Chapter 8 [Smallville Medical Center]

Lana sped through Smallville's city blocks. Experience boosted Confidence. Her turns refined themselves with each attempt. Her eyes and reflexes adjusted to the high speed transit. Somehow, her focus held off pressing concerns, conflicting priorities and her heart's panic. She managed not to bowl over a dumpster in the alley. I made it! She sucked in a deep breath. Thanks for the great coach. This is really hard. She inspected her overnight bag.

You are doing very well. What are you doing here? We do not need Jonathan or Martha Kent! Jor-El stewed. He did not wish debates or interference from his rivals.

We've been through this. Lana raised an eyebrow. I need them in case someone wants to know what's going on. It's kind of necessary. It seems to make sense. A disappearing act might bring Sheriff Adams into it. That's the last thing we need. Smallville's version of Barney Fife elicited an eye roll. How does Clark deal with this stuff? She walked around the building's side and through the entrance's glass doors.

He should exercise greater care. He is too rash, Jor-El observed.

Her finger pressed the elevator's up button. "That makes two of us." She stepped inside and watched the doors close. Let's hope Mrs. Kent can deal with everything! She bit her lip.

Last errand underway….

[A/N: Okay, Everyone. This is really going to get different from the original version. It will still fit within the series. The discussion, however, will deepen much as Lana's relations with Jor-El have at this point. The Muse is warning me right now. I figured I should pass that along to all of you.]

[Martha's Hospital Room]

Monitors beeped by the bedside. IV bag dripped medication down its tube. Uneaten meal sat forlorn on its tray. Tension and Crisis crackled through the air in nearby hallways and nurses' stations. Unbeknownst to everyone else, however, Crises brewed within those walls as well.

Martha stared at the ceiling. Depression drowned her spirit. Her heart ached for the baby. Tears burned her eyes. Clark's rashness angered her beyond words. Still, Jonathan's mistimed lecture traumatized Clark. She'd witnessed Rejection's signs etched across her son's face. She and Jonathan argued before he left to get some air.

And then, Pete told her about Clark's discovery at the Torch…

Oh, Clark! Please don't use that ring! You know what it does to you! You were wrong to use to steal that kryptonite key and blow up the Ship! Why didn't you talk to us first? You're just making things worse! She shook her head. Dread chilled her mind and heart at that point. I just wish he'd told us about Jor-El! All of these years, we raised Clark with no problem! Now, he just appears from out of the caves. He decides that he wants to shove Jonathan and me aside? Who does he think he is? Really? I just hope he doesn't do anything else to Clark. Worse, I hope he doesn't try anything else with Jonathan, Pete, Chloe or Lana! Her fingers tapped the blanket at her left side.

A knocking broke Reverie's hold over her. "Yes?"

"Hi, Mrs. Kent. I probably should have called first. Can we talk?" Lana stood in the room's doorway. Nerves jangled about in her stomach. She hated to see her role model in that hospital bed. "Where's Mr. Kent? I'd hoped to talk with him too." She rubbed her forehead. For some reason, Empathy picked up on Martha's moods. Depression, Lament, Mourning and Worry slammed into her with Hurricane's force. Now what? Where's that all coming from? She leaned against the doorframe.

Your telepathy and empathy detect her feelings, Lana Lang. Take care. This healing place will overwhelm you if you stay too long. Keep your focus, Jor-El clarified.

Thanks. Whatever happened to practicing with the abilities ahead of time? Lana rolled her eyes at the ghost guide. "Sorry. I wanted to stop by to see how you were doing, Mrs. Kent." She closed the door. "We need to talk." She took several deep breaths.

Martha noted Lana's sudden need for privacy. "Pete said you went to our farm today. Thank you for trying to help Clark, Lana. I know you've tried to reach out in the past." She bowed her head. "I wish you'd been able to reach him before he…." Her voice trailed off. Sobs drowned out the rest of her sentence.

