Previously on Part 11:
Clark agreed, "You don't know what he's going to do. I won't let them take you."
Looking up at Clark, "Yeah you will," then looking at Lana, "Lana I have to do this because I don't want to run anymore. Ever since I was sent to Metropolis I've been running, ever since I got here… If I wasn't running from my past I was running from you," tears began to fill both Mack's and Lana's eye, "You… the one person I don't have to run from, the one person who despite everything has been there for me and I'm sorry. I told you we would help each other through this and you've been doing all the work. If I do this now we'll have the opportunity, that opportunity to make up for lost time, to be family. If I don't go now I have to leave Smallville and there was a time when I thought I could do that without a care in the world but I cant because I'm finally home. With you, Clark, Pete, hell even Chloe.." she, Lana and Clark let out small laughs, "I'll go so I can come back."
New Perspective: Bruised and Broken Part 12
By: Saint 2 Cynic
Lana stood struck by her words. She pulled Mack in for a tight hug. Mackenzie surprised and knowingly not affectionate hesitated at first but then closed her eyes and hugged Lana back. Before Lana could argue her case further Mack turned abruptly to Lionel, "Lets get this over with."
Lionel nodded to Lex and walked around the desk passing Mack without a glance on his way to the door.
Once Lionel passed Mack looked hard at Lex, whose shame echoed in his eyes. Without a word between them Mack looked once more at Lana smiled weakly then look to her feet has she turned on her heals to follow Lionel.
Mack didn't get far before Clark let go of Lana's hand and called after Lionel, "She doesn't go unless I do."
Mack looked at him sternly but her fear was quite evident, "No Clark."
"I'll go in insure that he doesn't go back on his word and keep you there for further research. If I don't go Lionel I'm not about to let you take her."
Lana stood in the foreground having no idea what to think. Now she could lose both Mack and Clark, neither was an option, especially Clark he was her last lifeline. God knows what Lionel had planned but for some reason speak up her vocal cords were frozen in fear.
Lionel gave Clark an amused look, "Fine Mr. Kent we have a deal."
Mack looked from Clark to Lionel and back again shaking her head in protest, "No I'm serious Clark…"
Cutting her off, "I don't trust him and I'm not about to let him take further advantage of you," senseing Mack hesitancy he continued, "I know you don't like to think so but you need me there to protect you. Your not alone in this Mackenzie."
Mack nodded knowing full well he was right and she hated it. Mack looked around Clark to Lana who seemed scared out of her mind.
Lex interrupted everyone's moment, "This is insane."
Mack shook her head in an exasperated manner and spoke evenly, "No what's insane Lex is that you have officially sold your soul," she lifted her head slightly to look him in the eye, "As long as I've known you, you've spoke of your destiny. The destiny of becoming your father. Guess what Lex destiny isn't written in the stars it's writtin by hand. You choose this, you've choose to become him and in this moment Lex," her anger began to show more and more with every word, "this very moment you've writtin your fate all on your own. "
Without much thought Lex blurted out, "What is my fate then Mackenzie?"
"A life alone with only your money to accompany you in the night. If I don't come out of this I need you to understand something. Business monuvers, money, greed and ambition don't follow you to your grave. They don't mourn at your wake, hover over your grave with tears of sorrow watering the grass, and they certainly don't spread platitudes in your absence. Your death will be as lonely as your life if you continue to head in this direction. You chose this, you chose this."
Before Lex could respond mask turn to an impressed Lionel and headed for the door.
Lana ran up behind her and grabbed her forearm, "If it gets to much Clark can get you out. Are you sure about this?"
Mack just nodded, "I'll be ok Lana. It shouldn't hurt for long."
Clark came up from behind Lana and smiled at mack. Lana smiled weakly as Mackenzie tears brimming on her eyelids then turned back to Clark. "Your going to be fine right?" Her tears began to make way for the edge of her chin as she avoided Clarks eyes by playing with the button on his shirt.
