From Chapter 7 of Crossover Caves:
All of a sudden, the cave filled with a bright white light. Clark knew what this meant, Jor-el was up to something. Then, just as suddenly, the light focused on Jerry and he began to rise up, floating in mid air. His body then started to flip into a standing position. Jerry's eyes opened in shock. "Clark!" Jerry looked around. What happened? I blacked out...the kryptonite, where's the kryptonite?" Jerry was in a panick.
"Jerry, it's okay." Clark said with a smile. "It's somewhere deeper in the caves. Man, I'm glad you're okay!"
"What about Luthor?"
"Gagged and tied up about a hundred yards from here. He'll free himself soon enough. That's why we need to get you home."
"Yeah, I'd like that. By the way, the suit looks good! Plan on keeping it?"
"Yeah, thanks Jer...Clark! For everything!"
"Kal-el!" It was Jor-el's voice. "You have helped my son accept his destiny. It is now time for him to pursue it, and time for you to return to your own dimension to continue fulfilling yours!"
A door opened up in the cave wall. "I guess this is it!" Jerry said. "Clark, one last thing. I'm proud of you! And I'm glad to see this world has a Superman worthy of the name!" With those words said, Jerry stepped through the door...
And now...Destiny's Road
As Jerry went through, the light disappeared. Clark was all of a sudden filled with a sense of loss and loneliness. It had been so nice to have someone to share his secret and his abilities with. Someone who'd known the burden and understood it. He almost wished Jerry could have stayed longer, to help guide him through this process. But he knew it was a journey only he could take.
After a few moments Clark realized that he wasn't finished yet. Lex was hopefully still tied up outside. Using his superspeed he went to check on Lex who was still trying to fight his way out and had almost succeeded. Clark ran as fast as he could, picked up his torn clothes, went back to the farm and changed. He then took the pickup and flew with it to the dirt road leading to the caves. He arrive to see Lex still somewhat struggling. Clark hopped in the truck and drove it the fifty feet or so to where Lex was. "Lex?"
Lex turned his head to face Clark's direction and screamed as loud as he could with the gag still in his mouth. Clark rushed over and removed the belt, gag and blindfold. Lex then got up and backed away. "Stay away from me Clark! I don't know what you did, but don't come near me!"
Clark feigned being hurt. "Lex, what's wrong, what happened?"
Lex clenched his jaw. "Don't act like you don't know! How did you do it? How did you manage to get me away from those caves?"
"Lex, I don't know what happened to you, but I haven't been anywhere near those caves all day. I drove by the mansion and saw your car gone. I was driving by when I saw your car."
Lex paused for a second and appeared to think for a moment. "Clark, what do you know about Jerry? Who is he? Really?"
Clark decided to tell him part of the truth in hopes of satisfying him and ending the discussion. "Okay Lex, you're right. He's not my dad's cousin. He may very well have come from those caves. We don't know. He showed up on our doorstep looking for a place to stay. He said he was new in town, but didn't know how he got here. He said he woke up in the caves. He said he lived and worked in Metropolis. So we thought he'd been mugged or kidnapped and dumped in the caves."
Clark watched as Lex tried to absorb what he had just heard. "All right Clark, I'll take your word for it. I have to admit I suspected you weren't involved and that "Jerry" had just taken advantage of Kent hospitality. But Clark, he was connected to those caves. I'm sure of it! I also suspect he had an accomplice here!"
"An accomplice?"
"Clark, I had my eyes on him when someone or something else bound and gagged me and brought me..." Lex finally assessed how far away he was from the caves. "...all the way out here? Clark, there's someone else and I'll find out who they are! Mark my word, I will find them!" Lex began to walk in the direction of his car. "Oh and Clark," Lex grinned. "Thanks for coming to get me!" His grin faded as he headed for his car.
Clark waited until Lex pulled away before hopping into his truck and heading home. Once he arrived, he informed his parents of what had happened while they ate a hearty lunch, lovingly prepared by Martha.
Jonathan remained silent for a moment, almost being careful with his next words. "Clark, I'm sorry Jerry had to go through what he did, and I'm glad he got home. But, I'm a little concerned son! You said Lex seemed to accept your explanation. That he doesn't believe you are this "accomplice". But Clark, he's going to be looking. The fact is the only people associated with Jerry were you and the rest of this family. He's going to be watching us son." Jonathan shook his head. "Clark, you talked about Jorel once telling you that to fulfill your destiny meant you being at the Fortress for a, well, long period of time..."
