Lex held a file in his hand and looked over at Pete in the chair opposite him. Pete was a little roughed up and his lip was bleeding and one of his eyes was swollen shut.
"Pete, I really didn't want to have to resort to this, but I need to know who this is." Lex said, holding up the printout of the most recent chat between Pete and Tom'sAngel.
"I don't know. I talked to her for less than a minute. I don't even know her name!" Pete yelled.
"You see Pete, you never were a great liar. I was surprised that Clark trusted you with his secret and not me. I can lie superbly, but you can barely keep a straight face. Now tell me what you know. You know her name, I know you do." Lex said calmly.
"I don't know anything!" Pete spat back. Lex sighed.
"Alright Pete, I really didn't want to resort to this. Listen, I'm not asking for her address and favorite food, just her name. If you can't remember in a few minutes, then my men here will have to try to jog your memory again." Pete still refused to give any information.
"Fine Pete, you are just doing this to yourself. I will have the name either way." Lex smirked.
"Alright! Pete said moments before the first blow was delivered to his stomach.
"Stop!" Lex ordered before the next blow came.
"Alright, talk." Lex ordered.
"Her name is Lana Lang." Pete said. Lex smiled before snapping his fingers. The henchmen untied Pete and escorted him out of the mansion.
"Thank you Mr. Ross. Give my regard to Clark when you see him." Lex said almost innocently.
Later that night, Clark returned home with his new suit and was shocked to see Pete on the couch, with bruises all over his face.
"Pete! What happened!" Clark exclaimed.
"Lex. He took me and then made me tell him who you were talking to online. I gave him the name, but only after his thugs roughed me up for an hour. I swear to God I didn't want to." Pete said, almost pleading his friend not to be angry.
"It's okay Pete. I just have to get to Lana before they do. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Wait... Clark. Where are you going to hide her? She will catch on to the fact that you are not only Superman, but Clark too. She knows about me. I chatted with her for a few minutes." Pete said guiltily.
"Alright umm... does she know your name?"
"Yeah." Clark sighed.
"Fine, you are now... John. Your name is John okay?" Clark asked.
"Whatever man. Don't you think here isn't a very safe place to have her? They know where you live."
"I know Pete. What should I do?" Clark inquired, realizing it wasn't a good idea to bring her there.
"Why don't you take her to your grandfather's?" Pete said hopefully.
"I couldn't, even though we are closer now. I still don't think that it would be a good idea. What about my parents? Would Lex look there?" Clark said, grasping for ideas.
"I don't know man, but probably not. I mean; he wouldn't draw attention to himself like that in such a small town." Pete said reassuringly.
"Okay, then you call my parents, I'll go get Lana." Clark said before Pete nodded. Clark waited until 8 o clock the next morning then ran out the door, tore his shirt off and flew into the air.
A few minutes later he landed right outside Lana's room and knocked politely.
"Just a second." Came the answer from the other side.
Mollie came to the door with a towel on her head. She quickly ripped it out in embarrassment and let Clark in.
"Lana should be back from class in a few minutes." Mollie said nervously.
"Can I get you anything? Hot Pocket?" She asked nervously.
"No thanks." Clark said while standing uncomfortably in the doorway.
"Well, take a seat, make yourself comfortable." Mollie said, ushering towards her room.
"Hey Mollie, you didn't pass out this time." Lana said while coming in the front door. Clark quickly went to grab her books from her but she just shook her head and headed into her room.
"Come here." She said once she was inside. Clark walked into her room and sat down on her bed.
"Lana, I actually need to talk to you. I don't know how to say this, but someone saw me here, someone who is out to get me. These people know my weakness and they are using it against me. They already attacked my roommate, and I'm afraid that they will come after you too. My roommate told me that the guy asked him about you, so I was hoping you would let me hide you somewhere for a few days, just until I could figure this all out." Clark said quickly. Lana's eyes kept getting wider as he talked.
"You're telling me you want me to hide somewhere because you THINK someone might try to attack me?" Lana responded.
"Well, yes. I don't want you to get into the same predicament as my roommate. Please Lana. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't think it was totally necessary." Clark practically begged.
Lana sighed before rubbing her temples counter-clockwise.
"I can't believe this. Just because I've talked to you a few times." Lana said mostly to herself. He wasn't going to tell her that it was from the chats they had, then she would know his identity and be in even more danger.
"How long would I have to hide? Is Mollie in danger?"
"I don't know and maybe. If she will agree to it, you can bring her with you. I just don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me." Clark said, his last attempt at persuasion. It worked, Lana's eyes softened a bit and she sat down on the bed next to Clark.
