Part 6
Mack ran up the stairs so fast even Clark would be impressed. Both Pete and Chloe woke up looked at each other and in unison said, "Clark." They jumped from their chairs and ran up the stairs after Mack,
Mack rushed in and saw Lana sitting up hysterically yelling at Clark, "Clark?!?!?"
Running up the to other side of the bed, "What?"
"He … He…" her eyes moved rapidly.
Grabbing her by both of her arms, "WHAT LANA?"
"He stopped breathing he's not breathing!"
Taking control of the situation, "Ok, ok, we have to do CPR," she knelt on the bed next to him, "I'm going to push on his chest you blow when I tell you too."
Lana was in shock.
"LANA CLARK NEEDS YOU!"
Lana shook her head, "Ok, OK" and positioned herself near his head. She closed his nose with her hand and pushed up his chin.
Pete held Chloe while they watched and secretly prayed.
Pushing on his chest, "One, Two, Three, Four, BLOW!."
Lana blew into his mouth.
Nothing.
"One.. ..Two…come on Clark…Three, Four, BLOW!."
Lana blew into his mouth. As she pulled up and looked at him. Everyone in the room had stopped breathing in suspense.
Mack went to push again but stopped herself short. Clark started coughing. To everywhere there it was the greatest sound they had ever heard. Lana started crying a bit hard but judging by her smiles they were tears of joy. Mack took a deep breath and got off the bed.
"Clark?" Lana said brushing his hair to the side.
Clark opened his eyes and grinned a bit. Prompting Chloe to grab Pete and give him a hug. Mack just stood there with a slight smile on her face.
Clark took heavy breaths while he kept his eyes on Lana's teary but joyful eyes. He managed to force out a weak, "Lana.."
At that Lana hugged him with all her might, "Your ok… your ok."
Clark rubbed her back lightly he was still pretty weak, "I'm ok I just can't breathe."
Lana let go and sat up, "I'm sorry,,"
His voice horse and fragile , "Don't be," he wiped her cheek with his thumb.
She in turn put her hand over his, closing her eyes she nuzzled her head further into his palm. Then pulled it off, kissed his palm and held his hand in hers. The two looked into each others eyes until Clark broke their stare and looked at Mack.
"Mack?"
Getting closer so she could here, "Yeah?"
"Your ok?"
Lana smiled at him then looked at Mack. He had just woken up from almost dieing and the first thing he asks is if Mack is ok.
Smiling weakly, "Who knows. As long as your better. You had us pretty scared there man."
Her tightened her grip on Lana's hand, "Thank You."
"Don't thank me, I'm the one that got you in this mess. I don't deserve a Thank You."
Lana spoke up, "You also got us out of this mess," looking back at Pete and Chloe then back again, "all of us."
Mack just nodded not wanting to talk about it. She wasn't deserving of any platitudes. They should have hated her, they should have hated just as much as she hated herself.
Chloe waked over to the bed, "I'm glad your ok Clark."
She stepped back a bit and let Pete through, "Yeah man, promise you'll never scare me like that again."
Clark grinned and nodded. His eyes started to slowly shut. Mack took it as there cue to let both him and Lana rest. "Well, you need to rest Clark so we'll go."
"Where are you going to sleep?" Lana asked.
"Don't worry about it," looking at Chloe and Pete, "I can give you two a ride home.." then realizing there were two, "..one at a time."
"The Jeep keys are under the counter you can use that," Lana let go of Clarks hand and stood up, "Your sure about us sleeping here?"
"Right Lana you know what let's pick Clark up again and you two can sleep in the tub," getting a small smile from Lana, "yeah I'm sure just stay there. Plus it's your building in the first place."
Pete and Chloe said there goodbyes and went out the door. Mack was last to leave and didn't say a word.
As she went to go out the door Lana grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a hug. Mack didn't return the hug with as much feeling as Lana.
Whispering in her ear, "You brought him back to me..Thank you."
Mack pulled out of the hug nodded at her without once making eye contact and descended down the stairs.
Lana watched her with a bit of confusion and concern written a coarse her face then closed the door.
