Chapter 18 - Gifts

The truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt.
Thomas Merton US religious author, clergyman, & Trappist monk (1915 - 1968)

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"I am a friend. You are now safe at home and I am needed elsewhere there is still much work to be done to undo the harm caused this world." Turning she looked Lois in the eyes as she spoke softly "His body is on the way to health but his spirit is still in much pain and may need much time to recover, only time can put that brilliant light back in his eyes."

As she stepped from Clark into the group Jason jumped up from his dad's side and ran to her tugging on her arm. She smiled and bent down allowing him to place a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you Mer Kaper."

Lois took the small earpiece device from her pocket and offered it to her. "I believe this is yours."

"No, it belongs to Jason and will work for no other. It is our gift to him. I have a gift for Kala as well if she will accept it. It is the same gift my mother offered me when I was about her age." She smiled softly as she held her hand out palm up waiting for Kala to come forward.

"It's OK Kala. Mer Kaper is our friend, don't be afraid." Jason urged his sister on as he grabbed her hand and pulled her to Mer Kaper.

Mer Kaper looked intently into Kala's eyes as her hand cupped the young girl's cheek and chin. Kala was mesmerized as Mer Kaper spoke softly, "There is a reason you are so sensitive, you feel more intently than most. It is your gift and your curse just as it is mine. The knowledge of how to use the gift of empathy as a means to help others makes the curse easier to bare. That is my gift to you. Use it wisely your father will need your help in the days to come."

Mer Kaper released Kala's chin and continued walking through the group of people as they moved aside for her.

The white beam once again appeared and Mer Kaper disappeared leaving the group with many questions unanswered.

Lois and her father now unrestrained went to Clark's side. He was still lying flat on his back and seemed somewhat disoriented. It was obvious the sudden disappearance of Mer Kaper in the beam of light had surprised him. He tried to sit up but was unable to move as Sam put his hand on Clark's shoulder to restrain him. "Hold on there. Let me have a look at you before you try to move."

Clark ignored him still trying to rise up without success. Lois tried to calm his movements, "Clark wait don't move. Let Dad examine you first. You've been hurt."

Sam moved his fingers in front of Clarks face "Follow my hand with your eyes without moving your head." Clark continued looking at Lois for several seconds before looking towards Sam. He frowned and then resigned looked at the hand in front of his face and followed the movement but he seemed to follow with a slight delay. Sam looked at Lois as he made his observation. He examined the scratches that were partly healed on Clark's chest and then quickly examined him for any other obvious injuries.

"Ben could you get my medical kit from my car, it's in the trunk?" He tossed his car keys as he looked back at Clark. "I would like to ask you a few simple questions now. Do you feel up to answering me?"

"Of course. What happened, why am I here on the ground and what am I wearing?" he was becoming agitated at the lack of answers.

"Let me ask the questions for now. What year is it?"

Clark looked around at everyone holding their breath, and answered almost as if it was more of a question. "2007?"

"What is the last thing you remember?"

Looking around clearly agitated now, due to the realization that he was at the farm he frowned as he answered, "I remember playing Frisbee in the back yard with the kids. It was getting dark and Lois you came out and joined us. But how did I get here? I don't understand?" He again tried to get up but Ben easily restrained him.

"Just hold on. You don't need to be moving yet." Ben came running up with the medical case and Sam opened it up taking an instrument which he used to look into Clark's eyes one at a time. Putting that instrument away he took a small light and flicked it in Clark's eyes and watched the reaction. Finally satisfied he asked, "Can you sit up?"

"Of course I can" Clark answered then proceeded to once again attempt to sit up. Sam ended up helping him as it became apparent that he couldn't. "What's wrong with me, how did I get here? Why won't you tell me what's going on?" the agitation very evident in his voice and face as he realized he in fact needed help to sit up.

