In the Middle

Back to the present…

As Pete was leaving Smallville, a black limousine drove past him and cut him off. Pete hit the breaks immediately. Two big guys came out of the limousine. And stood outside Pete's car.

"Mr. Ross… will you please step out of the car." Said one of the guys as he held a police badge to Pete.

Pete who was already a nervous wreck from what had happened with Clark, almost panicked, but then he tried to keep his composure and opened his door.

"What is this about?" he asked stepping out of the car.

One of the men went and opened the door of the limousine as he motioned for Pete to get in. Pete hesitated at first but decided to enter nonetheless. They were the police after al. But that thought didn't hold for long as he saw Lionel sitting in the limousine.

"Mr. Luthor?" he said surprised.

Lionel looked at him dead serious. "Yes Mr. Ross, I'm alive… I'm sorry but I don't have time for pleasantries. What have you done to Clark Kent?"

Pete started to realize slowly that he was way over his head in all this. "I… I'm not sure what you're talking about."

Lionel leaned in closer and whispered menacingly. "I know about Clark's secret Mr. Ross… He and I had an understanding about what needed to be done and now you've come here and meddled into my affairs. So I'll ask you again… what have you done to Clark Kent?"

Pete swallowed hard as he wasn't sure how exactly to react. But then he remembered what Lex had told him earlier over the phone. "So Lex was right… Clark is working for you isn't he?"

"So you have been talking and working with Lex… Mr. Ross… I'm a peaceful man, but this is a very serious affair you've got yourself in the middle of… so I will not hesitate to resort to whatever means necessary to convince you to tell me what you did with Clark Kent… And I'm certain you realize I'm being completely honest with you…"

"I… all I know… is that he is on his way to talk to your son." Said Pete.

Lionel remained thoughtful for a minute. "why would he do that? … Are you being completely honest with me Mr. Ross… Did you by any chance trick him into going there?" asked Lionel slyly.

Pete immediately felt the sting of guilt hitting him hard. He had betrayed the trust of his best friend. But a lot was in stake. "What do you want Mr. Luthor?"

"What I want is none of your business and quite frankly too complicated for the likes of you to understand. The fact is that Clark must not speak with Lex. Have you told Lex of Clark's secret Mr. Ross?"

"No…" said Pete hesitantly.

"Good… Good… But knowing Lex, he surely has something up his sleeve, to try and convince Superman to join him."

"so this is just another game of power between you and your son isn't it?" asked Pete with disgust.

"Game? You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about Mr. Ross, so please save yourself the embarrassment of trying to grasp what I or my son are doing." Lionel looked at Pete with contempt. "Let me guess… you're doing this for Lex because he promised to give you something… but that alone wouldn't do the trick now would it… You're too proud for that… so he probably tried to win your trust up till now… and you thought it was about you all this time eh? The fact that you are Clark's friend who in turn, as Lex knows, is Superman's personal reporter, never crossed your mind now did it…" Lionel chuckled. "So simple people… Lex now figured that if he got Superman on his side, apart from all the other benefits he would get, he could even turn this potential disaster, that the accident is, to his advantage. Plus… as they say… keep your friends close and your enemies closer…"

Pete felt his blood boil, but most of all he felt ashamed that he couldn't measure up to being Clark's best friend.

Lionel turned to Pete with determination on his face. "We have to fix this… Tell me now what exactly happened with Clark, if you value your friendship with him at all…"

Metropolis

Clark landed on top of Luthorcorp plaza. He looked around him at Metropolis almost spreading at his feet. Yes… that's how it should be… I could have this city at my feet… at my beck and call… bah… I'm thinking too small… I could have this whole world eating from the palm of my hand… Heh… Emperor Kal-El… doesn't sound too bad… and Lana will be by my side as Queen… mmm…. I've got to go see Lana soon… I have a few ideas of how to spend our time until that happens… Thought Clark as he had a sly smile on his face. But let's see first what Lex wants… he could prove quite useful after all…

Clark flew downwards and floated outside of Lex's office. He saw that the lights were out and only his desk light was on, as Lex sat on his chair studying something.

Hmm… Perfect… just as I would want it… thought Clark as he entered the office from an open window that was there.

He stood on the far side of the room from Lex surrounded by shadows. Lex only realized that someone else was in there, when Clark sat on a couch.

