AIW - The Kent Family Saga Part II - New Beginnings

Trees, though they are cut and lopped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again.
Pericles, from Plutarch, Lives Greek politician in Athens (490 BC - 429 BC)

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Lois pulled away from Clark's embrace and brushed the hair out of his too pale face, "how are you feeling, you couldn't even sit up yesterday?"

"I feel a lot better. I think I can sit up. I hope I can walk because the sun's leaving the window and I would really like to go out in the open air and direct sunlight."

"OK, one thing at a time. You sit up and we'll go from there. Do you think you can eat something more that clear soup? I don't care what you may think you need more than sunshine to get your strength back." As she spoke she got out of bed and wrapped a robe around her shoulders to keep the chill off.

Clark squinted his eyes, bit his lower lip and lowered his eyebrows looking at Lois as she came back and sat on the edge of the bed, "Did you take lessons from mom while I was gone?"

"I didn't have to I'm raising your son. Remember?"

"So are you telling me its part of being a mother, or is it just in particular to Jason and me?"

"It seems to be particular to men in general….men are just…" Lois smirked and shrugged her shoulders "big boys."

"I take it by that you mean we need to be taken care of?" He quizzed her raising his eyebrow. "See I can sit up. What now?" Clark slowly sat up. As he stirred his movements slowed as if in pain, "Ah...wait a minute, Ohhhh...man, now I know what that saying 'I hurt in places I didn't even know I had places' means."

"Clark, are you alright? Try to lie back down. I'll go get dad." Lois was so used to his strength and power she felt pained herself seeing him in such discomfort.

"No, no, I'm alright it's getting better. I…I think I have …kinks? Is this what kinks are like?"
Slowly he made his way to the edge of the bed and even slower he swung his legs over the side as if testing each new movement.

"I'll draw you a nice hot bath that always helps me when my muscles hurt. You stay right there and I'll be right back." Lois ran down the hall and started the bath water running. Looking under the sink she found a box of Epson salts and poured some in the hot water. Returning to the bedroom she found Clark at the window looking longingly out into the yard.

"I thought you were going to stay put."

"I guess I don't mind very well anymore. Lois, I'm sore but I can walk by myself. That bath does sound good though, thank you for thinking of it." Lois watched as he slowly made his way past her and on towards the bathroom wincing at each movement. "I would invite you to join me but that tub is barely big enough for me."

"Oh, now you think you're up for some bath time fun, huh?"

With his lips in a pout that reminded Lois of Jason, Clark shrugged, "A guy can dream can't he?" and closed the door with her nose just inches away from the now closed door.

Lois snorted and walked back to the bedroom and quickly dressed. Afterwards she picked out a set of comfortable clothes for Clark to wear and then went into the kid's room briefly. Laughing to herself she knocked on the bathroom door and finding it unlocked entered.

"Ah, I knew you couldn't stay away. Did you come to wash my back?" He was scrunched down in the water with his knees poking up out of the top and his shoulders only partially underwater as he turned to smile at her."

"No actually, I brought you some clothes to put on and here, Jason loves to play with this when he takes a bath." She dropped a rubber shark in the water laughing as she turned to go.

"Ahem, you do know I have another of Jason's water toys in the tub with me already just waiting for you." Lois turned back to see him holding a water pistol aimed right at her. She dashed for the door hearing his bemused laugh, "Don't worry, I won't use it, you see I can restrain myself."

Lois grinned halfway hiding behind the door ready to bolt, "Should I tell your mom you'll be down for breakfast."

"Yes, I'll be down in a little while. This hot water feels great I just want to soak for a few minutes and then I'll be down." He relaxed back down into the water and closed his eyes.

"Clark…"

"Yes…"

"If you need help down the stairs promise to ask, alright?"

Clark opened his eyes and looked directly at her and then at the floor before softly replying, "I promise, now go before I change my mind and soak you!"

Lois went downstairs and greeted her dad and Martha who where both drinking coffee just waiting for the rest of the family to join them for breakfast.

Martha looked up in greeting and asked "How is he?" The concern was showing on her face.

"He's doing much better in fact he insists he's well enough to join us for breakfast. He's sore and is having some muscle stiffness but seems alright other than that. Right now I have him soaking in a hot bath."

"What about his memory lost, did he remember anything from the last couple of weeks yet?" Her dad asked.

"He says he remembers everything. His hearing is definitely coming back. He even heard the baby's heartbeat. I don't know though, he's still really pale and unsteady on his feet. I'm not at all sure he should be trying to come down those stairs by himself yet. I made him promise to ask for help if he needs it but you all know him. I'm just afraid we're going to be picking him up from the bottom of the stairs next."

Martha asked dumbfounded, "He heard the baby's heartbeat? You're barely what… 7 weeks along? I didn't even know there would be a heart yet."

Sam answered, "Actually the heart starts to beat at about the 25th day. So his hearing's back huh, but nothing else? Interesting, I could spend the rest of my life studying him and still never understand what makes him tick. What was his reaction? Were you two trying for another baby so soon after getting back together?"