Clark wrapped his hand around Lana's arms gently and rubbed them up and down with great care, "I'll be walking into the Talon before you know it," wiping away a tear, "I love you."
In her weakest of voices much like the one she had when she last said goodbye to him when he left for metropolis, "I love you." Reaching up on her tippy toes she gave him a kiss.
Clark not wanting this to be any harder then it was broke it, hugged her tight and started for the doors. Lionel had left as Mack reached the door she looked once more to Lana and Lex. Clark walked up turned around to Lana and mouthed, "I love you." With that they both left for Lionel's limo.
Lana stood there watching the door in complete shock. She stood watching the door for what seemed like hours but were mere seconds. Lex walked quietly to her side looking at the doors as well, "They'll be back."
Her anger evident, "Don't talk to me." Without another word Lana left as well leaving Lex standing there to deal with what he had done.
::Luthor Labs: same day::
Lionel led Clark and Mack through the corridor to the lab where the test would be done. Clark looked around X-raying what he could. Finally stopping he noticed Mack's hands were in fists shaking rapidly. To help calm her he grabbed one of her hands and squeezed tightly. Mack gave him a look of relief but her face quickly turned to that of utter fear. As strong as she was, was she strong enough to go through this.
Finally reaching the Lab Lionel opened the door for Mack and Clark. The three were greeted by Dr. Gorman.
"Well if it isn't my favorite patient hello Mackenzie," the doctor said smiling devilishly.
"You can tone down the utter assholeness at anytime," Mack said threw her teeth.
Dr. Gorman chuckled as he moved to side to reveal a hospital bed equipped with restraining straps. At the sight Mack gripped Clarks hand that much tighter. So hard in fact causing even Clark to flinch a little.
"Let's get started shall we doctor? Time is of the essence," Lionel spoke urgently.
"Of course if you and Mr. Kent could go into the next room while I prepare Ms. Small."
Clark looked to the side wall where a huge window looked in on the this room then back at the doctor, "I'm staying in here."
"Now Mr. Kent that wasn't the deal. I allowed you to come you said nothing about how far. We will be in the next room you can see everything from in there," Lionel opened the door once more and waited for Clark to walk threw.
Clark looked at the door then to Mack, "Are you…"
"Go." she said shortly and let go of his hand.
Clark hesitated but figured if something did happen he could easily come back in. With that rational he left and Mack saw him next staring at her through the glass.
After stripping her to her sports bra and panties the doctor told her to lie down. Mack did has she was told not embarrassed by the fact that Clark could see her. She knew it didn't matter to him. As she placed herself on the bed her nerves started acting up again, her teeth chattered her fingers rubbed their palms forcefully.
::In the next room::
Clark hadn't removed his eyes from Mackenzie for a second. While Lionel sat in the corner facing the other wall.
"Tell me Mr. Kent why are you here?"
"Why do you think? To make sure my friend doesn't get hurt."
"Your friend? You forgot girlfriends half-sister."
"Friend and Lana's half-sister yes. What are you getting at?"
"I'm just wondering that if this girl had no ties to Miss. Lang would you even be here."
"I'm not one for entertaining hypothetical situations."
"So that's a no?"
"No, Mr. Luthor, that is a shut the hell up," His eyes glanced quickly at Lionel then returned to Mack.
Lionel smiled getting a rise out of Clark is harder then one would think.
Clark spoke, "Do you really think she'll cure you?"
"One can only hope."
"So your going to torture her and if it doesn't work what then?"
"I die."
"She's your last option?"
"I'm afraid so Mr. Kent."
"Then forgive me if I'm hoping it doesn't work."
"Well if I forgave you Mr. Kent I would have to pardon the rest of civilization, including my son."
Clark fell silent at this and continued to watch over Mack.
::The Operating room::
Now I'm going to be removing part of your liver," he spoke as he tighten each strap to Mack's limbs and torso, "But it shouldn't hurt for long and your liver wont even notice. With your age now as I'm cutting you should start healing so we must work fast."
Mack's head turned in reaction to each strap being tightened. She instinctively struggled against them and fought when the doctor put a mouth guard in her mouth.
