Chapter 11 (Part I)
Clark made sure he had the octagonal key for the fifth time that hour. He was wondering if Lois was going to show up; she hadn't called since he asked her to come over the other day. Clark was about to give up on her when he saw her car pull up to the farm.
His pulse quickened as she got out of her car. He met her by the car and said "I'm glad you decided to come, Lois. I want you to know that I have feelings for you. But before you make up your mind about me, I want you to know everything about me. You are a member of this family; therefore we shouldn't have secrets between us. Did you bring your coat?"
Lois was confused. What was this all about? Was this the Kent secret that Lana was always on him about? She started "Clark, I…"
"Lois, please. Did you bring a coat?" Clark interrupted earnestly.
"Yes, Clark, it's in the trunk. I don't see you dressed for the cold." Lois observed.
"Let me get that for you. Our first stop is the Kawatche Caves. Would you like me to drive?" Clark asked as he retrieved her coat.
"Why do we have to go anywhere? Why can't you just tell me what you need to tell me?" Lois asked trying to figure out what was going on with Clark.
"Because you'll find it easier to believe if I show you… and I'd like you to meet someone." Clark said matter of factly.
Lois was even more confused. Who did he want her to meet? She decided to do as Clark asked; it would be the quickest way to get this over with. Chloe's insistence that she come was the only reason she had showed up at all. She was still trying to come to grips with the events of the other day.
She would never admit it, but just seeing Clark made her want to kiss him again! She needed to get done with this as soon as possible, because the longer she was with him, the more she tested her will power. How had he become so important to her so quickly?
He had gotten under her defenses and became something she never thought she could have. Yes, she had dated men. Yes, she had slept with men. But, no one had ever become such an important person in her life. Chloe had said 'he could no longer imagine his life without you.' She felt the same; she could no longer imagine her life without him in it. How had he done that?
"Lois, are you okay? We can do this at another time, if you would like." Clark said quietly placing a hand on Lois's shoulder.
His touch sent a jolt through her body. She wanted to do this later, but the evident hurt in his eyes and voice told her otherwise. She knew what he was trying to show her was important to him. She had hurt him enough, so she said "I'm okay, I was just thinking. I'll drive. Get in Smallville."
She was startled to see the change in Clark's attitude after calling him 'Smallville'. The largest smile she had ever seen suddenly appeared. She couldn't believe the power she had over him. Maybe she affected him as much as he affected her.
Neither spoke as they drove to the caves, yet interestingly enough, the silence wasn't uncomfortable. Actually, it was refreshing; both felt calmer and more at ease than they had since the kiss. They were both drawing strength from the other's presence.
As they entered the caves, Clark stated "These drawings by the Kawatche Indians portray the legend of Naman. It tells the story of a man who would fall from the skies in a rain of fire, who would have the strength of ten men, and would be able to start fires from his eyes. Professor Joesph Willowbrook and his daughter Kyla believe …"
"Kyla… isn't that one of the women you had feelings for?" Lois inquired evenly.
"Yes." Clark replied, then added "Kyla and her grandfather believed … I was Naman.
"Why would they believe that?" Lois asked truly curious.
"I fell through the roof to the cave floor without a scratch; and then later Kyla fell off a ledge, I caught her, and protected her as a boulder fell from the ceiling." Clark replied evenly, knowing what was coming next.
"What? That makes no sense! So you saved Kyla; you don't have the strength of ten men, you sure don't start fires with your eyes, and you definitely didn't fall from skies in a rain of fire." Lois claimed positively, sure of herself.
"Well the boulder actually broke against my back. And yes, Lois…" Clark said before being interrupted by a high pitch noise. His hands quickly covered his ears.
Lois quickly rushed over and asked "Smallville, what's wrong? Are you okay?" She was worried; Clark seemed to be in pain. Then she noticed a glowing from his pocket. She reached into his pocket and pulled out a glowing octagonal disc.
The disc seemed to be attracted to something; it was pulling out of her hand. With out warning some of the symbols on the disc began glowing different colors. Lois could only make out three. This shocked Lois into letting go of the disc, but instead of falling, the disc began to spin faster and faster.
Unexpectedly, the disc stopped in mid-air then it traveled toward the wall. Once it reached the wall, the disc embedded itself in a hole in the wall; amazingly the disc fit into the hole perfectly. The symbols etched on the wall around the disc began glowing and then impossibly, they began rotating around the hole with the disc.
As quickly as it began it stopped, three symbols glowed brightly. Then the wall began to move revealing a room that seemed familiar somehow. She saw Clark bend over and remove the disc. "Smallville, are you alright? What was that?" she asked trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"My father, my biological father is calling me." Clark deadpanned, trying to figure out why Jor-el would be calling him.
"Your what?" Lois asked even more confused.
"Jor-el, my biological father, is calling me. He's the one I want you to meet today. But, if he is summoning me something must be wrong. We have to get to the Fortress quickly." Clark said getting worried.
"Fortress? What fortress Smallville?" Lois asked still trying to grasp the somehow Smallville was in contact with his biological father.
"My true Fortress of Solitude. Lois do you trust me." Clark asked looking into her eyes, while moving them both into the room.
"Smallville, I trust you with my life. Of course I trust you." Lois replied leaving no doubt. She sensed that Clark was on the verge of letting her in on his secret when all this began.
She took his hand to reinforce her statement. "Let's go see this Jor-el." she continued looking into Clark's eyes. She could see fear and loneliness in those green eyes that made her heart ache.
"Lois, you need to put your coat on, it is going to be really cold." Clark said as he helped her into her coat.
Lois pulled a hat, a scarf, and a pair of gloves out of the coat pockets. She put them on. Then she took Clark's hand, and said "I'm here for you Smallville. Let's go."
Clark smiled at her then took the octagonal disc and placed it into the table. A bright light engulfed them. And suddenly the cave was gone.