Please Note: I am on vacation next week, so the update will be late!Many Thanks!

Clark turned around slowly and gulped. He knew the voice of his captor before their eyes even met. It was Whitney. Clark interlocked his fingers on top of his head and looked his old friend straight in the face with his most serious expression. "Whitney, you have to let me go…this isn't what it looks like."

Whitney looked uncertain, but kept his weapon trained at his prisoner. "Tell me what it is like then, Kent?"

"Lionel and the military are working on something dangerous. Something that could cause a major disaster," Clark looked over Whitney's shoulder, hoping no more soldiers appeared yet, "Lex told me to meet him here today about it. He said he needed my help, but when I arrived his dad had already shipped him off to Metropolis. Whitney, please!" He pleaded, making no mention of his small passengers.

The young marine faltered. He had been trained for these situations, but with an enemy he could distinguish as such, not with old school friends. Who could he really believe in? "Why should I trust you?" He glanced around as footfalls echoed across the concrete perimeter. They didn't have long now before reinforcements arrived.

"Because you trusted me once before with Lana," Clark couldn't adopt a more serious face, "At the dance you asked me to take care of her while you went off to basic training, even though you knew that I'd always had feelings for her. That took a lot of trust, Whitney. Did I let you down?" The teen itched to hit superspeed and almost rocked on the balls of his feet in hopeful anticipation, "Only this isn't over a girl…this is about countless lives…"

Whitney grimaced and finally capitulated, giving Clark the go ahead to run by jerking the barrel of his weapon towards the gate. "Get out of here, Clark…" There was a slight uncertainty to his order, and Clark began to dart away then hung back.

"I can't leave you to Lionel's wrath and a court marshal!"

"Then hit me!" Whitney gestured for Clark to hit him on the jaw, and when he hesitated the marine rolled his eyes, "Come on, Kent! You owe me at least one punch after I strung you up in that corn field!"

It was obvious Clark hated the idea, but with just enough measured force he slugged the ex-quarterback, knocking him out, and then hit superspeed at full throttle. Inside his pocket, little Clark and Lex could hear, but not see the proceedings. From the bumpy ride over the next two minutes they could both guess what was happening though. Big Clark was running for his life and theirs too.

After a further minute, Clark slowed and checked behind him. It was a futile, but natural reaction because no one could possibly have pursued him at his speed. He sighed with relief and glanced down to his pocket as he stopped near Loeb Bridge. In the very corner he could see a microscopic patch of reddish brown discoloration. Using his x-ray vision to double check, the mammoth teen's suspicions were verified when he spotted the tiny Lex Luthor still bleeding.

Hastily he pushed his hand into the pocket and gently lifted out his smaller self. "I think Lex is hurt badly."

Little Clark nodded, feeling slightly dizzy from standing in the palm of his 'own' hand. "He needs help, but we can't exactly take him to a doctor here. Can you carry us back to where our plane crash landed? Maybe Chloe can help fix him up…" It was a long shot. The reporter knew more about self defense and doing damage than she did fixing it, but they couldn't just stroll into Smallville Medical Center and ask for assistance either.

Big Clark grew somber again. His eyes narrowed and he found he had to have some kind of explanation before he got himself any deeper involved in what could well be a national security matter. "You promised you'd tell me what's going on, and I think now is the time before I do anything."

Little Clark thought about Lex, but realized he did owe his doppelganger something after he'd helped them escape Luthorcorp. He walked forward until he was almost at his double's wrist, feeling his boots sink into the soft, unblemished flesh.

Big Clark lifted his hand higher so it was easier to talk. "What's Lionel really up to?" His eyes sparked with inquisitiveness and also unease. "Are you really from another world?"

"Well…erm, we both are really, aren't we?" Both Clark's smiled widely at the tiny 'alien' joke, then little Clark tried to explain his theory, "Lionel is running an experiment that accidentally opens a doorway to other planes of existence. Lex, Chloe, me and our jet's pilot flew through one of these holes and found ourselves here. The problem is, every time Lionel fires his generator he risks ending the universe when the two dimensions meet!" He looked forlornly as Big Clark sported a confused look, "Lex and I have tried to stop the generator from firing after its last test in two days, but we have to try and get our plane airworthy by then or we'll never get back to out world. Can you help?"

The larger of the two farm boys appeared deep in thought. "What if Lionel doesn't stop the tests? You can't be sure what you've done will put an end to the experiment, can you?"

"No, but Lex gave it his best shot. Perhaps the Lex here can help too if you could get to him."

Big Clark nodded; suddenly realizing mankind could be in his hands. "Let's get you back to your plane and see what we can do for Lex, then we can take it from there." The teen had a thought, "Maybe I should take you home to the farm. Mom and dad would know what to do."

"No, I don't want to leave Chloe any longer." Little Clark looked towards the other side the bridge and to the swaying corn in the distance, "Our pilot kind of went Jack Nicholson on us with some weird 'The Shining' impression. He vanished from the cockpit, but if he's showed up again…"

Realization dawned on the larger Kent, "Chloe could be in danger!"

