Chapter 9. Dealing With The Green Eyed Demon.

'I was obsessed with this girl?' Clark found himself wondering. She hadn't been talking to him for more than a few minutes before she started fishing for information about his abilities and coming on to him.

"Lana, I thought I understood that you were with Lex Luthor now?" Clark asked backing away from her advances.

"I don't deny that I care for Lex. But, Clark you and I have always had something special between us. Don't tell me you don't feel it now."

"I'm sorry Lana but honestly, my heart has found someone else. What I feel for her is deep and true and I hope you find the same thing someday. Just do me a favor and be careful. I have heard some things about Lex Luthor that make me worried about you seeing him."

"So you are worried for me. Whatever you feel for that blond it is nothing compared to what we had before you left."

"I really am sorry Lana, but whatever we had, it is over. I will always be here for you, but only as a friend."

It was at this moment that a young bald man appeared right next to them. "Clark you haven't been in town for a whole day and already you are making moves on Lana? Trying to steal her back from me?" Lana quickly stepped away from Clark the moment he interrupted their conversation.

"You must be Lex Luthor, don't worry I am not interested in getting back together with Lana."

"Really? Why am I supposed to believe that?" Lex arched his brow with a speculating look in his eyes.

"Believe it or don't, it makes no real difference to me. My father warned me about you."

"I shudder to think what your father has told you about me. Perhaps that I am the devil incarnate?"

"He warned me that I should be careful about trusting you. Apparently, when I was your friend you kept spying on me. Not very friendly like behavior."

"Your fathers hearsay is all you have to prove that. Your father never liked me and always wanted you to turn your friendship from me. It is too bad it worked. I cherished our friendship, but I guess that time is over. You always had an infatuation with Lana. I don't believe a little memory loss will change that."

"Apparently, he has a thing for the blond girl who came to town with him. Her name was Barbie or something like that." Clark blinked at the bitterness in Lanas voice.

"Her name is Buffy." Clark corrected.

"Lana sweetie the limo is outside waiting for us, will you go on out to give me a moment alone with Clark?" Lex waited a moment while Lana left then turned to Clark "That wouldn't be Buffy Summers would it?"

Instantly Clark turned with a warning look in his eye. "How did you know that? Stay away from her!"

Lex cocked a half smile. "So that is why you don't seem to care that Lana is with me now. Ms. Summers is one of the founding members of WSI, a lovely and interesting woman who is a part of a mysterious business. I saw her picture in the last issue of Business Weekly. Take a little advise from an old friend Clark. Buffy Summers is out of your league. Stay away from anything to do with WSI they are a highly secretive business that has been growing exponentially since last year. Be careful Clark, ask yourself how much you really know her." This said he left Clark to his thoughts and exited the building.

"Clark." Chloe's voice interrupted his thoughts, "I am so sorry."

"What is it Chloe?"

"Buffy disappeared a little while ago, I've checked the whole building she isn't here."

Clark turned to rush out into the night in search of Buffy when he saw her come in looking a little worse for wear, and clutching a bloody cloth to her arm. She made a bee line straight for the bathroom.

Chloe gasped when she noticed Buffy slipping into the bathroom. "Clark wait here, I'll go check on her." But before the words were out of her mouth Clark was gone leaving her hair flying in the wind of his departure.

Buffy was just finishing cleaning out the wound on her arm when familiar hands turned her around to see Clark with an angry and worried look in his eyes. Worried won out when he saw her wound start to drip blood again.

Clark opened his mouth to talk but no words came out.

"Clark, before you start you know it is my job. I was just a little too distracted tonight and there were more of them than I expected. This isn't a big deal so please don't make a big deal of it."

Chloe opened the bathroom door.

"Clark you do realize this is the women's restroom? Oh Buffy you look like you need stitches!"

"Na, it looks worse than it is." Buffy stated turning back to her bag she pulled out some bandages and antibiotic ointment.

"What happened?"

"Some guys jumped me."

"We should call the police." Chloe stated pulling out her cell phone.

