Chapter 10:

Smallville General Hospital.

Lana rushed into the room where Lex was being examined. "Lex are you alright?" she asked in a panic stricken tone. Worry was sketched all over her face.

"It's only a second degree burn, nothing to worry about. They want to run an x-ray to make sure my ribs are all right."

"How did that thing know about the box?"

"That's exactly what I was wondering."

"Well, who was that man that helped you into the car?"

"Agent Cevin Klein, he's a CIA agent, he's helping me on a secret investigation."

Before Lana, could further inquire as too what this secret investigation was, there was light knock on the door to the room, both turning their heads to see none other than Clark standing at the door.

"Clark!" Lana exclaimed, semi-joyously as she ran up and gave Clark a quick hug, which he returned.

A hint of jealousy was seen in Lex's eyes, before asking in an annoyed tone, "What are you doing here?"

"I dropped by the mansion, I heard you were taken to the hospital. You okay?"

"We're fine Clark, both of us."

"What happened?"

"I had an uninvited guest, but, I'm used to that kind of thing."

Clark, forced himself from not rolling his eyes at him, a trait he picked up from Lois. "Well I'm glad you're alright then."

Just then the back door to the room opened and a doctor walked through the door, "Mr. Luthor let's get you down to the x-ray."

Lex quietly turned and left, but quickly smiled softly at Lana, who returned his smile with one of her own.

Turning to face Clark properly, Lana began to bagger Clark in a demanding tone. "Clark! What are you really doing here? And don't tell me it's to check up on Lex, because we both know that, that's a lie. What's the real season behind this good-natured visit?"

Startled by Lana's aggressiveness, Clark tried to avoid her question, "Look Lana, you don't want to be in the middle of this."

"No you don't want me in the middle of this, but it's too late. Stop trying to think of excuses Clark and tell me what's going on." See his hesitancy Lana continued. "If you really love me as much as you say you do, tell me, what's going on?"

Shocked by Lana's accusation, he pulled at a photo print-out from his back pocket and handed it to her. "Have you seen this before?"

"Yes. But it doesn't matter anymore. It's just a pile of ash now. That thing destroyed it."

Clark couldn't believe it. He knew what this meant. "Okay Lana, thanks, but I gotta go know."

"Wait Clark, we need to talk."

"Not now Lana, please, this is important."

"Okay." She said in a low angry tone.

"I'm sorry." He added weakly before running down the hall.

When Lex walked out of the x-ray room he was greeted, by Cevin. "Mr. Lex, glad to see you're alright."

"Agent Klein, you'll never guess, who was here, Clark Kent!" he finished coldly.

"Clark Kent." He repeated. Lex just nodded. "Do you know where he went?" his voice seemed almost worried.

"Back to the farm would be my guess wouldn't you?"

"You're right." He finished and took off down the hall and ran outside the hospital's doors, leaving a very perplexed Lex in his wake.

Once he was outside the doors, Cevin scanned the area, in a desperate attempt to find Clark. 'Damn it Kal-El! Where'd you go?' he thought to himself. Running around to the side alley of the building he shot-off to the sky, and made his way to towards the Kent farm.