Previously on New Perspective: Bruised and Broken Part 3

In excruciating pain Clark spoke through his tightly closed jaw, "Mack what is it?"

She looked at it then back at him, "The rock.. The rock it went through your leg," she looked at it horrified then back at him again, "Clark it's a bright green rock."

::To Be Continued::

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New Perspective: Bruised and Broken Part 4

By Saint 2 Cynic

"I figured that," he got out weakly has his neck bent back in pain.

Mack bent near his head, "What do I do?"

Speaking between deep breaths, "You…have…to take it.. Out."

Looking at him in a panic her eyes shot from him to the rock through his leg. Shaking her head, "Clark, if I take it out it could cause hemorrhaging."

Clark gave her a pained look, his neck veins bulged out due to the stress, "it will be ok…" breathing and grinding his teeth, "just get it out and get me away from it…."

She looked at him again almost as if she were searching for another option. The woods began getting dark as the sun made its appearance on the other side of the world. Mack knew if she didn't do it know she couldn't later. She also knew what the rock did to him. She nodded to him and walked on her knees to his leg.

"Oh wait," she looked at the surface around her. Finding a thick stick, "Put this in your mouth."

"What?"

Shaking the stick at him, "Just do it, it will help for the pain."

Unconvinced Clark stared at her.

Shaking the stick again, "They used to use it before there was medication to help women with the pain of giving birth….." still he didn't take it, "Dude I saw it in the Robin Hood with Kevin Costner." She pushed in between his teeth, "Now bite down when it hurts."

She gave him one last look of pity and went to remove the rock. As she pulled it, Clark let out a muffled scream and bent his head back. He was biting so hard on the stick that it splintered in his mouth.

The rock wouldn't move. Mack stopped and took a good look at it. Looking under his leg she notice the rock was sticking out of the ground. Therefore the only way to get it out was to lift his leg off it, which meant it had to go threw one time.

Mack stood up and bent so that she had one arm on each side of his legs, the rock in-between. Clark was about to pass out from the pain. "Ok," taking a deep breath hoping it would work, "One..two… three."

One three she lifted Clark's leg off the rock. But Clark didn't scream. Mack placed his leg gently on the floor. And shuffled to check on him. His eyes were closed, "Clark?!?!" She rested her head down his chest to check his heart and breathing. Since both seemed normal she breath a sigh of relief knowing that he had just passed out and should wake soon.

Shuffling back to his leg, She wasn't quite prepare to see what she saw. His jeans were soaked from his ankle to his knee in dark blood. The hole left by the rock was substantial, too substantial.

As the woods got darker Mack took off her jacket and then took off her shirt to reveal a white tank top underneath. She held her shirt in front of her and ripped it down the middle, then took the two shelves and ripped them off. Placing them to the side she took off her shoes to get her socks and laces.

Mack checked to see if Clark was awake. He wasn't so she continued diligently. She placed her hands into the ripped part of the jeans and torn them so that the blood soaked pants were out of the way. Then she placed two pieces of her socks on each entry of the wound. To keep them in place she wrapped the one of the shelves tightly around his leg. Then wrapped one of her shoe laces around that in order to apply constant pressure to both entries.

As she finished the last beam of light that penetrated the thick woods, disappeared. The moon was her only light now, and it wasn't much. After she took care of his leg, Mack took what was rest and put it in her jacket pocket so that he if needed more they would have it.

Shuffling back to Clark she tried to wake him. There was no way she was strong enough to carry him away from the rock. At least not without some help. Brushing his hair, "Clark?"

"Uhhhh," escaped form his mouth has he slowly turned his head toward her.

"Hey, you ok?"

As he opened his eyes he could hardly see her it was so dark, "I am away from the meteor rock?"

"No, I need you to help, me ok?" she grabbed his hands she that he knew where she was, "I'm going to drag you by your arms but you have to help me by pushing off the ground with your good foot, ok?"

Not fully upstanding, "Yeah ok."

::Meanwhile: Lana's Room::

Lana laid on her stomach, her feet aimlessly kicking her headboard as she stared at her cell phone.

Chloe walked by then backed up. Standing in the doorway, "Unless your Harry Potter I don't think staring at it will make it ring."

Looking at the phone that at her, "He still hasn't called. I'm beginning to worry."

