-1Chapter Thirty Four- A solution

Clark had gotten back to the farm as quick as he could. Pete had done a good job, but there was still so much to be done. When school started back, he was still far behind. It was only a month and he was back to where he was before. His homework was piled up over his head, and the farm along with his job were taking up all his free time again.

Lana, Chloe and Pete all tried their best to keep Clark from falling back into his old rut. No matter what they tried, he still was slowly falling apart. He came to school with a cup of coffee in one hand. His eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles beneath them. He would fall asleep in class and barely make the grades on the test to keep him passing.

Lana still came over on the weekends but all they really had time for was homework. Slowly the flowers on her doorstep stopped. The late night movies and falling asleep on the couch were few and far between. He still carried her books and stopped by the Talon, but it just wasn't the same. He just wasn't the same.

Pete would help with the farm sometimes when he had time. He just didn't understand what to do, not like Clark had somehow figured out. Pete was good with getting the feed out but anything else he was completely lost. Even if he tried to be helpful there really wasn't much he could help with.

Chloe tried to find ways to help him out. She even came up with a time chart for him to do everything. Instead her version ended up being worse than what he was already doing. The hard thing to except was that his life was the best he could get without killing himself. All Clark needed was a break.

Max had been called in as backup. The four of them were finding a way to help Clark out. They knew he couldn't afford help and after some research they realized they couldn't afford it either. They could take shifts helping with the farm but they were really already doing that. Pete helped physically when he could. Lana helped with homework.

Max knew that no matter how hard you tried to play fair, you got your ass handed to you. He had a feeling it was time to break the rules. He knew of a experiment Lex had been working on, and had managed to steal a shipment. He had enough to keep Clark going till he got the farm under control. All he knew was that the drug was a miracle and Clark needed a miracle.

Clark really didn't think anything about falling back into the rut that was his life. He really didn't have time to think. He lived his life like he had for months. He woke up at the crack of dawn and got what chores done that he could before going to school and trying to pass before coming home and doing more chores.

The weekends were busy but getting to spend what time he could with Lana was all he needed to keep himself sane. With the pile of more homework than he could keep up with, his time with Lana was more work than play. He knew he was losing her and he didn't want that to happen. He just couldn't lose her but he didn't know what he could do.

When Max came to him with a solution he was all for it. Until he learned all the details. The drug was an enhanced steroid that gave the user inhuman strength and speed. The only thing that threw him off of the idea was that it was a Luthor experiment.

Max left a box at the farm, on Clark's kitchen table in case he changed his mind. Clark left it there and would stare at the box before shaking his head and getting back to work. The temptation was there and he fought it, believing he didn't need it. All that changed when things went for the worse with Lana.

Clark had been an hour late for their date. He'd gotten caught up in chores and hadn't realized she was at the Talon waiting on him. He'd rushed there as fast as he could, his hair still wet from his recent shower. She sat the table and looked at him in disappointment.

"I understand how overwhelmed you are. I just can't always be the one waiting on you."

It sparked a fire in him. He knew he was losing her and this was one more thing. They still went for dinner and he did his best to make it up to her. He could tell this relationship was failing and it was because of him.

He'd gone back to the farm with the full intent on fixing everything. He couldn't give up the farm or Lana. He knew the crossroad he was at was going to be the hardest decision he would ever have to make. Choose his family or Lana. He didn't think he could ever make a decision like that until he realized he was doing just that. The farm was taking all of his time and Lana was the one he was not choosing.

He needed a solution and fast, before he lost Lana for good. He stared at the box Max had left for him. A solution rested inside whether it was the right one or not. If it gave him the edge he needed to be able to win Lana back, he was willing to risk it.

He opened the box and pulled out the needle and one of the bottles of liquid. It was a bright green concoction and was cool to the touch. The box held what appeared to be over thirty bottles and Max said he had more in storage.

He filled the needle and held his arm out. With a deep breath he slowly injected the needle and pushed down. The green liquid spilled into his veins with a vicious pain. It felt like his blood was on fire and his chest constricted. He fell to his knees, his body in a spasm. He jerked unable to control his movements and his head slammed into the wall, everything going black.

When he woke up everything felt fine. He pulled himself up off the floor and saw the time on the microwave. He had thirty minutes to get ready for school and get there. He still had to get the feed out and his morning chores done. He broke out into a run and got the chores done.

He lifted the feed with ease, being able to carry more than one. He had over 200 pounds in his hands and it was weightless. He sped around with ease getting everything done. When he stopped to check the time, only a few minutes had passed. He had all the chores done with time to spare and he wasn't tired. He looked over at the empty needle and smiled. That was one hell of a solution.

Clark got ready for school and was on his way. He was there early and headed to class. With no one looking he super sped and got his homework done. When he slipped out he noticed he was starting to feel the weight of his arms. The drug must have been wearing off. Lana, Chloe and Pete walked into class and noticed Clark sitting in his seat with his books out and awake.

"Morning man, you look pretty good today." Pete said taking his seat.

"I feel pretty good. Well rested and relaxed. It's going to be a good day." Clark responded with a smile.

"How is it that you're like this?" Chloe asked completely suspicious.

"I came up with a solution last night and I'm not going to lose the things I care about." Clark answered.

He pulled from his backpack a single red rose and handed it to Lana. She smiled and took it from him. Chloe couldn't believe what he just said. They had tried so hard to help him work out the things that were overwhelming him and suddenly over night he's all better with his life worked out.

"Be careful. I don't want to see you get hurt from whatever it is your doing." Chloe said.

"Don't worry Chloe, I'm in control of this," Clark said with a smile.