark instinctively moved backwards to protect Lana from the stranger. Her hands gently fingered the arms of his shirt as she peeked out from behind him. "Who is it?" she asked, urgently.

"I don't know." Clark tried to keep his voice steady but he could feel a familiar headache burning into his consciousness, threatening to make him black out. He blinked hard, trying to dispel the agony that was spreading over his brain. Straining to keep his attention on the figure closing in on them, he dimly noted a tinge of colour around the man. Was it just his eyes or was that a green haze enveloping the man's skeleton? Then, the stabbing pain radiated from its core in his mind to make a path down his spine. Cold and mercurial it wended its way through Clark's veins and he looked down in horror at his hands. The veins were bulging with blood and poison, swelling the skin taut and threatening to burst. The pain was incredible and it was all Clark could do to murmur a response to Lana's frightened enquiry.

"Clark, what's wrong? You look terrible." Her eyes anxiously searched her companion's usually open and friendly face, now contorted and pale. Lana's attention shifted suddenly to the swaying man walking unsteadily towards them from the shadows. "Clark!" In her head, the call had been clear but, as it left her lips, it was nothing more than a strangled whisper.

The man moved closer and the red light of the bonfire lit up his features, the crevices of his face etched as dark lines. From his appearance, it was clear that he was some kind of tramp or hermit. The clothes had the pungent, musty smell of rain, moss and damp leaves. They had been lived in and unwashed for several months. His hair was shoulder length, hanging unkempt in greasy, matted locks and his skin carried the dirt of too long without a bath.

Lana grabbed Clark's arm and began to back away towards the lingering crowds across the field. Clark's head was pounding and he stumbled under her grip, falling to his knees. He balled his fists up in the earth, fighting to remain conscious. He couldn't see beyond the lights dancing in his eyes but he could feel the man getting closer by the increasing pain coursing through his body. Suddenly, strong hands gripped his shoulders and heaved him onto his back. The stench of rot assailed Clark's nostrils as the tramp's face came close to his.

"I know you, I know you...I do, we all know you! It's the scarlet, deep and bloody. You've got it, I can see through...I can see through!" The man's eyes glowed, maniacally, as his grip tightened on the front of Clark's shirt. "Don't let them know better, 'coz there's danger there. Danger you can't stop." The words tumbled meaninglessly from his lips and Clark fought weakly to push him off, but he was weak as a kitten and there was nothing he could do except pray that someone came to his rescue. Where was Lana? Her name formed on his lips but he barely had the breath to whisper it.

In answer to his prayers, the weight suddenly lifted from his body and the blinding pain criss-crossing his body eased a little. "Hey, get off him!" Male voices rallied around him and Clark struggled to regain his orientation. Like an angel at his side, Lana was kneeling next to him, her hair tickling his face. "Clark? Clark, can you hear me? Are you okay?"

"Yes...I'm...better." What more could he say? He couldn't explain his reaction, just put it down to the weirdly concocted drinks being passed round the party. He mumbled his excuse and allowed her surprisingly strong arms to encircle his shoulders and help him to his feet. They felt like jelly and, for a moment, Clark wasn't sure he'd be able to stand unsupported.

Then, in a second, all the nauseous feelings left him and the teenager was completely recovered. That could only mean one thing. He looked urgently around the small circle of people gathered at the edge of the woods, "Where did he go?"

Lana's concerned gaze still scrutinised his face for signs of infirmity. "He took off into the woods. Come on. Let's get you home." Ignoring his protests, Lana drew him back in the direction of the truck and the Kent farm.

"Well, whatever it was, I can safely say your health is fine, Lex." Dr. Stowe, the Luthor physician, removed the stethoscope from Lex's bare chest. The young man quickly began pulling one arm of his shirt on. He hated visits to the doctor, probably as a result of so many years being prodded and poked during his youth. He had always looked somewhat sickly as a child then, when asthma had reared its ugly head, Lionel had made a point of regular check-ups. Just entering a hospital and smelling the strong odour of disinfectant was enough to bring the memories rolling back.

Lex looked sheepishly at Stowe, "So I'm kicking up a big fuss over nothing?"

The doctor laughed, heartily, and shook his head. "If there's one thing the Luthors can't be accused of, it's being hypochondriacs. I believe your rash existed but, as with so many of these things, they have their own ways of clearing up. I'm glad you came though, Lex. That check-up was long overdue. I was starting to think my messages weren't reaching your office."

Lex shrank a little under his disapproving, fatherly gaze. The words were not vocalised, but they both knew what he was really saying. He might be a billionaire but even billionaires can't evade the nagging guilt of missing a doctor's appointment. "I don't suppose the 'I've been busy' excuse would let me off."

"No, I don't think so. I know you too well, Lex, or perhaps I should start calling you Mr. Luthor." Lex frowned in confusion and the doctor continued. "You've been building quite an empire out here in Smallville. It has been noticed across the business world."

Lex buttoned the cuff of his shirt and smiled, "A man's got to step out of his father's shadow sometime. Smallville was a great opportunity for me."

