Smallville Virtual (TC) Season Episode 16 – Discovery
"...Those
who do not understand
their destiny will never understand
the
friends they have made
nor the work they have chosen
nor
the one life that waits
beyond all the others..."
David Whyte, "All The True Vows"
When Clark and Oliver left the classroom, Lionel sat down in the chair behind the teacher's desk and sighed, covering his eyes with his hand. Allowing them to believe Lex was solely responsible for the little drama that had swirled around Martha hadn't been entirely truthful. Lionel had to assign himself some blame in the drama. He'd gotten too close, insinuated himself too much into her life. And, by all means, Lionel was not the sort of man to chat casually in the kitchen of the farmhouse while Martha made them breakfast. If he held any responsibility it was in opening her up to such an attack by thinking that he might still be able to become such a person. It was too late for such fantasies of change. Lionel rose, adjusting his custom tailored jacket with an elegant shrug of the shoulders. His concern was Lex. Since the incident this spring, Lex had been erratic, unfocused. It was only after they had recovered him in the Keys, in and out of consciousness, that Lionel truly noticed the change in his son. And it was not for the better.
The darkness in Lex had only gotten worse, more sinister. Lionel had hoped that in enticing Lana Lang to stay in her relationship with Lex, some root could be found for the increasing darkness within his son. Lana, to her credit, had proved to be ethically unable to stand up to the challenge leaving Lionel alone again trying to find out the truth. Lex had progressed from disappointment to dangerous, and Lionel couldn't help but wonder what miracle of parenting had created a Clark Kent, or an Oliver Queen, for that matter. Lionel had met Oliver's father Matthew years ago, when Lex and Oliver were at Excelsior. The senior Queen had been too good looking by half, cocksure and charming, regarding his boy as a natural extension of himself, and now, Oliver had surpassed his father in all ways. Jonathan Kent had not for one day treated Clark as anything other than his natural son, and the boy was now a young man to be admired, even envied. Lionel forbade himself to relive his own childhood, to see the faces of his own parents. It was a sign of old age to become so maudlin, reminiscing and brooding, and Lionel would not let trivialities like time and age defeat him. Until one of them were dead, there was still a chance to pull Lex from this path of destruction he'd chosen. Lionel just hoped that he could still meet the task. Regally, he walked to the classroom door and looked out at the benefit party, which had shifted into festive high gear. The auction had begun, and the Luthor – Queen Urban Literacy Project would be able take off strong. Lionel smiled. I might be too young to be maudlin, he thought, I'm not young enough to ignore my legacy. He made a mental note to call the private attorney that handled his personal business. Legacies needed tending, just like children, or crops of corn. Lionel smiled, thinking of his child, the facial expression taking on the shark like gleam it once had. Oh, Lex. Lex, Lex. You will never see this coming. I only wish I could be alive to see your reaction. Chuckling, Lionel pushed through the door and out into the swirl of excitement.
"There they are." Clark gestured to where Lois, Chloe and two others stood, involved in conversation. Oliver nodded and the men moved through the crowd to rejoin their group, just outside the room where the benefit was being held. Lois was speaking in low, urgent tones to the newcomers.
"..have to understand the depth of what you tried to pull. I can't bring you to jail myself, but I'm going to make sure you don't do it again." She pointed at the man, using her height to intimidate him, even though he himself was nearly six feet tall. "And YOU….I know so many ways to make you suffer. Slimeball."
"Hey, hey.." The man said, raising his hands. "Take it easy. We didn't actually get to spring the plan into action, no one's been hurt yet..."
Lois sneered. "Because we caught you." She turned as Clark approached and sighed impatiently. "There you are. I thought your little private chat with Lionel was going to go on all day."
Clark looked at the man, tuning Lois out. "You the reporter from the Wichita paper?"
"I am." Daniel Cooper drew himself up, and still was not as tall as Clark or Oliver. "I can write another story, you know, about how I was strong armed by Martha Kent's people into dropping the real story of her pandering to special interests." His voice raised a little in panic, as Clark advanced toward him, his face dark with anger. Oliver gracefully stepped between Clark and Cooper.
