MY FIRST TASTE

EPISODE 9

'Shattered' - Part Two

so please say you'll stay

I swear that I'm a good man

it's gonna take a little time

if you're waiting on a sign 'Waiting on a Sign' - The Tea Party

When next he opened his eyes, Lex looked up to find a blonde woman, with a round face, leaning over him. He frowned, wincing with movement of his facial features. "Wh - where's Hudson?"

"Miss Kent went home to check on her family. She said she would contact you later, Mr. Luthor."

"My. father?"

"They're loading him into the ambulance now. Do you think you can sit up?"

Lex nodded pulling his arm from the medic's grasp when she went to help him. He didn't need help. Painkillers, that's what he needed. And a bottle of single malt scotch. He drew in a deep breath as he sat up, willing the sudden wave of nausea that swept over him away. For a few brief seconds he simply sat there, staring down the hall where a clutter of papers, glass and bits of wood lay scattered over the floor. The evening's previous events were vague, at best. Lex remembered that he and his father were arguing, then the window shattered and wind swept through the room.

"A tornado. " He muttered, glancing down at his hands which were covered in small cuts and bruises.

"A couple of them touched down in Smallville," the medic supplied, packing some bandages into her bag and zipping it shut. "The entire county is a mess - people missing, dead. The medical centers are packed." She stood. "They're ready to transport your father. You need to visit the ER as well."

He felt her grip his shoulders and this time Lex didn't struggle as she helped him to his feet. His father. his father had been trapped beneath the column and he'd. Lex blinked. He'd hesitated. He'd considered letting his father die there, just to be rid of him, just to be free. Just so his life could be a little easier. What kind of son did that make him? What kind of person?

"Mr. Luthor. ?"

Glancing up, he nodded as the woman held out her arm to help him to the ambulance. He walked past her, gingerly making his way down the hall, over the debris, silently praying that he didn't trip or fall or stumble because god, his head hurt and everything around him kept moving and. and he'd considered killing his father.

"How did you find us?" Lex asked absently, details wavering in and out of his mind. Briefly, he couldn't even remember how long ago he'd awakened. The argument with his father seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Miss Kent called us. She stayed until we arrived."

Hudson.

She was always there when he needed her.

There was something significant in that thought but Lex couldn't recall what it was. Something he was supposed to remember. He reached up to rub at the pounding in his forehead only to encounter a thick bandage. An injury - a cut to the head and a lot more blood than he'd expected. Hudson touching his cheek, assuring him that he was safe. And his father promising to bury him and everyone in Smallville who took his side. The memories were all jumbled together, none of them making sense. He had to think, he had to.

Lex pinched the bridge of his nose as they reached the ambulance. Fuck, that hurt.

Another medic met them beside the doors and once more offered help to Lex as he moved to step up into the truck. Pushing his arm aside, Lex grabbed hold of the side and pulled himself up, swaying a little as he took a few deep breaths, once more stilling the waves of nausea. He froze just inside the door, staring at the still form of his father lying on the gurney before him, his body strapped securely to the backboard beneath him. A third medic leaned over him, checking his vitals, before glancing up at Lex.

"Sit here, Mr. Luthor," he offered as the doors closed shut behind them and Lex heard the engine start up. "We'll be to the medical center soon." He paused, and added as if in assurance, "Your father's going to be all right."

Lex sat down on the bench beside the medic heavily. His father was going to live. but he had hesitated. He went from wanting his father dead to not wanting him dead.

And now, Lex couldn't decide what he wanted.

***

After the medics arrived to see to Lex and Lionel, Hudson sprinted to the back of the castle. Once out of sight, she sped her way home to the farm. Slowing as she reached the end of the driveway, her heart sank as she looked around at the destruction that covered her home - it was obvious that one of the tornadoes passed through there as well.

"Mom? Dad?" She called out, her gaze sweeping over the house, x-ray vision peering past the walls to see both floors were empty. Hudson took a few steps toward the barn, once more using her sight to see inside the structure. "Mom? Dad?"

A noise toward the shed caused her to turn in that direction quickly, hope springing through her. But what emerged through the fallen walls wasn't human at all - it was a scruffy, brown fur ball covered in mud and leaves.

"Arf! Arf!"

"AJ!" Hudson ran toward the puppy as it hurried toward her and she scooped him up into her arms, hugging him tightly as he covered her face with licks from his soft tongue. "I'm so glad you're safe! Come on. Let's see if mom and dad made it to the storm cellar."

Tucking AJ under her arm, Hudson hurried around the shed until she could see the entrance to the storm cellar. She stopped abruptly, heart hammering in her chest when she saw that the door was wide open. Slipping AJ onto the ground, Hudson ran toward the cellar, the puppy chasing her heels.

"Mom! Dad!"

Speeding her way down the stairs, she immediately found her mom lying unconscious beside the shelves. Kneeling down beside her, Hudson x-rayed her body to check for any signs of broken bones before she finally noticed the hubcap beside her mother's head. Where had that come from? Glancing around, she took into account the other various odds and ends that were unfamiliar to her - obviously debris that came in through the opened cellar door during the storm. Why was it open? And where was her dad?

"Mom?" She touched her shoulder, shaking her gently. "Mom, wake up."

Stirring at the voice, Martha opened her eyes before turning her head to glance up at Hudson. "H.C.? Honey. we have to find your father!" She struggled to sit up, using Hudson for support as she reached up to touch the bump on her head. "He was outside when the tornado hit."

It was on the tip of Hudson's tongue to ask what her father was doing out there but she knew her mom was hurt and she had to take care of her first. "I have to get you to the hospital." She helped her mom to her feet.

"No, no! Hudson, you don't understand!" Martha grabbed her arm, shaking it a little. "Listen to me! That reporter was in the cellar!"

Hudson blinked with her mom's words. "Nixon?"

"He videotaped the ship," her mom told her, her voice rising in panic. "He's going to expose your secret, H.C.! Your father chased him out into the storm!"

Already moving toward the steps, Hudson replied, "I've got to go find him," before glancing over her mom's shoulder to the ship. Her eyes widened. "Mom, where's the ship??"

Martha turned to follow her daughter's gaze, her hands clutching against Hudson's arm as she stared at the empty space that was once filled with the ship Hudson arrived in. She swung her gaze back to her daughter, shaking her head. "I. I don't know! It. it activated while Nixon was here. There were lights and it was floating. " She peered toward the exit. "Do you think. ?"

Running her hand through her hair, knocking bobby pins from it as she did so, Hudson shook her head without a response and turned, taking the steps two at a time. There would be time enough to worry about the ship. Some matters were more immediate at the moment. "I have to find Dad. "

Hudson spent the rest of the evening until far past dusk searching the surrounding area for her father. When her dress was finally overly torn and tattered and impeding her progress, she quickly sped to her room, changed her clothes then hurried back out to the barn to search for a flashlight and try again. It took some convincing before her mother finally left for the hospital to have her head looked at from the injury sustained during the storm but once there, Martha called and left a message to say she was going in to town to help with the establishment of a rescue shelter at the Talon. Hudson knew her mom's real reason for being there - in the hope that someone might have seen or found Jonathan and taken him to the hospital if he needed it. There had to be news out there somewhere - Hudson refused to believe that Jonathan Kent would have allowed himself to get too close to the funnel.

Hearing footsteps, Hudson jumped up from the box she was rifling through and stumbled her way over the clutter toward the door hopefully. "Dad?"

Lex stepped in, stopping for a moment to stare at her before continuing forward. "Hudson. I ran into your mother at the hospital. She told me about your dad."

Nodding, Hudson moved up to meet him, allowing herself to lean a little against him as he pulled her into his arms. "I've searched every acre of this place and. nothing. I'm going to have to check the woods next." Lifting her head from his shoulder, she reached up to touch the bandage covering the cut above his eye. "How are you?"

"Fine." Lex caught her hand, pulling it away and kissing it before holding it tightly in his. "I'm all right," he insisted when Hudson continued to stare up at him. "Really."

Accepting his reply but knowing that even if Lex were internally bleeding, he wouldn't tell her about it, she nodded and asked, "And your father? How is he?"

"Not so good." Lex held her a moment longer before stepping away and walking over to a pile of debris, crouching down to sift through the various odds and ends, his back to her. "Ruptured spleen, swelling in his vertebrae, damage to his optic nerve." He sighed and stood, turning back to Hudson as he wiped his hands against the front of his trousers. "It's my fault."

"What? You control the weather now, too?" Hudson teased lightly.

Lex shook his head, his gaze dropping to the ground between them. "I hesitated. He was lying there, trapped, calling out to me and. and all I could do was think to myself that maybe my life would be better off if I just left him to die."

Hudson swallowed and looked away, trying to imagine what it would be like to have a father that actually caused you to consider thoughts of patricide. Sure, she'd been angry at her dad before, felt he treated her unfairly but she'd never once considered not having him in her life. The truth was, she couldn't imagine not having Jonathan Kent as a part of her life. Which was why his disappearance had her so frightened.

Turning back to Lex, she saw that he still seemed unable to bring his gaze back to hers. She walked over to him, reaching out for his hand. "What's important is that you did try to save him, Lex. Your thoughts. They were only fleeting, a momentary consideration. It doesn't mean anything."

"Maybe I waited too long." Taking a deep breath, he ran a hand over his head, shaking it. "Either way, my dad won't accept the outcome. He'll probably see my changing my mind as some form of weakness." Lex finally raised his eyes to hers. "Good thing you showed up when you did."

Hudson forced a smile, wondering how much he remembered. "Yeah. Good thing." She turned to go back to her flashlight search.

Lex followed her. "Just. how did you get that column off my father? I recall attempting to move it myself and I couldn't."

She'd been taught for so long to come up with plausible lies that the words flowed as easily from her mouth as the truth, "It must have been because of your injury - it really wasn't all that heavy. I used. there was a piece of wood, like a two-by-four. I used it for leverage. Don't you remember?" Finding the flashlight, she spun back to him and smiled brightly. "I need to get back out there. " She started past Lex.

He grabbed her by the arm, stopping her progress. "Hey."

Worrying her lower lip, Hudson met his gaze. Please, Lex, she thought. Please, don't start asking me questions now. I don't think I can handle it. "Yeah?"

His fingers moved over her arm, caressing it lightly. "Do you have an extra flashlight?" Lex nodded his head toward the doors. "I'd like to help you find your dad."

Relied washed over her. Smiling brightly at Lex, Hudson handed the one she held to him before going back to the box to grab another. Surely with both of them looking, they would find her dad. Moving back to Lex, she flashed him another quick, grateful smile before heading out into the darkness while he followed on her heels.

They didn't speak as they moved across the property toward the woods, Hudson casting furtive glances at the house that stood dark and silent at the edge of the driveway. She was certain that at any moment, the porch door would swing open and her dad would walk out, demanding to know where his dinner was and why Hudson had been ignoring her chores all evening. Actually, she would have given anything right then for him to yell at her for something silly like not wanting to finish her homework or spending too much time on the computer talking to Chloe or being at Lex's far too late in the evening.