"That's to make sure you don't bite off your tongue," laughing to himself, "Though it shouldn't matter much. Instead of the initial incision to your side being done with a knife we'll be using a laser. When you were younger we found it takes your skin a little longer to heal from burns then cuts."
Mack tried to speak but the mouth guard screwed with her speech. If it hadn't been there she would have been clearly heard saying, "Thanks for the narration."
A nurse arrived with a tray. She put it down then helped the doctor put on both his mask and gloves. As the gloves snapped Mack closed her yes so tightly a lone tear escaped.
The doctor aimed the laser……..
::The Next room::
Clark placed his hand on the window poised at any moment to punch through if he thought it was getting to much. As the laser made contact he saw Mack's restraints tighten at her wrists and ankles. Her feet and hands stretched out in pain. Making its way down her side Mack finally let out a scream of pure pain, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH." With his super hearing making it that much more intense Clark struggled with what he should do, she was hurting it had to stop.
Lionel sensing Clark's urgency, "Calm down, I will only hurt for a few moments. She can heal remember?"
"Heal physically? I don't doubt but emotionally? I don't think she can bare to be broken anymore."
"So you know her do you?"
"I know your to blame for all her pain, here and in the past."
"Everyone always blames me," Lionel responds amused.
"Funny I thought they just hated you."
::The Talon::
Lana couldn't go back to the Sullivan's so she decided to go to the Talon and wait knowing that was the first place Clark would go afterwards. Not only because Mack lived there but because she would be there waiting for him.
She walked through the doors, tired from tears, her heart aching with worry. As she turned on the light she took note that her body felt hollowed out. Wrapping her arms around herself she wanted them so much to be Clark's. The uncertainly killed her as she looked around for something she could distract herself with. There was nothing but turned up chairs and silence. Walking softly and slowly Lana went to one of the couch, curling up she rested her head on its arm and held herself tightly as a tear burned out of her eye and down her cheek. Closing her eyes she whispered, "Come back." With that she drifted into a state of semi-consciousness. She wouldn't allow herself, her ears were awake so as to hear Clarks footprints through those doors.
::Luthor Lab::
Mack passed out from the pain as the doctor quickly removed part of her liver. As he said just as he cut it had already began to heal the faster the better. Finally done he took out the part and placed it into the cooler of ice the nurse was holding up. Stepping away and throwing out his gloves. Mack's torso had begun to heal over and once he turned around to look at it one wouldn't have a clue she had been through surgery or anything.
Smiling he gave a thumbs up to Clark who stood intimately looking threw the window at him.
::in the next room::
"It's over."
Lionel get up and looked through the window, "Well good.. Great." He left the room quickly and appeared within the other. Clark clenched his fist and followed.
::the operating room::
Clark walked in and without talking to either Lionel or the Doctor and began to unstrap an unconscious Mack.
"To that directly to the lab," The doctor instructed the nurse then turned to Lionel, "Mr. Luthor you should get ready for surgery."
Once Mack was free Clark took out her mouth piece and stroked her hair, "Mack? Mack? Can you hear me?"
Waking up, "Clark?"
"Yeah," Clark smiled weakly.
"Get me out of here," Mack said in a whisper.
Without any further word Clark scooped her up in his arms. Mack lay limp in them at first but gaining a little strength she curled her lower legs so they weren't slicking out, folded her arms on her stomach and rested her head against Clark's chest. Walking up to Lionel and Dr. Gorman who were blocking the door, "We're leaving."
"Yes of course Mr. Kent," Lionel said moving out of the way.
Clark walked by but stopped at Lionel's word, "Mr. Kent when she wakes up tell her I am forever in her debt."
Clark could have shot back with something witty or bitter but instead he bit his lip hard, held Mack a little closer to him and made his way out the way they came in.
Dr. Gorman smiled, "Well we got what we wanted. Now to see if it works."
"Yes, quite," Lionel said his eyes on the door and back at Dr. Gorman. For the first time in his life Lionel Luthor was scared.
