Broken Down

They were all gathered there to pay tribute to Martha Kent. Chloe had flown from Gotham with her husband as did Pete from Washington. Lois was also there as was Lex.

Most of Smallville had also gathered to pay tribute to one of its most beloved citizens. Clark was standing motionless and was wearing sunglasses, in the morning sun. Lana was beside him with Laura in her arms, and her eyes were red from crying.

As they lowered her in the ground, Clark who up till then had been seemingly emotionless, felt a single tear rolling down his cheek. He said a whispered good bye to his mother, and turned to leave along with everyone who was gathered there.

As they were preparing to leave, Clark thought he saw a very familiar figure standing in the distance by the trees. A figure who he hadn't seen for quite some time. As he took his glasses off to see better, the man was gone. He thought about going over to check if he saw right, but he just couldn't bother. Even if it was who he thought it was, he couldn't care any less. All that he knew was that he wouldn't see his mother again.

As they were walking along the green grass of the graveyard, Lana who was walking along side him, took hold of his hand and squeezed it supportingly. They walked like this the rest of the way.

They were all gathered at the Talon afterwards, the place that Martha had associated herself with during the last decade of her life. Clark was sitting near the counter, with Chloe, Pitt, Lois and Lana sitting all around him. Lex approached them, with two massive bodyguards around him. They all became somewhat nervous with his presence and especially Lois, who was extremely vocal about her disapproving of Lex in her articles in the Daily Planet.

"Oh look the monster is sentimental… " she commented loudly as Lex approached. He looked at her with obvious distaste.

Clark just shot her a sideway glance. "Lois please don't start… not now…"

"Sometimes I just don't get you Clark... " said Lois obviously annoyed. "If you'll excuse me… I'm suddenly a bit allergic to the company." She stated as she got up and walked away from them.

Lex sighed. "Clark… I just wanted you to know that despite not quite seeing eye to eye and often being on the opposite sides, I cared about your mother. She was one of the few people to ever treat me as a human being and not as a Luthor. I will always remember her for that. There aren't enough people in the world like Martha. I'm sorry for your loss." He said simply and then before he left he turned to Lana. "Lana… could I speak to you for a while…"

Lana hesitantly and looking a bit uncomfortable, got up and walked with Lex. During the years, although they were hardly considered friends, Lex always learnt of Lana's news and tried to help her in any way he could –like he did with her first job-. Lana appreciated that but still felt somewhat weird around Lex Luthor.

Chloe and Pitt were left alone with Clark.

"Clark… what are you going to do now? Are you staying in Smallville or are you going back to Metropolis?" asked Pitt.

"I really don't know Pitt. To tell you the truth I can't go back to Metropolis right now…" said Clark with a heavy voice.

"But what about the whole Superman thing?" asked Chloe whispering. "How are you going to pull that off?"

Clark remained silent and closed his eyes. "You know something Chloe… I'm sick of Superman… I'm utterly sick of it… I'm sick of people constantly looking up to me for inspiration… I'm sick of always trying to be perfect and doing what's best for others… I'm sick of Superman dictating my life… of what I can and can't do… Superman destroyed my marriage… Superman was the reason for my absence when my father died… Superman made me abandon my mother when she needed me most… And because of Superman I had to leave behind the love of my life and hurt her in more ways than I could ever imagine… He destroyed my life and any chance I had for a future!" Clark yelled the last part and he got up from his chair and stormed out of the Talon through the back door.

Chloe and Pitt were left there looking in disbelief. Lois from a table in the corner looked on with sadness in her eyes, but also with understanding. She figured out what the outburst was about, since she had some idea of what was going through Clark's mind the last year.

Lana who was sitting at another table with Lex, when she saw Clark's outburst, she got up from her seat worried and made to go after him. Lex though stopped her by grabbing her hand.

"Lana please let him cool off." Said Lex softly.

"Lex I've got to go…" said Lana with determination.

"Please just give me one minute. It's about Clark"

Lana sighed and sat down again in her seat. "Listen to me… I know Clark thinks we are enemies of sorts, and that I am some kind of tyrant who has lost all ability to feel… but the truth is… I still care about certain people… Clark is certainly one of them… Despite our shortcomings, I still don't like seeing him in this situation. From what I've heard, his divorce has left him kind of a mess… And now this… It's not easy for anyone, going through what Clark is now… so I want to tell you something… I know you still love him…"

Lana widened her eyes and tried to protest, but Lex kept on talking. "It's painted in your face Lana. In the way you look at him, in your body when you're sitting close to him, in your reactions… What I'm trying to say is… If you truly love him… help him out… help him sort out his head. If anyone can get to Clark it certainly is you… It has always been you… I know that much about Clark… and if he finally sees the light… tell him… that I have an offer for him… I want to put aside the past and make a fresh start with Clark… It's for both our sakes…"

Lana remained silent looking at him not sure what to make of everything Lex told her. "Why the sudden interest in Clark Lex?"

Lex smiled. "I have big plans for Clark and me Lana." With that he got up picked Lana's hand and kissed the back of it. "Lana… always a pleasure."

Lex turned around and left the Talon. Lana remained there for a while perplexed with what Lex meant. He seemed very honest to her, but she still felt weird.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she got up and hurried to the Talon's back door. She just hoped he was still there. As she got out, she saw that the back alley was empty. Damn… he could be miles away by now… Where are you Clark?

To be continued…