Chapter 6 [Rester's Ravine]

As night fell, the cave grew gloomier and darker. While the rain wasn't falling on their heads, the teens still had to deal with the chill. A slight wind whistled throughout the cavern cooling the rocks off even more.

Clark stuck another branch on the small campfire and continued to warm his hands. Most times he would've just piled some wood in the corner and ignited it with his heat vision. He would've run around the area looking for more fuel. Alas, due to whatever those rocks were, he had to make due.

A half hour had passed while he'd fumbled with some bark shreds, pine needles, two pieces of flint and a stick. He made a torch by brushing the stick up against the edges of the still smoldering blaze. After four tries, he succeeded and insured they'd have some warmth and light for themselves.

Lana coughed deeply and shivered. She still felt numb and cold. However she deeply appreciated his efforts. The drowsiness threatened to overtake her. She wanted a blanket to keep warm. "Th…thank you."

"Just stay with me, okay?" He glanced over at her warmly. "Wish I had some soup or coffee."

"Mmm…coffee…." She nodded weakly.

He wanted to shiver because of the frigid conditions himself. He desperately struggled to cope with the situation. At least he'd set the fire and them out of the main path of the wind. As long as he could keep the fire going, there was hope. He would keep that source going for her.

His fingers brushed through her brown locks lightly.

He felt a surge of warmth through his heart.

"Good to hear you," he insisted. "Getting dry?"

"Yeah…still cold." She forced herself to sit up. The warmth was drying her clothes out. She craned her head toward him with effort. Once again, she asked herself the usual questions.

How did he get here?

How's he pulling off the miracle?

Why the Hell isn't he shivering more?

What is the Mystery that's Clark Kent?

She shook her head. Don'tbesoungrateful,Lana."Clark?"

He was right there in a heartbeat. "What's going on?"

"N…nothing. Just…want…say…thanks," she informed him. "Wa…nna sleep."

He remembered what scouts had taught him about sleeping when possibly having hypothermia. "Sorry but can't let you do that."

"Killjoy." She hacked into her hand and shivered head to toe.

"That's me. We're going to make it out of here together." He sighed. "Promise me."

"We'll g…get out…of…of ….here," she vowed.

"Remember that. Be back." He retrieved another piece of brush. "I should m…make a shelter for us." Then he turned his head and sneezed.

Thatmade her stare in shock. Since they were kids, she'd never heard him so much as cough, sneeze or complain about pain. Granted he tripped over his feet around her but she attributed that to nerves. "How…you…doing?"

He forced a grin. "I'll be fine. You just keep your eyes open. Wish I had some food for us."

"It's okay to be human," she informed him bluntly.

"Excuse me?" he queried.

She shivered again both from the elements and nerves. "Why…can't you…o…open up? I…it's okay."

"Have to be strong for us both." He allowed a shiver for benefit's sake though. He looked over the pile of boughs. Amazingly enough, it didn't seem to be going down. He pulled several big armfuls and carried them closer to her. "Keep you warm."

"You need warmth too," she countered. At least the fire had warmed her enough so she could speak in sentences by this point. She rose slowly to her feet.

"Sit back down. I've got it," he asserted.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "First, Clark, I'm not some China doll. I…can do this. Two sets of arms can work faster…than one." She shuffled herself over to his side.

Pain stabbed through her wounds. It failed to stop her though.

"I told you I've got it," he resisted.

"Sorry…not…listening," she insisted albeit through clenched teeth. "Not…the only one…looking out…for us." She turned not letting him see the tears in her eyes from dealing with the pain. She carted three small boughs to the pile. She dumped them and stumbled herself. "Trust…me…FOR ONCE!"

"I…trust you," he disagreed.

She rolled her eyes. "R…really?" She wished she had the energy to press the issue. "Then…why…secrets?" She turned right into him. "Move."

"No. What secrets?" He looked her in the eye.

"Even when you do….that, you…can't…." She shook her head and pushed him aside. She hobbled over to the pile and grabbed two more boughs in frustration. "J…just be hon…nest."

He felt the usual frustration building inside of himself. He wanted to admit that he was an alien. Hell, if it weren't for that blue stuff, he'd zip them out of there. But he couldn't. He was normal. "If I had anything, I'd…get us out of here. Don't want you…to suffer."

"S…stop protecting…me!" She set two more boughs down on the ground and another on the fire to keep it going. "I know…you love me….Wh…what is so bad?"

He froze and turned to her. "Wh…what?"

"You love me." She locked eyes with him. "Say it."

He stared incredulously feeling even more naked and cold than he had several seconds earlier. She'd pierced that much of his veil.

"Got…to find out…." She grimaced and forced herself forward. With her last bit of effort, she locked lips with his. She put every bit of energy into getting past his inhibitions even if it killed her.

Instinctively he wrapped his arms around her waist and returned the effort with his own. He let himself enjoy the shared warmth of their lips brushing against each other.

As they did so, the cold was gone. They felt dry and safe. The breeze turned warm.

Then she gave out and slumped in his arms.

"Lana! Lana, are you?" He panicked momentarily.

She cracked a smile and let her eyes sparkle at him. "G…gotcha, Clark. Need…to rest for a minute. Then I'll…help again." She accepted his help to sit down next to the fire.

"Wish…I had marshmallows," he expressed. "That or maybe Mom's chicken soup."

"That would be heavenlyright now," she agreed. She coughed a couple more times. "Still raining…?"

"It's really coming down." He could hear the downpour outside. Once again, he shivered from the bitter wind even if it was indirect. His arms and legs hurt. He felt heavy and numb.

But seeing her shiver with doubt and cold drove him onward. He rigged a comfortable mat of sorts from the pine boughs. Then he looked at her earnestly. "Made…you…place to…stay…warm."

"You…too," she insisted while sliding onto the boughs. She touched the spot next to herself. "I…trust you…."

Seeing the fire was burning brightly at least for the moment, he eased closer. Granted he trusted her but did he trust himself?

"I don't bite…" She sighed. "P…please, Clark…We can keep each…other…warm."

He slowly sat down beside her. Instantly her dark eyes relaxed him. He knew that was where he really needed to be. He put his arm out. "Lift your head up."

"What?"

"Better this than the floor, right?" He let her rest her head on his side.

"Better. Mmmm….." She felt herself melting into his side. She knew she was completely safe with her white knight….

…even if said knight didn't feel completely safe around himself….

He didn't move. For so long, he wanted this contact. He'd dreamt of the proximity. Now her hair brushed up against his cheek. Their combined breathing and hearts' beating sustained them.

And for a little while, the doubts and storm didn't exist.

Now to make it through the night…