Chapter 31 [Two Hours Later]

Jonathan sped up State Road. Temper and Protective Streak flared within himself. What's going on with Clark? So, help me! What was Lex doing by going out on his own! Sharp Left Turn brought him up Lex's driveway. Nell must be fit to be tied. Not that I blame her! Brakes lurched Truck to a sudden stop. He got out and slammed Truck's Door shut. He marched up to the door. Knuckles rapped hard.

Door swung open. "Good Morning, Mr. Kent. Please follow me. May I take your coat?" The butler held his hand out to cue Jonathan.

"No thank you." Jonathan bristled. "I need to see Lex immediately." Eyes narrowed. His mind told him that allowing the Billionaire in on the Secret proved to be in error. "Where is my son?"

"Please, Mr. Kent. Mr. Luthor will tell you more. I am ready to take you to him." Butler steadied himself. "He is upstairs with Dr. Dubois. Follow me?" He straightened his vest. Shoes squeaked across Floor toward Stairs.

They're here already? I thought David and Angela weren't going to be here until later. Questions cooled Jonathan's temper. Boots clomped their way up the stairs. His eyes remained straight ahead not taking in Wealth's Trappings all around them. Purpose tugged him to Stairs' Top. Nothing changes.

Butler's hand knocked on the door. "Master Luthor?"

Lex opened the door and peered out. "Yes, Jenkins? Mr. Kent! Please come in. Angie's just come back from looking Clark over. Jenkins, can you bring that coffee service? How do you take yours?"

"I am here for my son, Lex, not to have coffee." Impatience huffed from Jonathan. "Where is he? Principal Gibbons said he never showed up to school. Somehow, he was injured?"

Lex motioned for Jenkins to leave. Then, he closed the door. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kent. We didn't want them to take Clark to Smallville Regional. I'd thought you'd agree. We brought him back here to keep him out of sight."

"I called the school and spoke to him, Mr. Kent." Angie drank a draught from her mug. "Forgive me. Clark's situation's been dealt with. He's healing right now. Arighatto burned him with dark magical fire."

Disbelief stiffened Jonathan. "Clark can reach right into a furnace. That shouldn't make a difference!"

Lex opened the door briefly. He pulled the Coffee Cart in and closed the door again. "You know there are other kinds of fire, Mr. Kent. Look at my mother and Ms. Janet. They got cancer from magic fire." He shrugged. "I don't even know what they did. Angie says it's okay. It's okay."

"What did you do?" Jonathan folded his arms across his chest. Suspicion raised an eyebrow. "Is he suffering? How do you cure Magic's burns?"

"With more magic." Lex poured Jonathan's mug. "Black with raw honey? Right?" He spooned Honey into Coffee and stirred it. "There you are. I'll be honest, Mr. Kent. Pete called me this morning in a dead panic. Arighatto cornered Chloe and him in the Torch offices. Chloe called Clark. Before Lana could stop him, he jumped out of her blazer. Then, he ran to the school. He got Pete and Chloe out of there. Arighatto burned him with magic fire. Thankfully, I reached Dave and Angie."

"He scared us out of bed." Angie drank from her mug. "Dave changed into the Child. He dropped me off here. Then, he went right to the school. The Child dealt with Arighatto. Then, he and a friend arranged for Arighatto to lose his powers. He's in jail. Mr. Luthor's right there with him." She bowed her head.

"Arighatto overheard our discussion last night. My father found out about Dave and Angie coming back. He called Arighatto and told him about the school. Anyway, Miranda's kidnapping and forced adoption are going to come to light. Don't worry. My father's going to jail for a long time. By Monday morning, I'll have LuthorCorp assets absorbed into LexCorp." Lex noticed Concern on Jonathan's face. "What's wrong now?"

Consternation forced Jonathan to stare at the ceiling. "Lex, your father arranged for Clark's adoption after the meteor shower. With everything that was going on…."

Lex rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. I get it. You don't want that Pandora's Box reopened. It's okay. I'll vouch for Clark. We'll get the matter taken care of. I'll make a few calls."

"You sure? Lex, I…." Jonathan felt like a heel at that moment. Accusations faded before Self-Reflection's moment. "I owe you an apology."

"Forget it, Mr. Kent. You're a concerned father. Believe me. I wish my Dad had been that way when I was Clark's age. He just told me not to get caught." Lex held out his hand. "When I said I had Clark's back, I meant it."

"Thank you, Lex. My wife and I appreciate this." Jonathan shook his hand. "So, where's Clark now?"

"He's sleeping in a guest room." Angie leaned back against Couch's Cushions. "If you remember the priestesses, one of them washed his back with holy water. The skin's already lost the burns and puss. He had bad third-degree burns. Mr. Kent, anyone else would've died from that attack. Fortunately, the Big Kid got Clark back here. We treated him."

Jonathan bowed his head. Relief flooded through himself. Heart squeezed from Bad News. "And where's David?"

"He's sleeping too. Unless I see something this afternoon, I don't want Clark moved for another day or so. I can see his healing factor's off the charts. You both might remember my own gift?" Angie held up her hands. Lavender Glow enveloped them.

"That's right! You have that healing ability!" Jonathan pointed at her. "Well, you've kept Clark's secret. We can keep yours." He drank from his own mug again.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Lex got up. "Come on. We'll have to be quiet but we can look in on him. That work?"

"As long as we let him sleep." Angie cleared her throat for emphasis. "Let's go."

Jonathan followed the others toward the door. He relaxed. Accusations melted away still further.

Perhaps, he'd been hasty….