Lex and Clark had spent the morning avoiding discussion of any type that involved the previous nights events. They had said all they needed to say and all they wanted to say during their talk in the bathroom. Clark had a greater sense of understanding of Lex's past and Lex had a deeper desire to learn Clark's secret.

Lex had started investigating Clark and the events that happened the day that he drove off the bridge in Smallville. He had always suspected that he had hit Clark that day but there was no way to prove it. The small tidbits into Clark's secret had convinced Lex there was something much greater behind the wall of lies.

As much as he wanted to dig for the truth, he valued Clark's friendship and wasn't willing to risk loosing it. It was this friendship that prevented him from prodding any more for the truth at this juncture in time. He knew that in time Clark's secret would be revealed to him whether it was of Clark's own free will or courtesy of Joshua's e experiments, and it seemed they had nothing but time on their hands. It still hurt him that Clark didn't trust him enough to tell him.

"Your shot." Clark handed the only pool cue to Lex as he walked back around the table and out of the way of Lex's upcoming shot.

"You know Clark I would have thought," Lex paused as he followed through with his stroke sinking the eight ball in the predestinated pocket, "that after the number of pool games we have played you would have gotten better at it by now."

"Funny Lex."

"What do you want to do for supper?"

"I don't know." Clark walked over to the kitchen fridge and cupboards and started to search through them for something to make for supper. "We could have grilled cheese."

"Sounds easy enough." Lex cringed at the idea of another sandwich. Clark never did seem to tire of them and they were quick, easy and did the job so Lex ate them as well.

They were just digging out the ingredients when the deadbolt on the door clicked and the door opened. Joshua walked into the room accompanied by two soldiers. Both boys felt their stomachs tighten at his arrival.

"What do we have here?" Joshua asked as if in announcement of his arrival.

"Supper." Lex answered coldly.

Joshua walked over to Lex and reached around his shoulder cupping Lex's neck in his hand. Slowly he moved in and pulled Lex towards him with one fluid motion. Lex didn't dare refuse the action and let himself be guided forward. The kiss lasted longer than Lex thought he had the resolve for and he was genuinely relieved when it ended.

"You were magnificent last night." Joshua's lips were still inches from Lex's as he spoke. "My guests were most pleased with the show as well as the discussion that followed."

Lex didn't respond nor did he try to move away. He felt his muscles twitch with the effort to not smack the look right off Joshua's face.

"I know you are as anxious as I am to unveil your little friend's secrets."

"No, I'm not. Clark's secrets are his to keep. If he wants to tell me he will tell me when he is ready."

Joshua laughed at Lex's words. "Come now Lex you and I both now that you are as interested in his reaction to the meteor as I am. You wanted to know what happened at the fight yesterday. I'll tell you." Joshua smiled over at Clark who still stood motionless beside Lex.

"Or would you like to tell him yourself?" Joshua addressed Clark.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Clark repeated his denial phrase again. He knew he couldn't let Joshua know what he was capable of.

" I am talking about your heat vision that you used to heat the sword that would have otherwise killed your friend here."

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Come now Clark you can only deny the truth for so long before it hurts someone close to you." Joshua smirked as he slipped his arm around Lex's waist as if indicating the someone in question.

"Why don't the two of you join me for supper this evening I think it is time that we celebrate your new lives. Besides you did so well last night that I think it is time that you start reaping the benefits of being under my care."

He leaned in and kissed Lex again heatedly and turned to leave.

"Why?" Lex couldn't resist his concerned curiosity.

"What do you mean why?"

"Why do you want to have supper with us? If you want more than supper then leave Clark here and just take me."

"Come now Lex. Why so distrusting?"

"I wonder."

"Tone." Joshua warned.

Lex didn't respond as he stood staring at Joshua hoping he hadn't pushed his luck to far.

"Go get washed up. I will have my men bring you each a clean pair of pants." Joshua turned again and left the room leaving Clark and Lex with little choice but to follow his orders.

After they had showered and changed the guards lead them down the halls of the palace to a small dining room. In the middle of the room was a table that had seating for twelve but Lex and Clark noted it was only set for three. Clark felt both relief and concern at the same time. The settings indicated that there would be no one else in the room so there would be no expectations of another show. At the same time the idea of being alone with Joshua was very unsettling.

"Please take a seat." Joshua waved at the chairs as he entered the room. He nodded at his guards who while they didn't leave the room, did step back so they were blocking the entranceways to the room.

