Smallville Virtual Season – Episode 6 – Lure

The dreams that Lex Luthor had since being freed from the Phantom Zone were not just ordinary nightmares. They were apocalyptic visions, disturbing images of loss and pain that were hard to shake, even on a brilliantly sunny June afternoon. He would awaken, his temples screaming, and Lana's soft, even breathing beside him so irritating that he could feel her struggling beneath his pillow, fighting for air and her life. He'd never actually done that, of course, but it was there, the emotion so real and bitter to Lex that he had a hard time concealing it. That particular kind of murder was a serious issue for Lex, because it brought up unwelcome memories of his mother and Julian. Now, driving down the county roads toward town, Lex thought briefly of his mother. Lost parents were always the easiest to deify or destroy, he thought with a sardonic smile. Clark had a troubled history with Jor-El, Lex had remembered from his time in the Phantom Zone. Jor-El's regret over that had been one of the many things Lex had wished he could see in Lionel. Living parents were much more problematic. They either were, or were not. You could allow them the grey areas, of course, but just the same, they were little bundles of unpredictable actions. Lionel had been attentive, his ruthless need to grow Lex into a Luthor worthy of the name inexplicably on the back burner, and his time with Martha Kent growing more and more frequent. Passing the Kent farm, Lex remembered the days of wishing he'd grown up like Clark, happy and safe, with parents whose primary goal was to keep their child healthy and strong. Looking now, Lex could see Clark working in the cow pen, a large golden retriever nearby and oddly enough, Oliver Queen there too, in the cow pen, looking over a heavily pregnant cow. Intrigued, Lex pulled into the Kent's long drive and brought his car to a stop just outside the pen.

"Well, well, well." Lex said, getting out of his car. "What's wrong, Ollie? Investments go bust?" He smiled and extended a hand. "Or are you diversifying?"

"No, just keeping my hand in." Oliver nodded, pulling off the heavy work gloves. "This cow should have dropped her load a week ago, Clark says. Anyway, I had a situation like this in Montana not all that long ago, so I offered to help out. Nothing I need to be doing can't be done from here, as long as the Senator and Clark don't mind." He shook Lex's hand, pointedly examining Lex with a keen eye. "You look better, Lex. Last time I saw you, you looked like chewed gum."

"Nice analogy, Ollie." Lex laughed. "I'm much improved since then. I guess you're going to be around for awhile. I hear you've been working with my father on literacy programs in Metropolis."

"Starting in Metropolis." Oliver corrected. "He's doing it out of the kindness of his heart. I'm doing it to get the little buggers ready for the world, and educated enough to make some smart decisions. Hey, Clark." Oliver turned and Clark looked up from the book he was reading, comparing a sore on the back of the cow he had tethered to the fence with a picture. "Look who's here. "

"Lex." Clark closed the book and walked to the fence. He wiped his forehead on his wrist and squinted at Lex. "What's the occasion?"

"Couldn't believe my eyes. It's not every day you see a timber and land baron working on a small Kansas farm." Lex looked around. The roof on the Kent barn was new, and there were large unpainted patches on the barn walls. Lana had told him that Clark had been busy fixing the farm up, keeping him away from just about everyone he knew. The other night, when they had begun their chess game, Clark had told him about the conversation they had the night Zod came, and although Lex had not wanted to believe it, the proof was right before his eyes now. The things he had said to Clark were true, and Lex had never breathed them to a soul before that night, or even confess them to himself. But, they had been the incentive to work with Fine, to seduce Lana, but there was more to it now. Meeting Jor-El in the Phantom Zone had convinced Lex more than ever that someone had to exert some kind of control. Jor-El had been a failure on Krypton, and look where that had ended up, the planet destroyed, a lone Kryptonian child sent into space, a target for every being with a grudge against Jor-El. Lex remembered that. And he remembered more than that, though he would never admit it to anyone, not even Lana. He looked at his former friend with new eyes now. The cause of every misery and heartache in Lex's nightmares stood before him, innocently holding a book on veterinary medicine for farmers, dressed in jeans and work boots. The last son of Krypton. "Wanted to thank you for stopping by the other night, too, Clark."

"Oh." Clark seemed surprised. Oliver had turned, and Lex noticed the smirk that curled the corner of Queen's mouth. "No problem, Lex. I'm glad you are back on your feet."

"I realize it was for Lana's benefit." Lex said, and Clark shrugged. "But it meant something to me too."