Hudson was pulled from her thoughts when she felt Lex take her hand as he fell into step beside her. She glanced up at him as he squeezed her fingers. His eyes were dark, the half moon reflecting off of them. She could barely discern a slight tilt of his lips in the shadows that fell across his face. She wanted to express how grateful she was that he was here beside her now when he should have been at the hospital, worrying about his own father, but she couldn't find the right words to say it. Besides, she knew Lex would likely shrug it off and what needed to be said felt more important than that. So instead, Hudson simply curled her fingers around his and held on tightly.

"We'll find him, Hudson. Your dad's strong. He'll be okay."

"I know." She gnawed on her lower lip before glancing back out at the woods as they approached. A twig snapped under her foot, the crack piercing the silence around them. Even the insects seemed hidden tonight.

"How was the dance?"

Hudson blinked at the question before turning to look at Lex who flashed her a quick grin, teeth and all. She felt the first bubble of laughter since that afternoon. "It wasn't half bad. A couple of guys asked me to dance and stuff."

"What were their names?" Lex asked blandly, his gaze sweeping over the trees as they passed beneath them, the moon above them disappearing behind the leaves. "I need to add them to my blacklist."

"Oh, please." Hudson giggled, elbowing him in the side.

"Ow!" He danced away from her a little, rubbing the area where she barely tapped him. Pointing to his bandage, he told her, "Be nice. I'm injured."

"That's convenient."

Lex shook his head. "You're so mean to me."

Smiling, Hudson grabbed his hand once more and pulled him back to her before focusing her attention on the woods around them. The area was littered with clothing, shingles, siding in various colors, cancelled checks from as far east as Kansas City. She moved her flashlight over the swath cut through the trees in front of them - a good hundred feet wide from edge to edge. Here they were forced to carefully make their way over felled trees and torn underbrush. Hudson knew that she could have made better time without Lex slowing her down but she was grateful for his company, grateful for his help. Whatever her dad might say about him, proof of his character existed in the fact that he was here now, helping her family when they needed it most. And he hadn't offered by writing a check, either. She would have to point that out to her dad when they found him.

"Dad!" She called out, sweeping her flashlight ahead where the path of the funnel seemed to end. "Dad!"

Dropping her hand, Lex moved twenty feet away from her, keeping the same course as he flashed his light through the opposite section of trees. "Mr. Kent!... Mr. Kent!"

At the end of the path, the debris became thicker. Here the funnel deposited every item it had collected during it's destruction of Smallville. Hudson jumped when she stepped on a doll that squealed at her, sounding almost indignant in its protest. Frowning a little, she knelt down to see if she recognized it but the doll didn't appear to belong to any of the children she occasionally babysat. Standing back up, she brushed the mud that collected on her fingertips onto her jeans and looked around for Lex.

He was standing a few yards in front of her, staring up into the trees. Lifting her flashlight to follow his, she wandered over beside him, examining the car that lay hood down in the treetops above. Well, there was something you didn't see everyday.

With his close perusal of it, Hudson couldn't help but ask, "Do you know whose car that is?"

Lex looked over at her, as if he hadn't realized she was there. "No." He glanced around, peering through the darkness. "But I think we can cover more ground if we split up."

He was right, though Hudson worried about him stumbling around out here in the dark. Lex suffered a bad concussion earlier that day -what if he became dizzy and fell down, hurting himself further? Of course, she couldn't say anything about it because it would only anger him, the thought that she might consider him weak, so staying close to him was her only option. But they might never find her dad if she didn't take the chance to leave him for a few moments.

"Okay. I'll meet you back here in half an hour." She turned to go, then stopped and turned back, moving over beside Lex to lean up and kiss his cheek. "Thanks for being here. It means a lot to me."

"You're welcome, Angel," he replied, cupping her cheek, his thumb moving over her jaw lightly. "Thank you for being there for me earlier."

Smiling, Hudson kissed him again then moved away, heading off deeper into the trees, following a trail of debris until she was far enough away from Lex to break into a run. Speeding through the woods, she covered over half a square mile of ground in seconds, stopping only when she reached the edge of the gorge that bordered their farm and Lana's aunt's property. Taking a deep breath, she peered over it, forcing herself to ignore the fear that swept through her over the slight drop in front of her as she swept her flashlight across the ground. Relief moved through her when she realized it was empty, save for a few shirts, three shoes and a mailbox. For the moment, Hudson was still certain that her dad was safe.

Glancing at her watch, she knew she was early but decided to head back to where she left Lex anyway. She didn't want to risk the chance of him causing himself further injury and she could just tell him she only planned on checking the gorge. Hudson didn't believe her dad was in this area anyway - something didn't feel right.

Moving through the trees, she kept her mind focused, listening for any sounds that might be out of the ordinary. That was when she heard Lex's voice. Wondering if he might have found her dad, she hurried forward, slowing only when his voice became clearer.

"Nixon? You still there?"

Heart hammering in her chest, Hudson continued into the swath of flattened trees, staring at Lex's back until he whirled around, his eyes meeting hers. There was just the slightest flash of guilt in his gaze before he quickly masked it.

"Hudson. I was just trying to call the fire department, see if we can get a rescue team out here," he explained.

Hudson stilled the anger that washed through her at his blatant lie. She yanked the phone from his hand, checking the display. Unfortunately, it was dead. "No you weren't. I heard you talking to Roger Nixon," she practically spat before meeting his gaze. "My mom said he was snooping around the farm today. He's the reason my dad wasn't in the storm cellar - safe where he was supposed to be!"

Lex's face paled in the partial moonlight. "Hudson, I didn't know Nixon was involved in this - "

"Why should I believe you?" She demanded, not wanting to accept the fact that Lex could be responsible for her dad's disappearance. Nor was it easy to deal with the realization that this was Lex's second lie to her regarding Nixon - yesterday in the Talon he pretended not to know who he was. Her gaze narrowed. "You already lied about knowing him once!"

The admission of guilt reflected through his silence. Lex opened his mouth to speak, but it was a moment too late.

Pain tore through her. "That's the second time you hesitated today, Lex," she commented softly, her fingers curling around the phone. Had she been wrong about him all along? "I'm beginning to wonder if what my dad says about you is true."

That seemed to snap Lex out of the silence that had fallen over him. As Hudson turned to leave, he called out, "Angel, wait. You're tired and upset and - "

Hudson whirled around, angrier than she thought she could ever be with Lex. Every kindness she had ever visited upon him, every moment that she stood up for him to someone else, explained away his actions and choices, the sneaking behind her dad's back so she could have a relationship with him - it all seemed like a waste suddenly, like a joke. Maybe Pete was right. You can't trust a Luthor.

"Don't try to turn this around on me, Lex!" She shouted at him. "I've seen you do this to other people - you get caught in your own lies and you turn the guilt on to them. Well, I'm not going to let you do that to me. This is about the accident on the bridge, isn't it?" She glared at him, waiting for a reply, another excuse but Lex remained silent. Setting her jaw, Hudson demanded, "Are you really here to find my dad or to find Nixon?"

The shock of her question registered in his expression. "Do you even have to ask?" His voice was soft, hurt.

Hudson didn't feel like examining the fact that Lex truly appeared regretful. Tossing his phone back to him, she snapped, "I don't have time for this!"

Spinning on her heel, Hudson headed back out to look for her dad, ignoring Lex's plaintive calls behind her.

***

The sun was just peering over the horizon when Hudson returned to the house. Her mother was sitting on the porch, sipping at a cup of coffee; Lex's car was blessedly nowhere in sight. AJ ran up to meet her as she entered the yard. Hudson paused for a few moments to lean down and scratch the puppy behind the ears and accept a few licks to her hand before she continued on to join her mom on the steps. They remained in companionable silence the next few minutes while the sun slowly rose, casting an orange glow over the farmland. One of the horses nickered from the pasture.

"Chores need to be done," Martha commented softly. "Do you want me to make breakfast?"

Hudson shook her head. "I'll have toast later."

For once, her mom didn't argue with her unhealthy choice of breakfast. "I saw Lex at the hospital last night. Lionel is in bad shape."

Frowning, Hudson dropped her gaze to her jeans, noticing for the first time a tear in the right knee. Her fingers played with a string that dangled from the hole. She'd spent a good part of the night recalling the discovery of Lex on the phone with Nixon as she searched for her father. A part of her wanted to find a viable excuse for his lies to her but in the wake of her dad's disappearance, she just couldn't bring herself to do so. Maybe this was what you got for having blind faith in someone. After all, Lex lied to her before regarding the Nicodemus flower. Why should she expect any different from him?

After a brief silence, Hudson nodded. "Yeah. He came by last night to help look for dad. "

Martha glanced over at her. "He must have left early. I got in before midnight and didn't see his car."

"We had a fight. I don't know what time he finally left."

"Honey, I'm sorry." Her mom laid her hand over her knee.

"I'm not." Hudson stood abruptly, startling AJ who had been chewing on an old shoe at the bottom of the steps. He barked once as he searched the yard for an intruder. She stared down at the puppy before shoving her hands into her pockets and wandering to the edge of the porch. "I'm afraid dad might be right about Lex." She looked over her shoulder to find her mom frowning in her direction.

"H.C., what - ?"

"Lex knows Nixon," she replied before Martha could finish her question. "He lied to me about that the other day. And. and last night I caught him talking to Nixon on the phone."

"What?" Her mom set her coffee cup down with a loud clatter and jumped to her feet. "Did he say where he was? Where your father is?"

Hudson shook her head. "The phone was dead by the time I grabbed it. Lex seemed to be asking Nixon where he was when he lost the connection."

Martha watched her for a moment before asking, "Did he explain why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Hudson demanded. "It all goes back to the accident and Lex's eternal need to know what happened that day."

"Do you. Do you think he suspects anything?"

Frowning briefly, Hudson shook her head. "No. No, I think he's more confused than anything. I mean, we spend a lot of time together and. no, he's never given any indication that he suspects the truth."

"He also never gave any indication that he knew Roger Nixon."

Her mom had a point. But no, Hudson still didn't believe that Lex was anywhere near believing that she was an alien. If anything, he might wonder if she's been affected by the meteor rocks the same as so many others. Hopefully though, he wasn't even that close to the truth. Such a suspicion might cause him to dig even deeper, and that could put him in danger, just like so many others. God, she was supposed to be angry with him and now she was worried about Lex getting hurt. Just whose side was her heart on?

". Lex's explanation?"

Blinking, Hudson turned to face her mom. "What? I'm sorry. I wasn't listening."

Martha sighed, as if it was something she was used to hearing from her daughter. "I asked what Lex's explanation was about Nixon?"

"I. well, we didn't quite get to that part," Hudson admitted. "I yelled a little and then walked off."

Her mom smiled a little. "You truly are your father's daughter, aren't you?"

That comment caused Hudson to blanch. How many times had she begged her dad to give Lex the benefit of the doubt? How many times had she accused her him of not seeing Lex's side of things? She remembered the expression on Lex's face when she hinted at him being there to look for Nixon and not her dad. The hurt, if nothing else, had been real.

"I need to get in to town," her mom told her, bending over to pick up her discarded mug. She cast another glance at Hudson. "Are you going back out to search?"

Hudson nodded, her thoughts torn between her dad and her conversation last night with Lex. "Yeah."

"I've already put in a call to the Sheriff. A search party will be here by eight to help." She moved across the porch to stand beside Hudson, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her cheek. "I'll be at the Talon. Will you be all right here alone?"

"Sure." Hudson looked over at her mom and smiled a little. "It's going to be okay, right?" She didn't know if she was asking about her dad or Lex or everything.