"Whoa, sparky." Oliver said, placing a hand on Clark's shoulder. "He's got nothing and he knows it. I love when guys are just stupid. Let's handle this like grown ups." Oliver turned to Cooper, and the genial tone in his voice vanished, replaced by a growl that made the hairs on the back of Chloe's neck stand up. "Okay, Cooper, give us what you have, and no threats. I'm in no mood to play games. And I'm being the good cop here. I could just let Clark rip you apart for trying to hurt his Mom." Oliver clapped Clark on the shoulder again.
"Come on, Coop…it's over." The dark haired woman said, pleading. "They can help us get out of this, if you let them."
"Billionaire threatens reporter…" Cooper began defiantly, and Oliver chuckled.
"You had to go there, didn't you? Geez, these guys never learn. Come here." Oliver put his arm around the reporter and walked him to the window that looked into the classrooom. "When I tell you that it won't surprise anyone in that room that you are a lying piece of crap, believe me. So, exposing you as one is not much of a victory for me. You can write whatever you want about me, got it? I threatened you, beat the crap out you. It might be true anyway, in about ten minutes, so that won't be a lie. Now, I think we all understand each other, and that we all get what we want with no violence or any negative publicity. You think so too, Coop?"
Cooper swallowed. Oliver Queen was not a small man, and by no means one to be taken lightly. And Martha Kent's son, the football hero, was bigger and more daunting, in spite of how gently he was speaking to Donna now. He weighed his options. The damage to his career would be incalculable if his arrangement with Lex Luthor came out, and Luthor was no man to be crossed either. Cooper nodded, looking at Oliver solemnly.
"I'll tell you everything, and turn over the bids. You have to get me out of Kansas, and Donna too. And, if this story is going to hit the press, I want our names changed or left out of it. I'm about to double cross someone scarier than either one of you." Coop said, and Oliver smiled.
"There now. I knew you could see reason. See, Clark? We didn't have to rough him up at all. It's always nice when different points of view can be discussed and ironed out." Oliver said expansively, making Clark choke on a suppressed laugh. "Where are the bids?"
"I have the documents in my car. I didn't want them to get away from me." Cooper said, taking his car keys from his pocket.
"Donna and I will go get them." Chloe took the keys from Cooper's hand with an apologetic smile. "Be back in a minute." The two young women walked away from the group and toward the parking lot. Coop sat down, dropping his head into his hands, desperate to be anywhere other than here, or eventually facing Lex Luthor.
"Well, Smallville, I hope to get some appreciation for my part in this." Lois said smugly, folding her arms over her chest. "I broke this wide open."
"Appreciation for what?" Clark asked sarcastically. "Picking up the wrong phone line?" A flicker of hurt appeared through Lois' veneer of bravado, and suddenly, Clark realized his attitude toward Lois was unfair – she had done everything she could out of loyalty and affection for his mother. "We owe you a lot, Lois. Thanks." He smiled at her, and she smiled back, honey brown hair bouncing around her shoulders as she reached over to punch him smartly on the arm.
"On that note, I'm going to get something to drink and mingle." Lois grinned jauntily, walking away from them on long legs. "Try not to miss me, Smallville. I want to have some fun today."
Oliver shook his head and looked at Clark, who was watching her go with a bemused expression. "You okay, Clark? Look like a goose just walked over your grave."
"I was just wondering how someone so obnoxious always manages to come through for the people she cares about. It's a mystery." Clark said, and Oliver nodded.
"That being there for the people they care about runs in the family." Oliver said, as Chloe and Donna returned. Chloe waved the file in the air with a victorious little flourish, and Oliver smiled. "I'm glad this one is on my side."
Martha looked around her kitchen in awe. While Lori had been quite the prodigy in the baking department, her friend Callista had proven to be quite effective at cleaning up. The whole room was spotless, and Perry was comfortably seated, a steaming cup of coffee before him, going over his notes from the day. The girls had retired to the living room to talk, and watch television while they waited for the others to get back. Martha had started dinner, a huge cured ham that Jonathan had gotten when he won the election, baby potatoes and fresh corn were all underway. Enough to feed a small army. A male presence in the kitchen, the young women in the living room, waiting for Clark and Martha felt herself transported back in time. Sighing, Martha took out a large bowl and the ingredients for biscuits. Jonathan always liked biscuits with ham and gravy. Clark did too, Martha reminded herself, but still found herself listening to Perry as he read through his notes and sipped at the coffee. So familiar sounding, and easy to let herself remember...
