Safe Harbors
Chloe and Clair are settled at a new safe house after hearing about the attempt on Clark. Chloe paces around the floor. 'He said 'I love you.' I know he is still in love with Lana. But he said it. Does it mean anything?" She turns to Clair for an answer.
"Don't look at me, I'm still trying to figure out the male population myself." Clair adds, "I wish I could tell you he was in love with you. From what I saw he really cares about you, and he said he meant it. But to know if he is in love with you, I couldn't tell. He seems to play things close." Clair finishes. I wish I could reassure her that he wants to be with her. She is so in love with him.
Chloe sits down and looks out the window at so many trees. Someone could sneak up so easy, so much cover.
"Don't worry, no one knows about this place, but me." Clair looks up from her book.
"How can you be sure?" Chloe asks very nervous.
"I just am. Please just try to relax." Clair says I know she's scared that's why we're here. This isn't any FBI or safe house that anyone can search on. That's the luck of having a natural father whose a billionaire.
"How about we watch a movie. You like Keanu, right?" Clair digs out some DVDs and "Pick one?" She hands them to Chloe. "Let's get your mind off of Clark Kent." They put the DVD in and Clair brings in some popcorn. I hope this works. Clair thinks.
"Are you sure he is okay?" Chloe asks.
"Jack said he didn't have a scratch on him, so yeah, I'm sure." Clair answers. "Watch the movie."
At another FBI safe house location the Kents are together. They are concerned, Jack has returned. They have heard the news that Clark has stayed at the Luthor manor. They are talking in private. "What is he doing?" Jonathan asks.
"I don't know Jonathan. He must have a reason." Martha answers. "We raised him well, I am not worried about what he will do."
"I am worried about what Lex will do." Jonathan declares his fears.
"I know. Clark brings the good out in Lex, maybe it will help." Martha adds.
"I hope so. I hope your right. I can't lose Clark. I am happy to know that Chloe is alive though. I know it makes Clark feel better, too." Jonathan adds.
"Yes, it makes it seem less an evil world when good things are discovered." Martha smiles softly taking Jonathan's hand.
At the Luthor manor, all the occupants have turned in. The security patrols the grounds and the alarms are set. Janine is reading in bed. Lex comes in and climbs next to her. "You still read in bed. Something hasn't changed about you." Lex smiles.
"No there's still something I do that will never change. You should get some sleep."
Janine says.
"True, I should. I'd like to stay here if I can." Lex smirks
"No." Janine says and kisses him. "Go sleep in your own room."
"Your loss." Lex gets up and leaves.
"I'll just have to suffer." She says and smiles mischievously.
"Me, too." Lex leaves and goes down the hall. I guess since I'm up I will try to talk to Clark.
Biting the Bullet
Lex knocks on the door. Clark opens it. "Do you need something Lex?" Clark asks. I know you want to talk and guess we should just get this over with.
"I'd like to talk if you are up for it." Lex answers. How do I convince you to trust me? I know there is something about you. I've seen things and know things, but nothing adds up.
"Sure, I don't think I'll sleep tonight." Clark says opens the door wide and Lex walks in.
"What are you listening to these days." Lex hears music playing.
"I borrowed it from one security guards. It's not bad, but I'd rather be in my loft." Clark hand the CD case to Lex.
"This would be Matt's stuff, he really likes jazz." Lex adds. "Nora Jones is supposed to be the next great voice. I think I'd rather be at your loft, too. All I can say is I'm sorry. I know that it doesn't change the fact that I was looking into your life."
"What did you expect me to think when I saw all of those pictures of me, my family, my friends and what do you think? Do you think I'm a meteor freak?" Clark finishes and turns away from Lex with anger. Maybe if I go with freak thing, he'll get caught up in that. I just have to try something; he isn't someone I can trust anymore.
"I should have told you. I hadn't done anything with the room since Helen, well since she tried killing me the first time." Lex answers. Maybe if I say that then he let me back in, I've got to try. He is something important and I think he could be the one thing that completes my destiny.
"How can I believe that? You had the room still." Clark all but beats Lex over the head with the fact that he had kept the stuff. You are trying to get your way.
