Previously New Perspective: B and B part 8

::While Clark and Lana transported Mack from the hospital back to the Talon. Lex since leaving the Torch sat at his desk trying to figured out through his computer just what Mackenzie could be hiding::

::The Luthor Mansion::

Lex looked at the screen his eyes wide. Leaning over to get closer to it. Saying aloud in awe, "A severed spine and neck, huh?" Grabbing the phone he dialed with a look of determination, "Yes this is Lex Luthor is Dr. Jacobs in?"

New Perspective: Bruised and Broken::Part 9::

By Saint 2 Cynic

::The Luthor mansion::

Lex sat on hold waiting for the receptionist to transfer him to Dr. Jacob's voice mail. Taping his finger he suddenly sat up and began talking at the beep, "Dr. Jacob's Lex Luthor we need to speak call back so that we can arrange a meeting." He hung up slowly then rested his elbow on the table as he looked back at the screen thinking, 'It just doesn't make sense.'

::The Torch::

Pete rushed in to the torch and without confirming Chloe was in the room he began to rattle off what Clark had told him to. "Chloe, Dr. Gorman. Clark wants all the infor……mation" As the word information began to form he realized his favorite blond wasn't sitting at the desk. Looking once over the room he reached for his cell phone to call her. Just as he was about to press send Chloe walked in.

"Hey Pete," she said walking by with a coffee in hand.

"Chloe I was just about to call you," he said hastily, "Clark needs all the information you can get on a Dr. Gorman."

"Sensing the urgency in her voice I'm guessing there have been new developments in the drama that is Mackenzie," he sat down and sip her coffee.

"I went to visit her and both Clark and Lana where standing outside her room. When I walked up and looked through the window there were a half a dozen doctors around Mack's bed.."

"And Gorman was one of them," Chloe said assuming,

"Well yeah," stunned by her intuition, "at least I think so I didn't get to ask many questions."

"I already started looking him to him actually and all I could find," she said putting down her coffee and grabbing papers off her desk. Handing them to Pete, "was that at the time of the meteor shower he was one of two top doctors. Dealing mostly with human cell therapy etc. The other one was a Dr. Jacobs. So it makes sense that Lionel enlisted them but, my quandary resides in why exactly Luthor pulled Mack into this."

Confused, "I thought we already knew."

"The control subject theory?" Shaking her head, "No, its to easy. My theory is that Henry Small noticed something different in Mack after the shower. He couldn't bring her to the hospital so he turns to his boss who's son was involved in the shower as well. During the tests Henry got the impression Lionel's help wasn't without strings.."

Finishing for her, "So he pulls her out of the tests."

"Exactly and by suing for malpractice he set Mack up financially for life," suddenly realizing something, "Maybe that's why he sent her away."

Pete looked at her and shrugged, "I'm beginning to think that this goes deeper then we can dig."

"Me too," grabbing her bag and coffee.

"Where are you going?" Pete said watching her confused.

Walking past, "The Smalls," as she reached the doorway she turned back, "you coming or not?"

"And miss this?" following her lead, "Not a chance."

::The Talon:

Clark carried Mack up to her apartment while Lana walked ahead so she could hold the door open for him. Weak from the excitement of the Mack's body lay limp, her eyes closed against Clark's chest. Lana held the door open and as Clark passed with Mack she ran to pull back the covers of Mackenzie bed.

Walking to the other side of the bed she watched him gently lower her down. Lana had to smile and reveled in this moment. Here was her boyfriend the strongest man on the face of the earth and with his powers he could easily be the most dangerous but he carried Mack and put her down with more care then she had ever witnessed. Then again that is why she always felt so safe in his arms. A she thought this Clark quietly pulled the comforter over Mack and looked up at Lana.

"I don't know if she should stay here Lana," Clark said concerned as he walked over to be by her side, "Wouldn't they know to look for her here?"

"I don't think we should move her anymore. Technically she should still be in the hospital."

"If we left her there she'd end up a lab rat. Hell, they could still come after her and this is all my fault."

Lana took his hand in her and turned him towards her, "It's not your fault."

"Yes it is. Instead of outing myself I outed her," Clark eyes stared at his feet.

Lana cocked her head a few inches lower in order to meet his current eye line, "She told you to," giving his hand a squeeze, "Clark and frankly I'm glad it was her and not you. Because if it were you this whole thing would be ten times bigger then it already is. Mack knew what she was doing, and I'll forever be grateful to her for it."

Looking up and dropping her hand, "That day might come Lana."

"What day?" she asked quite confused.

"When they find out and I.. Well I…" Clark looked away and walked toward the other side of the room. His back still towards her, "I don't want you forced into that."

