Chapter 11; The Lost and the New Treasure

Morgan opened her eyes and sighed. She was still so tired. She looked at Conner and saw he was still in the same position. When she moved, Morgan felt a fleece plaid had been laid on her and she smiled. As she stretched she saw a tray standing on the cabinet next to Conner's bed. On the tray stood a plate, covered by a lid. A small note beside it said: Try to eat something. Love, Clark. Morgan smiled, but still left the food untouched. She stood up, walked a bit through the room and then walked into the bathroom. Conner's room had a bathroom, straight across the bed. It was small and simple. But it was good enough for Morgan. She returned to the room and sat down next to Conner. She took his hand and for a first time in many years she began praying. She would do anything to save Conner, anything!
'Hi, can I come in?' Morgan looked around and nodded at Red Arrow. He softly walked into the room, took a chair and sat down beside Morgan.
'Tea?' he asked and gave her a mug.
'Thanks,' she said and took a sip. She barely really tasted the tea and placed it on the cabinet.
'How is he?' Red Arrow asked after a short silence.
'I don't know,' Morgan whispered, 'I really don't know.'

Days passed by. Days turned into weeks and even they passed by. Morgan had lost all sense of time. The only that still mattered to her was Conner. His wounds slowly healed, except for the big 'S' on his chest. It was burned in his flesh by the Kryptonite and would probably never leave again. Morgan indeed never left the room, just as she promised. But after soon several members felt pity for her and would walk around with her. Just so she would not be sad all the time and she could think about other things. Still, Morgan never left Conner in her head. Nevertheless she was very grateful for it. Red Arrow was he one who kept her company most of the time. The others had to continue protecting the earth. Besides that, they also helped rebuilding the planet where there had been a war. Morgan refused to give up the small spark of hope the has, even though she thought about her father more and more.

'Hey Flash,' Morgan said when she was walking around with Flash, 'How long has Conner been in, you know, this coma?'
'How long,' Flash started thinking, 'I believe around six weeks now.'
'Six weeks! What date is it?' Morgan was a bit shocked by it.
'Today, well, today's Thursday the nineteenth of April,' he said and stopped. They stood before Conner's door. Morgan smirked.
'What?' he asked curious.
'Nothing,' Morgan said and opened the door, 'I turned eighteen two weeks ago.'

Morgan walked to the bed and sighed. Six weeks. How long was this going to last? She loved Conner with all her heart, but she missed Martha, Jonathan and Lois! Lois, she would be pregnant six months by now. The thought that Conner would not wake up occurred more and more in her mind, even though Morgan hated the thought. Tears came in her eyes. How long was she going to stand this? How long was he going to last it? They said people in a coma can still hear you, but why did he not let her know he could hear her! She knew it was not possible. But she needed it, she needed proof. She needed him. Morgan was so tired. Tired of life. Tired of waiting. Tired of hoping. Why not just pull the plug, on both of them? Morgan wiped a tear from her cheek and walked to the bed. She should not think like that. She should hold on to the small piece of hope she still had. The fact that Conner was still breathing and that his heart was still beating, were good sings! His heart, Morgan wanted to hear it again. She walked to the other side of the bed and doubted for a moment. Who cared anyway, she thought and climbed in bed next to him. She crawled under the blankets and pulled them up to her neck. She laid herself close to Conner. Her left hand on his heart, feeling his steady heartbeat. Her left leg she laid on his left leg, like she always did. It felt good, lying so close to him. Morgan laid her head next to her hand and closed her eyes. She would sleep, just like him. And would only wake up, when he would wake up. Not earlier.

Conner suddenly felt a soft tingle in his body. Especially his left side. Most of the time it had been just one of his hands. Sometimes his face or an arm. But now, his entire left side was tingling. As he slowly inhaled, he recognized the smell. It was her. Morgan. He remembered her. Hid body, though he was barely aware of it, remembered her. Recognized her. He could feel it when someone touched him, but it was as from a distance and only very soft. As if they were flies, landing on his skin. But when she, when Morgan, touched him, his body tingled. He was aware of her. She was the only connection with the world. But now she laid down, otherwise she could not touch his entire body. Something must have happened to her! But what? Conner had screamed to her, yelled, kicked, roared. Everything. But nothing worked. She could not hear him and neither did he ever hear her. He could only feel her, whenever she touched him. Now, he felt the urge in him, more than ever, to stand up. He needed her! But he had been caught in this for what seemed like for ever. He did not know where he was. It felt like he was without gravity, but it also felt heavy like syrup. Several times he had tried to get out. But it did not work. It only tired him more and darkened his future. Now he had to try again. He had to get out! He had to, for Morgan. There had been this small light above him, which he could not reach. Conner began kicking and tried to swim. He went on and on. Getting to tired his entire body shook. But he went on. He was not going to give up! Slowly, like a snail he went up. Whenever he wanted to stop, the syrup pulled him down. So he kept going. On and on. Up, climbing higher and higher. Till finally, he had almost reached it.