Walking in taking her concern to heart, "They left at what time?"

Pushing herself up so as to sit and give Chloe the invitation of doing the same, "The Talon? about 5:30. So they must have left the Kent's by 6."

Sitting then glancing at the clock on Lana's night stand, "It's 9:45. Now I'm starting to worry. Did you try his cell phone?"

"Yeah, he's not answering it."

The more the facts built up the more worried they began to get.

Chloe searching for explanation, "Did you try the Kent's?"

"No," still staring at her cell phone, "I'll try them now."

She got up and walked to the window as she dialed. Chloe watched hoping they would answer. After a few moments Lana shut her phone and gave Chloe a pained look, "No answer."

The doorbell rang.

At the sound of it Chloe said hopefully, "Maybe that's him."

They both made the trip down the stairs and Chloe answered the door. There stood Mrs. Kent.

"Mrs. Kent?" Chloe said.

"Chloe, Lana," nodding to each of them, "Have you two seen Clark? Or Mackenzie?"

Both Lana and Chloe gave each other a look then looked back at Mrs. Kent.

"No, Clark was supposed to call me tonight and he never did," she looked down at her cell phone once more as Chloe opened the screen door for Martha to enter. Continuing, "They didn't come back?"

"No," crossing her arms trying to hide her worry from the girls, "The horses aren't there and like you said he isn't answering his cell phone. I'm worried; it's extra dark tonight, not a time to be out on horses."

Hearing this sent Lana's eyes darting back and forth trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. If Mrs. Kent was worried there was defiantly something wrong. When she couldn't find one, "I'm going to go look for them." She moved past Martha and grabbed her keys.

Chloe joined in, "I'll go with you."

Martha not to pleased with the situation, "No, girls its to dark. If you go out now you'll end up getting lost too. They could be anywhere."

"I have to do something," Lana's tone was one of frustration and determination.

"Why don't you both come to the house and we'll figure it out from there?"

Both the girls looked at each other and nodded to Martha in agreement.

::Back in the woods::

Mack hooked her arms under his arm pits, "Ok on two. One..twoo.." As she said two she used every bit of strength she had, Clark helped as he said by pushing the ground with is foot but it wasn't to effective. He was so weak that it didn't help much.

Mack managed to drag him half way into the clearing. Then stopped and rested him down. Exasperated, "Is that far enough?"

Clark lifted his hand and took a look at it, his veins popped out and ran green. Mack freaked a bit when she looked at it then remember she was a freak to so she didn't mention it. Clark dropped his hand in exhaustion. Before he could answer her.

She hooked her arms under him again, "Save it, lets try this again." Without a count down she lifted his upper torso, his head lay limp as she dragged him to the over side. Now a good distance away Mack looked at Clark hand for him. It still was reacting to the rock.

Clark looked at her reaction, "It's..still?"

"Yeah, I don't understand," shaking her head, "That rock is further away then that piece I threw back at the Talon," she gave him a look of utter confusion and concern. But Clark was too weak to even see her through the dark air.

He rested his head back down and looked the other way.

Mack searched for a reason to it. Her eyes scanned the area, then she scanned his body. Her eye stopped dead on his leg. "Wait, Clark the rock could still be in your leg," kneeling down to undo the bandages. Sure enough as she unwrapped them their in his leg glowed tiny pieces of the rock. "Shit!"

"What?" lifting his up trying to see.

"There are tiny fragments embedded in there."

"Get them out!"

"I can't I don't have anything to do it with,," she looked around then back at the wound, "Plus it's too dark I could do a lot of damage and put you in a lot more pain."

Clark let out a deep breath and hit the ground with his fist.

"Why didn't I think of it!," hitting her thigh, "Cell phones! Do you have yours?"

"Pocket," he breathed.

Mack quickly rummaged through his jean pockets the his jacket. As she stuck her hand in his left pocket, "Sweet," he excitement quickly faded as she pulled it out; in two pieces. The flip screen fell off the phone and into her other hand, "Well screw that then." She placed it on the ground disappointedly.

She shuffled to his head and laid down on her stomach next him, "If I could get you to sit on Dante.." she thought out loud then remembered the luck he had with Dante, "No strike that, if I could get you on Comet. Then I'd just lead him on foot back to your house. There your parents could get the rocks out."