Dr. Stowe made a few notes on Lex's record. He didn't want to reveal his own feelings about the Luthor family too much and had made a point to remain guarded about his personal opinions of their business habits. However, he had always maintained a good relationship with Lex as the family doctor. Stowe could vividly recall the times that Lionel had chided his son for cowardice when Lex had whinged about yet another needle in his arm or more tests. Lionel had been harsh, even brutal, in handling his son. Dr. Stowe had always been there to ease the discomfort for the young boy and to reassure him.

Now, to look at the man before him, was like facing a different person. Lex had changed, his father's efforts made fruitful over the years. It was a sight that sent a momentary shiver down the elderly man's spine. Lionel was a fierce leader, a shrewd businessman with little care for the weak around him. He had won many wars but he was not a good man. If he were a religious man, Luthor would have much penance to do, atonement for sins too numerous to remember. Was it possible that Lex could go the same way? The world would be a sadder place for it. This planet did not need another wrathful Luthor tyrant, it needed a man with respect for his fellow man.

Stowe glanced up at his patient, noting the drawn expression on Lex's face. In that moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to save him from such a fate. He wanted to draw the goodness out of the shadows he could already see forming around the young man. Stowe opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself. It was not his place. He was an employee of Luthorcorp and he would be out of line. Perhaps Lex was stronger than the doctor gave him credit for. "Well, I think we're done here, Lex."

Clark had experienced the worst day of school he could remember. Everyone had been at Marty's party, so that made the vibe good. Unfortunately, that also meant everyone had heard about Clark's little bout of nausea after trying the new 'juice' that was being fervently discussed. Sniggers met him behind every locker door, jibes in the lunch hall and even those people he had considered friends had proven to be below sticking up for him.

As he walked down the main street, his head was anywhere but on the faces he passed. He had never scrutinised the pavement so closely in his life before. It was quite a revelation how many bits of chewing gum could be squashed into the tarmac. Still, the teenager's mind still found time to wander to the general mess his life had turned into since Saturday night. Pete, Chloe and the rest of the school thought he was a laughing stock, he had made a picnic of his relationship with Lana and, even if Whitney didn't find out, the incident with the boho in the woods had set off a whole new set of questions.

Glancing up from his path, Clark noticed Lex's car parked across the street. He scanned the pavement for a sign of his friend and noticed the young man crossing the road further up. "Lex!" he called, grateful to find a friend who might not have been listening to idle high school tattle.

Lex didn't so much as turn his head in Clark's direction and the teenager called out again. He watched as the older man stepped out directly into the path of an oncoming truck. "Lex! Look out!" Clark called. Lex did not stop, he barely even flinched as the vehicle hurtled towards him. Clark didn't need to think, he knew what he had to do. Speeding towards his friend, he pulled him back to the pavement. The truck beeped his horn angrily and continued on its way. Clark glanced furtively around the shoppers, checking that no one had seen him.

"Lex, are you okay?" Lex seemed somewhat dazed, an expression Clark had never seen crossing the unflappable man before. "Lex?"

Lex blinked hard, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Clark. To the teenager, it were as if he had no idea who he was or what he was doing. "Clark?" he asked, huskily. His eyes moved to the cars driving slowly up and down the road beside them. "Saving a man's life once again must surely get you extra credit." The tone in his voice was dry and Clark could tell he was trying to cover up his erroneous behaviour.

"Lex, you almost walked out into the centre of the traffic."

"I know." Lex rubbed two fingers against the bridge of his nose then shook his head. "I've had a lot on my mind." He knew it wasn't the best answer to throw Clark off but it would have to do.

"Anything I can help with?" Clark enquired, graciously.

Lex smiled. He should have seen that coming. "No, Clark, but thank you. It's business." He moved away from his friend, hoping it would be enough to show Clark he didn't want to talk without hurting his feelings.

"Lex, have you got a minute?" Clark had spurned and disputed Lex's advice on countless occasions, despite the older man's better judgement in several situations. Now, he was the hypocrite because he had never wanted to hear those homilies more. He desperately wanted to reassurance that his life would get back on track. He had talked to his parents about the incident with the tramp but, right now, Clark was more concerned about where he stood with Lana or his friends than the latest kryptonite infested freak.

Lex sighed inwardly and turned back to Clark. "Is it important?" He couldn't hide the bitter iciness to his voice but he wanted to be alone. He noticed the teenager's shoulders slump and Clark muttered, "No, I guess not. I'll catch up with you later?" he queried.

"Bye, Clark." Lex made no commitment. The near collision with the truck had left him more shaken than he cared to admit. He needed to get a grip on himself once more and he couldn't let anyone help him. Putting his keys in the ignition with one shaky hand, he headed back to the mansion and the sanctuary of his own thoughts. Ignoring the light-headedness he was beginning to experience, he put his foot down hard on the acceleration pedal and skidded out of Smallville centre.


Please, please look at that lovely little box down there that says 'Submit Review' & tell me something!! I'm sorry the Lex thing is slow coming but I got side-tracked with Clark there for a while. I promise Chlex lovers that there will be something between the two soon because it's a pairing I particularly like as well :).