"Martha?" Perry's voice behind her at the table made Martha jump, breaking her dream of Jonathan at the table, going over bills. Of course, there could be no mistaking either of them for the other, Martha realized that now. She turned, her hands full of butter and flour. Perry was looking at her, studying her as she worked.
"What Perry?" Martha smiled, and Perry frowned.
"I had asked you if you were considering running yourself, when your late husband's term was over, but you were," He raised a hand, swooping it through the air like a rocket and whistled. "Elsewhere. You okay?"
"I'm fine." Martha nodded, kneading the biscuit dough a little more. "Just wondering when the kids will all be back. Clark hasn't called yet."
Perry nodded. "About Clark, Martha. Do you think he'd would like a job? At the Ledger? He did some pretty good work when he was in high school – granted, not very exciting, but steady and factual. I'd really need him to be an editorial assistant, but there'd be writing opportunities for him, since he knows the town so well."
"Oh, I don't know.' Martha said, shrugging slightly. "He's got the farm, and he'll be starting back to school in the fall semester."
"Well, I'll ask him. And that little blonde friend of his…Caroline, Christine..?"
"Chloe." Martha smiled. "Actually, Chloe is already an intern at the Daily Planet."
"That kid is going places." Perry noted with admiration. "Her articles in that school paper were what brought me to Smallville in the first place with X-Styles." He looked down at his notepad and tapped it. "The Daily Planet. Good for her." The sound of tires crunching the dirt in the driveway made Perry look up. "Sounds like everyone is back. Which is my cue to go." He rose from his seat, and stretched. "I'd better walk back to town. I don't think I've eaten so much in one afternoon in a long time."
"No." Martha stopped him. "You have to stay for dinner. You've been here all day. You may as well stay, get a insiders view of the Senator and her extended family."
Perry smiled. "Well, now you have my journalistic sensibilities in an uproar. How can I resist?"
"So you'll stay? You can ask Clark about the Ledger…" Martha held out a hand sticky with biscuit dough, her nose wrinkled. "While I get this off my hands. Literally."
There was a knock on the screen door, and Lana smiled at Martha through it. "Mrs. Kent? I wanted to talk to you a minute. Can I come in?"
"Of course, dear. It's open." Martha nodded. "Lana. This is a surprise. Everything okay?"
"Fine...I was hoping to catch Clark and Chloe here. Oh..." Lana turned, blushing a little seeing Perry White at the Kent's kitchen table. "I'm sorry, you have company...I can come back later..."
"Nonsense." Martha said, finally freeing her hands of the raw biscuits. "They all went up to Metropolis. Perry came over to finish the interview we started last night, and Lori stayed behind with me." Lana nodded at Perry politely.
"Clark's girlfriend?" Lana said, smiling. "She seems really nice."
"She's in the living…oh, here she is.." Martha said, as Lori appeared alone in the doorway. "Your friend left?"
"Oh, yes…she wanted me to thank you for a lovely afternoon." Lori said apologetically. "An emergency came up."
"I hope everything is okay." Lana said, and Lori nodded.
"It's fine, Lana. Callie just overreacts sometimes. Mrs. Kent, Clark called. And they are on their way back. He didn't want to interrupt your interview." Lori held up her cell phone. "He said, it's over."
Martha sighed, and then giggled, making Lana and Perry look at her strangely. "Thank God." She walked around the counter, and hugged Lori.
"I feel like we're missing something." Perry said to Lana, who shrugged, used to the odd ways of the Kents. She patted his shoulder sympathetically and sighed.
"That's usual with the Kent family, Mr. White." Lana told him easily, setting her manila folder on the counter. "They're wonderful, but you never really know what the whole story is until they want you to know." Lana winked at Martha and the older woman reached out to pull Lana into the hug.
"Oh, Perry, I'm sorry." Martha finally said, after kissing both girls maternally. "When Clark gets home, we'll tell you the rest." She looked at Lana. "Why don't you tell me what you wanted to talk to me about, Lana?"
"Right." Lana nodded, and opened the folder. "Lex gave the Talon to me. He still wants a small share of the monthly profits, but it's mine." She took out the document and handed it to Martha. "My fath…Henry looked it over and he said it's all in order."
