TITLE: Double, Double, Love & Trouble? – Chapter 17
WRITTEN BY: Heather Ferguson (fergus80)
EMAIL: http/webpages. (Jensen)
RATING: PG-13 (NC-17 where applicable will be separate)
SUMMARY: Rewrite from the end of the episode 'Unsafe.'
SPOILERS: Everything!
DISCLAIMER: All Smallville character belong to their respective whatever, the WB, etc. etc.
FEEDBACK: Always makes me smile:)
DEDICATION: To all the fellow Nuns, writers, reviewers, and readers at NWP, and of course Jensen!
RANT: Ummm… nothing much to say. Just… same old, same old. ;)
He was furious. His blood was pumping through his veins. He blamed them for what was happening. Actually, he blamed HIM. He had convinced him to go to China. He was going to get answers from that man. One way or another.
Jason stormed through the door and into the study. He walked right over to the other man, "Luthor, where is it?"
Lionel stood there, unwavering, "Well, perhaps you can tell me what it is you want."
"You know exactly what it is I want," he ground out. "You gave me that map because you knew I'd end up in China, and you knew I'd find that stone." He walked over to the bookshelf in a huff, and started to knock the books onto the floor. Much like the things in Lana's apartment had ended up. "It was all one big calculated ploy, wasn't it?"
Lionel turned towards the outraged man, "If I had the foresight which you attribute to me, I wouldn't need any ancient artifacts to help me."
"If you've got any kind of foresight, you will let me know where that stone is right now. Otherwise, this is gonna get very ugly," he almost growled as he turned back to face him.
Lionel wasn't fazed, "Oh, so now in addition to hurling accusations, you decide to threaten me?"
Jason turned and went back to throwing things around, "You break into her apartment, you go through her private things…"
"I assure you, breaking and entering is not my style." He watches the other man continue, "Your lost treasure isn't here, Mr. Teague. You'll have to look somewhere else. Good day."
His calm attitude was too much, and Jason lost it. In a rage, he grabbed Lionel spun him around and pushed him against the bookshelf. "I'm not going anywhere, Luthor, until you give me that stone or you convince me that you didn't take it."
Two pairs of hazel, green eyes stared intently at each other. "You storm in here, you accuse me of some ham-fisted home invasion…" Jason shook him against against the shelf. "Why are you doing this? Is it an act? An elaborate diversion?"
"Don't turn this around on me!" he yelled.
Lionel eyed him, "I think we both know there's nothing stronger than the love between mother and son. Even greater than father and son."
He pushed him against the case again and then let go, walking backwards, "You're wrong. My MOTHER has nothing to do with this. This is about LANA."
The older man stood up straight, eying the younger one. He could see the strength and will in the other. "My son and you are so much a like. It seems women are your downfall. I'd be careful Jason. No matter which woman in your life you are protecting." He moved over to the couch and sat down. "Lex is out. If he has this stone, I do not know about it." He looked over at Jason again, "But I guarantee you, I do not have it."
His hands fisted and knowing he wouldn't get any answers there tonight, he turned on his heel and left. He had to get some answers, but he just wasn't sure where he could. He wasn't sure he could trust anyone. All he knew was that it sure seemed that the enemy of my enemy of my enemy of my… his head was starting to spin at the possibilities.
The next morning, Lionel sat at the computer, when a voice brought his attention back to the room. "Dad, clearly the idea of personal space is lost on you."
"Lex, one of your employees paid me a visit recently, and I wasn't clear whether it was official business or what it was." He wouldn't put it past Lex to have Jason try something like that. He stood and walked around the desk. Lex moved behind his desk. "As far as I know, our outstanding business is finished."
"Well, he… Jason Teague, that's who it was… accused me of taking something that didn't belong to me, of stealing."
Lex was becoming annoyed, "Well, it wouldn't be the first time."
"Be that as it may, the accusation was false." Lex sat down behind the computer. Lionel thought about it for a minute, "But given what's missing, I almost wish I was guilty."
Lex gave him a puzzled look, "What was it?"
"You know the answer to that question, Lex. You're the one who took it from him."
"Dad, if you want to play games, there's a deck of cards in the parlor."
Lionel shook his head, "Let's talk about games. You hire someone to travel to China to search for an ancient artifact. He finds it, he steals it, but he keeps it for himself. Then you have to steal it back from him." He laughs, "You've turned hot potato into an art form, son."
Lex was shocked, "Jason Teague found the stone?"