Little Clark shook his head. "Either that, or Richard will be regretting ever upsetting Smallville's snarkiest reporter…"

The tiny Learjet had never looked so good to little Clark as his large counterpart once again lifted him from his pocket. There was no one outside, and from his high vantage point Clark couldn't spot any signs of Richard in the vicinity.

Becoming curious, little Clark scrutinized the aircraft more closely and spotted new dints and gouges in the airframe. His heart began to throb hard and fast in his chest at what that might mean, and without even thinking he kicked into x-ray vision.

Inside, he found Chloe typing away at her laptop, while Richard the pilot had been taped securely to his previous window seat with at least half a roll of duck tape. Clark sighed with relief. "Chloe's okay." He told the concerned, taller version of himself, "It looks like Richard might have felt her wrath though." He flashed his legendary, cheeky farmboy grin and hopped to the ground as big Clark carefully lowered his hand near to the jet. "Can you lower Lex near the door and I'll pull him in?"

Big Clark glanced over his shoulder and then nodded, gently probing his pocket for the wounded businessman. Once Lex was in his palm, he held his hand adjacent to the Learjet's door until little Clark was in position to grab his friend. Using his immense strength, the tiny teen soon had Lex on board as Chloe raced towards them both.

"What happened?" Chloe looked to Clark and then to Lex who was barely conscious, "You two look like you've had an even worse day than me, and believe me that's not an easy accomplishment!" She stopped dead in the middle of her rant and gaped at the open doorway. Being in another dimension was one thing, but being stared at by a giant Clark Kent who was now grinning at her was more than even Chloe could take.

"Chloe, can you see if you can find the first aid kit?" Little Clark's words should have gotten through, but the reporter still had trouble making her legs work. "I um…sure, I think it might be in the back." Eventually, she pushed her muscles to work and managed to stop staring at the most handsome giant she'd ever seen. Words, however, still escaped her.

While Chloe rummaged yet again for any form of medical supplies, little Clark jogged back to the doorway and looked up at himself. It still seemed so unnatural, he considered the idea that he was hallucinating again before he spoke.

"We're going to do what we can for Lex, then I have to try and fix up the plane," Clark looked at the torn and jagged metal holes in the wings and wondered if he could somehow fix them. In the end, he would have to try, "Is there any way you could find something I could use to weld over those holes?" He gestured with a hand and big Clark took a look at the damage.

He thought about what they had on the farm that might actually be thin enough and then nodded, "I think I know where I can get something. Are you going to try and weld it with your heat vision?"

"Yeah, if I don't burn an even bigger hole in the plane when I attempt it!" Little Clark appeared uncertain he could manage such a precise job. He was no more an aircraft technician than Chloe was a medic. "Then that leaves us with lack of fuel. I don't suppose…"

Big Clark grinned. "I'm pretty sure I can get some of that too. Will a mug full be enough?"

"As long as it's not dad's mug you use! You know he loves that mug!" They both laughed again and big Clark nodded in agreement. It seemed that Jonathan Kent was the same no matter what universe he lived in. "I'll try and make a start on clearing a runway while you're gone too. We're running out of time."

The larger teen checked his watch and wondered if he was now on Lionel's wanted list. That was of no concern right now though. "I'll be back as soon as I can, but I have a feeling Luthorcorp might have the military searching for me now." He didn't linger to wait for a response, but vanished as little Clark watched. It was an eye-opening sight, because the only other time he'd witnessed someone using superspeed was when he'd stumbled upon Bart Allen. That had been an adventure in itself.

"Clark! You better get in here!" Chloe's high pitched voice broke the memory of better times, and the teen turned his back on the Goliath-sized world to help his friend.

Chloe had reclined Lex's multi-positional and highly expensive seat so that he was almost lying down. His head lay to one side on a pillow she'd placed under it, and his eyes were closed. "Clark, I'm not a nurse I have no idea what else to do!"

"Did you find a first aid kit?" Clark leaned over and checked on the makeshift bandage he'd applied back at Luthorcorp. Blood had soaked it, but the flow did seem to have at last slowed.

"I found one," She waved the small green box in the air, "but I don't think there's much in it for that sized wound. What the hell happened to him?" While she waited for a reply she opened up the kit anyway and began to sift through its contents. There were a few larger dressings, but nothing they could clean the cut with.

"Lionel decided to try using us for a little swordplay." Clark's dour expression said it wasn't something he really wanted to go over in detail. All he wanted right now was to be sure Lex was going to be okay, but that was an assurance he wasn't going to get until Lex woke up.

He watched Lex's slightly ragged breathing for a few seconds and then began gathering all their blankets. For a start, someone in shock needed to be kept warm, that much he did know. When he'd completed that task he used his x-ray vision to look beneath the paper tissue and belt on Lex's thigh. Getting a clear view of the wound without disturbing it seemed like the right thing to do.

