Dead Reckoning
By TheAnomally
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Smallville or any of its residents. I get no money for doing this, and I don't even get a kiss from Lex. I do it anyway because one day perhaps maybe Michael Rosenbaum will show up on my door steps claiming to have car troubles. I don't want much…
Synopsis: This is an alternate version of Reckoning. I took the basis of the episode and gently massaged it into something more to my liking. This takes place after the first death, which Clark rewound. Jonathan had his heart attack first after having a confrontation with the sinister Lionel Luthor.
(1) Before
In one night something so good had gone so bad. It was all reduced to a gasp, a squeal of tires, and a sharp impact. Clark had made a choice; someone would have to pay with their lives. In the end Lex Luthor decided to pay the piper.
Lex's decision to run for Senate was something he felt he needed to test himself with. Something he started and no matter win or lose he would complete full circle. It was something he had to do because his Father was totally against it. The old man had even gone so far as to secretly finance the opponent. It hurt to hear that Martha Kent had accepted the money, but he understood her want for her husband to succeed. Jonathan Kent throwing his name into the race; had only presented a challenge that Lex Luthor gladly accepted. When he and Mr. Kent were neck in neck it made Lex smile, despite the Smallville opinions of him being the devil incarnate. He had a supporter in one resident of Smallville even though she probably would not vote for him, but he did not care, her friendship meant more to him.
Clark on the other hand had not taken the fact of Lex running against his Father in his normal stride. The teen had taken the opposition as a personal insult, and had alienated Lex. He had not been as rabid as Lois had been; she had dived into supporting Jonathan Kent with all her spirit. When Lex tried to bridge the gap, Clark resisted referring to rumors, old lies, and betrayals of trust. Lately, the only time Lex had seen Clark was when the younger man wanted something, or was being demanding. Clark had come by tonight as a matter of fact in a huff. He ranted about Lionel blackmailing his family, something about money donated to his Father's campaign. Lex admitted he knew about it which ticked of Clark even more. Clark accused Lex of sabotaging the races and using his influence peddling to cheat his way into the lead. Clark demanded that Lex keep his father and his whole family away from his. Lex told the younger man that he had no control over what his Father did and does. Clark then stormed out of Lex's office. Lex sighed since he had been planning to under mind his Father anyways. A few minutes passed after Clark left; Lex then got on the phone and dialed his Father. After a few minutes of baiting from both Luthors, Lex convinced him to peddle his dealings to Mr. Kent, when he came to Metropolis.
The race had finally come to an end, and Lex waited for the results. He had declined to join those in his circle who had run his campaign. It just did not seem right after his campaign advisor and the sheriff had been killed. He chose to access the results at the mansion before they were televised. It had been a long arduous race, the muck raking, weirdo fanatics, and armed nuts. He had survived them all, and even mended the divide between himself and Lana. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes he had learned something about himself, and about others. This point right here was the last hurdle, win or lose he fought his best. He gingerly touched the bandages that were wound tightly around his chest; the spot were he had been shot was healing, so it tended to itch a great deal. Lex had three places on his chest where he had been stitched up, the bullet hole, the place where a chest tube had been inserted, and where the doctors surgically went in to remove the bullet. Each spot ached regularly, and tended to itch at different times.
He was shaken out of his thoughts as Lana burst through his doors; she started to speak but then broke into tears. She leaned heavily on the little bar in Lex's office; due to the police investigation recently he had emptied the bar of all the alcohol. He poured the young girl a glass of water, and listened while she poured her heart out to him. He offered her some words of comfort, and then stupidly offered up his own terms of devotion. This declaration only served to scare her; he noticed her fear and pulled back before going too far. The two parted ways due to uncomfortable silence.
The mansion was silent once more; only the memories of the lockdown remained. Lex shuddered as thoughts about how it had almost been Lana who had been shot crept into his mind, shaking away those thoughts he got a brilliant idea. He went into the cellar for a few moments, and then came back up with a package tucked under his arm. He grabbed his keys to the silver Porsche and left the mansion.