Title: Vulnerable
Author: Ashley Graham
Rating: K+ -Just to be safe…there is some swearing and a bit of blood…
Summary: Who exactly found Clark in the middle of the road in Hidden, after he was shot? This is an AU version of what I wish had happened…Hints of a future CLIOS relationship, nothing too obvious since Clark is with Lana at this point in time.
Authors Note: Well this is the ending (please don't kill me; I really, REALLY suck at them!) However, there will be an epilogue to tie up all of the loose ends, and there will be some strong hints of a future CLOIS relationship in it. (The entire epilogue is pretty much going to focus on Lois and Clark, with some of the Kent parents).
Please keep your eyes peeled for it! Anyways…on with the chapter!
Vulnerable
Chapter 7: Promises Kept and Broken
Clark's Room
Clark moaned as consciousness returned to him. He tried to sit up, but found it to be impossible. A searing pain erupted through his chest the moment he made any movement.
What happened? He wondered as he stared at the ceiling, still feeling exhausted. It took him a few minutes to remember what exactly had taken place. I thought I died…He frowned when he thought back to right before he had flat-lined. Lana and Lois had been talking to him…
Lois…Clark smiled slightly when he thought of the overbearing woman, she saved me, if I get through this she's never going to let me live it down…
Clark's thoughts were broken when he erupted into a very painful coughing fit. After a few minutes, he found himself able to breathe again, but it was torture every time he sucked the air in.
Closing his eyes, Clark tried to steady his breathing, hoping that if he evened it out, it wouldn't be so painful. His concentration was soon broken however, by the sound of the door opening. Someone was coming in.
"Clark!" Martha exclaimed as soon as she had entered her son's room, her voice somewhere between a sob and a choked cry.
She rushed over to Clark, who was following her with his eyes tiredly. Martha sat down and grabbed his hand, using her free one to brush away her tears.
"M-mom…" Clark whispered, his voice hoarse. He gave his mom one of his famous smiles, attempting to reassure her that he was okay,
"Oh, my baby…" Martha said, her voice shaking with both relief and fear. It feels so good to hear his voice.
"Mom…d-dad?" Clark questioned as he fought to keep his eyes open.
"Uhm…your father will be here soon, Clark. Don't you worry about him; you just concentrate on getting yourself better." Martha answered gently as she stroked his hair.
Even in his weakened state, Clark new that his mom wasn't giving him the whole truth. "Where….?" He began to ask.
"Sweetie, you shouldn't talk, save your strength!" Martha interrupted before he could finish.
Clark however, was just as stubborn as his father and continued to speak, "Where…is…dad?"
Martha sighed and squeezed his hand tighter. She briefly contemplated lying, but she knew that Clark would see right through her, besides…she couldn't lie to her son, especially when he was like this. "He…he's gone to see if Jor-El can help us." She replied truthfully.
Clark's eyes widened considerably, and worry began to consume him immediately. The last time his father had sought Jor-El's help he had come out of it with a very bad heart. "He...shouldn't…"
Martha smiled and said, "I made him promise not to do anything rash…your father is many things Clark, but he never breaks his promises." Unless his sons' life is at stake…She thought to herself worriedly.
"I'm…not a-afraid to…to die." Clark mumbled, he could feel his strength slipping by the second, and he knew at that moment that his condition was worsening. His father would only go to Jor-El if he was desperate.
The distraught mother smiled at her son's bravery. With or without powers, he was as selfless as ever. "Your father and I are both very proud of you, Clark. You're the best son we ever could've asked for, and we love you…but you can't give up on us, okay? This is completely selfish, but your dad and I…we can't keep going without you, we love you too much to lose you…we…we aren't as selfless as you." Martha said, beginning to cry again as she kissed the teens forehead.
"I'm tired mom…" Clark whispered, his heart was breaking at the obvious pain his mother was in, but he was so sleepy…
"Please stay awake, don't you want to see Chloe, Lana and Lois? They're waiting outside." Martha replied, slightly desperate. She was afraid that if he fell asleep, he wouldn't wake back up.
"So…I wasn't dreaming?" Clark asked, adding when he saw his mom's confused frown, "I thought…I heard Chloe…s-she said, she said that she stopped…him…"
Martha smiled and nodded, relieved that he could hear some good news. "Smallville is safe and so is Chloe."
"That's…good…" He mumbled as his eyelids began to slide shut.
"Clark? Clark, please baby, stay with me!" Martha cried, alarmed.
"Can't…tell…dad…love him…and you m-mom…" Clark whispered.
"Clark, baby?!" The frantic mother sobbed, fear consuming her entire being when the young man didn't respond.
Looking at the heart monitor, Martha realized with a wave of utter relief that Clark had simply passed out from the pain. He wasn't dead. Releasing the breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding, she rose from her chair on shaky legs and went to get the rest of the group so that they could all sit with her son together. All the while, she prayed to god for the miracle her family so desperately needed.