Morgan opened her eyes with a shock. She felt the chest of Conner rise way higher than before. And she clearly heard him inhale. Than he exhaled. Morgan rose up and looked at him. Tears filled her eyes as she looked in the eyes of Conner. He was breathing heavily and looked at her. Morgan wanted to tell him a thousand things, but she could not get the sound out. She just laid her head back on his chest and cried. His heartbeat was faster and stronger. Tears of joy made his bandages wet. With all the energy Conner had left he raised his hand and laid it down on her bed. His hand tingled, and he loved it. He was back.
'I love you,' Morgan cried and kissed him. A tingle spread from his lips around his face, into his head. As if she was warming him up after a thousand years of winter. Slowly he became more aware of his body and the space around him as he kissed her back.
'I love you too,' he whispered. His voice as raw and stingy, but it was one the best sounds Morgan had ever heard. Conner lifted his hand and gently stroke her face. Everything would be alright, they both knew. Everything would be just fine.

'He what?' Morgan said surprised. After Conner awoke from his coma, there had been several tests to see if he was alright. Morgan sat beside Conner's bed, holding his hand. Now that he was awake she felt vivid again. He was just fine, but there was only one thing different.
'He has no more superpowers,' Batman repeated, 'It's because of all the Kryptonite. That would also explain why the scar on your chest won't leave.'
'Is this...' Conner stopped and cleared his throat, 'Is this for, for ever?'
'We don't know,' the dark voice replied honest. Morgan held Conner's hand even tighter. Conner just looked down. He did feel different, but he just thought that that some effect of the coma. But this, this was too much. Without his powers he was just Conner. Just Conner, no longer Superboy. What would Morgan think of him, now he was normal.
'It might be temporary, but we cannot tell for sure,' Batman continued.
'And now,' Morgan said, when no one spoke, 'Does he have to stay here?'
'No,' Batman said after thinking for a second, 'No, he can go home with you.'
'You hear that!' Morgan said cheerful, 'You're going home!'
'I'd love that,' Conner smiled at her. But Morgan saw that something was troubling him, or perhaps that was just something from the coma.

Morgan looked at Conner. Yesterday they had come home. Martha and Jonathan had both cried when they saw Conner walking towards them. Even though he went through his life as the son of Clark, they also saw him as their son. Conner had smiled and even got teary eyes. He was so surprised to see Lois. She was almost seven months pregnant now and had quite a belly! They had laughed and they had cried. But right now, Conner just stood before the window. Just looking outside. He had not said a word more to her than 'good morning'. They had woken up around nine o'clock, but it was almost twelve o'clock now and he had not spoken to her. Morgan was worried about him. He was so different. Like he was ashamed of something, of himself. Morgan walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him, standing behind him. Conner did not move. Morgan softly stroke his chest.
'What's wrong, sweety?' she whispered.
'Nothing,' he said, but still did not move.
'Please, don't lie,' Morgan said, still no response. She loosened her grip a bit and walked to his front. She tried to make eye contact, but he just looked over her head. She could see his eyes were read.
'Conner, what's wrong?' she said again. She could see something snapped inside of him.
'What's wrong? I am 'what's' wrong!' he said loud, 'I'm completely messed up. Nothing more than an empty, shallow clone.'
'Don't say that,' Morgan said shocked, he looked at her. A tear rolled over his cheek. He bent his head and bit his lip. Morgan stood on her toes and kissed his cheeks. Both of them twice.
'You're perfect,' she whispered between the kisses, 'You're everything I ever need. You're the only thing I need. I love you, for who you are.'
'But who am I, now that I'm not Superboy?' Conner said soft.
'You're still Superboy,' she said, 'And to me, you'll always be Superboy. With or without your powers. And don't think that that changes anything between us, mister. I love you, for who you are, Conner. Not for your superpowers.'
'What if they don't return?' he glared at her.
'If they don't return, than they don't return. If they do return, then they return,' she simply said, 'It doesn't matter to me if you have superpowers or not. And neither does it for your friends, alright? And those who do have a problem with it, well…I will freeze breath them.'
'Really?' he asked with a small smirk.
'Really, really,' she whispered and kissed him. Conner kissed her back and pressed her closer to his body. He had missed her so much. She was the only thing he needed, and the only one that mattered. With or without his powers.