"It wasn't for Lana's benefit, Lex." Clark said, eyes cautious and his tone guarded. "I wanted to see how you were. You were through a lot, and I couldn't let it just go by." Clark shook his head. "I'm just glad you are back to your old self."

"Of course." Lex nodded. He looked at his watch. "Well, gentlemen, I have to go. I have a very important meeting in Metropolis." He turned and walked back to his car as Oliver and Clark went back to the business of the cows. Sliding into his car, Lex felt a small, stinging barb of regret. It seemed anti-climactic that this new phase of his relationship with Clark had begun over a chess game. But it was clear that they were on opposite sides now. He looked back at Clark and Oliver. They had both gone to look at the wounded cow. They were an odd pairing, Lex thought, putting his car in gear. Oliver completely irreverent, and Clark so proper. He turned the car and drove off, his mind moving to the meeting he had in Metropolis. The business of being Lex Luthor had begun.

Chloe stood in the mixing booth, while Lori and her band listened to the playback on the song they had just recorded. She looked at her watch, as the argument over an odd harp like instrument raged on. Lori had come through and gotten her band mates to agree to the interview, although there had been a great deal of resistance from one of the girls, the spiky haired brunette named Callista. The others, Persephone, Gisela, Morgaine and Rowan all agreed, and it was Morgaine who called to Chloe, gesturing wildly.

"Hey, Chloe." She tapped on the glass, her purple hair pulled away from her face, which was flushed with frustration. "Tell Boss man in there that you like the lyre." She pointed to her instrument and grinned.

Chloe laughed, and shrugged. 'It sounded great, but I couldn't tell the difference between that and a regular harp."

Lori turned in her seat and smiled up at Chloe. "It's okay. I don't think Bob is going to be arguing anymore. Are you, Bobby?"

The producer smiled at them groggily, Gisela standing behind him massaging his neck.

"Oh, no, babe." Chloe stifled a giggle, as the man leered up at the impromptu masseuse. "You all can play bottles and kettles from now on."

Lori looked back at Morgaine and gave her a thumbs up. "You win, Morgaine. No more nostalgia, okay? You get homesick, you go home."

Morgaine laughed, and Chloe swore it sounded like a running stream, but dismissed it as an illusion of the acoustics of the room. All the same, Morgaine's grey eyes darted in Chloe's direction and then she shrugged.

"All I'm saying is that in Greece, these things are hot." She tossed her head, and Callista snorted.

"Three thousand years ago." The bassist said, placing her bass in it's large, rectangular case and snapping it shut. "I'm out of here. Want to go for a swim before dinner."

"We have an interview." Lori said, rolling her eyes. "You promised you'd cooperate."

Callista turned, hands on her slender hips and her tone as spiky as her black hair. "I'll tell you what, Lorelai, I'll cooperate at the pool." Chloe saw a look something very like annoyance sail across Lori's mild face, and then pass just as quickly into an expression she had seen more of, gentle amusement.

"Suit yourself, Callie." Lori laughed finally. "Chloe can come to the hotel and swim with us. Hope you have waterproof ink, Chloe."

"Hee, waterproof ink, that's cute, babe." The producer leered at Lori, who simply ignored him. Callista had fixed Chloe with a piercing glare, and Chloe was reminded uncomfortably of the sharks at the Metropolis Aquarium.

"Yeah, right." Callista scoffed. "See you around." She picked up her bass and left the studio, allowing the door to slam shut behind her.

"Don't mind her." Gisela told Chloe, wiping her hands on her faded jeans. "Callista always gets like that when she's hungry."

"I'll bring raw meat with me next time." Chloe replied dryly, and Gisela's eyes widened.

"How did you know?" She asked, and then, "She's on a raw food diet." Lori had risen, eyebrows high, and Gisela turned toward her, her voice pleading. "Well, she is."

"Okay." Lori rolled her eyes. "Enough of this. Come on, Chloe." She held out a hand. "We'll all go back to the hotel for lunch. If our blood sugar drops any more, there'll be mayhem."

"Sure." Chloe smiled. "I also want dirt on Oliver. Off the record."

Lori's amazing eyes sparkled with good humor. "Like what? Boxers or briefs? Because I promise, I have no earthly idea." She laughed brightly. "We had a boating accident a few years ago in Seattle, and have been friends ever since." She took Chloe's hand. "I'll tell you all I know about Ollie, if you tell me all you know about Clark. "

Chloe grinned, and shook Lori's hand. "Deal." Mentally crossing her fingers, Chloe figured the abridged version of Clark's life story was good enough for now. If he chose to tell her more, then that was up to him.