"Of course it is," Martha replied, returning her small smile. "We're Kents. We're survivors." She kissed Hudson's cheek then pulled her close for a tight hug. "Do the chores and have some breakfast, okay? By then the search crew should be here and they can help you look for your father."

Frowning a little as her mom pulled away and headed for the back door, Hudson asked, "You aren't going to stay and help?"

Martha looked back at her before dropping her gaze and giving a brief shake of her head. "I need. I want something to do. I need to focus on someone else's problems for a few hours."

Hudson nodded in reply as her mom stepped into the house. She found herself understanding that necessity only too well.

***

"Considering the amount of damage done to all three floors of this wing, I'd estimate construction taking a good four weeks, Mr. Luthor."

Standing in the entryway, Lex frowned as he looked over at Kenny Dakotas, the head foreman with Walker Construction. "Not good enough. I want it done in two, no more."

The foreman shook his head. "Mr. Luthor, my crew would have to work around the clock - "

"Then they work around the clock," Lex snapped, wondering why the pain killers he took an hour before, and the shot of vodka he swallowed them down with, already seemed to have worn off. "I'm paying you to make this place livable again. Not to sit around and sip tea. If that's a problem, I'm sure there's another construction company in the county that would be all too happy to oblige."

Great way to make friends, Lex. Kenny glared at him for a moment before looking away. "Of course, Mr. Luthor. Two weeks it is."

Nodding once, Lex stalked away from the foreman, heading down the hall toward the study.

After leaving the Kent farm the night before, Lex returned to the castle to brood, only to remember that his favorite brooding spot looked more like a demilitarized zone than a study. Electricity had yet to be restored to this section of Smallville, and no amount of calls to Kansas Electric was going to change that. He ended up wandering through the halls in the dark until he finally found Dodd sitting in the kitchen, sharpening knives by candlelight. Lex hadn't bothered commenting on the danger of such an undertaking. His cook tended to do odd things.

Over the next hour that they sat together, Dodd informed him that all of the members of the staff were safe and accounted for. Being that it had been Saturday, most were home for the weekend and only two lived in the path of the tornadoes. The gardener was working when the storm hit, and quickly took shelter in the stables, before heading home to check on his family. Dodd had been. out. He didn't offer any other information on his whereabouts, as was typical, only commenting that it was lucky the Kent girl was around. Lex didn't bother telling him that she seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

Now, as Lex wandered into the study for the first time since the storm, he found himself recalling the events of the day before. He clearly remembered attempting to lift the column and not being able to do so. Just when any rescue of his father appeared hopeless, he'd looked up to find Hudson standing in the doorway, as if completely oblivious to the storm around her. It could have been a fanciful imagination on his part but Lex swore he could remember pieces of debris glancing off of her like a brick wall. Frowning at the image in his mind, Lex's gaze swept over the destruction of the room.

Kenny suggested a complete overhaul of the design, updating the look and feel of the study, including new doors and pushing the archway back that led up to the balcony library. The stained glass windows were going to cost thousands to replace and Lex knew his father wasn't going to be too pleased with the amount of irreplaceable antiques that were destroyed. Then there was the pool table, which had a tree branch the size of Lex's thigh lodged through the center of it. Oh well, the felt needed to be replaced anyway.

Trying, in vain, to ignore the column that lay in the center of the room, Lex finally allowed his attention to focus on it, searching for a moment for the two-by-four Hudson claimed to use to move it. While there were innumerable pieces of wood scattered around the room, none of them seemed to match the description of what Hudson would have needed in order to complete her task. He could be missing something, or the wind could have swept it away. Anything was possible.

Lex had no idea how long he stood there, staring at the column, before he finally moved forward and crouched down beside it. There was no way he was going to find the answers he was searching for unless he tried it himself. Why he was putting it off, why it seemed as if he was ignoring the viable solution, was beyond him. Maybe his injury was clouding his logic. Sighing, Lex slipped his arms beneath the column, finding the most comfortable grip, then set his weight in his legs and attempted to stand, just as he remembered Hudson doing.

He made it an inch. Maybe two, if he was generous. Wincing under the weight, he let it fall back to the floor, painting chipping off of it as it hit. Pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, Lex closed his eyes and ran through all possible explanations in his head. It was possible that she used a two-by-four as described and the storm swept it away when they left the room for shelter beneath the staircase. Just as it was possible that a contingent of little gnomes had hurried in beneath their noses, lifting the column for them in order to save his father.

Fuck, he needed a drink.

"Mr. Luthor?"

Lex glanced up to see Dodd walk through the doorway - or what was left of it - carrying a large scroll of some sort in his hand. "What is it, Dodd?"

The cook looked over the room for a moment with a frown before dropping his gaze to Lex. "The staff is going to expect overtime if you want them to pick up this mess."

"Funny." Lex stood. "Do you have anything important to say? Or did you decide to regale me with your comedy act?"

"I have the map you wanted." Dodd unrolled the paper in his hands, pointing with his thumb into the northwest corner. "There's a cell tower located here - probably the one Nixon would have been getting power from. Its position would indicate he could be found in this square mile here."

Lex stared at the map. "And Jonathan Kent might be there as well."

Dodd nodded. "What do you think Nixon was after?"

"No idea." Lex shook his head as he took the map from Dodd's hands and rolled it back up. "He's unstable. I've known that since he first approached me. I should have taken care of him then."

"I can do it," Dodd offered.

"We'll talk once Mr. Kent is safe." Lex clenched his jaw. "If need be, then I'll carry through the threat I made to Roger when we first met."

Dodd was silent for a moment before commenting, "Makes you wonder what Nixon felt was so important to brave a storm and Jonathan Kent's wrath for."

Lex glanced back over at the column and narrowed his eyes. "That it does."

Though Lex had the feeling he would never find out. Their track record already proved that Hudson was as likely to be completely honest with him as he was with her. So why did he keep going back? Because she single- handedly changed his life that day at the bridge? Because he simply couldn't help himself? Or was it something deeper? Something that pulled at him, that drew them to one another, whether it be mystery or chemistry or love. Lex might never find the answers to his questions but that didn't mean he would ever stop trying. And it certainly didn't mean that he could ever forget about Hudson and simply move on.

After showering and changing his clothes, Lex took the map with him and headed back to the Kent farm. He might not be welcomed there, not after last night, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try. It didn't mean he didn't want to help find Hudson's father. Jonathan Kent might not like him, might not trust him - and maybe he had viable reasons not to - but that didn't change Lex's respect for the man. If his own father were more like Hudson's, then maybe Lex would be a different man, too.

When he arrived, there was no one around. The house was empty, as were the barn and shed. AJ greeted him with a few happy barks and a wagging tail and Lex was pleased to know there was at least one being at the Kent farm that didn't find reason to cause blame. He crouched down and petted the puppy for a few minutes, wishing that humans had the same capacity for such unconditional love before standing and walking back to his car. Hudson was likely still out searching for her father, Martha might be with her. He would just wait for one of them to return.

During the interim, Lex called Metropolis General to get an update on the specialists he requested to fly in and examine his father. They would be there within the hour. He called the castle next to speak with Dodd regarding the repairs to the castle and the files he needed recovered from his laptop for the employee buyout of the Plant. Lex had no doubt that the injuries sustained would slow his father down in making certain he didn't succeed with his plan to reopen the factory. The storm only placed a momentary hold on the proceedings. Lex needed to be prepared to hit the ground running the moment his father was able to speak with Dominic. In fact, he planned on making his case to the Board before that happened.

Dodd informed him that the technician arrived and was already retrieving the files needed when Hudson emerged from the barn, which she apparently entered from the opposite end. Ending his call, Lex slipped the phone into his pocket and stepped away from the car to meet her.

"Hudson. "

"What do you want?" She snapped, immediately veering out of his path to head toward the house.

Lex sighed, hesitating a moment as he wondered why he thought she might have forgiven him all on her own over night. AJ barked while scurrying past him to run happily in circles around Hudson's feet as she walked. Remembering his thoughts on unconditional love, Lex started after Hudson.

"I should have come out and told you the truth right away, Angel. I do know Roger Nixon," he admitted, coming to a halt, hoping she did the same. "I was just trying to protect you."

Hudson stopped, her shoulders tensing at his words. She turned around, her expression one of extreme frustration. "Protect me from what?" Her tone was laced with exasperation, impatience.

Glancing away, Lex found himself forming the words that he thought would work best for the situation. "Before the tornado, Nixon approached me. He offered to sell me information about your family."

He wasn't lying; he just wasn't offering her everything. Where was the harm in that? If she asked, he would tell her what she wanted to know. But it seemed easier, less confrontational, if they didn't get into details about his association with Nixon. Besides, he was afraid that if she knew everything, Hudson might want nothing to do with him anymore. He might lose her for good, and he just couldn't allow that to happen.

She frowned as she stared at him. "What kind of information?" She asked, her voice lowering.

"That doesn't matter now, Angel," Lex replied, not wanting to admit that he really didn't know. He had his suspicions as to what Nixon was up to, what he was leading to, but he doubted that the man had any conclusive evidence. Nixon's greatest flaw was that he was too cocky, too sure of himself, and had been so from the moment Lex first met him.

"The man's a liar," he continued, wondering to himself how much Nixon really lied and how much he told the truth. "He'll do anything for a story."

Hudson didn't seem convinced.

"I warned him to stay away from your family," Lex told her, hoping that meant something. "When I saw his car, I. I realized he might have had something to do with your father's disappearance."

Fear flashed across her features at his words. Lex realized he didn't like seeing that, didn't like seeing Hudson scared. He wanted to reach out to her but didn't know if she would accept it.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" She demanded.

"I didn't want to alarm you unless I knew for sure." Not to mention, he knew she would react like this, he knew she would accuse him of things that she simply didn't understand. Deep inside, he was afraid she would think he was as insane as he sometimes felt.

Shaking her head, Hudson looked away from him, her mouth drawn tightly into a frown. "You know, Lex, I don't know what to believe anymore."

This was his chance; Lex could sense her softening. "Believe that I care about you, Hudson. And I would never do anything that would bring harm to you and your family."

At least, intentionally. Now wouldn't be a good time for her to remember the herd or the Nicodemus flower or numerous other infractions that he somehow got pulled into the middle of.

Reaching out cautiously, Lex took her hand. He waited just a moment before he finally felt her fingers curl against his, and then he tugged a little and she moved toward him, sinking into his embrace. Relief flowed through him at Hudson's capitulation and he wrapped his arms tightly around her, kissing the top of her head as she rested it against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," he told her quietly. "I never meant to hurt you."

Hudson sighed. "I know." Her arms moved around his waist. "I'm sorry I blew up at you last night. It's just with my dad missing and then you - "

"Don't apologize," Lex cut in quickly. He didn't need more guilt. Soon he would end up telling her everything and then they would be back to square one. It was better to forget and move on.

Kissing her forehead, he pulled away and started back toward his car. "I've got something to show you." Reaching in, he pulled out the map and moved back to Hudson who walked closer to him. Lex rolled it open, explaining, "This is a cellular frequency grid. I had my people look into it."

Hudson glanced over at him, brow furrowed in confusion.

Lex pointed to the location Dodd showed him earlier. "Only one cell tower survived the storm, meaning Nixon, and possibly your father, had to be within a one mile radius of where we were last night."

