Note: Thank you for all the reviews! You guys make me blush… (The song that Lana hears on the radio is "You and Me" by Lifehouse and her ringtone is "She Will be Loved" by Maroon 5.)


On the Way to Metropolis

Sunday, July 4th

1:16 P.M.

What day is it? And in what month? This clock never seemed so alive…I can't keep up and I can't back down…I've been losing so much time…

Lana twisted the knob on the car stereo and soon the music could probably be heard by the next car over. Fortunately, there were no cars in sight as it was the Fourth of July and everyone was probably out barbecuing or already were in Metropolis for the big parade that was held every year. The theme for this year's parade was none other than Lex Luthor himself, who was reported to be making an appearance.

All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right…I'm tripping on words…You've got my head spinning…I don't know where to go from here…

Lana smiled faintly at the words being sung. It had been her prom song at Smallville High. She had shared the dance with none other than Clark. It had been such a happy and carefree time then. She and Clark had only danced as friends since she was still with Jason, but Lana couldn't help looking back at the memory as a dance she and he had shared as the beginning.

Great…here comes the waterworks. Lana wiped at the fallen tears and tried to stop them, but gave up. It was pointless to try to keep her emotions in—something that she had been doing since she was little.
'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do…Nothing to prove…And it's you and me and all of the people…And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you…

She could still remember the night. The air was full of excitement and although she hadn't be crowned Queen, Clark had still treated her like royalty. And the kiss afterwards…. Lana smiled through her tears. Clark had known that she was still with Jason, but he had still kissed her on the lips.

There's something about you now…I can't quite figure out…Everything she does is beautiful…Everything she does is right…

Lana didn't know exactly how it happened—maybe it was because she was reminiscing about prom night or maybe it was because of her tears. The next thing Lana Lang knew was that she was veering off the road into a ditch.

"Ahh!" Lana shrieked and pulled the steering wheel the other way and hit the brakes to avoid hitting a tree right in front of the huge ditch that she was going to land in. With a huge thud, the car stopped violently and Lana could've sworn she saw a crack start right down the middle of her windshield.

For a few moments, Lana just sat there, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tight that her knuckles had turned white. She didn't even bother to check the amount of damage her reckless driving had caused.

Once her breathing had regained normal status, Lana rummaged through her bag, not even bothering to pull the car back onto the main road. Only the front wheels had hit the ditch and the back wheels were still on the road.

She pulled out her phone and began to dial a number when her phone rang. It was Clark.

"Clark?" Lana said in a shaky voice. She strained her ears when no one answered on the other line. She was pretty sure he hadn't hung up because she could make out breathing patterns.

"Clark? Please answer me." She closed her eyes and prayed that he would—why would he call her then?

"Clark…I'm stuck in a ditch…please come get me," Lana tried. She hated to use her accident against him—but, God, she wanted him back.

All of a sudden, the line went dead and Lana limply dropped the phone on the passenger seat. Sobs wreaked her small frame and that small flame of determination that was lit up earlier was blown out.

Lana gasped and lifted her head off her knees. The car was moving. She checked that she hadn't step on any of the pedals and when she confirmed that she hadn't, she looked at her rearview window.

She snapped her eyes shut and then opened them again. It was him! He had come back after all! Lana scrambled to open the door, but realized that if she did, she would fall out and that would lead to serious head wounds. So, for now, Lana sat put and waited.

Once the car's tires hit the ground, Lana scrambled out of the car, almost falling. The smile and hope that was on her face were quickly replaced by more tears and disappointment. There was no sight of Clark Kent anywhere.

Metropolis: Hilton Inn

Sunday, July 4th

4:23 P.M.

Lana flung herself facedown on the hotel bed and contemplated where to begin her man hunt for Clark Kent. After a while, she decided to call Chloe to let her know that she was in the city.

