Thank You to everyone for their replies! It helps when trying to write the next chapter!
Chapter 2
"Clark, Lex called while you were showering. He's on his way over now, he said he has something he wants to give you." Clark froze at the bottom step. Martha could see signs of fear wash over Clark at the mention of Lex's name. "Sweetheart, I know you think you're not ready to see Lex but it's been almost two months now," she spoke with concern. "He's not like his father and in your heart I think you know that. He's very concerned about you; he has been since this all began. I truly believe that Lex had nothing to do with what his father did. Just remember that they are two separate people." Clark remained quiet. "Why don't you give him a chance? He's always been a good friend to you sweetheart."
Clark calmly nodded his head in understanding. He'd only spoken with Lex briefly over the phone since his return, but the thought of coming face to face panicked him. "Does dad know he's coming over?"
Martha sighed, "Yes, but he decided to take this opportunity to head into town for some supplies."
"Oh," he was relieved to know that there wouldn't be a confrontation between the two but a part of him wanted the security of his father being close while he met with Lex. "I'll be in the barn," he said as he flashed a smile and headed out the kitchen door.
Clark felt victim to a guilt trip as he walked towards the barn. He told himself that he shouldn't continue to want things from Jonathan when Jonathan had made it clear through his actions that he could no longer love him as he used to. Jonathan had hardly spoken to or looked at him over the last two months. Whenever he did speak to him, it was overly polite pleasantries but Clark could feel the emptiness in his words. He longed for the days when his dad would fill him with words of wisdom and comfort. He wanted to feel a sense of belonging in his family, not like a burden. He racked his brain daily to find ways to change his father's opinion of him, to make it so his father could love him again.
He reached his loft and looked around, noticing a few things out of their places. He knew it was silly but he felt the need to make his space presentable for Lex's visit. So he folded and refolded a throw blanket before neatly laying it over the arm of the couch. He straightened his desk and stacked all of his books in order on the bookshelf, tallest to shortest. Just as he finished stacking his books he heard the roar of a sports car pull into the drive. He walked to the window and watched Lex exit his car and walk to the house. Martha answered the door and gave Lex a welcoming hug and smile. After their brief exchange of words, Lex turned and started walking towards the barn; Clark's heart started pounding. He backed away from the window and nervously glanced around the loft, noticing how neat and tidy it was. Everything was in its place and clean…for a barn. He heard Lex call his name from downstairs. His chest pounded harder and his breathing picked up so much that he started to feel dizzy so he quickly sat down on the couch and buried his face in his hands. He tried to compose himself and took slow breaths to calm his rapid breathing. He could hear Lex's steps nearing on the staircase so he took his hands away from his face and clasped them together while taking one last deep breath to relax his nerves.
Lex reached the top and took a few steps into the loft, "Hi Clark" he greeted with a warm smile.
Clark lifted his head, smiled, "Lex. Hi" his façade was good but his eyes gave his fear away.
Lex took a few more steps and Clark gripped the edge of the couch, trying to hide his trembling hands. Lex took notice of Clark's nervousness, "It's good to see you, Clark. I've been worried about you."
He smiled and stood, "It's good to see you too, Lex."
Lex walked closer, "I was happy to hear that you returned home safely, I was quite concerned for a while there."
Lex noticed Clark begin to panic as he drew nearer. Clark tried to step back, away from Lex, but was stopped by the couch at his heels. He turned his head from side to side, looking for more room to move as he spoke, "Uh, yeah it's good to be home," he said tensely.
Lex stopped, taking pity as Clark looked like a caged animal and remembered Logan's words to him from months back, I "He's an innocent kid, caught up in an act so heinous that I could no longer bear to be associated with it." /I He paused, waiting for Clark's tension to ease a bit, then continued, "So Clark, where were you?"
"Um, I…what?"
"Where were you hiding out all of those months?"
"Oh, well…I was in Metropolis" gulp, "I…uh, just needed to be alone…to think some things through."