Kawatchee Caves
Jonathan studied the cave walls as he walked towards the fissure in the wall. He was sweaty and out of breath, his anxiety reaching a new level, but he ignored his pounding heart.
After making sure that there was no one around, Jonathan bellowed, "JOR-EL! I NEED YOUR HELP!"
No response.
"MY SON NEEDS YOUR HELP!" He tried again, tears of frustration forming in his eyes when, once again, there was no response.
Screaming in frustration, Jonathan punched the rocky wall, ignoring the stinging feeling in his knuckles as blood trickled down them.
"Please…" He pleaded sadly, his eyes staring at the mossy ground. He was feeling the familiar stab of helplessness that he often got when it came to his son. I have to help him.
"HE'S YOUR SON TOO, JOR-EL! HE'LL DIE IF YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING!" Jonathan roared, his voice echoing throughout the cave walls.
Suddenly, there was a blinding light from the fissure in the wall; it enveloped the farmer, who yelled out in surprise. Then everything went black.
Jonathan had suddenly disappeared, along with light.
Fortress of Solitude
The first thing that Jonathan became aware of was the biting cold that seemed to penetrate his very bones. Groaning, his rose to his feet and rubbed his hands against his arms as he studied his surroundings.
Without even asking, he knew that he was at the crystal fortress Clark had briefly described to him. Shivering uncontrollably, he called out, "Jor-El?"
After a few minutes of silence, the entire fortress seemed to come to light, and a voice boomed out to him, seemingly from every corner of the area, "Jonathan Kent, I have been expecting you."
"You need to help Clark; he's going to die if you don't do something." Jonathan got straight to the point.
"I am aware of Kal-El's condition." Jor-El replied calmly.
Feeling the anger rising in his chest, Jonathan snapped, "Your letting him suffer?! How could you let your only son suffer when you knew damn well that you could do something about it?!"
"Kal-El's mortal journey must end."
"SO YOU'RE JUST GOING TO WATCH HIM DIE?!" Jonathan bellowed furiously.
"He will be returned to you, Jonathan Kent, with all of his natural gifts. I had originally planned to use my vessel on Earth to bring Kal-El here once he passed, but I released the man when my son did not die after the incident in the hospital. I knew you would be coming…"
The vessel must've been Lionel, Jonathan thought before speaking, "What can I do?"
"I will give you all of Clark's natural born gifts, which you can in turn restore to him." Jor-El answered.
Jonathan took an involuntary step back and said cautiously, "You never do anything without a price, Jor-El. What do you want from my family?"
"Kal-El is meant to die, if he is resurrected the life force of someone close to him must be sacrificed."
Jonathan swallowed nervously and stated, "So, someone is going to have to die? Someone Clark loves?"
"Precisely. It is for you to decide."
Clark would never want that, the father thought helplessly. "Can it be me?" He finally asked quietly. He had promised his son that he would save him…he never broke his promises.
"That is not for me, but for nature to decide, Jonathan Kent. It could happen tomorrow, or in fifty years. It may be you, his future wife, or Martha Kent...anyone he is close to." Jor-El replied.
Another shiver wracked through Jonathan's body, but it wasn't just from the freezing air that seeped through his thin flannel shirt. Can I really sacrifice the life of someone else to save my son? If only it could just be me…
Staring up at the crystal walls, Jonathan made his decision after nearly half an hour of contemplation.
Smallville Memorial Center
Martha had fallen asleep, her head resting by Clark's side, her hand still clinging loosely to his own.
Lana sat on the other side of the bed, her eyes were wide and glossy as she looked emptily at Clark, she stroked his arm gently, a faraway expression on her face.
Lois and Chloe sat huddled together on a small loveseat at the foot of the teen's bed, it had been brought in by some nurses.
Chloe, overwhelmed by the day's events, had finally fallen asleep on her cousin's shoulder. She shook slightly as nightmares plagued her, not even a comforting squeeze on her shoulder from Lois would calm her restless dreams.
Lois sighed as she blinked her eyes rapidly. She was trying extremely hard to be strong for the other people in the room, but it was becoming increasingly hard. She didn't know Clark as well as Chloe or Lana, and definitely not as well as his mother, but she was still terrified inside.
The thought of losing him was overwhelming, and it surprised her that it scared her as much as it did. Lois groaned and shifted in her seat, trying to get into a more comfortable position without disturbing Chloe.
Her efforts were for nothing, however, for the door suddenly opened and Jonathan entered the room, bringing in the noise from the hall.
Martha was awake in an instant. "Jonathan!" She exclaimed, hugging him tightly.
Chloe woke a little more slowly, but when she realized that Jonathan had returned, she snapped to attention and looked at him anxiously. Please, please…let him say he's found a way to save Clark.