She sat cross legged on the king sized bed and placed the telephone and it's carrier on her lap. She began dialing Lois and Chloe's apartment number, but hung up before the last number. She replaced the telephone on the bedside table and put her head in her hands.

Minutes passed and an eerie silence hung around the room. Cries of joy and laughter could be heard from outside the room. The annual Fourth of July parade would be starting in a few hours.

Lana got up and walked to the luxurious view that had come with the room. She could see children of all ages lining the streets and even some younger ones in strollers. No doubt they were saving their seats in advance.

I don't mind spending everyday…Out on your corner in the pouring rain…Look for the girl with the broken smile…Ask her if she wants to stay awhile…And she will be loved…She will be loved…

Lana started at the sound of her cell phone going off. She quickly paced to the bed where she had set her phone down. She couldn't help but let a giggle out at the sound of Clark's voice bellowing the words out to Maroon 5's "She Will be Loved." She had caught him singing with it in the shower and had hit the record button on her cell phone.

"Hello?" Lana asked breathlessly, not bothering to check the caller ID.

"Lana, dear? This is Martha. Did you make it to Metropolis alright?"

Lana quickly pushed her disappointment away. It wasn't Clark.

"Oh, yes," Lana replied. "I just got into my hotel room now. I'm just trying to figure out where to search first—the docks or LexCorp."

A pause. "Lana, how are you so sure he's even in Metropolis? Maybe he's still here—in Smallville. There are so many cornfields; he could be hiding in any of them."

Lana sighed, not really knowing how to explain to Martha about Cobwell and that whole business. "It's just a hunch."

"I know you're upset about Clark, honey, but why don't you come back? Your friends and family are here—we can help you find him."

"You're starting to sound like Nell," Lana said with a small smile.

A long sigh. "I know I am... I'm just worried and your aunt is too. But, I know that trying to convince you to come back won't help at all, so just tell me what I can do."

Lana closed her eyes. "Just pray…and maybe he'll come back to us," she whispered.

"You'll find him. Just don't wear yourself out," Lana heard Martha say. "He loves you, Sweetie…he'll come back."

"I hope so," Lana replied softly. "Bye, Martha."

"Bye, Lana."

Lana hung up and slipped the phone in her jean pocket. After much contemplating, she decided to take a shower before heading out into the city.

Lana went over to her overnight bag where she had hurriedly packed all her essential over night necessities. She pulled out a fresh shirt and a pair of jeans. After grabbing a bathrobe provided by the hotel, she placed all the items that she would need in the bathroom and started the shower.

She was about to undress when she heard screams and shouts coming from somewhere outside the room. Lana ran to the window and to her horror, witnessed a man pick up a police car and throw it at a group of teenagers who had turned out for the parade. Lana snapped her eyes shut and prayed that someone out there would prevent the inevitable from happening.

After a moment, Lana decided to open her eyes again. She hadn't heard any screams and wondered if her prayer had come true. To her immense relief, the group of teens had managed to escape unscathed, but who had been their savior? She scanned the mob of running people and saw a man with the car in his arms set it gently on the ground.

"Clark," Lana whispered. Her instincts told her to stay inside the hotel, but her heart was calling her out. Lana frantically scanned the room for her shoes and shoved them on. She ran outside the room, not even bothering to shut the door or turn off the shower.

"Excuse me! Miss! Where are you going?"

Lana ignored him and the announcement that all hotel guests should stay in their rooms. She ran up to the elevators and slammed the palm of her hand on the button for the lobby. After standing there for five seconds, she decided to take the stairs and by the time she got to the last set of stairs, she was panting.

Nevertheless, she sprinted across the elegant lobby, ignoring warnings of the hotel workers and nearly toppled over an elderly lady with a cane.

Lana crashed through the double doors of the hotel and ran straight into the mob of people who were all trying to get away from the scene.

"Clark!" Lana called out. "Clark!" She searched the crowd in hopes of finding the familiar face of Clark Kent, but found none.