As she made her way back to the bed she couldn't help but be so thankful for getting a second chance. If Clark had died it would have killed her. She knew it. Brushing off the thought she slid into bed and rested her head back onto Clark's chest. Smiling a bit wider she squeezed him a bit tighter for a moment and closed her eyes.
"Lana?"
Opening her eyes and cocking her head so that her chin was resting on his chest her eyes at full attention, "uh huh?"
"We still have to.."
Lana reached up and put her finger to his lips, "let's just enjoy this moment. We'll talk tomorrow," she pushed herself up and kissed him gently, "rest."
Clark just smiled wrapped his arms around her and drifted off to sleep. Lana did the same.
::In the Jeep::
Pete sat shotgun, Chloe sat in the middle of the backseat so as not to miss out any conversation. Mack hadn't said a word since they got in the car, keeping her eyes on the road. She was to the outside world at peace while a war went on within her soul.
In typical Chloe fashion she broke the silence, "So you're a freak?"
Pete getting defensive, "Chloe?"
"No, it's fine Pete," she said as she placed her hand on his arm and looked back at Chloe, "Yeah I guess you could say that."
"So what exactly can you do?"
Pete kept giving her the glare and she just looked at him with a what-the-hell-did-I-say look.
Her voice completely sterile and monotone, "I just heal faster then well humanly possible."
"Did something happen during the meteor shower?"
"No, I've had it since birth. Some kind of mutation."
"Oh," she said disappointed, "well what exactly.. Like how extreme of a wound can you heal from."
"Anything I guess. That knife tonight, broken bones, pulled muscles."
"So you don't bleed?"
"I do but only for a few moments then my skin repairs itself."
At the sight of Chloe's house she breathed a sigh of relief. Now more questioning. Making sure to pull up slowly, Chloe slid out. Before closing the door she poked her head back in, "You still have to explain what happened tonight."
Before Mack got a chance to say anything Chloe closed the door and ran to her house. Pete just smiled at Mack sheepishly.
Pete didn't question or try to make conversation with her. She had been through enough he wasn't about to push her to someplace she didn't want to go. He respected her to much, loved her to much.
As they made their way to Pete's house they saw a huge grouping of fire trucks, ambulances and cop cars on the side of the road.
"What the..?" Pete said moving a bit closer to the windshield.
Mack looked around and noticed it was the very place just hours before that she had left Edge for dead. She slowed down to get a good look. There on the side looked like three body bags the car had been pulled from the tree and was being placed on a tow truck.
Pete looked at it curiously then remembered what Mack had said, "Car crash?"
Without missing a beat and pressing the gas a bit harder, "Car Crash."
They reached Pete's house, he got out and started walking away. As Mack turned the car someone was banging on the window she hit the brakes. It was Pete. Rolling down the window.
Her raised eyebrows suggesting she wanted to know what he wanted.
"I just.. Umm I just wanted to.." funny he had known what he was going to say when he ran back to the car. But looking at those big blue eyes he faltered, "I wanted to say if you need to.. If you ever want to.."
Mack understood and tried to help him out of the quicksand of words he managed to fall into in mere seconds, "I will Pete."
"Ok," he smiled and hit the car door lightly, "Ok."
Walking back to the house he knew full well she wouldn't take him up on his offer but can't say he didn't try.
::The Talon: morning the next day::
Mack pulled the Jeep into the alley, parked and walked in. As she looked around the fatal shot that killed Dylan kept ringing in her head. She needed to get out and out fast. She grabbed an ordering pad from under the counter and wrote a note to Lana.
"Lana-"
After writing her name she couldn't think of what to say. Tapping the pen against the counter….
"Lana-"
Still nothing. She opted just not to explain anything because she in truth didn't know what to explain.
"Lana- here are your keys.
-Mack"
Not much but she couldn't explain where she was off to, even she didn't know. She positioned the note and keys just right then left. Mack walked around the spot where Dylan had died as if it were instinct. She got on her bike and went. Without a clue as to where she was headed and if she intended on coming back.
::Mack's Apartment: around 9 a.m.::
Lana opened her eyes and for a moment was slightly confused. She sat up, saw Clark staring at her.
