Just thought I'd cleara few things up: First, do we really know that the meteor rocks kill Clark? So far, we've only seen him be made sick by them. I know that he died from an injection in the Season 5 episode Void, but so did other people, so that doesn't mean it was necessarily the meteor rocks that killed him. Clark isn't a normal human, so the rules of what might kill us really don't apply either. This is an open concept and one that Ilike to play with.

Second, the Chlark is coming soon. Sorry for the wait, but I've always hated stories where it's just dumped in at an improper time. I prefer to work it in and make it more believable. Don't worry, though, it should only be a few more chapters (At the most.).

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He didn't know what he expected to get out of this visit. After all, ten at night wasn't exactly a time to be calling upon people, but then again he supposed that Mr. Kent would want to be spoken to about this.

Impatiently he knocked on the door to the yellow farmhouse again. Finally he saw a light go on in the upstairs window. A minute or so later he heard the grumbling of Jonathan Kent, as well as the clanking of the crutches on the wooden floor, as he headed to the door.

The door opened and a very annoyed Mr. Kent was revealed. "Do you have any idea what time?-oh, Lex."

"Mr. Kent, you've got to answer me honestly. Does Clark know where the stones are?"

From the look on the elder Kent's face, Lex assumed that wasn't what he'd been expecting. "Why do you need to know?" he replied after a brief pause.

"Because that's what Jason Teague is after and if Clark really does know, then he's got something to give away."

Jonathan paled a little. "Are you basically saying he's being tortured?"

Lex shook his head. "I'm not basically saying-I'm outright telling you."

Jonathan opened the door further and stepped out, gesturing to the porch swing. Lex took the invitation and sat, Jonathan settling beside him a moment later. "Is he-alright?"

Lex ran a hand over his head-a gesture that he was beginning to associate with nervousness or anxiety. "You should have seen the way he looked at me, Mr. Kent. I tried to tell him it would be alright, to comfort him, and he just-he looked at me like he'd-I don't know-he just looked devastated."

To Lex's immense surprise, Jonathan placed a hand on his shoulder. "He'll forgive you. I know my son."

"I'm not sure I deserve to be forgiven." And there were those words that he hadn't been able to say to Chloe and, yet, with Mr. Kent, they simply tumbled out. "The things I've done, Mr. Kent-to your son, to the world."

"You mean that room?" His voice was not cold, only understanding.

"Among other things. I-he deserves a better friend than I can be."

"You're better than you think," Jonathan said softly.

Lex looked up at him, surprised. He could hear the cattle lowing in the barn. There was a call of some bird he didn't know the name of, its sound coming from far away. The rustle of the wind fanning through the grass could be heard faintly. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and those were the only sounds. Eventually he found his voice again. "How can you say that? You've always hated me."

Jonathan rested his elbow on the edge of the porch swing and his head on his hand. "No, I've just never trusted you. I didn't think there was any way you could have been raised by the man you'd been raised by and still be fairly good. I was wrong, Lex, I was. This-this guilt you're feeling-it proves it to me. You're a good man."

Lex didn't think he'd ever appreciated any words more than those he had just heard. "I-that means a lot," he whispered.

Jonathan only nodded. "Clark will understand, Lex."

"I hope so."

"And, yes, he knows about the stones."

Lex froze. He hadn't thought it would be that easy. "He does?"

"He's got two of them."

Lex could have sworn his heart stopped beating. He had the third. He'd taken it from his father. It was sitting in the safe in his mansion. All the stones were accounted for. For a moment, his nature-the one he'd gotten from his father-told him to cultivate Jonathan Kent's new-found trust in him to gain the last two and take what he wanted. It would be so easy-so easy.

But it would be wrong. And that wasn't the person he wanted to be anymore. If he did that he'd become his father. And besides, he knew to whom the stones really belonged anyway. "They're meant for him aren't they? The legends of a god who came from the sky-they're true, aren't they? Well, at least in the sense of having come from the sky, because Clark, or his ancestors, or whatever aren't gods."

Jonathan said nothing for a moment and Lex was sure that he was done opening up for the night. He was proven wrong, as well as shocked, when Jonathan nodded. "Yes."