Trying to argue, "You don't know the way…"

"I can figure it out," she stood up and looked over him, "We can't stay here for the night. From what I can tell those rocks do more damage to you just by being around you then a bullet to the average human. Plus, it's getting cold, you could go into shock."

Clark shook his head in protest, "There's…no.." he spoke between heavy breaths, "way that.. I could get on a horse."

Mack took off her jacket and placed it under his head, "Then we'll have to survive the night. At dawn we'll go from there. Just hang on ok?" She felt the ground for his hand finally finding it she held it and gave it a little squeeze of reassurance.

Squeezing back, "ok, you'll be cold."

"I'm sure I'll be ok, I'm a freak remember? I don't think frostbite will be a problem," She smiled weakly at him but he couldn't see it.

He let out a faint, "ok."

Mack got an idea, "be right back."

As if Clark could see her before she slowly saw her outline disappear and began to worry where she was going and if she would get lost. His thoughts slowly drifted to Lana and his parents 'They must be freaking out by now.'

::The Kent Farm::

While Chloe sat drinking coffee with Mr. Kent. While Lana pulled Martha aside.

"Mrs. Kent, there must be something wrong with Clark if he's missing. He must be hurt…"

Her voice full of concern, "I was just thinking that. With his abilities he could have found his way home by now. I pray it has nothing to do with the meteor rocks."

Looking up at her on the verge of tears, "And if it does? I mean there's nothing else that can…" her thoughts drifted the to option of red kryptonite. But she shook the thoughts away.

Martha rested her hand on Lana's shoulder, "If it does he'll figure out a way to get back to us he always does," She winked at the finish of her sentence, then her face turned serious, "What about Mackenzie?"

"She knows that the rocks effect him," looking down at her hands feeling guilty for not even thinking about Mack.

"She does?"

"Only that they hurt him. Nothing about his abilities. But we can rest easy at least knowing she isn't hurt," looking to the side. Knowing full well Mack asked her not to tell.

"What are you saying Lana?"

"She has the ability to heal. Anything from knife wounds to car crashes, she heals faster then ..well us."

Martha just shook her head, "I suppose we should be grateful they have each other and neither of them are all alone out there." Martha turned to join Chloe and Mr. Kent.

Lana mumbled, "yeah that's just great."

Turning back to her "What was that, hun?"

Surprised she had heard her, "Umm nothing Mrs. Kent."

Martha smiled and continue on her way to the kitchen table.

Chloe spoke up, "Maybe we should call the police?"

Mr. Kent rubbed the rim of his coffee cup with the finger, "It hasn't been 24 hours."

"Well I know someone at channel 7. If their not back by morning I'll give them their picture," she looked up at Mr. And Mrs. Kent for approval.

"That would be great Chloe thank you," Mrs. Kent said in a tired tone.

Chloe never be able to handle these types of situations figured she had a way out, "Um you know what I'm going to go home and see if they come there. Plus I'll find a picture of them" she started walking backwards towards the door, "I think I have one from Pete's party. Call if anything comes up?"

Martha nodded to her, "Of course."

"OK," looking at Lana who was coming out of the living room, "Call me if you need me I'll be here in a flash."

Lana weakly nodded and watched Chloe leave. Looking at Mr. And Mrs. Kent and feeling the sting of silence Lana was reminded of when Clark had fled to Metropolis, it was the worst case of dejavu.

::Clarks Loft::

Lana had decided she rather wait in the loft for him. Standing in the window she whispered to the cold air as her arms wrapped around her, "Where are you?"

Her eyes blinked hard as she swallowed the bitter pill of worry. She walked around the Loft and looked around aimlessly. Seeing the book shelve she walked over and saw that Clark put a picture of the two of them at Pete's Party in a frame. Smiling as she rubbed his image.

Realizing something she put down the picture and flipped open her cell phone. As she waited for it to ring she paced the loft.

"Pete?..Yeah it's Lana, I know it's late but you should know that Clark and Mackenzie are missing. They went on a horseback ride and haven't come back……." still pacing, "Yeah I know I thought the same I just thought I should let you know…. No, No stay home he might show up there. Yeah, I'll be ok.. Good night."

Hanging up the phone she pressed it against her lips and looked out once more through the window. Whispering, 'Come Back to me, Clark.'