"Hey," he whispered.
"Hi," rubbing his stomach lightly, "how are you?"
"I feel.." he tucked her hair behind her ear, "perfect."
Smiling a sleepy smile she returned her head to his chest, "perfect."
"I guess the Talon won't be open today?" he said sarcastically.
"Guess not."
As they lay there Lana went over the nights events in her head again. Nothing was perfect she almost lost him. Her eyebrows furrowed as she stared out into the open apartment, "Clark you almost died tonight."
Squeezing her tighter, "keyword almost."
"But if I lost you again.."
"Lana…"
"No Clark," Lana broke herself out of his arms abruptly and stood up. She began to pace around the foot of the bed, "You don't know what it was like Clark. You weren't waking up and I just ..I just and seeing you struggle because of the meteor rock.." every thought she started she couldn't finish they were all coming out at once and refused to stand in line, "Clark if you died tonight … I would never forgive myself."
Sitting himself up, "For what?"
"For what happened yesterday in the car," she stopped pacing and sat on the side of the bed her body turned outward, "You could have died thinking I didn't love you and or didn't want to be with you because of your .. Your abilities."
Clark looked down at his hands when she said it, it was true he would have and he still didn't know what she felt, "Your right I would have."
Looking over her shoulder at him, "But it's not that. I swear to you it's not. I don't know how to explain it. I know this. I love you ," turning completely towards him and placing her hand over his, "YOU.. Clark Kent and all that implies."
Looking down at their hands, "and all that implies? Come on Lana don't tell me your not freaked out. Don't tell me that when I raced back to the car to get your jacket you didn't freak."
"No it wasn't that. I mean Clark this, you… is so big. So much bigger then me. I didn't think about it until the beginning of this week. What if I can't handle it, huh? What if I slip? I slip up and you die. And you know what? It's not all about me. I look at you and I think back on how you use to be around me. The weight of the world on your shoulders. Never being able to tell those you love who you really were. Afraid they wouldn't accept you. I just can't help to wish you were normal so you wouldn't have to deal with all of this…" She rose again and walked over to the stained glass window.
"All of what?"
"People like Morgan Edge wanting to exploit you. I just don't want you to have to shoulder it all, it's not fair," turning towards him, "What sucks the most is I can't help you. I can't relief you of the burden. And you've done so much for me." She turned to look out the window again.
Clark started to get up slowly but upon noticing that he really did feel perfect he got up faster and walked up behind her. Wrapped his arms around her stomach, kissing the top of her head, "You do relieve me of the burden."
Asking with her voice seemingly riddle with doubt, "Yeah and how's that?"
Resting his chin on her head, "Loving me… me, Clark Kent with all that implies. You don't know how much weight just your presence relieves me of."
"Oh Clark," leaning her body into his a bit more.
"Lana I don't have faith in much. I used to but since that summer in metropolis I don't," he pauses as she turns around still in his arms, "What I have never doubted is my faith in you."
Lost in his eyes and touched by his words she pulled him in and kissed him with as much passion has she possibly had and he returned the gesture. When they broke away for air Lana whispered, "My faith lies in you too Clark." They continued to kiss; lit by the sunshine breaking through the stained glass.
::Mack: early afternoon::
Mack hadn't got off the bike since she left the Talon. She just wanted to get away, not feel anything, not face anything. He guilt was slowly eating her away she felt it. But if Mack didn't get off the bike it wouldn't consume her. It couldn't.
Suddenly realizing she had yet to go the police station and not wanting a warrant. She made a quick highly dangerous turn through traffic and made her way to the station. During this drive she took chances she wouldn't normal take unless she was racing. Mack was no longer concerned with her life and therefore her safety anymore. There was no point in being careful she was going to push the limits and see just how much her body could fix.
::The police station::
Mack pulled up, parked and walked in to get it over with.
Walking up to the reception, "I'm here to give my statement."
The young recruit looked up at her, "That's all well and good but who are you?"
Mack was about to tell her, her name but the detective walked up greeting her., "Mackenzie, come on in."