Clark and Lex looked at each other as they took their place at the table. On the table were two silver covered plates with lids on them, dinner settings of utensils, glasses and plates and a vase of freshly cut flowers. It looked harmless enough so they took their seats at the table.

Joshua moved from his seat and the two boys sat completely still as he moved around the back of their seats and out of sight. Lex jumped slightly when he felt Joshua's hands on his shoulders massaging them gently.

"Relax Lex. Just let yourself relax. This evening is a celebration of a new start. With your little escape stunts behind us and Clark back you should be happy." Joshua leaned down and kissed Lex's neck and ear gently.

"Remember our first few weeks together." He paused as he gently licked Lex's ear again.

"Remember I told you how great it could be to live a life of luxury under my rule. The last few weeks have been difficult for both of us. We had strayed from the connection we were starting to develop. I really felt the start of a bond developing between us."

"You're insane." Lex whispered.

"Mmmm maybe but it doesn't change your situation now does it?" Joshua placed two fingers softly on Lex's chin and guided his face to the side in order to kiss him.

The kiss was gentle and Lex could have sworn it was filled with emotion that Joshua had hoped would be returned. The look in Joshua's eyes showed his disappointment that the emotion wasn't reciprocated.

"Beautiful." He gently stroked Lex's cheek before turning towards Clark.

"You haven't had the lessons that your friend here was privy to his first few weeks here. I was explaining to him that the life I have chosen for you could be one of luxury and free of worry. No school, no chores, nothing but the occasional voyeuristic show. And of course appeasing my requests."

Clark stared though Joshua willing him to die right there on the spot. He was disappointed in himself with the fact that he was thinking thoughts like that. He was seriously worried about the person he was becoming since his arrival.

He thought about what his father would say if he heard Clark thinking thoughts like that. He was sure that Jonathon would never approve of wishing death on anyone, not Lionel Luthor, not Joshua.

He could feel the color flood his cheeks as he thought about his parents ever finding out about what he had been subject to. He wondered if he was ever given a chance to see his parents again if he would tell them everything that had happened to him here.

He was startled from his thoughts when Joshua began to run his fingers through his dark slightly curled hair.

"Do you think you can hide your abilities forever? You do know that you are here for the long haul don't you son?"

"Don't call me that!" Clark spat back feeling his recent thoughts of his father being tainted by Joshua referring to him as such.

He instantly felt the fingers in his hair tighten and twist causing him to wince in pain. "Don't you ever speak back to me!" Joshua shouted into Clark's ear.

The words were followed by his hair being pulled backwards abruptly. He strained briefly before giving in and letting his head be pulled backwards to its full extent. He struggled to swallow the saliva that started to pool at the back of his throat.

"As I was saying, you didn't have the lessons your friend here did so I will let you off easy. Did. You. Think. You. Could. Hide. Your. Abilities. Forever?" He punctuated his words as he stared down on Clark's face. After he finished he placed a kiss on Clark's lips and stepped back roughly releasing his hair and pushing his head forward.

"No." Clark answered briefly as he righted himself as best as he could, gently smoothing his hair down to its original state.

"So you are willing to admit that you possess these abilities that we discussed earlier?"

"No." He answered again briefly.

Lex watched on silently holding his breath for the answer and was yet again disappointed by Clark's unwillingness to open up. He shook his head knowing what Clark's lack of co-operation would lead to. He only wondered how long Clark could push Joshua's temper.

Joshua ran his fingers along his chin as he thought about what to do next as he struggled to maintain his composure. Clark jumped when Joshua slammed his hand down on the table between him and Lex.

"I know you have all the abilities you attested to the other day. You saved your friend here and you have more that you are not admitting to. What I don't understand is why the reluctance to admit it?"

"I don't know. I just have a reaction to the meteor rocks. That's it." Clark denied again.

"Really, so when I expose you to green meteor rocks you become weak but with the red meteor rock you become extremely aggressive. How is it then that you were able to save your friend here yesterday?"

"It must have been the combination of the red and green rocks." Clark stuttered through the vague and yet again unbelievable excuse.

"Oh come on Clark!" Lex shouted from his seat at the table. Clark and Joshua both turned their attention to Lex. Amusement was written all over Joshua's face but it was lost on Lex who was too busy returning Clark's stare.

"Seems even your best friend doesn't believe your lies." Joshua acknowledged as he turned and nodded to the guards.

