I'll Always Be There

Disclaimer:
Again, I don't own the characters (Minus Nick & Dr. Douglas)...You know the drill...

Genre:
Drama/Romance

Rating:
T (Just to be safe) for themes

Pairing:
Clana/Clex

Song Used:
"Jesus, Take the Wheel"-Carrie Underwood

She's Gone

Clark read the note Lana had left him six months ago when she'd walked away. He still couldn't believe she was gone. This time, he was sure she wouldn't be coming back.

Clark,

By now I'm probably to Wichita. I don't know quite how to tell you this. I've met someone new. He's honest with me, and doesn't keep anything from me. He trusts and respects me enough to be completely honest with me. I just don't get that feeling from you. I hope you understand. Nick makes me happy, as do you, but I just don't feel like I can trust you the way I do Nick. I'm really sorry. I never meant to hurt you like this. I hope you can someday find a way to understand why I'm doing this and find it in your heart to forgive me. Hurting you was never my intention. I'm sorry...

Lana

Even as many times as he'd already read this note, it never seemed to be real. He kept hoping that one day, she'd walk in the door and say it was all just one big mistake. But all this time later, she still hadn't come back and deep down, Clark knew she never would. The only thing getting him by these days was the support and understanding from his best friend, Lex Luthor. Lex had been there for Clark every step of the way. He'd been there for Clark when it seemed as though noone else would be. That meant a lot to Clark, more than he realized.

Meanwhile, back at the Luthor mansion, Lex sat in his office, pondering all that had been happening lately. Pete had left for Wichita to live with his family, Lana had left Clark, and Chloe had gone to Metropolis to write for the The Planet. He and Clark were the only ones left in Smallville. Lex's thoughts soon drifted to the jet black haired farm boy. Remembering how Lana had left him, Lex thought it was strange he didn't even care that she'd left him. Though, he knew why, the only aspect of Lana leaving Clark that pissed Lex off was seeing how much it was hurting Clark. It killed him to see Clark hurting the way he was. Which was why he'd done everything he could to be there for Clark every step of the way. Noticing the rather slow day he was having work wise, Lex grabbed the keys to his Porsche and walked outside and climbed inside. Starting the car, he decided to see how Clark was doing since he hadn't seen or heard from him in a couple of days.

While Clark was losing himself in memories, he was soon snapped out of his daze by the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway. Walking over to the window, he looked outside to see that it was Lex. Making his way over to the door, Clark walked outside to greet him. Wrapping his arms around the older man, Clark embraced his friend in a manly hug. Melting inwardly at Clark's embrace, Lex convincingly hid his emotions.

"Hey, Lex." Clark greeted him, once they seperated. Smiling, Lex replied "Hey, Clark." Ushering him inside, Clark asked Lex "So...What brings you all the way out here?" Shrugging, Lex replied "Well, I hadn't seen or heard from you in a while and I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Glad to hear of his concern for him, Clark handed Lex a cup of coffee as he sat next to him on the couch. Nodding, Clark replied "Yeah, I'm guess I'm all right. It's still hard to believe she's not comin' back..." Looking down at his own coffee cup, Clark's voice trailed off. Resting a reassuring hand on Clark's shoulder, Lex looked deep into Clark's soft green eyes as he replied "Clark...Listen, if Lana was crazy enough to give up an amazing guy like you, then she doesn't deserve you...You deserve a lot better...The way I see it, it's her loss..." Smiling at Lex's attempt to comfort him, Clark sighed slightly as he replied "Yeah...I guess you're right..." Understanding how hard this had all been on Clark, Lex replied "Listen, I know it's hard. But, I know you, Clark. I know you're gonna be all right. And in the meantime, you know I'll be here for you whenever you need me..." Smiling, Clark replied "Thanks, Lex...That really means a lot to me..." Returning Clark's warm smile, Lex stood and added "Well, I better be getting back to the mansion. You gonna be okay?" Looking into Clark's deep green eyes, Lex rested a concerned hand on Clark's shoulder. Nodding, Clark replied "Yeah...I'll be fine..."

Smiling, Lex turned and walked out the door. Watching as he climbed inside his porsche, Clark returned to his originl position on the sofa. Staring out the window, Clark watched as it started to rain. The light shower, however, soon turned into a major downpour. I hope Lex makes it home all right...It's really comin' down out there... Clark thought to himself. Unbeknownst to Clark, his concerns were coming to pass. As Lex pulled out onto the main road, before he knew it, his wheels were spinning underneath him.