Mack gave a snotty smile to the receptionist and followed the detective. The receptionist gave her the death glare until she was out of view.
"Sit down," he motioned to her as he took a seat and smoothed out his tie.
Taking her seat she just stared at the things on his desk.
"So tell me what happened that night," his pen tapped the pad again.
It was driving Mack crazy but she tried to ignore it and answered his question, "Where would you like me to start because it was a pretty long night?"
Ignoring her attitude, "Well let's start at your record," picking up a file from his desk to show her, "I looked you up."
"Funny I thought those records were sealed," sitting up in her chair, "I'm a juvenile."
"You know your law, good. But when your involved with Morgan Edge it doesn't matter how old you are."
"Right well I agreed to come here and talk about last night," leaning her heard closer to the desk, "and it doesn't look like we're doing that."
Pointing his pen at her, "Tone down the attitude. Fine last night, Chloe Sullivan says Morgan Edge kidnapped she, Peter Ross, Lana Lang and a Clark.." taking a look through his pad, "Kent. Correct?"
"Yes."
"First of all Morgan Edge is dead."
"Apparently that's a common misconception, that I am guilty of as well."
Mack went on to informed him about Edge's plastic surgery and gave him a description of what he looked like now.
The detective was curious as to whether it was the man they brought in from a car crash just that morning.
"Would you mind identifying him?"
"Fine," taking a deep breath and shaking her head yes.
"Before we do that I need you to confirm the fact that the victim Dylan Thomas was in fact shot during a struggle for the gun with you."
The word victim kept repeating in her head, she didn't hear a word after that. Sitting there blankly staring at the detective's name plate.
"Ms. Small?"
"Yeah?" she said through her breath.
"Dylan getting shot.."
Still lost in her thoughts, "What about it?"
"The gun off during a struggle?"
"Yeah we. We were.." Mack's voice started fading out as if she were going to sleep, "We were fighting for the gun. His gun and it went off."
Sensing she was still troubled by it he ended the conversation "Ok, I just needed to confirm that. Come with me so you can identify Edge's body." He got up and waited for her to follow.
Getting up, "Then I leave?"
"Then you leave… come on," he walked beside her with his hand lightly hovering over her back.
::Meanwhile @ The Talon::
Lana and Clark decided to leave the apartment and face the day ahead. They walked down the stairs holding hands. Seeing a note on the counter Lana let go of Clark's hand and went towards it. Picking up her keys with one hand and the note with the other. See looked down at it curiously.
Saying it out loud for Clark, "Lana- here are your keys. Mack," she said Mack's name with a tone of even greater curiosity. Turning her body towards Clark, "I wonder where she went."
Clark just shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe I should try her cell phone?"
Grabbing her hand and looking at her with understanding, "I'm sure she's fine. She just ran out for a bit."
"What would she have to run out for?"
Clark was about to continue his argument but Chloe and Pete walked in the side entrance.
"Clark looks like your back to your old self..so fast," Chloe said the "so fast" to hint that it was unusual.
Playing it off "I had a good nurse," with a big grin he hugged Lana from the back. Lana looked up at him and smiled.
Pete squinted his eyes and shook his head , "I bet you did," he took a look around, "So you like the clean up job?"
Lana and Clark still hugging looked around. "Jeese I didn't even notice. Yeah it's perfect thank you guys."
"Mack helped too," Chloe had no idea why she needed to add that.
Pete suddenly remember his real reason for stopping by, Mack, "Where is she any way?"
"Don't know she left me a short note saying these," shaking her keys, "were mine but nothing else."
"Oh crap!" Clark let go of Lana.
"What?" Lana, Pete and Chloe said in unison.
"My parents their coming home today or," looking at his watch, "They're already home." Looking up at Lana clearly panicked. Forgetting that Chloe was there he went to run out of the Talon then just use his speed to get home. But has he went to bolt he realized and turned to Lana. "Can you.."
"Yeah, let's go," Clark rushed past and Lana followed suit leaving both Chloe and Pete standing there. Just as Lana stepped out of the side door she turned back to them, "Sorry I'll see you later? Lock up before you leave, thanks. Bye!"
