Reality Sinks In-Part Four
Notes: This chapter takes place a few hours after the last chapter ended. That would make this the same day as Lana's return to Smallville. Clark has pulled himself together and then went back to the Mr. Kent's room and sat down with Martha. Here it goes . . .
Lana sat in the corner of Mr. Kent's hospital room just watching Clark stare at his lifeless father next to his bed. Clark rubbed his eyes in exhaustion. His mother noticed and was waiting to say something to Clark. "Clark I wish you would go home and sleep. You haven't slept in days. I'm really worried,"Martha said. "I don't want to leave mom, just in case. We've been over this,"Clark snapped at her. "Clark I'll stay here and you take Lana back to the house and get her settled in. She must be tired from the flight. Plus, you need to be fresh for our meeting with the lawyer tomorrow,"Martha said as she looked to Lana for some help. "Yeah Clark let's go back and get some sleep. Your dad is going to need you tomorrow to be strong for him,"Lana said standing up. Seeing that he was cornered, Clark agreed to go home and sleep. "Call me if anything changes,"Clark said kissing his mother on the cheek and getting one last glance before leaving the room.
Clark felt a little uncomfortable on the drive home and he was trying to figure out why in his head. He had not felt uncomfortable around Lana in the longest time. She had changed so much in the way she dressed and even how she talked had changed because she was being really assertive all the time. "You look amazing. I never got to tell you that. Paris really agrees with you,"Clark said looking from her to the road. "Actually, it doesn't,"Lana said. "What do you mean?"Clark asked a little surprised. "Don't get me wrong Paris is amazing and beautiful, but not being near all the people that I love is an unbearable pain. And that's why I came back to stay,"Lana said. "Are you . . .serious?"Clark asked with his eyes darting from the road back to Lana. "Yes, I'm back for good,"Lana said. "You have no idea how happy that makes me,"Clark said very seriously with no smile appearing on his face.
Clark made up his old room for Lana while she took a shower. When Lana returned clean and happily not smelling like airport, she found Clark sitting on her bed with milk and cookies.
"I know we're not supposed to eat desserts before bed, but I thought you might be a little hungry,"Clark said offering Lana a cookie and a glass of milk. "I won't tell if you don't,"Lana said taking the milk and a cookie. "Lana, can I ask you something?"Clark asked her. "Of course. You can ask me anything,"she said. "Are you just coming back because my dad is how he is and you think that you have to?"Clark asked. Lana took his hand, "Clark I came back because you needed me but I'm staying because I missed you and Chloe too much and this all helped me to realize how much. When I couldn't get a hold of you, I was so worried. If something were to happen to you and I was in Paris, I would never forgive myself. I'm not staying out of pity. I'm staying because as cheesy as it sounds, no place is special to me if you're not there,"Lana said.
"Alright, well if you need anything I'll be in my room. Goodnight,"Clark said standing up and leaning down and kissing her on the cheek. "I'm glad you're back,"he said turning to leave the room.
Lana couldn't sleep at all. She tossed and turned in the dark. She kept having flashbacks of Mr. Kent before she left and the one she saw lying in the hospital bed. Then, she would flashback to Clark before she left and the one she saw come out of that hospital room. Eventually it all became too much and she decided to go downstairs to get a glass of water. As she came down the stairs she saw Clark, sitting in the dark on the couch shirtless with pj bottoms and a pillow in his grip. She walked over and silently sat down next to him. "Couldn't sleep?"she asked. "No, you?"Clark asked. "Not really. I guess it's just all very overwhelming you know. Leaving Smallville one way and returning to place that doesn't feel like . . .home even though it is. We really do need to sleep though. Tomorrow is a big day. Well . . .I guess it's today now but whatever. Come on,"Lana said taking Clark's hand and pulling him towards his bedroom. He climbed underneath the covers and as just as she turned to leave the room his hand caught hers. "Sleep with me tonight,"Clark said patting the other side of the bed with his other hand. Lana didn't even hesitate to lift up the covers and shimmy her way down under the sheets. Clark cuddled up against her back and draped his arm over her and laid his head in next to her hair. For a few seconds Clark felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Of course, the weight returned as he started to feel his pain again and guilt over even feeling good for two seconds. Clark knew that at least whatever he was going to face in the future, he would have Lana by his side. As he calmed down, he slowly drifted off to sleep with that thought in his mind.
Clark awoke up to the loud beeping of his alarm clock. Lana and him were in the same position as they were when they fell asleep. The alarm clock hadn't awoken Lana and Clark hated to wake her because she looked so peaceful, but they had to get ready for the lawyer and his mother to arrive. He sat up and kissed her cheek which caused her to stir. "Hey,"Lana said as Clark came into focus. "It's time to get up that lawyer will be here at about noon,"Clark said as he climbed out of bed. "Okay, I'm up,"she sat sitting up and rubbing her eyes. As she her focused she saw Clark looking through his shirt drawers for something to wear and she couldn't help but focus on his tone chest. "Why don't you go get ready and then I'll make us some coffee and something to eat,"Clark told her. "Okay,"Lana said leaving his room and shutting the door behind her.
The two got dressed and drank a cup of coffee and had toaster waffles before Clark's mother arrived home with the lawyer following close behind her. "I think I'll wait upstairs in your room Clark,"Lana said whispering in his ear. Clark walked up to the lawyer and shook his hand as Lana slipped upstairs to get out of their way. "My name is Stan Benneck and I was entrusted with Jonathon's legal affairs for these type of situations. I have all the documents with me and I'm ready to explain it all to you,"the lawyer said being very professional. "Let's sit down,"Martha said motioning for them to be seated.
"Martha . . .Clark we have a very . . irregular situation here. I know you both were very reluctant to meet with me. I understand you think this is giving up on him, but Jonathon does have his own legal wishes that he wanted to be carried out and you should be aware of them. Jonathon came to me in the winter and got his affairs in order. He made it very clear and signed the documents for Clark to make all his medical decisions if he were to be incapable of doing so himself,"Stan paused. "WHAT? Why would he make Clark do that,"Martha exclaimed. "He thought you both would not understand so he left two personal letters to both of you and told me Clark's letter contained his wishes for Clark to carry out. They aren't legally binding wishes, but he also told me that because he knew that he raised his son with values and morals that no matter what, he would do the right thing,"Stan said just staring at Clark who was in shock. "By medical decisions what do you mean?"Clark said. "Medical decisions pertains to the life support machine, emergency surgeries, medicines to be administered, things like that,"Stan replied. "So let me get this straight. I'm now the one in charge . . .of whether my father lives or dies?"Clark asked. Clark was so overwhelmed in that moment and completely confused. He didn't know what to do. He glanced to his mother who had opened her letter read it and started to cry hysterically. It all became way to much for Clark in that moment. "You should really read the letter son,"Stan said.
Without saying a word, he glared at the attorney and got up from his seat and walked straight out the front door. He got in his truck and before he left he looked up to his bedroom to see his raven haired girlfriend staring out the window at him. He sped off to a place he knew only one person could find him. That one person was the only one he could talk to. The only one he needed to talk to. He was sure and he knew that somehow she would find him.