Lana handed her a tissue. "Believe me, Mrs. Kent. I had his suit with me. I handed it to him. He sounded so serious." She rubbed the back of her neck. "He acted like Whitney just before he left for the military. He was preparing for a war of some kind. I tried to ask him what was going on. You know how Clark is though." She shook her head. "He just said what he was about to do was for the future…our future." She shuddered. "Then this afternoon happened. My life's changed. Before I say anything else, I need your secrecy, Mrs. Kent. I can't tell anyone. Only Mr. Kent, Pete and you will understand." She sucked in a deep breath. Purpose summoned up every bit of Resolve's inner strength.

"Lana, what is it? Clark will come back. I miss my baby." Martha assessed Lana with her practiced eye. She discerned Seriousness, Shock, Trauma and Disorientation all playing across the younger woman's face. She held her arms out. "Come here. Of course, you have Mr. Kent's and my secrecy. What happened to Clark? Are you all right?"

Lana embraced her surrogate mother tightly. Her mask dropped. Emotions surged out. Tears drowned her cheeks. Her sobs now matched Martha's. "Mrs. Kent…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry about the baby. I'm sorry I couldn't stop Clark from trying to destroy that spaceship. I couldn't stop Clark from putting that damn ring on and leaving. I failed. Now, everything's changed."

Confession jarred Martha. Surprise stiffened her to say the least. "Lana, I know you tried to stop Clark. He wasn't in the state of mind to listen to anyone." She tried to spin Lana's account back on itself. "There's no spaceship. Why would Clark have one?"

"Mrs. Kent, don't lie to me! Not today! I'm sorry but I can't bear to hear another lie!" Lana backed away from Martha. She trembled. "Not after the Spaceship came after me. Jor-El…"

"Jor-El?" Martha sat up straight in the bed. "Lana, how do you know about him? We've only heard Clark talk about a voice. You've seen him? And what do you mean Clark's Ship came after you? He destroyed it."

Lana winced. "Well…it's kind of complicated." She motioned toward the chair. "I really need to sit down." Getting a nod from Martha, she slumped into it. "Clark tried to destroy the Ship. After the explosion, I found a piece of refined meteor like my old necklace in your storm cellar. I was so mad that I threw it into the grass. The spaceship rebuilt itself. I heard Jor-El's voice. He tried to kill me."

"He what? Lana, I…." Martha gasped. "Are you all right? How are you still alive much less visiting with me or doing anything?"

"My love for Clark saved me, Mrs. Kent. I survived and earned Jor-El's respect." Lana shrugged. "Clark and I can be together now. He saw to that."

"He…saw…to that?" Apprehension raised Martha's tone a few octaves. "Lana, what did he do?"

Lana took another deep breath. Grimace revealed her discomfort. "Umm…well…I'm like Clark now. I'm Kryptonian. Jor-El's helping me with the abilities. I'm going after Clark right after this. I wanted you to know."

"You're…like Clark." Skepticism viewed Lana's story with a bit of a jaded eye. "How's that possible? As far as we know, he's the only one from his world."

"Thanks to the spaceship and Jor-El, Clark's one of a pair. He did something to me. I can do everything Clark can do. It's kind of overwhelming. I finally know the Secret of course. I'll die to protect him. I just want to be part of the family. I don't want to be shut out any more. Please, Mrs. Kent! I've proven myself to Jor-El. You and Mr. Kent know how I feel about Clark!" Lana ground her teeth. Her eyes and forehead warmed up slightly. "Oh not again!"

CALM YOURSELF, LANA LANG! WE DO NOT NEED TO CALL ATTENTION TO OURSELVES! Jor-El reminded her.

Martha's eyes went wide. "Lana? That voice? Is that…?"

I AM JOR-EL, KAL-EL'S FATHER, MARTHA KENT. IT IS TIME YOU KNOW MY VOICE! WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS AS LANA LANG RECOUNTS. WE NEED TO BRING HIM BACK TO SMALLVILLE. AND…

Lana's phone buzzed at her. Repeatedly.