Both Pete and Chloe just looked at one another and shook their heads. This is how it was going to be from now on. Clark and Lana leaving Pete and Chloe in the dust.
::The Kent Farm::
Lana floored it as she turned on to Clark's street but as they approached the farm both noticed the red truck already in the driveway.
Clark slouched in the seat, "Nice knowing you."
Just as he said you a mack truck in the oncoming lane began to lean on his horn. Both Lana and Clark looked at each other wondering why he was honking, they weren't doing anything wrong.
As the truck got closer still honking Lana looked in her side mirror. Her eyebrows furrowed at what she saw. A bright yellow motorcycle going full speed ahead towards the truck. As soon as she realized it was Mack, Lana lost sight of her in the side mirror and regained it when she saw Mack was right next to her. The truck inching closer and closer.
Lana yelled out "MACK!!!" in panic.
Clark looked on also panicked wonder what he could do, but then again he didn't know what she was doing.
::To Be Continued::
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Part 7
The truck inched closer and closer together everything was happening so fast. Lana didn't know what to do and neither did Clark. Suddenly as the horn blared and the two were about to collide Mack slipped through the space between Lana's car and the truck. Missing both by mere inches. Scared she was about to hit her Lana stopped short. Both breathing heavily as panic wrote a poem across their face they watched Mack speed off down the street.
They had without intention stopped right in front of the entrance to the Kent Farm. Taking a moment to breathe.
Clark looked at Lana concerned, "You ok?"
"Fine, you?" still staring at Mack's slowly disappearing bike.
"Fine," looking at her then back at the road.
"I should follow her."
"I'll go.." turning his body towards her.
Cutting him off, "No."
Hurt but understanding., "Ok I'll get out here," he leaned in and kissed her. As he pulled away, "Be safe."
She just nodded and waited for him to leave. As soon as he got out she sped off after Mack. Clark watched from the top of his driveway wishing he could help. He just blinked hard and slowly turned to face his parents.
::On the Road::
Mack was swerving in and out of the cars without little to no concern for herself or those on the road. Which made it increasingly hard to follow but somehow Lana managed.
Talking to herself, "What are you doing Mack?"
Suddenly Mack turned on to a beaten path just off the road. Lana tried to make the turn but just missed it.
She hit the steering wheel in frustration, "Damnit!" Turning around she received a few honks but she got it done and turned down the path.
After a few minutes on the road Lana realized that the makeshift road led right to the waterfall were she had fallen about a year before. Recalling the memory "god that feels like so long ago" she thought. As she came up to the end of the path Mack's bike was parked to the side but she was nowhere to be seen. Lana pulled up quietly and got out just as silent.
As she walked up she saw Mack sitting at the edge of the bridge looking down. That bridge had claimed her friend Emily's life and almost hers, she knew the danger of it.
Walking out with the utmost care, "Mackenzie?"
Lana had startled her she her body jumped a little. Looking at her over her shoulder, "Lana? What are you doing here?"
"I followed you," Mack's tone scared her so Lana proceeded with caution.
"That explains how you got here but doesn't explain why you are here," she looked out to the rough river.
"I could ask you the same thing," inching to her.
"I started to run out of gas halfway down this hick path so here I am. What's your excuse?" looking back over her shoulder.
"I followed you because I hadn't seen you all day and that was my car back there that you almost hit when you were playing chicken with the truck!" Lana realized she sounded more like she was yelling at her then concerned so she opted to just be quiet until Mack made her move.
"I wasn't go to collide with it, " getting up and turning toward Lana, "I was testing myself to see if I could go through with it. But I didn't so here we are."
"Why would you do that?"
"I didn't so why does it matter? You know what? Thanks for the concern but I think I can make it out of this place and to a gas station on an empty tank," She moved to walk by her, "I'm sure you can find your way out."
Grabbing her arm, "It does matter! What the hell is going on with you? Your riding that bike like you could care less if you crashed."
