Title: Jolt

Series: Part 10

Rating: R

Pairing: Clark/Lex

Category: Romance/Angst

A/N: So it's been a while since I updated this. It was a combination of writer's block and a schedule so busy that I could hardly breathe. But now I'm back and my block is gone (knock on wood) and I apologize to everyone who was reading and reviewing. Y'all come back now, ya hear?

A/N2: I'm jumping right into things here. So if it's been a while, you might want to skim through the other chapters before reading this one so you don't get completely lost. :)

**********

Lex woke up with a splitting headache and a craving for black coffee so powerful he could feel it through his whole body. He reached out for Clark, but the bed next to him was empty. He got up and attempted to put on his robe several times before realizing that it was upside down. Too tired to even swear in frustration, he let out a long sigh and put his robe on the right way.

He came down the stairs and his stomach jumped as he was greeted by the smell of coffee. As he entered the dining room, Kate was pouring the coffee out of an expensive silver pot and arranging various breakfast foods on the table.

"Kate, I told you. When you're in my house you're on vacation. You don't have to do this."

"I know I don't. I just figured after your late night with Clark, you might want a nice breakfast to wake up to." Kate winked as she shoved a coffee mug into his hands.

"It wouldn't be so late if his parents allowed us more than a weekly sleepover. I feel like I've been planning my life around Friday nights," Lex grumbled.

"It's for his own good, Lex. He needs to focus on his summer school."

"I know. Have you seen him, by the way? You have all of his favorites here."

"He left earlier this morning. He said he had to help Lonny with something."

"Lana," Lex corrected, rolling his eyes slightly.

"Yes, that was it." Kate paused and studied Lex for a moment. "I didn't just tell you something I shouldn't have, did I?"

Lex took a long sip of his coffee. "No. Clark is helping her with a party she's throwing at the Talon."

"I see. And I assume by the look on your face that you're not invited?"

"Oh, I'm invited. I'm just not sure I care to see Lana hanging all over my boyfriend like a bad smell all night. She's already asked him to be her date."

Kate smiled and sat down next to Lex, running her hand over his head much the way his mother used to. Over the past few weeks since the Fourth of July, Lex had started seeing more and more similarities between Kate and his mother, one being the affectionate way Lillian always touched his hairless scalp, almost as if she enjoyed it. Kate had also shared many of her stories, giving Lex a better sense of the wonderful woman his mother really was.

"I know how much you wish you could be open about your relationship."

Lex nodded. "But this is the way Clark needs it to be right now. It's what we both need. I don't even want to think about the press getting hold of this, not to mention my father."

"Well, that doesn't mean that you can't go to the party anyway. Just to keep an eye on things." Kate smiled mischievously.

"You mean to make Clark squirm?" Lex shot back.

"Or Lonny."

"Lana."

"That's what I said."

They both started to chuckle. Lex took another sip of his coffee.

"Maybe I could take you as my date," he said.

"That depends on when the party is. You know I can't stay in Smallville very long."

"You can stay as long as Lionel isn't around. And he's out of the country for another month."

Kate got back to her feet, refilling Lex's mug and putting some fruit on a plate. "Well then, Mr. Luthor, I believe you just found yourself a date."

With another smile, she set the plate on the table in front of Lex and started to leave the room. Just as she got to the door of the kitchen, Lex stopped her.

"Kate?" She turned around. "I was wondering if you wanted to come see the plant today. You know… just to—"

"I'd love to," Kate said, beaming. "I'd love to, Lex."

Lex took a deep breath, almost embarrassed at how much he enjoyed Kate's approval, her pride in his accomplishments. He knew he was taking a risk bringing her to the fertilizer plant. Any number of Lionel's spies could be working there, reporting everything Lex did right back to his father. But he didn't care. He would have Kate wear a scarf or something. He just couldn't pass up the chance to show her how far he had come, how much responsibility he had. It was almost like...

Like having a mom, he thought, a little sadly. Even if it's just temporary.

Lex turned back to the table and started on his plate of fruit. Kate remained in the door of the kitchen for a few moments longer, her heart full of unconditional love for the young man before her. And absolute loathing for the man who took away his childhood after Lillian died.

**********

"Balloons, banners, music… what am I forgetting?"

Lana tapped her pen nervously against her clipboard, which was resting just beneath her face on the bar in the Talon. Clark put his hand over the pen, stopping its movement.

"You're not forgetting anything, Lana. And even if you are, we have two weeks before the party. You have plenty of time."

"I know, I just want it to be perfect." Then she smiled, relaxing slightly. "I watched hours of my summer vacation fly right past me while I studied for that dumb history test. I refuse to let that be for nothing."

"It wasn't for nothing. Academic excellence is its own reward."

