Nothing Left 17
Setting: Two Weeks After The Last Chapter
"Clark, I know you've worked hard the past couple weeks and worked through the pain. Do you think you're strong enough to stand for a minute or take a step?"Matt asked. "What can it hurt right other than my head when I fall?"Clark joked. Matt breathed as he stood ready to catch Clark if he fell as he lifted himself out of the chair. "If you feel them giving out sit down,"Matt said. Clark stood up and gripped the bar on the wall as he slowly picked up his foot and took a step. The step sent a shooting pain up his leg which made him gasp. He quickly reached for the chair and sat down. "Good! . .Your first step. I'm just . . .so proud!"Matt said being sarcastic. Matt and Clark had grown to be friends while trying to rehabilitate Clark and Matt were now very comfortable with each other so besides the pain, he looked forward to their sessions.
After therapy, Clark's dad picked him up and they went back to the farm. When they went inside, Jonathon said he had a surprise for Clark. It wasn't Clark's birthday, Christmas or any other known holiday so he was very curious as to what this surprise might be. "Now we know it's been very hard to get you downstairs and back upstairs and we thought we should do something to make it easier for you to get around and not be totally dependent on us for everything. We took the liberty of giving the den some touch ups and moved your bed downstairs. We'll move your clothes, furniture and things if you want us too and we think you've been so brave through all this that we installed your own phone line to talk to Lana anytime you want and to connect to the internet on your new laptop,"Jonathon said with a smile hoping Clark would love their presents. "I love it, but how can you guys afford it? With me not able to pull my weight at the farm, you guys have been way behind,"Clark said astonished at their choice.
"Clark, we got a big check in the mail from one of Lex's lawyers. A settlement the court ordered Mike to pay in compensation for your injury. It's a large check. It's 250. . .thousand dollars. We think it's best we use it for your medical bills, your college and give you some of it. We hope you save most of it, but you deserve to have a good time,"Martha said barely containing her excitement. Clark didn't know what to say. He was rich. He wouldn't have to worry about college anymore and his hospital bills, his life would be different.
Clark hadn't seen Lana since Friday and it was now Sunday. Lana had lost one of her waitresses at the Talon and was having a hard time finding a replacement so she had to cover more shifts which meant almost no free time. He couldn't wait to tell her about the settlement when she arrived that night to help him with his homework. He waited for her on his bed, in his new room listening to music when he heard the screen door open and Lana's voice greeting Mrs. Kent and asking for Clark. When Mrs. Kent said he was in the den, she commented, "He's in the den?" Clark laughed at her tone. As soon as she saw the room, her mouth dropped. Not only was it totally different, but it looked like Clark's bedroom. "Like my new room?"Clark asked. "Yeah, I do. Why is it down here?"she asked curiously. "Well getting up and down the stairs a lot is not very much fun and with the settlement money from the civil lawsuit I can have this new room." Lana's face lit up. "How much money did you get?"she asked. "250,000 dollars,"Clark said with a grin. She ran over to him and hugged him. "Oh my gosh. That is so great . . . Do you have a phone?"she said as she spotted the cordless on his bedside table. "Yep. So now we can chat as late as we want." She shut the door behind her and flopped on the bed. He put his arm around her and she snuggled up to him. "Clark, I need to talk to you about something important,"Lana said with a very serious face. His eyes met hers. "I know the summer is a little ways away, but I got accepted to the Paris School of the Arts. If I go I start at the beginning of the summer. I would have to live in Paris to go there obviously." Lana said waiting for some reaction from the lifeless face of Clark. His mouth dropped slowly in awe of the words that came out of Lana's mouth.
"Well . .um . .ah . . that's great. That's really great. I'm proud of you,"Clark said really unconvincingly. "I haven't decided if I'm going or not. I just wanted to tell you so there are no secrets between us,"Lana said to comfort him a little. "Thanks . . .but if you want this and it's a great opportunity, you should do it. No regrets,"Clark said to sound like he was going to be supportive. "I know you. You're upset and uncomfortable all of a sudden. I can tell. Be honest with me,"Lana said sitting up and turning her body towards him. "Lana, this has totally hit me out of the blue. I don't know what to say. I know I don't want you to go, but I don't want to be selfish. This sounds like an amazing experience and you want to do it right?"Clark asked as sat himself up to be even with Lana. "Yeah, it would be a great experience, but I don't want to leave you or us. We have finally got to a good place and this could ruin it all. Long distance relationships are too hard," Lana said putting her head in her hands. "Hey, look at me,"Clark said taking Lana's hand and raising her chin with his other hand, "I'm not going anywhere for awhile. I'll be in Smallville waiting for you if you want to come back. If something better comes along in Paris or you don't want to come home, I guess I would understand. As for me, I know what I want this time for good. . . .It's you. No question. I love you and I'll still love you if you go to Paris,"Clark said with a single tear rolling down his cheek. Lana realized how hard that must of been for him. "No, there isn't anything better than being with you and I could never find anyone that I feel the way I feel about you. . . . So I'm going?"she asked. Clark nodded. "It'll just be for the summer and then we'll pick up where we left off,"she stated. Clark nodded again and pulled her in for a hug. She fixed her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around like he would never let go. Clark kissed her cheek and pulled back. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"Clark asked.