"You called, you said there was a change, is he alright?" Clark asked as the Kent family filtered into Jor-El's room. Lois and the others let Clark take charge of the situation right away because; it was in fact his father that was sick. Dr. Klein had a clipboard in his hand and appeared to be updating his patient's chart. He turned to face the new guests.
"Well there's been a few changes actually." He said.
"Such as?" Clark urged.
"Well cosmetology wise he's improved greatly. Almost all his bruises are gone and that gash above his eye is no more then a scratch now." Clark studied his father and was pleased with the results; he nodded his head in agreement. "His heart rate is much more stable, and his lungs are completely clear, no more fluid."
"That's wonderful!" Martha exclaimed. Her joy was echoed by murmurs from the others.
"There's more. He's been making a lot of noises."
"Noises?" This from Clark.
"Groaning, mumbling incoherently. It's not unusual for people to dream while comatose. Those dreams are usually very vivid and in some cases can actually pull someone out of it." Dr. Klein stated. Just then Lois happened to look down and saw Jor tighten his left hand into a hard fist and then release it. She gasped audibly which attracted the attention of the other's including Dr. Klein. Jor did it again and another wave of excited murmurs flooded the room. "Oh and there's that." Dr. Klein added, while motioning to the hand. "He's been doing that for a while now."
"What does all this mean?" Clark asked his voice a little more spunky then it had originally been.
"Well, it appears the sunlight is doing him wonders." Dr. Klein motioned to the two large windows on the right side of the room where sunlight was pouring in. "It appears your father is trying to wake up, Clark." Jor tightened his fist again and when he relaxed it Clark slipped his hand into his father's.
"You're doing great, old man, keep up the good work." He said with a merry smile playing on his lips. That smile grew to a full-blown grin when Jor squeezed Clark's hand in response.
"Did you see that?" Clark practically squealed.
"I sure did." Dr. Klein responded. But he hadn't been watching Jor-El's hand. Instead his attention had been focused on the heart monitor before him. "Clark, remove your hand." With a frown Clark did as he was told. "Okay now, put it back." Clark did, and again his father squeezed in response. "Well I'll be." He muttered, creasing his brow in curiosity. "Do it again Clark." Clark repeated the process of removing his hand and then reinserting it. Just like clockwork Jor squeezed in response.
"What's going on doctor?" Martha finally asked.
"He recognizes Clark." Dr. Klein informed them. "Here watch this. Do it again Clark." Everyone watched Jor-El's heart rate spike when Clark touched his hand. They are gasped; including Clark who's attention had shifted from his father's face to the monitor.
"Are you having fun?" A strange voice asked. After a moment of shock everyone's attention shifted back to man on the bed who's eyes were now wide open. In the excitement of the moment Clark had hadn't even felt him shift position. He was now leaning away from Clark and studying the crowd huddled next to the monitor intently.
"Jor?" Ree-Jai asked, his voice high and giddy.
"No, it's Joan or Arc, I let my appearance slip while I was on vacation. Of course it's me! Who else would it be?" Jor replied sarcastically.
"Jor-El you old bastard, go back to sleep would you?" Ree's face was pink and he was shaking with laughter.
"I'd love to! Turn on TV and put on the golf station and I'll be back under in no time!" The rest of the room watched the exchange in a mixture of shock and glee. It appeared Jor-El was not only alive, but in good spirits at that. Suddenly Jor realized that somebody was holding his hand and he turned to face his son.
"Hey you." He whispered, his eyes locking with Clarks.
"You remember me." Clark whispered in return.
"Of course I do. You're mother nearly broke my hand while she was in labor with you, trust me I know what you look like." A round of soft chuckles went around the room. "How did you get here?" Jor's expression grew serious and Clark was instantly in tears.
"You know I hardly remember. It's such a mess in my head. But I'm here and I want to stay if you'll let me."
"Let you? You're talking nonsense boy."
"I love you." Father and son embraced for the first time in front of the watchful eyes of their loved ones. When they released each other there wasn't a dry eye in the house, including Jor.
"We're all a bunch of softies you know that?" Jor muttered while wiping away a few tears. Everybody laughed. By all accounts, this was a miracle. All the pain and suffering over the last 36 hours had been well worth it. Jor-El was defiantly a welcome edition.
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"When's the last time you've eaten, baby?" Lois looked up from her magazine to her husband's giddy face. It was so good to see the sparkle and mischief return to his eyes. The sight was enough to bring her to tears, but she settled for a bright smile. The family had been once again ushered out of Jor's room so that a full examination could be done. The minutes fallowing had been spent exchanging embraces and uttering soft comforting words. Clark had gone to speak with Dr. Klein and Lois was feeling tired and bit dizzy so she had settled into a comfortable chair and spent some time flipping through various reading materials.
"Why do you ask, honey?"
