Into the Pantheon: Of Gods and Angels
::Chapter Five::
Clark looked around and decided someone could hear their conversation - even his parents, and he didn't even want them to hear. They would be very worried - and upset with him if they learned someone else had seen him use his abilities.
"I know what I saw and no, you can not convince me otherwise." -Catherine.
Clark said, "Outside," and headed out.
They walked outside, but discovered the freak rain that had started earlier was pouring now, so they stayed under the awning outside to avoid the showers. No one was near them and they talked in quiet tones.
"Do you regularly have these strange suspicions about people?" -Clark.
"I just told you--" -Catherine started.
"What do you want me to say?" Clark asked, his tone sharper.
"Just admit it. What are you afraid of?" -Catherine.
"Lionel Luthor for one. So alright, you know I'm 'different'. But if I tell you anything further, you might pass it on to him. He has been close to..." Clark stopped what he was saying and then said, "Only my parents and Pete knew about... my being different. I can't let your dad find out." He looked at her pointedly, "We both know what he's capable of... probably you more than me, and if you don't - you're living in a fantasy world."
"Oh I know." Catherine said, a slight narrow of her eyes and then it was gone. "..But what if I didn't tell him?"
"It's not as easy for me to trust people anymore." -Clark.
"I have secrets too, Clark." -Catherine.
"And I suppose you're just going to spill all of them to me?" -Clark said, tinged with sarcasm.
"You know I'm not. But maybe..." -Catherine.
"Maybe what?" -Clark.
"Nothing." Catherine said and then sterner, "We're getting nowhere here. The fact is I know and you know I know."
"But what do you think you *know* besides I'm simply 'different'?!" Clark asked, frustrated.
"You're different... as in, advanced species different." -Catherine.
Clark wanted to erase their whole conversation right at that moment; he didn't want to be exposed, especially by Lionel Luthor's own daughter. He didn't even have to imagine what it would be like if Lionel Luthor learned of his origins. Saying it would be a nightmare - and for a lot of people, would be a major understatement. But what if Catherine kept his secret? Almost no one else alive aside from his parents knew about who and what he really was, except Pete. And Pete hadn't told. But he knew Pete... he had for a long time. Clark had known Catherine for such a short time. Though he did have to admit to himself that it seemed they connected somehow - in some way. He wanted to think that the innocent looking girl before him was just as innocent and good as she appeared. But he couldn't be so naive as to think that was just it. Aside from being Lionel Luthor's daughter - or maybe because of that fact, he had the feeling that she was not all what she seemed. And she'd even admitted she had secrets. The question was: would she keep his?
Clark grabbed her forearm, but not harshly. "You can't tell anyone about what you saw. About me... about anything unusual. Promise me you won't." He looked at her with wide eyes, desperate and yet determined.
Catherine had been debating since she saw Clark impossibly save Pete that night, whether she should or would have to lay her cards or at least a *card* on the table in order for Clark to show his. Looking into his wide, innocent eyes - she could feel his desperation, but she also felt his goodness and for one instant she felt like she could trust him with anything. But remembering Lionel, her goals and who she was: she decided against telling him anything. But this probably also meant for the time being, she couldn't learn anything else from him. A momentary impasse. However, she could just refuse to keep his secret unless he answered some particular questions she had for him. She wouldn't do it. She didn't want to use tactics with this one. Not Clark Kent.
"Alright." -Catherine said and she turned around to head back into the hospital as the rain was subsiding and the sky was lighetning up pre-dawn.
Clark laid a hand on her shoulder for a second before letting go, "But you didn't promise."
Catherine turned to look at him again. "Do you believe that I would keep my promise?"
Clark looked at her searchingly, a long moment, "Yes. Or at least I want to think you would."
Catherine smiled at him all of a sudden and touched his arm. "Don't worry."
She turned and walked into the hospital.
Clark felt somewhat relieved all of a sudden, although he wasn't quite sure it was because of her words: maybe her eyes. Though, he realized she still hadn't made any promise...
