Dealing with Devils
Abby Ebon
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Summary: House needs to get rid of Tritter- so he calls on an old favor. Lex is only too happy to do so- for a price. Smallville and House, M.D. crossover. Slightly Slashy, what with hints of blushes, and male/male crushes –snickers-
Disclaimer for "Dealing with Devils": I do not own "Smallville" or "House, M. D.".
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Lex honestly liked Clark, and while the younger boy could be annoying at times, what with his teenage issues (like Lana), he was also the most interesting person in Smallville, and the only person Lex trusted with his life, as Clark had saved it.
That made him, in a weird way (as Lex had never been anyone's mentor…that he knew of), Clark's mentor; and made Clark, in a not so weird way, Lex's best friend. Lex had never had a best friend, but figured that in his twenties it was about time to get one.
Lex didn't think Clark realized what Lex would do for him, that if Clark asked, Lex could ensure he got Lana, or got whatever he wanted.
Somehow, Lex doubted Clark would ever ask, or ever want Lex to do something like that. Clark was far too innocent in the ways of the world, it could get tedious with that part of him, but a part of Lex wanted to protect that in Clark.
"So… how do you know this doctor?" Clark asked softly, sensing Lex's mind was somewhere else.
"He saved my life; there was leftover radiation from the meteor that made me bald." Lex admitted, Clark looked surprised, and Lex smiled slightly at his friend as he thought back on his first meeting with Doctor Gregory House.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Lex had been in the white-walled room with no windows for weeks.
His Dad came and went irregularly; his only regular visitor was his Mother, and she cried when she saw him. Worse, was that while Lex knew something was wrong, no one would tell him what it was, when he asked, they never met his eyes when they told him he'd be 'fine'.
Lex had been reduced to doing week-long homework to keep up with kids in school. Half of which, he found so easy he could do in a few days, and comic books. Comic books because the hospital didn't, or wouldn't, provide anything else. Something his Dad didn't bother to challenge.
Neither would they let him use a TV, or any 'violent' videogames, aka, anything other then Pac-Man was apparently too violent by their strict standards.
Lex thought they were being stupid, because comic books (did they never look in them?) were more violent then most videogames, not that his opinion mattered.
Well it should, Lex thought, what is the point of being a Luther if you can't do what you want? Lex picked at the fringe of the white blankets.
Except for a daily ten minute walk, he was holed up in here, as if the world should forget about him, or he should forget about the world. The nurses did jump to come to his room when he pressed the button that was now for 'emergency's only', Lex didn't bother to tell them that they had ceased to be amusing a week ago, and he only pressed it now to annoy them.
They had apparently never taken the time to learn how thin the walls were. Lex knew that next time his Lionel came they'd be fired, even if Lex didn't tell him, Dad had planted listening devices in his room.
"Hey Kid! Are you Lex Luther?" A tall, thin, man, with slightly curly brown hair, and blue eyes, asked after knocking sharply on the door. Lex looked up at him curiously, and nodded gravely.
"That's too bad, what everyone's keeping so hush-hush is your probably going to die. You've got maybe a few days left, now, your Dad hasn't told us anything- and forbidden us to speak to you, but we need to know more about you, alright? Now answer 'yes' or 'no' to any inquiries. I'm Doctor House, by the way." The man said in a hurried manner, walking over to stand beside Lex's bedside.
"Were you playing near any toxins?" He asked. Lex shook his head, uttering a soft 'no'.
"Any radiation, like say anything glowing near you or sudden lights, maybe?" House asked, Lex was about to shake his head again when he remembered the meteorite. Could that have been the source of the radiation? Lex shrugged.
"There was a meteorite in the corn field, that's when I lost my hair." Lex admitted, blushing when the doctor snorted softly in amusement, lips twitching in a half smile.
"Most of us have to age to do that, lucky you." House said dryly.
The door opened again, and Lex looked on eagerly, he didn't usually get this many visitors in one day. It was his Dad, and a whole horde of nurses and two doctors behind him.
"What is this man doing in my son's room?" Lionel hissed at a doctor. The man started to stutter something, and House interrupted.