"Clark," her eyebrows furrowed with frustration as she said it. Yet as she walked up and looked at his back waiting for him to turn her tone went to comfort, "I'm not forced into anything. Granted loving you wasn't something I chose but allowing myself to was. You have to stop feeling guilty for things that have yet to even happen to me, if they do they do. But nothing will ever make me regret or apologize for loving Clark Kent, extraterrestrial or not."

Clark turned slowly and meeting Lana's earnest eyes with his own. He reached down and put her hair behind her ear, "I don't think you'll ever know how much you mean to me."

Smiling gently, "I think I have an idea." With that she went on her tippy toes and kissed him. Clark wrapped his arm around her waist a they kissed.

Meanwhile Mack opened her eyes slowly to see Lana and Clark engaged in their usual passionate kiss. Weakly but with her usual witty tone, "When they say get a room I don't think they mean one with a semi-comatose half-sister."

Startled and embarrassed Lana jumped out of Clark's arms, "Umm Mack… umm hi." She said as she nervously straightened her hair and ran her hands down her thighs for lack of a better placed to put them.

"You should be sleeping," Clark said sternly.

"Why so you two can get it on?" Mack laughed a little but it was so weak.

Lana sat on the bed gently, "You were in a coma for two days. All things considered you should be in the hospital right now."

"Yeah thanks for the rescue," she said looking from Lana to Clark.

"Your welcome. But I still don't think it's safe for you to be here," Clark placed his hands in his back pockets as he approached the bed.

Lana looked up at him then back at Mack to see her reaction.

Looking up at Clark, "There's not exactly anywhere else I can go."

"I would offer you stay with me but there isn't enough room at the Sullivan house as it is," Lana said disappointingly.

"My house," Clark said realizing it was probably the last place they would look, "I'll sleep in the loft you can have my room. Because then we could go to school and my mom would be around to take care of you."

Lana's eyes perked up at this idea, "Mack it is a better alternative."

"No, I'm not putting your family out. They have a farm to take care of Clark."

"My mom never got to take care of me when I was sick so I'm sure she wouldn't mind," Clark said trying to con her into it, "Plus you shouldn't be this weak for long. Once your better you'll come back here. " Turning on the Kent charm he flashed his million dollar smile and raised his eyebrows hopefully.

"If you insist," Mack said giving in at first then turning her tone serious, "But as soon as I'm better I'll leave. Seriously I refuse to be a burden."

Clark smiling, "Ok, so we should get going then. The faster your at my house the faster you can start recuperating."

Lana smiled at him and looked back to Mack who didn't seem all that thrilled at the idea. While Lana wanted Mack to get better she also wanted answers from her and if quickest way was at the Kent's so be it.

::The Smalls house::

Chloe walked up to the door determined while Pete hung back hesitantly. She looked back and smiled at the distance between them. Facing the door her face turned stern ::Knock:Knock::

As she waited for an answer Pete finally met her at the door. Chloe was about to joke with him but as her mouth opened so did the door.

"Can I help you?" said Mrs. Small from behind the screen door.

"Yes, I'm Chloe Sullivan," motioning to Pete, "And this is Pete Ross. We're friends of you daughter." A Chloe said the last sentence she feared that wasn't exactly the magical words to gain access into the house.

"Mackenzie? Did something happen in the hospital? Is she.." her voice faded out.

"No, she's ok" Chloe said unsurely because neither she nor Pete had spoken to Clark yet, "um could we come in?"

"Yes come on in," she said opening the door and stepping aside.

"Thanks," Chloe said stepping in and walking by.

"Thanks," Pete repeated as he did the same.

The three stood in the living room in silence till Mrs. Small offered them a seat, "I'll go get Henry," she headed for the stairs then turned back to them, "I'm assuming you want to speak with him?"

"Yes ma'am," Pete said politely.

As she went up the stairs Chloe gave Pete an uncomfortable look and began to walk around the room as Pete sat on the couch. Once she did a 360 around the room she stopped and looked at Pete, "Notice anything?"

"Nope, am I supposed to?"

"Yeah, I don't know about you but in my living room my dad has tons of pictures of me," standing in place she glanced around again, "there's not a single picture of Mackenzie."

"Well we don't have many but I would be happy to put some out for you look at," Henry Small said having overheard Chloe as he came down the steps, his wife following him.

Startled, "Oh, Mr, Small I didn't.."

Saving her Pete rose to his feet, "Forgive Chloe she's a natural journalist for better or for worse." He winked at Chloe to comfort her that he wasn't insulting her.

Chloe smiled at him. She had always found comfort in Pete, unlike a certain tall dark and handsome best friend he was always there.

"Forgiven," Henry nodded to both of them and motioned for them to sit, "What brings you here? Lana is ok?"

"Yes she's fine," Chloe said then grimaced at the thought of bringing up Mack but it had to be done, "We're here about Mackenzie."

