Chapter 4 - Cure

Chad had a headache.

A fickin-frackin screamin' one!

It was past midnight and he couldn't sleep. He was sweating like crazy, and kept tossing and turning on the bed.

He knew, somehow, that his own body was protesting to what his mind now had to accept.

He was delusional. He was a nutcase. He was out of his goddamn mind.

Clark Kent?

Superman?

What the hell?

After Leroy's spot-test on the force of gravity, Dr. Bryce had sat him down with his parents and related the entire story.

For three months, since the accident, Chad's episodes were caused by another personality inside himself taking over; leaving him with no memory of the times his own was suppressed.

And that personality was... tarantadada...

Clark Kent!

Superman!

Freakin' Hell!

Chad could have accepted that, but for today's little incident.

His parents and Bryce swore they saw him move at super-speed.

It was one of a few similar incidents that Chad had not shared with anyone, including Dr. Bryce. Since the accident he'd been developing these strange, abilities?

One night while he was still in the hospital recovering, he'd had a nightmare. It was a bad one.

When he woke up, Chad discovered that he had been gripping the metal bars of his headboard, and had twisted the wrought- iron framework into complex squiggles. The bars were bent beyond repair. He told the doctors he had no idea what happened.

Another time, he'd been standing down by the brook, when a headache similar to the one he was experiencing now, struck him. Blinding pain flashed into his brain so suddenly that he screamed and lashed out. His swinging fist had connected with a tree, removing a sizeable chunk.

Then his big save today.

Chad recalled the eerie feeling, as the entire world seemed to slow down when he started to run. As if God had hit pause and forgotten to include him.

It was beyond weird.

Beyond terrifying.

He just wished the damned headache would go away so he could figure out what the hell to do about it.

-----

Nicole Sunderland opened the car door and stepped out into the nippy early morning air.

She clutched a parcel to her body, and stalked across the courtyard to the lobby entrance.

This would be her first time visiting Chad since he came here. Doctor's orders. She felt like the last month had been driving her slowly insane. No pun intended.

She missed her boyfriend with an ache that was physical. They'd been dating for two years and were beyond serious.

He was the kindest, most loving, most trustworthy person she had ever known, and being kept apart from him bordered on cruelty.

Chad had saved her life. In more ways than one.

Nicole's childhood was a bitter one.

Deadbeat father, non-existent mother, pain and trials and tribulations all the way.

She was always a good-looking girl. Her dusty blond hair was short, but lustrous, worn with a slight fringe over large, speckled green eyes. Her nose was tiny, a nub, and her mouth full and sensuous.

But Nicole had never seen herself that way. She carried baggage into adulthood, and a sense that nobody would ever love her.

She shied away from her peers, burying herself in an endless ream of books that took her away to that special place where the handsome prince always rescued the tragic princess.

Then, much to her shock, he'd actually arrived.

Chad!

The Knight of her Heart!

She hustled up the steps and into the lobby. The nurse behind the desk greeted her and politely asked what she wanted. She told her she was there to see Chad Karlysle. The nurse nodded, and led her off down the hall to his room.

"I think he may still be asleep," the nurse told her.

-----

Chad was, indeed, fast asleep.

But this time, there were no nightmares.

Rather, he was having a wonderful dream.

He was flying!

The splendour of the Rockies spread below him, their ice-capped peaks glinting in the soft moonlight.

He zipped through the canyons and valleys, actually feeling the delightful rush of air as it caressed his body.

He laughed. This was fantastic!

He arched his body and started to climb.

Higher, higher, higher, till he passed through the candyfloss clouds and left them far below.

This was freedom no man ever dreamed of. The air was still and the night was infinitely quiet. He changed course and sped east with one thought in his mind.

Catch the rising sun!

-----

"Eeeeeeek!"

The scream shattered the dream.

Chad was flung back into consciousness and he gasped in fright.

He looked down. The bed was a long way away.

He fell, and trampled the bed.

-----

Nicole was rigid with terror.

She was shaking uncontrollably, her eyes bulging from her head.