::Back in the Woods::

Clark heard clinging and clanging but he couldn't see what Mack was about to. Finally she returned with Dante's saddle in her hands.

Weakly, "What's…that…for?"

"We have to keep your leg elevated. It has to higher then your heart," She dropped the saddle next to his injured leg, "has something to do with blood flow." Mack lifted his leg has gently as possible as her leg slid the saddle underneath.

Stepping back and looking at her work. "Nawicely done, Mack."

"You give yourself a lot of credit.." he said.

Lying down next to him but far enough so it wouldn't be awkward, "Dude you should see your leg, I went Maguyver, on that thing." She was trying to make him laugh knowing he was in so much pain.

Clark let out a weak chuckle, "I see that from…" he caught his breath, "lack of…clothing."

Turning on her side and resting her head in her hand, "Don't say I never gave you the shirt off your back."

"Ha.. Ouch," Clark cringed in pain, "Don't make me laugh."

"Shouldn't be a problem," she returned to her back, cushioning her head her hands, "Go to sleep the night will go quicker that way."

Clark smiled weakly and started to drift off to sleep. But before he did, "Mack…"

Sitting up quickly, "What's wrong you need something?"

"Mack.. If I don't.."

"No way Clark cut it out…"

"Listen.. If I don't…if something should happen tell Lana I love her and I'll never leave her, ok?"

"Clark, I'm sorry if it wasn't for me this would have never happened…"

He eyes got heavier, "its ok just tell her." He drifted to sleep.

Mack rubbed his hand and whispered in his ear, "You can tell her yourself."

::The Next Morning: Clarks Loft::

Lana had fallen had past out on the futon. She tried to stay awake all night but her body eventually gave in.

Martha walked up quietly and saw her there fast asleep lit by the sunshine of dawn. Smiling at the sight she walked over, gently removed the blanket from the back of the futon and draped it over her. As she tippy toed away she hoped Clark and Mack came back and came back soon because if they didn't she feared Lana wouldn't be able to handle it.

::The Woods::

Mack hadn't slept all night so she got up with the sun. She ventured around the woods never journeying to far incase Clark did wake up. All the while she tried to figure out a way out of there. If they were leaving it was together, that much she knew.

Clark woke up and looked to his side for Mack, but she wasn't there. He lifted his head and saw she wasn't in the clearing, in a sleepy voice, "Mack?"

Coming from behind him, "Oh your up… good." She walked up kneeled next time, "How you feeling?"

"Still weak."

"Ok, well, I've got a plan," she said has she shrunk to sit on her heals, "Obviously I can't get you on a horse, and I'm not about to leave you here while I search for help."

"It's sounding like a great plan.."

"Hear me out. So I figure like you said we have to get the pieces still in there. I was looking through Comets pockets in his saddle and there was a pocket knife," she flipped open the knife to which Clark's eyebrows shot up, "I know I said I would never ask questions but I'm assuming that when I get them out you'll just heal right up?"

Clark shook his head yes.

"Ok, then that's what we have to do," she moved to go to his leg but stopped and looked at him, "Want the stick again?"

"No thanks."

"Now your sure about this Clark? If I mess up.."

Cutting her off, "You won't I know you won't."

"Ok," she shuffled over to his leg lifted it and slid the saddle off to the side. Gently resting it to the ground. Mack slowly removed the makeshift bandages to reveal the wound. It hadn't bled to much but was still two large for it stay this way for long.

The green rocks glowed like beacons directing her were to go, "Ok, Clark I see them."

"Just do it," he said on the verge of passing out.

Mack bit her bottom lip and went into the cut for the first piece. Clark screamed in pain as she tired with the knife to get it out of the muscle tissue. His cries of pain made Mack feel the need to apologize every five seconds and in between the reassure him, "I'm sorry, it's almost done I promise."

Finally the rock came out and Mack balanced on the knife. Her hands soaked in his blood she took the fragment and threw to the side. Coaching Clark like a doctor would a pregnant woman, "Ok Buddy just two more I promise. Just hold on. I'm sorry"

30 minutes later, the third came out. Though she noticed that after the third and final one, the cut closed a bit. Mack used her extra clean shirt and shoe laces to protect the wound from further occupation.

"Ok, it's over Clark," she stood up her hands soaked with blood. With nothing else to do she wiped it on her shirt and jeans. (Never were her favorite pair anyway.)

