Chapter 17 [That Evening]
The sun set in a blaze of fire that evening. The few wispy clouds dressed themselves in vibrant crimsons, oranges and pinks in the fading twilight. A cooler breeze billowed about the farm. A few nightingales crooned softly toward the visible moon above.
The farm put its best face on…after all company merited such. Did it not?
Lana moved slowly and with great effort through the kitchen. Granted she still felt weak from the afternoon's pain however she determined to do her share. She set the table with Martha's best dishes, glasses and silverware. She managed to put a creative twist on the napkins pretzeling them about the silver.
Martha watched her guardedly. "It's okay, Lana. I've got the rest of this. Why don't you take a seat for a minute?" She watched a muffin pan heating up in the oven. Under cover on the counter, a serving bowl full of fried chicken waited for the coming feast. Then she went back to the pot boiling on the stove.
"I'm fine, Mrs. Kent. Thank you. I slept practically the whole day," Lana declined pleasantly enough. She allowed herself one heavy breath before crossing the oak floor. She set the colander in the sink. "How are those potatoes?"
"They'll be ready in just a few minutes," the anxious mother declared. "Maybe you can get some milk and butter from the fridge? That way we can mix up these potatoes and mash them."
"Sure." Lana followed the simple directive. Even if tendrils of numbness snaked up and down her arms, she did not want to disappoint Clark's mother or him for that matter. She'd play her part no matter what. She set a glass bottle on the counter and then did the same with the butter plate. "There you go." She shut the refrigerator and leaned up against the counter. "I've missed this, Mrs. Kent."
"That's nice to know, Lana. Thank you," Martha expressed warmly. "We've missed you too. I just wish you hadn't had to go through what you did. I heard about it in Washington."
"Lex was vengeful. I just wish I'd been able to get rid of the suit or the radiation before….well…." Lana's voice trailed off before talking about her stalking assassin. "I spent too long running from it. I should have been here with Clark."
"Clark couldn't have dealt with the kryptonite in that suit, Lana. We both know that. You're here now. That means more to him than you know," Martha assured her. "I wish you both could have each other longer. We'll do what we can for each other." She rubbed the younger woman's arm reassuringly. "Just give each other what you can. That's all anyone can do."
Lana nodded. Then she saw a dark car pulling into the driveway. "They're here!"
"Why don't you go out and greet them? I'll finish these potatoes," Martha suggested while shutting the heat off on the stove. She pulled the pot off the coil and dumped its contents into the colander to drain before reaching another mixing bowl. Hopefully that'll make her happy for a minute.
Oliver set the parking brake in his Ferrari and leaned back against the leather seat. He'd felt uneasy about accepting the dinner invitation for several reasons. Admittedly he didn't want to see Lana getting weaker because of Lex's actions. He also knew he and Clark were due a talk about priorities on a larger scale. "Hope Mrs. Kent's cooking still is great."
Chloe removed her seat belt and looked pointedly at him. "It's always wonderful. That woman has a Midas touch in the kitchen. Ollie, will you please take it easy?"
"Clark's been too obsessed with this, Chloe," he pointed out.
She shook her head recalling how she'd had some of the same arguments with the plaid farm boy years earlier. "Clark's well aware of what he needs to do. He's needed here."
"The world needs Superman too," he countered.
"True. I have faith that Clark will be there for us all. However right now, he's adjusting. Lana is his first priority. She's dying, Ollie. She needs him. That's why he's doing what he's doing."
He rolled his eyes hearing his own arguments with Clark in his head from years before. "He knows the sacrifices involved though. Chloe, we have bigger responsibilities!"
She sucked in an angry breath and retort. "Look, Ollie, tonight is not the night to bring that up. We need to support them as human beings. Maybe the JLA needs to cover for him for a while? Just chill out." She saw Lana walking slowly toward them with the aid of her cane. "No trouble." She got out of the car. "Hi, Lana! Glad to see you up!"
"Yeah I kind of had a bad afternoon. I wasn't going to sleep through your visit though." Lana answered while grinning warmly to draw attention away from herself. She embraced her best friend. "Sorry I worried you the last time."
"I'm just glad Clark got to us as fast as he did." Chloe returned the embrace. "I trust Martha's got that great cooking going."
"Oh yeah. Hope you love her fried chicken. It's great!" Lana ambled over to Oliver. "Hi, Oliver. How are you?"
He looked her over while trying to hide his own anxiety. In her, he clearly saw the downside to being a hero. He struggled with the realization that his failure to kill Lex before the bomb started resulted in Lana's condition. "Peachy. Glad to see you up and keeping your share of this place."
"Just try and stop me. I won't let Clark or his mom down. No way," Lana assured him. "By the way, he's in the Loft thinking on things. Maybe you can bring him down? Just do me a favor. Keep it light, okay? He's got enough on his mind."
Chloe looked at her husband again to back that sentiment up.
Hope I can! Oliver walked briskly toward the barn.
"I just hope Oliver's going to be all right. He's taking this hard," Lana presumed.
"He's dealing with things. As you said, let's keep it light for tonight," Chloe agreed. She helped her friend back up the walk and into the house. "Mrs. Kent? Hi!"
"Hi, Chloe! Glad you could come for dinner! Where's Oliver?" Martha greeted. She finished beating the potatoes and set the wooden spoon down in the mix.
"He's out in the barn. I've already told him to take it easy with Clark. Meantime I'm just glad that Lana's doing great," Chloe replied adding a warm smile for her friends. "I can't wait to hear how this morning went."
