A/N - Thanks you for the wonderful reviews...I knew Lana wasn't quite liked, woner where I got that idea. Anyway, to Malu, pipersmum, chica, and Kit...you keep me motivated and I am loving where this is going...hope you are too. If you are a lurker, say hi...
Chapter 10 – Re-adjustments
Lex, Clark, Chloe, and the Kents entered the office of the mansion together. They watched as Lex looked around the room and sighed. Turning around, he looked grimly at the artwork on the walls and scratched his still bandaged head. "I really like this stuff?"
Clark laughed and walked over and picked one of the swords off the wall. "Yeah, and you had a story that went with each piece. There's a whole lot more of this stuff in the basement." Clark watched as Lex ran his hand along the piano, the bar, and the desk.
Pulling out the chair, he flipped the computer open that was sitting on the desk. "You know I bet everything is password protected." He leaned on the chair and waited for the screen to come up and confirm it. Grinning and huffing, he shut the computer again.
The Kents watched as he continued around the room, following Clark who was trying to point out different things that he knew about the mansion. "Here's the entrance to the panic room, although I have no idea how to get in or out."
"I need a panic room?"
Jonathon found it time to speak. "Lex," he took his shoulder, "it's going to take awhile to get everything back but you don't have to remember everything right away. It'll take time and eventually it'll get back to normal." Lex shook his head and grinned sadly. He sat down on the couch and rubbed his hands together in nervousness.
Looking up at Chloe, who had sat down on the couch across from him, he pursed his lips together and closed his eyes. "I have no recollection of any of this." He nodded his head again in frustration. "I mean I like bright colors and parties and going out. This place makes me out to live in a tomb. I might as well have died and been buried in the very overly ornate garden in the back." He sighed and leaned back into the couch. Pressing his fingers to his temples, he squinted and clenched his teeth.
"Lex? Are you ok?" Chloe moved next to him and touched his knee as Jonathon went to fetch a butler. Clark and Martha sat down across from him. "Lex, talk to us."
He looked at Chloe and wrapped his arms around her. "I feel so lost." He took a deep breath as Chloe wrapped her arms around him in response. She looked over at Clark and Martha as Clark whispered to his mother that she and Lex had connected on a more personal level at the hospital. Sitting back up, Lex looked at the three and then at Chloe. "I'm sorry. I'm sure this is not me talking right now. I'm sure I was always in control but …"
"Hey it's ok. We'll get it back. Look, I can work on the passwords for the computer and combinations. You just work on getting back to your job and getting reacquainted to life." Lex smiled and stood up.
"You know – I would agree with you," Lex chided as he slid his hand along the desk. The butler came in and handed him a pill. "What's this?"
"Sir, it's your medication. It's for your pain." The butler turned and looked confused at Jonathon. "My name is Pei. Whatever you need sir." He waited for further instructions as Lex walked over to the bar and opened a bottle of the water and took his meds. He noticed that Pei was still waiting for instructions.
"Actually, you can do me a favor." Lex ripped a piece of paper off of a pad on his desk and started writing. Clark and Chloe, out of curiosity and concern, walked over and looked at what Lex was asking for.
Get rid of the bar
Move the piano to the bar area
Install brighter lights; remove artifacts from room
Lex stared intently at the list as he tapped the pen on the desk. Chloe and Clark looked at each other in confusion. He paused for a minute and stared at the paper. Crossing out the list of things he had written, he wrote in larger print, plan an estate sale.
Chloe and Clark's eyes widened and stared at Lex as he handed the paper to Pei "I don't know who exactly to give this instruction to so I guess you can get Mrs. Kent to help get things set up." Pei stared at the paper in awe. He handed the paper to Jonathon and Martha who also stared at Lex.
"Lex, this is what you really want?" Jonathon questioned Lex as he paced the floor, eyeing all the items in just the office alone. Lex looked around the room and nodded, smiling at Jonathon.
"Yes, I have no attachment to anything here. I didn't even like this place when it was a European country home – this had to be my father's bright idea." Clark shook his head in agreement. "See, he's gone and so is my memory. Therefore, it's all going." He took the sword off the wall that Clark had shown him earlier. "You want it? You know more about it than I do and frankly I'm a little tired of the whole Art of War discussions from my childhood. Come to think of it – if any of you want anything from here, just take it."
"Lex, come on – I know you had your differences with your father and you don't remember all of this, but it could come back to you."
Lex took Chloe by the shoulders in an effort to reassure her. "And then what? I turn into the vengeful bastard I was turning into. Chloe, I read the papers; I wanted the exposes that all the television stations are running on me now. I don't want to be that person." He let go of her and walked in between Clark, Martha, and Jonathon. "Look, I really appreciate all the help, but if my life was going so wrong before, why would I want to go back to that? People always say if they were able to go back, would they change anything. After seeing who I was becoming and seeing the reason for a lot of it isn't here anymore, I want to change." He looked at Clark. "And I can tell from the look on your face that even though you don't want to tell me I'm right, you'll welcome a new version of Lex Luthor."
Jonathon patted Lex on the back and looked at Martha. Taking a deep breath, he shook his hand, "I'm hoping that you are being honest with us."
"Mr. Kent, Senator, I have no reason to lie- I have nothing to lie about."
"So, what about the mansion itself?"
"I don't know – turn it into a bed and breakfast for all I care. It has enough rooms and the furnishings already. And the staff for that matter." Lex scratched his head as he looked at Martha. "I peaked your interest huh? Let me know if you're interested."
"Wait, you are willing to turn this place into a bed and breakfast but you sold the Talon? What gives?" Chloe had a good question. Clark and Chloe waited for an answer. They could Lex thinking of a smart answer for the remark.
"The grounds are large enough. On the tour we saw a pool, the garden, tennis courts, horse stables, an entertainment room, a movie theatre. Who wouldn't come here for a vacation – to sleep in the Lex Luthor suite. Come on." The four of them laughed and shook their heads as they realized that he was completely serious. He continued talking to Pei about getting things set up for him in the interim.
"Ok, so what about you?" Chloe took his hand as he turned and faced her.
"After I get things settled here," Lex paused and looked at the others and then back at Chloe, sliding his hand up her bare arm. "I'm moving back to Metropolis."