"Wow." It was all he could think to say. Then the shock wore off and he realized just how much danger Clark was really in. "Mr. Kent, Jason took blood samples."

Jonathan's gaze shot up to Lex. "What!"

"He drew Clark's blood. He sent it to the lab. He's going to know!"

Jonathan looked sick. "He-can you stop it?"

Lex shook his head. "I doubt it. He's probably already gotten, or is about to get, the results back. He's going to find out."

"Is there anything you can do?" he asked, placing his head in his hands and exhaling softly. "Anything at all?"

"Nothing more than I did before. I'll keep drugging Jason. I'll increase the amounts."

"Don't let him hurt Clark."

"I'll do my best, but I can't stop the tests. If I do, he'll simply cut me off from helping at all. The drugging is our only chance."

Jonathan nodded, his jaw clenching. "Alright, then do it as quickly as you can."

Lex stood up and started down the porch stairs, heading for the car. "I'll do everything I can for him." That was a promise and one he intended to keep.

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Clark looked so young and innocent when he was sleeping, Lex thought. The way he was lying there, his mouth slightly open and his breathing soft and calm-it all seemed so peaceful. But when he woke up, he was anything but. "What do you want?" he asked, hearing Lex as he came closer. The scratch of the feet of the chair on the floor could be heard.

"How are you feeling?"

"How would you feel, Lex?" Lex could barely stand the iciness of those eyes. He felt as though he should have been turned to stone from that glare alone-like in the legend of medusa, only in the rendition when she was beautiful instead of so hideously ugly.

He didn't say anything back. He couldn't, because he couldn't give too much away. Clark had to see him as Jason's ally. If he did not, the plan would undoubtedly fail. "Do you need anything? I know you haven't eaten in days."

"I can't."

"It won't stay down, you mean?"

"That's exactly what I mean." Clark's tone had fallen from icy to tired and simply resigned.

"Nothing? Not even soup and crackers?"

Clark shook his head. That worried Lex. Clark needed to eat. He needed all the strength he could get. Much to Clark's disapproval, he pulled back the blanket and looked him over. Jason was supposed to let him up and help him go to the bathroom four times a day, but it seemed he'd been neglecting that duty.

"You need a shower," Lex told him bluntly. Leaning down, he undid the cuffs on Clark's wrists.

Clark struggled to sit up and Lex realized just how weak he'd become. For the first time, worry as to whether or not Clark wouldn't suffer permanent damage from this crept into Lex's mind. "Can you get up?"

Clark tried again and finally pushed himself into a sitting position. Lex came over to the side of the bed and put Clark's arm over his shoulders, trying to help him stand. Clark took two wobbling steps and then collapsed on the floor.

Lex noticed how flushed his face had become and it worried him. How could he be allowing this? "Stay there," he told Clark quickly.

"Like I've got a choice," Clark mumbled as Lex headed out the door. A moment later he reappeared with a wheelchair. When Clark saw it he frowned.

Lex understood his aggravation. People in Smallville always speculated on how two so very different people could have been friends, but, in reality, Clark and Lex were more alike than anyone knew. In this particular case, both had immense pride, and Lex knew how degrading it would be for Clark to admit this weakness. Yet, there was nothing he could do about it, so he simply slipped his hands under Clark's arms and hoisted him into the wheel chair. Clark settled in it with a small "oomph".

Lex pushed him out of the room and down the hall a few steps to the bathroom that was there. "Can you get undressed on your own?" he asked seriously, helping Clark from the wheelchair to the side of the tub.

"Yes." Clark sounded like he was lying, and really, he probably was, but Lex didn't think he'd want his help if he were Clark. If he were Clark he wouldn't want any touch from himself. He was a traitor from Clark's perspective. Help from a traitor was like taking blood money.

"I'll wait outside the door," he told him quietly. He left and the gentle sound of the door latching met his ears. There was bolt on the outside of the door-probably installed by Jason, because, really, Jason wouldn't even bother to offer to help Clark. He'd just lock him in and leave.

He waited a minute or so until he heard the gentle stream of water begin. At that point he turned and headed down the hall.

He'd had lunch with Jason the day before and had drugged his drinks then, but now he needed to do it again-and with a stronger dose this time. His shoes made soft squeaking sounds on the tiled floors as he walked, and it seemed to him that he must have been able to be heard by the whole world.