She took the map, her gaze scanning it.

"I don't know if it will help," Lex added, watching her. "But it's worth a shot."

Nodding, Hudson rolled it back up and turned to face him. "It's something. Thank you, Lex."

Silence fell between them. Lex slipped his hands into his pockets, glancing down at the ground as AJ plopped between them, dropping a piece of bark between his paws which he apparently was chewing on. The puppy looked up at both of them, tail flopping against the dirt, causing dust to rise up. Lex lifted his gaze back to Hudson to find her staring off into the woods, near the area that they entered through the night before. She was worrying her lower lip, expression thoughtful.

"Is there something I can do?" He asked.

She glanced over at him, blinking as if startled from her thoughts before shaking her head. "No. This is good." She looked down at the map in her hand before meeting his eyes once more. "How's your dad?"

Lex shrugged. "The same. I'm meeting with the doctors in a few hours to discuss the options for surgery. They seem optimistic."

"That's good." Hudson shifted her feet, causing AJ to jump to his and search for anything suspicious in the area. "Well, I'd better go call mom and tell her about the map - "

"Can I help you search?" Lex touched her arm, bridging the distance between them. "Something. "

"We'll be fine." She flashed him a hesitant smile. "You have your own father to worry about."

"That doesn't make me any less concerned for yours."

Hudson didn't reply.

Maybe there was no fixing this. Lex wondered if he screwed up beyond the point of receiving her forgiveness. There wasn't much more he could do, apart from beg, and he wouldn't lower himself to doing that for anyone, not even Hudson. If he were the type to beg, he would have done so with his father long ago. Pulling his keys from his pocket, Lex watched her a moment longer before taking a step back toward his car.

"Well, I'd better get going. I hope the map helps. If you need anything. just call."

There was no reply. Hudson still stood there, twirling the map between her hands as Lex moved away. He reached his car door when he heard her call out, "Lex?"

Turning, Lex found her hurrying over to him, stopping just a foot away, her gaze intent on his. "Yes?" He tried his best not be hopeful.

"I. " She trailed off and gestured toward the map. "Thank you. Really."

Shrugging, Lex replied, "It was nothing. I wish I could do more."

"I know."

Hudson leaned forward then and brushed her lips over his - just a chaste, sweet kiss but it meant more to Lex in that moment than she could have possibly understood. Everything was going to be okay. He saw that as she pulled back, the familiar light of trust and caring, that he had grown accustomed to seeing, returned to her eyes. Having it back now made him more determined than ever not to lose it again. Reaching out to brush her hair back off of her shoulder, Lex gave her a small smile.

"I'll see you later?" She asked.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Call me when you hear about your dad, okay?"

"I will." His fingers played along the skin at the side of her neck. He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to hold her until the anxiety he still felt burning inside went away. Instead, he dropped his hand back to his side and pulled open the car door. "Take care, Angel."

Hudson stepped away as he slid into the seat and started the engine. As he pulled down the driveway, Lex looked in the rearview mirror to see her still standing in the same spot, hugging the map close to her, watching him speed away. She was still there when he pulled onto Hickory Lane and headed toward the hospital.

***

Lex hated hospitals. Ever since the meteor shower and he was forced to undergo test after test, poked and prodded, unsympathetic nurses and doctors who stared at him like some kind of freak show. And just when it seemed to be over, his mother became ill, and it was back to the hospital again. It was even worse to see her go through the torture and embarrassment of being subjected to so many needles and x-rays and strangers prying into her life. Especially when, in the end, they could do nothing for her. After her death, Lex found he held very little respect for medical doctors. They seemed more like undertakers - searching for brutal and humiliating ways to extend their patient's lives when they knew there was little hope of saving them.

Shifting in the uncomfortable chair of the waiting room, he glanced at the clock on the wall to see it had only been an hour since Doctors Davis and Hurwitz, the specialist from Metropolis, began his father's surgery. One hour. Before going in, they told him it could take as long as eight before they were finished. Fuck. He hated waiting. Hated sitting there, unable to do anything, while his father's life lay in the hands of utter strangers. They didn't care if he lived or died or was ever able to walk again. They got paid either way.

Too, they didn't have anything to make up for. Not like Lex did.

Rubbing a hand over his eyes, he stood and wandered down the hall to the vending machines, glaring in disgust at the crap the distributors tried to pull off as food. He finally located a granola bar, but when he took a bite out of it, it was only to discover it was dry and slightly stale. Taking a chance on the coffee, Lex waited until the little cup filled before taking a hesitant sip. God, wasn't it illegal to charge people to drink hot shit? And if not, it damn well should be.

Tossing both the barely touched coffee and old granola bar into a nearby trash can, Lex stalked his way back to the waiting area. He didn't feel like going all of the way to the cafeteria, where the food was only minutely better than what he'd just tried to eat. There were too many people in hospital cafeterias, and he just wasn't in the mood to deal with a crowd, whether anyone spoke to him or not.

Leaning his head back against the wall behind him, Lex spent the next few minutes counting the ceiling tiles above. His mind wandered from numbers to money and the amount of capital that still needed to be raised in order to follow through with the employee buyout. Christ. How could he sit here and think about business while his father was in surgery?

"I thought I'd find you here."

Lex glanced up to see Dodd slipping into the seat beside him. He was never surprised when the man showed up out of nowhere. Kind of like Hudson. "Where else would I be?"

Dodd shrugged. "I thought this might interest you." He pulled out a folded piece of paper and opened it, handing it to Lex.

"It's a map." Lex glanced over the markings, noting a few landmarks of Smallville but otherwise, the layout was different.

"A copy of an older one, yes. Nineteen twenty-five to be exact."

"So? What does this have to do with anything?"

Dodd pointed to Hobson's pond and a structure beside it. The number on the marking corresponded with a church along the index. "That cell tower would be over here, about a quarter mile away."

"I didn't see a church near there."

"No, you wouldn't. It was destroyed in the meteor shower in eighty-nine. But, according to the clerk down at city hall that I was talking to, an old crypt was built beneath the church, which is still there." He shrugged. "It's possible that Mr. Kent knows about the crypt and sought shelter there. Nixon might be with him."

Lex frowned over the possibility, wondering what the conversation between them must be like. Mr. Kent, Roger Nixon. Lex hired me to do some digging into your family. This is the same man who claims to be a friend. You're right not to trust him.

Sighing, Lex folded the paper and placed it in his jacket pocket. "Thanks. I'll get out there right away and see what I can find."

Dodd stood with him. "What about your father?"

Lex glanced down the hall toward the doors that led to surgery. "He'll be hours still. There's nothing I can do here. I might as well go and try to be of some use to someone."

"Need help?" Dodd asked as they walked through the corridor.

"No." Lex exited the main entrance, heading toward his Ferrari. "See if you can learn anything more - call me if you do. And try calling the Kent farm - tell Mrs. Kent what you've found and that I've gone out searching for the crypt."

As Lex reached into his pant's pocket for his keys, he felt Dodd grab his arm. Turning, he glanced down to find the man pulling a gun from his coat. "Here, take this."

"Think that's really necessary?" Lex looked up to make certain there was no one nearby.

"Don't take any chances," Dodd told him, placing it into his hand. "If Nixon really believes he has a story, he's likely to do whatever it takes to keep you from ruining that for him. For all his bravado, he's scared of you, Lex. And a frightened dog, backed into a corner, will turn on you."

"Let's just hope he hasn't turned on Mr. Kent." Lex shoved the handgun into an inner pocket of his jacket and slid into the car.

Lex headed out of the hospital onto Main and straight on to Hickory, past the Kent Farm towards Hobson's pond. The Hobson's at one time owned the largest farm in Smallville, their property spreading north over a five thousand acres. Throughout the decades, the children lost interest in farming and moved on to the city and little by little, the property was sold off, a good chunk of it now owned by LuthorCorp. The name of the pond remained though, and Hudson once told Lex it used to be her favorite swimming spot in the summer. Her and her dad also fished for catfish there. Lex couldn't imagine swimming in a dirty pond with catfish but the memory brought an enormous smile to her face, and he hadn't been about to ruin that with a snide remark. He envied her ability to get so much joy out of such a little thing.

Pulling on to the dirt road that led back in to the woods toward the pond, Lex drove little more than half a mile in until he realized he couldn't take the car much further. The ruts in the road were meant for four- wheelers and work trucks, not sports cars. Bringing the car to a stop, he climbed out, pocketed his keys and pulled out the map to get his bearings. He'd passed by the pond the other night, so he knew it was to the west of him, about two hundred yards. According to the map, if he headed east, he should pass directly within sight of the old church foundation.

The storms that came through cooled off the air, making the hike much easier than it might have been if the humidity were still high. The mosquitoes were already out in full force, and Lex spent half his walk swatting at them. If someone had told him a year ago that he would be walking through insect-infested woods, in the middle of nowhere, after a tornado, searching for a farmer, who was the father of his sixteen-year old girlfriend, he would have had them committed. Hell, sometimes he thought he should be committed whenever the realization crossed his mind that he enjoyed living in Smallville, that he didn't miss Metropolis or the people he'd known there one bit. Would he grow old in Smallville? Well, of that he wasn't so certain. At the moment, he was the big fish in a small pond and Lex knew that eventually he'd grow bored and search for something more.

Lex was pulled abruptly from his musings when he heard the unmistakable beep of a car alarm turning on. Nixon's car. It had to be. Breaking into a jog, Lex headed deeper into the woods, his surroundings becoming more and more familiar. He slowed when he came upon a discarded trailer home, ridiculously dropped out of place by the twister. Beside it was an opening into the ground - the crypt that Dodd told him about. He paused for a moment, his gaze moving past a plastic pink flamingo stuck in the ground, when the sounds of a struggle echoed from the trees to his right.

Turning, Lex hurried out of the clearing and back into the woods, following a trail of debris until he saw someone lying on the ground in front of him. Recognizing the jacket, he ran quickly to Hudson, kneeling down beside her.

"Angel?"

Her eyes opened -they were glazed over, unfocused. "Lex. my dad.. Nixon is. " She gasped.

Lex wanted to stay and help her but with her words, he brought his head up and looked around, ears trained on the sound of flesh hitting flesh. Jumping back up to his feet, he reached into his pocket, pulling the gun free just in case he needed it and moved past Hudson, following the sounds. He only took a few steps before he saw Nixon in front of him, a metal rod raised over his head, Jonathan Kent lying on the ground before him, unable to escape the killing blow that was likely to come.

He didn't think. Lex just held the gun out and fired. It was so simple. He pulled the trigger and the force kicked his arm back a bit and then the rod fell and Nixon was slowly crumpling, his body falling on his intended victim. Lex didn't even know where the bullet hit him.

Jonathan Kent rolled the man off of him before struggling to his feet. "Hudson!"

Lex found himself moving forward automatically to meet the man as he hurried toward his daughter. "Mr. Kent, are you okay?"

"Yeah." Jonathan nodded.

He didn't look okay. His face was cut, covered in blood, and he was holding on to his left arm. But Lex didn't argue as Jonathan hurried off to check on Hudson. Instead, his feet seemed drawn to Nixon, pulling him toward the man he shot, his gaze roaming over the small hole in the front of his chest where blood was trickling from. Right through his heart. Dodd would be so proud. He hadn't even aimed.