"Why, honey, this is wonderful." Martha took the deed, not looking at it. She smiled at Lana. "You must be so excited."
"I am. I'm thinking of selling it." Lana said quickly, as if she were afraid to say the words. "I'm going apply to the Gotham Institute of Design."
"Lana." Martha set the paperwork back down on the counter. "What made you decide on that? It seems so sudden after you and Lex ended things. I'd hate to see you rush into a decision just to get away."
"It's not that, at all, Mrs. Kent." Lana began, searching for the right words. "I'd have applied there out of high school but..."
Lori smiled and put her hand over Lana's. "Is it what your heart tells you is the right, Lana?"
Lana gasped, placing her small hand around Lori's longer,more elegant one, surprised by the gesture of support. "Yes, actually. It's funny, because I've been so busy being what everyone else wanted me to be, that I lost sight of what I wanted. The fun part of the Talon was restoring it. The coffee shop is great, but I feel like I want more." A small surprised smile played on her lips. "My interest in Astronomy I thought would answer questions I had, but those have been answered and I didn't need to waste time in school to get them."
"Then it is definitely the right thing." Lori said approvingly. "You will be very happy, Lana." Martha nodded, too, smiling.
"I'm looking forward to that. I could stand some happiness, although I'll settle for content." Lana laughed. "I hope I can stay until everyone gets back, I want to tell them myself."
"Of course you should stay." Martha brushed Lana's long hair away from the girl's face gently. "There is plenty for dinner."
"I'd like that." Lana smiled. "I'll just call over to the Talon and tell them I'm here."
"Well, I think this story needs to be in the newspaper. It's something the public needs to know." Perry said when dinner was just a pleasant and filling memory, after hearing about the plot against Martha. He set his napkin down and looked over at Clark. "Want to write it? You have a personal connection to the story. Should elevate it beyond your classic lunch tray article."
"Me, no." Clark said, shaking his head, his mouth curving into an embarrased grin. "Chloe?"
"Wow…I guess I could..." Chloe shrugged. "It hasn't felt like my story, though. Lois is the one that discovered it." She grinned at her cousin brightly, and Lois gasped, dropping her fork. They communicated silently for a moment, and Lori found herself checking to see if the girls were speaking telepathically, but they weren't. All the same, Lois had deciphered Chloe's message and reacted with scandalized horror.
"You can't be thinking I could write it." Lois asked, her voice low. Her cousin nodded brightly, ignoring the panic on Lois' face.
"Why not?" Chloe said, raising her eyebrows. "You wrote that editorial for the Torch about plastic surgery after Abby's mother nearly made you over with meteor rock juice."
"One editorial doesn't make me a writer." Lois scoffed, dismissing the idea, but Perry was watching her intently, listening. All eyes around the table fixed on her, and Lois fidgeted uncomfortably, lifting her chin with pretend bravery that fooled no one but her.
Chloe nodded. "Well, your other articles for the Torch were pretty good too, the love drug one was very insightful. Cousin or not, if they were garbage, I'd have never put them in the Torch at all."
"CHLOEEE." Lois shook her head. "Two years ago." She held up two fingers. "Two"
"Two years ago? Perry asked, his expression not changing. "You wrote them for the Torch, though?"
"Yeah." Lois turned to look at him, her voice edging defensively. "Why?"
"Because I followed the Torch online because of these two." Perry pointed at Chloe and Clark. "But I remember those articles. They were very, very good. Wondered why they stopped."
"She had to go get kicked out of Met U." Clark teased. Lori poked him sharply, but he just grabbed her hand. Oliver and Chloe smiled at each other, then turned to look at Lois, who had blinked at Clark's jibe, but oddly gave no retort. She seemed to be thinking about something.
Finally, Lois blushed, and looked down at her plate. "Chloe's the writer. I'm just Lois. You know, good ol' muffin peddling Lois." Her tone was resigned and a little sad. "I'm not the one anyone expected much of."
"Oh, sweetheart." Martha reached over to clasp Lois' arm. "Jonathan and I always saw such wonderful things in you. It's why he asked you to be his campaign manager. You can do anything you put your mind to. You've done a wonderful job as my chief of staff."