"Maybe I could get some burgers from down the street, you like Antonio's burgers, right? No, you need real food; maybe I could fly to Italy and pick up some lasagna. Does lasagna sound good to you?" Lois' smile faded into a confused frown.
"Clark, what's going on?" Clark shrugged softly and his expression turned troubled. Lois scolded herself for snuffing his apparent enthusiasm.
"I guess I'm just feeling guilty, that's all." He answered with a shrug of the shoulders.
"Guilty? Why guilty?"
"Cause you've been so great to me the last few days. I mean, greater then usual of course. You've let me carry on and be crazy, and you were right there beside me the whole time. And I feel like I haven't returned the favor is all." Lois's mouth dropped wide open. She rose from the chair and wrapped her arms around her husband's neck pulling him close to her in a sheltering embrace.
"You are crazy, first off. Clark, you spend most of your time helping people, whether as Superman or as Clark Kent ace reporter. And you never complain, you never refuse, you do everything you can do whether the odds are against you or not. I've always thought that if I could give you even a little bit of that back, a fraction of that unwavering strength and courage then I'd consider it a great honor. And I did. Yes I've been stressed, it's hard not to be in a situation like this, but baby it wasn't because of you. I was hurting because you were hurting, that's not your fault." She kissed him softly on the lips and then pulled back enough so that they could lock eyes again. "And besides, everyone is allowed to go crazy once in a while, even Superman." Clark chuckled and then kissed his wife.
"What would I ever do without you?" He asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"Luckily for you, lunkhead, you'll never have to find out." Long moments were spent kissing and inhaling each other's fragrance before Lois stiffened and pulled out of the embrace. "Did I hear you say lasagna?"
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"Mr. El?" Martha called as she opened the heavy door to the room.
"Oh please, call me Jor. There is no need for formalities."
"Actually, that's why we came back. We realized we hadn't properly introduced ourselves. I'm Jonathan Kent, and this is my wife, Martha." Jonathan and Martha each extended a hand and Jor shook them individually.
"Am I to understand that you're the people who found Kal's spaceship?" Martha nodded in confirmation. "I thought so. I assume you have many questions."
"Yes, we do. But those can wait until later. Actually we wanted to thank you." Jor watched, as Martha's eyes grew glossy with unshed tears.
"Thank me?" Again she nodded.
"Without knowing it, you made our dreams a reality. You see, I'm infertile, and I've always dreamed of being a mother. Clark was such a blessing to us. A miracle really. Oh look at me; I'm getting all emotional. I'm sorry, it's just that I never thought I'd be able to say any of this to you."
"Don't apologize. If you don't mind me saying so, I always knew that he would be well received by whomever should stumble upon him."
"You were right. He certainly was." Jonathan chimed in.
"Clark? You named him Clark?" Jor-El asked out of the blue.
"Yes," Martha said brushing away more tears and nodding at the same time, "Clark Jerome."
"Clark Jerome." Jor pondered the name a few minutes and then nodded approvingly. "I like it. It suits him well."
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"Jor-El, you most certainly are a sight for sore eyes."
"I should be, I look like a degenerate." Jor retorted before he realized whom he was speaking too. In the reflection of the mirror Jor could see Nul standing in the doorway of the bathroom. He turned and let the trademark grin of the El family take over his expression. "Nul-Zay, get over here and give me a hug." The two friends embraced in a deep masculine hug.
"I came as soon as I found out you had awoken. How are you feeling?" Nul asked when the embrace ended.
"Fine. I do have one question, however."
"And what would that be?"
"When the hell did I get so old?" Nul's snort of laughter sent Jor off in a fit of laughter. Both men were holding their sides and in tears when they were done.
"Well, you were floating in space for thirty years, old man." Nul chuckled. He brushed the tears off his red cheek and straightened. Jor said nothing and returned to his task of shaving in the mirror. "Have you seen Kal?" Nul asked after a long while.
"Yes, he was there when I awoke. As well as his wife and him parents."
"They're lovely people, Jor."
"I know, I just spoke with them a few moments ago. I hate to say this, but you were right, Nul. Things did work out. Clark is happy, and therefore so am I."
"Clark huh?" Jor turned away from the mirror and gave his friend a good look up and down.
"I just don't want to put more stress on his shoulders then I already have. This can't be easy for him, and there's a lot of conversations to be had, a lot of things to be done. I just want to make him as comfortable as possible."
"And who's going to make sure you're comfortable."
"I can handle the situation, Nul, I did create it, after all." Jor again turned so he was facing the mirror. "This conversation is closed." Nul simply nodded and left the doorway. Once in the hallway, he shook his head sadly. He knew having Jor wake up was only half the battle. Now came the monumental task of trying to merge two different families, two entirely different worlds together. It was an uphill battle but he'd be there to see it through.