Or had he?

"Lex?"

Lex had no idea how long he'd been standing there, staring down at Nixon's sightless eyes when Hudson was beside him, touching his arm. He glanced over to see her looking wide-eyed at the body. He didn't want her to see this. She should never be subjected to death.

"Is. is he dead?"

"Yes." And he'll never hurt you and your family again. But Lex didn't tell her that. He didn't need to.

Her hand tightened on his arm and she didn't say anything for a long moment. Finally, her bright green eyes lifted to his. "I found my dad."

"I know. I told you he would be all right."

Hudson gave him a small smile.

"Are you okay?" Lex touched her cheek. He could hear sirens in the distance.

"I'm fine." Her hand closed over his and she leaned into his touch, closing her eyes. They stood there silently for a few seconds before her eyes opened, the sirens drawing closer. "Mom knew I was headed out here. I think she went to get a rescue team."

"That's good. Your dad needs medical attention."

They both looked back down at Nixon. Lex felt Hudson take his hand, tug on it a little. "Come on. There's nothing you can do here." She moved backwards a few steps, pulling him with her. "It might take both of us to convince my dad to let a medic look over his injuries."

Lex followed her mechanically, the gun still clenched in his hand.

Hudson had been correct. Martha showed up with the Sheriff and two of his deputies. Once they got a look at Jonathan's condition, they radioed for an ambulance, along with the coroner for Nixon's body. The deputies questioned Jonathan while the medics checked his injuries and patched him up. Lex spent his time with Sheriff Ethan, explaining the events that led to the reporter's death. He offered very little about his own association, beyond the fact that Roger wrote a few articles about him in The Inquisitor. When asked about the gun, Lex told him that ever since Ryan's step dad, James Gibson, took him hostage, he'd been carrying a gun for protection. The sheriff accepted the explanation, saying only that they would need to run the serial number. Lex nodded and handed over the gun, knowing that Dodd would have already taken care of the necessary information.

"If I have any more questions, I'll give you a call, Mr. Luthor," Sheriff Ethan told him as he flipped the pad closed that he'd been taking notes on and placed it in his pocket.

Nodding once, Lex glanced over to where Hudson and her parents stood talking. Over the past hour, he'd watched them each surreptitiously, trying to gage their reactions to what he'd done. Mainly, they all seemed too happy at being reunited after having spent so much time apart. Mr. Kent appeared to be all right, even though his ribs were tightly wrapped in bandages, and Mrs. Kent couldn't seem to contain her smile. Lex was happy for them. It was how their family was meant to be. In a small way, he knew he was responsible for giving them that. Of course, now came the hard part.

Lex had no doubt that Nixon told Mr. Kent everything during their time in the crypt. He would be lucky to ever be allowed near the Kent farm again. The only thing he could do was try to explain his side of things, apologize profusely and hope that Hudson's father would understand Lex never meant to cause them any harm.

The family turned to him as he approached but Lex kept his gaze trained on Jonathan. He knew if he looked at Hudson now, he'd likely lose all his nerve. "Mr. Kent."

Jonathan nodded. "Lex."

An awkward silence stretched between them. Lex wasn't certain how to begin. Jonathan Kent looked away from him and he knew then that he had been right - Nixon told him everything. His hopes for ever receiving the other man's respect were quickly dashed. Taking a breath, he struggled to explain, "Look - "

"Lex." Surprisingly, Jonathan cut him off. The man glanced at his wife and daughter for a moment before turning back to Lex. "You saved my life. and I want to say thank you."

It wasn't what Lex had been expecting. He stared at Jonathan, waiting for the inevitable 'But.', or some other stinging set down that he was so used to receiving from his own father. Instead, no other words were forthcoming. Jonathan's gaze was sincere.

Lex opened his mouth, trying to think of what to say, but a suitable response escaped him. He drew in a breath and finally offered, "To a fresh start." He held out his hand, the same one which Jonathan Kent so often ignored.

But this time he took it, and they shook.

It was a beginning.

Letting go, Lex glanced over at Hudson to see her flashing him one of her megawatt smiles. It hurt something inside of him, to see her that happy, and he didn't understand it. He wanted her to be happy, so why couldn't he share in it with her? He stared at her while Martha made a comment about getting everyone home and putting some food in their stomachs. Hudson pushed her way between her parents, moving toward Lex. He watched her approach but wasn't prepared when she threw herself against him, hugging him tightly before her lips sought his. He hadn't realized how much he needed her until the warmth of her mouth was against him and the scent of her skin, just beneath the dirt that clung to her, permeated his senses. Moving his arms around her, Lex returned the strong embrace, and tried to drink in her joy.

Silence fell behind them. It should have been a warning but Lex was too caught up in the young woman against him to understand what was happening. It wasn't until he heard Jonathan's voice that he realized the sacrifice he'd made earlier could have all been for nothing.

"Hudson! Hudson Clark Kent!"

Hudson broke the kiss, but didn't remove her arms as she turned to glance back at her father. Maybe it still hadn't occurred to her that her open display of affection was a bad thing. "What?"

Jonathan was glaring at both of them. Martha held his arm but his manner appeared just as perturbed with her. "We are going home. Now!"

Lex knew the look the moment it appeared on Hudson's face - she was preparing herself for battle. Before the situation became worse, he pulled out of her embrace, drawing her attention back to him in protest.

"It's been a long day, Angel," he told her quietly. "And my father should be out of surgery soon. Go on home. I'll talk to you later."

"But - "

Taking a chance, he leaned forward and kissed the edge of her mouth quickly. "Go on. Get some rest."

Hudson still appeared ready to argue but her father called out to her again and her mother joined in. With a resigned sigh, she flashed him a quick smile before turning and moving off to join her parents. Watching them go, Lex finally turned to head back to his own car and the hospital. He passed by the coroner's truck, his gaze straying to the body in the back just as they slammed the doors shut.

***

Silence permeated the cab of the truck as Jonathan drove his family home. Hudson sat on the passenger side, elbow leaning on the door as she quietly chewed on a fingernail. Her mother pulled her hand away from her mouth once, but it eventually found its way back. She'd said nothing since they climbed into the truck.

Martha sat between them, an obvious 'buffer zone', though Jonathan was just as angry with his wife at the moment as he was his daughter. She'd obviously known about this apparent relationship between Hudson and Lex Luthor by the lack of reaction in her face when their daughter launched herself into his arms, kissing him.

His daughter - kissing Lex Luthor!

It took every ounce of control Jonathan had not to rip the steering wheel from the column at the memory. He drove a little faster than usual in his bid to get home, to try to get things back to normal. This on top of everything else. He tried to ignore the fact that he allowed himself to trust Nixon, that he told the man everything about Hudson while they were in that crypt together, that he actually fell for the man's false empathy. It was possible that a part of him just needed to talk about it all with someone - someone other than his wife. That he just needed to get it out in the open. But he refused to accept that. Hudson was precious to him - she was everything that he and Martha could have wished for in a child and more. She was unique, a miracle. And Jonathan had always known how important it was to keep her safe, to keep the secret of her origins safe.

And in the past twenty-four hours he'd told everything to a virtual stranger. Worse than that, the man had been a reporter as well. On top of that, Martha quietly informed him that the ship was missing. After having seen it activate in the cellar, Jonathan wasn't surprised. Nothing surprised him anymore. A part of him hoped that it was gone, that maybe it returned to wherever it came from and they wouldn't have to worry about its discovery anymore. It was selfish of him, and it wouldn't help his daughter if there was information contained within it that she was meant to have. But Jonathan knew they would all be a lot better off if all traces of Hudson's arrival completely disappeared. It would be easier to hide her, if there was nothing to hide.

As the truck pulled up alongside the barn, Hudson pushed open the door and was out of the cab before Jonathan put it in park. Glancing over at Martha who seemed to sigh in resignation, he yanked the keys out of the ignition and climbed out, heading toward the house on his daughter's heels as Martha trailed behind him. He caught the door just as it swung shut and entered the kitchen to see Hudson heading for the stairs.

"H.C. Sit down."

She hesitated, foot poised over the second step. "I was just going to take a shower."

"The shower can wait."

"But - "

"Now, Hudson!" He barked as Martha walked in, closing the door quietly behind her.

Hudson glowered at her father, hand gripping the rail of the stairs tight enough that Jonathan was waiting for it to snap off.

"Maybe we should all go up, take our showers, get comfortable and then talk," Martha suggested, moving up alongside her husband.

"No. This isn't going to wait." He flashed a glare at his wife. "You're no innocent in this, Martha. You knew about this and you didn't tell me."

"I was waiting for Hudson to do so." Martha frowned over at her daughter who huffed in reply and stomped across the kitchen to throw herself into a chair at the table.

"Well, obviously she had no intentions of doing so, did she?" Jonathan countered before turning back to Hudson, watching as she folded her arms over her chest defensively, prepared to do battle. He knew the stance well. Sometimes he wondered how it wasn't possible for them to share the same blood. "Did you ever plan on telling me, H.C.? Or was this supposed to be your little secret between you, Lex and your mother?"

Hudson glanced over at him, lips pursed. "Obviously I didn't tell you because I knew you would react like this."

"And how it 'this', exactly?" He demanded. "How am I supposed to react to the discovery that my daughter is apparently having a relationship with a man six years her senior? And behind my back, even!"

She opened her mouth, then closed it, turning away to stare out the window for a moment. Finally, she replied quietly, "You told me grandma was twelve years younger than grandpa."

"She was eighteen when they got together," Jonathan defended.

"Eighteen? Two years makes that big of a difference?!"

"A lot can happen in two years," he argued. "Things were different back then. Besides, this isn't about my parents. This is about you."

"And Lex," Hudson added, turning his gaze back to him. "That's what this is about, isn't it? Because it's Lex Luthor. If this was any other guy, you wouldn't be throwing a tantrum."

"I am not throwing a tantrum!" Jonathan yelled.

"Jonathan." Martha placed a warning hand on his arm.

He looked over to see Hudson pale a little, her jaw setting before she turned her gaze away once more, fingernail digging into the crease of the table. His wife was right - yelling wasn't going to get him anywhere, no matter how much he wanted to do it. Deep inside, he just felt the need to yell, to scream, to throw things. And maybe that had nothing to do with the situation between Lex and Hudson. And maybe it did. Jonathan didn't know. The one thing he did know after his recent experience was that Hudson's safety came first. Both as his daughter and as her own individual.

Sighing, he moved over to the table and sat down beside his daughter, searching for a different approach. Martha set her purse on the counter before moving to the refrigerator to remove a beer and a can of Coke. He listened to her bustle about the kitchen, pouring the beverages into glasses before setting them down in front of her husband and daughter. Squeezing Jonathan's shoulder, she took a seat beside him.

"H.C., at the moment this has nothing to do with Lex," Jonathan began, his anger controlled. "You're sixteen years old. He's twenty-two. How can you possibly share anything in common? You haven't had the same experiences. You still have to make it through high school. Do you think he'll actually accompany you to the prom? Or are you going to sit at home and miss out on every high school experience?"

"I went to the Spring Formal," she replied, finally turning to look at him. "Lex wanted me to. He said he didn't want anything I would have done without him around to change."