She didn't pay attention
She was goin' way too fast
Before she knew it
She was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass

Before he could correct the problem, Lex watched helplessly as his porsche collided head on into a nearby street light.

She saw both her lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
'Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel

Realizing it was too late, Lex just took his hands off the wheel completely and resigned himself to the imminent impact while visions of him and Clark flashed right before his eyes; visions of what he thought could now never come to pass. Before anyone knew it, Lex's car smashed head on into the light pole, his head slamming into the steering wheel. As he felt the thick, warm, crimson liquid streaming from the cut on his forehead among the many other scrapes and gashes covering the rest of his body, Lex felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness. The last thing he saw before the blackness took over completely was the flashing lights of the ambulance.

Meanwhile, back at the Kent Farm, Clark had been watching the storm for what had seemed like an eternity when the ringing of the phone snapped him out of his dazed depression. "Hello?" He answered, placing the receiver up to his ear. "Mr. Kent?" The man on the other end of the line asked. Not recognizing the voice on the other end of the line, Clark asked "Yes? May I ask who's calling?" "This is Dr. Douglas from the Smallville Medical Center..." The caller explained. Now, more confused than ever, Clark asked "What's going on?" Understanding his confusion, Dr. Douglas continued "I'm calling about your friend, Lex Luthor." Right then and there, Clark could have sworn he felt the breath catch in his throat and his heart stop if even for a moment as he thought to himself Oh, God! Lex!...Please, tell me he's all right! Trying to maintain his cool, Clark replied, his voice cracking inaudibly from emotion, "What happened?" Sighing, Dr. Douglas replied "Mr. Kent, I'm afraid there's been an accident...Mr. Luthor was brought to us in critical condition...He's currently in a coma..." No...No, there has to be some mistake...It can't be Lex...It has to be somebody else...Clark thought to himself. "I'll be right there..." Clark replied, hanging up without waiting for a response.

Grabbing the keys to his red truck, Clark quickly climbed inside the driver's side and started the truck. Pulling out of the driveway, Clark's mind was so wrapped up on the news about Lex, he didn't even notice the rain letting up. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Clark was pulling up into the hospital parking lot. Rushing inside, Clark was lead to Lex's room by a young orderly. Walking inside, Clark stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. My God...He thought to himself as he slowly approached Lex's bedside. Staring down into his closed brown eyes, Clark couldn't help but feel guilty. This is all my fault...I should have never let him go out in that...I should have been there, I could have done something to save him...God, what I wouldn't give to take away his pain and suffer for him... He thought to himself. Suddenly, something hit him like a ton of bricks. Wait a minute...Why is this hitting me so hard?...You'd think I was in love with him or something...Oh my God...I am in love with him...That explains why his support has been so important to me...That's why it meant so much to me that he's been there for me everytime I've needed someone the most...God, why didn't I realize this sooner...Now, I may loose the only person to ever mean more to me than anything, even Lana...And the worst part of it is that he may never know how I feel...Clark thought to himself.

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
'Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one last chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel

Taking Lex's lifeless hand in his own, Clark used the other hand to gently caress Lex's cold, pale cheek. By now, Clark didn't even try to fight back the tears that were stinging in his eyes. Rather, he just let them fall freely, streaming silently down his cheek. "Hang in there, Lex. Please. I can't loose you. Not now. I need you. Please, hang in there..." Clark stated softly, his voice shaking increasingly with emotion. With that said, he leaned in and kissed Lex's forehead lightly.

As he felt Clark's lips brush his forehead, Lex also felt his heart begin to break. Trying with every fiber of his being to wake up and tell Clark that he was okay and that everything was gonna be all right, Lex quickly discovered it felt as though two-ton cinderblocks had been attached to his eyelids. God damn it!...I have to wake up...I have to tell him that I'm okay...I'd give anything just to hold him in my arms and assure him that everything's okay-that I'm okay...It's killing me to hear him hurting like this...And the worst part of it all is that he may never get a chance to know how I feel... Lex thought to himself, in defeat.

Pulling up a nearby chair, Clark sat down by Lex's bed, determined not to leave his side until he knew for a fact that he would be okay. As the sun began to set, Clark soon fell asleep, Lex's hand still limp within his own. However, before he'd fallen asleep, he leaned into toward Lex once more and whispered in his ear "Hang in there, Lex...Please...Don't leave me...". Listening to Clark's desperate plea, Lex knew he had to come out of this-for Clark. I have to beat this...I have to tell Clark how I feel... Lex thought to himself, determined to find a way out of his current comatosed state.

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
'Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one last chance
Save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel

She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight
Jesus, take the wheel