There! Lana had found him. She craned her head and saw a man covered with scales and a man in a blue and red ski mask circling each other, knees bent and arms ready to attack. There was no doubt about it—the man in the ski mask was Clark Kent.

"Clark!" Lana cried, pushing through the crowd to get closer to the action. To the cynics, she would be considered a mad woman, but to the romantics, she would be considered a woman deeply in love.

"Clark!"

Both men turned stopped circling and focused her attention on Lana. She flushed and realized this wasn't exactly the best time to be calling Clark's name out.

Lana saw Clark's eyes widen through the tiny holes that he had punctured in the ski mask.

"Lana?" Clark asked, surprised. He had come fully to a halt in his circling and his eyes were focused on her and her alone.

Lana breathing came in small pants and decided that she might as well do it now. "Clark, I love you!"

Surprisingly, awws came from the crowd and Lana saw Clark's countenance soften. All was forgotten about the man with scales.

"I love you too, Lana Lang," Clark said, almost in defeat. He hung his head, but his eyes never left her. "I'm sorry, Lana. I was such an idiot—I was scared."

Lana smiled and yelled back, "I'm scared too—but don't you think this—you and me—is worth taking a chance on?"

Clark nodded and began walking towards her. The crowd let Lana through as she made her way towards him.

Soon, she was wrapped up in his arms and her lips connected with his. Clark sucked sweetly on her bottom lip and Lana eagerly returned the favor by doing the same. Lana felt passion, want, and love from the kiss. There was always something so special about receiving a kiss from Clark….

Clapping. "Now that you two have finished reenacting Romeo and Juliet—which I might remind you ended with them both of them dying—can I get back to tearing up the city?"

Clark pulled away from Lana and now that her view was clear, she saw a very familiar face gazing down at the two of them. Lana gasped and a flashback of red, merciful eyes glaring at her ran through her like an energy surge.

Clark bent his head down purposely and whispered in her ear. "Lana…I need to take care of Cobwell—please, go back to the hotel or wherever you were staying."

Lana shook her head firmly. "I'm not leaving you."

"Okay—I've had enough of this lovey-dovey moment," Cobwell said loudly, his scales shining in the afternoon sun. He stuck out a hand and forcefully grabbed one of Clark's shoulders and chucked him into a building.

"Clark!" Lana cried as she watched him go through the building.

Moments later, he reappeared, unhurt. He waved to Lana to move, but she stood her ground, refusing to leave him. Cobwell took note of this and decided to act upon a newly formed plan.

"So, looks like you're not dead after all," Cobwell said, advancing on Lana. "I thought I had disposed of you."

Lana stepped back a few steps and said, "I guess I'm stronger than I look."

Cobwell gave a cold, heartless laugh. "Well, I'll just have to finish you off now—this time in front of your boyfriend. Maybe then he'll tell me where Lex Luthor─"

Before Cobwell could finish, a red and blue blur came at him and toppled him over. Lana watched as Clark punched Cobwell in the face, splattering blood all over his clothes.

"Don't you ever─" another punch, "let me catch you─" Clark stood up, bringing Cobwell with him, "threaten Lana ever again!" It was now Cobwell's turn to go flying into a building.

Clark super sped to Cobwell before he even had a chance to stand up. He pulled a streetlight off of the sidewalk and tied it around Cobwell. Unfortunately, it didn't hold him as pieces of the light pole shattered and hit several people still watching the scene with awe.

"Put your hands up in the air and stay where you are!" a police officer yelled at Clark and Cobwell. Guns were aiming at both of them as more police cars pulled up. Ambulances were also arriving, gathering up the injured civilians and fallen officers from the last batch that Cobwell had destroyed.

Lana felt hands on her back, ushering her away from the supposed crime scene. She noticed that Clark's ski mask was still in tact and thanked the Lord that the officers couldn't see his face. They, of course, would think him part of this mess and take him into custody too.

