Chapter 11 [Metropolis General Hospital—An Hour Later]
Clark leaned back in a chair next to Lana's bed from where he maintained his vigil. Being out of that accursed ravine and under the yellow sun's rays had strengthened him. Now he had his full gifts and endurance once again if and when they were needed. He had kept his hands bandaged so as not to create a stir.
Right now he wished for healing abilities. He wanted to revitalize Lana in the same fashion. Ifonlymyhealinggiftswouldworkonher!He gazed upon her sleeping features with concern. His hearing hung on every efforted breath. His heart skipped a beat every minute or so due to worry.
This definitely was not the way to spend Christmas…..
Still he wasn't about to leave her side. Not by a long shot. He wanted to see her eyes open. He longed for her warm smile and the sparkle in her face again. He needed to hear her sweet and gentle laughter serenading his ears and heart. He felt the bracelet jingling in his pocket. Justgivemetheopportunitytogivethistoyou!
"Such devotion, Numan."
He turned to his right to see Kyla standing by the window. "Love does that. You have faith and stand by people."
The angel nodded. "True. Your heart knows no bounds. That's what I love about you. You have your sense of truth, duty and loyalty." She smiled gently at him. "As you progress down the road we started on, you will be tested. You will need Lana for that journey. She will need you."
"I know. I try. I have a lot to learn," he realized.
She shrugged. "We all do, Clark." She floated over to Lana's side and laid a hand on her shoulder. "This will speed things up." She raised a hand to the sky.
In response a bright light flooded through the room for a heartbeat's length and then was gone.
Lana coughed and opened her eyes. She stared at the deceased skinwalker. "Kyla?"
"Hello, Lana. Yes it's me. I came back to help Clark and you." Kyla grinned at her. "It is your destiny to be with him. Just stand strong and support each other. Meantime the rest of us will be watching. Think of this as your Christmas gift from us to you. Farewell." With that, she disappeared.
"And to think I had my doubts about her," Lana presumed. "I don't know what she did but I feel a whole lot better."
"And you look a lot better too," he indicated while flashing the Kent grin. He embraced her gratefully. "You feeling warmer?"
"Yes." She glanced under the sheets to see the scars on her legs had completely vanished. She flexed her limbs. "Clark, whatever she did, it worked!" She pulled back her sheets to show him the results.
He satisfied himself with simply looking rather than touching the once again unblemished spots. Thankyou,Kyla.
You'rewelcome,Clark!Kyla answered him back warmly.
"I'm so glad you're awake. There was no way I was giving up on you," he told Lana.
"I know that. That's why I used my last phone call on you. Somehow I knew you'd be there for me," she concurred. "But you made a promise to me, remember?"
"Yeah that," he realized with an element of dread. Still if the relationship was to go any further, he'd have to be honest and open with her.
"Don't worry, Clark. You can count on me," she insisted.
He nodded and took his hands in hers. "I know."
They met eyes. Their pupils reflected in each other's pools. Their hearts and souls synced up.
"I love you, Clark," she told him. "Nothing's going to change that." She brushed her lips across his.
He smiled at her. "And I love you."
Before they could go any further, Martha and Jonathan rushed into the room. Seeing the two teens awake and talking brought relief to them.
"Clark!" Martha called before nearly tackling him with a hug. "We were so worried!"
"Sorry, Mom. Conditions kept us in that ravine. But we're okay now," Clark assured them.
"Thanks to Clark and some heavenly help," Lana chimed in. "Good to see both of you too."
"And you, Lana. You really healed fast," Jonathan assessed with surprise.
"As she said, Dad, we had help," Clark reiterated. He leaned close to his parents and whispered, "Kyla and Ryan were there. They got us some pine branches and some soup."
Martha chuckled. "So that's what happened to my supplies last night. I was going to make some soup tomorrow."
"We kind of ate it last night, Mrs. Kent," Lana indicated. "Sorry. It kept us going."