Lex was not a stupid man. He could easily tell when he was being lied to; especially when Clark lied to him. Although he tried it often, Clark had never been good at lying and it was evident now by his nervous fidgeting with the bottom of his shirt. He inwardly sighed. He had hoped he would be able to draw the truth from Clark. Obviously that was not going to happen today so he changed the subject, "Well, I brought you something I think you'll appreciate." He pulled a small black pager from his pocket and held it out. Clark looked at it hesitantly before taking it. "It's specially designed so that when you press the red button it will immediately get in touch with me. Anytime, day or night." Lex could see that Clark still didn't understand by his expression so he calmly explained, "Clark, I understand what it's like to have your security snatched out from under you and how lost that can make you feel." He gave Clark a compassionate, yet I knowing /I look, "I wanted you to know that you can call me anytime you need someone to talk to or merely listen."
Clark swallowed, "Thanks Lex," and he turned away as he slipped the pager into his jeans pocket. He began to feel overwhelmed that his friend, a Luthor no less, might be the only person who could see him through this. His fear of Lex had begun to lessen and he finally saw Lex for what he was, a friend. He wasn't out to hurt him or turn him back over to Lionel. Clark turned back around, "I'm glad you stopped by."
"Me too," he smiled, "but I better be going. I've got some business to take care of." He walked to the stairs but turned back, "Remember Clark, anytime, day or night."
Clark nodded and smiled back. He watched as Lex left the barn and drove out of the driveway and down the road. He was glad that he faced his fears of seeing Lex and that he had his friend again. He hadn't spent much time with any of his friends since he returned home. Everyone, except for Chloe of course, had stopped asking him questions of his disappearance but he was still uncomfortable around them. They all could see the change in him but were oblivious to the real reason. As far as they were concerned, he had just decided to leave home again to run free in Metropolis. His mother thought it would be good for him to tell Pete the truth but aside from Jonathan's disapproval, Clark just didn't want to. It was hard enough to think about what had happened, let alone tell his best friend. With Lex's visit turning out well he finally felt that maybe he could start going out again. He had wanted to start going out more but every time he left the farm, anxiety ate away at him. He was terrified that he would be abducted again or that he would run into Lionel around town. So he spent most of his days like he did today. He did his chores and spent the rest of his time in his loft, escaping from the world and his problems in books.
The sun was beginning to set as Clark walked back to the house from his loft. He pulled the pager from his pocket and squeezed it with a smile. He was happy that Lex offered to help him heal. He walked through the kitchen door to find both his parents fixing dinner. Martha looked at Clark, "How did your visit with Lex go, sweetheart?"
Clark smiled brightly, "Great actually," he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
Jonathan smiled and glanced down at the pager Clark was holding, "What's that you got there, son?"
"Oh," Clark held up the pager, "Lex gave it to me, so I would never feel alone."
Jonathan gave Clark an approving nod and smile, "Well, dinner will be ready in thirty minutes, go on upstairs and get cleaned up."
Clark smiled and skipped up the stairs to his room, feeling very happy at today's developments. He placed the pager on his desk and sat down in front of it. He felt the urge to press the red button and wondered if Lex would be mad if he just tested it. He pushed his doubts away and decided to give it a try. He depressed the red button and sat back in his chair waiting for the expected phone call. Almost instantly he heard the sound of two car doors open and then slam shut. He could see the beams from the headlights shining through his curtains. He got up and pulled them back and saw Lex walking up the stairs to the porch, following a figure, but Clark could not see who the figure was. "Wow that was fast," he mumbled to himself as he left his bedroom and went down the stairs. There was a knock on the front door, "I'll get it," he said as he passed his parents who were still preparing their evening meal. He opened the front door and his heart nearly stopped beating from shock.
Lionel Luthor stood in the center of the door with Lex beside him. Lionel held a large piece of refined kryptonite in front of him causing Clark to stumbled backwards and fall to the floor, landing with a thud on his bottom. Lionel stepped inside the doorway, grinning widely, "Good evening Mr. Kent. I missed you. I'm so happy you decided to invite me over."
Clark looked to Lex, who was standing in the doorway smiling. Through the fierce pain in his chest he gasped out, "Lex…why?" And in response, Lex took the bar of kryptonite from his father and swung it, smashing it into Clark's cheek, causing him to scream out and fall backwards. Clark reflexively put his hand to his cheek and he winced as he touched the tender spot. He tasted blood and felt something in the pool of blood in his mouth. He spat onto the rug and with the blood came a few of his now broken teeth. He could hear Lionel laughing, his mouth was numb with pain but he managed to call out, "Mom! Dad! Help me! Please!"