The guns pointing at Cobwell didn't seem to have any affect on him as he kicked Clark away and picked up the nearest police car, wanting to ram it on the crowd of people who were now trying to get away.

Unfortunately, Cobwell's hands weren't impenetrable like Clark's and he felt the burn and heat of Clark's heat vision. He dropped the police car in agony and looked at his burnt hands.

"You!" he bellowed at Clark. "Why don't you just go away?"

The police force looked on with hesitation as Cobwell returned to the task he was doing beforehand. But, this time he had a new target—Clark Kent.

To Lana's relief, Clark ducked the flying car and super sped to Cobwell, punching him with such force that he was soaring through the air. Cobwell landed on the roof of an empty police car and remained still.

"This is the Metropolis Police Force—stay where you are and put your hands on your head," a voice said firmly above the heads of the people who were grounded. A helicopter had apparently been sent to regain control of the situation.

Moments later, another chopper could be heard. Lana glanced up at the sky and saw the logo LexCorp written across the chopper. Lex Luthor had arrived.

Security scrambled out of the LexCorp helicopter and surrounded Cobwell with guns pointing at him.

"No! Don't hurt him!" Lana heard Clark shout as he ran through the mob of police officers who all started firing the moment he took a step. Bullets ricocheted off of him to the crowd's amazement.

"He's just a victim—a victim of Lex Luthor!" Clark shouted to the crowd, pointing at Lex Luthor himself who had stepped off the chopper.

"Well, you didn't seem to mind hurting him before," Lex replied in a suave voice with a small smile.

"I was just trying to stop him from hurting anyone else."

"Well, I'm sure the police will find it interesting how the two of you tore up the street," Lex said smoothly. He passed Clark and nodded to his security men.

"No! You don't understand!" Clark tried again and Lana felt her heart break for him. "Luthor did this to him! He turned him into this!"

Lex ignored him and muttered something to who Lana assumed was the head of his security.

"Oh God," Lana whispered to herself as she witnessed one of the men fire a single dart at the pulse of Cobwell's neck. After a moment, he began jerking and it looked like he was having a seizure.

The crowd gasped and a child could be heard crying.

"Don't worry, it's just a poison that will kill him," Lex reassured the police department and the crowd.

"Just a poison!" Clark shouted, infuriated. "You did this to him! And now you're just killing him off—not even bothering to try to help him!"

Lana saw him clench his fists and whispered, "Noo…"

Clark approached Lex, but decided against it when his security suddenly surrounded him.

"Maybe we should give him an injection too," Lex suggested to the police department. "He did help destroy the street."

"Noo!" Lana yelled out, pushing through the crowd. She saw Clark's eyes widen and his frantic hand movements to tell her to stop. She ignored them.

"No?" Lex repeated, eyeing Lana like she was a piece of meat. "Very well, I guess we'll do what the lady requests." He turned to the head of the Metropolis Police Department. "He's yours."

Lex turned around to gesture at Clark, but he wasn't there. The crowd gasped and so did he. Lana however, was smiling.

"Well, I guess that's that then," Lex said, patching over the sudden turn. "Miss Lang, if you would?"

Lana was startled at the sound of her name, especially coming from Lex Luthor.

"The chopper? I do believe we have some catching up to do—and don't worry we'll fly you back to wherever you want afterwards."

Lex held out his hand and Lana bit her lip. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to go check on Clark, but had no idea where to start. A part of her was curious to know what Lex Luthor wanted with her though.

"Miss Lang?" He was still waiting for her.

"Sure, Mr. Luthor," Lana said, forcing a smile. She figured it would be a quick chat in between them and she would use his power to her advantage. Like, getting back to Smallville in less than an hour or having her car and bag waiting for her at the Kent Farm.

"Please, call me Lex—Mr. Luthor makes me sound old."

Lana forced another smile and as she was walking up the steps of the chopper, something made her look up. She paused and searched the skies for whatever she had caught a glimpse of earlier, but it was gone.