Walking into the room and seeing her boyfriend floating four feet off the bed hadn't quite been top of mind.

She knew about his condition. She'd virtually wrung it from his parents the night before. But the way they explained it, Chad was just delusional, believing himself to be Superman.

Nobody mentioned floating!

Chad disentangled himself from the wreckage of the bed and stood, facing her. Judging by his expression, he was just as shocked as she was. They gaped at each other for a long moment.

Finally, Chad broke the silence by whispering a name.

"Chloe..."

-----

"It's a mystery Steven. I can't explain it. All I can do, is tell you what I saw."

Dr. Bryce was seated in his easy chair once again, addressing an older, graying man with a sharp, trident beard. Dr. Steven Hamilton narrowed his eyes at Bryce.

"You can't expect me to believe the boy can move at so-called 'super speed'?" he snapped, "How would he even accomplish something like that? The physiology involved is impossible."

Despite himself, Bryce burst out laughing. Once started, the laughter wouldn't stop. He cackled until the tears were streaming down his face and he had to take off his glasses to mat his eyes with his silk tie.

"What is so funny?" Hamilton's tone was curt, and annoyed.

"Impossible? Impossible?" Bryce still couldn't stop the giggling, "You're actually telling me its impossible? You're the one who had his blood analysed. You're the one who snapped a needle on his arm. And you're telling me its impossible?"

"What is your point, doctor?"

Bryce ignored the stress on the word doctor, and asked a question of his own.

"Dr. Hamilton have you ever watched Smallville?" he asked, "Ever read any comic books?"

Hamilton was taken aback by the question, and it showed on his face.

"No," he said, "No. I haven't got time for silly modern fairy tales. What's that got to do with anything?"

"Okay, let me phrase it another way. Have you ever heard of Superman?"

"Superman?" Hamilton paused, and racked his memory, "I watched the movie. With that man who's in a wheelchair now."

"Christopher Reeve."

"Yes, that's it. I didn't like the movie. Too unbelievable."

Bryce had to laugh again, "That, doctor, is precisely the point," he said, "Chad Karlysle has MPD. He believes he is Superman."

"But that doesn't explain his mutation. A psychological imbalance shouldn't manifest itself physiologically."

"No it shouldn't," Bryce agreed.

"Then what is it?"

"You know what, Steven? I have a feeling we can ask that question over and over again and we still wouldn't find the answer."

"He needs to be taken for special testing," said Hamilton, rising from his chair and pacing about the room, "There's a new lab being set up in Washington, Project Cadmus. Once it's complete, it'll be the single best research facility in the history of the world. We'll take him there."

-----

"No, Chad, I'm not Chloe," she almost choked, seeing the sadness on his face, "I'm Nicole."

He stood there, watching her. Dressed in his favourite bedclothes. Blue track pants and a bright red t-shirt.

He looked confused for a moment. He studied her face, and his expression showed the turmoil that was going on in his head.

He recognised her, but then... he didn't.

It was obviously tearing him up.

Then, quite suddenly, he grinned.

"Come on, Chloe, what kind of game are you playing?"

"There's no game Chad."

"Who's Chad?"

She couldn't answer for a moment.

There was genuine inquiry in his eyes. He honestly had no idea who she was talking about.

His parents had warned her about this, but she could never have prepared herself for the reality of seeing this 'other Chad'.

She felt a stabbing pain in her chest, and she choked up. Tears glistened in her eyes. He saw her distress, and immediately he was filled with concern.

"Chloe," he stepped over to her and pulled her into a gentle embrace, "Oh, Chloe. Please don't cry. Its okay. It's me, Clark. I'm here. You don't have to worry."

The dam burst.

Wracking, heart-wrenching sobs ripped from her throat and she buried her face in his chest. He smelled musky, and warm. She curled her fists in his shirt, and let her tears run their course. He hugged her to him, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head.

"Its okay... Its okay..."

Finally, she pulled away, and looked up into his eyes.

All the old spark, and love, and tenderness she always saw in them were still there.