Mack stood her ground and kept her back to Lana. She wasn't ready to open up not to herself to anyone. She felt damaged beyond repair and she wasn't about to load her emotional baggage on anyone when she didn't even know how heavy it was, "It wouldn't matter if I did crash, I'd just heal and that would be that."
"You can still get hurt. Remember you told me about when you got caught by the cops in Metropolis? You crashed into the car head first. You were in a coma for two weeks," she moved to walk around Mack and talk to her face to face.
"I broke my neck and severed my spine cord," Her eyes looked intensely into Lana's as if she were trying to challenge her to give up and look away.
But Lana didn't back down, "Oh.."
"Oh? Oh? Lana I should be 6 feet under right now! And you what? It would be better if I was," with that she lightly shoved Lana aside and quickly walked to her bike.
Lana ran after her, "Mack talk to me!" She stood in front of the bike in order to block her from leaving. At this point Lana was experiencing a really bad case of dejavu . She had done the same with Clark in Metropolis. But this time she wasn't under the influence of anything, this was her and something was deathly wrong. "This is about last night.. Dylan."
Mack reached for her helmet without making eye contact and lifting it above her head. Just has she was about to put it on, "Lana your not responsible for healing every lost soul in Smallville. Stop worrying about me, I'm not worth the effort." Before Lana could counter she shoved her helmet on flipped down her visor, walked the bike back in reverse and sped away.
Standing there a minute watching her go Lana was reminded of their conversation in her bathroom the words echoed in her head, "You're the only family I've got." Lana started walking to the car and pulled out her cell phone, "If she won't talk to me…"
Dialing and pressing the phone to her ear, "::Ring:: Ring:: Pete? Yeah it's Lana. I'm picking you up I need a favor."
::The Talon::
Mack didn't want to be back but she needed cash for gas so she figured she stop and go. Hopefully avoiding Lana. Part of her wanted to tell Lana everything she was feeling but the other part wanted to keep it all in, hide it. Out of sight out of mind.
::Meanwhile:: Lana and Pete had driven around Smallville looking for Mack's yellow motorcycle but the one place they didn't go by was the Talon. Driving by Lana spotted the bike and pulled quickly into the alley.
As they parked Pete began to have doubts. "Lana, what makes you think she'll talk to me?"
Turning off the engine, "After she found out the truth about me, you two got close," looking at him with pleading eyes but he returned an expression of hesitation. Trying to ease his fears, "Pete she won't talk to me. I'm worried plus I owe for what she did for Clark and I."
Pete just nodded and got out of the car. Lana got out and opted to do a lap around main street before returning.
As Pete walked in the side Mack was going up the stairs to her apartment.
Yelling up to her, "Mack?"
She jumped out of fright and turned around, "Pete! Jesus you scared me."
"Sorry," his hands nervously fidgeted with his sleeves, "I just wanted to see how you were."
"I'm fine, thanks."
"Right soo," Pete had no idea where to go from there.
"That all? Because I just making a pit stop," she said dismissively.
Pete had no idea how to continue the conversation. Without a response Mack turned to continue what she was doing.
"Wait… Lana doesn't say your fine."
"What does she say then?" turning back around and walking down the stairs to meet him.
"She says your driving you motorcycle like your immortal or something and that you won't talk to her. She's worried Mack," Pete moved to the middle of the Talon hoping to draw Mack away from the stairs.
Stepping off the stairs but keeping her hand on the Talon, "Just her?"
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, "No I am too."
"Well don't Pete ok? Just forget about me, your life will be a lot easier if you just forget about me."
"Why? How would that make my life easier? Frankly it's harder knowing you because I.. I .." he wanted to say he loved her that he cared because he didn't know how not to. Mackenzie was one of those girls that gave you just enough of themselves to get you hooked and wanted to know the rest of her. You never do but you want to be that guy that saves her.
"You?" Mackenzie was being cold. She hated it but she couldn't help it she has was cold inside it killed her.
"I like you ok Mack? I care about you and I can't help it. Last night watching you struggle, watching have to face everything alone killed me," his eyes looked everywhere but her, "Not being able to help you right now, is killing me."