"Otis, I hope you realize that I have better things to do than watch hotel security tapes." Lex said, walking around his desk to the bar in his office. He opened a bottle of mineral water and eyed the chubby security guard coldly. "But your message was intriguing."

"I heard you liked freaks, Mr. Luthor." Otis said, practically falling over his own feet to start the tape. "This is a doozy, it really is. See, there was a rumor that someone had a shark at the Metropolis Grand."

"A shark?" Lex set the bottle down on the bar and stabbed Otis with a steely glance. "Seems highly unlikely."

"I though so too, Mr. Luthor. That's why I set up the camera. It ain't a shark, though. Look." Otis pointed to the image of a young woman, about twenty or so, getting ready to dive into the pool. She twitched and then jumped, nearly disappearing and then, clear as a bell, the tail of a great white shark appeared above the surface of the water. Otis stopped the tape. "That girl, she's the shark."

"This tape is doctored." Lex dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "There's no such thing."

"There is, Mr. Luthor. This girl is in a band that's playing here in town right now. Called Syren, or something. The whole group of them are mermaids." Otis replied earnestly, fidgeting with his blue uniform cap. "Honest, Mr. Luthor."

Lex turned around and looked at the paused image on the television screen again. Following the shark tail into the water, Lex could make out the shapely torso of a young woman, her arms outstretched on her way back down to the bottom of the pool. "Well, Otis, maybe I'm being hasty. My secretary will see that you are compensated for the tape, and the time lost from your job. " Lex walked away from the television again to stand with his back to Otis, looking out at the sweeping skyline of Metropolis.

"Thank you, Mr. Luthor." Otis nearly bowed, turning his cap over in his thick hands again. "Have a good day, Mr. Luthor."

Hearing the door shut behind Otis, Lex turned around and hit a button on his phone. "Find out where a band called Syren is playing here in town, and get me two tickets, please."

Lex's secretary squealed a little. "They're at that new place on the north side, I forget the name, but Lex, they are sooo good." Lex could see her in his minds eye, at her desk, grinning like a schoolgirl.

Lex nodded, curtly. "You've seen them?"

"My sister is a big fan." His secretary told him. "Really popular on the college music circuit. I went with her the other night. "

"Great, indie rock." Lex winced. "Get the tickets. Thanks."

"Hello, working men of America!" Chloe called, dropping her purse on the Kent's sofa. The front door, as usual when Clark was home, was unlocked and open. "Clark? Oliver?" Lori followed her, looking around her with great interest. The girls had driven out to Smallville after the interview on a whim. Chloe looked around, and turned to Lori with a shrug. "Must be outside."

"What a lovely home." Lori ran her hand across the mantle. "So full of air and light."

"Um, yeah." Chloe smiled, looking around. "Where did you grow up? A cave?"

Lori's smile in return was wistful. "It wasn't like this, that's for sure, but no, not a cave."

The sound of male voices made the girls turn toward the kitchen door. Clark and Oliver appeared, both dirty, but looking rather pleased with themselves.

"I'm half tempted to buy that little calf." Oliver was saying, "As a memento of my visit to Kansas."

Clark laughed. "I'll just name him Ollie. To remember you by."

"Great, just don't…" Oliver grinned wider. "Wow, visitors all over the place today. Hey, Goldilocks." He moved to embrace her, but Chloe held up a hand to fend him off. She stood tiptoe, brushed his cheek with a chaste kiss and then grinned brightly,

"Hi yourself. Clark, look who stowed away in my car to come see you." Chloe turned, gesturing like a game show model at Lori. Clark smiled, his eyes meeting Lori's for what felt like forever.

"Hi." Lori waved shyly, her eyes soft and a little nervous. "Sorry if I'm intruding, but I've never seen a farm before."

"Hi." Clark said feebly, staring at her. "Let me just wash my hands and I'll give you the tour."

In moments, Clark's hands were clean and he and Lori disappeared out on to the farm.

"What's with the time out, Ref?" Oliver asked, looking at Chloe quizzically. "It's not like Clark doesn't know we're seeing each other. I spent the day learning all about your high school past. Ms. Editor in Chief – Prom Queen."

"I don't know.." Chloe squirmed cutely and smiled. "It just feels weird, I guess."

"Weird." Oliver nodded. "Hmmm. Weird because of…" He looked out the window where Clark and Lori were looking at the barn. "Just say the word, Chloe and I'm making a graceful exit. "

"What? Oh come on. Just let's say that it's not the most romantic setting and you are…" Chloe groaned. "You're all…what is all over you, anyway?" She wrinkled her nose and gingerly picked at his shirt with two fingers.