::At the doors of Luthor Labs::
Before they got out the doors Clark asked, "Mack can you stand for a second?"
"Huh?" she forced out.
"I need to put my jacket on you," Clark figured out his words, "your only in your… your…..underwear. We have to cover you up, ok?" he said in a concerned tone.
"k," Mack said sleepily.
Clark gently placed Mack feet to the ground and rested her top half against the wall. Mack leaned as directed and placed her head on the wall, her eyes opened then closed several times. Taking off his jacket he directed her arms into the arms of the jacket and zippered it up. It was huge on her so much so it looked like a dress but that was the point. It covered everything it needed to.
Clark smiled a little at the sight then scooped her up again, "Ok, Mack here we go."
Resting her head against Clark's chest again, "Thanks Clark."
"Shhh we'll be home in no time," Clark pushed through the doors and looked around to see if anyone was looking. Since it was around 3 am the city was dead. With a 360 X-ray of the area he fastened his grip on Mack and held her closer to him. With that he began to super speed home.
::The Talon::
Within mere minutes Clark with Mack still in his arms was in front of the Talon. Facing the street he looked around and turned to the doors. Noticing the lights were on he smiled at the thought of Lana, looked down at Mack and made his way through the doors.
Lana's head shut up at the sounds of the door slamming. As soon as her eyes opened her mouth whispered "Clark…" Clark looked nothing short of the hero he was as she looked at him standing there in front of her. Mack half naked even more so if it weren't for Clark's jacket, curled up in his arms, weak from or tired from the stress of the night.
Clark smiled comfortingly at her, "Told you I would be back, didn't I?"
"You did," Lana wiped her cheeks and got up. Walking over to him, "How is she? Did you have to.."
Understanding, "She'll be ok. No I didn't have to rescue her. Though I think I should have.." looking down at her, "I should have."
"Why don't we put her in bed and talk?" Lana said knowing that Clark needed to talk about what happened and she was dieing to hear it.
"I'm ok," Mack spoke up, opening her eyes and looking at Lana.
Lana reached up and rubbed her arm, "Your fine. You'll be better in the morning."
Mack rolled her eyes then shut them, "Ok mom."
Lana smiled, "Is she ever not sarcastic?"
Clark started for the stairs, "Even in the operating room she wouldn't stop."
"Defense mechanism," Mack said into Clark's chest.
Clark just looked back to Lana, who had her hand on his back comfortingly as they made there way up the stairs.
Lana squeezed around him and opened the door for Clark. She was stricken with a case of deju-vu and as she thought about it she thought to herself, "This is the last time this has to happen."
Clark walked to the bed and rested Mack down. Pulling the covers over her and decided against getting his jacket back, the less complicated the better.
As Mack's head the pillow her eyes opened wide. Her strength nearing returned, "Hey Clark?"
"Yeah?" He whispered leaning over her.
Lana watched even more in love with him then she had ever been. He was amazing, nothing short of amazing.
"I know why you helped me." Mack spoke earnestly.
"I think that odvious Mack," Clark said with a slight smile.
"No the reason is bigger then me bring Lana's sister and your friend. Hell its bigger then Lana."
"What is it then?
"Guilt," Mack looked straight into his eyes something she hadn't done without being ashamed in quite sometime. She wanted to make sure she understood him, " I know what its like to go day to day knowing you can survive things others can't. A father of 5 dies in a drunk driving accident, you hear that and feel guilty because you would have survived that, if only he could have. So you try to make up for it. You help because it's the one thing you can give back for being able to survive things people especially those love can't/. You keep helping, they keep living and you won't be alone for longer then you have to. You save one more life because you can't lose yours."
A tear silently crept down her cheek, she finally understood the weight Clark carried on him, the weight even Mackenzie herself walked around barring without complaint. In Clark's case it was guilt, in Mack's it translated into a mix of guilt and self-hatred.