Hell. This would happen to be the one instance where Lex was showing a little sense. How was he supposed to argue with that? Jonathan glanced over at his wife, who shrugged silently in reply.

"Dad," Hudson began, bringing Jonathan's gaze back to her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, okay? I know how you feel about Lex and. well, it wasn't like I expected this to happen or anything. Although I did want it to. I've liked Lex for a very long time but he wouldn't let anything happen."

Jonathan ran a hand over his face in frustration. He really didn't want to hear about this. "Hudson - "

"I love him, dad."

Oh hell. Jonathan stared at his daughter in disbelief. "H.C., you are sixteen! You can't possibly know what love is. You're too young for this kind of relationship, too young for - "

"How do you know?" She demanded. "How do you know how old I am? How do you know how mature I am? Did this information come documented in that ship I arrived in? Because if it did, you sure as hell haven't shared it with me! But then, it seems when it comes to this family, the whole keeping secrets thing is a one-way street."

"Now, Hudson, that isn't fair - "

"No, it isn't. Is it?"

His daughter stood, fists clenched at her sides as she glared down at him from her impressive height. Jonathan knew the look well; he'd glimpsed it many times in the mirror. Again, sometimes he forgot that Hudson wasn't really his daughter at all, wasn't even human, when she was so much like him in manner and reaction and all-out stubbornness.

"It isn't fair," she continued, as the fight seemed to drain out of her. "But I'm beginning to learn that there are a lot of things in life that aren't fair. And you not allowing me to be happy is one of them." She turned and started toward the stairs.

"H.C., I have nothing against you being happy."

Hudson ignored him. "I'm going to take a shower. I'll set the table for dinner when I'm done, mom."

"Okay, honey."

Jonathan said nothing as he watched his daughter disappear up the staircase. Sighing when she was gone, he slumped in his chair and stared at the table. Martha reached out and laid a hand over his, giving it a slight squeeze.

"You should go up and shower, too," she told him. "Relax for a bit."

"What are we going to do?" Jonathan dismissed her suggestion, his mind too consumed with the fear that his family was falling apart. "We can't let this continue."

"Why not?"

He turned to stare at his wife in shock. "What?"

Martha sighed and dropped her gaze for a moment, her fingers caressing his hand soothingly. "Our daughter is sixteen years old and in love for the first time. Any girl at that age already believes the world is against her and the boy she cares about. If we push, we're only proving her right. And then you'll have a rebellious teenager on your hands, who will go to any lengths to prove that her love is 'meant to be'." She brought her gaze back to his and smiled a little. "I know. I've been there. I was fifteen when I fell in love with Tom Shumaker and I was willing to run away to Mexico with him."

Shaking his head, Jonathan looked away. "Martha, we're not talking about you and some ordinary boy. Hudson isn't. Well, you know the reasons we have to keep her safe. And Lex Luthor?" He glanced back over at his wife. "Certainly you see how dangerous this is?"

"I see how there could be dangers, yes." She nodded. "I also see what could happen if we tried to stop Hudson from seeing him." Martha squeezed his hand again. "Jonathan, for whatever problems you might have with Lionel Luthor, I believe Lex isn't like his father. He saved your life today. For that reason alone, I think we need to give him a chance."

"A chance with our daughter."

She shrugged. "What choice do we have? You know how stubborn Hudson is." Martha smiled a little. "She takes after someone I know."

Jonathan just couldn't find humor in any of this. He rubbed the back of his neck as he thought over his wife's words. He knew she was right. But he didn't want to accept it. "So what now? We just let Hudson carry on with a twenty-two year old guy? Christ, Martha. I'll have nightmares just thinking about it."

"I've had a few of those myself," she admitted. "I may not have been a twenty-two year old male but I've dealt with my share of them."

"We don't even know if she's capable of. well. "Jonathan felt his face flame at the thought of Hudson having sex. He couldn't voice the words.

"Sex?" Martha supplied. "Hudson's already brought that up herself."

Jonathan tried not to yell.

"These are things she's going to have to discover on her own. What I suggest we do is talk to her - calmly and rationally - and explain to her our fears and hesitation. Let her know that we think she should take this slowly and talk to us, keep us informed as to the progress of her relationship with Lex."

"You mean just let it happen," Jonathan grunted.

"With ground rules," Martha added, frowning at him a little. "We'll set rules that they will both be expected to abide by and we'll have a talk with Lex, let him know what we expect as well. Don't look at me like that. This is the best way. It will be far better for us to have Lex on our side from the start because currently he has more sway over Hudson than we do. If we appear encouraging and supportive, then eventually she will come to trust us in this matter as well."

"And what if he begins to suspect, Martha?" Jonathan asked quietly, leaning forward. "What if being close to Hudson only brings him close to the truth? What then?"

Martha offered him a small smile and uttered the words that for so long, Jonathan secretly never wanted to hear, "We have to accept the fact that, someday, Hudson is going to have to be honest about her origins with the person she loves."

Jonathan just prayed that person never turned out to be a Luthor.

***

Lex woke up screaming.

The nightmare had been real. Well, real enough. Nixon had been in the castle, stalking him, blood still seeping from the wound in his chest. He'd held the octagon piece in his hand, taunting Lex that now he'd never know the truth - only the voice that came from his mouth was that of Sam Phelan. Lex had turned to run from the dead reporter but he hadn't been fast enough. Nixon pulled a gun from his coat and shot Lex in the back as he tried to escape. He was falling over the balustrade from the third floor when he'd awakened.

Sitting up in bed, he glanced over at the clock to see that it was just past one. He'd been asleep exactly twenty-three minutes. Rubbing a hand over his eyes, which ached from the pounding in his head, Lex swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood to grab his robe from the bedpost where he hung it after showering earlier that evening. He'd been too tired to bother dressing and simply laid back, and apparently drifted off to sleep.

Slipping the robe on and tying the belt around his waist, he padded over to the antique dresser where a decanter of scotch and four glasses sat in waiting. One he already used before his shower. He picked up a clean one and filled it to the top, swallowing back a large mouthful before glancing around the room with a frown. He wasn't going to get any sleep tonight. He might as well accept that.

Exiting his bedroom, Lex made his way down the steps to the second floor, wondering as he entered through the study doors what continued to pull him back to that room. It lay in shambles and Kenny Dakotas already warned him it was safer to stay out of it - plaster was still falling from the ceiling and he didn't know how stable the outside wall would remain. Still, Lex was drawn to it over and over again, either trying to mentally relive that night's events, or tempt fate by walking amidst the hazards of the room. He never really made it much past the column, his gaze always dropping to it, as if eventually it would open up some invisible mouth and talk to him, offering the answers he sought. Tonight, as before, it remained aggravatingly silent.

Lex skirted around it, casting one last look over his shoulder before moving to what was left of his desk. The technician successfully recovered the files from his laptop but there was very little else left of his office. The hard copy files were. scattered. He had no doubt a few of them could have ended up in another county. Thankfully, he never kept anything confidential in the cabinets. Crouching down beside his overturned chair, he sifted through a pile of debris, finding the empty container that once held the octagon before Nixon apparently stole it from him. The hinge on the lid was broken; he tossed it aside. There was a copy of the Ledger announcing the closing of the Plant. Lex knew he burned his copy the afternoon it arrived at his house - this one must have traveled with the funnel. Frowning, he crumpled the paper, having no desire to think about the fact that he still had that entire mess to deal with. There were messages on his machine from the managers he'd asked to join him in the employee buyout that he hadn't had time to call back since returning from the hospital.

His exploration stopped suddenly when the removal of a piece of plaster revealed the music box Hudson gave him as a gift for Christmas. The beautiful lid displaying hand-painted lilies was cracked in two, hanging on by one hinge. The glass over the mechanism had shattered. Lex turned the key on the back, staring blankly at his ruined gift as an eerie version of 'Chances Are' squeaked and groaned it's way into the silence. It was fitting, really. A perfect way to end one of the most horrible days of his life. He'd killed a man and caused his father to lose his sight. That must be some kind of record, even for him.

His mother would be so proud.

Swallowing against the ache in his throat, Lex stilled the urge to throw the music box across the room and finish the job. Instead, he continued to cradle it gently in his hands, wondering if there might be a way to mend it. Hoping. He didn't want to believe that it was as irretrievably broken as everything else in his life.

"You shouldn't be walking around in here. It's dangerous."

Lex smiled sadly, not turning to greet Hudson as he heard her footsteps coming toward him carefully through the debris. His thumb moved over the edge of the music box but he didn't bother to reply.

"Lex?" She was beside him now, her fingers drifting over his arm, warm through the cloth of the robe. "Are you all right?"

"It's broken," he whispered.

Hudson glanced down at the box in his hands, biting her lower lip before raising her gaze back to his. "It's all right. I'm sure it can be fixed." She reached out to take it from his hands. "You need to get out of here, Lex. There's glass everywhere. Why aren't you wearing your slippers or something?"

At first, Lex didn't want to let go of the box but he finally relented, allowing her to take it from him, watching closely as she tucked it under her arm. She went to reach for his hand but he ignored it, stepping past her to make his way to the hall, somehow missing the glass on the floor though he didn't really bother to look for it. It didn't seem as if Hudson planned on following, and then he heard her footsteps coming up behind him, down the hall and up the stairs to his room. Lex wanted to tell her to go home, to go away and never come back, but was afraid that if he opened his mouth he would just start screaming and never stop. And then she would just think he was insane.

He went straight to the glass of scotch that he'd left half empty on top of the dresser. Finishing it, he poured another before turning to watch as Hudson entered the room, closing the door behind her. She glanced up, her gaze sweeping over him silently before moving over to the nightstand where she laid the music box gently on the tabletop.

"What are you doing here, Hudson?" He finally asked when the silence between them became unbearable.

Hudson looked up at him as she gingerly sat down on the edge of his bed. "Do I have to have a reason?"

"At one-thirty in the morning you do," Lex snapped, lifting the glass to his lips once more.

"I couldn't sleep," she admitted, drumming the fingers of one hand against her thigh.

She was dressed in shorts and a tank and Lex found his gaze drawn to where her hand rested just above her knee. Her skin seemed more golden in the shadows and he wanted to place his lips there. He wanted, more than anything, to just bury his head between her legs and forget about. everything. And that desire warred with everything else in his mind at the moment so badly that it angered him. Clenching the glass firmly in his hand, Lex wondered if there would ever be a moment in his life when he would be allowed to simply enjoy what was being offered to him.

"Go home, Hudson." He turned his back to her, finished off the glass of scotch and considered pouring another.

"I don't want to go home."

Lex gave a snort. "Apparently my feelings in the matter have absolutely no bearing." Turning, he glared at her. "I want you to go home, Hudson. I don't want you here. Do you understand?"

Pain flashed across her features. "What. what'd I do?"

God, he hated himself. "It's not what you did, Angel," he replied, voice softening. "It's what I did." He glanced at his empty glass, realized he didn't have the strength to refill it and instead, carried it with him over to the leather chair in the corner where he sat down. Holding the glass between his fingers, he stared into it, continuing, "You deserve better. You deserve. You shouldn't be with someone who's a. a. " He trailed off, not wanting to voice the word aloud.

"A what?" Hudson pressed, moving off the bed to walk over to him. She knelt in front of him, one hand resting on his right knee. "Lex?"

He wished she wouldn't look at him like that. He wished her voice wasn't so pleading. The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them. "A murderer."