"Who is there?" asked Lex as he got up to turn on the lights.

"Relax Lex… and don't turn up the lights." Said Clark, changing his voice a bit so that Lex wouldn't recognize it.

"Superman…" said Lex making out the suit in the darkness. "How did you get in here?"

Clark smiled and pointed towards the open window in the back.

"Oh…" chuckled Lex, who tried to make out Superman's facial features but failed as it was quite dark. "So… why do you want the lights turned off?"

"I like it that way…"

"Yes… So I've noticed… You even avoid the cameras of the media that are chasing after you."

Clark chuckled. "What can I say… I'm shy…"

"Fair enough…" said Lex with a smile. "I'm glad you decided to hear me out. I pulled all the stops to have this arranged you know."

Clark chuckled again. "Oh… I know…"

Smallville

After Pete told Lionel about what happened, Lionel remained silent trying to figure out a way to put a stop to this. "How long will that red kryptonite liquid affect him?"

"I'm not sure… Jason… Lex's head scientist, didn't know what it did, but they tested this in animals and it didn't have any effect on them. The traces remained in the animals' blood for about one to two days. So I don't know how long it will remain in his blood? I hope it will have dissipated by tomorrow." Said Pete downcast.

"Hoping is not good enough Mr. Ross. We will assume that it will remain in his blood indefinitely, and try and find a solution to our problem based on that fact."

Lionel was interrupted by voices from outside the limousine. Pete immediately recognized the voice of Lana.

"I'm a friend of Pete's and this is his car, so tell me where he is." Said Lana to the big guy standing outside the limo.

Lionel smiled, as if he had found the solution to his problem and opened the door to the limo as he stepped outside.

"Mrs. Lang… So glad to see you. We need to talk."

Metropolis

"So Lex… I'm all ears…" said Clark still sitting at a distance from Lex.

"Ok… Um… I want you to join me. It's as simple as that. I now that in the past, you have encountered some… troublemakers… in Luthorcorp, and that's exactly why I want you to join me… I want you to help me turn a new page for this corporation… help me get rid of all the parasites and raise Luthorcorp to new heights… make it more into what the people want to have as their leaders… What do you say? You and me… The Leaders for a new era…"

"I like what you're really thinking, but you don't have to throw in that 'turning a new leaf' and 'going clean' bs just for my sake." Said Clark with a smile.

"It's not bs Superman… I really want that…" said Lex seemingly dead serious.

Clark laughed. "Come on Lex… You don't want that and I know it… and to tell you the truth… I don't much care about it either…"

Lex looked at Superman inquisitively. "Is that so? Since when?"

"Since today…"

"And how may I ask did this come about?"

"You could say… I myself am turning a new leaf… I'm just so sick of being a slave to the world's needs… I just believe it's high time the world served my needs for a change…" said Clark smiling.

Smallville – Lana's house

Lana sat on the couch thoughtful, trying to take in what she had just heard. Opposite her sat Lionel who looked at her expectantly and Pete who looked down towards the floor trying to avoid Lana's look.

"I can't believe you…" said Lana through gritted teeth. "That was the one thing you had to do as his friend… the one thing… protect him and his secret… You selfish…" as Lana was getting angrier and tried to stand up and hit Pete, Lionel interjected by standing up and holding her.

"Lana… this is not the time for this… we don't have much time… we must act quickly and get Clark to leave Lex's office… now… I don't know how different Clark gets when under the influence of this red Kryptonite, but if what Pete has told me is accurate… I wouldn't trust myself, Pete or anyone else to remain unhurt if they confronted him. But I'd bet my life, that he wouldn't do anything to you."

Lana sat down and looked at Lionel uncertain. "I… I don't know… he… gets really violent when under the influence of red kryptonite…"

"Lana… he has been in love with you ever since high school… that's not something you encounter everyday… and from what I get this red Kryptonite, doesn't transform him into a different person. He is still Clark Kent… isn't that right?"

"I… I don't know… I guess…" answered Lana still uncertain.

"Lana the only way we can get him out of there without letting him finish his conversation with Lex, is if an emergency concerning you happens. After he gets here, the only person who can control him, I believe is you… Do this for his sake…"

Lana knew she had to do it. She had to do it for him and she realized that she was indeed the only person who could get to him in the state he was now in.

To be Continued…