"I don't blame you. I will go, but Mollie has to come too." Lana said while taking Clark's hand in hers. Clark looked longingly into her eyes and just slightly nodded his head.
"Great!" Lana said, getting up suddenly. Clark jumped a little bit.
"Where are we going?" Lana asked.
"Well, you two are going to my parent's house." Clark said.
"Really! Where are they?" Lana asked curiously.
"Smallville, Kansas. It's a really small town about three hours from Metropolis." Lana's eye lit up.
"Metropolis! I've always wanted to go there. I know someone that's going to Metropolis U!" Lana exclaimed excitedly.
"Well maybe after its safe, you can take a trip up there and see them." Lana nodded as Clark just smiled. She then started to pack a bag to take with her and inform Mollie of the situation. She was more than happy to get away to Superman's house.
"This will be so cool! What if I get to stay in his room! I mean... the room he grew up in!" She exclaimed while getting out of the car at the farm.
"Yeah well, let's just see what kind of people they are first." Lana said less enthusiastically.
"I'm sure they're great." Mollie reassured her before stepping up to the porch.
A petite woman answered the door with a welcoming smile on her face.
"Hello, you must be Mollie and Lana." She said before opening the screen door. "Come in!" She said enthusiastically while ushering them inside. Mollie was shaking with excitement, while Lana was wearing a polite smile to hide her nervousness.
"Hello Mrs." Lana trailed off.
"Kent. I'm Martha Kent, and my husband should be in any moment." She said warmly. As she was attempting to take their bags for them, a loud 'whish!' sound came through the door and there Clark stood in all his glory, cape flying behind him.
"Hey guys, I trust you found it okay?" He asked. Martha went up to her son and gave him a big hug.
"Hi son!" Said a voice from behind.
"Hey dad." Clark said while trying to detach himself from his mother.
"I trust that these are the two young ladies?" He asked before sticking his hand out. "Jonathan Kent." He said while shaking their hands.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Kent." Lana said, slowly getting less nervous.
"You can call me Jonathan. You are Lana?" He asked, surveying both of them and trying to decide which was which.
"Yes, and this is my roommate Mollie." Lana answered. Mollie waved shyly.
"Well then, we better get you two set up." He said brightly while taking one suitcase while Clark took the rest.
When they reached the top of the stairs, Clark turned into his bedroom briefly and removed the few photos he had sitting out and directed them across the hall to the guest bedroom.
"If you two don't want to share a room, one of you is free to take mine. I don't usually sleep in there anyways." Clark said while holding the luggage in one hand easily.
"Mollie, do you want a room to yourself?" Lana asked.
"Sure. No offence or anything." Mollie said, hoping she would get Clark's room.
"No problem. Which room can I have?" Lana asked, looking up at Clark.
"You can take my room, dad, could you show Mollie the guest room." Mollie's jaw fell open in disappointment and she visibly slumped over to the guest room behind Mr. Kent. Lana just shrugged and gave her friend an apologetic smile. Mollie just sneered and entered her room.
Lana followed Clark into his room and noticed right away the very clean look it had to it. 'I guess it would since he is in college' Lana thought to herself. Clark put her bags down gently beside the bed and headed back for the door.
"Hey, Superman. I was just wondering. Could I ask you a question?" Lana asked anxiously. Clark turned around.
"Sure I guess." He said while shrugging.
"What's your name? I feel kind of weird referring to you as Superman in front of your parents." Lana said quickly.
"Oh, well, some of my old friends used to call me Kal." He said slowly.
"Great, g'night Kal." She said sweetly as he shut the door.
"Night." He said through the door. He walked down the stairs briskly and was met with two knowing grins from his parents.
"What?" Clark said innocently.
"I'm getting a vibe from you Clark." Jonathan said.
"A vibe? What kind of vibe?" Clark asked.
"You like one of our house guests don't you?" Jonathan said with a grin.
"Maybe." Clark said cryptically.
"That's not why they are here. They are here because of Lex. I need to get this straightened out. If he comes by here, just... play dumb, and I will try to get here as quick as possible." Clark's parents nodded and Clark changed out of his uniform and into a pair of boxers and a wife beater.
"I guess I'm in the loft for the time being. I will be up at the usual time to help dad with some chores tomorrow." Clark said before grabbing a glass of water and heading out to the loft.
"Good night Clark." Martha called, which caused Clark to turn around.
"Oh yeah, I told Lana my name was Kal, so just go with it." Clark said before turning around and heading back outside. Martha shook her head and headed up to bed.