Chapter 9
[Kent Farm—About 1:15 PM]
Martha checked her watch for the umpteenth time. Since Lana's collapse and Clark's rushing off to help her, the anxious mother felt as if pins and needles pushed through her spine and legs. She tried to putter around the house after returning from coffee with Chloe. She'd prepared the guest room knowing that Clark would want to keep an eye on Lana personally. She shook her head. It's a wonder how these things work out. First Lois lets him go. Now Lana comes back into his life not even a day later. She slumped into a favorite rocking chair and ran her hand across her brow to wipe the sweat from it.
Chloe's revelations about Lana's situation also concerned her.
Lana has cancer and yet didn't let anyone know? What was she thinking? Can we do anything for her at this point if the best places around the world can't? She mouthed a silent prayer and rocked chair back and forth to try and calm herself.
A knock came from the front door.
"Hmm?" Martha got up and walked over to the door. "Yes?"
"Mrs. Kent, it's Chloe. Can I come in?" Chloe called through the door.
"Sure." Martha opened it to find the blonde reporter standing there anxiously. "Please come in. Have you heard anything else?"
"Lana called from Clark's cell. They should be here any minute. Apparently he did some community service work with the kids up there. They wanted to spend some more time after Lana was done with the doctors," Chloe revealed. "She said she wanted to talk to us all here at once." She held up a wrapped box. "I brought cinnamon rolls from the Talon if that's okay?"
"Thank you. With everything that's going on, I didn't get out to shop today," Martha expressed gratefully. "I'll get the coffee started."
"Always a great thing," Chloe agreed with a grin.
Martha nodded. What's going on, Clark?
Clark steered clear of a few particularly tall mountain peaks just west of the Colorado/Kansas border. He loved the pictures that nature offered so far up in the sky. The clouds wafted by him. The birds soared underneath. The wind playfully slapping his face and ruffling at his cape.
Well normally he loved it…when his mind wasn't distracted that is….
Distracted by Lana and her situation….
He sighed deeply as his mind struggled to cope with her situation. As with his mother, he couldn't believe that she wouldn't have come to him. Lois and I would've helped her. He shook his head. Lois would've been jealous though beyond belief and with reason. Lana and you have your history. You have more….Had…no have….
"So moody, Clark. I mean you have this awesome panorama around yourself and you sulk?" Lana cut in.
"Just working through some issues. How are you doing, Lana?" he queried caringly.
"I'm okay. We're still in Colorado? I thought we'd be home by now," she presumed.
Home. His heart surged at that part of her response. A home shared with her…..
"I don't fly that fast if I have passengers," he replied with a smile for her benefit. "Give me a minute. We should be crossing the border shortly."
"Okay. Clark, can I ask a question?" she wondered.
"Of course."
"How can you be helping me like this? After I left you the way I did, you should hate me," she worried.
He only took a second to consider a response. "If you had stayed, you would've killed me with the kryptonite stored in the suit. You were protecting me. I wish it had been different. I wish you would've come to me. Maybe Jor-El can do something."
"Jor-El? You mean your birth father? I think I remember a place up north. Kind of fuzzy. Like in the Arctic? Chloe mentioned it to me," she recalled. "Is he there?"
"Yes," he admitted. "He also appears in other places too." He grimaced thinking of what the spirit would say to him about his failure with Lois. Will he deal with Lana? Can he help her? He decided that he would try to do something in that regard.
"Maybe he knows something us Earth folks don't about this cancer?" she supposed. "I did try to find that place you know. I was up there about a year ago. Criss-crossed the entire region without a single clue. Unreal. When he doesn't want to be found, he doesn't want to be found."
"Sounds like Jor-El all right," Clark concurred as he started his descent toward the farm. "Meantime Mom's going to be ticked off that I didn't call her back."
"I called Chloe remember? She got the word back to your Mom, I'm sure," she assured him as the wheat fields came into view and familiar landmarks rushed up from below to greet them. "I still say, Clark, this is amazing. Wish you could've done this in high school."
"Back then I was scared of heights and wrapped up in my own issues. Forget it," he assessed as they landed beside the barn. "I think we have one of Dad's old canes in the barn. I can get it." He sped off and came back with a faded maple wood model with a few intricate carvings on it. "I…umm.. made it myself on his lathe. Hope it works."
She noticed he'd also changed into one of his old flannel shirts along with his jeans and work boots. "Nice to see you're prepared too. At least you're being more careful."
"Experience," he concurred. "Need some help?"
"As long as I take it slow, I'll be fine," she insisted. "I may need some help with the stairs." She efforted herself across the dirt driveway toward the farmhouse. "I hope your Mom's okay with you bringing me here. Lois must be worried sick about you."
"Yeah about that…." He rubbed the back of his neck trying to think of a way to tell her.
Before he could finish the thought, Chloe burst out of the house. "Guys, wow! Good to see you! Any news?"
"Let's get in the house. Then I'll give everyone the report at once," Lana noted somberly.
Chloe exchanged concerned looks with him.
"I haven't heard anything either. I was with the kids until we came back here. Sorry," he informed her with an unintended edge while helping Lana up the wooden stairs and into the house. "Mom?"
"Clark! Are you okay? What happened?" Martha queried nervously.
"Lana was with the doctors. We spent some time with the kids up at the clinic. Then we came right back here," he reported. "Didn't mean to worry you."
"He wanted to come back a couple of hours ago, Mrs. Kent. I'm sorry," Lana apologized. "The kids were enjoying the visit as much as Clark was. I enjoyed watching it. I wasn't feeling any pain during that time. Sorry." She grimaced while slumping into one of the chairs by the kitchen table.
