Nothing Left- Part 16

"Good Clark. Fight through the pain,"Matt said as Clark let out a strained sound as he gritted his teeth to lift his legs with ankle weights on. Clark was still in disbelief that his legs actually hurt. "Alright you've held the left leg up long enough. Your improving very well. I want you to know that the injury you sustained is going to be hard to come back from but you can do it,"Matt said supportively. Clark smiled. "Alright you've come along very well strengthening the muscles in your legs and the next step we're going to start next week is seeing how they respond to the pressure of body weight. We're going to put you in a device that straightens and supports your leg and we'll give ya crutches to try. In your case, the rehabilitation will be somewhat unique considering you didn't break any bones and had temporary nerve damage. It all looks good right now so that's it for today."Matt helped Clark into his wheelchair and wheeled him to the front of the hospital. "Are your parents picking you up?'Matt asked. "Yeah. You go ahead they should be here any minute." With that he waved goodbye to Matt as he left the hospital. He turned his head and saw a beautiful brunette approaching that caused him to smile.

"Hey. I told your parents I'd pick you up from therapy,"she paused to lean down a kiss him,"I hope you don't mind. How was therapy?"Lana asked as she began to wheel him to car. "It was good. It looks a long road until I can walk again but the important thing is I will walk again,"Clark said. Lana kissed the top of his head and smiled at her boyfriend's positive attitude. When the two arrived back at the Kent's house, Clark was welcomed with a phone call immediately as they got out of the car. Lana wheeled Clark over to the phone that Mr. Kent was holding on their front step.

Clark: Hello

Lex: Hey Clark how are you feeling?

Clark: Great. So what's going on?

Lex: Well my lawyers have been talking to Mike and Barry's lawyer and they've agreed to plead guilty if we lay off a tad. Just a tad. What do ya say?

Clark: That's great Lex. Thanks for all your help.

Lex: Anytime. What are friends for right.

Clark: Well thanks again. That's fantastic news. Bye

Lex: See ya around.

With that Clark and Lex hung up.

Clark looked up to see Jonathon and Lana both staring at him closely. "What? Do I have something on my face?"Clark asked jokingly but seemingly serious. "What was Lex calling about? Is there any news?"Jonathon asked. Clark shrugged his shoulders. "It's quite chilly out here. Have you noticed it to?" He joked with them. "Clark you better tell us what Lex was calling for or I'm going to get seriously annoyed,"Lana said. "Oh it was nothing. It's just that Mike and Barry have decided that . . . .,"he broke into a smile, "they're pleading guilty." Lana ran up and hugged him and Jonathon went in the house and got Martha. They both came skipping out of the house and hugged Clark as Lana backed away. "This so great, Clark,"Martha exclaimed. After hugging they all went inside for celebration dinner. Lana and Clark went out on the porch after dinner to sit for a few minutes. "Clark or you excited about your first day back at school?"Lana asked. "Yeah. Sort of. It's not like I'll be in regular classes. I'll be in one classroom all day long with one teacher, but yes I'll be in the school atmosphere,"Clark said. Lana picked up his hand. "At least I can drop in a lot and take you to lunch. You can't do that when you're at home right,"she added showing him the bright side. "Well I'll see you in the morning. My dad's going to drive me up there and Pete's going 'wheel' me inside,"he said putting the word wheel in quotation marks. She walked over and gave him a quick kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow bright and early."

The next morning arrived soon for Clark considering he hadn't had to wake up at six o'clock for a long time. He was awoken by his father pounding on his door, entering his room, making him choose what to wear that day, and offer to put it on for him. Clark rejected his offer and politely asked him to exit the room. After getting dressed, Jonathon helped Clark edge down the stairs and placed him in his wheelchair as they ate breakfast. When he'd finished eating he heard Pete drive up and before he knew it he was being wheeled through Smallville High as students stared at him. As he stared at his shoes he heard a familiar voice coming from behind him. Lana came up to Clark and put her hands over his eyes. "Okay you have one guess and I'll reward you if you get it right," Lana said with scandalous chuckle. An instant smile came to Clark's face as he searched for a sarcastic answer. "Is it my other girlfriend because I told you not to contact me in public, Lana might see," Clark said with a smile. Pete excused himself at the sight of pre-PDA and that Lana would take of care of Clark. Lana removed her hands and Clark looked back at her. "Oh Lana, it's you. I had no idea." Lana rolled her eyes and leaned in for a slow kiss. "Want me to take you to class?" He turned his head around, "Like I have a choice."

Clark had a private disability teacher that was a German named Mr. Schlaaf. He explained after meeting Clark that it was a privilege to have such a fine teacher as himself in the situation that Clark was in. Clark nodded and gave him a smirk at this comment. He found being tutored was not fun at all. He was expected to know all the answers and was not allowed to daydream at anytime. Lana got him at lunch time but not even her sarcasm could brighten his mood. When there was forty minutes left in class Mr. Schlaaf gave Clark a pop quiz to,"see if Clark was worthy of his teaching." Clark was so happy when the bell rang and Pete was there to take him home.

"So how was your first day back at Smallville High?" Matt asked. "Interesting,"Clark answered back. "Okay Clark. You've responded really well to muscle therapy and so now we'll try pressure on the legs. I'm going to help you onto your feet. I want you to lean on me if it looks like your legs won't hold up." Matt lifted Clark out of the chair and Clark leaned on Matt, but his legs were wobbling. "Can you feel your legs Clark?"Matt asked. "Sort of, but I really can't feel my feet. I can feel my calves straining and the muscles tightening and they feel like Jell-o." After saying that, Clark fell right through Matt's grip and hit the floor. Matt dropped to his knees."Are you okay?"he asked. When Clark nodded he propped him up against the wall against the wall and handed him the water bottle. "I think we're moving to fast. You're regaining strength, but you're not ready for this yet. We'll work on strengthening for another week or two and test it out again when you feel stronger and more ready,"Matt told Clark. "Being ready isn't the part I'm worried about. It's more like when will my legs be ready for me to walk on them."