-1Chapter 44- Yes or No?
He could hear a constant beeping sound. The noise came and went. The periods of silence he didn't really know if he was awake or if it was merely inside his head. Occasionally he could hear Lana's voice. She would sit and talk to him for the longest amounts of time. When she talked to him he would remember. They were curled on the couch, watching a movie and him wanting to propose. Then it was speed and fright. He could see the pavement rise to greet him and then it was silent again. He finally did wake and it was to some strange reality. He thought it would be Lana there with him but it was Lex.
"Are you okay son?" Lex asked brushing some hair from his eyes. He tried to look around but his neck was stiff. "Don't try to move. Doctors say that your accident left you paralyzed from your chest down. You've been in a coma for a yea."
He wanted to scream for Lana or Chloe or someone to wake him from this nightmare. Lex brought a straw to his lips and he took a sip of the cool water. He coughed as it reached his dry throat. He tried to speak but only gasps came out.
"Don't speak so soon. Try to get some rest," Lex said.
Clark looked at him and couldn't wrap his brain around what was going on. He closed his eyes hoping that when he woke again Lana would be there.
He sat in the Luthor Manor staring out the window. He lightly tapped his finger on the arm rest of his wheelchair.
"Clark, all this moping around isn't healthy. Why don't you have Lois come over?" Lex asked.
Clark didn't answer him. This wasn't his world that he'd woken to. This world, Clark Luthor was an all-star, a-student, class president, and loyal boyfriend of a year to Lois. The worst of it all was that Lana didn't exist. He had hired private investigator's and had them search the world for her. All results were the same; Lana Lang had never been born. He couldn't believe the results. He knew she was alive. He could still feel her love for him. He could smell her hair and feel the slight brush of her touch against his hand.
As time passed and the longer he was in this hell the slower he came to believe it was real. The presence of Lana was fading. It drove him insane. He just wanted to go home. Lois had gotten fed up with him when he couldn't stop thinking of Lana. Lex had called in shrinks and anyone else he could.
After awhile he simply gave in or up, however you wanted to say it. He shut his mind off to this crazy reality. He would spend his days in the office staring out the window. He finally cried from loss. This was his reality. He was living in a world without Lana.
He looked up and wiped the tears from his eyes. He heard someone. He turned his chair around but didn't see anyone. He heard it again. It sounded familiar so he focused in on it.
"I don't even know if you can hear me, but I need you to know that from the first moment that I saw you, I knew that no one could make me happier than you."
Clark screamed Lana's name. He could hear her but he couldn't find her. Lex barged into the room asking if he was okay. Clark ignored him and called for Lana again. Lex rushed forward and started to shake him. Clark shoved him back and stood by pushing himself up with his arms.
"Where's Lana!?!" he shouted. His head spun and he fell to the ground. He muttered Lana's name again before he blacked out.
He opened his eyes and found himself back at the hospital. He turned his head and looked at who sat by his bedside.
"Lana?" He asked with a raspy voice.
She looked up and smiled. She pulled her chair closer and took his hand in hers. He really felt her touch and smiled.
"Lana-" She placed a finger on his lips to silence him.
"Clark," She said and he squeezed her hand, "I'm so glad you're awake."
"What happened?" He asked.
"You crashed the bike. You're in the hospital," She answered rubbing the back of his hand.
"How long have I been out?" he asked.
"It's Christmas Eve," She answered. "I should get the doctor."
"Just don't leave me," He requested.
"Don't worry about anything," She said moving from his bedside. A moment later a doctor came in and checked all his vitals and asked him questions.
"Don't worry Clark. You took a nasty fall and broke a few bones but those are healing nicely. You'll just have some bad scaring along your back. You're a lucky man," The doctor explained.
Lana came back in and took her seat beside him. "I called everyone and told them you're awake. They'll come by tomorrow on their way to Christmas dinner," She said.
He took her hand and smiled at the sound of her voice. "What do you want for Christmas?" He asked. He could have Chloe get it for him and bring it up here.
"All I want for Christmas is you," She answered. A tear slipped from her eyes. He reached up and weakly wiped it away.
"In that case; Merry Christmas," He said as he brought her hand to his lips and lightly kissed it.
"Don't ever do that to me again," She said fighting back tears.
"I love you," He said. She looked at him and slowly smiled.
"That's the first time you've said that," She replied. She rubbed the hair from his forehead. "I love you too."
He smiled and closed his eyes. He couldn't keep himself awake but he fell asleep with a smile.
He was finally released from the hospital. Pete had come to help him transfer back to Metropolis and Lana had come with. Lana was out putting his Christmas gifts out in the car. Pete was helping him get out to the car. His friend placed a small box in the palm of his hand. He opened it and smiled down at the beautiful engagement ring.
"Good luck tonight," Pete said as Clark pocketed the valuable item.
Lana smiled at them as they made their way to the car. Both of them helped him into the backseat. He had difficulty considering he had a broken arm, a broken foot, half of his ribs broken. He managed to get himself situated as Lana and Pete jumped into the car. Within minutes they were on their way to Metropolis.
Clark took a nervous breath as he fixed his tie. He was taking Lana out to dinner and she would be meeting him soon. He checked his pocket and found the ring tucked safely inside. He watched for her at the door of the restaurant. Pete was dropping her off where Chloe had dropped him off. His friends were anxious to hear what would happen tonight. Clark was anxious as well. He was going to propose to Lana.
The beauty of his world walked in the door. She wore a sexy black dress and her hair was in curls at the end. He smiled and hobbled his way over and offered his arm. She took it and more like helped him to the table. He pulled her chair out and helped her sit down. He took his seat and sighed in relief.
"You didn't have to do this. You should have stayed home and rested," She said.
"Lana, I want nothing more than to be here with you." He said with his Kent smile.
She let out a small laugh and her cheeks got red. They sat there and talked for awhile. Toward the end of dinner he finally got the nerve to ask.
"Lana, there's something I want to ask you," he began. She smiled and set her glass down. "I uhm…wow," He tried.
"What it is Clark?" She asked wondering what was up with him. He was sweating and shaking a bit. Maybe he wasn't feeling all that well.
"Lana, I love you more than I can express in words. My life is nothing without you. I can see myself with you, having a family," He tried again.
"I can see that too," She said.
"Good…I mean…Lana I have to ask you...something important," He said.
"What is it Clark?" She asked nervous about where he was going with this.
He moved his way out of the chair and down to his knee the best he could.
"Lana, will you marry me?" He asked. She looked down at him, eyes wide and slack jawed.