Lana looked up at Clark with her eyes wide, and Clark held a straight face for as long as he possibly could. Which wasn't long. They both broke out giggling. When Lana regained her composure, she put down her pen and gazed at Clark with a thoughtful smile.

"What?" he asked.

"I don't know, you just seem… different. Just a few weeks ago you were so unhappy, and now it's like you've done a complete 180. Tell me, Clark, what's your secret?"

Clark blushed at the long line of Lex-oriented thoughts that danced through his head, and decided that it wasn't the right time to tell Lana. "I guess I just decided to stop moping. Yeah, I've had some hard times, but who hasn't? I just need to get on with things."

Lana's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't press. She was becoming very accustomed to Clark's evasive answers. "Well, whatever it is, I'm glad. I want you to be happy, Clark. I really do."

He smiled thankfully and they shared another long look. Lana finally broke away.

"So, um, I wonder what's keeping Chloe and Pete. Didn't they say they were going to bring their CDs today?"

"Well, you know Chloe," Clark snickered. "Her Saturday afternoons wouldn't be complete without a visit to The Gap."

"Old Navy, smart guy," Chloe said as she and Pete entered with a rustle of plastic bags. "I may be an up and coming reporter, but I'm not filthy rich yet."

"Could've fooled me," Pete muttered as he dropped his own oversize load of bags in a nearby booth. "Can you believe only one of these bags is mine?"

"Yes," Clark and Lana said simultaneously.

"Hey!" Chloe said through her own laughter. "Party planning puts me in a good mood, okay? I felt like treating myself to some new things."

"Just as long as you remembered the CDs," Lana put in.

"Of course I did." Chloe picked up one of her bags and brought it over to the bar where she began to remove the CDs one by one, presenting them to Lana. Pete took Clark by the arm and led him over to a table.

"What's up, Pete?"

"I was just wondering something. Do you think Chloe would want to be my date for the party?"

Clark looked at Chloe and then back at Pete with a toothy grin. "You and Chloe?"

"Would you keep it down? No, there is no me and Chloe, but I'd kind of like there to be. What do you think?"

"I think there's only one way to find out."

Pete sighed, exasperated. "Nice, Clark. Really useful advice there."

"Well, what did you want me to say?"

"I was kind of hoping for a little more insight from the expert."

"The expert? Pete, what are you talking about? I'm the last person you should be asking for advice on relationships."

"Right. As if I'm not smart enough to see what's really going on."

Clark looked at Pete seriously, feeling a butterfly hatch in his stomach and lick at his throat. "What's really—"

"You and Lana, man!" Pete whispered emphatically. "You think I haven't noticed your improved moods lately?"

Clark closed his eyes, partly relieved and partly annoyed. He hated being dishonest with his friends, and he was hoping that until he felt the time was right, he would only have to not mention his involvement with Lex as opposed to blatantly lying. But now his friends were making assumptions and he just didn't have the courage to tell them yet.

"Of course you've noticed. You're my best friend, right?" He paused, raising his eyebrows to emphasize the last word.

"That's right, Clark. Bros for life. So what do you say? Give me some of those Kent Words of Wisdom."

"I'm sorry, Pete," Clark laughed. "I honestly don't know what to tell you. After all, Lana asked me, not the other way around." On Pete's look, Clark continued. "Okay, fine. I'll go ask Chloe if she would be interested in being your date. Will that do?"

Pete slapped Clark on the shoulder. "I knew I could count on you!"

"Yeah, whatever."

Pete sat down at the table as a waitress came over to take his order. Clark walked back to Lana and Chloe who were busily looking at CD titles.

"Hey, Chloe, I--"

"Yes." Chloe blurted, without even looking up.

"What? You don't even know what I was going to say."

"Yes, I do. And the answer is yes. I would love to be Pete's date."

Chloe continued her task as Lana and Clark shared a surprised look. Chloe finally stopped what she was doing to look at them both.

"Oh, come on, guys, he's been hinting at it for a week. So just tell him to get his tail out from between his legs and ask me already."

Clark laughed, a little shocked. "Well, okay. That was a little easier than I thought it would be."

"A little?" Lana asked, laughing.

Clark went back to Pete and sat across from him at the table. Chloe and Lana watched long enough to see the triumphant smile on Pete's face, then went back to the CDs.

"So you and Pete, huh?" Lana teased. "Anything serious going on?"

"Well, not at the moment. Ask me again after the party."

Lana's jaw dropped in mock embarrassment. "Goodness, Chloe. Are you planning to supply some fireworks for the big event?"

"Well, why should you and Clark get all the glory?"

A few moments passed before Chloe noticed that Lana had stopped laughing. She pulled up a stool next to Lana's behind the bar and sat down.

"Is everything okay?" she asked.