Martha glanced out the window toward the barn anxiously. Oliver, just don't push. Please. Let's keep this a great evening.
[Loft—seven minutes earlier]
Having finished the chores a half an hour earlier, Clark stood in the window and gazed out at the natural light show outside. His mind still struggled to deal with the changes going on around himself.
…about the Planet…
…about Lana….
…about others' reactions to his decisions….
Glad Mr. White took it as well as he did. Guess owing Lana for saving the building had a hand in it. He sighed deeply. He had rarely felt so helpless as he did at that particular moment. He wanted to give his lady fair an antidote from the Fortress or a transfusion of blood to save her from the impending fate.
Alas neither would work…in fact the latter would kill her instantly….
Why can't Jor-El come up with something? He was Krypton's top scientist! You're better off that he does stay out of the way. At least he's not interfering the way he did in high school! Clark stuck his hands in his pockets and just kept looking over the corn far below.
"Sucks when the world's bearing down on you, doesn't it?" Oliver supposed from the top of the stairs. "Hey, Clark. What's going on?"
"Not much, Oliver. Just dealing with heartache and more heartache. You?" Clark groused while shaking the other's hand.
"Signed a few business deals, stopped some bad guys and trying to keep the wife happy," Oliver replied while trying to stay upbeat. "I heard about Lois. Sorry, Dude. Wish I could've stopped her."
"It's just as well. Lois wanted more than I was comfortable with. She has her career. I hope she's happy. At least I can be here for Lana," Clark assessed honestly.
"The world needs you too," Oliver reminded him.
"The world can wait for a while. I've been doing a few patrols as Superman but Lana needs me here." Clark turned to face his guest. "I would've thought that marriage would've taught you that Chloe is first."
"She and I agree on the sense of responsibility for the bigger picture, Clark. I'm sorry that Lana's like this. I feel it more than you know. If I had killed Lex before Toyman started his bomb, we wouldn't be having this conversation," Oliver informed him. "But we all have to sacrifice ourselves at some point. You've been doing so great. Don't settle back into the farm boy who lets crime happen just out of sight."
"So don't let it happen. You and the JLA can cover for me for a while. I really don't want to hear about the harping tonight. I have the Daily Planet worked out for this time period. I'm moving my base back to Smallville at least for the time being. I need to do this for Lana, my Mom and me. I hope you can understand," Clark insisted.
"So you're going to give everything up? Clark, other people can nursemaid Lana, okay? We need you!" Oliver argued.
"I'm here, Oliver. Deal with it. Let's join them in the house. And please don't bring this up at dinner. It's settled and a done deal," Clark declared tersely before marching down the stairs.
Clark, you just don't get it. The world doesn't end because of your situation. Deal with that! Oliver followed his host down the wooden stairs and to the house. He didn't really want to argue with Clark but there was a greater need than just the local situation here.
Still he knew the expression on Clark's face—the die was cast…..
Let the party get started! Oliver complained to himself as he walked into the farmhouse. There he saw Lana and Chloe gabbing at the table. Martha carried a bowl of mashed potatoes over to the table. Clark poured lemonade for everyone. "Hi, Mrs. Kent and Lana! Everything all right?"
"We're great, Oliver. Good to see you. How are Bart and the others?" Martha replied.
"We're all fine. Thanks. Been busy lately," Oliver noted while shooting a glance at Clark.
"Sorry, Oliver. I've been dealing with some stuff. Clark's been helping me. Wish I could be helping to pick up the slack," Lana apologized. She rubbed her forehead and grimaced at the burning there.
"Lana, what is it?" Chloe wondered. She shot her husband a fiery glare before turning back to her friend.
Lana felt weak and numb all over. The tendrils of pain burned over her entire body. Her eyes strained to see what was going on around them. The room seemed to be going darker and blurred. "Mrs. Kent, can you turn the lights up? It's awfully dark and…."
"Lana, it's still daylight outside. What's going on?" Clark insisted. He saw his girlfriend's eyes going blank. "Lana, focus! Please focus!"
"I'm trying…I….My legs! I…." Lana wavered on her feet and then fell to the floor. She crashed hard on her side. "I can't feel my legs! Where are you, Guys? Help me!" She thrashed around.
"We're right here, Lana. We're going to get you some help." Chloe looked to the others mournfully knowing that their friend had taken a turn for the worse.
Clark sped upstairs, changed into his costume and came back down. "I'll call you all when I get word. I'm taking her to Denver."
"I thought Lana said there was nothing they could do," Chloe presumed.
"We can find out what's going on," Clark told them. "Sorry, Mom, about dinner. I'll be back as soon as I can." He rushed out the backdoor and flew off into the dusk sky while heading west toward the Rockies beyond.
"Way to go, Ollie. Did I or did I not tell you to go easy on them?" Chloe reminded Oliver. "I just hope Lana can get over this."
"I didn't say anything in here. Clark and I argued about it," Oliver defended himself. "I only told him to balance things."
"Right now his priority is here, Oliver," Martha stated firmly. "We all need to deal with that. Perry White has. I think you and his other friends do too." She looked sadly at the empty spots. "We might as well eat while we're waiting. I'm not about to let this good food go to waste. We just need to save something for Clark and Lana later."
Oliver shook his head. I didn't do anything. I hope she's okay so why does everyone think I'm a monster because I see the bigger picture! While he didn't have his appetite anymore, he wasn't about to insult the hostess either.
And so things digressed a bit more…..