They immediately stepped forward and grabbed Lex by the arms dragging him from his chair. Lex struggled in vain and was rewarded by a slap across the face by Joshua. The slap seemed to settle him but did nothing to calm Clark who was up and out of his chair trying to protect his friend.

Joshua pushed Clark away form Lex and the guards moved Lex back against the far wall. Joshua turned his anger back towards Clark with a close fist to the face. Clark fell backwards into the dinning table and Joshua was on top of him in an instant.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Joshua shouted into Clark's face. "You had best watch your step around here! You will show me your abilities. I am done being tolerant of your games!"

"I don't-"

Joshua punched him in the face again shutting down Clark's rebuttal immediately. Clark backed away even farther until he felt the table dig into the back of his legs. Joshua stepped in towards him and Clark leaned back so he was arched backwards as far as he could go. Joshua grabbed him by the hair again and brought him forward so that he was inches from Clark's face.

"Don't disappoint your friend this time. You saved him once and I have no doubt that you will save him again."

Clark was confused and the look on his face gave away his emotions. Joshua kept a hold of his hair and pulled him so that he was standing beside the table again.

"Get the table!" Joshua shouted at one of the guards still waiting by the door. He responded quickly by leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

"You think that you can play games with me and waste my time. Don't be fooled into thinking that you are safe here. You can live a life of luxury or you can face my anger by continuing to play me for a fool!" Joshua shouted, this time to both Clark and Lex.

"Just tell him the truth Clark!" Lex encouraged Clark from across the room. He had long since given up his struggle against the guard and was standing quite still between the two men.

"I told you already I have no abilities right now without the red meteor rock." Clark tried once again to reason with Joshua whose anger seemed to be beyond such reason. It wasn't a lie, the green meteor rock in the air had wiped him of his abilities but when he was around the red rock he had surges of power that were restored to him.

"Well then we'll just have to fix that won't we?" Joshua pulled Clark's hair forcing him to follow as he turned and headed to his original spot at the table.

Clark had noticed the silver platters on the table earlier on in the evening and wondered what Joshua was doing when he reached forward and lifted the lid off one of the platters. The effects of the green meteor hit him immediately. He realized that the silver lids must have contained lead and cringed as he looked at the second platter. The close exposure compounded with the residue of the green rock in his lungs made Clark double over in pain.

"What's the matter?" Joshua mocked as he punched Clark again.

Clark would have fallen to his knees if it weren't for the fact that Joshua still held his hair firmly in his grasp. Joshua slowly let Clark slump downwards to the ground and once he was there he felt his hair being released. His head hit the floor with a resounding thud and Clark could hear Lex's struggles resume in the far recesses of his mind.

He felt punch after punch fall to his face and shoulders. When Clark thought Joshua was finally finished with his assault he was corrected by a sharp kick to the ribs. The kick was followed by another and yet another. He could barely hear all the commotion above him as Joshua yelled at him and Lex called out from a distance.

The pain of the rock kept him doubled over for a good long while. He could feel blood running from his forehead and nose and was sure a few of his ribs were cracked. His veins pulsed and felt like they were on fire and he labored just to breath. Finally he was sure that he would be saved by the darkness that accompanied unconsciousness but he was dragged back to the present when Joshua shut the lid back over the green meteor rock.

"Get up!" Joshua ordered from above.

Clark hesitated, attempting to process the demand. He was sorry he took so long complying when he felt Joshua's foot connect again with his side.

"I said get up!"

Clark immediately began to sit up and eventually his hands found the back of a chair and he was able to pull himself almost upright before crumpling back into the seat of the chair.

"You are pathetic but I will give you one thing, you don't seem to be lying about the effect green meteor rocks have on you."

Clark spat blood out onto the floor beside him and he fought to regain his vision and focus in order to see Lex.

"I told you already. I need the red rock in order to have any powers."

"Well you my dear boy are in luck. I happen to have just the very thing right here." Joshua ensured as he ran his fingers along the top curve of the second plate on the table.

Just then the guard returned from his errand. He was wheeling in a large table with rope in all four corners and a gear device off to the side of it. He took a moment to unlock the braces holding the table flat and he tipped it up so that it was sitting also one hundred and eighty degrees to the floor.

"Do you know what this is?" Joshua asked Clark as he walked over towards the table and ran his palm along the flat surface of the table.

Clark shook his head in the negative.

