Nothing Left-Part Seven

Lana walked up the school steps into the school. As she walked everything that happened last night flew into her head and she felt like crying or just collapsing in the hallway, but she needed to be strong for Clark. As she reached the Torch, Chloe immediately jumped her asking questions. "Lana, where were you last night and why are you late for school? Wait, why do you look like you're going to cry." It took Lana a moment to speak. "Last night I got a call . .to come to the school pool . . .and . . .I got here and . .Mike and his friends were by the pool and they had someone tied to the diving board that was almost under the water," Lana was breathing hard and two tears rolled down cheeks at the painful memories. "Who was it and I guess they're aren't okay?" Chloe asked. Lana looked up, "It was Clark." Chloe eyes got large, "Why him, what happened." Lana shook her head, "These jocks said that he was the reason why me and Whitney broke up . . .and then Clark . .," Lana couldn't bring herself to finish and continued to cry. "He said he was sorry and then . .he stopped breathing. Mr. Kent showed up a couple minutes later and scared them off and they let him sink to the bottom I jumped in and untied him. They hit him and strapped green rocks to his chest. I did CPR and he didn't start breathing for a minute or two. He stopped for . . so long. It was too long. We took him back to the Kents' house and a doctor came and looked at him. Clark stopped breathing for a long time and now he's in a coma." Chloe was stunned at first and she finally said, "OH my GOD."She walked over and gave Lana a hug and both the girls proceeded to cry. They looked over as Pete walked in. "Guys what's wrong and where's Clark. He don't show up to school today. Have you seen him?" Both girls just stared at each other and Lana told Chloe to tell Pete and that she couldn't handle doing it again. Pete stood in stunned silence after hearing the news. "Well . .Lana have seen him. Is he going to be okay?" Pete said shakily. "I spent the night in his room waiting, for something that may not come. I suppose I'll stay tonight with him. To make sure nothing happens. I'm so scared that he'll stop breathing and no one will be there to save him," Lana said softly. Pete decided to leave school and go to the Kents' and both girls followed.

Pete and Chloe slowly walked up to the house. They finally went inside to find an empty house. "Mrs. Kent," Pete called out. Then Martha came out of the kitchen to see both of the teenagers. "Hi. You are here to see Clark. He's in his room. There's been no change. Feel free to go up. I bet he'll appreciate you guys coming by." Both of them nodded and walked up the stairs with caution. They reached his door and walked in. They saw him laying there, under the covers, lifeless. Chloe walked over and felt his head. It was still cold after last night which was highly unusual, but his hand was warm. Neither of them talked much. Pete couldn't take it anymore and he left Chloe there, standing and watching his body move up and down as he breathed. She couldn't believe that the strong, Clark Kent that she always knew was in a coma. She began to cry and gave Clark a kiss on the forehead. "Stay with us. For all our sakes. Smallville, our lives are not the same without you," and then she left.

Lana went to the talon and told her staff that there was an emergency that she had to deal with this week and she needed help covering her shifts. She left a note for them to give to Lex if he came by so she wouldn't have to explain the previous nights events to another person and could get back to Clark. She picked up a pizza for the Kents' and a pie, then headed over to the house. As she got out she took the stuff in and greeted the Kents'. Neither of them looked like they had slept much and they said that the doctor was upstairs medicating Clark so they sat down to dinner. Dinner was pretty quiet. There was a lot of staring and clearing their throats, but very little conversation. Everything had hit them so fast. The doctor came down and said that nothing had changed except he looked like he was breathing more normal and there was more color in his face. The Kents' tried to look like they weren't worried for Lana's sake, but she knew better. After dinner, Lana went out to the loft to sit and look at the stars through Clark's telescope. It made her remember of all the times she had waited for Clark to come up the stairs. They had their first real kiss in that loft. She waited here to apologize after Whitney strung him up in a field because she had talked to him. She had caused that very similar incident too. She a single tear roll down her face.

She finally went back to the house to find that the Kents' had already gone to bed. She walked up to Clark's room and changed into her pajamas. A white t-shirt and flannel red pants. Clark had been changed into blue flannel pants and a white t-shirt by his dad earlier in the day. She climbed into bed with Clark and laid beside him. She gave him a kiss on the lips and slipped her arms through his, giving him a hug. She realized that she would never anyone else like she loved him. She just was in denial because she didn't want to be hurt and disappointed again. She wished she could know where he was right now. She ran her fingers through his soft, brown hair. She didn't ever want to let go of him. His skin was so soft. They never really had a chance to have a relationship. She just wanted to be with him. Suddenly everything around became fuzzy and suddenly she was dozing off . . .

