Misery Business Chapter 10: Remus, a smallville fanfic

Chapter Ten

Remus

Luthor Mansion

Sheriff Nancy Adams stood in the entry way just off the main garage housing Lex's many expensive cars. She tapped away at her self-winding Timex that she purchased at the local hardware store as an impulse item. She was not a patient woman.

"You wanna tell me again how it is you know what's gonna happen?"

Delan McHenry on retainer to LuthorCorp flashed a document at the sheriff. "I'm in-the-know about as much as you are, Sheriff. I was provided with the transcript of a conversation that you've already seen. "

"And where exactly did you …"

Before she had the chance to finish her question they heard the sound of an automatic garage door opener fulfilling its intended purpose.

"Miller," Sheriff Adams pointed. "Make sure that door stays closed until the suspect is away from the car."

The deputy nodded.

A car entered the garage and the ignition cut. The sound of a car door slamming closed and the clicking of high heels echoed as they led closer to the door.

Adams nodded to Miller and he quickly opened the door. The approaching figure stopped abruptly and went wide-eyed.

"Lana Luthor," Sheriff Adams twanged the name. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Where's Diana?" Chloe asked as she slid her hand across Clark's shoulder.

"Down on the back forty with Dee," he replied. "She seems to think I'd interfere with her training."

Chloe pushed against his chest leaning him back against the couch as she straddled his lap. "I don't know if you've noticed but we're up here all alone."

His gaze out of the loft broke and his full attention diverted to his fiancé. "Where's everyone else?"

She smiled slyly. "Bart is behind the house with them."

He crooked an eyebrow. "That was awfully convenient."

Her tongue slipped to the side of her lips and the sly smile turned seductive. "Uh huh."

"You wouldn't have had anything to do with that?"

Chloe's head dipped down under his chin and her tongue tasted his skin before answering. "I got spoiled at the Fortress."

Clark's hands moved from her hips and brushed upward. "I'm sorry I've been ignoring you."

She sat up abruptly and looked him in the eyes. "In case you haven't noticed you've been doing the very thing that made me fall in love with you in the first place."

His head cocked a little to the side.

"Your selflessness, you big dope." She rolled her eyes playfully. "Clark, four girls who you don't even know have dropped in to your lap from nowhere. Not only are you housing them, feeding them, and generally being someone that they look up to, you're making them a part of something bigger than themselves."

"They needed help," he said as he began to blush slightly.

"And you helped them. You made them feel wanted and you let them have a choice in the life they wanted to lead." Her lips dropped down on the other side of his neck. "Now I'm letting you know that you are wanted." After setting another kiss under his ear she whispered. "I'm dropping myself in your lap, and I wanted you to know that there's a choice you can make in the next ten seconds."

He stretched his neck out and let her have a bit more access. "What's that?"

"Couch or floor?"

"Awww, no fair," Mary whined when she heard a little more from the direction of the barn than she was supposed to hear.

"What's that noise?" Dead Girl asked as she cocked an ear in the direction of the barn. "Sounds like someone's hurt."

Diana smiled to herself. "Just the opposite, Dee. Now back to your concentration."

"Bart!" Talia yelled. "You're support to be spotting me."

His head was turned in the direction of the barn as a grin wiped itself across his face. "Go Big Guy."

Maya looked around at everyone's attention at the barn. "What's going on?" At nobody's answer she tried again. "Guys?"

"Okay," Chloe squeezed out a few breaths. "Sex four feet above the floor is a lot more work than I thought it would be."

Clark brushed the hair out of her eyes with his hand. "Not much leverage to work with."

"Not that it was bad," she laughed.

"Definitely not bad."

She spun around and found a spot across his chest that needed more of her body stretched around. "That thing at the end when you kinda swooped … whoa," she breathed.

Clark shrugged a little. "I kinda lost concentration then. We almost crashed."

Diana leaned against a weathered and strong oak as she supervised Dee's training. The pre-teen was amidst thrusting with her dagger two hundred times in succession and Diana's thoughts wandered.

Her eyes followed up the hill to the house and barn in the distance. She whispered to herself the origins of her race. "The Amazons of the Doiantian Valley were by no means gentle, well-conducted folk; they were brutal and aggressive, and their main concern in life was war. War, indeed, was in their blood, daughters of Ares as they were and of the Nymph Harmonia, who lay with the god in the depths of the Akmonion Wood and bore him girls who fell in love with fighting."

