Thanks for the reviews that people have sent in. For those who have been patiently waiting for some TC and Clark and Lex interaction it is on its way finally!


"Come in young man, it's nice to see you again. How long has it been, a day or so, since I last caught you stalking me?" Lionel looked up from his desk in his Metropolis office.

Clark looked away sheepishly at first but the feel of the papers in his hand reminded him to stay his course for Lex's sake.

"Mr. Luthor, I know you had a part in Lex's disappearance. Now you are going to help me get him home safely."

Lionel laughed as he put his pen down and leaned back in his chair. "Is that so?"

"Yes." Clark's resound coming through in his tone.

"Firstly, I have had nothing to do with my son not being around to take you to some ballgame. Secondly, if he hasn't called you then maybe he doesn't want to be found at this time. I am not sure how aware of my son's past you are but Lex has a tendency to live for Lex. He often shirks his friends and his responsibilities on a whim. So I am afraid that you will just have to wait for his return somewhere else." Lionel leaned forward and pressed the button on the phone to call for his security.

Clark recognized the act since he had witnessed Lucas do the same a few time in the last week. "Ah, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Clark advised as he tossed the papers across the desk at Lionel.

"Seems you work for Lex, or maybe you already knew that." Clark chimed in as Lionel glanced over the papers.

"What is this?"

"Those are the records necessary to prove that you don't hold the lion's share in Luthorcorp anymore. Lex does. As a matter of fact he holds the majority of voting shares in the company which means you work for him." Clark paused momentarily debating whether to push his luck with the rest of the information.

"In seems that before Lex disappeared he signed over his shares in your company to me should anything happen to him. If he is declared dead," Clark paused and let the moment sink in, "well then you would work for me. I think we both know that we don't want that to happen, so where is Lex?"

Lionel was somewhat speechless as he looked over the papers in detail. The time seemed to stand still. Clark wanted to fidget but willed himself to stand steady and show his strength. He had Lionel where he wanted him and as much as it seemed wrong to use this kind of power over another person he knew it had to be done.

"Young man this is very serious. Do you realize what it is you are getting yourself into here?"

"Why don't you enlighten me."

"This, -this is blackmail. I don't give into the demands of terrorists, extortionists or people who try to blackmail me. Good day." Lionel attempted to dismiss Clark by calling his bluff.

"Well I guess you won't mind if I send this in to the Dailey Planet. That is of course after I have sent it in to my lawyer. And in case you were thinking about getting rid of my lawyer or paying him off, I will be sending it to a few judges that I know as well." Clark turned to leave hoping inwardly that Lionel would stop him.

"Clark!" Lionel called out just as Clark's hand closed around the doorknob.

"Come back in here and let's talk about this."

Clark returned to his spot in front of the desk and stood patiently waiting for the information he came for.

"Clark, you need to understand that Lex isn't well. He has always been sickly and the last few years his health has deteriorated. The meteor shower affected more than just his hair and skin. He sees things that aren't there, he imagines conspiracies that don't exist."

Lionel sighed with the frustration of a father with a sick child, "He even suspects me of plotting against him. I have had him placed in a facility that will help him to see things as they really are. He will be treated by some of the best councilors in the world. He isn't happy about it. The patients who don't realize they are sick rarely are happy when they are confronted with their illness."

Clark's eyes narrowed, "I don't believe you."

"It's the truth son. I am only trying to do what is best for Lex."

"Then why didn't he tell me that on the phone when I spoke with him!" Clark's voice raised in suspicion.

"Lex is a very proud and stubborn young man. He probably didn't want anyone to know where he was or that he has an illness. What did he tell you? Did he say he was away on business?"

Clark's face must have told the tale as Lionel continued to cloud the truth.

"He needs help and this was the only way that I could think to help him. I assure you that he is fine and will return to Smallville once he has a clean bill of health. He has a lot of emotional baggage that he has never dealt with, the meteor shower, the loss of his mother, and a number of others."

"Then who is J. Bruha?"

Lionel couldn't hide his surprise at the question but recovered to quick for Clark to really be too suspicious. "Joshua Bruha is a doctor at the facility where Lex is being treated. He is the best physician I could find to work with Lex."