"Let's get you into the house and then we'll talk, Ben help me will you?" With Sam and Ben on either side they slowly helped Clark up off the ground and into the house. Martha ran in front opening the door and directing them to the couch insisting Clark lay down as she covered him with a homemade quilt. Lois, Jason and Kala all stayed close by watching every movement Clark made.

Lois started to speak but noticing her father's expression decided to let him take the lead.
He finally began to answer Clark's questions but very carefully not wanting to disturb him farther. "Clark it appears you have lost close to two weeks. It's now early February. You were badly hurt while defending the earth and appear to have blocked out recent events. In all likelihood your memories will return but they shouldn't be forced. It's possible your subconscious has blocked the events out as a coping mechanism."

As he finished talking Clark's attention was suddenly diverted by the television still on behind Sam. The screen was replaying a scene from a short time earlier.

…It is time to choose, submit to Lord Kal-El or face utter eradication. You have one Earth day. Use the…."

Lois ran and turned the TV off but it was too late, Clark had already seen the being and heard the name. He jerked the quilt away and struggled to rise up slightly as he looked down at the ruined suit he was still wearing.

His breathing intensified as he made the connection, "No, no…that couldn't be me…no it's not possible, that can't be me…"

His eyes went blank as Sam pushed him back down onto the couch. He didn't resist but simply curled up into a fetal like position with his head under the quilt as he became unresponsive tuning the world out.

"Ben we need to get him upstairs and away from that blasted television." Sam and Ben struggled but managed to get him up the stairs with Martha and Lois running ahead leading the way into Martha's former sewing room which she had recently converted back into a bedroom where Lois had been staying. Martha pulled the covers back as the men sat him on the edge of the bed allowing him to fall back.

Lois left the room momentarily and came back with a pair of his pajamas. "We have to get him out of that suit. You saw how he reacted at seeing it." Ben and Martha stepped back as Lois and her father managed to strip the Trprian suit off Clark and replace it with the pajamas. Clark seemed unaware of what was going on around him neither helping nor objecting. Once they finished and pulled the blankets up over him he turned over to his side and once again curled up into a fetal like position and began shivering.

Jason and Kala had been standing in the doorway watching. Seeing his father shivering he grabbed Kala's hand and pulled her with him jumping on the bed both cuddling up to Clark before anyone could object. Lois and Ben started to pull them away until they saw Clark's shivering had subsided and his position had relaxed slightly.

The phone started ringing downstairs so Ben went running to retrieve it. "Lois it was Richard, he has been trying to call your cell phone. He says we need to turn the TV back on, something is happening."

Lois took one final look at Clark still curled up but appearing to be resting somewhat peacefully with the two kids huddled around him and reluctantly followed her father, Ben and Martha down to the living room and turned the TV on low.

"….and just a few minutes ago the three ships reappeared. It appears three of the ships are attacking the fourth ship, the one that had remained here." The camera panned up showing one of the ships being bombarded by laser like beams. The reporter and cameraman were reporting from near the front of the white house hiding in amongst some trees for cover.

"We have no idea how this will affect the ultimatum given Earth just a short time ago. The president has yet to comment and is believed to have been moved to a safe location days ago. Everyone is still wondering what has happened to Superman. Some are speculating that the being making the ultimatum was in fact Superman himself but that has yet to be confirmed."

As she spoke white beams generated from three of the ships that had attacked the fourth ship met on the ground forming one large beam. Three beings, two men and a woman coalesced in the beams and the light faded. Lois drew her breath in, she recognized the woman as Mer Kaper.

The beings motioned to the reporter and cameraman. "We wish to address the people of Earth. Lord Arnken who ascended into Lord Kal-El is no more. The people of Trpria wish to offer sincere apologies for the atrocities our former Lord brought on your world and on your champion Superman. Our people have many amends to make here and elsewhere due to the ravings and ill leadership we have suffered for several generations. Your champion became our champion but nearly lost himself in the process. He has survived but may need time to recover from grave injuries. We leave you in peace, may your nations learn to work together to solve your problems. It is not our place or intent to intervene." The three bowed their heads slightly as the white beam reappeared and they disappeared.