"Diana?"

"Hmm," she answered still in thought.

"You love to fight?"

A soft melancholy smile took her features and she turned to Dee. "Amazons have joyed in ruthless fight, in charging steeds, from the beginning: all the toil of men do they endure; and therefore evermore the spirit of the War-god thrills them through. They fall not short of men in anything: their labor-hardened frames make great their hearts for all achievement; never faint their knees nor tremble."

Dee looked at her with eagerness.

"At the fall of Troy, Quintus Smyrnaeus wrote: Rumor speaks their queen (my mother) to be a daughter of Ares the mighty Lord of War. Therefore no woman may compare with her in prowess - if she be a woman, not a God come down in answer to our prayers."

"You're the granddaughter of Ares?"

Diana nodded slightly. "I am the daughter of Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons, and daughter of Ares."

Dee almost bounced. "So that makes you a princess!"

The Amazon's eyes cast downward. "No longer." She sighed and then continued. "The night I stole away from my bed I gave up that responsibility."

She looked back up at Dee and at her confusion.

"I told my mother of the vision that Demeter gave me." She almost scoffed at her next words. "She said it was the will of Ares and I was to not interfere in the matters of men."

"Then why …I mean she's your mom, right."

"Dee, one day you will be faced with a decision. A choice may go against everything that you believe and another will be to sit by the side and allow evil to have its way. Knowing that you could have turned the tide of battle would you sit by knowing that countless lives were lost because you were afraid of what your mother would think?"

Dee looked down. "I guess not."

"Then you are wise beyond your years, young one, for many leaders of the world would choose to sit by because of what others would think."

"Why do you call me young one? I mean I'm not a little girl."

Diana laughed with mirth. "All of you are young to me, Dee. Remember when I said that I was your age when I killed seven men in battle?"

Dee nodded.

"That was against the Cossacks that the Russian Tsar Nicholas the First sent to raid my home for women of childbearing age."

She saw Dee's confusion once more. "Do you know nothing of the history of the world, child?"

Dee shrugged her shoulders.

"Nicholas the First ruled between the years 1825 and 1855."

The Amazon watched as Dee's eyes grew wide. "I was twelve in the year 1852."

Clark and Chloe stood by the loft window and stared out as they let the warming breeze waft through.

"It'll be spring soon," Clark commented.

Chloe wrapped her arms around his chest still amazed that she could no longer touch her hands together. "You'll be revealing yourself soon."

Clark didn't know what to think at that. "I know when the time comes that I don't want to hide myself like Oliver."

She looked up from his chest. "You want everyone to know that Clark Kent is Superman?"

Clark looked down with a frown on his face. "Super what?"

"Oops," she winced.

He stepped back and lightly took hold of Chloe's shoulders. "Is there something you're hiding?"

Chloe continued her pained face. "Diana might have mentioned something."

"Chloe," warned Clark.

She stepped back and waved her hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. She told me about your future."

Clark's eyes fluttered in exasperation. "Great, more destiny crap."

"It's not like that. It's good things."

His hands turned to fists and he set them on his hips. "Like what," he said disbelievingly.

"Like everyone will know your name."

He shrugged. "Well I figured … since, you know, alien and all."

"I'm not just talking about the people of Earth, Clark. She said all the people in all the known galaxies."

His stomach rolled and his knees felt weak. "What," he croaked.

She decided she would tell him everything and hope for the best somewhat like ripping off a band-aid. "She said you would be the one shining example of humanity across the galaxy. And that you would be the defender of Earth. And that you would be known as Superman."

Clark's hand reached to his stomach. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

He rushed over to the opened window and breathed in the fresh air as deeply as he could.

"I think it's kinda catchy," added Chloe as she tried to lighten the mood.

He spared her a quick glance of horror and turned to empty his stomach over the side.

Chloe shrugged. "Or not."

She gave him a moment and waited for the heaving to subside. He lifted his head up and tried breathing again until his body movement all but stopped.

"Clark?"

She saw that he was staring out into the distance and she stepped forward to look at what caught his attention. Several police cars were speeding down the road with their lights flashing.

