Chapter Seventy-Two

Jeff couldn't believe this worked. He was with Chloe inside the Luthor Corp headquarters in Metropolis, riding the elevator to confront Lex Luthor.

Saturday came and went without Julian stopping by Crater Lake like he promised. Jeff had felt hurt. So hurt he was surprised at himself. It was normal for Jeff to do things alone. But over the past few months, he had gotten used to having someone to hang out with.

Julian hadn't responded to any of the texts Jeff sent. Jeff spent Sunday sulking and organizing the data he recorded the previous day.

But on Monday morning, when he entered the mansion kitchen to begin some chores, he saw his mother, Benji, and Dominic talking around the table.

"Hi, sweetie," his mom said.

"Help yourself to some breakfast. As much as you want." Benji motioned towards the cart. It was piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, orange slices, and waffles piled high with all the fixings. Jeff fixed himself a good plate as the adults around him continued their discussion.

"Well, it was good while it lasted," Benji sighed.

"Calm down. We haven't been officially fired yet," Dominic consoled. "Besides, I was here the first time this happened. Lex will help us find other employment if it comes to that."

"That poor boy. He seemed so healthy; no one would think he has so many problems." His mother added.

At that, Jeff's ears had perked up. They were talking about Julian. Jeff fell back into his invisible habit and sat at the end of the table, eating through the delicious food as the domestics continued to talk. From what Jeff gathered, Julian had some sort of relapse and was back under constant medical supervision. Lex was going to be staying in Metropolis from now on and was trying to decide what to do with the mansion. Or rather, Marci was the one in contact with all of them. Benji hadn't been told both Luthor's weren't in the mansion until an hour ago. His mother had little to fear. Things would just go back to the way they were while Julian had been in a coma. But Dominic and Benji's jobs were at stake.

Benji's handiwork turned to sawdust as Jeff eavesdropped. Unlike them, he knew about Lois' suspicions and theories. His mind went wild with possibilities. Had it all been true that Julian Luthor was Clark Kent? Had his friend discovered the truth and was now being brainwashed like Warrior Angel in issue twenty-seven?

Jeff feared the worst for his friend and "borrowed" Julian's truck to drive over to the Sullivan house. All the while, he repeatedly called Julian's phone, which went unanswered. Chloe hadn't left yet for her internship and Jeff spilled everything. He knew the two were on a kind-of break, but maybe he had contacted her.

Chloe hadn't heard from Julian since their "break-up", aside from the quick glimpse she got of him saying goodbye to Lois. She became concerned as well and produced her dad's old Luthor Corp security badge, saying they needed to speak with Lex right away.

They had met no resistance in the building, and the badge gave them access to Lex's private elevator. Jeff followed Chloe's lead as she marched straight toward Lex's office door, ignoring Marci.

"Excuse me, you cannot go in there!"

Marci wasn't fast enough, and Chloe burst through the doors, shouting, "Where is he!?"

Lex was seated at his desk, but there was no laptop open. No papers or files on his desk. It looked like the businessman was just staring at the single framed photo on his desk. His eyes slowly came up as he noticed the intruders. "It's okay, Marci. I got this. Please hold all calls until they're gone."

Jeff mouthed "sorry" as Marci left, glaring daggers at them the whole time.

"Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Lex, where's Julian?" Chloe repeated.

"I assume Miss Lane filled both of you in on her theory and also on what she saw? A second Earth?" The two teenagers nodded. "She was right. She was right about what happened. About what I did."

"But where is he?" Jeff finally spoke.

There was a long pause before Lex spoke again. "Clark is home now."

"He just…left? Without saying goodbye?" Chloe sank into the open chair.

"Not exactly." Lex's eyes seemed focused on his desk again. "I sent him back."

"You sent him back? So, you just decided to send him away like you decided to take him? He had no say either time?" Chloe fumed.

"Ultimately that's what he would have chosen. What's the difference?"

"Because he's a person, Lex! He's not a toy you can throw away once you're done playing with him."

Lex leapt to his feet. "Get out!"

Marci must have been waiting at the door. After Lex's shouting, two security guards promptly entered the room to escort him and Chloe out of the building.

Jeff didn't know how to feel. It was good that his friend, Clark, was finally home again. But Julian, or Clark, had been his friend. His only friend. And now he was alone again.

His last glimpse of Lex, falling back into his desk chair, staring blankly at the photo, made him wonder if that was what Lex was feeling too.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Alex wanted to look anywhere else but the photo on his desk. It was the birthday present Clark had given him. A framed image of Clark standing beside Alex at the surprise party he had planned. Alex had been so touched there was someone who cared enough about him to do something like that.

Happy, Lex. The word you're looking for is happy.

He was such a monster. Clark had been so kind. So loving. So caring. And in return, Alex had fed him lies and betrayal.

"I'm so sorry about that, Lex. We're analyzing how they were able to get up here, and appropriate changes will be made." Marci placed a steaming latte in front of him.

"Thank you, Marci." He touched the mug. It was hot. Too hot, but he refused to move his hand. He deserved to feel pain. Chloe had been right. Clark had started to build a life for himself here. He had friends, and it was touching to see how much they cared for him, storming the castle to demand answers. Alex should have allowed Clark to decide when he went home. He had just been a coward, unable to face the hate and anger from Clark that he rightly deserved.

The pain of losing Clark forever was too much for him to bear. And the accusation that he had seen Clark as nothing more than a toy was one too many. He loved Clark, truly and deeply loved him. Clark had never been a toy, not to him. But wasn't that exactly how Alex had been treating him? Dressing him up and "playing" with him by taking him to operas and baseball games? Dictating which school he was to attend?

Had he ever loved Clark? Was he even capable of loving anything?

His eyes came up and he watched Marci work at her desk. Sweet, loyal Marci who had just "protected" him from ruthless teenagers. He got up to walk in front of her desk. She looked at him, waiting his orders which she would ensure were carried out.

"You're a good person, Marci."

"Thanks, boss."

"You're fired."

Alex retreated inside his office, not waiting for her response.

Writing from Jeff's POV made me think he should be referring to his Earth's Lex as "Lex" not "Alex" because he hadn't fully accepted the other Earth theory yet. Just wanted to clarify it was intentionally done.