(Lana is dreaming)

Lana looked up and she saw ocean water and a beach through a window. She was inside but where? She turned around and saw Clark laying in bed like before except this beach house looked a lot nicer than his bedroom or any other place she had seen. She laid back down and Clark turned over, "Clark?" Lana said confused. Clark made a Hmm sound and started to open his eyes. His eyes got wide. "Lana how did you get here?"Clark was stunned. Lana jumped at him and hugged him which caused him to fall back on the bed. He started to smile.'He's real,' she thought. "Oh my god, Clark. I thought you were gone. Oh my God. I'm so glad to see you." They continued to hug for a long time and Clark just closed his eyes savoring this perfect moment.

They finally sat up and Lana said, "Clark where are we?" Clark didn't know how to explain this. "Lana I'm still in a coma. This is a dream for you somehow. This is my midway between heaven and life. I haven't died, but I don't know if I'll be allowed to live." Lana was in shock. "Have you heard me talking to you?" Clark picked up the remote to the tv and turned the channel to number one and it was Lana sleeping next to him in his room. "I can't get back to you, but I've heard everything you said and seen every movement." Lana had a single tear stream down her face. Clark raised his hand and wiped the tear off her face. "Clark are you going to die?" Clark smiled and said, "Not if I have anything to say or do about it." Lana tried to force a smile. "Clark I'm so sorry. For this and everything I've said to. I didn't mean it. I was angry. You don't cause danger. I get in trouble and you just come to my rescue." Lana began to tear up. "I do cause danger Lana, you're right. I was wrong to hurt you before when I pulled away at the end of the summer, there was no logic to it and other times." Clark and Lana were staring into each others eyes. "No Clark, I love you. Don't leave me please." Clark looked into Lana's eyes, "I love you too, Lana. No matter what don't forget that." They slowly leaned in and started to kiss. Lana wrapped her arms around Clark, enjoying this moment with the man she loved that could be there last for all she knew. They kissed as if it was that night in the loft again and they had never kissed before. They both had now laid back on the bed. When they finally separated they just laid there, in silence, forehead to forehead. They had their arms wrapped around each other. After awhile, Clark whispered, "Follow me." They got up and Clark grabbed a beach towel and some sun screen. They headed outside in the warm weather, holding hands with Clark leading the way.

Clark set the towel down and he took off his shirt. Lana noticed the green bruises were gone and she couldn't help but stare at the as chest, "You're healed." Clark looked down and said, "No one can be bruised in paradise,"he said with a bright smile. Suddenly, Lana was in a bathing suit and he had swimming trunks on. He opened the sun screen and put some on his hands and put a dot on her nose. "We can't let your nose get burned because then it would get all shriveled and I can't date a girl with a shriveled up nose," He said with a grin. She smacked him playfully and he took off running through the water, splashing around as she chased him. When she finally caught him she jumped up in his arms and wrapped her arms around his bare back. They fell back on the sand. "I love you, Lana. Nothing can change that no matter what happens. Never forget that I will always be with you." Lana looked into his eyes, "Don't talk like you're not going to come back. I can't take that. You're going to wake up. You have to." They leaned in for a passionate kiss and their lips met. As they were kissing, Clark started to shrink until everything went black and she woke up.

"No, No," she whispered. She looked back at Clark and down at herself. "I want you now." She reached up and kissed his soft lips, in hopes that her dream had been real and Clark could see how much she loved him and she suffered without so he would try much harder to get back to her. Clark continued to lay still and lifeless. Lana laid back down on Clark's chest and went back to sleep.

Lana woke up and hung around his room most of the day, except for an occasional coffee trip. She read to him from magazines, she talked about her feelings about her life, told him some of her secrets or things that she liked, played to him her favorite songs, and some of the time she spent crying and holding his hand. She continued to do this until the weekend and then she decided to go back to school and sleep at home again. She started feeling sick and depressed and didn't think her body could take much more of this devastating obsession.

On first day back to school, she went back in the middle of the day so she wouldn't have to fight through crowds or talk to anyone about why she was gone for so long. Lana had a hard time opening the front door of the school because she knew that when she did that the memories of what happened would overwhelm her. The vision of Clark dying on that diving board, the vision of her giving Clark CPR and him not waking up, and the vision of Mr. Kent carrying Clark's drenched, lifeless body out of the high school. She opened the door and then looked down the empty hall. 'To think that I wasn't speaking to him a week ago. To think that he thought I hated him. To think that he has been in so much pain for me is unbearable. That seems like so long ago. I can't even remember why I hated him.' She walked down to the pool to find it empty. She sat down where she was tied up that night and then got up because she spotted some of the rope that was binding Clark's hands. She held it in her hand and then she heard someone clear their throat. She whipped around and saw Chloe. "Hi. It's nice to see you back. . . I missed you at home and here. I miss Clark a lot too," Chloe stated. Lana walked over and gave Chloe a hug. Chloe returned her hug and said, "Lana, I really miss him." Chloe began to cry and Lana whispered, "Me too," as a tear fell down Chloe's cheek onto Lana's jacket. When they finally separated they didn't speak for a minute. "So is he? Any change?" Chloe asked. Lana shook her head, "There is no change. I decided that I should return back to normal life. I've cried so much I feel empty. I don't think I'm returning that successfully. My first day back and I can't bring myself to go to class. I find myself here, reliving more moments that I know will just make me feel more consumed and depressed over all of this." Chloe nodded, "It doesn't seem the same, knowing that he isn't here to talk to. Even when we weren't on the best of terms I knew he would do anything for me. Either of us or anyone else he could. If he it would hurt him." Chloe started to look at the floor as she often did to avoid uncomfortable eye contact. "Well all we can hope for is that he will be able to do that once again." Chloe nodded and said, "Shall we." As they walked out of the pool the bell for the next class rang and they parted and went to there classrooms.