"What's going on?" asked Chloe.

Clark focused his vision and hearing on each of the cars in turn until he stopped at the third of six. "Lana."

"What!"

"She's alive."

"She's what!"

Realization hit Clark a moment later. "Lex."

Chloe's face startled. "They're going to let him out."

He looked back at his fiancé and she at him. "Crap, Clark. Go, go find out what's going on."

He lifted his bracelet to his mouth. "Chameleon Mode."

The clothes he was wearing melted into the white jumpsuit that he normally wore at the Fortress of Solitude and then it faded into the background making him invisible in all but a feint shimmering. Chloe's eyes tracked him as he jumped into the air and out of the window. In half a second she lost the shimmering and sight of her fiancé.

Clark followed the line of cars to the Sheriff's office just on the outside of town near the Smallville water tower. He focused his vision and hearing once more on the figure of Lana Luthor as they exited the car and through bookie procedures. Once she was place in the one and only interrogation room he watched as Sheriff Adams stepped in the room.

The sheriff read the Miranda rights for the tape recorder that was placed in the center of the table.

"Well, Ms. Luthor," there seems to be a misunderstanding as to where you've been the last nine months. Care to fill me in?"

Lana stared at the recorder. "I set up my husband Lex in a plan to fake my death so that I could come back and be with my one true love, Clark Kent."

Clark dropped about ten feet in the air before righting himself.

"Was Mr. Kent involved?"

"Yes, it was his plan to blow up the car, frame Lex, and have me come back to steal the money out of the safe in Lex's office."

"Uh huh," replied the sheriff. "Anyone else involved in this plot?"

"Martha Kent and my best friend Chloe Sullivan."

"Senator Kent?"

"Yes."

"All for the money?"

Sheriff Adams leaned back in her chair. "Ms. Luthor would it surprise you to know that at the time of your supposed death Ms. Sullivan was being transported to the hospital and died in the operating room."

Lana ignored the question.

"Anything you want to add to your statement Ms. Luthor?"

Again Lana ignored the question.

Sheriff Adams turned off the recorder, pocketed the tape and left the room. McHenry was standing outside watching the interrogation and smiled brightly at the sight of the sheriff.

"As a representative of LuthorCorp we hereby demand you inform Judge McAlister of District 291 of the status of Lana Luthor and release Mr. Luthor of his wrongful imprisonment."

Sheriff stared down the high priced lawyer. "I'll inform Judge McAlister, and I suggest you keep that slick tongue of yours to a minimum around here, McHenry, 'cause as sure as I'm standing here that girl is lying her kiester off."

"Be that as it may, Sheriff, Mr. Luthor was put in prison for the murder of Lana Luthor and there she sits in your interrogation room."

"That she is. That she is."

The sheriff walked out to the main office and sighted a deputy. "Farris, I want you and Johnston over at the Kent Farm. Pick up Clark and Ms. Kent if she's there, for questioning." She turned to another deputy. "Keenan, I want you to get me the whereabouts of Chloe Sullivan. Last I heard she was in Metropolis workin' for the Daily Planet."

Clark took his time flying home under cover of his Chameleon Mode. Chaotic thoughts ran through his head at the resurrection of Lana and whatever reason she had to blatantly lie about his, his mother, and Chloe.

'Why,' kept running though his mind over and over again until he disengaged his cloak and alit to the ground in by the front porch.

Talia stepped from around the house smiling in admiration. "That never gets old."

Clark snapped out if his internal dialog. "Huh?"

Talia swooped her hand skyward. "Yanno, up, up, and away."

"Oh, uh yeah," he responded. He focused his hearing on Chloe and found her still in the barn. "I got a thing," he said as he strode off to find his fiancé.

"Sure," nodded Talia.

He stepped inside and made his way up the stairs when he saw Chloe standing at the top. She saw the confused look on his face.

"What's up?"

"It's her, but …"

Chloe stepped forward and laid her hands on his forearms with concern. "Clark?"

He looked into her green eyes. "She's saying that it was a set up to get Lex's money."

"Lana?" Chloe said with disbelief.

He nodded. "That's not the worst part."

Chloe quirked an eyebrow. "What?"

"Apparently it was all a plan that me, you and my mom concocted."

Now both of Chloe's eyebrows climbed in disbelief. "Right and you're the Easter Bunny."