------------------------------------------
The next day, Clark went back and visited Pete at the hospital. He was told he was doing much better and he wanted to see for himself. Although, they hadn't been as close lately - he still cared about him. When he walked into the room, Chloe was there visiting Pete too and they were talking in lowered voices. Their expressions seemed conspiratorial and a bit serious.
When Clark came in, they lightened their expressions.
"Hey Pete. Chlo." Clark said. He then went over to Pete and half-hugged him. "How are you doing?"
"Well the ole' lungs are sore, but if it wasn't for you I'd be ashes, so I shouldn't complain." -Pete.
"That's not funny." -Clark.
"Who's laughing?" -Pete said and then he smiled, though Clark could tell he was upset about something other than the obvious.
"You're welcome Pete. Now tell me why you two looked so serious when I came in." -Clark.
"The police think it was arson. No other possible reason for the fire." -Pete.
"But why would someone want to purposefully set your house on fire?" -Clark.
"My mom is a prominent judge around here..." Pete said.
"But it could be something specific." -Chloe.
Clark frowned. "What? Tell me."
"How about I give you two letters. LL. And it's not Lex." -Pete said.
Clark looked at them, waiting for them to continue.
"Chloe and I were talking and well... there was this one thing. I found out my mom had ruled negatively against Luthorcorp in a suit brought against the company by a few former employees who claimed they had health problems due to working for Luthorcorp. Luthor made sure the lawsuit was kept pretty hush-hush so as not to damage PR, for one." -Pete.
Chloe said, "Yeah and it so happens that the people who by the way, moved - to Grandville and to Metropolis -- they've died."
"Don't tell me...house fire?" -Clark.
"Two house fires and an automobile accident." -Chloe.
"Not a coincidence, Clark." -Pete said, anger barely contained under the surface.
------------------------
After he left the hospital, Clark headed home to talk to Catherine to find out if she knew anything about the fire at Pete's house. Afterall, she was at the scene and just because he covered for her with the police *and* his parents, by saying that she was driving by and saw the fire so she stopped -- he wasn't completely certain that was the case. Number two reason to talk to her, was because she was Lionel Luthor's daughter. Though he didn't exactly expect her to just spill her guts to him... so he wasn't sure how he was going to go about asking her other than the straightforward 'do you know anything?' He sure hoped she didn't, because he didn't want to be wrong about her. He instinctively felt she was a good person and he didn't want to have to find out his perception was wrong.
He had just entered the barn and was going to go up to the loft when he stopped. She was using her cell, again. She was talking quietly, so he couldn't hear what she said until he used his super-hearing. When he did, he jumped into the conversation.
~Lionel's voice: "- expect you to report quickly. I'm confident in your abilities."
Catherine, a bit exasperated: "When have I ever failed you before?"
Lionel's voice: "Never. And that's one reason why I expect perfection. Now--"
Catherine interjects: "Don't worry, father. I'll tell you about hi----"~
Catherine stopped what she was saying and turned when Clark appeared at the top of the stairs. She froze for a moment as she looked at him.
Clark could hear Lionel say, "What is it?"
Not taking her eyes off Clark, Catherine said, "Nothing. Talk later." And then she clicked the phone off.
Clark advances on Catherine and snatches the phone out of her hands and slings it on the couch.
"Maybe I should clue you in to the fact that being different for me means being able to do more than going through fire and having super speed. I also have super-hearing." -Clark said, angrily.
Catherine realized that he heard some of their conversation. She looked surprised.
"Yeah, so the next time you conspire with Lionel Luthor against me - you might want to rethink talking anywhere near me." -Clark said. And then, "What have you told him?! You lied to me!"
"It's not what you think." -Catherine said as she looked at a furious Clark.
END of Chapter Five
--------------------------------
If I made any mistakes - I'll correct them tomorrow.
Thanks to Nightwing, lirr, fuzzynerds and Jalevah for reviewing last chapter. Also, lirr- you're absolutely right, thanks for telling me about Catherine's conversation with her father. I forgot to include an explanation for that - so I went back and edited chapter 4 just a bit. Guys, keep me on my toes.
next chapter within a couple days.