Despite knowing about her condition, Martha still remained in shock over Lana's weakness at that moment. The last time she, or anyone other than Chloe, had heard about Lana, the latter was still wearing the Promethius suit and running around doing heroic things worldwide. At least twice per week, there were references to the "Raven Blur" in the newspapers….
…now the girl in question sat in the chair weak as a kitten….
"It's okay. As you said, the kids got a lot out of it," he emphasized while helping his mother set up the table. He felt awkward while sidestepping the two major elephants in the room. Wish I could've finished telling her about Lois and me. Great.
"And we have plenty of snacks," Martha assured them while pouring coffee. "Thanks, Chloe."
"No problem, Mrs. Kent." Chloe looked at her sick friend. "Lana, did you find anything new out?"
Lana glanced at the Kents' eyes and Chloe's. She really didn't feel comfortable opening up with them about her situation. Instead she wanted to catch up with him and find out how things were going with Lois in Metropolis. "Chloe, I finally have a chance to talk with Clark and…."
"It's okay. We have a lot of time to catch up, Lana." He grinned at her.
She shrugged and stared down at the table. "No, Clark. It isn't okay. When I saved the Planet from the bomb and took in the radiation, I gave myself the cancer that's killing me. Even after I had that suit removed, the cancer still remained. According to the doctor this morning, I have tumors in my upper thorax and my left lung. There's another one developing along my spine hence why I need the cane to walk. I've tried every conventional and experimental treatment to deal with it. Modern medicine can't deal with it. The tumors resist medication and chemo. That's why I was taking those pills. For a while they kept the symptoms in check so I could walk and do things." She shook her head despondently.
"You never had to hide it from me, Lana," Clark informed her. "We still have time. I'll help you."
"Clark, there's no cure," Lana stated.
"To modern Earth science, there isn't," he retorted back just as firmly. His eyes locked with hers. "We'll go and see my father. There has to be something in the Kryptonian archives. Believe me; I have plenty of time to help right now."
"Clark, I don't want to take you away from Lois right now or the paper. You've got your columns. I'd be a pest…." Lana protested.
Martha took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair.
Chloe winced and sipped on her coffee lest she'd brain fart on some response.
He frowned. "Lana, Lois broke up with me last night. I'm on a paid leave to deal with things here in Smallville. Perry White wanted me to have some space."
"He and I both thought it would be good for Clark to come back here and reflect," Martha noted.
"And, Lana, don't ever call yourself a pest again. Okay? You aren't to me. Not ever," he pointed out fiercely. "As I told you, we will get through this together. I'm not leaving you. That's a promise from me—from both Clark and Superman."
Chloe exchanged looks with Martha. They both recognized the purpose and insistence from high school and early college once more. They heard the timbre in his voice again.
Clark had clearly moved back…back to where he belonged…..
"Listen to him, Lana," Chloe begged. "We're not giving up on you. Okay? You're home. You're back where you can fight this. We won't let you die without a fight. Got it?"
"And no more bouncing around either. I've fixed up the guest room for you. I'd like it if you'd stay here. House gets lonely. Now that Clark's back, I think you two need to catch up. It might do you both good," Martha invited.
"You take that seriously, Lana. I mean it," he insisted. Then he backed off and sipped on his coffee. "Sorry. I didn't mean to get pushy. The last few months haven't been that great and…"
"Lois really did break up with you? I can't believe it! What happened, Clark?" she wondered.
"Excuse me? I didn't do anything. In fact, I took your advice and Chloe's from high school and had an open relationship. It wasn't my fault that her career means more to her than us. It made me understand how I treated you sometimes." He bowed his head. "I guess I didn't appreciate what I had."
"No you didn't. Then again, did any of us? I was the one who ran off to Paris and brought my Great Grandmother Isobel back here, didn't I?" Lana sighed. She took his hands in hers. "Clark, we all needed to grow up. We're adults. There are no more secrets between us. And no you're not being pushy. You're looking out for me. There is a difference. I admit that I'm nervous about seeing Jor-El but maybe it might help. Just promise me something?"
"Okay," he agreed readily.
"Even when you go back to the Planet, would you mind flying back and forth for a while? I'd…like to see you…often," she requested. She felt her cheeks flushing and almost felt like he did on that first day of high school so long before. Now I know how that necklace made him so sick! "That would be a great addition to my days here."
"You bet," he affirmed. "Mom, you mind?"
"Are you kidding? Clark, the door's always open. You know that," Martha accepted readily. The days alone at the farm could be overwhelming sometimes. She just hoped that things worked out. At least this will make him feel useful instead of trudging around the farm as he seemed to be this morning. I hope Jor-El has some thing that can help without the usual string attached. She shook her head.
"Hey! Why all the glum faces? We have everyone back here! Wait until Ollie hears about this! He and the guys will be so psyched! I told you, Lana. What Clark said is true. We will beat this thing," Chloe vowed. "Right, Farm Boy?"
Recalling her old nickname for him, he smiled. "Absolutely. We're all here. I'm here. Okay?"
For the first time, Lana felt her defensive walls breaking down. After years of itinerant travels, she'd returned home without inhibition. Maybe they can help me. Maybe Clark and I can finally have something. I owe it to them to try.
"Now let's enjoy these cinnamon rolls, shall we?" Martha invited while passing the plate around.
Perhaps they had issues to resolve but, for that afternoon, happiness reconnected. Potential it seemed ruled the day for that one at least….