I think I must have dozed for a short time, because when I awakened it was not only dark up above us, but I could see a cold, star filled night sky glaring down through the opening. I shook myself lightly and noted Clark was still on my lap. He stirred too at my movement.

"Cold…" He mumbled a little, "must get more blankets…"

I prodded him with a fingertip. "Hey, there are no blankets down here, Smallville. Although you seem to think my lap is a pretty good excuse for a pillow!"

Clark's eyes opened fully and he looked around. "No one came…"

I let my eyes drift skyward in consternation. "Well, I'd say they're not very likely too, given the fact no one has a clue where we are. We're going to rot down here!" I peered back at the ceiling section we'd crashed through in puzzlement, "I still don't get how those goons who chased us didn't see where we fell, though."

Clark cleared his throat and pulled his body grudgingly into a sitting position. He slowly rested his back against the wall, and stretched his injured leg out in front of him. He rubbed at my makeshift dressing absentmindedly as he spoke. "I was thinking about that. What if the entrance was meant to be shielded somehow? Like secret access panels they used to have in old castles and mansions?"

"Oh great!" I threw my hands up and instantly regretted it. I was going to need a few days in bed, if and when we escaped. "So, basically you think we can see out, but no one else can see in?"

Clark's head cocked to one side and he considered it. His eyes seemed to stare at the hole for the longest time, and then he looked back to me. "It's possible the thing is still active, but maybe the cave-in deactivated it."

"That's a whole lot of maybes I'm not going to sit around and wait to come true!" Don't ask me how, but I tugged myself up then and stood beneath the breach. "HELP!" I continued screaming until my voice box almost gave out with the strain. "Somebody HELP!"

"Shush!" Clark couldn't physically stand and put a hand over my mouth, but I could tell he darn well wanted too. "Lois! I said quiet!"

Eventually I shut up, but only because I didn't have enough breath in me to do otherwise. It was then I heard why he wanted my silence. Somewhere above us it sounded like there was an engine running. Not too close, but definitely stationary.

"That's Lex's Hummer!"

Farmboy's clairvoyance didn't amuse me. I mean, how was I to know he had super-hearing? "And I suppose you do really good card tricks too?" I shook my head, but despite my sarcasm we both began to yell. I didn't care if it was a Hummer above or a beat up truck as long as they heard me.

"Clark? Lois?"

At the sound of the familiar voice I exhaled and almost collapsed with relief. Jonathan Kent was looking intently at us from above, deep unease etched on his normally genial features. About two seconds after Clark's dad appeared, Lex's head bobbed into view beside him.

I didn't realize it at the time, but apparently Jonathan and Martha had found Clark's note, and after he and I had not returned from the caves, Jon had gone right on over to the Kawatche site. He'd been confronted by the same heavies we had, and so had gone straight to the Luthor mansion. It hadn't taken Lex long to interrogate his people and discover they'd chased us. Just why they'd pursued two kids with such vigor is a tale for another time, but suffice to say for the moment Lex was on our side.

Once they knew where to start searching, it hadn't taken Jonathan and the Machiavellian millionaire long to hear our pleading cries of desperation.

"Just hang on you two. I'll call the emergency services." Lex pulled out his cell phone and flipped it open like some Star Trek communicator. Somehow, everything the bald entrepreneur did always had a sense of flair and class. "Are either of you hurt?"

"Wait, Lex." It was Jon, "We could be hauling them out while you're wasting time on the phone!" There was a strange urgency to the father's tone I couldn't quite put my finger on, but either way, a full blown argument ensued between a panicked father, and an incensed rich boy.

I folded my arms in amazement as they seemed to actually forget the two people they'd come to rescue in favor of quarrelling. I thought Clark would be pretty shocked at their behavior too, but when I shot him a glance he had edged further towards the emerald rubble on the cavern floor and was looking decidedly uncomfortable. I didn't know whether it was the row above that was bothering him, or his leg, but either way I intended getting out of the fissure before either became a major problem.

"Hey! Do you think that Hummer of yours might just have a winch so we can be getting out of here while you two cowboys duke it out?" I was angry, and I bark like a four star general when that happens. I have my dad to thank for that.

Lex's brow furrowed and his right eyebrow arched up in incredulity. "How did you know we'd come in my Hummer?"

"Does it matter? Just get us the hell out of here, will you! Clark hurt his leg." I added the latter part in hope it would make the two feuding men pull together, and it seemed to work. Although the abrupt expression of concern on Jonathan's face had me wondering just what was going through his head. I mean, surely they had considered we might have injuries?

Both men vanished from view, and seconds later we heard the Hummer growl back into life. Jon's voice was ever present as he guided Lex to reverse up to the opening so that his vehicle's winch was as close as possible. Shortly after, Jon's head reappeared and he was directing the mini-hoist's steel cable towards us.