::Chapter Five::
Clark looked around and decided someone could hear their conversation - even his parents, and he didn't even want them to hear. They would be very worried - and upset with him if they learned someone else had seen him use his abilities.
"I know what I saw and no, you can not convince me otherwise." -Catherine.
Clark said, "Outside," and headed out.
They walked outside, but discovered the freak rain that had started earlier was pouring now, so they stayed under the awning outside to avoid the showers. No one was near them and they talked in quiet tones.
"Do you regularly have these strange suspicions about people?" -Clark.
"I just told you--" -Catherine started.
"What do you want me to say?" Clark asked, his tone sharper.
"Just admit it. What are you afraid of?" -Catherine.
"Lionel Luthor for one. So alright, you know I'm 'different'. But if I tell you anything further, you might pass it on to him. He has been close to..." Clark stopped what he was saying and then said, "Only my parents and Pete knew about... my being different. I can't let your dad find out." He looked at her pointedly, "We both know what he's capable of... probably you more than me, and if you don't - you're living in a fantasy world."
"Oh I know." Catherine said, a slight narrow of her eyes and then it was gone. "..But what if I didn't tell him?"
"It's not as easy for me to trust people anymore." -Clark.
"I have secrets too, Clark." -Catherine.
"And I suppose you're just going to spill all of them to me?" -Clark said, tinged with sarcasm.
"You know I'm not. But maybe..." -Catherine.
"Maybe what?" -Clark.
"Nothing." Catherine said and then sterner, "We're getting nowhere here. The fact is I know and you know I know."
"But what do you think you *know* besides I'm simply 'different'?!" Clark asked, frustrated.
"You're different... as in, advanced species different." -Catherine.
Clark wanted to erase their whole conversation right at that moment; he didn't want to be exposed, especially by Lionel Luthor's own daughter. He didn't even have to imagine what it would be like if Lionel Luthor learned of his origins. Saying it would be a nightmare - and for a lot of people, would be a major understatement. But what if Catherine kept his secret? Almost no one else alive aside from his parents knew about who and what he really was, except Pete. And Pete hadn't told. But he knew Pete... he had for a long time. Clark had known Catherine for such a short time. Though he did have to admit to himself that it seemed they connected somehow - in some way. He wanted to think that the innocent looking girl before him was just as innocent and good as she appeared. But he couldn't be so naive as to think that was just it. Aside from being Lionel Luthor's daughter - or maybe because of that fact, he had the feeling that she was not all what she seemed. And she'd even admitted she had secrets. The question was: would she keep his?
Clark grabbed her forearm, but not harshly. "You can't tell anyone about what you saw. About me... about anything unusual. Promise me you won't." He looked at her with wide eyes, desperate and yet determined.
Catherine had been debating since she saw Clark impossibly save Pete that night, whether she should or would have to lay her cards or at least a *card* on the table in order for Clark to show his. Looking into his wide, innocent eyes - she could feel his desperation, but she also felt his goodness and for one instant she felt like she could trust him with anything. But remembering Lionel, her goals and who she was: she decided against telling him anything. But this probably also meant for the time being, she couldn't learn anything else from him. A momentary impasse. However, she could just refuse to keep his secret unless he answered some particular questions she had for him. She wouldn't do it. She didn't want to use tactics with this one. Not Clark Kent.
"Alright." -Catherine said and she turned around to head back into the hospital as the rain was subsiding and the sky was lighetning up pre-dawn.
Clark laid a hand on her shoulder for a second before letting go, "But you didn't promise."
Catherine turned to look at him again. "Do you believe that I would keep my promise?"
Clark looked at her searchingly, a long moment, "Yes. Or at least I want to think you would."
Catherine smiled at him all of a sudden and touched his arm. "Don't worry."
She turned and walked into the hospital.
Clark felt somewhat relieved all of a sudden, although he wasn't quite sure it was because of her words: maybe her eyes. Though, he realized she still hadn't made any promise...