::At this point Lana had snuck in the side door and was listening secretly in the darkened corner::
"Well Pete I can't be responsible for killing anyone else. So just stop liking me. Because you don't deserve this," she wanted to push Pete as far away as she could so that save him. Save him from her.
"Don't deserve what?" He was honestly confused.
Her shook her head, blinked hard and looked up at him with eye full of pain and sadness, "Pete you deserve a girl that you don't have to fix. You deserve someone that isn't damaged. That can love you back without the threat of her inner demons and her past being the elephant in the room. I'm damaged Pete. I just want be happy and with me you won't be."
Each word branded a scar onto his heart, "Mack.."
"No Pete. Thank you for caring but, you don't care about me," she rested her hand on her chest, "You love that girl you met two weeks ago. The one that had a witty comment for everything, the one that made you laugh and you could talk for hours on end. I'm sorry but right now I don't who that was. I don't know who I am. Somewhere between tomorrow and today she got lost…" she bent her head in shame and looked up at him, "I don't know if she's ever coming back." Mack stood up straight to make an impression, "So get out while you can."
Pete looked at her feeling a mix of feelings. His lungs searched for air, his heart scrambled for feeling. He wanted to help, he wanted to save her but what could he do if she didn't want to be. Fighting back tears, "Fine," he turned his back and started walking to the front doors. When he reached them he realized they were locked. Trying to play it off he turned around and walked up to her, "When you find her tell her she knows how to find me."
Mack closed her heavy eyes and turned her head to the side. Pete walked by her and left frustrated out the side doors. At the sound of the door slamming Mack punched the pillar in anger not at him but herself. The impact caused her knuckles to open and bleed but then she healed right back up. She took a moment to watch it then went up the stairs with her head hanging lose.
Half-way up she paused at the sound of someone's foot steps. She stayed there her eyes empty and staring at the step right above waiting for who ever it was to speak up. And sure enough…
"You know you keeping pushing people away and one of these days they'll stop pushing back," Lana said with a sense of self-righteousness that got under Mack's skin.
Still staring at the step her head bent low, "I'm not asking you to push back, quite the contrary. Plus when they give up I'll just go find someone to fix it for me. Preferably a new girl that happens to be my half-sister. Isn't that how it works?"
Lana knew just what she was trying to do. Offend her, piss her off and she'll go, "It's not going to work."
Now standing up straight but keeping her eyes on her door, "What?"
"If your just trying piss me off," Lana started up the stairs, "Your going to have to do better then that."
Turning around her eye burning with a hint of tears, "What the hell do you want from me Lana?!?!?!? You Want me to tell you what the hell is going on in my head huh? You want me to open up to you? Hell lets role play I'll be the sad simpleton and you be Dr. Freaking Phil! Would that work?"
Not missing a beat, "Yeah, it's a start."
"Hell you wanted you got it here it is Lana Lang. Mackenzie's head on a platter," she sat on a step, tucked her head between her knees and ran her fingers threw her hair has she rose her head back up.
Lana took the seat next to Mack never taking her eyes off her, "So what's going on?"
Just as Mack was about to answer Clark walked into the Talon. With a big smile he looked up at the girls, "Hey."
Mack forced a smile, "You look like your feeling better."
Lana did the same, "What your parents say?"
"Yeah, I feel fine," he looked at Lana's face and read that it wasn't exactly the right time but continued to answer her question, "I told them about Edge and everything.." his voice faded, "but I managed to add that I slept at Pete's."
Mack smiled weakly (the only smile she could manage), "I've created a monster."
Lana without thinking, "You kidding Clark's been lying for years.." as the word years came out she realized that wasn't exactly going to be received well.
Clark looked hurt but didn't let it bother him, "With good reason."
"Yeah," Lana just looked off to the side.
"This about the green rock?" Mack spoke up trying to decipher the code in which they spoke.
Both Lana and Clarks eyebrows shot up and they looked at each other nervously.
Reading their faces, "What did you think I forgot or something? I could have died trying to get that thing out of your mouth….Well no not so much die because I'm a freak but that knife did sting."
Clark tried to come up with an explanation, "The rock it doesn't.."