"Oh.." Oliver looked down. "Clark's cow had her calf today…" He grinned wickedly at Chloe and she felt the butterflies in her stomach flutter madly. "You know, you're supposed to think I'm irresistible no matter how I look." His green eyes danced with good humor. "Come on, admit it, you do think I'm wonderful, right?" Oliver's grin was mischievous. "I am really, you know."

Chloe laughed and gave in. "You are wonderful. But you do stink, Oliver."

"Yeah, I get that a lot." Oliver nodded, mock solemn. After a brief flash of thought, he stripped off his shirt and pulled her close. "Hello, Chloe." Bending to her, Oliver kissed Chloe's lips hungrily. The kiss grew a little more complex, Chloe's arms reaching up around Oliver's neck to get as close to him as she could. The Kent house was quiet, and Chloe had to admit, it was fairly romantic after all.

"Hmmm" Chloe hugged Oliver tightly,reveling in the feel of his hair against her cheek. "You ARE a stinker, Oliver." His lips had moved down to her neck, and Oliver grinned against her collarbone.

"I said I get that a lot." Oliver laughed, squeezing Chloe back. "I'm going to get cleaned up, and then I'm all yours.." Winking, he quickly kissed her again and went up the stairs two at a time. "Yeah, I like the sound of that."

"All yours…" Chloe looked out the window at Clark and Lori. There was something very unusual about Lori, and Chloe couldn't put her finger on what exactly it was. The girl seemed to inspire all kinds of impulsive, fun thoughts and Chloe couldn't help but enjoy being around her. Smiling, she watched Clark push his hands into his pockets, and his shy smile slide across his face as Lori greeted Shelby as if meeting a long missed family friend. The dog was a good judge of character, Chloe admitted to herself, even though her instincts were humming. Her time spent with the girls of Syren had only produced more questions than answers. Upstairs, Chloe could hear water running, and smiled to hear Oliver singing off key. She closed her eyes, thinking of the first time he had kissed her, and the other moments in between, relishing the memory of his mouth on hers and his scent, so completely different from Clark's familiar smell of apples, new hay and fresh air. Oliver smelled great, like leather and soap, manly and alluring. Oliver Queen was a lot of things, Chloe thought, grinning, seeing him in her mind's eye. She appreciated all of those things, especially his forthrightness and sense of humor. For the first time in her life, she didn't care where things led. She just was enjoying the time she and Oliver had together now.

"I can't believe you're here." Clark said, walking beside Lori through the barn. "I was going to call you." The sun was starting to hang low in the sky, casting long shadows on the ground, and making the gold in Lori's hair glisten like pirate's treasure. It was always Clark's favorite time of day, but now, with this girl, Clark knew that he'd never think of the hour before sunset as anything other than magical again.

"I'm glad." Lori nodded, reaching up to touch one of the horses. The horse, usually balky, allowed her to gently stroke his fine nose without complaint. "Chloe was interviewing us today, and I really did hitch a ride with her. I like Chloe. She got along really well with everyone, and we had a great afternoon."

"Yeah, me too." Clark laughed. "She and I, well…she's my best friend."

"I know." Lori pulled her glorious hair over her shoulder and roughly braided it. "I think it's very cool that you guys are good friends. I've never really had that kind of friendship with a man…I mean, except for Ollie, of course."

"Are you close?" Clark asked, feeling a small twinge of jealousy. The fact that Chloe and Oliver were involved was one thing, but this girl…

"Yes, but not like you're thinking. I'm used to having people treat me funny." Lori told him, her eyes rolling. "If it's not how pretty, it's how talented, or something. People fall all over me. I hate it, too, so I'm not being falsely modest. Ollie's different. He treats me pretty much like he does everyone else. I'm not exceptional to him, and I like that. He's been a good friend."

"Oh." Clark nodded, understanding. "Well, I'll have to remember that."

Lori smiled, sliding her arm through his as they walked out of the barn and into the corn field. She looked up at him and Clark smiled down at her. With a sigh, she dropped her head on his shoulder. "What a great evening." Lori paused and looked up at him for a moment. "Clark?"

"What is it?" Clark asked, and Lori shook her head.

"Just thinking how nice it is to be here." Lori took a deep breath in, with ripening corn all around her, intoxicated by the fragrance of the lingering sun and the soil. Gazing up at Clark with wide eyes, Lori hesitantly smiled, and then kissed him sweetly on the lips. That moment seemed to last forever, and finally Lori pulled away, covering her mouth surprised at her boldness. "I can't believe I just did that."