"As it always does. One of the best Christmas presents I could hope for," Clark declared. "Besides seeing a certain waitress with her eyes open."
"One doesn't need a lot of material things to have a great Christmas, Clark," Jonathan concurred warmly while rubbing Lana's shoulder and his son's arm. "You two getting out of there relatively unscathed is a blessing enough for us. Still we need to figure out what's down there that affected you."
"Clark, after you got there, I noticed the blue glow start. Is that what your Dad's talking about?" Lana realized. "It's weird. It was kind of the same way my necklace reacted when you were around. I'd see it glow. Wonder if it's related?"
The Kents looked warily at each other. Lana, it seemed, had stumbled upon a very plausible theory. A new kind of meteor rock could be down in that ravine. They'd need to investigate it for themselves in order to find out.
"Could be, Lana. Maybe it was just part of the storm," Martha excused.
"Maybe." Lana exchanged looks with her boyfriend. "Or maybe it's part of the discussion we need to have."
"Discussion?" Jonathan asked Clark.
"Lana and I promised to be honest with each other. She saw enough down there. And…so did Miranda," Clark revealed. "On the copter ride here."
"Miranda too?" Jonathan's paranoia surged within himself.
"She promised to keep my secret, Guys. I trust her," Clark told them.
Lana nodded knowingly. "Miranda's really good like that. And I promise you the same."
"I hope so, Lana. We'll need to talk when you get out of here," Martha insisted. "But it's going to be okay." She shot her husband a look as if to say, It'sokay.Wecantrustthem.
Jonathan sighed knowing he wasn't going to win that one. "Fine. We can ask Pete to come over too."
"Pete? He knows?" Lana queried.
"Yeah he does," Clark noted. "And after we talk, so will you and Miranda." Justhopeyoucandealwithit.ThatwouldbemygreatestChristmaspresent!He saw Lex and Miranda at the door. "Hi! Look who's awake."
"Miri! Thanks!" Lana expressed.
"Same to you. Great to see you with your eyes open!" Miranda hugged her best friend and savored the relief in her heart that the latter was okay. "How are you feeling?"
"Believe it or not, like a million dollars," Lana assessed with a relieved grin. "Especially with such great friends around me. Thanks for getting us out of there, Lex."
"My pleasure, Lana. I'd never leave you both out in the cold like that." Lex shook his head in disbelief at her sudden recovery. ChalkupyetanothermiraculoussavetoClarkKent.Whathappenedthistime?Once again, his mind flashed back to his own near death experience on the bridge. "Just glad you're okay."
"What I just said goes for you too," Lana told him. "I just want to go back to Smallville and celebrate Christmas with you all."
"That can easily wait for tomorrow, Lana," Jonathan assessed. "You rest. We'll let the doctors decide that."
"I've got the Talon covered," Miranda insisted.
"You're eating with us, Miranda," Clark invited while getting nods from his parents.
"How about you, Lex?" Martha offered.
Jonathan suppressed an eye roll and maintained his silence.
"I'm used to eating by myself. I've got some papers…." Lex started to decline.
"Nobody should be by themselves for Christmas dinner," Martha pointed out. "It may not be fancy but we'll have something simple and small."
Lex turned and gazed out the window. For so long, he'd felt left out. "On one condition…."
"And that's what?" Jonathan inquired.
Lex smirked. "You let me bring a turkey anda ham. I know times have been tough. Consider that my gift to all of you if that's okay."
"It's more than okay," Clark accepted while shaking his friend's hand. "We'd never forget you, Lex."
"I know, Clark. It's appreciated," Lex concurred. "Meantime let me get a doctor so we can get Lana checked out of here." He relaxed and let his eyes sparkle at them. "Least I can do." He walked out of the room.
Perhaps there were suspicions and residual feelings in the world. But in that room and at that moment, the Christmas spirit had permeated the area. And for the Kents and friends, that's what truly mattered to them all.