Clark pulled an expression that said he felt queasy, "Chloe, I think he needs stitches…"

"You don't say!" Chloe put her hands on her hips disdainfully, "I could have told you that with the amount of blood." She bit her lip, "Don't you dare look at me that way, Clark Kent! Even if we had something to use there is no way I'm sewing up Lex's leg!"

"Chloe!" The teen looked towards the back of the jet, "We can't just let him bleed to death!" He sighed, "I don't suppose a needle and thread would be something Lex would carry around with him anyway, though."

Chloe gave in. "I just happen to have one in my purse." She admitted reluctantly.

"You carry a needle and thread around with you?" Clark raised a brow and grabbed the reporter's bag before she could argue her case against sewing up Lex. "Mace I expected, but a girlie item..." He smiled mischievously and got a scowl in return.

"Yeah, well you never know when you might have to perform surgery on a millionaire." Chloe's mocking tone made it quite clear she was not happy, "There's no kind of antiseptic or disinfectant we can use in this kit. How are we going to clean him up?" She delved in the first aid box again but had no luck in finding anything useful, "Jeeze, they really don't cater for anything beyond a graze in these things." She complained.

Clark nodded towards Lex's drink collection. "Grab a bottle of whisky."

"I really don't think that now is the time for drinking!" The reporter's smile told Clark she was teasing him, and while he gently undid the belt he'd placed on Lex's thigh earlier, Chloe grabbed an expensive decanter filled with bourbon to use to clean the wound. It reminded her of a scene from some old western, except she was not looking forward to the next part where it got a little gory. "Are you sure we can do this?" She asked puckering her nose.

"We have to, Chloe." Clark carefully eased away the tissue dressing he had made and hoped the movement didn't start anymore bleeding. Luckily, it didn't.

He took a breath and then handed Chloe her purse. It was strange, but he just didn't feel right rifling through her things to find the emergency sewing kit. Chloe took the bag and quickly pulled out a small plastic box that she took with her in case she tore a skirt or worse on her often energetic travels. I'll never forget that time I tore my blouse in Metropolis…She shook away the image in her head and put the thread through the eye of the needle. Then, she passed it back over to Clark who suddenly looked horrified.

"Well, you don't expect me to do it, do you? You're the one who lives on a farm. Surely you've helped your dad do these kinds of things with the animals?"

Clark grimaced, "No, Chloe, dad calls a vet!" He glanced at the slice wound and was sure his hand was shaking at the very thought. What if Lex wakes up? What if it doesn't work? Maybe I should try my heat vision to seal it…The expression of sheer terror on his face as his eyes widened must have been too much for Chloe to bear.

The young blonde grabbed the needle back and took a deep breath. "Don't ever say I don't do anything for you again, Clark! Now pour on the whiskey and let's make this quick before we both pass out!"

Clark didn't need telling twice.

Fifteen minutes later the unpleasant job was done and Chloe was in the bathroom washing her hands. Clark had yet to move from Lex's side. It didn't seem right somehow that his friend hadn't even murmured while Chloe had worked on him; and Clark hated to admit it, but Chloe was no seamstress. I just better not ever tell her that and expect to live the day through…

As he smiled to himself, Lex groaned and winced at the same time. Clark held a hand on the millionaire's chest in case he attempted to sit up, but he didn't. Instead, Lex managed to turn his head and squint at his young friend through half closed eyes.

"We made it back to the jet?" Lex blinked, and his vision focused on Chloe returning from cleaning up. "What happened after I blacked out?"

Clark looked almost apologetic as he explained what they'd had to try and do. "You were bleeding pretty badly, and we couldn't exactly take you to a hospital. Chloe had to fix up your leg."

"Sew up your leg," The blonde corrected, "And I think it's safe to say I just found out I'm not destined for a medical career when we get back." She offered Lex a drink of water and he gratefully took it after Clark had helped prop his seat into a more upright position again.

Lex glanced tiredly and somewhat warily at Clark as Chloe mentioned getting home, "I take it you haven't had chance to tell Chloe what my dad's up too in this world yet?"

Chloe's eyes narrowed. She had been around long enough to know that the way Lex had worded his comment, things weren't looking good.

Clark exhaled as he looked to Chloe. "We have less than two days to get the plane airworthy and a temporary runway made or we're probably stuck here," he turned to Lex, "But my double in this time has promised to help. In fact, he's gone for supplies right now."

Lex took a gulp of water and found he couldn't keep his head from sagging back onto his seat's headrest. He'd only ever felt this tired on a couple of occasions in the past, and neither experience had been a pleasant one. At least when I was poisoned I knew I had a chance of real medical help. "You don't seem to comprehend the real problem. Even if the Colossal Clark returns with fuel and materials we're still stuck here."

Both Clark and Chloe looked down on him questioningly, but it was Clark who first dared to ask the question, "Why, Lex?"

Lex pinched his nose and sensed his fatigued body wouldn't stay conscious much longer. Through an already throbbing headache he managed to whisper a weary response, "Because I can't fly the plane like this, Clark, and Richard is blind…" He blinked, sensing unnatural perspiration trickling across his creased brow, "We have no pilot…"

TBC...