"You still with me?" Mack asked as she slid the saddle underneath his leg again.

Clark let out a forced, "uh huh, thank you."

Grabbing his hand, "Don't thank me it's my fault it happened. I bring nothing but trouble to you guys. Just please don't ever ask me to do that again."

"It's a deal."

Mack went to where she through the rocks, this way she could throw them further away. But still a bit startled by what she just did. As she walked her head spun a bit, stumbling she fell on to the knife that was still in her hand. Going into her hand she screamed in pain, much more then usual.

Clark lifted his head up, "Mack what's going on?"

"Just another knife in my han.." as she said tried to finish the word hand she saw that it wasn't healing. Jaw closed tight she took out the knife. Cringing in pain she waited to see it heal. It didn't. Still in pain she didn't understand what was happening.

Clark watched her still confused. As Mack's looked down at her hand out of the corner of her eye she saw the rocks were right by her feet. On a hunch she grabbed them with her good hand and threw them into the woods. Then looked back at her hand, it was healed, "No," it escaped with her breath, "it can't be."

Feeling stronger Clark propped himself up on his arms to look, "What's wrong?"

Mack got up with the knife in her hand and hurried to Clark.

"OK just watch.." she ran the knife over her palm cutting it. It healed.

"Yeah I know, what's this about?" Looking about at her curiously.

Mack walked over to the large rock that had impaled Clarks leg and looked around for smaller pieces. Finally getting one she walked back towards him.

Clark put his hands up, "keep your distance with that thing."

Stopping, "Oh right sorry. So now watch," Mack took the knife and ran it across her palm this time the pain was excruciating. The blood ran as held the rock closer, her cut didn't heal.

Clark looked up not knowing what to say.

"Don't you see Clark my father lied!" throwing the rock and pacing around, "He said I was born with this.. He said the doctors said that I had an abnormal case of rapid cell regeneration," as she spoke she got angrier and angrier, "It's not true! I'm a meteor freak, I'm of those kids. All this time, All this freaking time I thought it was just some medical thing! All this time I separated myself from them and I am one!"

::The Luthor Mansion::

Lex came into his bedroom just coming from his personal gym. Grabbing the remote he flipped the TV on and went into the bathroom.

The TV news Anchor spoke to him through the bathroom walls, "And in further news Smallville residents are being asked to look out for two Smallville High students."

Lex popped out of the bathroom, wiping his face. His faced obviously concerned as he stood in front of the TV.

The announcer continued, "The students names are Mackenzie Small and Clark Kent, I believe we have a picture."

Before the picture was even on the screen Lex grabbed his keys and was out the door. The TV was still on showing a picture of Clark and Mack at Pete's Birthday.

::The Loft::

"Clark," Lana shook her head from side to side rapidly, still asleep, "Clark, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't there I need you to come back.." her head kept shaking.

Both Chloe and Pete had met up at the Kent Farm and were walking up the stairs.

Her dream persisted, "You can't be gone, Clark," her eyes moved rapidly under her eyelids.

Hearing her Pete and Chloe quickened their speed up the steps. As they came up to Lana, they watched her struggle through her dream. Pete stayed in place while Chloe dropped her bag and tried to sit on the little bit of place Lana had left on the futon.

"Come back," she whispered, "I can't make it without .."

Chloe looked up at Pete. Their eyes debated as to whether they should wake her.

"Clark? Clark?" the volume of Lana's voice raised as she said his name, "CLARK!!!"

Chloe shook up awake, "Lana? Lana? Wake up!"

Lana's eyes opened abruptly as if she was wide awake. She sat up practically pushing Chloe over, so Chloe opted to stand. Breathing heavy she looked at Chloe then back at Pete.

Pete walked up next to Chloe, "Are you ok?"

Still catching her breath she raised her hand to her heart. It was beating so hard she felt like it would rip through her chest. She managed to force out a coherent sentence, "Bad dream," throwing the blanket off and swinging her legs off the bed, "a really bad dream."

Chloe gave Pete a look then sat next to her. "What did you see?"

Lana just gave her a quick glance out of the corner of her eyes, "Clark's….." she struggled to say it. He eyes looked to Pete then back the ground, "funeral."

::To Be Continued::

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