"Lana, maybe Chloe or her Dad are trying to call? Or it's the Talon?" Martha motioned toward Lana's slacks' pocket.

"Miranda knows what's going on. I left a note at Chloe's house before coming here." Lana looked at her phone. "Text message from V. Swann? Who's that?" She opened the message to find:

"Dear Miss Lang,

If you can read this message, reply to me. I await your response.

Several Kryptonian Symbols

Virgil Swann"

I have granted you the ability to read our language, Lana Lang, Jor-El scanned the message through Lana's eyes. It is our language. Read it and see.

Martha grimaced. Memoria recalled Clark's pushing the envelope concerning his lineage and Krypton for most of that year. His accidental discovery and brief relationship with Kyla led to far more questions. Hellbent investigation turned up more problems than answers. Lionel and Lex drew too close to the truth for Jonathan's and her liking. Caution guided Dr. Swann's talk with Clark in New York months earlier. "Dr. Swann's a reclusive scientist and astronomer. He's the foremost expert on Krypton that we know of. He reached out to Clark while you all were doing your family tree projects last year. Clark went to New York to speak with him. He filled Clark in on what he knew."

Lana nodded. "He texted me. He writes with the cave symbols?" She cast a strange look at the phone's screen. "How does he know the language?"

Martha frowned. "Clark says that's how you know it's him. He's also testing you, Lana. What does it say?"

Lana cleared her throat. "This is kind of my first time reading this stuff. Here goes. 'Dear Miss Lang, if you can read this message, reply to me. I await your response.' The message says, 'I thought there was only one Kryptonian left on Earth. I was wrong. I am aware of Kal-El's situation. If you wish my assistance, there is a car parked in front of the medical center. It will be there for ten minutes. My assistant waits for you there. I can assure you that your safety is my upmost concern. I await your response. Thank you.' She raised an eyebrow. "Who is this guy?" She rubbed the back of her neck.

"He may be our best hope to reach Clark, Lana. He might be able to track Clark. Perhaps he can answer your questions? If I wasn't in this bed, I'd go with you. I don't know where Mr. Kent is. I know he'd insist on going." Martha squirmed to get comfortable. "We have no other options at this point." She shook her head. Parental Instinct urged Nell's and Gabe Sullivan's involvement. Still, the Secret couldn't withstand that risk. Time raced by both for Clark and on Swann's offer. "Tell Dr. Swann you're coming. We have to risk it." She exhaled a deep breath.

"Okay, Mrs. Kent." Lana typed a response. "That's sent. Sorry I can't stay longer. I've got to go." She smiled. "I'll bring Clark back."

Martha rubbed Lana's hand. "I know you will." Despite Chaos wrecking havoc on everything around them, she noted Lana's strength and determination. Pride warmed her heart. "You just keep your chin up. All right?" She opened the drawer. "There's $40.00 in there. Take it. You need some meal money. It's not much but it'll help you."

Lana fingered the two twenty dollar bills. She looked at Martha. "You're getting this back, Mrs. Kent. Thanks." She shoved the bills into her purse. "Sorry. I have to go."

"Just bring my boy home, Lana. And I'm so proud of you. Afterwards, we'll need to talk. Maybe we can see what you can do?" Martha managed a smile.

"I'd like that. I just want to be part of the family. If Clark will trust me, I want to be with him. The rest will take care of itself." Lana offered a shrug. She shouldered her purse and the overnight bag. She opened the door. Super speed whisked her toward the stairwell and outer door.

Demonstration prompted Martha's thoughts in that regard. Super speed? Maybe Jor-El did give Lana those abilities. Oh how I hope she can hold onto her gifts. Clark wouldn't need to be alone anymore! Clark, where are you? Once again, she sank back into the pillows and mattress. Silent prayer escaped her lips.

The chase was on….