"The kid's got some form of radiation poisoning. Not a cancer, or tumor, or previously unknown viruses, not even a brand-new nifty kind of disease. Sorry, Mr. Luther, give Lex here some shots for a few weeks, or months, he'll live." House said cockily, hands crossed over his chest.
"You've got some nerve!" The doctor Lionel had been addressing hissed angrily. Lionel however looked at House in a way Lex knew all too well.
Lionel wanted the man to work for him, but House had saved his son, putting Lionel in House's debt. That debt would have to be settled before Lionel would approach House for work. That's just how his Dad was.
"On the contrary, I believe a congratulations' is in order. Dr. House, you've saved me possibly millions of dollars, and something more important to me then any money could amount to, my son's life..." Lionel drawled softly, walking to stand next to House, who still hovered over Lex.
"Maybe, but there is nothing I can be done about his hair." House said with a wink at Lex, who was laughing softly, all he could think about was his relief that he was finally free of this place.
"If there is anything I can do for you, no matter the price, don't hesitate to ask." Lionel finished, handing House his card. House nodded, but he was staring at the doctor who had been running the show before. House grinned nastily at the doctor.
"Oh, don't worry Mr. Luther; I've gotten everything I want." House murmured softly, and after shaking Lionel's hand, he shoved past the doctors and nurses still clustered around the door.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Lex chuckled, and when Clark looked over at him in curiosity, Lex explained.
"House is, and always has been, brash, rude, antisocial, but… brilliant. Everyone knows that now. Back when I met him, no one wanted to give him the time of day. Then when he saved me… everything changed."
"That seems to happen a lot around you Lex." Clark said, Lex shrugged, and the pilot announced they were nearing New Jersey's Princeton- Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. Lex gave him orders to land in the privet field Lionel owned that was near-by.
His father had always made sure they owned something next to where House lived, or worked, in case House called upon him. It was a handy excuse, and Lionel had hoped that House would chose to work for him, rather then be bribed to.
House was an enigma to Lionel, he was brilliant, but not ambitious, so long as everyone knew House was brilliant, House was content to work where he was.
Something Princeton- Plainsboro Teaching Hospital should be grateful for, but Lex had a feeling they weren't, and they were about to get a wake up call.
Lex smiled ruthlessly, and with Clark walking behind him. Lex had made sure Clark hadn't seen him smile like that, he knew it made Clark nervous… for some reason.
Lex Luther had entered the hospital where House worked, and where House was supposed to be. Lex hoped he was here; he didn't want to go looking for him at his home.
Moreover, it was more impressive to others if House was being supported by someone rich and powerful while he was there in person, particularly when the newspapers started arriving outside, after getting wind of his being here, because of a 'mysterious' leak in his security.
Clark was amused, and knew Lex was - even if he didn't show it. It took the nurse at the check-in desk one-point-five seconds, to recognize Lex Luther.
While, Clark watched she squinted at Lex, and then glanced at her newspaper – for the front covers always seemed to find something 'interesting' about Lex or Lionel Luther- Clark had, for the most part, given up reading them.
She nearly gave herself whiplash looking back at Lex, and she flushed when she saw Clark watching- Lex was pretending to be (or he really was) bored and unimpressed.
Clark estimated it took security ten more seconds to sit up and take notice of who was standing in the lobby.
So, Clark was impressed despite himself when an important looking woman, and a man with a cane (the way Lex took notice of him, Clark assumed he was House) came to greet them.
"Welcome to the Princeton- Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, I'm Dr. Cuddy; how can I help you Mr. Luther?" Lex smiled charmingly at her, she seemed to soften.
"I'm here on…" Lex glanced at House, who had on his 'bland' face, it was clear to him he was barely hiding the pain. He can hide it- even among his fellow doctors, who probably think they knew him better then me; so why am I the only one who sees?…
"A bit of personal time, so I'd like to get to the point."
Cuddy nodded with a sympathetic expression; Lex thought it was a nice touch, considering she was probably bursting with questions – or demands, given the way House flinched.
"I see; if you both would follow me to my office?" Lex hated it when people 'forgot' Clark (even if Clark had told him it didn't matter to him); so Cuddy went up a notch in his opinion.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O