Stopping him, "Save it. I know the rock hurts you and that's all I need to know. No worries I won't go Chloe reporter bitch on you."
Awkwardly, "Ok thanks Mack."
"Yeah whatever just don't tell everyone about me and your rock thing is safe with me," getting up and smoothing out the creases in her thighs, "I'll talk to you later," she walked up to go into the apartment.
"Wait Mack, we were talking." Lana got up and looked up at her.
Clark just stood there feeling bad for interrupting, "I'll go.."
"No Clark you stay I'll go. Thanks Lana but I don't need to talk anymore. I've figured it out," turning the knob and pushing the door in.
"What have you figured out?" Lana was so confused at this point.
"What you people need me to do and what I need to do to survive in this hell hold."
Clark butting his nose in, "What's that?"
Lana looked from her to him and back again curious as to Mack's answer.
Mack glanced at the two of them, "I'll just pretend every thing is ok."
With that she walked in closed the door and Lana heard her lock it. Leaning against the door Mack took a deep breathe realizing that from now on she had to slap her brave face back on and suck it up. Swallowing hard she felt her demons about last night retreat down her throat and into the depths of her soul. One day she'll face them but today was not that day. Not knowing when that day would come from here on out she'd have to be in a constant sprint to out run it.
Lana walked down the steps feeling like a failure. So close but yet so far would now be the theme of her relationship with Mackenzie, the only family she's got. Clark watched her walked to him, tears at the edges of her eyes her body limp with regret. As she got closer he pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
Lana rested her head on his chest, "I wish I could do something."
"You can't," he said staring intensely at the wall in front of him. Mackenzie reminded him a lot of himself during and after Metropolis. He knew full well that she was running on her back-up generators right now but it couldn't go on forever. No, it wouldn't go on forever.
Lana's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "That's unusually cynical for you."
Pushing her away and looking into her eyes, "No, it's truth. When I came back from Metropolis I was the same way. She has to come to terms with herself then she'll come to you."
Sadly, "And when will that be?"
Removing an eyelash from her cheek, "I don't know. Judging from her past and from the events of last night, a long time from now. Lana you have to remember that she pulled the trigger. She killed her first love. Add on to that the fact that she has to deal everyday with the fact she's not normal and that even if the gun went off and she was the one shot….she'd still be here," looking off to the side, "Believe me being able to do things the people you love can't. Be able to survive things you know other people have died from eats you away. It will consume if you let it."
Tilting her head to the side in order to attract his eyes back to her, "Do you let it?"
"Sometimes.." looking at her with sadness she had never seen before, "yeah."
This is what Lana meant by his abilities being bigger then her. His feelings ran deep and took unusual turns. How do you ease that kind of pain? That kind of profound guilt? She reached up moved his bangs gently and whispered, "If I could take that feeling away I would, Clark."
He smiled meekly, "I know." The two stared into each others eyes until a wide grin spread across Clark's face, "I know something that could help."
With both concern and hope, "What?"
"This," he pulled her up and kissed her. Lana pulled back after the first kissed and smiled then continued to kiss him. All the while thinking of saying to him 'You sure one of your abilities isn't kissing' or 'If this is what alien are like bring on the invasion' Thinking this caused her to laugh and break up the kiss.
"What?" Clark said embarrassed. Had he done something?
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking..nevermind its embarrassing."
"Come on.." he started to tickle her.
"NOo haha Wayy," she struggle to get out through the laughing.
There play time came to an abrupt end when the sound of clapping filled the Talon. Stopping and looking up at the doors. There eyebrows rose and there cheeks turned red.
"Lex umm," straitening up and straitening her make out hair, "How long have you been standing there?"
Lex in response cocked one eyebrow and devilishly grinned.
::The Next Parts of New Perspective: Edge is Back will be New Perspective: Bruised and Broken::
So look out for it because I plan on continuing this story line.
Preview of New Perspective: Bruised and Broken
Mack tries to mend the bridges she burnt. Chloe and Mack fight. Lana and Clark are in bliss. At least until Clark and Mack go for a horseback ride and encounter kryptonite that delays their return