Jonathon Kent was in the barn cleaning up stalls when he heard the footfalls behind him.
"Hey Clark, just in time, give me a hand will ya?" he called out over his shoulder.
"My, my what do we have here?" Jonathon froze in place at the sound of the voice. He knew the voice and the tone all too well. Why would Lionel pay him a visit unless he wanted something? "I always did admire your work ethic and strong back Jonathon."
He straightened up and turned to face Lionel, "What do you want?"
"I expected more hospitality from you Jonathon but I can see you are a busy man," Lionel mocked as he shot a glance around the barn with disgust, "so I'll keep it short."
"Good, do that and then get the hell of my property."
"You will do well to learn to curb your tongue when you speak to me Jonathon. Not to worry you will learn and I will thoroughly enjoy every minute of teaching you."
"I think it's time you leave." Jonathon said with a hint of worry in his voice as he glared at Lionel with angry brown eyes.
"I came here to talk to you about your son."
"What about Clark?"
"Well it seems he has some special talents, but I don't have to tell you that," Lionel smirked stepping in closer "do I?".
"I don't know what you are talking about." He answered with a wavering hint of finality in his voice.
"Come now Jonathon, super speed, heat vision, strength beyond that of mere men. How long did you think you could keep him hidden from the world?"
"I don't" Jonathon started his denial but was cut short.
"Do you take me for an idiot." Lionel demanded as he threw a copy of the same pictures he had given to Lex at Jonathon's feet. "Seems you have a secret." He paused as he observed the look on Jonathon Kent's face as he stared at the pictures on the ground in front of him, obviously at a lack for words. "I can help you keep that secret or I can make it public knowledge through the research papers published by my lab. The choice is up to you."
"What do you want Lionel?" He forced the words from his mouth like acid, knowing that was the expected response.
"What do I want, that is a very good question. I don't know yet really." He stepped in so he was breathing on Jonathon's cheek. Jonathon made a move to step away, "Stay!" Lionel barked out, stopping him in his tracks. "You really should try not to anger me Jonathon, that boy of yours could have a very interesting and painful future if you don't learn that lesson very quickly."
Jonathon turned his face away in an effort to regain some of his personal space, "Luthor get off my property and leave my family alone or.."
"Or what exactly, I don't believe you are in any position to be making threats. Perhaps you want to push me?" he suggested as he pushed Jonathon backwards into a support beam. "Perhaps you want to see how far my influence will get me. You saw what I can do to the people in this community first hand. You can not even begin to fathom what I could do to that boy of yours, so don't try my patience." Lionel was so close that Jonathon was virtually pinned to the beam.
"What ever it is you want it stays between me and you. You leave my family out of this." Jonathon said in a voice not indicative of a man with little room to negotiate.
"For now." Lionel paused, watching the concern on his adversary's face age him, "How long it remains that way is the only bit of our arrangement you may have some control over."
"What do you want?" he asked again trying to convey a tone of patience.
"I want you," he paused for effect with a knowing smile creeping onto his lips. He slowly reached up and gently ran his finger along the side of Jonathon's face, "at my disposal for whatever takes my fancy at the time. I also want our little arrangement to be kept just between the two of us. It would be a shame for Clark to spend the rest of his life behind the walls of Belle Reeve. Let's work on not letting that happen, shall we?" With that he turned and started walking out of the barn.
Jonathon watched him leave managing to stand his ground until Lionel disappeared around the corner. Once he was out of sight he fell to his knees and ran his hands through his hair. A thousand thoughts were running through his mind.