"I want to see him." Clark's tone was final.

Lionel paused briefly; this boy was far too much like the man who had raised him and that annoyed Lionel to no end.

"I'm afraid that can't happen, at least not so early in his treatment. Give him some time to adjust to the program and then we will see what his doctors say."

"No, I want to see him. I will take what I have learned to every form of media available. I want to see for myself that he is alright."

"Who else knows that you are here?"

"Why?"

"It's just that I don't want anyone knowing that Lex has ownership of my company. If my competitors find out that my mentally unstable son owns the company they would swoop down with a hostile take over before either Lex or I could retaliate. Also, I am not comfortable with Lex's current hospitalization being broadcast to anyone and everyone in Smallville. That nosey reporter friend of yours, your parents, any number of people could talk and ruin my son's reputation."

"No one knows I am here."

"Can you sneak away for a few days without raising too many suspicions?"

"A few days? Where are we going?"

"In order for Lex to get the necessary care I needed to fly him to Sudan to the hospital there."

"Why did he call me and ask for my help?"

"Lex is allowed a certain number of phone calls a week. He must have wanted to call and talk to you. His flare for the dramatic mixed with his delusions shouldn't be taken to heart. I am sure he misses you but he needs this time to get better."

"I can get away. I want to see Lex."

"Fine." Lionel's voice sounded beaten as he gave into the requests of the persistent teen. "We'll leave tomorrow. Where will you tell your parents that you are going?"

"I'll tell them that Lex came home and I am going to spend a few days in Metropolis with him."

"But what happens when Lex doesn't come back to Smallville for a while?"

"If they ask I'll tell them that he had to go away on business again. I doubt they'll ask though."

"Well it's decided then. I will meet you tomorrow, 7 am at the airport. We'll take my private jet."

Clark said his goodbyes and left the office. His gut was telling him not to believe Lionel but everything the older man had said made so much sense and seemed so sincere that Clark didn't really know what to believe. The last time he had seen Lex he did seem out of sorts, he had accused his father of plotting against him and he did seem nervous. Tomorrow would tell the truth so he would have to wait until then.

After Clark left the room Lionel stood at his office window watching the street below. Once he was sure that Clark had in fact left the building he picked up the phone and began to dial.

"Tell Joshua Bruha to contact Lionel Luthor immediately." He curtly ordered the phone receptionist and hung up. What the hell was he going to do about this nosey little farm brat?


The next day Clark finished his chores early, wolfed down the toast and orange juice his mom had set aside for him at the table, kissed her on the cheek and waved good bye to his parents.

Lionel was waiting at the airport when Clark arrived. The jet was already primed and ready for take off. As he removed his sunglasses and motioned towards the door of the plane Lionel greeted Clark over the loud noise of the engine.

Once they had settled in their seats inside the plane Lionel opened his brief case and began shuffling through it. He pulled out a few sheets of paper and handed them to Clark.

"What are these?" Clark asked as skimmed the first few pages.

"They are release forms that need to be signed in order to enter the hospital to see Lex. Just a bunch of red tape to make sure they are covered off should anything happen to you on their premises."

"Anything like what?"

Lionel laughed, "I can see why my son took such a liking to you. Would you care for something to drink or some breakfast?"

"No thank you. Anything like what?" Clark repeated noting Lionel's attempt to dismiss the question.

"Trip, slip, fall just the usual. Nothing to worry about, just the hospitals way of protecting themselves from lawsuits."

Clark eyed Lionel up with suspicion and then turned to start reading the papers.

"May as well make yourself comfortable we have a long flight ahead of us." Lionel chimed in as he reclined in his seat and put his feet up on the stood in front of him.

Clark finished reading the papers and didn't se anything that seemed out of the ordinary so he signed them and placed them on the side table. It wasn't long before he slipped into sleep with the lulling of the engine.


Clark shaded his eyes from the direct sun as they stepped off the plane a number of hours later. The airport they had landed at was busy with people scurrying here and there. They entered the airport and were greeted by three well-dressed men; all wearing black suits and ties. Clark couldn't help but wonder how they could bear to be dressed like when it was so hot. None of the men looked uncomfortable in the heat as they lead Clark and Lionel to the waiting limo.