Hudson's mouth formed a little 'O' with his admission. Her eyes widened and she quickly shook her head. "Lex. no. You're not. What you did today - do you know how grateful I am? You saved my dad's life. And very possibly mine." Her fingers curled against his knee. "You. you only did what was necessary."

"Was it?" Lex frowned and dropped his gaze back to his glass. "Tell me, Hudson, would your father have done the same if he'd held the gun in his hand?"

"I. "

Her hesitation was all he needed to hear. Lex blew a quick breath through his nose in self-disgust and looked away.

Removing her hand from his knee, she took the glass away, setting it on the ground beside them, before taking his hands in hers. "Baby, don't. Don't compare yourself to my dad and don't wonder what anyone else would do in the situation you were placed in today." Hudson tugged on his hands until he brought his eyes back to hers. "If I thought your life were in danger, I would do whatever it took to protect you."

"You wouldn't kill, Hudson."

"Maybe I would," she replied without hesitation. "I wouldn't know until it happened, would I? Lex, you didn't murder Roger Nixon. You aren't capable of that. What you did today was save my dad's life. Something which you are very capable of."

What would she think if he admitted to her that things were easier with Roger out of the way? Would she be singing his praises and offering him comfort if he told her that a part of him, deep inside, felt the slime deserved to die? Now he wouldn't be forced to answer her questions regarding his true association with Roger. With Roger dead, they could start over again. A clean slate.

And god, Lex hoped those thoughts were new. He hoped with every fiber of his being that they hadn't been there before he pulled the trigger.

"Why do you have so much faith in me?" He asked quietly, brushing a fingertip over her cheek. "I've lied to you, I've hurt you - "

"Because I love you."

So simply said. Lex stared at the girl kneeling before him, wondering how she could know what love was. He certainly didn't. Was love a mother who plays buffer zone between warring son and husband until her health becomes so bad that her body finally gives up on life, just to escape it all? Or a father who teaches lessons with swords and backhands and humiliation of his son for all the public to see? Or maybe it was a nanny who ran out on her charge, only to return with just a few weeks to live in order to say goodbye? No, it had been a long time since Lex felt the emotion of love and he really couldn't recall what it was supposed to feel like. But he thought, if there was anyone on this earth who could teach him, it would more than likely be the beautiful young woman holding his hands.

Hudson Clark Kent loved him. Lex wasn't certain what to do with that information. He would have to think it over later.

"I don't see why," he replied finally, his thumb moving over her lips.

"You're a lot more deserving of love than you seem to think, Lex."

Lex half-laughed at that. "Tell that to my father."

Hudson frowned, asking what he meant with her expression.

Might as well admit everything. "He's blind. And it's my fault. Does that make me incredibly loveable, do you think?"

Sighing, Hudson dropped her gaze for a moment, her fingers stroking his hand soothingly before looking up. "I'm sorry about your father. But how can you possibly blame yourself?"

"I gave them the go-ahead for the operation when they should have waited. It was too soon."

"So now you're a doctor, too?" Hudson shook her head. "Jesus, Lex. Medical science isn't an absolute. Your decision has no bearing on how the operation turned out."

"That's not the way my father sees it," Lex told her, pulling his hand from hers and leaning back in the chair.

"I don't give a damn what your father thinks!" She half-yelled, then blinked in shock, as if she surprised herself, as well as Lex, with her outburst. Reddening a little with embarrassment, Hudson continued, "From everything I have seen and heard regarding your father, he's a very. weird man. I don't understand him at all."

For the first time since that morning, Lex found a smile creeping across his face. "A weird man. I don't think I've ever heard him referred to in that manner before."

"Well, I'm sorry," she quickly amended. "But it's the only description I can think of."

Lex shook his head. "Don't apologize. It's actually one of the nicest things I've heard said about him."

They smiled at each other.

Leaning forward, elbows on his knees, Lex kissed the tip of her nose. What was it about Hudson that gave her the ability to make his problems seem less important with her presence?

"What are you doing here? After this afternoon, I was certain your dad would never let you near me again. I was waiting for the restraining order to arrive in the mail."

Hudson made a face, nose wrinkling a little. "He's not happy - that much is certain. But we talked and mom mediated and I think things are okay. I mean, he's giving this a chance, I guess." She met Lex's gaze. "He, uh, wants to talk to you, though."

Lex raised an eyebrow. "Great. Is his shotgun accompanying him?"

"Nah. Mom and I will lock all of those away before then."

"All of those?" Lex repeated, aghast at the idea of Jonathan Kent owning more than one gun. "Now I really feel safe." He rolled his eyes.

"It'll be fine." Hudson stood and stretched, her long arms raising high over her head. Her top rose with her action, showing a flash of belly. Lex resisted the urge to lean forward and lick it. "Mind if I stay here tonight?"

He looked up at her face. "Are you sure you should?"

"As long as I get home before dad gets up." She shrugged, dropping her arms to her sides. "It's not like they check on me or anything."

"I don't know, Hudson. "

"Oh, Lex. Come on!" She leaned over and grabbed his hands, pulling him to his feet. "We've hardly seen one another the past week. Every opportunity something awful has happened. I keep waiting for the sun to explode next. Just give me a few hours. Please?" She wrapped her arms around his waist and gazed up at him earnestly.

A part of him wanted to send her home. Another part of him was just beginning to realize she was here. Hell. And apparently, Hudson was well aware of that fact because a sneaky little grin appeared on her face and she pressed a little closer to him.

"What're you wearing under there?"

"Nothing," he replied blandly.

She raised her eyebrows. Now maybe his frightened little doe would run home. "Really?"

By the tone of her voice, that wasn't happening. Curiosity had struck. Hell.

"Can I see?"

"No." Lex grabbed her hands as they reached for his belt and placed them at her sides.

"Geez, Lex. You're more modest than I am." She was almost whining.

"I am not," he denied. "I just. I don't think you're ready for that." Letting go of her hands, he walked over to the bed and sat down.

"Is it me who's not ready, Lex? Or you?" Hudson moved over to stand in front of him, one hand straying up to his shoulder to touch the fabric of his robe. "I want. I want you to touch me, Lex. And I want to touch you. Is there something wrong with that?"

Lifting his eyes to hers, Lex smiled a little and shook his head. "No, Angel. There's nothing wrong with that."

How could he possibly resist the hormonal urgings of a curious teenager? Let alone his own. Placing his hands on her hips, he pulled her closer, kissing her lips as she leaned in to him. A brief, chaste kiss quickly grew deeper and Lex reached up to tangle his hand in her thick hair, drawing her to him, pulling her down to the bed where he rolled over against her, tongue pushing past her lips to drink her in. God, he couldn't get enough. Her mouth was better than the finest wine and the little sigh she made against his lips, pure Heaven. Lex realized how good she was getting at the whole kissing thing when she sucked his upper lip into her mouth, grazing it lightly with her teeth while she grinned up at him before her tongue traced over his scar. That little motion sent all the blood in his body straight to his cock. He groaned softly into her mouth before pulling his lip loose and pressing his tongue against hers once more.

Keeping her mouth occupied, Lex moved a hand over her belly, skirting beneath her tank to caress the soft skin of her abdomen. She moved into his touch, wriggling a little when he took a moment to tease her belly button with his thumb, an area he knew to be particularly ticklish on her. Breaking away from the kiss, Lex moved down her body, pushing her tank out of the way to run his tongue along the edge of her shorts, upwards into her belly button, causing her to squeal. Smiling against her skin, he nipped at her skin gently before his tongue continued in a straight course up, his hands moving the fabric of her shirt until she took it from him and pulled it up over her head, tossing it to the side. Perfect.

Lex placed a kiss between her ribs as he peered up at her; she was flashing a tiny smile at him, her face just visible above her breasts. He crawled back up over her, hands gripping the sides of her waist before brushing teasingly across the front of her bra, pausing over each nipple. Hudson's eyes widened just a little before she pressed up into his touch.

"Your bra seems to be in the way," Lex commented with a smirk.

Hudson bit her lip.

God, that was adorable. Lex leaned in and kissed her while one hand moved behind her back to work at the hooks. He teased her lips the way she previously teased his own as he slipped the straps of her bra from her shoulders, working slowly in case she changed her mind. Once her bra was removed, Lex set it to the side, giving her mouth one last, brief kiss before raising up on his elbow to look at her. Almost immediately a pale blush fell across her skin, moving from shoulders to breasts to stomach. Lex hid his smile as he brought his gaze back to hers, finding that her face was even redder, and her eyes were planted firmly on the ceiling above. He hoped she never got over her bashfulness.

Leaning over, he kissed a bare nipple, pulling back to watch it pucker before commenting, "Uncomfortable, Angel?"

"N-no."

Liar.

Lex moved away from her, scooting up the bed to reach the lamp and turn it off. Darkness fell over the room, only the dimmest amount of light seeping in from the moon outside.

"Better?"

His answer came in the form of a warm, enthusiastic female body flopping over his and a wet kiss.

"I guess so," he chuckled lightly, grabbing Hudson around the waist and rolling them so that he partially lay over her. He could just see her eyes shining in the dark and a flash of teeth from her smile. "You must be special. Normally I like to take my time to look at the women I'm with."

"Ooh! Don't talk about them," Hudson admonished, her fingers slipping beneath his robe to caress his neck and collar bone.

"Why ever not?" Lex wondered if she could hear the smile in his tone.

"I don't want to hear about them - women like Victoria. It makes me. " She trailed off, as if unable to think of the word she wanted to use.

"Jealous?" He supplied helpfully.

"I'm not - " Hudson began to argue then cut herself off. "Okay. Maybe. Yes, that could be jealousy. Whatever it is, I don't like it. And I don't like the idea of other women touching you and kissing you and lying here with you. I don't like it at all."

Lex loved the possessiveness in her voice. It was quite vehement for one so young. Still, it felt good to be wanted like that, to know that Hudson would likely fight for him if the situation presented itself. Not that Lex ever meant it to. Well, not for real anyway. Although it would be fun to play a trick on her, just to see her reaction. Maybe he was selfish that way - he wanted to see with his own eyes how far she would go to make certain he remained hers.

Bending his head down, he swiped at a nipple with his tongue, smiling against her skin when he heard Hudson drawn in a deep breath. Closing his mouth around the puckered skin, he suckled lightly, closing his eyes when he felt her hands cup the back of his head, holding him in place. Lex quickly lost himself in the clean taste of her skin and the soft whimpers that issued from her throat. There was an honesty in her reactions that Lex had never experienced from the women he'd been with in the past. He had no doubt that she would always let him know what she liked, and what she didn't like.

Breaking away from her nipple, Lex moved over to her other breast, suckling against it in the same manner while his fingers moved over the wet skin of the previous, caressing and squeezing as it continued to harden beneath his touch. Hudson squirmed beneath him, alternately pressing upwards and pulling back, obviously torn between what she wanted. Lex simply moved with her, pleased when she seemed to settle into it, a sigh of what sounded like contentment escaping her.

Lifting his head, Lex kissed her lips gently before asking, "Do you like that?" His hand moved over the recently abandoned breast, rolling the nipple between thumb and index finger.