Clark couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Wait, are you saying I should run? From a Luthor? Dad, that doesn't sound like something you'd say or ever do for that matter!"
"Clark, I'm not suggesting you run. I'm suggesting you lay low. Let Luthor get this out of his system until something else comes along. Son, you told us that you'd accepted your destiny, that you're destined to be more than just a farm boy from Smallville. Jor-el said the journey would start at the Fortress. Clark, this could both silence Jor-el and Luthor at the same time. Son, I'm not saying you have to go, but think about what will happen if you stay."
"But dad, things are going well now! Chloe knows my secret, Lana and I are together..." Clark looked down. He knew he was being selfish.
"Clark, this choice will be yours. If you feel Lana is going to be a part of your future, then pursue her, maybe she fits in somehow. But son, if you're not sure, you need to find out. Lana is like a daughter to your mother and I and if she makes you happy, that's great son. But don't sacrifice your future, your destiny for any one person. Not Lana, not your mother and not even me! If you're destined to do something to make this world a better place, then do whatever it takes to make that happen!"
Martha chose this time to speak up. "Clark, honey, we love you and we want you to be happy. Jerry managed to give you a glimpse of what you can be, but whatever decision you end up making, we'll support you. We loved you and we raised you right. We know you'll make the right decision."
Clark looked up pensively. "I don't know. Man, I've got a lot to think about. Thanks mom, thanks dad." He gave his parents a hug. And headed for the front door. "I'm gonna head out to my loft for the afternoon. I'll be there if you need me!"
Clark headed out to his loft. When he got there he reclined on his couch and looked out the window. How could he leave Lana when things were so good between them? But were things that good, or would they be? If he and Lana were to have any real future, he'd have to share his secret with her. But was he ready or willing to do that yet? What was he so afraid of? The truth was he knew. He was afraid that she would blame him for her parents' death. That she wouldn't look at him the same. That he would lose her! But what if that was destiny? He had to know.
Clark decided he needed to sleep on it. It was still early in the afternoon and, considering the busy morning he'd had, he decided to sleep. Sleep didn't come easy, but it did come. Clark tossed and turned as images of Lana's rejection played through his mind. Images of of her walking away from him played over and over and over in his mind. All of a sudden, he heard her call his name. He heard it again.
"Clark! Clark!" Clark bolted up, almost knocking Lana over. He caught her before she could fall.
"Lana! I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
Lana grinned. "Yeah, I'm fine. Nice catch! Are you okay? I came over and your parents told me you were up here. You looked like you were having a bad dream!"
Clark shook his head, trying to wake up and return to reality. "More like a nightmare!" He looked up to see her smiling at him. He went over to her, took her in his arms and kissed her. She returned the kiss with a smile. The smile faded when she looked into Clark's eyes.
"Clark, what's wrong. What was that nightmare about?"
Clark backed away and turned to face the window. "It was nothing, just..."
Lana came up beside him and nestled her head to his chest, wrapping her arms around him. "Just what? Talk to me." She said in her soft loving tone.
Clark sighed. He'd have to tell her. "In my dream, you left me. You walked away, completely rejecting me. The images played over and over in my mind. I can't afford to lose you. But I know, if I want to be with you, I need to be honest. About everything. Even things I've had to hide from you and everyone else for so long."
Lana let go of him and turned him to face her, looking deep into his eyes. "Clark, you know you can trust me right? Whatever this secret is, it's kept us apart before. What could be so horrible that it would make me leave you? You didn't cheat on me did you?" Lana looked only somewhat concerned.
"No! No, no, no, absolutely not! I would never cheat on you. But I have been lying to you, or omitting the truth about certain things about me. About where I'm from, and my connection to the caves and the meteor showers."
"The meteor showers? You mean, like the one that killed my parents and destroyed half of Smallville?" Lana couldn't believe it. It wasn't possible.
"Yeah. Lana, this is going to be hard for me to explain, and you probably won't want to stick around to hear it, but promise me you won't leave until I'm finished. Please, promise me!"
Lana was almost speechless. "Okaaaay. I'll stay, but I have to admit, you're scaring me Clark. What could you have to do with the first meteor shower?"
Clark took a deep breath. He'd gone too far to back peddle now. It was time to tell Lana the truth and worry about the consequences later. If they were meant to be, they'd get through it. "Lana, I wasn't born in Smallville..."