"Martha, how is he?" Jonathan asked quietly.
Martha hesitated before answering, "Not good, Jonathan…he woke up once for about 10 minutes, that's it. He's getting worse…"
All hopes that Jonathan wouldn't have to restore Clark's powers and risk the life of someone else diminished at these words. I have no choice, he thought sadly, he really is going to die if I don't do this, and I can't let him die because of my idiocy!
It seemed that Clark new that his father was now with them, for he moaned softly before awaking. He gave Lana a tired smile before turning towards his parents. "Dad…" He said scratchily.
Jonathan felt his heart break all over again, but he put on a brave face and sat next to his son. "Clark, how are you feeling?" He asked quietly.
"Fine." Clark immediately lied. In truth, he felt far from it…he felt like he'd been shot point blank in the chest.
Jonathan laughed shakily, trying to ignore the inquisitive stare that Martha was giving him. He couldn't do or say anything until Clark's friends had left.
Thankfully, Chloe got the silent hint. "Guys, lets go and get some coffee, we should give them some time alone…" She said to the other girls quietly.
The three left hesitantly, all of them praying silently that Clark wouldn't be spending his final family moment in that room.
Meanwhile, Clark was staring at his father, attempting feebly to unlock the secrets behind his eyes. "Dad…Jor-El…what d-did you…do?"
"He gave me the power to save you, son." Jonathan answered truthfully.
Martha gasped from over his shoulder.
"How…?" Clark couldn't finish his sentence, for he had started to cough violently. When he was done, he looked at his dad expectantly, his eyes full of pain.
"It doesn't matter how," Jonathan shook his head, "The important thing is that you're going to be alright."
"Thank god!" Martha managed to choke out.
"Son…the only way is to give you your powers back. It's the only way Jor-El would help…he told me that your destiny suits a higher purpose than a common mortal."
Clark closed his eyes and sighed heavily. Back to the lies…he thought bitterly.
"Your powers won't come back all at once; it'll be a gradual process, so that the doctors don't ask more questions than necessary. Eventually there won't even be a scar…" Jonathan continued.
"Dad…what, what did…Jor-El want…in r-return…" Clark asked.
"Nothing." Jonathan lied. You're doing the right thing! He justified to himself, Clark will blame himself if you tell him the truth.
Clark seemed skeptical, but he didn't have the energy to ask more questions. His eyelids were feeling heavier by the second, and it felt as if the life was being sucked out of him. He felt his fathers hand close around his.
"Dad...love...you." Clark whispered, and then everything went dark.
His heart had stopped again.
Jonathan's heart pounded erratically when the monitors by his son's bed started to squeal. This is supposed to happen, he attempted to calm himself. It was hard however, considering the fact that right now is son was in fact, dead.
Martha cried out in alarm, fearing that her husband had come too late.
The determined father quickly rolled up his sleeves and stood, he had to act quickly before the doctors came rushing in. "Stay back, Martha! His mortal life had to end before I could help, don't worry!" He said above the noise of the heart monitor.
Martha clutched her chest but stayed where she was, her entire body trembling.
Jonathan quickly placed both of his palms on his son's chest and closed his eyes.
Watching in fascination, Martha gasped when a flash of white light filled both Clark and Jonathan's bodies, and then, as quick as it had come, it disappeared.
Jonathan slumped backwards into a chair, exhausted. A doctor rushed into the room just as the monitors returned to normal. The unfamiliar physician muttered something about the reliability of technology before apologizing to the parents and leaving swiftly.
"Are you okay?" Martha asked her husband anxiously.
"Yeah, just a little tired. I'll be fine." Jonathan panted, a tired hand running through his blond hair.
"He looks better already." Martha whispered as she gazed at Clark, who was now sleeping peacefully. From where she was standing she could see the color returning to his cheeks.
Jonathan smiled as he rose slowly; he gave Martha a tight hug and whispered, "Everything is going to be alright now…"
Martha clutched onto him tightly and replied softly, "Thanks to you."
At that precise moment, Lana, Chloe and Lois re-entered the room. All three of them held trays of coffee, and some food from the cafeteria. They looked at the Kent's solemnly, and were surprised when they were greeted with two smiles and tear stained cheeks.
"Uh, did we miss something?" Lois asked bluntly, frowning as she set down the coffee's she held.
"Not a thing, I just have a feeling that Clark is going to be okay." Martha replied, unable to contain her relief fully.
Lana and Lois shot each other confused looks, but relief was evident on their faces. Neither of them was about to question the motherly intuition Martha seemed to have. Besides, if Clark recovered, that was all that mattered.
Chloe let out a low, long breath and smiled knowingly.
The group sat with the Clark in silence for the rest of the night, sipping their coffees quietly, each one of them lost in their own thoughts.
The End
Don't forget that there will be an epilogue!