"Mmmmmm." She smiled and stretched, her arms coming to rest against his shoulders. "It's very nice." She arched into his hand a little. "No wonder parents warn you against the 'evil's' of sexual activity. If we all discovered at too early an age how good it feels, no kid would ever make it through school. We'd all be having sex in the hallways."

Lex laughed a little. "I suppose that could be one possibility." He stared down at Hudson for a moment. "Your mind certainly works in mysterious ways," he quipped.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Hudson leaned up and kissed him. "Don't stop. It was just getting fun."

"Talking to me isn't fun?" Lex asked in disbelief, wondering if he hadn't yet seen the full potential for demand in the girl beneath him.

She rolled her eyes. "That isn't what I meant and you know it. Why must you be so difficult?"

"It's in my nature," he replied, his fingers trailing down her ribs to rest against her belly. "Why must you whine so much?"

"Because it's in my nature," Hudson returned, poking him in the shoulder. "Besides, I like your mouth."

"Is that so?" Lex leaned down and brushed his nose against her neck before nipping lightly at her collar bone, then kissing it.

"I - Oh!... Yes. You have a very nice mouth. It's warm and soft and sometimes your tongue is ticklish." She paused. "Like right now."

Lex never had his mouth described to him before. Knowing that she took such care to notice every little thing about him touched something deep inside. He moved from the spot he was licking behind her ear back down to her neck where he drew a sliver of skin into his mouth and sucked on it. Hudson's hands curled over his shoulders, her hips arching upwards against him.

"Oh. I like that. A lot."

As if he couldn't tell. While he continued to work at her neck, Lex's fingers traced against the waistband of her shorts, back and forth lazily, before skirting over the front of them to rest at the apex of her thighs. Even through the fabric, he could feel her heat. Cupping his fingers against her, he pressed lightly, smiling knowingly when she pressed back, whimpering. He'd palmed her a few times in the past weeks, getting her used to the feeling before taking it any further. Tonight though, he was the impatient one. He wanted to know the warmth there, to feel her wetness on his fingers.

Moving his mouth back up to hers, he tugged at her lips and brushed his tongue over hers while his fingers worked at the buttons on her shorts. Slowly, one by one, reminding himself not to rush. His hand caressed the fabric of her panties - satin this time, instead of cotton, with a little bow at the top. He played with it a moment while his thumb stroked her skin just beneath it. Finally, Lex slipped his fingers under the material, stilling them against the soft skin before continuing downward and into the silky curls. Hudson froze briefly but as he kissed her, he felt her body relax once more and he allowed his fingers to explore.

Over the rounded flesh, where the heat was strongest, her panties slightly damp against his knuckles. Lex deepened the kiss, wanting to taste more of her even as his fingers pushed past the slick folds to find her wet and ready. Fuck. His cock was ready for that call, throbbing with an urgency to fulfill her body's silent request. He moved against her hip, groaning a little at the friction the material of his robe caused as it brushed over his skin. To make matters worse, Hudson continued to relax under his exploration, her thighs parting slightly, allowing him more access. Lex wanted to tear the clothing that was between them away and take all that his body was aching for, but control prevailed. It wasn't time yet.

Taking a deep breath, Lex broke away from her mouth and moved back down to a breast, capturing the nipple between his teeth, grazing it lightly while his tongue brushed over it. His thumb moved slowly through her curls before pressing gently against her clit. Hudson practically launched off the bed.

"Uhn. " Her fingers gripped his shoulders as her breathing accelerated. "Lex. "

There was a soft plea in her voice, an expression of need. Her hips arched upwards again and Lex responded, his thumb flicking back and forth against the swollen nub while his fingers continued to move between the folds, allowing her to grow accustomed to the invasion.

Hudson moaned and Lex thought it the sexiest sound he'd ever heard her utter. He sucked her nipple deeper into his mouth, as if he might devour her flesh entirely and her whole body moved with him, her back arching upwards, and then her hips.

"Lex. " She gasped, fingers pulling at his robe. "I want. I want to touch you."

Well, he wasn't going to say no to that.

Removing his hand from beneath her panties, and ignoring the little sound of protest the involuntarily escaped her, Lex took her hand in his and brought it down between them. Pushing his robe aside, he laid her hand over his cock and slipped his own back beneath her panties and into the warmth he already missed.

"I. what do I do?"

Oh yeah. This would be a first for her, wouldn't it? Pulling away from her breast, Lex kissed the wet flesh once before lifting his eyes to hers. They were wide, the tiniest trace of fear of the unknown evident in her gaze. He gave her an encouraging smile.

"Why don't you try touching me the way you like to be touched?" He suggested, brushing his fingers gently through her folds as an example. His hips moved involuntarily toward her touch, just to feel her skin against his own.

Licking her lips, Hudson moved her fingers lightly along the length of him, the barest of touches. Lex remained silent, though his body was crying out for more. He didn't want her to be timid right now; he needed her touch. He suddenly sucked in a sharp breath when her hand moved back upward and her fingertips trailed over the sensitive tip. Yeah, just like that.

"Does that feel good?" Her hand stopped and she was watching him curiously.

Lex could barely nod. "Hmm." He pressed into her touch again. Silent encouragement.

Slowly, Hudson grew bolder, her fingers moving from tip to base and back again, learning the shape and feel and reactions of him. Once he was certain he wasn't going to simply explode from her touch, Lex leaned back down to engage her mouth while his own hand resumed its ministrations. His thumb pressed more insistently against her clit, rubbing in time with his fingers which slowly began to explore more deeply.

Lex moved his mouth across hers, trailing over her cheek with soft kisses to her ear. He licked the shell as Hudson's whimpers grew in pitch, her hips rotating more aggressively against his hand as the seconds passed.

"Grip me a little harder, baby," he whispered into her ear. "Wrap your fingers around me and stroke."

Her fingers curled around him, wrapping his cock in warmth, and hesitantly she pulled her hand along the length of him, straight to the tip, and back down again. Fuck. Lex closed his eyes, burying his face against her neck to lick the skin as he moved with her, thrusting into her touch.

"Is this right?" Hudson questioned quietly between her soft moans.

"Perfect," he replied against her neck before bringing his mouth back to her breasts, moving from one to the other to nip and lap at her skin.

Her gentle touch grew stronger, as if she were still testing the boundaries. Eventually she became more and more creative, trailing her fingers over the head of his cock when she reached the tip before stroking back down again. She varied the strength she used, sometimes almost too gentle, other times almost too hard, but never quite crossing the line of either. Following her timing, Lex increased his own touch against her as one finger pushed further into the folds, discovering the tight entrance and slipping a fingertip into it. Hudson's whimpers soon became cries, her hips urging him on. Unable to withstand the silent need within him any longer, Lex moved down her body, ignoring his cock's inner protest when he pulled away from her touch. Removing his hand, Lex grabbed hold of Hudson's shorts and tugged them over her hips and down her long, long legs.

"Lex. ?"

"Shhhhhh."

He kissed her abdomen as his hands hooked into the edge of her panties and removed them as well. Moving between her legs, he placed his hands against her inner thighs and gently pushed them apart. Hudson squirmed a little, her body tensing as if she sensed his intention. Lex caressed her skin until her felt her muscles begin to relax, then leaned in to blow his breath lightly over her curls. She stilled suddenly, waiting in apparent anticipation. His thumbs moved inwards, over the folds which he slowly parted before blowing once more against her heated skin.

"Oh. "

Smiling at her soft exclamation, Lex moved in, waiting no longer as he swiped his tongue along the cleft, tasting her, smelling her, drinking in the very essence of her. Hudson cried out at the touch, her hips surging up against him in response. He gripped her thighs and pulled her close, lapping at the moisture, breathing in deeply as his tongue pressed into her. God, he could become addicted to this - her taste, her scent, her warmth, the sounds she made as he brought her to the very pinnacle of ecstasy.

"Lex. oh god. god. I. fuck!"

Finally taking pity on her near hysteric state, Lex latched on to her swollen clit, sucking it into his mouth and drawing on it as she screamed, hips arching up one last time as her body shook with her orgasm. He only let go when her cries began to subside, then took a moment to taste her again, just a few licks before he slid back up her body. Over the slightly damp skin that was quickly cooling, kissing her stomach, her ribs, her beautiful breasts before finding her mouth. She started a little as he offered her a taste of herself, pulling back just slightly from the kiss.

Lex didn't allow her any quarter though. She had nowhere to go.

He leaned in and captured her mouth, pushing his tongue past her lips as his body settled over hers. Reaching between them, he lifted slightly to part his robe, his cock sliding between her thighs, over the wet folds. He shuddered a little at the feeling, reminding himself for the hundredth time in the space of seconds that there was going to be no penetration tonight. Instead, he slowly drew his length through the slick cleft, back and forth, brushing over her clit as he did so. He could feel her begin to arch into him once more, moving with him while she seemed to grow accustomed to her taste, welcoming his tongue into her mouth, sliding and twisting her own around it.

Lex thrust faster against her, hands gripping the mattress. He wanted to be inside. He wanted to bury himself deep within her, where he knew he would be warm and safe and loved the rest of his life. Where it didn't matter that he'd killed someone, that he was a failure to his father - where he couldn't let Hudson down, ever again.

Pulling away from her mouth, he laid his forehead against her shoulder as he felt the familiar tingle along his spine. Reaching between them, he placed two fingers against the already swollen nub and rubbed, forcing Hudson to the brink once more. She whimpered, as if she didn't think she could handle such an experience again.

"Come for me again, sweetie," he whispered, kissing the skin beneath his mouth as the increasing pain/pleasure gathered at the base of his spine and began pushing it's way forward. Fuck. "One more time. "

Lex's own body shuddered slightly as he stiffened and came, cock twitching against Hudson while she shook and cried out again beneath him. He remained silent, closing his eyes briefly until his body relaxed, spent, and he laid his full weight over her body, removing his finger from her folds. Hudson was still whimpering faintly, her fingers clenching and unclenching against his waist. Taking a deep breath, Lex rose upwards, kissed her lips tenderly and moved to the mattress beside her.

"Come here." He pulled her close against him, holding her until the tremors in her body ceased. "You all right?"

"I. I think so." Her tone was slightly hesitant. "That was. "

Lex waited patiently as Hudson seemed to search for the right word.

"Awesome."

He smiled and kissed the top of her head as she tucked her face against his neck. "Awesome. I like that." His hand smoothed down her back, which was damp with sweat. "Did I frighten you?"

"A little. at first. But then it all went away." Hudson grew silent for a moment before adding, "I liked it." She lifted her head, searching for his gaze in the dark. "Can we do it again?"

Lex chuckled and leaned up to kiss her lips. "Not tonight, Angel. Get some sleep. You've only got a few hours before you have to get home."

"Oh." Her voice indicated her disappointment. She laid her head back down against his shoulder, huffing once slightly, before her body slowly began to relax.

Burying his face in her hair, Lex closed his eyes to sleep but immediately the image of how he found her in the woods, obviously hurt and left to the mercy of Roger Nixon once he finished with her father, rushed over him.

At the memory of how he almost lost her to the reporter, his curiosity overrode the haze of temporary euphoria and he couldn't help but ask quietly, "Hudson, what was Roger after? Why was he prepared to kill your father and what was he planning to do with you?"

There was an overly long pause before she replied, "I. I don't know, Lex. The man was obviously insane. It's the only explanation."

Lex didn't believe it was the only one. But he let it go, for now.