"No, but you know me, I haven't seemed able to remember to take my pills the last few months. I think maybe subconsciously I did want another baby with Clark. We talked about it after Jason asked for a little brother before Christmas. Clark said it was up to me if and when, that he would always welcome more children but he didn't want to put that burden on me unless it was what I wanted."

Lois' face lit up remembering Clark's reaction, "You should have seen his face. I woke up this morning and he was leaning over me with his hand on my stomach. He had this angelic smile on his face staring at his hand. It scared me at first I was afraid he was using his x-ray vision and could maybe hurt the baby but he shook his head when I asked. I think I said he'd spoiled the surprise. Then he said he'd been listening to the heartbeat for about 30 minutes but wanted to hear me say it." Lois put her hand to her mouth remembering, "He made me tell him I was pregnant three times." Tears sprang into her eyes. "He promised nothing would keep him from being here this time." She put her hand up to her nose rubbing it trying to contain the tears.

Martha sniffed and put her hand on Lois' shoulder kissing her cheek then looked over at Sam who was also smiling with eyes glistening before he looked away. Their attention was diverted as they heard the bathroom door open. Lois got up and walked to where she could see the stairs. Sam and Martha followed close behind just in case they were needed.

Clark was walking from the bathroom back to the bedroom. He stopped; looking down at his audience he arched his eyebrows and held up the PJs before disappearing into the bedroom. He was still moving somewhat slow but seemed to be having no real problems. Coming back out and stopping at the head of the stairs he looked at each one in turn. "I appreciate your concern but I can do this on my own." He slowly descended the stairs holding on the banister for support. Walking past them he smiled sideways at Lois as he headed to the table where he took a seat.

Martha came and kissed him on the cheek. "Is everybody ready for breakfast, any special requests?" Looking directly at Clark, "what would you like honey? Sorry but we don't have any raspberries, seems my local currier was not available this morning." She elicited a small smile from Clark at the attempted joke.

"That's OK mom, whatever you want to fix, I'm really not hungry anyway." Feeling the looks he got at that statement he continued, "I know, I know I need to eat … but my stomach is really messed up right now between not eating and the nausea caused by the radiation exposure I just have no appetite." He looked over and noticed the TV was off and the paper was no where to be seen.

Lois and Sam both noticed his glances. Sam spoke up addressing his unspoken questions. "Why don't you just wait till after breakfast before worrying about the news? There is nothing you can do about anything right now anyway. There is nothing that can't wait for later."

"Dad's right Clark, Richard and Chloe are suppose to be coming this morning they can fill us all in on the latest news."

Clark, who had been looking down at the table looked up as if in deep thought, "What is today anyway, what's the date?"

Lois answered, "It's Monday, February 12th."

"They were going to get married on the 14th, Valentines Day." He looked over at Lois, concern in his eyes. She knew without his saying what he was thinking. That he had almost missed their first Valentines Day.

"Stop worrying about everything. You need to just concentrate on getting better. Everything else will take care of itself eventually."

"Lois, please don't coddle me. I don't know all of what happened but I can extrapolate from what I do know. Things don't just 'take care of themselves' that's why the world is in such a mess right now. Everyone is always waiting for someone else to 'take care of things' instead of doing what's needed themselves."

Sam spoke up, "Son, I don't claim to know what you're planning but speaking as your doctor, you are in no condition to 'take care of' anything but yourself at the moment."

Sighing deeply as he clenched his hands together as they rested on the table, "I realize that, but all the same I need to know what happened that I wasn't cognizant of and what's happening in response now. Did I… was anyone hurt by… I can't even stand to say it, Lord Kal-El?"

Lois responded by sitting next to him and taking his hands in hers, "Clark, no one was hurt. Not by Lord Kal-El or by that android. People were scared but nothing more."

Ben and Jason came in carrying a basket of fresh eggs. Jason ran to his father and stopped just short of jumping in his lap. "Are you alright Daddy? I missed you. Do you still hurt? Can I get in your lap?"

"I missed you too, come on up." Clark turned from the table and Jason climbed up into his lap just as Kala came downstairs yawning deeply still in her gown with a robe wrapped loosely around her.

"Daddy, you're better. Why didn't somebody wake me up?"

Lois got up from her chair next to Clark and let Kala take it. "Honey you were up so late last night I thought you needed to sleep in a little. You haven't missed anything we just got up a few minutes ago."

"Mom, I just had the strangest dream this morning. Dad had his hand on your stomach and you were telling him that he was going to have another daughter."

Lois and Clark looked at each other wide eyed in surprise. Jason laughed thinking it was funny then noticed the expression on his mom and dad's face. "But I asked Santa for a little brother. I guess it's OK if he gave us a little sister this time instead. When do we get to pick her up? Will she be in a pink valentine since it's so close to Valentine's Day?"

Ben, Sam and Martha smirked as Clark looked at Lois not sure what to say, "Un Lois I thought you were going to talk to him. Kala, you dreamed that!?!" Kala just shook her head in response.

