CHAPTER 5 –Trust

Lionel sat on the large couch in the Luthor mansion living room. When Lex entered and saw him, he was stunned silent.

After a small pause Lionel spoke first. "What's the matter son? Cat got your tongue? Aren't you happy to see I'm fine?"

Lex managed to regain his composure. "Dad what happened? When did you come around?"

"Where is the stone Lex?" said Lionel cutting to the chase.

Lex finally regained his confidence, and casually walked over to his desk and sat down. "Honestly dad… I don't know."

"Stop playing with me Lex. This is a matter of life and death!" said Lionel with a hint of threat in his voice that could not however conceal his concern.

Lex looked at him inquisitively. "Since when did this become a matter of life and death for you father?"

"Lex, listen to me. From what little I could find out, during my unconsciousness a meteor shower took place, right?"

Lex silently nodded.

"That meteor shower is connected to the stones son! It was not just a random phenomenon." Said Lionel with urgency apparent in his voice.

Even though Lex did not trust his father, he was starting to get a little edgy with what he was hearing. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Lex please tell me where is the stone?" said Lionel pleading.

"I told you dad I don't know? I mean… I suspect where, but I'm not sure." Said Lex.

"Someone took it from you?" asked Lionel with hope in his voice.

Lex was surprised with the tone of his father. "Try to sound a little less enthused won't you dad. Yes. Someone stole it, but I think I know who and I also think I know where the second stone is." Said Lex thoughtfully.

Lionel approached his son placed both his hands on each side of his son's face and spoke to him. "Listen to me carefully son. Forget about those stones. They were never meant for you anyway and chasing them will only lead to your downfall. Let us go back to Metropolis to lead Luthorcorp to greatness together and put all this behind us."

Lex once again was stunned by his father's words and the honesty with which he spoke them. For a minute he didn't know what to say. It was clear that his father was sincerely worried about him, although he had been fooled by him in the past.

Lionel seeing his son's inner struggle, pleaded with him once more. "Please son. Let them go. You'll be in great danger if you won't."

Lex then snapped. He abruptly stood up and stepped away from his father. He looked at his father and laughed. "Wow… You almost had me there for a minute dad. What a heart warming speech. Maybe I was wrong about who stole my stone. Maybe it was one of your guys all along. And now you want me to give it up? You have been looking for the stones for half your life dad and now all of a sudden you want me to believe that you don't want them? And lead Luthorcorp together? I AM Luthorcorp now! And guess what dad? I'm not looking for any partners! Now I think you've abused my hospitality for far too long, and as it seems you're fine now, so you can go about to whatever life you have left!" said Lex mockingly.

Lionel looked at his son realizing that he did raise him to be a Luthor after all, and he hated himself for it. But Lionel had now come to believe that it's never too late for someone to be saved from themselves, so he decided to leave for now. He was not giving up on his son however.

After Lionel left the mansion, Lex stood in his living room alone in silence. He walked to his mirror and looked at his reflection. A single tear was rolling from his eyes. He looked down as he couldn't bear to look at his face. Then just as suddenly he looked up again and smiled. Lex Luthor would never be pawn to no one's games. If he learnt one thing from his father, it was definitely this.

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After Clark took Lana to her place, he helped her unpack, and then after making sure she had everything she needed, he left to go help his dad with the farm. He would see her again next morning when they arranged to have a little picnic by Crater Lake.

Clark couldn't concentrate the whole day. He was constantly thinking of what he would say to Lana. Would he tell her his secret? Would he say the whole truth? Well… he decided that if he was to tell her his secret, he would go the whole way. He was tired of the lies and the half truths. Besides with the way things had turned about, he would probably have to leave again soon, and he didn't want to lie again. Besides she always seemed to trust him and stand by him no matter what, and all he could give her was lies and heartache. He could not live with this any longer.

Before he went to sleep that day though, he had to find out something. So he went to the caves once more.

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That night Lex went to the Talon. He knocked at Lana's door and waited for her to answer with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. Lana opened the door and was surprised to see Lex there.

"A little welcome home, gift." Said Lex as he handed her the bouquet of flowers.

Even though Lana was still a little uneasy around him, she tried to be as polite as she could. Besides he was the one who helped her with the whole Genevieve mess. "Thank you Lex. Uh… Do you want to come in?"

"Are you sure you're up to it? You seem a bit tired?" asked Lex smiling.

Lana thought about it for a minute. "No, it's ok." She went inside to place the flowers in a vase. Lex entered and sat on the couch. "Would you like anything?" asked Lana.

"I don't suppose you'd have some 19th century Scottish bourbon?" asked Lex jokingly.

"How about some Lemonade?" asked Lana with a smile.

Lex laughed a bit. "That'd be nice."

Lana bought him the drink and also sat at the couch.

"So how are you feeling?' asked Lex.

"Physically I feel fine. Emotionally I'm still rattled and confused with everything that happened." Said Lana.

"Lana… I didn't want to bring up anything before, but how exactly did you get that bruise on your neck?" asked Lex with caring in his voice.