Lana shut her eyes, nodding quickly. "Yeah, it's just... I don't know. Everyone assumes that Clark and I are already an item, but the party will be our first actual date."

"Ah. And you're worried that things won't work out as well as you want them to."

"Well, that too..."

Chloe's eyes widened. "That too? You mean there's something else?"

"Chloe, please don't repeat any of this to Clark, okay?" Chloe nodded her head as she solemnly crossed her heart with her index finger. "I think something's going on with him. His moods have been all over the place for the last few weeks and then he suddenly returned to normal. Better than normal, even."

"That's no surprise. You have to remember everything he's been through..."

"But that's the thing," Lana continued. "The mood swings I can understand. But the last month, he's been practically glowing. And after losing a big chunk of your life, I wouldn't expect someone to recover that quickly. I just feel like there's something I don't know about."

"Or someone," Chloe muttered, half to herself.

"What?"

"Nothing. I'm just thinking out loud." She perked up. "Don't worry about it, Lana. It doesn't really matter why he's doing better. Let's just be grateful that he is."

"You're right. I guess I'm just being selfish."

But neither of them really planned to just let it go. They both gave Clark a wondering look, Chloe's face a reflection of piqued curiosity, and Lana's of growing worry.

**********

That night, Clark barely made it to the top of the stairs in the loft. For a guy who didn't tire that easily, Clark was exhausted. He never knew that shopping could be so difficult. After they finished up at the Talon, Clark and Pete had accompanied Lana and Chloe to pick out balloons and streamers, an easy enough task on paper. But when they got to the store, not only did the girls have to look at every item on every shelf, but they had to go back several times to items they had already looked at to see how different colors went together. After a few dozen changes in color scheme and several popped balloons, Clark was ready to dig a hole in the ground just to get some quiet.

But somehow it ended. Clark dropped his friends off at their houses and now he was standing in the loft, practically aching at the sight of the inviting couch before him. With a whoosh, he dropped onto his stomach and let out a long sigh as the cushions settled beneath him. He didn't even care that his long legs were hanging off the end. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the ringing silence of the night.

Somewhere on his way to sleep, he felt a light pressure on his back. Soon the pressure intensified and Clark groaned happily, feeling the tension melt away as skilled fingers kneaded his muscles. He enjoyed it for a few moments longer under the pretense of being asleep, before finally turning over to greet his lover.

"Lex," he whispered once he was lying on his back, smiling drowsily.

"Hey there," Lex replied, stretching out on his stomach above Clark. Clark draped his arms around his back and Lex buried his face in Clark's neck, breathing softly.

Clark's smile widened. "I feel like I haven't seen you for a week."

"Busy day?" Lex mumbled into warm flesh.

"Yeah. You?"

"Mm-hmm."

Clark giggled softly as Lex started to nibble on his ear, still breathing wetly into the sensitive area.

"Why didn't you wake me this morning?" Lex asked throatily.

"You looked so peaceful." Clark's breath hitched as Lex started biting.

"That's because I thought you were next to me." Lex began to lick Clark's neck.

"I-- Ah! I didn't realize it would upset you."

"I'm not upset," Lex whispered, his hand trailing down Clark's front. "Actually, it kind of turned me on. I'm not used to being the one left behind the morning after."

Clark breathed even more heavily as Lex's hand started to work its way into his jeans. But he allowed himself only a moment of exhilarating contact before pushing Lex back. Lex sat up.

"What's wrong, Clark?"

Clark sat up next to him. "My parents are home."

"That's why we're out here."

Lex attempted to push Clark back onto the couch, but Clark wouldn't budge. "Lex, please. This has been the longest day of my life and all I could think about was how much I wanted to be with you. Can you just..." Clark's face reddened slightly. "Can you just hold me?"

Lex's seductive stare melted into a self-indulgent grin. "Get over here, farm boy."

Smiling, Clark bounced closer to his boyfriend. He leaned his head against the broad shoulder, resting his legs on top of Lex's. Lex held him close and kissed the top of his head. They shared a long silence just enjoying the closeness, breathing each other in. Clark's eyes drooped shut as Lex caressed his face.

Eventually Clark sat up and gave Lex a long, thorough kiss and when he broke away, Lex broke the silence. "Have you made any progress with the tape?"

In place of a response, Clark averted his eyes.

"You haven't even listened to it, have you?" Lex stated.

Clark shivered at the memory of his own voice screaming in that sharp tongue. "I'm sorry, Lex. I want to find out what it means just as much as you do, but it's just so weird. It scares me to hear myself like that. I'm afraid if I listen to it again, I'll..."

"Don't, Clark. You're not going to turn into some kind of monster."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do." Lex took Clark's face in both hands and looked deep into his eyes. "I know you, Clark. You wouldn't hurt anybody..."