He was Chad.

Her Chad!

No matter what.

"Come on," he said, taking her hand in his, "Let's go outside. We can watch the sunrise."

-----

Chad halted their progress down the hallway as they passed by Dr. Bryce's office. He just stood there for at least five minutes, listening intently. To what, she could not tell.

"Chad..."

"Shh!" he put a finger to his lips, silencing her.

Obediently, she stood there, frowning at him. Then, his eyes widened in shock, and his grip on her hand tightened.

"No!" he shouted.

Nicole jumped at his outburst. Seconds later, the door to Dr. Bryce's office was flung open and the two doctors emerged into the hall.

"Chad, what is it?" asked Bryce.

"You!" Chad leveled an accusing finger on him, "You snake! You want to lock me up. Take me away from my family!"

"No, Chad! You've got it all wrong!"

Their argument had roused the nurses and other patients, and scores of people crowded into the hallway to see what was going on.

"You're a liar!" Chad bellowed, "I heard you. You're going to send me to Washington. You're going to let them study me like some kind of animal. My parents warned me about this! They told me this would happen if I ever trusted anyone with my secret. Well I won't allow it."

He made to move down the hall but stopped short. It was packed with people, blocking the path to the door. To get there he'd have to barge right through them and he didn't want to hurt anybody.

"Chad, just calm down, okay? Nobody's going to send you anywehere." Bryce put up his hands in a gesture of peace and approached the two teens.

"Stop calling me Chad! My name... is Clark! Now get away from me!"

Chad struck out, shoving the doctor away. He catapulted through the air, colliding with a male nurse and sending them both to the floor.

"Come on!" Chad jerked around, dragging Nicole with him, "We have to get out of here!"

"Where are we going?" she yelled, as they mounted the steps to the next floor.

"Away!" he said, "They want to send me to a lab in Washington! We have to leave, now!"

Nicole just followed him. Mainly, because she hadn't a clue what else to do.

It seemed to her like the events of the morning had lasted a lifetime rather than minutes, and at the moment, she was too confused to put up much of a protest.

They hurtled up the stairs. Chad didn't stop on the second landing. Rather, he turned and hurried up the next flight. They could hear people running after them, echoing footfalls on the wooden floors. They burst through a door, and came out onto the roof.

Chad paused, casting his eyes about.

"What do we do now?" Nicole gasped, still short of breath.

He turned to face her. She saw the pleading in his eyes.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

She didn't answer, just locked her gaze to his.

"Do you trust me?" he asked again.

"With my life."

He grinned.

Then he bent, swept her up into his arms and dove from the roof.

-----

Dr. James Bryce stood at the edge, absently rubbing at the spot where Chad had struck him.

It was like stopping a sledgehammer with your chest.

But for reasons he didn't want to attempt to explain to himself right then, he didn't care.

He barely registered the cracked rib.

All of his being, all of himself, was focused on the soaring figures above. He watched Chad come to a halt some thirty feet away, and high above his line of vision. He held the girl in his arms, and they hovered there as if that were precisely where they were meant to be.

He was awestruck at the sight.

The young lovers superimposed on the waking dawn. A silver ghost of a moon dying slowly as the sky came alive with the promise of a new day.

Bryce smiled.

-----

They kissed.

Adrift on the dream of flying their lips met.

Sweet.

Slow.

Seeking the essence of each other.

Their salty tears mingled on their cheeks. And each felt the rapid heartbeat of the other.

Maybe it was the kiss; maybe it was the pure exhilaration of hanging in the sky.

Maybe it was both.

She broke the kiss and held his eyes. There was only love there, she knew.

So did he.

"Nicole," a hint of a smile drifted by as he said her name.

She kissed him again.

Hungrier.

More passionate.

More real.

And Clark died inside him in that moment.

He knew who he was. Who he should be.

The moment he caught the wind and rode it... the truth was laid bare for him.

The fantasy of Clark wasn't necessary anymore.

Only Chad.

No matter the name, the world still needed Superman.

"I love you..."

.

.

.