Lana felt uncomfortable. She hadn't talked about that monstrosity with anyone, and she didn't want to mention anything to Lex. "To tell you the truth Lex I'm not so sure myself. The doctors thought it might have been caused by the crash."

Lex nodded in silence, but he knew that a bruise like that would only be caused by someone trying to choke her. He dropped the subject though as he saw that it made her uncomfortable. "Lana again I want to apologize for what happened."

"Lex I told you before it wasn't your fault. You were only trying to help. As for what happened with Genevieve…" said Lana before Lex interjected.

"You don't have to worry yourself about that anymore Lana. I told you I'd take care of it, and I meant it. You have nothing to fear." Said Lex reassuringly.

"But that's the thing Lex, that woman is dead and I… killed her." Said Lana feeling the guilt of what happened creep in, and with it the memory of what that stranger who tried to kill her, told her about the staining of the stone.

Lex reached and touched her hand. "Lana, I thought we were clear on that. You have to forget about it."

"I can't Lex. I'm thinking of going to the police and telling them what happened." Said Lana hesitantly.

Lex looked at her seriously. "Lana if you do that, they are going to charge you with murder. Even if it was self defense you are going to be dragged to courts and trials. It won't be pretty. No one is going to believe a story about body possession. Besides… if you do go to the police they will have to charge me as an accomplice, for trying to hide the body."

Lana looked torn. Lex did have a point, but her conscience wanted to be freed of that.

"Lana, don't let Genevieve ruin your life." Said Lex with emphasis.

Lana nodded in silence reluctantly.

"Now, I don't want to pressure you or anything like that, but I will just throw it as a suggestion. The stone that killed Genevieve…" as Lex brought up the stone, Lana stood up and started walking away from him.

"I can't believe you Lex!" said Lana angrily.

"Lana, if anyone finds that stone it could be used to build a case against you, for murder. Think about it. It has Genevieve's blood your fingerprints. It's as good as turning yourself in. Now I'm not saying you give it to me. I just want you to make sure that it stays buried wherever it is you put it. That's all I'm saying." Concluded Lex reassuringly.

Lana looked at him suspiciously.

"Lana, I don't care about the stone. If I wanted it, I would have taken it without you knowing. I'm not saying I'm a saint, and that you should believe me because I would never do such a thing. I'm saying you have to believe me because I would never do such a thing to you!... I love you Lana."

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Clark entered the caves once more; the place that has been connected to many important events in his life, and has been the constant link to his Kryptonian heritage.

As Clark entered the hidden chamber in the caves, he called for his father.

"Kal- El, the time for your education to commence is approaching. Take care of everything you want to in Smallville, now that you still have time." Said the cold emotionless voice of Jor-El.

"Father what was that thing that attacked Lana and why did it attack her?"

"It was the protector of our knowledge. It was ordered to exterminate anyone who threatened your heritage. It was to make sure that our knowledge and power did not fall in the wrong hands. Lana Lang was considered such a threat, as she was the host of a powerful being that sought the stones and also stained the stone with blood. Lionel and Lex Luthor were the other two who sought the stones for their own uses."

"So what happens to her now?" asked Clark. He feared for Lana's safety, and the fact that it was a being associated to his heritage made it even worse.

"It has been dealt with my son. No harm will come to her of this. Consider it as fate's warning. You must no longer aimlessly linger. The time has come for you to embrace who you really are."

"I'm sick of you pushing me around, and threatening the ones I love. If I am truly destined for such greatness, I will do so by my own will and choice." Yelled Clark, but there was no answer. Jor- El was gone, if he was ever truly there.

Clark sighed in frustration, and made his way back home.

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Lana was stunned from what she heard Lex say.

Lex smiled to himself. "Heh… I can't believe I just said that… but it's the truth." He said as he lift his eyes to meet Lana's, who was looking at him with wide eyes, in surprise and confusion.

"I love you. I'm not just in love with you. I love you like a friend, like a sister, for the wonderful person that you are."

"Lex… I…" Lana didn't know what to say. She noticed that lately Lex was treating her a bit differently, but she had no idea it was that! She had never thought of Lex in that way, and she always pictured him seeing her like a sister.

Lex smiled. "Lana, you don't have to say anything. I know you don't feel the same way about me… and probably rightly so… I just wanted you to know."

Lana now looked at Lex sympathetically, and if it was any other person Lex would have loved nothing more than to wipe that sympathetic look from the other person's face. Strangely enough, he liked it coming from Lana. It showed him that she was actually sorry that she couldn't return his feelings.

"You know… it's probably for the best… You deserve even more than what I could offer you. Above all you deserve someone devoting himself entirely to you. And no matter how much I loved you, my ambition and my hunger for more knowledge and power are what drive me… I know that much about myself. That wouldn't be fair to you." Said Lex with a sad smile.

Lana smiled weakly at him. "A moment of complete honesty, by Lex Luthor." Mused Lana.

Lex laughed, "They don't come often but when they come, I go all out."

