Reality Sinks In-Part Six
Notes: This chapter is going to start the morning after the last chapter. Clark and Lana pulled themselves together and slowly climbed down from the Talon in the morning and drove off.
We start with them heading back into town.
Lana followed in her Jeep as Clark parked his truck in front of the closed Talon. Lex had shut it down for the summer because Lana was in Paris and he had interest in a small town coffee shop. Lex couldn't bring himself to get out of their partnership, so he just let it sit there. They both got out of their cars and Lana unlocked the front door.
"A lot of memories in here," Lana said looking around at the same place she left a couple months ago. "Yeah. I almost lost my virginity here to the woman of my dreams, but I was stupid and saw the damn paper on the end table,"Clark said showing so little emotion it almost scared Lana. "Hey, me too. Except, I was stupid and didn't tell the man of my dreams I was leaving, which hurt him . . .a lot. I want him to know how sorry I am,"Lana said sitting down in a booth. "I think he would say it doesn't matter because he loves you so much that nothing could make him forget,"Clark said as his eyes teared up. "Clark, I am sorry you have to make this decision. It's not fair. No matter what you decide . . I'll stand by you,"Lana said getting up and walking to Clark who was standing in the middle of the room. "Lana, I have to do it. For him,"Clark sniffling and his voice cracking up. "I know,"Lana said. "I don't want to do it, but after reading the letter. He told . .he told me to. Why would we he make me do this?" Clark said. Lana wrapped her arms around him. "She's gonna hate me,"Clark said pulling back a little from their hug and letting Lana see the tears streaming down his face. "Who's gonna hate you?"Lana asked confused. "Mom is gonna hate me for doing this,"Clark said. "She won't hate you. Your mother could never hate you,"Lana said. "No. She has been fighting to keep him alive, just like I have. If someone else had been asked to do this, I would hate them. She was so mad when she heard I was the one to control it. She knows what he asked. I know she does. He knew this would break her heart and he asked me to do it anyway,"Clark yelled. Without thinking, Clark took a vase off the counter and threw it at the wall. Hearing it shatter made Lana jump and Clark just froze. "Clark, your father believed that you are strong and could help . . . him to be free. He knew your mom loves him so much, like you do, but that she couldn't do it. She isn't strong enough,"Lana said. "I'm not strong enough,"Clark said. "Clark this is all horrible. You are strong enough. Because I love you I'm going to tell you, you don't have to do this. You can leave him on the machine and no one else will know about the letter. It's pretty locked in that everyone's going to be upset no matter what. I'm not saying what you should decide, but if the doctors are right you'll just spend longer going to the hospital, grieving, and helping you along with your mother go bankrupt. Clark I love your father. This is not something somebody can write a How To book for. This breaks my heart. You have to do what you know is right. Even if you don't want to or it hurts,"Lana said with tears streaming down her face. Clark just stared into her eyes as he realized she was right.
Clark and Lana walked into the hospital right before noon. They found his mother in the waiting room. Clark wanted to avoid her for a little while, until he had talked to his father. Lana waited outside the hospital room while Clark went in, to say his goodbyes.
Clark slowly walked to the bed and his knees collapsed to the floor. He took his dad's hand in his own and just looked at his father. "Dad . . .I'm going to do . .what you said,"he said breathing hard. "I don't know why you would ask me to sign your death certificate. I'm just your son. I've been fighting for you for nothing now. Mom won't understand. Worse then I don't. I know her and how much she loves you. I don't want to do it. Please. . .Please. I'll do anything. I'll trade you places if I don't have to do this. Why did you have to slip away,"he said as he laid his head on his chest and cried. "I love you dad. So much. I'll never forget anything and I've found the one I'll always be with. I wish you could be at our wedding day and graduation. I still need you dad. I'm not finished. I don't know all the answers. . . I won't make you suffer. I hope one day I can see you again,"Clark said as he stood up and leaned down and kissed his father's forehead. Lana watched through the glass as Clark said goodbye to his father and her heart sank in her chest. She watched him lose a piece of himself in that hospital room. He left without looking back. "It's time,"Clark said stone cold. "You stay here I'll be back,"Clark said as he went to the waiting room.
"Clark, thank god. I know what your letter said and you don't need to worry, sweetie. Your dad just didn't want us to have any trouble. I know he didn't mean that he wanted you to kill him. It's just an option for a situation much worse than the one we're dealing with. He can still come back,"Martha said with some enthusiasm. "Mom, let's go outside,"Clark said taking her by the arm. Clark knew how she would react and the last thing he couldn't stand was a big scene. As they got outside and by themselves Clark just said it. "I'm turning off the machine,"Clark said with a stone face. "You're what?"Martha exclaimed. "He specifically told me to turn off the machine if this ever happened and I'm gonna honor his last wish. No matter how much I don't want to and how much it hurts,"Clark said as he held back the emotional outburst that he wanted to have. "You can't be serious. You're actually going to kill your father,"Martha said with disgust on her face. "You think I wanted this. Any of it. I don't have a choice,"Clark said. "You always have a choice. I'll never forgive you for this,"Martha said stone cold. "I'll never forgive myself for this,"Clark said. "If you do this I want you out of my house today. I'm serious don't do it. I'll never speak to you again,"Martha said cold. "I'm sorry mom,"Clark said. "No, no. You can't do this. Please, I'm begging you not to do this. Give him more time. He'll come around. You're supposed to take care of him after everything he did,"Martha begged. "Mom, I have to. I won't be able to look at myself whichever decision I make. Dad is not coming back and he wanted you taken care of and so do I,"Clark explained. "Your father and I didn't open our home and raise you like this. For you to treat us like this. You're no longer my son. You should be in that hospital bed!"She yelled at him and slapped him across the face. He turned away from her and walked back into the hospital. Martha stood there, stunned. She just collapsed onto the grass and sat and cried.
Lana jumped up as she saw him enter. He caught the arm of Dr. Hart walking down the hallway. "I'll sign your paper,"Clark said through gritted teeth. Dr. Hart just nodded and told a nurse to bring Clark the proper form. The nurse handed him the form on a clipboard and he saw the blank he was supposed to sign. Clark picked up the pen and just stared at it for a moment. Then he just did it. He stood up and gave it to the doctor. "Happy?"Clark asked angrily. "I'm so sorry for Jonathon. He was a good man." Clark nodded and turned back to the room. Clark and Lana just stood in silence as they watched the nurse push the machine off and turn the sound off on the heart monitor. They stood their helpless as Jonathon's heart stopped beating and he was officially declared to be dead.