"Sure you don't know?" He asked again and then turned to Lex, " Lex you know what this is."

Lex looked at the table with eyes wide in fear of what was to come as he answered with a shaky voice. "It's a stretching rack. People used to be tortured using it as it slowly pulled the person apart muscle by muscle." He tried to hide his deep concern for where this was headed.

"You are absolutely correct and do you know what you get as a prize for getting that question correct." Joshua mocked. Lex didn't like where this was headed at all. He shook his head slowly as he eyed up the restraints in all four corners of the table.

"You get a chance to be taller than you ever dreamed possible."

"Actually I think I am good at the height that I am at right now. Thanks for the invite but I believe I would like to pass on this opportunity."

"Nonsense Lex, we all must pay our toll to science." Joshua added as he motioned to the guards.

Lex's initial struggles took on a whole new meaning when the guards began attempting to lead him towards the table. He screamed and grunted with the efforts to pull away but the men were unmovable. Clark saw his friend's struggles and jumped to his feet attempting to get to Lex in time to help him get away but was stopped in his tracks by Joshua.

"Where do you think you are going? You have the best seat in the house right here." Joshua shoved Clark back into the chair at the table. "Stay!" He ordered as he pointed in Clark's face.

Clark glared up at him in response and then turned his attention back to Lex.

"Okay, okay I'll tell you, just let him go." Clark tried to reason.

"Oh no I think it is far too late for that, don't you?" Joshua paused as he watched the guards finish strapping Lex spread eagle to the table. "I think it is better if you show me." He sneered over his shoulder.

"Clark!" Lex called out for what seemed like the hundredth time. He looked at Lex who was strung up on the almost vertical table. He dangled from the ropes at his wrists but the ropes at his ankles were still quite taut.

Clark knew when he was beat. He would have to confirm what Joshua already knew about him and he worried about the ramifications to their current situation once he did.

Joshua nodded coldly at one of the guards who took his place at the large handle to the gearbox at the side of the table. He looked very serious as he began to slowly turn the handle. It didn't take long for Lex's screams to turn from fear and anger to screams of genuine terror and pain.

"Stop!" Clark called to Joshua who had seemed to have lost himself in watching Lex's reaction to the torture. "Stop it!"

"Are you ready to help your friend?" Joshua turned to face Clark, his body somewhat blocking Lex's.

"Yes." Clark responded quickly.

"Fine then, show me what you've got." Joshua answered as he lifted the lid to the green rock and the red rock simultaneously. He picked them up in both hands and approached Clark who was sweating from the effort of fighting the effects of the green meteor.

He cried out slightly as the two rocks touched his skin. He instantly felt the same effects as he had the day before at the fight. The pain mixed with power over came his very being and he struggled to keep his arm in place and in contact with the rocks.

Lex's cries helped him to focus on the task at hand and he focused all his energy on using his heat vision to burn through the ropes holding Lex to the table. He burned through both ropes at his ankles first and then both his wrists. Once both wrists were free of the table Lex crumpled to the floor unable to stand on his own.

Clark smiled slightly as he ran his heat vision off the table and onto the wall behind it. The wall instantly broke out into flames and he jumped out of the chair grabbing Joshua by the throat. The motion knocked the rocks from Joshua's hands and away from him. He felt the drain of the power from the red rock immediately but the effects of the green meteor stayed with him as he lost strength in his legs and fell to his knees.

He was exhausted from the effort he had exerted and was unable to respond to Joshua's commands to get off the floor. The room seemed to break into panic as the guards ran for the fire extinguishers. Clark could hear the fire alarms starting to wail and felt the drizzle of the sprinkler system kicking in.

"Go and calm the girls. Tell Karema that everything is under control. Don't let them out of their compound!" Clark heard Joshua shout at one of the guards that was trying to pull him to his feet. He felt himself drop to the ground yet again as the guard raced off to comply with his orders.

He felt the all to familiar feeling of his hair being pulled as Joshua dragged him across the floor towards Lex.

"Bring him to my room." He heard Joshua tell one of the guards as he pointed at Lex who was finally starting to regain some strength in his limbs.

"Yes sir." The guard responded curtly as he reached under Lex's arms and pulled him to his feet. He enlisted the help of one other guard and quickly exited the room.

"The rest of you see to this mess!" Joshua shouted angrily at the rest of the guards still remaining. "And shut off those damn sprinklers."

