Previously on Choices(an epi where I only worked on the ending)
He stood up in the loft watching the stars in the sky. Kyla had opened up so many doors in his mind. She had shown him the caves. The key to unlocking his memories and figuring out what had happened to him. She could have helped him with so much more but she had died in his arms. Another part of the past that he couldn't change. He turned when he heard someone coming up the loft stairs.
"Lana," He said surprised to see her.
After walking in on him and Kyla he was sure she wouldn't talk to him for awhile. After all it had hurt Lana to know he was with another girl, since they had been talking about actually dating.
"I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about Kyla," She said.
"I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to know her better. You two had a lot in common," He said with a soft smile.
It was true. Kyla reminded him so much of Lana that it was easy to fall in step with her. The only reason he didn't step back was because she knew his secret and it was okay.
"That means a lot, knowing how important she was to you," She said looking down.
He hoped she got his meaning. She was the only one he really loved. And she always would be. He turned back to the window and looked up at the stars.
"Kyla told me there used to be a star, right out there with the bright one." He pointed to where Krypton used to be. "But it disappeared." He added knowing just what happened to that star, his home world.
"It's amazing how quickly a light can go out," She said.
He looked over at her when he heard the sorrow in her voice. Her eyes were red and tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.
"Lana, you're shaking. What happened?" He asked not needing to ask if she was okay. He knew she wasn't.
"I guess it hasn't sunk in yet." She mumbled leaving him a bit confused but he wasn't leaving her side.
She came here for him to help her and he was going to do what he could. He turned her towards him and he saw her chin shake with sobs.
"Whitney's mom just called. He's missing in action." She said the tears spilling down her cheeks.
He pulled her into his chest and held her tight. That was all he could do. She sobbed into his chest and grabbed on to his shirt tightly. He knew that Whitney was already dead. All he could do was comfort her until the pain went away.
Visage
"Twenty-four hour plumbing is a myth," Lana said kneeling next to him on the floor.
He was helping her with her leaking sink. She had called every plumber in Smallville but none could make it out until tomorrow and by then the Talon wouldn't be a coffee shop but an indoor pool.
"Let me see what I can do," He said before reaching in and twisting the pipe.
He barely knew what he was doing. When he was living on his own he never had to call a plumber cause he would fix it with his powers but Lana was watching and she didn't know…yet.
"Wrong way," She said as more water sprayed out.
He twisted the other way which made it worse and it drenched them both.
"The threads are history. I need a wrench!" He yelled over the rush of water.
She rushed off and when she was out of sight he used his heat vision to melt the seems together. Steam rose from the vaporized water and the spill came to a halt. He brushed some of the water out of his hair and stood up right as Lana rushed back in.
"It's stopped. How did you do that?" She asked.
"I just kept twisting and turning and it stopped," He lied.
He turned and noticed her checking him out and he smiled a little. He loved white t-shirts…even wet. She turned her head quickly and he noticed the red in her cheeks.
"Maybe one day I'll figure out how Clark Kent does the things he does."
"Don't worry. One day you will. I plan on it being sooner," He said not realizing his slip.
She looked at him confused before handing him a towel.
"Anyway, you know the new family that moved into your old house? They have this orange cat that comes by the loft sometimes. I try to talk to him but he's not half the conversationalist you are." He said.
"I have to admit, I do miss those sunsets," She said with a smile.
He missed her smile. Ever since she found out Whitney was 'missing in action' she just wasn't the same. It bothered him a little bit but he was there for her as much as he could be.
"The sky's not really the same when you see it alone," And that was the same for a sunset, sunrise, or even a relaxing fly around the country side.
"It's getting late," She said.
"Yeah," He replied.
He would try to flirt and things would get awkward. It was a hint that now just wasn't the time.
"I should put this back," She said holding up the wrench.
He smiled and followed her out of the room and back to the counter. He watched as she placed the wrench back in the door next to Whitney's photo.
"Any news from the military?" He asked.
"He's been missing for a month. I'm really worried," She said holding the photo up. "The military even sent back his personal effects to his mom. She gave me my necklace back." She said holding up the lead box that he had given to her.
She opened the box and inside was her necklace. His stomach started to feel weird so he took a step back.
"You going to start wearing it again?" He asked.
"No. I remember that you're allergic and I rather enjoy spending time by your side," She said closing the box and putting it back in the drawer.
He smiled and immediately felt better.