The camera panned up and showed the four ships come together to once again form one immense ship with the former lead ship now somewhat damaged in the rear position. The ship slowly rose in the air and disappeared.

Lois' cell phone began to ring but before she could answer the dogs in the yard began to bark as the white beam appeared in the yard and the same three beings appeared.

Mer Kaper looked over at the two dogs and they stopped barking and simply lay down. She stepped forward smiling directly at Lois. "This is my father Der Motin and my husband Srnken also friends of Kal-El. The ships are all now in our control. We come to offer additional assistance to Kal-El now that the crisis is past. Srnken has knowledge of Kal-El's present suffering."

"What can we do to help him? It's like he's shrinking into himself." Lois asked praying they had some miracle answer or cure.

"Only time and patience can help him. He is strong of will and that will see him through but he is going to need your help. There is a certain paranoia of losing oneself when taken over as we have been. Lord Arnken was my father. He attempted to take over my mind as well but did not complete the process as I and my body began to die. Kal-El withstood the takeover by encapsulating his consciousness away from Lord Arnken's and somehow remaining separate. The experience has cost him greatly and now he most likely does not trust himself to be just Kal-El."

"But he doesn't remember what happened. His last memories are from before your ship even arrived the first time." Lois seemed more confused than ever as her father put his arms around her shoulder.

Mer Kaper answered, "His subconscious is trying to protect him. He can not face that he was in any way part of Lord Kal-El. He has to just let that go. It wasn't really him and he had no way of preventing what happened other than what he did do. He very nearly sacrificed his life protecting Earth and the ones he loved."

Der Motin spoke up for the first time. "He has not taken any nourishment since Lord Arnken took control and exposed Kal-El's body to the full unshielded rays of Sirius over eight of your days ago. Lord Arnken had been unstable before but the enormous power which he was not capable of controlling drove him totally insane. We had plotted with Kal-El a much safer method to defeat Lord Arnken but it was not meant to be as others plotted to destroy both Lord Arnken and Kal-El in one stroke."

Mer Kaper asked, "Might I see him I possibly can help, plus I can show Kala how to use her gift before we must leave."

While the men continued talking about what had happened on the journey to Trpria and back Lois and Martha took Mer Kaper up to the bedroom. Mer Kaper sat on the side of the bed while Kala and Jason watched as she took one of Clark's hands placing it between her own. She massaged his hand gently warming it then put one of her hands on his face as she continued to hold his hand. While staring at him she smiled softly and the smile was briefly mirrored on his face as some of the tension seemed to melt away.

Kala sat up from her dad's side suddenly very interested. "How did you do that, can I do it too?" As if knowing somehow she asked, "Is that the gift you gave me?"

Mer Kaper smiled and once again cupped the young girls chin in her hand. "Yes this is your gift just as it is mine." As she spoke she moved her hand to Kala's forehead and cheek as the little girl closed her eyes receiving an image. The image was of Jason and herself cuddled up to Clark which showed the pure love between the three.

"Did you give the same image to my dad? Is that why he smiled?"

"Yes, more than anything right now he needs to understand he's not alone. You can send him that same image or any other you desire. That is only part of your gift of which you will learn as you grow into a wonderful young woman. You have always had this ability just not the knowledge of how to tap into it. Very few if any on this world do, you may even be the first. Use your gift well and you will do great things that will astound even your father."

Kala hugged Mer Kaper and then in an overly generous mood hugged Martha and Lois who were standing nearby watching. Before settling back down she even reached over and hugged Jason who rose up to meet her halfway. Kala took Clark's hand in hers and repeated everything she had just witnessed Mer Kaper do. Placing her small hand on her dad's face he once again smiled mirroring Kala's bigger smile this time.