They remained in the kitchen and Jonathan simply replied, "We can't Clark. We're cooking dinner right now. You have to work this out on your own."
Clark struggled to breath as the pain elevated in his chest. He couldn't believe he heard his father correctly. He felt so betrayed by both his parents and Lex. He grimaced as he tried to sit up. Looking back to the door he saw the two men who had kidnapped him so many months ago walking towards him. Clark tried to back away but couldn't find the strength to move. The man with a detailed cross design on his cheek stepped forward and pulled his foot back. He slammed his boot down with full force at Clark's left wrist, breaking it instantly. Clark wailed and instinctively tried to cradle his wrist to his chest. The taller man knelt next to Clark and held his shoulders down so that he couldn't move. 'Cross face' leaned over and punched Clark several times until he was seeing stars. Then the men moved beside him and held his arms firmly down at his sides. Clark's head lulled as he tried to clear his vision. He struggled against the men but they only tightened their grips, bruising his arms. His vision was still blurry but he could see Lex leaning down over him with a smug expression plastered on his face. Lex ripped open his shirt and shoved the kryptonite bar onto his chest, taping it in place. Clark's eyes widened and he groaned as the pain intensified. His chest heaved as he tried to breathe through his collapsing lungs. He cried out a choked gasp, "Dad, please! It hurts!"
From the kitchen he heard his dad reply, "I know Kal El. Be brave. You must figure this out on your own."
His breathing became erratic as he could feel the kryptonite burning through his chest. Lionel snapped his fingers in Clark's face to gain his attention, "I just need a few more skin samples from you Mr. Kent. Then we will move you to your new location." He held a sharp green, glowing knife to Clark's cheek and slid it down, slicing a thin line, grinning all the while. Clark screamed as the knife cut into his skin, he could feel his blood streaking down his cheek. Lionel held the knife in Clark's view and put his finger to his mouth, "Shh, Clark. Its just a few samples, there is no need to panic."
Lionel lowered the knife to his abdomen and Clark screamed out his fear, "Mom! Please! Help me!"
Faintly, he could hear his mom crying as she answered him, "I'm here sweetheart. It's okay." Clark bellowed out his pain as the knife began to cut.
Martha ran to his room as soon as she heard him, "Clark, I'm here sweetheart. It's okay."
Suddenly Clark felt himself free his arms from his captors, so he threw them outward in defense. He heard a whoosh and then a thud, followed by a low female moan. His eyes shot open and he glanced in the direction of the noise. He saw his mother in a sitting position against the now cracked wall, with her head lulling forward and her eyes rolling to the back of her head. He was frozen in shock. Shaking.
Seconds later, Jonathan rushed into the room and saw Clark sitting in his bed, wide eyed. He turned his head in the direction Clark was staring and saw Martha. He ran to her side, "Martha! Can you hear me!" He put his hand behind her head, trying to ascertain her injuries. He pulled his hand back and found it covered in blood.
Reality sunk into Clark when he saw his father's bloody hand. He realized that he had escaped his nightmare only to have it replaced by another one of his own creation. He jumped out of the bed, his t-shirt and boxers clinging to his sweat ridden body, "Oh no! Mom!"
Noticing Clark's reaction, Jonathan snapped his head at Clark and in a fit of worry over Martha exclaimed, "What did you do Clark!" Clark blinked in surprise at his father's verbal accusation. He opened his mouth to reply but no words came out.
A moan drew their attention back to Martha. She quietly said, "No…Jonathan, it's not his fault." Jonathan embraced his wife, relieved.
Clark was suddenly overwhelmed by what I he /I had just done and couldn't suppress the inevitable tears. He tore his eyes away from his parents and supersped from his room and down the stairs, not stopping until he reached the porch. The door slammed behind him and he stood at the top of the steps. Normally the coldness of the night would not have affected him but tonight it was bitter. He tried to calm himself down, knowing that he could easily have another panic attack and hyperventilate. Usually it happened after an intense nightmare, much like the one he just had. God, what he would have given to have had a panic attack tonight instead of what did happen.