"No. No worries, they won't be bothering anyone else again tonight." 'Or ever.' She thought to herself. "If you think this is bad you should see them I can take care of myself."

"Buffy." Clark sighed clearly frustrated. "I know you can take care of yourself, but what would be wrong about letting me protect you a little."

"Clark you can't always protect me from everything. Besides when I came to tell you I was heading out you looked a little busy talking to Lana." Buffy was trying to be nonchalant about her statement that was also a question but apparently she was not successful.

Chloe's eyes grew large and she started backing toward the door. "You know what I will let you guys finish this conversation alone. I'll just put an out of order sign on the bathroom door." She stated slipping out.

Turning to Buffy Clark smiled a little knowing that Buffy was worried he had gotten back together with Lana. Another sign that he was making progress with her.

"Buffy..."

"No Clark, you don't have to say anything. I understand." Buffy kept herself busy cleaning up the mess she had made and not looking at Clark. She did not want him to see the tears that were once again threatening to fall.

"No Buffy I don't think you do."

"She had better treat you good." Buffy thrust the packaging from her bandages into the trashcan like it was something she wanted to slay.

"She does, except she makes me worry when she goes out to take on the world and won't let me protect her."

Buffy was barely holding herself together, she had to get out of there before she turned into a blubbering mess humiliating herself. Also she didn't want Clark to feel badly about following his heart. She knew it was going to be like this, she should have tried harder to not fall for him.

"I knew your heart would remember how you felt for her, when you met her." Clark could see the tears Buffy was holding back as she turned her head away from him and tried to sidle out the door.

Taking a deep breath Clark gently grabbed her arm and gently directed her to look into his eyes. "Buffy, I was talking about you".

"What? When?" Buffy furrowed her brow obviously confused.

With a little laugh Clark stepped forward and picked her up off the ground and set her on the counter.

"Buffy you don't seem to understand what I am telling you so I will be as plain as I can be while trying not to scare you away. I am not in love with Lana." This said he gently caressed her cheek and lips with his thumb and pulled her against him kissing her. This time Clark let his love and passion show in his kiss.

Buffy found herself gasping for air as he kissed down to her neck and their bodies rocked against each other. "Oh Clark if you keep doing that I wont be able to let go."

"That is my plan." Clark admitted between kisses.

"Is it also your plan that I tear your clothes off and demand that you ravish me right here?"

Clark winced and took a step back.

"Damn." Buffy cursed panting in breaths of air. "I should have kept my mouth shut." 'That was unbelievably incredible,' she thought.

"No, I'm sorry Buffy I got carried away. You deserve better than a counter in the bathroom. I am so sorry please forgive me. I'll just give you a few minutes to yourself." That said Clark slipped out of the room and tried to catch his own breath, deal with his raging hard-on and pray that he hadn't pushed Buffy too far too fast.

"Great job Buffy! You should have kept your mouth shut." She told herself while splashing cold water on her face and back of her neck.

It was awkwardly quiet as Chloe was driving Buffy and Clark back to the Kent Farm. At least it was until she got to the road out to Crater Lake.

"Oh, Chloe, stop here for a sec please." Pulling to the side she turned to look in question at Buffy. However Buffy didn't notice her questioning look because she was getting out of the car. "Thanks so much. I'll be back late Clark."

"Oh no, I don't think so." Clark objected and zoomed out of the car to stand next to Buffy.

"Seriously it's fine I just need to check something out up this road."

"Buffy." Chloe could hear that Clark was desperately holding on to his patience and was determined to stay with her.

Chloe smiled, "Let me drive. You don't mind coming too do you Clark?" She interrupted what she was sure would be turning into a fight. Clark flashed his friend one of the biggest smiles she had seen on him.

"Not at all, it sounds like fun." Clark answered.

"Clark," Buffy hissed in frustration then turned to whisper to him. "Only if you promise to protect Chloe. Don't even think of leaving her side. For ANYTHING."

"What about you?" Chloe managed to listen in and felt touched that Buffy was so concerned with protecting her and very curious about what she would need to be protected from. Truthfully she was determined to join Buffy at this point she was just too curious.