"Neither can I." Clark smiled, his confidence building. "I'm not sorry you did."

"I'm not either." Lori blushed, and then laughed. "My mother would be horribly ashamed of me. Lack of decorum and all."

"Oh, your mother is old fashioned." Clark nodded. "Mine is too."

"Really?" Lori asked hopefully, and then shook her head. "I promise, not so old school as mine. " She laughed at Clark's dubious expression. "Mother is, well, kind of a high flyer in society back home, so, much is expected of us."

"Ah." Clark laughed. "So a Kansas farmer is a rebellion?"

"My whole life is a rebellion." Lori said sadly, reaching up to put her hand on Clark's face. "But I think Mother would approve of you."

Feeling the urge to collect her in his arms, Clark did so, grateful that she yielded so easily, wrapping her arms around him in return. "I'm pretty sure mine will approve of you, too." He said, holding her close.

How nice it must be, Lori thought, reveling in the warmth of Clark's body against her own, to have no secrets to hide and your life be an open book. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the soothing sound of his breathing and the absolutely addicting earthiness of his scent. Only for now, the voice in her mind warned, it's soft gurgling speech a stinging reminder of what secrets she held to her heart. For now, and that is all. Forever isn't possible, the voice rumbled within her soul, tying her down. Feeling the constraint, Lori pushed it further away, simply breathed in Clark Kent and immersed herself in the magical world he belonged to. Whatever else happened, they had now, and that needed to be enough.

"I'm glad you agreed to meet me." Lex purred at the woman across from him. He watched her dark eyes narrow, but the smile that played across her lips was inviting all the same. A vision of urban sexiness, his companion suddenly put all thoughts of Lana out of his mind.

"When one of the richest men in America calls to invite a poor girl from Long Island like me out for drinks, it's stupid to refuse." Callista replied smoothly. "I didn't know you were a fan." She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her dark eyes beguiling. The movement allowed Lex a long view down her silk blouse, revealing creamy tanned skin and her cleavage. Not usually one to be taken by surprise, Lex pulled his eyes away and picked up his drink.

"Well, my secretary spoke very highly of your music, gave me the cd to listen to. I have to say, I'm very impressed." Lex took a sip of his drink. "I noticed that you are on an independent label. Does your manager think that's wise? Surely the marketing power of a larger record label could only benefit your band."

"We don't have a manager. Our lead singer does most of the leg work." Callista stirred her water with a long finger, making the ice tinkle against the sides of the glass. "If you want a business decision, you need to talk to Lorelai."

"Well, then." Lex smiled. "We'll just keep the conversation friendly, won't we?"

"Good, because I love friendly conversation." Callista replied languidly. "Especially with handsome billionaires." She smiled, and Lex was so intrigued that the perfectly white, and sharp looking teeth in that smile slipped completely past his notice. His cell phone rang, but Lex had no interest in answering, even though there could have been no mistaking the caller, if he had just looked out the wide doorway into the lobby. Lana Lang, cell phone in hand, stood in the hotel lobby, staring into the bar. Seeing Lex not answer her call, Lana snapped her phone shut, tears filling her eyes and rage seething in her heart. That he was with another woman, looking very, very involved, Lana could not allow herself to think about it. That particular knife plunged too deeply into her soul. Shaking her head, Lana turned away from the scene before her and blinked back the tears that scalded her eyes.

"I don't want to eat here after all." She said to Lois Lane, who had just put their names in for dinner. "Let's go someplace else."

"Okay, but this is close to the theater and I heard that cute chef from the Food Network was running the place now..." Lois said, letting Lana grab her arm and tow her from the hotel. "We don't want to be late for the show – I've wanted to see "Wicked" forever."

Lana swallowed her tears. "I know this great little café around the corner. It always reminds me of Paris." And times before Lex, Lana thought to herself, unable to free her mind from the image of Lex and the woman in silver grey leather.

"Whatever. As long as I don't miss the opening of this show. Everyone has been weird the last couple of weeks, Chloe, you, Clark...but he's always weird." Lois replied, finally looking down at her friend. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Maybe nothing." Lana sighed. "Maybe everything." The sudden feeling of being sucked under by an overpowering tide made Lana gasp for air, even though she was on dry land. Everything or nothing, Lana could feel the world she'd constructed around herself starting to crack and shake. All she could do now was wait.