Lionel eyed his son for a moment, "Either you are the best con man in the world, or you are truly unbelievably naïve." Lex looked down, thinking. Lionel smiled, "Good afternoon, Lex."
Lex just sat there after the door shut behind his father. He was too stunned to move. Jason had played him. Jason had played all of them. Now the only question was… who took it from him?
"Lionel doesn't have it. I'm not sure what Lex knows," he said as it sat down on the stool next to the counter.
She poured herself a cup of tea and nodded. "He must know something though. He did give you that map… or picture… or whatever it was."
He rubbed his forehead. His head was pounding.
Isobel looked over at him, sat her cup down and walked over behind him. Her hands went to his shoulders, "Thank you for trying."
His body stiffened, and his hands came up and pulled her arms so that she moved in front of him. Effectively stopping her. "Lana… I love you. I'd do anything for you. But… something… something just doesn't seem right."
She swallowed, "What do you mean?" she asked worried.
He stood up and moved into the living room. They just had to figure all this out, and then everything would return to normal. He kept trying to tell himself that. "Something is going on here. Something even bigger. We just aren't seeing it. I can feel it."
She could feel the control she had slowly spinning out of control, she needed to distract him. She was about ready to walk over to him, but then stopped. He had been rather standoffish with the whole touchy, feely thing. She wondered if maybe his subconscious wasn't picking up something that his conscious mind wouldn't let himself believe. "Maybe we just need to take a step back. Let things happen, see how they play out." She said and turned to some mail sitting on the counter.
She heard him sigh, and with a "Yeah, maybe you're right," he sat back down. She tossed a few things onto the counter as she discarded them. "Wait."
She looked up to him holding a card, "Yeah?"
Jason looked at her strangely, "Why didn't you tell me this was coming up?"
Isobel tilted her head, to try and see what it was, and to read it. "What? Prom?"
His eyes got bigger. Was she really that distracted by everything that she forgot it? "I thought you would want to go."
Her heart raced. This was not good. There was no way she could let Clark and the others know that she was still with Jason. "I just don't think I want to go."
He sighed and his shoulders slumped. "It's because of me, isn't it?" He felt horrible.
"What?" she asked confused.
"You don't want to go because it would look bad for you to show up with the ex-assistant coach. And you also don't want to go alone."
That hadn't been her reason, but she sure as hell was going to use it. "Well…" she trailed off.
He closed his eyes, and then stood up. He walked over to her, and wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"If you want us to go, I will."
She shook her head, "No, can you imagine that entrance?" He cringed. "Exactly."
"Well… maybe some of your other friends might go alone. Singles do go in packs. You could still have fun."
Isobel smiled. Hmmm… She could still go… maybe even with Clark, without Jason knowing. Really play up that whole fate thing. Prom was supposed to be 'special' right? The thought made her stomach turn. But what choice did she have. This wasn't the Middle Ages anymore. Using her powers didn't have the same effect and fear. She had to use other methods. "Maybe… you wouldn't mind?" she asked sweetly.
He smiled and turned her around, "Hmmm… you all dressed up, dancing with a bunch of your friends. I think I could be okay with that." She let out a squeal of happiness for effect and jumped out of the kitchen to go get her purse. She grabbed it and then moved to the door, indicating he exit. "What?"
"Well… I need to go shopping. Do you know how late it is to be looking for a dress now?"
Jason smiled at her hyperness, and let out a breath. Okay, that was a little more normal. "Well, you have fun." He kissed the top of her head and walked out the door. She watched him go and her eyes scanned the crowd, she groaned, and then quickly moved down the steps to intercept what was a confrontation that she didn't want to have happen. "Clark…" she said walking right up to him, as the door shut behind Jason.
He looked from her to the door, and then back again. "I thought the two of you…"
She cut him off. "I did," she gave him a sad look. "He just doesn't want to believe it. He tried talking me out of it. But it didn't work. I'm moving on."
"Oh. Well… that's good I guess."
"Yeah… and as a first step of moving on. I've decided to go to Prom. Do you happen to know of anyone that doesn't have a date yet?" she smiled at him.
"Uhhh… well… If you want too…" he seemed like he was having trouble to get the words out.
She wanted to roll her eyes, but she just prompted him, "Yes?"
"I don't have any plans yet."
"Really?" she asked, "I'm shocked." Yeah, totally stunned. Right. She grinned, "Well Clark… would you mind?"
"Mind? I'd love to take you to prom."
"Then it's a date. I'll see you at seven." She turned and headed back up the steps to her apartment leaving Clark with a goofy grin on his face.
To be continued.