"Wow, how do I respond to that Mack?" Clark spoke completely stuck with how much Mackenzie understood him and what he went through on a daily basis. She went from comic relief in his eyes to an equal he could relate to, not something an alien of krypton found very often (actually never.)
"You don't have to," Mack looked at her hands, " I just needed you to know I understand. And thank you doesn't seem like enough for everything," her tongue lick her lips as she searched for the proper words, "But it's all I have so Thank you for being there. I don't think I would have made it."
"Yeah you would of," Clark smiled down at her, "but your welcome. And know that I understand so it looks like neither of us is alone right?"
Mack smiled, "Right," and looked across the room to Lana, "Sorry if I caused you even more stress."
"Why on earth are you apologizing?" Lana said stepping up the top of the bed.
"Because I keep screwing up."
"It's late we'll talk to tomorrow," Lana extends her hand for Clark to take it. Clark grabs it and walks to her side.
"You two going to get it on again?" Mack said amused.
"Go to sleep or something," Lana said joking back.
Mack not wanting to press it smiled mischievously and dug her head into her pillow.
::Downstairs at the Talon::
Once they were downstairs Clark fell into the nearest comfy chair. He felt a if he hadn't slept in days.
Lana stood in front of him, her hand still in his waiting for an invitation. Clark's eyes half closed pulled her into his lap. Lana smiled as her feet hung over the arm of the chair, Clark's hand rested on her thigh, the other on her waist. Both smiled comfortingly as Lana tucked her head into the space between his head and shoulder.
She kissed his neck lightly, "You ok?"
Clark closed his eyes and pulled her closer, "Now I am, how about you?"
"Have to admit I was pretty scared," speaking in a whisper.
"Why?"
"Because If I lost you I don't know.." Lana picked her head up to look him in the eye.
"Clark put his finger to her lips and repeated, "Are you ok?"
Lana smiled and snuggled into him a bit further, "Am now."
Clark smiled and closed his eyes, they were slowly giving away to sleep.
Lana's eyebrows furrowed a bit, "Clark?"
"uh, huh?"
"Thing are never going to be normal are they?"
Clark rubbed he thigh, "Well I'm not normal."
"And I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Then what's wrong?"
"It' just," lifting her head up and putting her arms around his neck, "it seems we're always on the verge of losing one another."
"I'm never going anywhere," kissing her forehead.
Lana smiled as he pulled away and looked her in the eye, "I know but this…. You. Is so much bigger then us."
Correcting her, "Nothing is bigger then us. Lana it's not my powers that make me strong or super human. It's you, your strength that makes me strong enough to help everyone. I lose you I'm nothing but Clark Kent, mild mannered farm boy."
Touched by his words she kissed him. After a little tonsil hockey Lana pulled away, eyes still closed, "Your anything but mild mannered."
"Well I must admit I abandon all of that when it comes to you.," his eyes scanned up and down her face.
"Is that a good thing?" She asked in a teasing tone.
"What do you think?" He smiled big and kissed her like he did their first date underneath the tree just a year ago.
Pulled away and resting her head back on his shoulder, "It's a great thing."
Clark rested his head lightly on hers and as much as he tried to fight it his eyes were giving into sleep. Noticing Lana watched him for a little awhile, he felt nothing but hi comforting embrace and steady breath. Reluctantly, "Clark you want me to take you home?"
Eye's still closed, "I am home."
"Me too," she whispered as she closed her eyes and dropped her hands from around his neck and returned them to her lap, leaving one hand pressed against his chest. Falling asleep with him she though about how true it was. Clark had been her home since that day in the graveyard. That was why she ended most of her days visiting him in the loft it put her at ease. His eye and voice brought peace. To her sometimes restless and lonely soul.
Right before she completely drifted into her dreams, where she would meet Clark again, she whispered in a voice no human would be able to hear, "I love you."
Thankfully Clark wasn't a normal human, "love you," he said in a weak exhale.
With that they feel asleep in each others arms. After that night surrounded by the comfort of one another they would never want to sleep alone again and question how they ever did before.
They were home.
::The End::
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