Back in the hallway Mer Kaper looked into Lois's eyes then looked at her stomach. "He will be very pleased to hear your news."

Lois seemed shocked at Mer Kaper's statement and placed her hand on her stomach protectively. "How do you know about that?"

"I sensed it about you when we first met."

"Will Kala be as sensitive?"

"That I cannot predict, only Kala can by how she accepts and works to develop her gift. Do you want to know the child's gender?"

Lois turned pale, "You even know that? Jason asked Santa for a little brother."

Seeing Mer Kaper smile deviously Lois fiddled, "Hmmm, Yes… No! Ohhhhhhhhh, Yes I would."

"You are blessed with a …are you sure you wish to know?" Lois hesitated looking at Martha, then nodding yes.

"A girl. May I…" Mer Kaper held her hand towards Lois' stomach. "I have one more gift to bestow." Lois hesitated momentarily then accepted her soft touch. "This child will be born healthy and your term will be much easier than the last."

"That is the last of the gifts we have to share. It's time we were on our way. Please tell Kal-El we wish him well and perhaps we'll meet again some day." She headed back down the stairs.

Lois's cell phone began to ring again in the other room but she once again ignored it.

Mer Kaper joined Der Motin and Srnken as the three made their way out the door. When they reached the middle of the yard the white beam of light caught them. The three turned and smiled at the adults who had gathered on the porch as they disappeared with the beam of light.

The phone in the house rang so Ben ran in and answered it calling out Richard was on the line again. Lois went back into the house and took the phone.

"Lois did you see that, it's over. Is Clark back? Is he alright?"

"No he's not alright but he will be. Jason and Kala are upstairs with him now. It may take some time for him to fully recover from what happened to him. I can't even begin to tell you what has happened here today. I'm still trying to believe it all myself."

"What happened, are the kids alright?"

"Yes, they are more than alright. There is no way I can go into this on the phone. Can you and Chloe come here? Ahaaa…I have the story of a lifetime and I can't even think of writing it. What's even more astounding, I don't care! If you dare tell Perry what I just said I won't even tell you the whole story."

'We'll be there first thing tomorrow. Things should start settling down by then. Are you sure everyone is alright?"

"Yes, we're all fine except for Clark and he seems to be getting better too. We'll see you tomorrow morning."

A short time later Martha started making a late dinner for everyone and also made some chicken broth for Lois to take up to Clark. He had been quiet but became restless when the kids both left his side quickly curling back into the fetal position he had displayed earlier. Lois sat down on the bed as the kids went to the doorway hungry after smelling the soup.

"Clark your mother made you some chicken broth, hmmm it smells delightful. You really do need to try and eat something."

The only response she got was as weak, "Nooooooooo not hungry." as he curled up tighter.

Jason had stopped at the doorway hearing his dad's response and seeing the worry on his mom's face he went back to her side. "I can get him to eat. See watch this. Daddy, I'm hungry, what is this? I don't know if I like it, will you try it for me?"

Clark turned over and before he knew what he was doing Lois had put the cup of warm soup to his lips and he had swallowed several ounces of the warm broth. "Hmmm… good Jason, tastes like grandma's chicken broth." He mumbled before settling back down.

Jason and Lois high fived and Jason tried for a second round at his mother's urging. "Daddy, what about this I don't know if I like it either?"

Clark turned back and once again Lois got him to drink several ounces of the warm broth. "Hmmm… good Jason, tastes like grandma's chicken broth." He once again mumbled before settling back down.

Lois looked at Jason and at the remaining broth in the cup. Raising her eyebrows she shrugged, then said to Jason "should we try it one more time?"

Kala who had been watching from the doorway joined them and asked if she could try. Jason nodded yes and giggled as Kala asked "Daddy, how about this?"

Clark turned back once again and Lois got him to finish the last of the warm broth. "Hmmm… good Kala, tastes like grandma's chicken broth." He mumbled a third time before settling back down.