"You ran the Talon for me, Lois." Lana added. "It wasn't just selling muffins and lattes. And you have a knack for people. The two girls you hired are still there, and they're great."
Lois looked up from her plate and over at Perry. "If I write this story, will you publish it?"
Perry nodded. "You bet. Big story. And get picked up by the affiliate papers too, I'm sure. The sources are reliable? In a safe place?"
"Yep." Oliver said. "On my jet, on their way to my place in Montana for now. We have all the info though. Chloe's got the whole thing recorded, too."
"Okay Lane, just write the article." Perry nodded at Lois, his air authoritative and insistent.
"Write it, and we'll break it immediately. When you're done, I'll take it to the Ledger office and get it ready for print."
Lois smiled, a gleam of her usual mischief returning. "Okay, Chief." Her smile widened as it became Perry's turn to frown at the term. "I really like that."
"Don't get used to it, Lane." Perry retorted. "Of all the newspaper slang I hate, it's the habit of calling the editor in chief, 'Chief' that really drives me nuts. It's so," He thought a moment, and nodded. "Black and White movie."
"Gotcha." Lois nodded, dropping an exaggerated wink at him. "Chief." The table erupted in laughter, and Perry found himself laughing too.
"Oliver…" Martha said, looking at him as his remark about the sources sunk in. "You sent those people to your house in Montana, but you have to go back out west. Your company…"
"I'm going to do some work tonight, got my laptop in the car. My jet will be back tomorrow afternoon, and I'll leave then." He looked over at Chloe. "Did you tell everyone yet?"
"No, and I meant to." Chloe laughed, covering her mouth with her right hand. The ring sparkled, and Lois and Lana gasped. "I told Clark this morning but then we got involved with other things." She nodded. "I'm going to Seattle with Oliver tomorrow."
"What?" Lois sputtered. "And you didn't tell ME until now?"
"It all kind of just happened." Chloe explained. "It's just to see it, while Oliver deals with the trouble in his company. I'll be back before Fall semester."
"And the ring?" Lana asked, her eyes smiling. "That's no friendship ring." She took Chloe's hand to examine it. "It's beautiful."
"I know..." Chloe grinned, blushing. She looked at Oliver, who for the first time any of them had ever seen, had the decency to look a happily embarrassed himself. "It's a, um...?"
"It's a 'We're committed to figuring this all out' ring." Oliver finished, taking Chloe's hand. "There, it's official, we said it in front of all these witnesses."
"I don't believe this." Lois exclaimed, partially mad and partially excited. "Why am I always the last to find this stuff out?"
"Because you were busy trying to find out the truth about a big scandal that could have destroyed a state Senator's career." Chloe said proudly. "Lois Joanne Lane, investigative reporter."
"Don't try to butter me up." Lois got up and hugged Chloe tightly, but reached over to slap Oliver on the back of the head. "Did my uncle Gabe approve?"
"Yes." Oliver laughed, rubbing where Lois slapped him. "Ow! You're like a wasp."
"Funny, Clark never complains, and I hit him much harder." Lois sneered. "You must just be a wimp."
"I guess so." Oliver nodded. He grinned at Clark knowingly. "That's probably it."
Lex was alone in his study, going over the Queen Enterprises financial information. If their position weakened much more, a takeover would be child's play. Lex nodded, sipping his scotch. Buying a stock position in the company had given him some leverage, and Lex was sure that Oliver didn't know about that yet. The sound thrashing he intended to deliver to Oliver via this hostile takeover was nothing other than plain revenge. In the background, Lex had chosen a dark orchestral piece to be the soundtrack to his planning - melodramatic, but it made Lex smile. It suited his mood and purpose.
"And revenge is best served cold, right, Lex?" Callista's voice carried across the study, and Lex looked up to see her standing there. "You don't want to hurt Oliver."
"Your little mind tricks won't work on me anymore, Callista. I'm a new man." Lex said, standing. He walked around the desk. "What brings you to Smallville?"
"You." Callista replied. She had not moved from the doorway. "New or old."
Lex smiled, and leaned against the desk. "Really? Because I think you'll find the new me is not at all a nice guy." Callista nodded, and folded her arms over her chest. She seemed to be measuring him.