Still shaken from Kala having dreamed what had actually happened down the hall from where she had been sleeping, Lois responded. "I did, I guess I wasn't very informative. I thought we would have plenty of time. It was on a need to know basis."

Jason looked from his father to his mother confused at their responses to his simple question. "Oh, I guess we have to wait to get back home and for Daddy to feel better huh?"

"Actually, honey, it's going to be a little longer than that. You see the baby has to grow first and get big enough to be born. She won't be big enough for several months. Then your daddy and I will go to the hospital, where I'll get lots of pain killers and she'll be born." Lois sighed deeply feeling good at her explanation till she looked into her son's questioning eyes which she noticed mirrored his father's. Kala was snickering now along with everyone else.

Martha continued snickering and headed to the stove with the basket of eggs. "Now that that is settled unless I get a special request I'm just going to make everyone scrambled eggs, bacon biscuits and some oatmeal for anyone who wants it. The eggs and oatmeal should be easy on Clark's stomach. The biscuits are ready to come out of the oven if anyone wants one now." She looked at Clark as she pulled the tray of hot biscuits out.

Jason jumped down and ran to her grabbing two off the tray then ran back to offer one to Clark. "No thanks buddy, I think I'll wait…" seeing his son's crestfallen expression and the concerned look on his mom's face he stopped. "Alright, thank you." Taking a small bite he grabbed a napkin out of the holder on the table and placed the too hot biscuit on the napkin in front of him wanting to let it cool before finally eating it in slow deliberate bites.

"Clark couldn't help but glance over at the TV several times even thought it remained off."

Sam kept watching him trying to determine from his movements and actions how he was doing. He finally spoke up, "So your hearing is back, anything else? Lois said you seemed to be experiencing some pain."

"No nothing else, I pretty much feel stiff and sore all over. I have a feeling it may be a lot like what people feel like with the flu. My eyes keep stinging… maybe it's more of a burning sensation. Burning, hmmm I remember feeling a burning sensation all over my body for a while. I think maybe I was exposed to direct radiation from Sirius too long. I don't know much of what happened while Lord Arnken was in control. I was either closed off to prevent being absorbed by his stronger life force or totally focusing on generating pain in some of the major nerve centers in an attempt to force him out."

"After seeing you come back from the brink several times now, I find it hard to believe his life force was stronger than your own." Ben interjected.

"Daddy was hurt and he couldn't break the door down because he didn't have any powers. He was burned and his chest hurt." Jason piped up not understanding exactly what they were talking about but knowing his daddy wasn't as strong as usual.

Looking at Jason and Kala, Clark sighed not wanting to go into any more detail with the young ears listening. "Can we continue this later? Besides if Richard and Chloe are coming I'm sure they're going to have the same questions. I would rather just tell what I remember once today."

"I second that besides breakfast is ready." Martha emptied a large pan of hot scrambled eggs in a big bowl. Lois helped her get everything on the table as they all switched to lighter subjects.

After breakfast was completed Clark headed out to the front porch and sat down in the porch swing at one end happy to finally feel the sun on his face. Ben and Sam joined him as Martha and Lois quickly cleaned up the kitchen before joining the men on the porch. The kids began a game of hide and seek. Jason kept finding Kala quickly but he kept eluding her making his way back to home which was the steps of the front porch before she could find him. Clark had been listening to them play figuring something was up but not sure exactly what it was.

Kala came up and sat down in the porch swing squeezing in between Clark and Lois who had joined him on the two seat swing. Dejected she pouted slightly, "I can't find him again. I think he's cheating."

Clark looked out in the yard his eyes scanned the front of the barn then the fence past a rock and over to the silo on the other side. He turned and smiled at Lois with a knowing look. "Kala instead of looking for Jason, look for what is out of place, what shouldn't be there."

Kala looked at him in puzzlement then slowly nodded and went back out into the yard. Lois continued to look at Clark puzzled. "Do you know where he's hiding?"

Clark nodded and looked at his mother and Ben who both laughed having figured it out after hearing Clark's comment to Kala. Lois realized they all three knew. She tried to figure where they saw him. The three averted their eyes not wanting to give Jason's hiding place away. Ben whistled while Martha chuckled. Lois kept looking noticing her dad was as confused as she was. What were the others seeing that she, her dad and Kala weren't?

The two dogs were following Kala as she walked from the barn crossing over by the fence. Both dogs sniffed the rock as she approached it. Kala giggled and quickly sat down as if thinking.

"Where could he be? Hmmmmm where would I hide if I was my little brother? Hmmmm"
She started bouncing on the rock as she sat. The dogs barked happily prancing around her.

Clark, Martha and Ben tried to contain their snickering. Lois and Sam finally got it seconds before the rock collapsed into the ground and turned into the little boy. Kala squealed now sitting on his back and said, "You're it!"

"So I'm a tree and my son wants to be a rock? Shaking his head as his face broke out in a wide grin he said to himself loud enough for everyone to hear, "So that's how they hid Jason and they let him keep it, ssssswell!"

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