"Wait, did that bother you from this far away?" She asked noticing how he suddenly brighter back up.
"Yeah. I'm highly allergic. They could kill me without me touching them," He said. She closed the door and smiled apologetically. "Don't worry about it though." He added.
"There's so much I don't know about you," She said.
"I know. But you're the only one I'd ever let in. It's just not the right time," He said trying his best to explain it.
"I just care so much about you that I want to know the real you," She said looking down at her hands.
"I want you to know the real me. I'm just still trying to figure everything out," He continued.
"Still don't want to be a farmer's son?" She asked.
"I love my dad but I know my destiny isn't running a farm. But these are the years you define who you are and I have the chance to be who I want to be. I'm going to take advantage of that," He said with a smile.
"Who is it that you want to be?" She asked.
"You'll see cause I plan on you being by my side," He said with his famous Kent smile.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked with a smile of her own.
"You'll see," He replied.
"Don't you guys think you're overreacting a bit?" He asked Chloe and Pete as they walked down the hall at school.
"Not really. You spend your life thinking you know the truth about someone only to find out that it may be a total lie," Chloe said.
Pete went on about the telephone and how the idea was jacked and Chloe went on about how the truth about the history is ruining her life. She mentioned something about her role model and when Lana chimed in and joined his side he began to listen again. Chloe continued and Pete followed her down the hall. Both he and Lana stayed where they were and smiled at her retreating form.
"You know, Lana, there's a winter festival in Grandville this weekend. My mom's going to have a booth there for her produce. I was thinking maybe we could go and hang out." He suggested walking her to her locker.
"I might have to take a few extra shifts at the Talon," She said.
"I know you're worried but working yourself to the bone isn't going to help you any. What you need is a day of fun with my charming self," He said.
She laughed and he smiled. It was the reaction he was going for.
"So you'll go?" He asked.
"Yeah. Yeah, count me in." She said with a huge smile.
He smiled back before the hallway grabbed his attention. He turned and looked to see Whitney walking down the hallway towards Lana. She looked to see what caught his attention and her books fell from her hands. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Whitney was dead. Killed in action. So who was Lana running towards? It clicked in his mind. Tina.
He watched as they hugged. This wasn't good. But how could he prove it was Tina. He couldn't just go making accusations. Last time he did that it was with Ian and it strained all of their friendships. He picked up Lana's books and stuck them in her locker. He locked eyes with Whitney/Tina and then turned to head to the Torch where he could spend the day spying on them.
"Wow. It certainly is nice to hear some good news for a change," Jonathan said while he sat at the kitchen table.
"Mrs. Fordman must be so relieved. That's wonderful," Martha said.
"Actually it's not really Whitney," He said.
"What do you mean son?" Jonathan asked.
"Whitney died in action. I think it's Tina," He said.
"But isn't Tina locked up?" Martha asked.
"I think so, but if she's not where she supposed to be then I'm right and Lana needs saving," He said.
"Well, in that case, you should keep an eye on both of them meaning you need to go to that party tonight," Jonathan said.
"I know," He said leaning against the wall. This was going to get complicated and stressful long before it got better.
He walked in and noticed Whitney talking to Lana, Chloe and Pete. He walked up hoping he could get a read off of Whitney.
"Hey Clark," Whitney said as he got close.
"Hey Whitney," He said shaking his hand.
He tightened his grip a bit and noticed that Whitney tightens his as well. It was a bit passed human and more meteor freak, like Tina. Someone called out for Whitney and he excused himself and joined the others.
"Listen, Clark about Saturday," Lana began.
"It's okay. I understand. You can make it up to me later," He said.
"What's going on this Saturday?" Whitney asked joining them again.
"Nothing," Lana answered in a bit of a rush.
"I take it you two saw a lot of each other while I was gone?" Whitney asked.
"No, not especially," He said hoping to cool the hot air that was suddenly rising.
"Clark and I are just friends, Whitney," Lana said noticing the death glares they were both giving each other.
He was going to fight for her but she must have noticed cause that was a sign for him to back down. He stepped back and folded his arms across his chest.
"I'm going to get some punch," Whitney said.
He watched Whitney walk off and go into the bathroom. So much for punch.
"Sorry Clark," Lana said.
"Don't worry about it. What ever you want us to be, I'll be happy with. I just want you in my life," He said before walking away and following Whitney into the bathroom.
He barely dodged a stall door.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"What's going on with you and Lana?" Whitney asked in return while stalking forward.