"I don't know, Lex. I think you passed not nice after you kidnapped me and my friends and put us in tanks." Callista purred, "I think you descended to downright vile then." She walked into the room, pausing just inside the door. "I learned to hate you."
"And yet, here you are." Lex remarked casually, sliding his hands into his pockets.
"Here I am." Callista moved toward him, her voice taunting, alluring. "Completely in your power."
"I doubt that's entirely true." Lex closed the distance between them. "Did you come to save Oliver?"
"No, that was just a whim I had when I read your mind." Callista smirked, and Lex fought the urge to bruise her mouth with kisses. "Oliver is a friend, I don't want him hurt."
"So, why are you here?" Lex asked, and Callista looked up into his eyes. The darkness had grown, and she felt it boring deeper into his soul. It could not be too late to save him from it. Her other mission was darker yet, and only her complete obedience to her orders would save Atlantis this time. All that mattered was that Lori returned home alive.
"I'm giving myself to you. Body and soul. I love you, Lex." Callista told him, and Lex softened at that, the bleakness in him retreating just a breath back.
"Powerful word, Love." Lex touched her cheek. "From such a powerful warrior."
"Then you know what it means." Callista said, both disgusted and delighting in his touch.
"There's no going back."
"I do." Lex told Callista, taking her in his arms to punish her with a savage kiss. "You can never go back."
Lori felt the stirring of alarm within her. Everyone here in the Kent house was well and contented. Without warning, Callista's thoughts came to her on a crest of awareness that nearly blinded Lori completely
:Lex is planning a hostile takeover of Oliver's company. Tell Oliver to do what it takes to stop him: Lori could see Callista submitting to Lex, and was completely revolted at the sight. . Lex Luthor had been removed as an obstacle that could have barred Lori's return home. It was clear to Lori now what Callista's purpose was in coming back, what her orders were. Tears in her eyes, Lori blinked against the thoughts, forcing them away, not wanting to think about her old friend and instead looked around the Kent house at her new friends.
Lori studied Oliver, who was frowning over his laptop at the Kent's table, just as Lois too, sat hunched over Chloe's working on her article. Chloe and Lana were discussing their future plans,and Clark had excused himself from the group, outside on the porch, alone. Lori finished drying dishes while Perry washed and Martha wrapped leftovers. Such menial tasks would be forbidden soon, Lori thought, setting the bright dishtowel on the counter.
She reached out to Oliver, sending Callista's warning telepathically. He looked up, his dark green eyes searching her face, thinking more questions than he could voice at once. Lori nodded, and a slow, triumphant grin spread across Oliver's face. Lori could feel the weight of his worry lift, and as he looked back at the laptop screen, a plan had begun to form in his mind to save his father's company. Satisfied, Lori went outside to slide her arm around Clark's waist and rest her head on his shoulder. He was facing west, his eyes fixed on the setting sun and his thoughts were a million miles away. Lori stopped herself from reading further, and spoke instead.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked, and Clark put his arm around her, not looking away from the sunset.
"My future." Clark replied quietly. "My future and your place in it."
"I see." Lori smiled. "I have no wish to ever leave here."
"But what if you have to?" Clark asked, looking away from the glorious western sky. His eyes were full of conflict and pain. "What if you have to save your world and that is the only way to do it?" Lori had felt the waves of despair that came away from him when Clark had returned from his father's fortress, and they had not subsided much in the days that had passed. But there was no softening the inevitable anymore.
Lori shook her head. "It's my choice. I am only one of many."
"You are a princess of your people, Lori. Your choices affect all of Atlantis." Clark looked back at the horizon. "That's what I've been thinking about."
"Clark." Lori sighed. "I can't make promises. You are in no position to demand answers from me when you cannot give them yourself. I do want to stay here with you, forever. I love this place." She looked out at the farm. "Clark, you have a place in destiny too."
"Do I?" Clark asked, "I've heard that, but I don't believe it. Why should I have a place in destiny? What makes me different than anyone else? "
"Indeed." Lori snapped, her temper flaring. "Ever person in that house right now has a place in destiny, Clark. Do you think it an accident that Lana Lang has rediscovered her interest in art? No. It is her destiny. Or that Chloe is encouraging her cousin to write the article about the foiled plot against your mother? No. Because Chloe, human though she is, recognizes her cousin's destiny. You are the only one avoiding yours, Clark. Why? What frightens you?" Lori chided, wincing at her words. He was not the only one avoiding the future, and she knew it.