Mrs. Small took a seat next to her husband on the love seat opposite of Pete and Chloe. Henry nodded without speaking a word.

Assuming that meant for her to continue, "You see the doctors know about her extraordinary ability to heal. Problem is that a Dr. Gorman I one of them."

Reacting to that name, "Dr. Gorman?"

"Yes, and we know that he did tests on Mack then you pulled her from testing and sued for malpractice."

"You know a lot about this Chloe," Mrs. Small spoke up.

"Well when one of my friends are in danger I try to use all my resources to find out why and how to prevent it," Chloe spoke bluntly. This received a side glance from Pete who was surprised Chloe despite her obvious problems with Mack was willing to go to all the trouble, just one of the few things he loved about her. Chloe continued after getting no response to her lat statement, "Listen Mr. Small to put it frankly I think you know something and if you don't tell us we can't help her."

Getting up Henry ran his fingers through his hair and walked to the window, "If only it were that simple…"

::The Luthor Mansion::

The phone rang violently as Lex ran through the doors and sprinted to get it. Picking it up, "Hello" he said exasperated then a smile came across his face. Easing into the chair, "Dr. Jacobs yes I called…. Your in Smallville? Perfect…. No I'll send a car. See you soon." Hanging up he looked at his computer screen once more. Still on it was Mack's picture with her vitals listed next to it. Whispering to the screen, "and the pieces begin to come together."

::The Kent Farm::

After Clark put Mack in his room he returned downstairs. Lana and Mrs. Kent sat at the kitchen table as Mr. Kent came through the door

Greeting his father as he walked over to the table, "Hey dad."

"Son," nodding to Clark as he took off his work gloves, "How is she?"

"Weak, as soon as her head hit the pillow she was out," Clark walked over, stood behind Lana and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. Lana reached up and held it.

Martha watched them and smiled to herself. Clark wasn't alone anymore and she couldn't be happier for him. Clark's words brought her back to reality, "Mom, Dad are you sure you don't mind."

"Of course not Clark," Mr. Kent spoke, "She'll be safer here plus I'm sure it will be more peaceful here then the Talon."

Lana smiled weakly she had been feeling guilty since they left the Talon for the farm. She wished she could do more but, she couldn't.

"And I'll actually have someone to talk to during the day," Martha joked, "I'm assuming you'll be sleeping in the loft?" she asked.

Removing his hand from Lana's shoulder and putting it in his back packet, "Yeah I'll just fold out the futon."

After a few minutes of silence Lana figured it was time she went home, "Well I should get going. Mr. And Mrs. Kent thank you so much for taking Mack in, it means a lot."

"Of course Lana," Martha said as she rose to her feet.

"Yeah no problem," Mr. Kent nodded to her.

Lana smiled once more and went for the door as Clark followed. Walking outside to her car Lana was going especially fast. Trying to keep up with her Clark super sped right in front of her forcing her to stop in her tracks. Startled Lana hit his chest playfully, "don't do that, you scared me."

"Sorry," he said smiling he secretly loved getting a rise out of her, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing at all," forcing a smile, "I'll come by in the morning to pick you up."

She walked past him rather dismissively. Turning in his heels and following her he grabbed her hand, "You know I can always tell when your being less the truthful."

Turning to him, "That's my line," she said jokingly then looking at Clark her defensive mechanisms crumbled beneath the weight of this eyes, "I just wish I could do more you know? I mean Chloe and Pete are out there trying to get down to the bottom of everything, your being.. Well you and what's left for me? What can I do?"

Stepping closer to her, "Be there," Lana's eyes drifted the side when he said this, "Lana the fact that you sat by her bed side when she was in a coma the fact that you literally almost fought Dr. Gorman. Your standing up for her no one has every done that for Mack. And I have it on good authority to say that you just the thought of you being there is enough, more then enough.

Lana smiled at his words, "You think she knows that?"

"Yeah I do," he said with a tone of comfort as his finger ran themselves through her hair. Lana leaned up and kiss him.

Before things got out of hand Lana pulled away, "Goodnight Clark."

"You have to go?"

Whispering back, "No but I should."

Wrapping his arms around her waist, "Why's that?"

"Because If I don't now I never will," allowing her mind to speak for her as her thumb ran across his chin

Whining, "ok," he stood up straight and let her go, "Goodnight Lana." Giving her one last kiss as he pulled back he whispered one last "I love you."

"I love you too," she stepped back and began to walk backwards to her car. For some reason she couldn't bring herself to turn her back on him, "Thank you."

"For what?" he asked curiously.

"Being there," she smiled and got in the Jeep. As the car started Lana waved to him. Waving back he watched her go down the drive way. As the car turned he put turned slowly to the barn and went to bed, with a smile across his face.

::To Be continued::

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