As the three left the room Lois was pleased she had gotten him to drink the entire cup of broth but concerned since he seemed to be on auto pilot. At least he seemed to recognize the change in kids and also that it was his mom's chicken broth. She decided that had to count for something.

There was little change the rest of the evening. Lois, Martha, Jason and Kala all had taken turns sitting with him reading to him or just talking quietly holding his hand so he knew they were there or more importantly that he was not alone. Kala was with him practicing what Mer Kaper had shown her when Lois brought up a second cup of broth.

Her father had agreed that Clark needed more real nourishment to gain his strength back after going for so long without food. As she entered both Kala and Clark were smiling. Kala had been reminding him of the wonderful Christmas they had just shared and about the fireworks on New Years Eve. She had never realized before how lyrical Kala's voice was. She watched momentarily wondering if Clark was seeing the images as Kala spoke about them. She sat down almost dropping the soup as she realized she herself was seeing the images just from listening to Kala's voice. Kala noticed the affect she was having on her mom and finished up by kissing her dad's cheek and then hugging and kissing her mom's as well.

"Good night dad. Will you tuck us in later mom?"

"Of course, I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Clark will you try this for me?" She waited several seconds with no answer. "Ahem, honey, will you try this for me I'm not sure if I'll like it?"

Clark opened his eyes and looked directly at Lois, "That only works for the kids. I'm not really hungry but just give it to me and I'll drink it to make you happy."

"Clark, are you alright, you really had us scared for awhile?"

"I'm getting better. I'm just not sure Lord Arnken is completely gone. How can I ever be sure he's really gone?"

"The same way you have always told us. You just have to have faith. What do you remember?"

"Everything, but I wish I had not remembered a lot of it."

"It'll be alright, just remember you fought and won your way back."

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The next morning Clark woke with the sun coming in the window shining on the bed where he lay. As he lay there listening he could hear Lois' steady heartbeat next to him. He could hear Kala's heartbeat down the hall in his old bedroom still asleep. He could hear his mom's heartbeat downstairs in the kitchen no doubt thinking of the big country breakfast she was going to prepare. He could hear Jason's heartbeat out in the barn and Ben's nearby as they went about feeding the chickens and collecting the fresh eggs. And he could hear the fast fluttering heartbeat of the new life Lois was carrying. Tentatively he sat up and leaned over Lois placing his hand gently on her stomach as he continued to watch her sleep. He recalled something trying to figure out if it was from a recent dream or if it had really happened.

Clark there is always pain in life but there are also great joys. One you missed out on is coming your way again. Don't miss it this time for fear of pain. You are stronger than the pain.

Lois opened her eyes feeling his warm hand on her stomach. She looked up into his eyes which had returned to the brilliant blue she had always been drawn to. He was staring in awe at his hand resting on her stomach. Lois jerked up. "You're not using your x-ray vision are you? You might harm…." He was smiling and softly shaking his head. "You spoiled the surprise, I wanted to tell you."

"Tell me now, I've been listening to the heartbeat for about 30 minutes but I want to hear you say it."

"We're pregnant!"

"Say it again, I'm not sure I heard you right."

"We are going to have baby."

"Say that again, I missed it the first two times."

"We're going to have another baby. Promise me you'll be here this time."

He finally took his hand and eyes off her stomach embracing her as he spoke. "Nothing could keep me away."

"Mer Kaper told me the sex, do you want to know?"

"It only matters that it's healthy and not so hard on you this time."

"We are going to have another daughter and Mer Kaper assured me she will be born healthy with an easier time for me."

"She can do that?"

"Evidently."

His eyes sparkled from the sunlight playing on them as his smile broadened. "Another daughter and I'll get to see her being born." Then with the familiar twinkle in his eyes he laughed before continuing. "We had better wait a little longer before telling Jason. We don't want him to think Santa made a mistake!"

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