"When I was fifteen, I met an old woman named Cassandra. She showed me my future. I was surrounded by the graves of everyone I loved and I was alone. Later, a boy named Jordan told me that he saw me going on and on…" Clark shook his head. "I don't know if I'm immortal or not, Lori. If embracing my destiny means that I will live forever, I don't want to. I don't want to see all of my friends grow old and die while I stay how I am."
"The price we pay for this earthly existence, Clark, is that we have no choice. Sometimes, it seems we do, and then eventually, the choices are made for us. You do not wish to see your loved ones grow old and die. I understand that. But if you had to stand by and watch while they were picked off, or preyed upon, wouldn't that be worse? What if you knew that by embracing your destiny, your loved ones would never have to lose a nights sleep in fear for their lives." Lori said, her words for herself as well. "I cannot let you deny that which is just as large a part of you as your heart is."
"Even if it means we can't be together anymore?" Clark asked, kissing her temple. Lori sighed, resting against Clark softly. She needed to speak, to tell him everything. But Lois clearing her throat interrupted Lori as she was about to answer. The young woman stood on the porch, just outside the screen door, looking a little lost.
"I want Clark to proofread this for me." Lois smiled apologetically, and held out her article.
"Me? Chloe is inside, she can do it." Clark said chafing at the interruption, and Lori frowned at him. He widened his eyes pleadingly at her and Lori smiled, shaking her head as she looked up into his eyes.
:Be kind, love. She will not ask you in a more clear way to be your friend than asking for your help. Don't let your pride blind you. Lois is a good person.:
Clark rolled his eyes grudgingly. "Sure, Lois. I'll look at it."
"You are the only one not doing anything." Lois said uncomfortably, casting about for an excuse. "Chloe and Lana are talking about Gotham…."
"No, it's okay." Clark said, reading the article. He frowned. "Did you mean to write this? Lois, your spelling hasn't improved since the Torch at all. You know, the computer has spell check, right?"
"Shut up. Where are you talking about?" Lois walked over and looked at her article over Clark's arm, reaching over him to point at the section he was reading. "Here?"
"Yeah, "The truthiness of the situation was revealed…?' Truthiness is not a word."
"It is so." Lois insisted. "I saw it on television."
Clark smiled tolerantly. "Right. I saw that too, but you're not even using 'truthiness' right."
"Hmmm." Lois bit on her lip, and suddenly Clark was stricken by how similar to Chloe Lois could be at times. This impression swiftly vanished as Lois snatched the paper from his hands impatiently. "That's it, right?"
"No, that's not it." Clark laughed, taking the article back. "Do you want my help or not? There's a few other things here that we need to work through."
"Only if you can be helpful and not smug." Lois countered and Clark shrugged, his eyes teasing.
"Come on…" Clark smiled at Lori, who nodded in approval as he went inside with Lois to edit the article. Lori hugged herself, watching the last glorious crimson streaks of sunset blast across the sky, mingling with the blues and purples of the arriving night. Clark's question haunted her.
"Even if it means we can't be together anymore?"
She closed her eyes, reveling in the green scent of the new growing things around her, and the caress of the summer breeze. Giving Clark up would be the hardest thing she'd ever have to do. Her answer hovered around her heart, daring to be spoken but Lori defied it. Not yet, not yet. But it would not be denied, and spoke itself to her heart. You must return, and fulfill your predestined role. Queen of Lyonesse. And Clark cannot follow you. This is how it must be.
Leaning her head against the porch post, Lori sobbed, tears streaming from her eyes, crystal drops of spring water. To make such a discovery as precious as her love for Clark was and then to be fortune's fool! It was enough to break her heart here and now. Lori heard a burst of laughter from inside, and turned to see Perry regaling the others with a story, one Clark seemed to play a part in, miming the spilling of a vessel in surprise. She wiped her eyes and smiled. Until the day came when she had to leave, Lori resolved to never miss another such story, to never be away from Clark more than the hours needed to sleep. If she must sacrifice her love for him in the name of duty and honor, memories would have to sustain them both.