------------------------------------------
The next day, Clark went back and visited Pete at the hospital. He was told he was doing much better and he wanted to see for himself. Although, they hadn't been as close lately - he still cared about him. When he walked into the room, Chloe was there visiting Pete too and they were talking in lowered voices. Their expressions seemed conspiratorial and a bit serious.
When Clark came in, they lightened their expressions.
"Hey Pete. Chlo." Clark said. He then went over to Pete and half-hugged him. "How are you doing?"
"Well the ole' lungs are sore, but if it wasn't for you I'd be ashes, so I shouldn't complain." -Pete.
"That's not funny." -Clark.
"Who's laughing?" -Pete said and then he smiled, though Clark could tell he was upset about something other than the obvious.
"You're welcome Pete. Now tell me why you two looked so serious when I came in." -Clark.
"The police think it was arson. No other possible reason for the fire." -Pete.
"But why would someone want to purposefully set your house on fire?" -Clark.
"My mom is a prominent judge around here..." Pete said.
"But it could be something specific." -Chloe.
Clark frowned. "What? Tell me."
"How about I give you two letters. LL. And it's not Lex." -Pete said.
Clark looked at them, waiting for them to continue.
"Chloe and I were talking and well... there was this one thing. I found out my mom had ruled negatively against Luthorcorp in a suit brought against the company by a few former employees who claimed they had health problems due to working for Luthorcorp. Luthor made sure the lawsuit was kept pretty hush-hush so as not to damage PR, for one." -Pete.
Chloe said, "Yeah and it so happens that the people who by the way, moved - to Grandville and to Metropolis -- they've died."
"Don't tell me...house fire?" -Clark.
"Two house fires and an automobile accident." -Chloe.
"Not a coincidence, Clark." -Pete said, anger barely contained under the surface.
------------------------
After he left the hospital, Clark headed home to talk to Catherine to find out if she knew anything about the fire at Pete's house. Afterall, she was at the scene and just because he covered for her with the police *and* his parents, by saying that she was driving by and saw the fire so she stopped -- he wasn't completely certain that was the case. Number two reason to talk to her, was because she was Lionel Luthor's daughter. Though he didn't exactly expect her to just spill her guts to him... so he wasn't sure how he was going to go about asking her other than the straightforward 'do you know anything?' He sure hoped she didn't, because he didn't want to be wrong about her. He instinctively felt she was a good person and he didn't want to have to find out his perception was wrong.
He had just entered the barn and was going to go up to the loft when he stopped. She was using her cell, again. She was talking quietly, so he couldn't hear what she said until he used his super-hearing. When he did, he jumped into the conversation.
~Lionel's voice: "- expect you to report quickly. I'm confident in your abilities."
Catherine, a bit exasperated: "When have I ever failed you before?"
Lionel's voice: "Never. And that's one reason why I expect perfection. Now--"
Catherine interjects: "Don't worry, father. I'll tell you about hi----"~
Catherine stopped what she was saying and turned when Clark appeared at the top of the stairs. She froze for a moment as she looked at him.
Clark could hear Lionel say, "What is it?"
Not taking her eyes off Clark, Catherine said, "Nothing. Talk later." And then she clicked the phone off.
Clark advances on Catherine and snatches the phone out of her hands and slings it on the couch.
"Maybe I should clue you in to the fact that being different for me means being able to do more than going through fire and having super speed. I also have super-hearing." -Clark said, angrily.
Catherine realized that he heard some of their conversation. She looked surprised.
"Yeah, so the next time you conspire with Lionel Luthor against me - you might want to rethink talking anywhere near me." -Clark said. And then, "What have you told him?! You lied to me!"
"It's not what you think." -Catherine said as she looked at a furious Clark.
END of Chapter Five
--------------------------------
If I made any mistakes - I'll correct them tomorrow.
Thanks to Nightwing, lirr, fuzzynerds and Jalevah for reviewing last chapter. Also, lirr- you're absolutely right, thanks for telling me about Catherine's conversation with her father. I forgot to include an explanation for that - so I went back and edited chapter 4 just a bit. Guys, keep me on my toes.
next chapter within a couple days.