Buffy winced she didn't want Chloe to hear that. "I can take care of myself. I don't think we will run into anything but do you promise?"

"I promise Chloe will be safe before I do anything to help you."

"I guess that is the best I am going to get out of you."

Clark smiled in answer, Buffy only rolled her eyes and got back into the car.

Chloe took the road slowly per Buffy's request, she had no idea what the other blond was looking for especially since it was too dark to see much more than the trees on either side of the road and the blue black sky. They weren't far from Crater Lake when Buffy asked Chloe to stop and got out of the car again.

"Let me check something out over there. I shouldn't be gone for very long." Buffy winked at Clark and disappeared into the forest. "Watch out for Chloe." She called back to Clark who was about to follow her in.

"What is she afraid will happen?" Chloe asked looking at Clark who was obviously wanting to follow Buffy.

"Honestly, I am not entirely sure." Clark blushed. There was something that seemed wrong about not being completely open with Chloe.

"Well why don't we follow along then? You can protect me and keep an eye on her at the same time." Chloe smiled getting out of the car and walking over to where Buffy disappeared into the forest.

Clark cocked his head to the side looking worried. "I don't know, the idea was for me to keep you safe. Somehow I don't think following her would qualify as doing that."

"Come on Clark, having you with me it like having my own personal super protector. Not a lot can get past you. Besides I am going and if you want to protect me then I guess you will just have to come too."

Following her slayer sense Buffy finally set the bag Willow gave her down and pulled out her cell phone. She was going to need directions for this.

"Hey Giles." Buffy smiled hearing her mentor on the line. She wasn't sure if they would ever get back to the level of trust and camaraderie they once had but they had been working long distance to get things more comfortable between them.

"Buffy how are things there with you and your young man?"

"His name is Clark Kent and I wouldn't say he was mine." Buffy replied with a slight blush marking her cheeks.

"His memory returned?"

"Nope but we did find his hometown and his parents. They are letting me stay with them at the moment but I still want to give them what I would have been paying for a room while I am here."

"Of course, how are things in town?"

"That is why I am calling, there are a lot more vampires here than I would expect to see in a small town. Nothing like Sunnydale but I think that your theory may prove to be correct, I need to run the test first before I know for sure. Also the reports the old council never looked into, are true. It is because of some meteor rock that people get, like, mutated or something and end up with different abilities".

"Good lord, do we know yet if this meteor rock has any effect on vampires or demons?"

"I have no idea as far as that goes. I need you to walk me through the test."

Chloe stood in the darkened forest looking in every direction. "Uh, Clark I am not sure how she got so far ahead so quickly but I am a little lost. Do you know what way she went?"

Clark was about to focus on his hearing when there was a sudden and brilliant flash of light ahead. Picking up Chloe, Clark zoomed through the trees to a small clearing where Buffy had collapsed. She lay unconscious inside a ring of burning candles.

Seeing her phone not far away from the circle and hearing a familiar voice calling out for Buffy on the other end Clark rushed forward to pick it up.

"Buffy?" Giles voice called out.

"She is unconscious in a circle of candles. Mr. Giles, can I cross the circle to get to her?"

"Clark?"

"Sorry yes this is Clark, is she alright? Can I go to her?"

"No give her some time, Clark, she is on a type of vision quest. She shouldn't be out for more than a few minutes."

"What is she trying to find out?"

"There may be a mystical convergence forming there."

Gently Clark set Chloe down. She had been obviously trying to hear both sides of the conversation

"You mean like Sunnydale had?"

"It wouldn't be anywhere as large as the old one, but yes. Listen, just give her about 10 minutes and she should be fine again. I need to check my books for some information. Call me if you run into any problems."

"I don't like leaving her there. You know for sure that she will be alright?"

"Indeed. Buffy always said she and magic were unmixy things. However, as a slayer she has an innate spiritual connection to the metaphysical realms and the different dimensions of magic."

Clark was silent while he tried to translate what Giles had just said into something that made more sense to him the main thing he was able to get from Giles was that he was sure that Buffy would be fine.