Clark looked up briefly and noted that the fire had been extinguished but there was extensive smoke throughout the room and the water damage would be considerable. He smiled to himself briefly but it was erased by pain as Joshua dragged him from the room and down the hall.

"What girls?" Clark asked still thinking about Joshua telling the guard to go and calm the girls. Were there others being kept here against their will, Clark thought as he was pulled up in front of the apartment door. There had to be, how else would Chloe have gotten into this place, he reasoned.

Joshua glared at him but didn't respond as he unlocked the door ad tossed Clark into the room.

"You think you are so smart don't you?" Joshua sneered as he roughly knocked Clark to the floor.

Clark saw the first kick coming but could do nothing to stop it from hitting him square in the stomach. He let out what little air he had with a loud groan. For the next few minutes Clark could do little but protect his face, head and stomach from the second onslaught of kicks. All the while Joshua shouted words that Clark didn't bother to try and process.

Suddenly the beating stopped and his head was pulled back by his hair yet again. "Aren't so smart now are you? Your little stunt has just ensured a special place for your friend in my quarters this evening. All evening! Think about that while you lay here waiting for him to return." He emphasized the threat as he stormed from the room and locked the door.

Clark was utterly miserable. He didn't think he could handle it if anything happened to Lex but there was little he could do to stop that now. His little stunt had put Lex in jeopardy and he didn't even remember doing it. He had seen the results of his actions while under the effects of the red kryptonite and could safely assume he had started the fire.

He would have to tell Lex at some point in time and he knew that he would have to come clean to Joshua. Maybe he could continue to brush it off to the allergic reaction from the rocks. He knew he could never admit that his powers would return to normal without the effects of the green meteor rocks. He needed to somehow convince Joshua to get him away from the effects of the rocks for a while. How long would it take for the effects of the rocks in his lungs to wear off? He had been at Amir's house a few nights and was just starting to feel slightly stronger.

He didn't move from his position on the floor. He lay there and watched the fresh blood run from his nose and pool beneath his face. He wondered if this was what it felt like to be clinically depressed. No sense of freedom, total and complete lack of energy and desire to do anything by lay and think and analyze.

He was so numb from everything that he didn't even shed the tears that he thought would come. He felt completely emotionless as he thought about Lex and what he was enduring. He knew he should feel something but all he felt was emptiness. He worried that he was totally void of care and compassion and feeling.

His hand trailed up from his side and he smeared the blood on the floor with his fingers. He watched it and was fascinated with the feel of it, the warmth and the smoothness. He kept willing himself to snap out of this new low. He couldn't let his spirit be defeated. He was physically a prisoner but he couldn't be an emotional and mental prisoner as well.

It took a long time of thinking about it but he finally convinced himself to sit up and try to make it to the bathroom. He managed to sit up but the rest of the action fell short as he sat up and leaned against the wall. He suddenly felt very cold and his entire body started to shake. His mouth started to water and his head was spinning. He leaned over to the side and threw up what little he had in his stomach.

He sat up again and wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. He was cold and clammy and sweating slightly as he attempted to regain his focus. He tried to think of positive thoughts, happier times, but all he kept coming back to was this room, this place and Lex.

For the first time since he was left alone in the room the shock started to wear off and he started to feel concern for Lex and what was sure to be happening to him. He was somewhat thankful for the anxiety that followed the concern because it meant that he wasn't completely broken yet. He still had his compassion and his humanity.

He could bounce back from this, from his whole existence over the last few weeks. All he needed was a sense of purpose. He had always needed to be helpful, always needed a purpose. Protecting Lex would be that purpose. He decided that he would co-operate with Joshua if it meant protecting Lex.

He realized with no uncertainty that this is what Lex had been trying to get him to understand. All the times that Lex had told him there was nothing they could do. All the times Clark had chastised Lex for giving into their captor's demands without so much as an argument. The way he curbed his tone when told to watch his step, the way he kissed back without a fight, the way he avoided eye contact as a way of showing submission.

Lex was simply surviving and doing what he had to do to ensure that Clark survived along side him. Lex was playing the game, he was doing what he needed to do to buy time and fly under the radar. Lex was one of the strongest people Clark knew and he decided then and there to take a lesson out of Lex's book and start playing the game with him instead of against him.

Now all that was left to be answered was whether Joshua would let them remain together and if Lex would be okay or if the punishment for his actions would far exceed Lex's limits.