"I can't define it," He said.
"Stay away from my girl, Kent!" Whitney went on.
"She's not your girl, Whitney…or should I say Tina," He tossed it out there.
Whitney would never had been able to rip off a stall door and toss it across the room. The super human strength was right up Tina's description.
Whitney paused, "I don't know what's gotten into you but stay away from Lana."
With that Whitney stormed out of the bathroom and back out to the party. This was going to be complicated.
He knew he had to talk to Lana about this. Hopefully she would actually believe him this time. He found her at her locker and he rushed up there.
"Lana? We need to talk," He said joining her side.
"About what happened in the Talon?" She asked pulling out a book from her locker. "Could have apologized over the phone."
"What are you talking about?" He asked.
"Whitney told me he walked in on you wrecking the bathroom," She said slamming her locker shut. "He said you were in some kind of jealous rage."
"I was the one who walked in on Whitney tearing up the bathroom," He said.
"He said you told him to stay away from me," She went on.
"What? I didn't say that. He's lying," He defended himself. It was like Ian all over again.
"After everything he's been through, now you're calling him a liar?" She asked in disbelief.
"It's not Whitney. Remember Tina? It's her. You have to be careful," He said trying to get her to listen to him.
"I don't believe you. When your past your jealous fits, call and apologize," She said before storming away and leaving him standing there.
There was only one thing he could do. Get Chloe and Pete to believe him and get them to help him prove it to Lana.
"Who knows what kind of inside information she's been telling my father," Lex said.
He took a shot and scratched. Lex never scratched.
"You've been dating Helen for awhile. Nothing you ever told me would lead me to believe she's the espionage type," He said placing the cue ball where he wanted.
He lined up a shot and got it in.
"I'm afraid one day you'll learn the frustrating truth," Lex said as he took another shot but missed. Lex walked around the table and lined up a shot. "People are seldom whom they appear to be."
"Did she give you any kind of explanation?" He asked.
"Didn't get that far. When she learned that I had her investigated, she turned hostile and stormed out." Lex answered.
"If I knew someone was investigating me, I'd be a little ticked off too," He said remembering when Lex had a room dedicated to him.
It made him wonder if he still did. He was pretty sure he hadn't given Lex a reason to think him weird so for the time he wasn't worried about it.
"You want to know the most pathetic part about it?" Lex asked standing up straight. "The first time I actually pictured a future with a woman beyond two months."
"Did you ask her to explain her side of the story?" He asked hoping to help Lex out. "May not be what it looks like."
"I wish I shared your eternal optimism, Clark," Lex said with a small smile.
"Just talk to her. It'll work itself out," He said.
"Same goes to you," Lex said.
"Clark, what's going on?" Pete asked as he walked into the Torch.
"I know this may sound crazy but Whitney isn't Whitney," He said.
"Are you getting existential on us, or is this Wall of Weird material?" Chloe asked working on the paper.
"I think it's Tina Greer," He said.
"The mighty morphing power girl?" Chloe asked looking up from the paper.
"What?" Pete asked.
"The girl who was Lex, then Lana, and then locked up," He said.
"I know who she is, but its impossible," Pete said.
"Why? She was obsessed with Lana, remember?" He asked. "Maybe she escaped from the hospital to see her. Who better to impersonate than Whitney?"
"She couldn't pull a Martin Guerre," Chloe said moving to grab a file.
"Why not?" He asked.
"Because she's dead," Chloe said. She went over to her computer to show him, "She committed suicide last week."
"What happened?" He asked.
"Authorities said she went into the art-therapy room at the hospital, doused herself in paint thinner, and lit a match," Chloe explained.
"Okay, now that's nasty," Pete chimed in.
"I know. Tina wrote a note saying she didn't know who she was anymore. She couldn't take it." Chloe continued.
"Did they ID her dental records?" He asked knowing it was Tina but having to get Chloe and Pete on his side.
"I need you to warn Lana while I go after Tina," He said as he and Pete walked through the halls to their next class although he wasn't going to his next class.
"Alright but you need to be careful," Pete said.
"Tell me what?" Lana asked stepping around the corner.
"Lana, this may be hard for you to understand but we think that Whitney's actually Tina Greer," He explained. He braced himself for her reaction.
"Why would you say that?" She asked.
"You just have to believe me," He said. He couldn't really explain how he knew the future.
"This is just insane," She said.