"The sheriff is sending deputies out to arrest us right now."

"WHAT!" yelled Chloe as she looked out the loft window in search of flashing red and blue lights. Her head spun back. "Clark we have to get out of here. We can't do anything if we're locked up and we're the only people that are going to be able to do anything about Lex if he skates on this."

He nodded until his eyes focused. "Yeah, yeah you're right." He turned his head to scan the surroundings finding the girls, Diana and Bart. "I'll tell the others. Get anything you might need. We're not going to be able to come back here for a while."

Clark sped off and Chloe dashed down the steps, out the front of the barn and to the house. A second later Bart sped into the kitchen to find Chloe pulling an empty box from the hallway closet.

"Got the info. What can I do?" Bart barked.

She tossed him the box. "Incidentals."

"Huh?"

"Toothbrushes, toiletries, necessities."

He grinned. "Right." He sped off to the upstairs bathroom and then sped back down again. "Oh, by the way, I love it when you're all commander chick."

Chloe grimaced. "Bart!"

He smirked once and disappeared in a red blur.

She looked left and then right distress showing on her face when Clark appeared at the front door with Dee in his arms and Diana right behind him.

"Clark," Chloe almost yelled. "Where are we going?"

His head cocked to the side. "Their here. I'll be right back."

Stepping out onto the porch he noted out of the corner of his eye that that Talia, Mary, and Maya had arrived. "Jor-el."

"My son," replied a hollow voice from his bracelet.

"It's time."

Clark's clothes morphed once more that day slimming into the familiar skintight jumpsuit that he and Chloe wore at the fortress and then the colors changed to a bright blue. Red boots formed along with briefs, and an ankle length billowing cape with the same color. Lastly, the El family crest appeared on his chest in red and yellow.

"Jesus, that's hot," Mary gasped.

Clark turned his head slightly to the girls. A calm smile overtook his face. "Find Chloe. Do what she says. I'll return."

Maya swallowed and watched as Clark rose a few feet off the ground, leaned forward and disappeared.

Flashing lights appeared outside the fence-line. The patrol car that was currently occupied by Deputies Ken Farris and Richard Johnston came to a sliding stop in front of the Kent farm. Their eyes froze on the figure blocking the way dressed up like it was Halloween.

A strong breeze blew up against the frame of the lone sentinel. His cape tugged slightly against his neck as it rose up and undulated back and forth.

Deputy Farris opened his door and stepped out. His hand went to his holster and unsnapped the restraining catch. "S'at you Clark?"

The sentinel stood still, his fists tight against his waist in waiting.

"Looks like you been workin' out," Farris said trying to put his goal at ease.

Clark looked the deputy in eyes. "I cannot allow you on this farm, Deputy."

Farris chuckled a little and nodded to his partner. "Hear that Rich? Said we can't come in."

"We're not gonna leave him out there!" Talia shouted at Chloe.

"He knows what he's doing," the blonde girl replied. "We need to get out of here. Bart."

Talia slammed her hand on the table. "He saved us the other night. We're not going anywhere." She stopped and looked at her friends. "I mean … I'm… I'm staying."

Mary rolled her eyes. "Crap. UUUGggh. What she says," she growled and thumbed at Talia.

Dee showed all her teeth. "I'm in!"

Maya was already out the door and grabbing the pry bar she used in her duel with Diana.

Bart dropped the box he was carrying and reached into an inside pocket to retrieve his shaded glasses. After slipping them on he raised his hood. "Ready to go all Alamo, Chloelicious?"

Diana raised her eyes at Clark's fiancé. "Shall we make our stand, Shaman?"

"Huh?"

"You are Clark's heart, the center of his belief in this world, and as such the heart of this group of misfits we have banded. I think with your unique powers of healing and the role you will play in the future that the role of Shaman belongs to you, Chloe."

Shaman dropped the coat she was holding and looked out the window toward the front gate. Her steps shuffled as she made her way closer and slid the lace curtain aside. The sight of Clark out there alone pulled at her heart. She saw that he wore the costume that they designed with the help of Jor-el. He had made a decision to announce himself that day. She could do no less.

As she stared out of the window she whispered, "Go to him. Protect the girls, Diana. Don't let them do something stupid."