"I couldn't destroy it. I know that I should have, but you know me. I am obsessed with knowing everything." Lex says. Maybe if I say that he'll go with he's human give him a chance. "You kept my grandparents death a secret, and I believed you when you said why you did that. You also said that's why my father had the shock therapy treatment done and me committed. You also tried to rescue me from him. I'm glad you were there to see it. I wish you could have stopped it. I think even now would be there for me, just because that's who you are, Clark Kent." Lex ends.
"I don't know if I would still save you, knowing what I know." Clark turns around. "But if I didn't try to help I would be just like someone else and I know I couldn't live with myself." Just then the alarm blares through the house and you can hear rapid gunfire shattering glass.
"Move." Lex grabs Clark and heads for the security room. Glass continues to shatter and Janine is heading down the hall.
"Your father still has way too many friends in low places." She looks directly at Lex.
"No time for small talk, get into the 'panic room' and stay there." Terrence shoves them.
Just as they start heading for the room, the skylight shatter and three heavily armed men drop in. Janine takes out one of them with backspin kick, the other is trying take down Lex, and Clark has passed out. Terrence takes the third man down but two more appear from the stairs, and Terrence goes down. Janine attempts to get Clark up and out of there, she is thwarted by a blow to the head from one of their attackers, green shards fly as her head hits the floor. Clark's eyes open and he realizes all to well that its 'kryptonite' and he lies helpless. Lex is still grappling with his assailant and sees both Terrence and Janine are down and two men are grabbing Clark. It takes all of his strength, he push the man out an upstairs window.
"Clark, get up. You have to fight." Lex is then heading towards the two men and a shot rings out from the stairs. Lex sees the man's face and passes out. They grab Clark and head out with him. That man goes up to finish off the others when a female voice rings out.
"We have what we need right now. I think this keep Jack busy." She shows him in her hand is a grenade. "Let's go. Everybody out!" She pulls the pin, drops the grenade and runs out the shattered window. The helicopter is coming and she and Clark are whisked off. She sees the explosion and watches it. The other men loaded up and head out as fast as possible, in the distance you can hear sirens and see light flashing red and blue. "All this trouble just for you." She looks at Clark. "I owe you pain." She smiles. All Clark can do is lie in pain. The shards have pierced his skin and the must be more of it around. He has only felt this bad when he was shot by Van. He passes out again.
Lex recovers his senses; the grenade took out the stairs and toppled the wall. He fumbles on the floor coughing, and his breathing is labored. He finds Terrence first. "Of course you would die." He finds for a pulse and Terrence is still breathing. He searches for Janine; she is on her side under a beam. He can tell that part of the mansion is burning. "It's going to take them awhile, to get to us." He hears something from the window and remembers the man he shoved out. He grabs the gun from Terrence and fires two rounds before he realizes. The firefighters are using that as way to get in. Luckily for the firefighters, that time Lex was a suck shot. He hit the wall instead.
"Don't shot!" The last thing Lex hears before passing out again.
Alliances
Lex is sitting by Janine this time. "Oh my, what a headache." Janine moans. "Clark, her eyes flew open, what was wrong with him." She is trying to sit up; she finds she has a broken leg. "Just great. Terrence was hit, is he all right? Where is Clark? And why aren't you in a bed?"
Terrence will be fine, Clark was taken, and I will be wearing this for awhile." Lex shows her his sling; the shot took out his right arm for the time being.
"Do you know who they were?" She looks at Lex. You can't lie to me.
"I thought I remember the one that shot me, but I'm not sure where it's from." Lex answers.
"Well, I'll bet Jack Davis is ready to arrest us all." Janine says trying to adjust her position in the bed. "Have they gotten here?" Lex just nods his head. "You are worried about Clark."
"Yes." Lex comments.
"What aren't you telling me?" Janine asks. Do I really want to know?
"Someone helped my father escape." Lex adds and shakes his head.
"From a federal prison you dad escapes. He should change his name to Houdini Luthor. That man can get himself out of more situations than any escape artist." Janine finishes. "Well he is at least he is consistent. What is being done to find him?"
"Everything we've got and then some." Jack Davis walks in and there is no hiding his anger or disappointment. "Do you realize how many men are dead now, and we will probably add that kid to the list before long." Jack looks at Lex and Janine.
"How many families do I need to call? I owe those men that much. They were doing their job and they knew the risks." Janine says. I know it seems harsh, but without men ready to sacrifice all, we wouldn't be who we are.
"I have already done that for you. I knew this would happen." Jack said.