'Good morning sleepy,' Morgan smiled when Conner opened is eyes. Still a bit fuzzy of the sleep Conner looked at her. Morgan slowly crawled upon him and sat up straight in bed. She looked at his scar and gently laid her hand on it. She felt sorry for him about it, but would not show it to him. Since Conner had lost his superpowers he needed just as much sleep as any normal person. Conner laid his hand of hers and she smiled at him. She laid her naked body on his and kissed him. Then she laid his hand on his chest and looked at him.
'So, what do you want to do today?' she smiled. Since there were no sudden calls, leavings or missions, they had all the time in the world to spend together. Morgan had quit her job. Actually she was fired, because she was gone so long. But she did not care much.
'Let's just do nothing for a day,' he said. They had already done so much! All those things which they would normally never do. Which they could not do when he was still Superboy. They never had that much time. And because Conner did not want to just leave Morgan somewhere, they usually staid home. But now, they already went to a movie, to a play, to some park, swimming, walking. All sorts of things. Today he just wanted to do nothing. Just sit in the garden, drink a bit, eat a bit. Suddenly a loud crack was heard and was quickly followed by the ticking noise of rain. Morgan shrieked when she heard the thunder, which made Conner laugh.
'That's not funny, alright!' she said.
'Of course it's not!' he said and wrapped her arms around her, 'Don't worry, Morgan, I'll protect you against the thunder.'
'Meany!' she yelled and tried to escape his grip.

'Man it's raining!' Jonathan said during dinner.
'We know, dear,' Martha said calm.
'It's June! It's not supposed to rain!' Jonathan went on. Conner winked at Morgan, he had been talking about the rain since two days ago. Two days ago it began raining and it had not stopped since. It was not hard of much, just rain.
'We know, dear,' Martha said again, 'But at least the sun does not destroy all the crops.'
'True,' Jonathan said, 'Bloody rain is doing it.'

Morgan was running through the living room. Shrieking out loud. Conner was chasing her. Martha watched from the kitchen and shook her heads. Just like little children! Morgan stood on the other side of the small table, panting. Her eyes sparkled and her mouth was one big smile. Conner stood on the other side of the table. He reached his hand. Morgan shook her head. They were being silly, they both knew it. And they both enjoyed it. When Conner was dressing himself, Morgan took his shirt and did not want to return it. That was when the chase began. Even though Conner still did not have his superpowers back, he was still fitter and faster than Morgan. The phone rang and Martha answered it. Conner leaped forth and caught Morgan, who was not paying attention. He pulled her to him, but she lost balance and both fell on the floor. They were rolling over each other when Martha suddenly walked into the room.
'Stop it!' she said, 'Get your coats, we have to go.'
'Go? Go where?' Morgan asked.
'It's Lois, she's giving birth!' Martha said and walked outside to get Jonathan.
'O my God,' Morgan said and jumped up.

They arrived just to late. The baby was already born. Martha, Jonathan, Morgan and Conner walked as fast as they could. First they got lost and were completely wrong. A nurse found them and showed them the way. The Kent's had to wait for another half hour before they could go in, because the had to make Lois a bit descend. Probably Clark did not want to leave her, because he staid in. The four were getting more and more nervous. Was it a boy or a girl? What would they call the baby? Morgan wondered above all, would the baby also have Kryptonian powers? Just like his father and 'brother'. Lois was indeed a bit too early with giving birth to the baby, but not 'dramatically' early. The baby was born on the seventh of July, which was two weeks to early. Finally the nurse let the Kent's in. all four of them gasped when saw the proud mommy lying on the bed. The proud father welcomed them with a hug. Quickly they walked to the bed and stared at the little sleeping baby.
'What is it?' Jonathan asked wide eyed.
'It's a boy,' Clark said proud. Morgan softly stroked the cheek of the small human.
'He's beautiful,' she said, already in love with him, 'What's his name?'
'Bradley Samuel Jorrel Jonathan Kent,' Lois said while she handed little Bradley to Martha, 'Named after his three grandfathers.'
'I'm honored,' Jonathan said and took Bradley over from Martha. Jorrel was de adaption of Jor-El, the real father of Superman.
'Hey, little fellah,' Morgan said when Bradley laid down in her arms. He blinked at looked at her. Conner stood close behind her, with one hand on her shoulder. The other hand was grabbed by Bradley. Bradley held the finger of Conner, and would not let go.
'He likes you, big brother,' Morgan smiled at him. Conner looked a bit dazzled when she called him big brother, but smiled at the little man. Would this really be his little brother?
'You are his big brother, Conner,' Lois confirmed.
'Here, hold him,' Morgan said and turned around.
'O, no, Morgan, don't-' but before Conner could do anything Morgan gently laid the baby in his left arm. His right hand was still firmly held by Bradley.
'I'm his brother,' Conner gasped and laughed. Little Bradley smirked with him. Morgan kissed Conner on his cheek.
'One day, you'll be a great dad,' she whispered so soft, that only he could hear it.