But no one stopped him and he entered the kitchen. Even in the kitchen the harsh glare of the artificial lighting, bereft of any help from natural light since they were in a warehouse on a floor underground, assaulted him. It hurt his eyes and he could only imagine how it must be for Clark. Clark had to lie in a bed with either that or only the soft green glow of meteor rocks for hours on end.

Pushing aside thoughts of Clark for the time being, he opened the refrigerator door, stopping to listen for footsteps when it made a soft squelching sound, and continued when he heard none. He injected the drug into every piece of food in the refrigerator and added it to every drink as well. Jason was staying here, he knew, and that meant this was the only food he was exposed to. It was only a matter of time until enough got in his system, right?

The creak of the door opening made him straighten back. Jason was looking at him suspiciously. "What? I was hungry," he lied quickly.

Jason shook his head, but obviously bought his excuse. "As lovely as that is, I thought you might like to know of our newest development."

The blood.

Lex had forgotten.

"What's that?" he asked, fighting to keep his face neutral.

Jason grinned a little as he came over to the refrigerator, grabbed a half-empty Pepsi, unscrewed the seal and took a drink. "Our friend Clark doesn't seem to be human."

Well, Lex had to hand it to him; he certainly was blunt about things. Luckily for Lex, he was also stupid, because that drink was drugged. Instead of vocalizing that, he only cocked an eyebrow and laughed. "You're kidding. Although, really, it doesn't surprise me."

Jason looked at him for a moment. The look could only be described as one of bemusement. "You pretended to be Clark's friend for four years. Was it only to get his secrets?"

Lex shrugged, moving towards the door. "I've got to go get Clark out of his bath. You've got to clean him up a little more often than you do."

Laughing, Jason only shook his head. "No point now, although I thank you for getting him ready. I've got scientists coming this after noon to do a vivisection."

Lex could have sworn that his blood had frozen in his veins, or had at the very least congealed, causing his heart to stop beating. He thought he ought to get an award for how casually he was able to say, "Really? What for?"

Jason snorted. "He's. An. Alien."

Striding out into the hall, Lex only laughed, although he was the furthest thing from happy. "You can't possibly be sure of that. He could just be a meteor mutant that had his blood infected and changed."

"Yeah? Well we'll find out this afternoon, won't we?"

He couldn't stop this from happening to Clark, he realized. And honestly, he would have done anything to, but to simply kill Jason wouldn't work now. He'd been to see his father, Lex knew. People knew he was alive. He should have done it while he had the chance. And now, because of his stupid moment of morals, Clark was going to be dissected. "Have you got the Anesthesia set up?"

Jason looked at him like he was crazy or, even worse, stupid. "He's not human, Lex. If he's not human there's no need for such things."

Lex stomach flipped. Clark was going to be dissected without any drugs. This could not be happening. He must have reached the limit of what he could take because Jason suddenly said, "You paled when I said that. You still have some attachment to him?"

Lex forced himself to laugh. They had long ago reached the door to the bathroom and were now simply standing there talking. "I just don't think that's ethically right for anyone-human or not."

"Oh come on, none of what we're doing is ethic. You know, Lex, I think your attachment to him isn't good. Perhaps you shouldn't be there when we cut him open this afternoon. It might upset you too much."

No, he had to be there, if only to assure himself that Clark didn't die. He was not a coward. He would be there for Clark. When he got Clark out of this, he vowed that he'd never let anyone hurt that boy again. He would give Clark whatever he wanted. No one deserved this-least of all Clark.

"No," he said seriously. "I'm curious to see what happens."

"But not on Anesthesia," Jason said again with a wicked smile.

Lex felt sick as he realized that this lack of narcotics was as much to spite him as it was Clark. Jason was testing him to see if he would protect Clark-Jason wanted something to hold over his head. Lex was determined not to give it to him.

"If you say so," he said with a shrug. Lex undid the bolt on the door, its heavy ominous thump echoing throughout the hallway as he entered the room again.

Clark was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, towel in hand, trying to dry himself. He looked incredibly exhausted and about to faint. Over his shoulder, Lex ordered Jason, "Go get him some clothes."