"Do you think you are your FBI would have fared better?" Janine asks and in away is relieved not to have to tell those families. Arrangements would be made to help the families however small it may be.
"I don't know. And that's what bugs me." Jack answers. "We have got to find the young Mr. Kent and fast. His parents know and are terrified."
"I am sure with your resources and Terrence's, that we can find him. So can we call a truce and work together?" Janine offers an olive branch to the man who helped her once.
"Truce it is." Jack says. "Let's get to work."
Derailments
Clair's pager goes off. Do I tell her or not? She will be upset either way. Think about it, would you want to know. I'd better go wake her up. Clair heads up to where Chloe is staying. She stands there, trying to get her nerve up. She can't and walks back down stairs to the laptop. She signs in.
An instant message pops up.
Voyager: Are you aware of what has happened?
Traveler: Yes, just informed.
Voyager: I am already searching and will update you.
Traveler: Will he be all right?
Voyager: I don't know. I know he is very resourceful.
Traveler: Let me know anything at all. I am checking in with Base.
Voyager: Good Luck.
Chloe comes downstairs. She looks at Clair. "What happened?"
Clair tells her that Clark has been taken. "We aren't sure by who yet? They are working on it."
"Do you know if he was hurt?" Chloe is trying to hold it together. He's dead, he tells me he loves me and he dies.
"They think so, but no one is for sure." Clair answers her.
"Was anyone else hurt?" Chloe goes into reporter mode, shuts down the emotions. They get in the way.
"Yes, Clark was at the Luthor manor. Three security guards were killed and no one in the house escaped injury. Perry White is okay, but Helen is also missing. So there it is." Clair tells and notices. She is shutting down. I know she does this when she is afraid of losing someone. Please let him be okay. "Let's go, I think we will be of more use somewhere else. What do you say intrepid reporter?" She turns to Chloe, who is already up the stairs. Keep her busy and focused on finding him alive.
Clair and Chloe arrive at the FBI offices in Metropolis. Clair shows her badge and gets Chloe checked in and her visitor badge. They head to the elevator and to the 10th floor. It's already buzzing with work. "Clair what are you doing on this floor?" a man asks.
"Just looking for my dad, is he up here." Clair answers him and smiles. They only see me when they can't figure out the MO.
"Yeah and he's in a mood." The man answers her and gestures to Jack Davis' office.
"Thanks JB. I'll see you at softball practice." Clair says smiling.
"Not a chance." JB walks off.
"Time to tame the tiger, Let's go." Clair gets ready for Jack's very bad mood and reaction.
"Dad, would you like some help?" Clair stands at the door, Chloe right behind her.
"You have brought her out here!" He shouts.
"Well it was that or take a chance she would run off and do something crazy." Clair answers calmly. I am so use to you doing this its not even fun anymore.
Jack grumbles and curses under his breath. "Fine, she stays put." Jack comments and goes back to looking at possible locations for Clark to be held. "You know your friend got himself into this." Jack turns and looks at Chloe.
"I'm sure Clark was trying to do the right thing. We all make mistakes, we are all human." Chloe snaps back. Don't you put this on my friend, its your fault and you just can't deal with it.
"Let's go over here before you two decide to launch WW3." Clair puts herself in front of Chloe and moves her down to an empty cubicle Clair signs in and starts to work through some of the files that Virgil has sent her.
"How do you know Dr. Swann?" Chloe asks really strange.
"He is my natural father." Clair answers without turning her head.
"Wow." Chloe says and sits down. That's your dad. I am trying to picture that.
"That's all you have to say. You mean you're speechless." Clair laughs trying to get Chloe to realize that it's okay.
"Sorry, it's just that he and Clark email each other. I mean this is one for my weird files, you know." Chloe just keeps trying to process the new truth she has discovered.
"He happens to like your friend Clark. I think he sees a little bit of himself in Clark, what he was like when he and my mother were together." Clair adds. "Let's find Clark and sees if he will tell us what those two boys talk about in email."
"Do you think Lionel has killed him already?" Chloe asks. I'm afraid of the answer.
"Truthfully, I think if he wanted him dead. He would have done that at the Luthor mansion. I afraid it's something else with Lionel." Clair answers and knows all to well its not going to make Chloe feel safe. "That's why we have to find him." She adds.
"Exactly." Chloe starts going through the pages with Clair. They sort out possible places for Lionel to be hiding.