"I know it's a lot to process, but it's true," He continued. "I'm going to the Fordmans' you stay here with Pete till I get back."
He headed down the hall and once out of sight slipped into super speed.
He headed back to the farm after he got Mrs. Fordman to the hospital. Tina hadn't been at the house.
"Hey dad," He called walking up to his dad who was working on the tractor.
"How's Mrs. Fordman doing?" Jonathan asked.
"They're going to keep her overnight," He answered. "She's pretty freaked out by this whole thing." He said stepping around his dad to see the damage on the tractor.
"Who could blame her, right?" Jonathan asked. "Any idea where Tina is now?"
"No. She could be anyone." He said.
"You're right about that," Jonathan said. He suddenly felt weak like he was around kryptonite.
He doubled over and noticed Lana's necklace in Jonathan's hands. It wasn't his dad but Tina. She got the necklace around his neck which brought him to his knees. He couldn't fight back as he was dragged to the storm cellar and tossed down the stairs.
"I always wondered how you beat me, Clark," She said stepping down the stairs.
He tried to focus on her but his vision was blurred. He groaned and tried to roll over but regretted it as it only made it worse.
"You should be dead but you're not," She went on. "The meteor shower must have done something to you too."
He couldn't fight her as she tied rope around him to keep him contained. Although the kryptonite was doing a good job of that. He watched as she shifted into him.
"It'll be easy to become you, Clark. Good friends, loving family and the girl of our dreams waiting for you to make a move." She said.
She smiled and headed up the stairs.
"NO!" He roared with what strength he had as the door slammed shut.
Lana was in danger and here he was dying in his storm shelter. He rolled over and the lights began to dim. But suddenly the room was filled with a bright light and he felt better. When he felt his strength return he broke out of his bonds and looked down at Lana's necklace. The stone had turned white. He didn't waste time as he super sped to the Talon hoping to get to Lana in time. When he burst in he saw himself kissing Lana, only it was Tina.
"Lana," He called out. She looked over at him and then back to the one she had just been kissing. "Get away from her!" He demanded stepping forward.
"What's going on?" Lana asked.
"I'll explain everything when I get you away from Tina," The false Clark said.
"Tina?" Lana asked completely confused.
"No, Lana. That's Tina," He said. "Lana, its me, Clark." He stepped forward hoping to get close enough to get Tina away from Lana.
"Don't listen to him. He's lying," Tina said.
"The guy who fixed the leaky drain pipe," He said.
Lana struggled against Tina in an attempt to get away but Tina was stronger than her.
"No, we're supposed to be together." Tina said.
"Get away from me, you freak!" Lana exclaimed trying to push Tina off of her.
"No!" Tina yelled and then punched Lana sending her flying into the wall and knocking her out.
He super sped and slammed Tina into the wall.
"You ruined everything!" Tina said with venom.
They wrestled and ended up going through the Talon wall and out into the alley behind the coffee shop. It was battle of strengths and Tina tossed him through walls while he did the same. Tina picked up a heavy pump and charged him but he super sped out of the way. She ran into a spike of wood and impaled herself. She shifted back into herself as she died.
He was hanging out in the caves and studying the paintings on the walls. He heard someone coming and turned to see Lana standing there.
"Lana," He said.
"I called your house, Your mom said you were down here," She said folding her arms across her chest.
He could see the tears still lingering on her cheeks. His heart immediately wept for her.
"I am so sorry," He said.
"I never should have sent that video," She broke and began crying again.
He stepped forward, "Don't do that to yourself."
"He was missing in action, fighting for his life, thinking that I wasn't there…that I didn't care," She said.
"It's not your fault," He said.
She walked forward, "It seems like every person that I've ever gotten close to just leaves."
"That's not true," He said.
"Yeah, it is. My parents, Nell, now Whitney." Her voice cracked as she tired to not cry even harder. He didn't know what to say to comfort her. "I know I haven't been a good friend."
"You've been a great friend," He said reaching out to her.
"No, I have doubted you, accused you of things and still you're here, protecting me." She said trying to get enough air in-between her sobs to speak. "I don't care if you have secrets, Clark. You are the one good, constant thing in my life, and I don't want to lose you too." She managed to get out.
He pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her, "I'm not going anywhere."
Nothing else needed to be said. For the longest time he simply held her while she cried. He meant what he had said. He wasn't going anywhere without her by his side. That was one thing that would be changed. Even if it killed him.