"Or a hospital gown," Jason replied with a sadistic smile as he left to get one.

Clark looked absolutely petrified. "W-what?"

Lex knelt down next to him and began to dry him off for him. Clark looked too exhausted to protest. "Guess the bath took a lot out of you, huh?" He meant it to sound almost teasing, but it seemed a hint of caring had made it into the tone, for Clark looked at him strangely.

"Why do you do this to me, Lex?" he asked finally.

"Do what?"

"Pretend to care?"

"Maybe I'm not pretending. Maybe I still do care about you." He shouldn't have said that, and he knew it, but he couldn't take that look Clark was giving him.

Clark's eyes narrowed and suddenly became more hateful than Lex had ever seen them. "You don't need to lie to me now, Lex. You've got what you want. I know what hospital gowns mean. I don't know exactly what's going to happen this afternoon, but I know I won't like it."

"Clark-"

"I screamed for you. When that man was touching me I screamed for you, and you didn't help me. You let him touch me. You watched him do it." So much belief in Lex's dereliction that it nearly killed Lex. But Lex didn't blame him-how could Clark not feel like that?"

He finished drying him and let him sit there with the towel over his waist. "Will you kill me, Lex? Will this end with my death?" he asked suddenly.

"No, it won't. I won't let that happen," he said seriously, being very sure to keep most of the emotion out of his voice.

"I don't trust you." Lex thought he must be the only one in the world to have ever received that look from Clark. He also thought that Clark might be the only one who could make him feel like he was feeling. Even in his clubbing days in Metropolis when he'd used so many people, he'd never felt like this.

The door opened again and Jason returned with a gown. Clark looked sick when he saw it opened from the front. Lex took the gown and gingerly helped Clark into it. "You've got to get back in the wheel chair, Clark," he told him gently.

Clark shot him a glare that could have frozen water, but allowed himself to be helped back into the wheel chair.

"No sense taking him back to his room," Jason pointed out. "Follow me; I'll show you where we're going."

Clark paled more, making his dark hair stand out prominently. Lex could only push the chair forward, following Jason. Once they were out of the room, he watched Clark stare at the walls, as if looking for an escape route. His heart nearly broke, knowing Clark would never find one.

As they stopped in front of a door and were about to go inside, Jason raised his hand and rubbed his neck. "Damn, my neck hurts," he muttered. Clark's eyes shot up to look at him, and Lex thought he saw some sort of recognition flash through them.

Lex was using a simple drug, but one that was untraceable by routine blood tests. He was told the side effects would be muscle aches and sleeplessness. But why was Clark looking like he'd seen it before? He really didn't have time to think on it, because Jason dropped his hand and Lex pushed Clark into the room.

Clark's soft whimper at the sight of the room obviously couldn't be held in. The room was a sterile white and in the middle was a metal table with leather restraints on it. Over it was what Lex assumed to be a light to illuminate the surgery as it was happening. He didn't want to look at Clark for he didn't want to see his expression.

"Well what are you waiting for?" Jason asked impatiently. "Help me get him on the table!"

Feeling every bit the betrayer, Lex grabbed one of Clark's flailing arms as Jason grabbed the other, and hauled him from the chair. Clark fought their grip valiantly, but there were rocks in this room as well. "Lex, please," he whimpered, looking up at Lex in a desperate appeal as both he and Jason began to buckle the restraints in place.

Lex forced himself to look at the restraints instead. There were so many of them: One for the wrists, one for the ankles, one for the upper arms and elbows, not to mention the knees, upper and lower legs, plus the hips. There was even one for the forehead.

Clark looked petrified at his lack of mobility. Lex could see his muscles straining as he fought to loose himself. "Lex, please, don't do this to me."

He couldn't stop himself from reaching up and smoothing back Clark's hair. The poor kid looked so frightened. As he'd expected, the gesture only made Clark grimace, and Lex was sickened to see the tears come to his eyes.

Jason clearing his throat brought him out of his daze. "We'll come back later when the scientists get here."

"No, please," Clark whimpered again.

Jason rolled his eyes and headed for the door. Feeling as though he deserved to die a very painful death, Lex followed. Clark's screams followed them all the way down the hall.