"Lex… I… Thank you. That meant a lot coming from you. But if you want my interpretation of this…" said Lana, to which Lex nodded with interest painted in his face.

"… I don't think it's love you're talking about… and with this I don't want to belittle what you just said… but it seems to me that when you love someone, you're willing to give yourself to them completely, to put them above everything else, if you can't do that then… maybe it's not love…" said Lana hesitantly.

Lex thought about what Lana said for a moment. "Maybe…" he said with a light smile. "Just be careful Lana, because that's asking too much. But… then again… maybe that's what love is about…."

With that Lex approached Lana and kissed her on the cheek. "Good night Lana" Then he left Lana alone in her thoughts.

As soon as Lex got in his car, he took out his mobile. "Mike, this is Lex Luthor. …Move forward with what I told you. … Yes… remember, I want to find out where she has hidden a certain artifact. …You are not to disturb her in any way… Oh and something else that's just come up. I want you to do something else too. It seems that someone tried to kill her, now if that someone was who I think it was, then we have nothing to worry about as he is dead, but if there's someone else out there who wants to harm her I want him dealt with. Ok so trail her, learn anything you can about the artifact, and protect her. … Are we clear? Oh and Mike, If anything happens to her, you'll be wishing you were never born… see you around." With that Lex turned off his mobile, and left for Metropolis.

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Clark got up early that morning. He had a good breakfast, helped his dad for a while with the repairs around the farm and went to prepare the place where he would go with Lana, later in the morning. Although he should be feeling happy about being able to get together with Lana, he knew that what he had to do was not going to be easy and it might not turn out so well, and this was weighing him down.

Lana woke up feeling somewhat happier than she had felt for a while. She was glad that the air had somewhat cleared between her and Lex, and had decided to try and put the Genevieve incident behind her. She knew however that she first needed to tell Clark what had happened.

She was also curious to know what it was he wanted to tell her. Ever since they professed their love for one another, they hadn't had the time to talk about it and she wondered if anything had changed. She was sure about herself though. Despite everything that happened she was sure now that she loved him and she didn't regret saying that to him. She was still feeling a little hurt though with the way he lied once again to her about the way he found her that day. She would not give up on him though. She was sure that when he felt ready, he would tell her the whole truth about himself.

Later that morning Clark went to Lana's apartment to pick her up. She greeted him at the front door of the Talon and upon seeing her Clark was certain that if Angels existed they would look exactly like Lana Lang. Even in plain Jeans and tank top she looked breathtaking to him, and he actually swallowed hard when she smiled sweetly at him.

During their drive towards Crater Lake, Clark could not help but smile as he stole sideway glances at her. "I gotta say… you look… well… just breathtaking…" said Clark hesitantly.

Lana blushed at the straightforward remark from Clark. She wasn't used to him being so upfront about what he was thinking and feeling, and it was a nice change. It made her feel optimistic for what was about to happen.

"Thanks Clark…" she said as she smiled a bit embarrassed at him, which caused her nose to scrunch a bit, something that Clark found extremely endearing. He loved every thing about this woman. From the way she looked, to the way she talked, to the wonderful person that she was. At that moment he questioned his reasoning and sanity for not being honest with her for so many years. Well… that was all going to change, he thought with determination.

They parked the truck close to the lake, and then Lana saw that Clark had already prepared the picnic himself. He had set up a blanket near the water with a big basket, containing what she hoped were some of Martha's delicacies.

As they sat down and Clark took out some of the stuff that were in the basket, he said: "First we eat, then we talk, is that ok with you?"

Lana smiled and nodded. "That's fine Clark. To tell you the truth I'm a bit hungry myself."

After they had finished eating, which was accompanied with some friendly banter, they sat for a while in silence. Clark turned to look at Lana, who was sitting near him and was also looking at him. They stared lovingly at each other for a while and then Clark reached out and put his hand on Lana's cheek, before he leaned in and kissed her tenderly and reserved at first, but when he saw that she was returning his kiss, he moved closer towards her wrapped her in his arms and the kiss turned into a passionate one, filled with desire.

When they broke the kiss they were both breathless and leaned their heads against each other. Lana could feel Clark's heavy breathing and smiled. "That was really nice…" she said with a longing voice.

Clark did not reply he hadn't opened his eyes yet. He felt wonderful, but at the same time the knowledge of what he had decided to tell her and of what he had to do weighed him down, not letting him relish this amazing moment between the two.

Then Clark suddenly stood up, much to Lana's surprise. She could tell that something important was troubling him and it obviously had something to do with what he wanted to tell her.

"Clark…" she said with concern in her voice.

"It's not fair Lana." Said Clark with a breaking voice.

"I just wanted to have a normal life like everyone else." Clark paused for a while, thoughtful.

Lana found her heart aching for him but didn't know what to say or do.

"Lana…" said Clark as he turned around to face her. "Before I tell you anything I just want to tell you, that I love you. I have always loved you. It's as simple as that. But what I'm about to tell you, is anything but simple."

To be continued…