Lana was so glad the school day was over. She had fallen behind and had been given extreme workload and she could only think about Clark all day long. She drove to Kents' house and saw a familiar car in the driveway. Lex Luthor came walking down the stairs from their house and looked up to see Lana. Lana got out of her car and walked over to Lex. "I got your note. I'm very sorry I was not here for all this. It must have been an awful situation." Lana nodded her head, "It was. Where were you anyway?"

"I was in Metropolis on business with my father for a week. I have offered to bring in top doctors from Metropolis, but Mr. Kent insists that there is nothing to be done." Lana nodded, "I wish there was something anyone could do but he's been checked out and medicated. It's a waiting game now." It was hard for Lex to comprehend situations that his money couldn't fix. "How long has he been in this coma for?" Lex asked. "About a week and a half. It seems like much longer but it's only been a week," Lana said as she started to stare at the ground. "Well, I won't keep you from your visit. If you need anything, I'm here." Lana nodded, "Thanks. See ya later." Lex got into his Porsche and sped off.

Lana walked up the steps into the house and greeted Mr. and Mrs. Kent with a hug. She quickly asked if there was any change and when they replied no and she excused herself and headed upstairs. She walked into his bedroom and saw him lying there in the same spot that she had left him this morning. She sat on the bed next to him. She gave him a kiss on the lips and then moved the hair on his forehead so she could plant a kiss. "Clark, I really missed you today at school! I really wish that I could stay here with you forever and sleep next to you, but I can't. I have to go to school and sleep in my own bed. I just wish that you would wake up, while I was here. I've worked it out so that this weekend I'll stay with you and we can spend some quality time. I'll catch you up on all the latest fashions. I bet you can't wait, right. It might be weird, but I feel safe laying next to you, because I know nothing can happen to you while I'm here. I worry when I'm not here. I wish you and I could of just fixed our problems without you being in a coma. At least I think they're fixed. I know I love you and always will, even if you still want to be evasive about who you are." She lifted up his shirt and saw that the green bruises on his chest were almost faded. By the time she came back they should be gone. She massaged his firm chest. She put his shirt back and looked at the time. It was almost dinner time and she needed to go back to the Talon and start being manager again. She squeezed his hand. "I'll see you tomorrow." With that she turned around and left.

Lana decided that she didn't want to keep bothering the Kents' so no matter how hard it was, she decided she would visit him every other day and she did. The week seemed to go very slow. Lana could barely concentrate on school or work. She was a big mess everywhere except when she was next to Clark. When the weekend finally came she was very relieved. She had everything ready to stay with Clark. This seemed like an unhealthy obsession to her, but she needed to be with him. If there was a slight chance he would wake up and she would be the first face he saw.

When she went in the house no one was there, but she found a note.

LANA: WE WENT TO JONATHON'S DOCTOR IN METROPOLIS. YOU CAN STAY ALL WEEKEND IF YOU LIKE. JUST KEEP CLARK SAFE. TAKE CARE. LOVE YOU, MARTHA.

Lana was glad they weren't here because she felt less like she was bothering them. She quickly went upstairs and into Clark's room. She changed into a t-shirt and sweat pants. She couldn't climb into bed fast enough. She snuggled up to Clark. She checked his bruise on his chest. It was no longer there. She smiled at how quickly he was healing. She wrapped her arms around like she had done so many nights before. She just kept her arms around him. He was so warm. She laid her head on his chest and listened to him breathe. Suddenly she felt something on her back. It was his hands. She looked up and his eyes fluttered open. "Oh my god. . . . . .Clark." Lana was in ecstatic. He smiled at her. He embraced her and she closed her eyes as she felt is strong arms around her. He finally whispered, "Lana." She looked up. "I missed you. . . . I love you too." She was right, he had heard her. She leaned in and softly kissed him. She couldn't believe how good it felt to finally have her kiss returned. "Don't ever leave me like that again, you hear me." She stared into his beautiful eyes with a hint of sarcasm. "I won't. I promise." He kissed her again. Lana couldn't stop her urge to hug him that she finally gave in. "You should probably sleep some. We can talk in the morning." He nodded and she laid on her side and he did the same and cuddled up next to her. He put his hand in hers and they drifted off to sleep.