I just thought I'd post a double chapter this time around. I hope you enjoy it.

Oh I forgot to say in the previous chapters. The characters do not belong to me of course…

CHAPTER 3- Reunions

Clark stood on the corridor of the Metropolis general hospital, dialing his parents' house on the payphone. When no one answered Clark hang up and sighed. He was starting to worry about his parents, but his heart couldn't stand the thought of leaving Lana at the state she was in. With Nell out of town, he was the only one she had right now.

Clark turned and re entered Lana's room. He sat down at the chair near her bed and held her hand once more. He wanted her to feel that he was right there with her.

As he stood in silence, looking at her, he started thinking of their last conversation. She had said she loved him and she kissed him. By all means that alone should make him feel happy, after all he had hoped to hear that all his life. But with the current situation he didn't know how to feel. He was certain he loved Lana, but he was also torn inside as he felt that her current condition was his fault. He had ignored his father when he warned him about the stones, he had ignored Lana's involvement with them, he let her leave without being sure whether or not she would be ok, and to top it all off the destruction of Smallville came about as a result of him not acknowledging earlier his role in all of this. Instead he got "lost" this whole year with petty matters, distancing himself in the process from everything that really mattered.

There was also the added matter of the cryptic way his father spoke about Lana. What did he mean when he said that her part is not over yet? thought Clark. He didn't like the insinuation that his father might have included Lana in his plans. With so many things swiveling inside his mind, Clark started feeling sick. He got up, and left the room. He needed some fresh air. But as he made his way to the elevator, he saw in front of him his dad pacing the same corridor.

"Dad?" Clark run to his dad and the two embraced, relief evident in both their faces.

"Dad what are you doing here? Where is mom?" asked Clark, his voice heavy with concern.

"She is fine son, but a lot has happened since we parted ways. We better go sit down."

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Lex returned to his living room where Chloe was pacing restlessly. She didn't like the idea of being in Lex's mansion at a time like this, but she couldn't deny the fact that if she was to find out what had happened to her friends', there was no one with a better information network than Lex Luthor and he was about to prove it once more.

"Good news Chloe. It seems that both Clark and Lana are ok." Said Lex with a smile on his face.

Chloe sighed with relief upon hearing the news, but was disturbed with the mention of Clark. She was sure she saw him in the caves being engulfed by a bright light, and now somehow Lex knew that he was fine. "Lex how do you know?"

"Well I had people enquiring in Metropolis hospitals, about Lana and as it turns out Lana checked in to the Metropolis general hospital. It was Clark that took her there." Said Lex feeling a bit apprehensive about all this himself.

Chloe was worried again. "is she all right?"

"Well… as it turns out she has multiple injuries, but the doctors said she will be fine, in a couple of days. She was very lucky." Said Lex with relief. "But I have to say that the implications of this piece of news, intrigues me to say the least."

Chloe looked at him curiously. "what do you mean?"

"I was so sure that Clark was somehow involved in the… disappearance of the artifact and that somehow he would be in those caves, but as it turns out I must have been wrong." Said Lex becoming lost in his thoughts.

Chloe who was also confused and didn't know quite what to make of that information, didn't let the opportunity to pass. "See… I told you Clark had nothing to do with all of this."

Lex snapped out of his trail of thought, looked sharply at Chloe, and smiled slyly. "Yes… you did."

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Clark and Jonathan sat a secluded place in the seating area, and talked in low voices. "…so what does that mean Clark?" asked Jonathan with concern in his voice.

"I don't know dad… All I know is that after what happened I know I can't afford to ignore Jor-El any more. I mean… dad this was all my fault. If I had…"

Jonathan interrupted his son when he saw that he was close to breaking down. "Clark, listen to me. You may have all these powers and you may be from Krypton, but you were raised here in Smallville by us. Now, I don't know how it worked there in Krypton, but I would never expect a teenager to have to carry the burdens you must carry. If you feel that you made a mistake, that's fine. Own up to it, and learn from it. But always remember that you can't expect to be perfect and flawless. That's what makes you human son." Concluded Jonathan, placing a hand on Clark's shoulder. "Whatever you decide, we will stand by your decision, because I know that I raised as fine a man as I could."

Clark couldn't help but smile weakly at his father's display of unconditional support. "Thanks dad. That means a lot to me. Can we go and see how mom is doing?"

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"So Chloe, are you up for a drive to Metropolis?" asked Lex smiling.

"Ok, but first I got to find…" Chloe didn't have time to finish her sentence, as she was interrupted by someone entering the living room. "… Lois."

"Chloe!" said Lois with relief, running and hugging her cousin. "Thank god! I was so worried when I saw what had happened!"

"Ladies, I'm sorry to break up this reunion, but shall we go?" asked Lex.

"Go where?" asked Lois letting go of her cousin.