"But what about..."

"...who doesn't deserve it," Lex finished quickly. Clark tried to lower his head, but Lex held it in place. "Hey. It's going to be all right."

Clark smiled half-heartedly and nodded. Lex leaned in for another kiss and just as he got to Clark's lips, Clark pulled away abruptly.

"What is it, Cl--"

Before Lex could finish, Clark pressed his hand against Lex's chest, shoving him back against the couch with a jolt.

"Clark, what the--"

Clark looked into Lex's eyes coldly, cutting off any further protests. The look in Clark's eyes was frightening, like he didn't even know who Lex was. Or care. His hand ran slowly down Lex's chest until it reached his stomach, the area of the symbol that was now not much more than a scar which Lex planned on having removed as soon as possible. Clark looked down at his own hand and then back into Lex's eyes, leaning forward menacingly, his mouth curling into a vicious snarl as his eyes seemed to darken.

"I know, Lex," he spat through clenched teeth, his anger palpable. "I always know."

Then Clark's eyes rolled back into his head and he started coughing violently. Lex quickly grabbed his waist, stopping him from falling off the couch, and held him up.

"Clark! What happened?"

Clark's coughing soon settled down and he looked at Lex blankly. "Did I just black out?"

"You don't remember? You just shoved me against the couch. You were furious."

Clark's eyes began to water. "You see? This is what I'm talking about, Lex. There is something wrong inside of me! I can't listen to that tape ever again! I--"

Lex caught Clark's lips with his own, quieting his shouts. "Your parents are here, remember?"

"Lex, I'm scared." Clark wiped at his eyes, trying to stop his chin from trembling.

"Don't be. I told you, Clark, everything will be okay. Do you trust me?" Lex asked, sincerely hoping the nervousness in his voice wasn't obvious. Clark nodded. "Okay then. Come here."

Clark let himself be pulled back into his lover's arms and Lex resumed their kiss, warm and gentle. It soon picked up speed and Clark climbed onto Lex's lap, grinding against him softly as his face contorted in a mixture of pleasure and desperation. Lex reached around and gently squeezed Clark's butt. A throaty groan escaped his lips as Clark's grinding increased.

Neither of them noticed the silent spectator at the other end of the loft, standing completely still in the doorway, arms crossed, feet planted evenly in the shadows.

That spectator was Jonathan Kent.

**********

Somewhere on the other side of the world, the morning sun was just starting to shine across the hardwood floor of a massive, expensively decorated office. A buzz sounded at the door and a servant entered, rushing to the oak desk behind which sat a large leather swivel chair with its back to the room. The servant waited somewhat impatiently to be acknowledged.

"You don't even wait for an answer," said the chair's occupant. "Kind of defeats the purpose of the buzzer, don't you think?"

"I'm sorry, sir," the servant said, looking at the floor. "There was an emergency. She..." he took a breath before going on. "She flat-lined, sir."

The chair turned around slowly, revealing Lionel Luthor with a look of most dangerous calm stretched across his face. "You were able to revive her?" A warning in the form of a question.

"Sir," the servant nodded. "But she's very weak. I don't think--"

"I don't pay you to think, Sergio," Lionel muttered, picking up his coffee mug and blowing into it lightly. "How are things back home? Any changes I should be aware of?"

"Your son is still spending time with the boy, sir. But they have slowed down to only once a week."

"How quaint," Lionel chuckled. "I suppose Lex is trying to be old-fashioned."

"Actually, I believe the boy's parents are behind the decision. He's in summer school."

"I see," said Lionel, clearly uninterested. "Anything else?"

"Your son has been seen with an unknown woman. He brought her to the fertilizer plant and apparently took great pains to hide her identity."

"Great pains?"

"Sunglasses, a scarf for her hair."

Lionel put down his cup and began fingering a gold and silver chess set that rested on the corner of his desk. "Interesting," he whispered. "Perhaps it's time for a surprise inspection of Lex's plant. There's really not much more I can do here."

Sergio looked at Lionel expectantly, waiting diligently for his next orders.

"Call the airport," Lionel spouted, rising majestically to his feet. "I want to leave within the week."

"Yes, sir." The devoted servant began to leave when Lionel called him back once more.

"Sergio?"

"Sir?"

"See that our guest is as comfortable as possible while I'm away."

"The doctors won't leave her side, sir."

Lionel blinked, dismissing Sergio. Once he was alone in the office, he walked through the large doors that led out onto the deck and let the sun shine down onto his face, warming him. He knew Lex wasn't expecting him back in Smallville for at least another month. He smiled vaguely at the look of shock that was certain to blaze across Lex's face when he showed up early. Lex and his young boyfriend.