I glanced over to Clark and he was wincing like someone had danced on his thigh- maybe even a whole football team had from his expression. "I think the whole ladies first thing better get wavered this time…"

I could tell he was going to protest, but he seemed to have very little energy to stop me, so I wrapped the cable around his waist and tugged for his dad to begin reeling in the slack. Two minutes later and we were both back topside.

That was when it happened. It seemed absurd really, given his current condition, but as Clark lay on the ground near Lex's Hummer, I could have sworn I head his dad whisper something bizarre. No, in fact I know I heard him say it.

"Son, what's going on? Why aren't you healing? You know you can't go to the hospital, they'll know…"

Lex had finished securing his winch and interrupted. "Mr. Kent, I'm calling an ambulance." I could tell the millionaire was actually scared for Clark as he watched the teen writhe where he was propped.

Heck, I was concerned too, and like a fool I joined in the new argument on Lex's side. Jonathan was outgunned and he knew it. Like it or not, Clark was going to Smallville Medical Centre right along side me.

Clark and I rode in the back of Lex's Hummer to the hospital. In fact, Jonathan joined us too, sitting next to Clark on his right side rather than sitting up front with the annoyed millionaire. Lex had still wanted to call for paramedics after seeing Clark's sickly pallor, but his dad's protests, and a categorical no from Clark had been the only thing to stop him.

Now, as the military-like vehicle pulled into Smallville Medical Center's parking lot, I was beginning to see Lex's point. Clark couldn't even sit up straight, and Jonathan had an arm around him supporting him in definite fear. Still, Clark refused the offer of a gurney or wheelchair, and insisted on trying to get inside under his own steam. Now I knew he was a geek, and a pretty dim one. I didn't get what he was trying to prove, and I sure as heck didn't get why Jonathan let him attempt it. He was Clark's dad, and he was clearly concerned, so why all the reluctance?

Lex was furious too, but he bit his lip and held back, I'll give the rich boy that. He knew when to back off, which was something I never did- I still don't in fact. Perhaps that's why I ended up a reporter.

Inside the hospital, Jonathan managed to settle Clark on a chair while he and Lex both spoke to the nurse on reception. I took the opportunity to tell farmboy just what I thought. Not that my opinion went down any better than our first visit to the place had. That time when I'd found him wandering around naked and clueless he'd physically picked me up off my feet to escape the hospital!

"What is it with you? You look like crap and you still won't let anyone help you!" I glanced around and noticed a doctor was heading towards us. He seemed to recognize Clark but not me. "Are you going to be as stubborn when they take you in a treatment room?" Clark screwed his face up and only appeared to hear half of what I was saying. If I hadn't known better I'd have said he was struggling to even stay conscious, "I know all about you're little needle phobia, Smallville, but it isn't going to save you this time…"

He groaned then, either from my comment or the intense pain he was feeling- and I don't mean from his leg.

"Who blabbed? Was it Chloe or Lana?" Plaid boy leaned forward so far I expected him to fall off his seat, and I grabbed his arm to hold him steady.

"It doesn't matter who it was. I'm making sure you get fixed up, even if I have to stand and watch them!" Over at reception the nurse pointed to the approaching physician and I guessed she'd called him. Clark and I must have appeared pretty bad off to get such prompt attention.

Jonathan and Lex rejoined us then, just in time for Dr. Jaeger and his words of wisdom. (And no, I'm not psychic. I read the doc's nametag, okay?) "It's Clark, isn't it?" He gave me a cursory glance, but quite rightly put his attention on farmboy. "It looks like you've gotten yourself quite a cut there," the doctor probed my makeshift dressing and then announced what I already knew- well we all did. "You're going to need quite a few sutures in that, young man. Let's get you into a room…"

I could tell from Jaeger's face he was bothered about more than the thigh wound, but Clark looked panicked, as did Jonathan, and it was pointless spooking them both more. I mean, Clark had the sickliest tinge to his skin I'd ever seen, but I wasn't about to give him a mirror, you know?

Anyway, I don't think for one minute I was supposed to be there, but I followed the little entourage into an exam room rather than waiting for attention for my own injuries.

Jonathan helped Clark sit and stretch his bad leg in front of him, and it was then I spotted the raised brow of puzzlement from the rugged farmer. It was just like he was saying 'What on earth are you doing?' to Clark with just his facial expression.

Clark grimaced back, but he appeared almost apologetic. It was the weirdest exchange I ever saw!

Next came the fun part. Okay, so it wasn't funny for poor Clark, but I couldn't resist a small giggle at the time. Jaeger and a nurse appeared with a tray, and guess what was on it? Oh yeah, needles!