"Metropolis general hospital." Answered Chloe. "Apparently Lana was injured and Clark took her there."

"Ok. I'm in. The general can wait for a little while more." Said Lois immediately heading for the way out.

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Having seen his mother, who had already come around, Clark entered again Lana's room. As he closed the door behind him as quietly as he could he heard a voice behind him that made his heart soar.

"So, there you are" said Lana in a low voice.

Clark turned to see that she had woken up, and he couldn't help but smile relieved. She smiled back to him sweetly, and extended her hand to him.

Clark went and sat by her bed once more and took her hand in his. His eyes were starting to get misty as he searched for something to say, but found himself unable to utter a single word. Lana got worried when she saw him like that. "Hey… What's the matter."

Clark tried to regain his composure, and smiled reassuringly at her. He lift her hand and kissed it gently. "I'm sorry Lana I was just so worried… When I first saw you like that, i… I really thought I would lose you…" said Clark in a voice heavy with emotion.

Lana noted the wording he used to express himself, and felt pleased that he was being so honest and didn't hold back, what was really in his heart. "I'm fine now Clark…" she said reassuringly to him.

Clark had so many things in his mind, so much to say to her, but he thought that he should best wait for a more appropriate moment. She was in a weak condition right now and he didn't want to burden her more, or trouble her or make her more emotional. So he kept her company for a while more until she fell back to sleep.

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Lex arrived along with Chloe and Lois at the Metropolis General hospital. When they reached Lana's room they saw, each with mixed emotions, Lana sleeping and Clark sitting in a chair near her bed also sleeping.

"Maybe we should not disturb them and ask a nurse how she's doing." Offered Lois after a small pause of silence.

Without even acknowledging the remark, Lex opened the door and approached the sleeping Clark. He nudged him lightly and Clark opened his eyes startled. Lex motioned for him to be quiet and invited him outside the room. Clark got up and followed him outside.

"Hey Clark. You all right?" asked Chloe after they had closed the door behind them.

"Yeah. I'm fine. "

"So… how's Lana?" asked Chloe again.

"Well she has suffered many injuries from the helicopter crash, I mean… she's lucky she's alive not to mention to not have broken anything. But… the doctors say she'll be fine." Said Clark with relief obvious in his voice.

"So what exactly happened Clark?" asked Lex.

"I could ask you the same thing Lex." Clark shot back at Lex.

Lex looked at him inquisitively.

"First I see Lana at my barn, obviously distraught over something, and she starts speaking like something may happen to her, and next time I see her she has crashed with one of the Luthorcorp helicopters. So… What's the deal?" asked Clark trying hard to contain his growing suspicion of Lex.

Lex just smirked and looked like something just made sense to him. After a small pause he turned and looked at Clark. "I was just trying to help her out Clark. The meteor shower was headed towards Smallville, and I thought it was best for her safety if she was in Metropolis. But unfortunately I was too late. The meteor shower beat them before they were out of harms way. And before you go making any more absurd insinuations, don't forget that I also offered you and your family passage to Metropolis, which once more you stubbornly turned down. Guess Lana had her reasons for accepting my help." Added Lex with emphasis in the end.

Just when Clark was getting more and more convinced of what Lex was saying to him, he was caught off guard by the last remark. "What's that supposed to mean?" he said feeling a bit irritated.

Lex sighed in frustration. "Nothing Clark. Calm down. I think you should get some sleep. You look like you could use it."

"He's right Clark, you look like you've been to hell and back." Added Lois. "I mean now that we're here we can stay with her.

"Our home in Smallville was severely damaged by the meteor shower, and my parents are here since my mom suffered a mild concussion." Said Clark.

"By the way how are your parents, Clark? I hope they got out of their ordeal safe." Said Lex seizing the opportunity.

Clark remembered that it was one of Lex's people that saved his mother and father and took them to Metropolis. Momentarily he felt bad for verbally attacking Lex before. "Uh… They're fine Lex… Do you think we could talk over here for a while?" asked Clark pointing to a corner away from the girls to Lex.

Lex smiled satisfied. "Sure thing Clark."

"Listen… sorry about before, it's just that I'm on the edge, over worrying for Lana so much.." said Clark sounding apologetic.

Lex smiled to him. "You don't have to apologise to me Clark. I understand completely. I'll go in for a while to see how she's doing, if that's all right with you."

Lex asking permission from him to see Lana made Clark feel a bit uncomfortable and surprised to say the least. "Yeah, sure, I mean… you don't have to ask for my permission to do that Lex."

Lex smiled at Clark and placed his hand on Clark's shoulder. As he turned to enter Lana's room, Clark momentarily stopped him. "Oh. Lex… Thanks for looking out for my parents."

"My pleasure Clark." Said Lex and entered the room.

To be Continued…