"Don't we have to clear customs or show our passports and visas?" Clark asked as they walked past the line-up of people waiting to pass through security.

"The hospital has a special arrangement with the country's police. Guests of patients are allowed temporary escorted access into and out of the country without documentation for periods of up to 48 hours." Lionel explained as they reached the car.

Clark sat in the limo watching the people on the streets. Everyone was dressed in robes, the women were covered from head to toe and all were escorted by men. The streets were busy, crowded and littered with garbage, animals and shops. Over all the city looked a lot like downtown Metropolis other than the heat, the different cloths and the smells. The traffic was worse than in Metropolis and the drivers had little or no concern for anything or anyone in their way. The limo brakes were often slammed on abruptly along the way to avoid hitting a car that had just cut them off.

They left the city and traveled for some distance into the desert. Clark was starting to feel somewhat uneasy about his decision to lie to his parents as they twisted their way into the vast nothingness. He looked over at Lionel who was watching the terrain unfold as well and wondered how he could seem so calm about sending his son to a place so far from home.

The car slowed down and slowly entered a gated yard and Clark's jaw fell open at the transition from outside the fence to inside. The grounds of the hospital were heavily vegetated with plants, palm trees and grasses. There was a sea of colorful flowers lining the driveway to the entrance and what looked like a golf course and tennis courts in the distance.

"Impressive isn't it?" Lionel remarked as the car slowed to a stop.

"Wow. I would never have believed that you could grow all of this out here in the desert if I hadn't seen it."

"Follow me inside please Mr.Luthor." One of the guards instructed as he opened the door for Lionel.

Inside the building didn't look much like a hospital to Clark, it looked more like a mansion. This mansion was much more colorful and busy than Lex's mansion in Smallville. The halls were alive with people going about their day-to-day business. Clark was surprised at the clothing they wore. He had expected hospital smocks and a sterile smell. That wasn't the case here at all. It was warm, colorful, extravagant and welcoming. Somewhere Lex would be comfortable if he was in fact here for help as Lionel had said.

They walked down a maze of hallways and into the library were Joshua stood waiting for them. As they approached him Clark sensed that he was somewhat annoyed by his presence. "Probably worried I'll mess up his studies on Lex' Clark thought darkly to himself.

"So this is the infamous Mr. Kent is it?" Joshua smiled and extended his hand to greet Clark. "Lionel has told me of your concern for your friend. Admirable quality to be so loyal to your friends. You must be very close to Lex."

"We are pretty close." Clark confirmed.

"Well then why don't you follow me into his apartment and we will let you two get reacquainted." Joshua motioned towards the back door of the library.

Clark didn't see the look exchanged between Lionel and Joshua as they started down the aisle to the doorway. Once through the doors and into the concrete hallway, Clark noticed that he didn't feel too good. At first he tried to brush it off as the heat that must have been getting to him. As they walked down the corridor the smells mixed with the heat and the confined space started to compound and he began to feel claustrophobic.

Suddenly he realized what he was feeling wasn't from the heat it was the same feeling he got when he was around small quantities of kryptonite. He tried to stifle his panic, not wanting to show his weakness to Lionel and Lex's doctor.

They reached the door to Lex's apartment after what felt like an eternity and stepped inside. Clark still didn't feel well and leaned slightly against the dining room table for support. He looked around the room and was concerned when he didn't spot Lex right away.

"Where is Lex?"

"He had an appointment this morning to attend, he should be back shortly. You don't look well, are you feeling alright?" Joshua stepped forward and placed a hand on Clark's shoulder.

"Hmm? Ah, yeah-no-I'm fine. I guess the jet lag must be catching up to me. When did you say Lex would be back?"

"Any minute now. You really don't look well. Lionel and I have some business to discuss so why don't you lie down and relax while you wait for him? I am sure he will be anxious to visit with you."

"Yeah okay." Clark answered feebly as he moved towards the leather couch.

"Lex will be back soon." Joshua reassured as he closed the door. If Clark hadn't been concerned with feeling so sick and weak he would have heard the lock slide into place when the door shut.