Chapter 37

Meanwhile back with Clark, once he had gotten Dinah and Mia to a safe place, his attention had been caught by the sound of an explosion at Luthorcorp. He knew that was where Slade was and that he had trusted either Oliver or Carter to take care of it but the power of that explosion meant he was afraid as to what had happened.

He supersped over only to find Slade Wilson exiting the building, wounded, his uniform scorched round the edges.

"I was wondering how long you'd hide and let your friends take the fall," the military General comments at the sight of the Blur.

"I heard the explosion. You were in it. How did you ...?"

"Survive? Let's just say the reaper can swing his sickle at me, but I'm beyond death's stroke now."

"Where's my friend?"

"Your problem is you think other people define your life, but the truth is they just get in the way," Slade remarks with some callousness about it.

"You don't believe that. I know you have a daughter," Clark argues.

"The finest solider in my army," is what the older man calls her. "But while a soldier can fight for others, he cannot afford to love them."

Clark looks at the man in disbelief. As a father himself he couldn't ever rationalise seeing his daughter in this way. As merely a soldier. A tool. He could never not love her.

Slade makes an appeal to the young hero. "You and I don't need to fight, Clark. Let them go. Come and join me. We can put all this to an end."

"The problem is I'm not sure I'm really speaking to Slade Wilson," he says because that appeal sounds awful like the one the Darkness made to him before.

"We're one and the same."

Clark's eyes narrow. "You're never going to win, you know and I'll never join you," he swears.

"You know, when I named this operation 'Icarus' it was because I believed that your fall would ultimately come from your faith in your own invincibility. But then... to actually see a man with burning wings... plummet from the sky... God... I do enjoy the irony."

Burning wings? Something unsettling forms in the pit of Clark's stomach. "What did you do?! Where's Hawkman?!"

"Dead," Slade says it simply.

"You're lying," Clark says in denial.

"You know I'm not, because a true soldier does whatever it takes to finish the mission," the balding man says in such a tone as to imply it is something Clark won't…can't do.

Slade is not wrong. Clark won't go as far as the military General. However, that doesn't mean there is nothing Clark can do. On the contrary he has had a plan to stop the man since that meeting with Oliver and Carter at Watchtower and now he puts it into action as he superspeeds directly in front of the General. "Then consider this finished," he says with determination as he slams the Phantom Zone crystal into Slade's chest and in a flash of light he's gone, sucked into the crystal.

That done Clark scans around the Plaza until he finds…Oh God.

"Carter!" Clark shouts in fear as he arrives on the scene to find Hawkman lying on the cracked concrete ground, a large puncture wound in his torso and blood pooling around.

"Good. You're here. I have something for you," Hawkman says in a weak voice as his unfurls his wings to reveal…

"Lois? What happened? You okay?" Clark asks with natural concern.

Lois is clearly in shock at seeing the fight between Hawkman and Slade. Seeing Slade impale the winged man with a sword. Then the gas explosion and her being blasted out the window. Falling until… "He saved me ... He saved... I'll get you help, okay?" she says as she starts to regain her bearings.

"No. It's too late. Hey. I'm a pro at dying, remember?" Carter says as his life ebbs away.

Lois looks at Clark puzzled but it is not something he can explain right now. "I should have been there, Carter. I'm sorry," the dark-haired man apologises, his guilt clear to hear at what he deems his failure.

"It can't always be you, Clark," Carter says, trying to alievate the young man's guilt even as his life approaches its end. "This is all of our fight. Besides as someone who has been a parent more times than he cares to count I could never let you endure that pain," he explains, coughing as his strength leaves him. "Listen. Listen! This is what we do," he tries to impart on the young hero. "And my passing means... I'll be with Shayera again," he says with a small joy at seeing his beloved again.

"I owe you so much. I don't know how to begin to thank you," Clark says mournfully.

"You just did. I know you two are having your differences at the moment and whatever happens, whether it is together or apart realise that there has to be a balance. None of us can do what we have to do if there's an emptiness in our hearts. Remember that."

"We will," Lois answers, looking at Clark but unable to deal with her conflicting feelings right at the moment.

Clark stays silent but takes the advice to heart.

"Oh, I am sorry I won't be there to help you fight the darkness. But you have all the help you need. Hang on to your team Clark. Don't let what happened to mine happen to yours."

"I will. I promise."

Carter nods, his eyes close and he breathes his last.

Watchtower…

When Oliver, Tess, Emil, Andrea and Mia arrive they find already there a tearful Lois, a Clark slumped in a chair, his head in his hands and a figure lying on a table covered over with a cloth.

It's Oliver that lifts the cloth revealing the face of Hawkman. "What happened?" he asks, his face as grave as could possibly be.

"Slade happened," Lois answers.

"Where is Slade?" the blond archer wants to know, with what sounds a desire for vengeance in his voice.

"The Phantom Zone," Clark answers as he looks up and spots Andrea and Mia. He's up to his feet and over to them in an instant, checking on them. "What happened? Are you alright?" he asks, clearly deeply worried.

"No," Andrea says honestly before she looks at her daughter who is looking down, unable to bring herself to look her father in the eye. "But I think we took the first step tonight to being alright," she gives her opinion as she plants a gentle kiss on her grown-up daughter's temple. "Where's Mia? Is she safe?" she asks in deep concern over her baby girl.

"She's fine. I have her in a safe place. Dinah's still looking after her," he replies.

Andrea nods, relieved. She'll have to remember to thank the blond woman.

"Rose Wilson," Tess says the name. "She was at the facility we were being held at. There wasn't time to pick her up. Too many agents around. We barely got out there as was but if you intend to send her away along with her father…"

"I'll be right back," Clark says and before anyone can stop him he's gone with a gust of wind.

"Do…do you ever get used to that?" Lois wonders, having never seen Clark use his abilities openly in front of her.

"It gets old after a few weeks," Oliver replies, shrugging lazily.

Lois nods dumbly. One thing she has not resolved is her feelings and relationship with Clark. An annoying small voice in her head points out that resolution would require her to actually talk to him. Something she hasn't been able to bring herself to do. Her eyes drift to the two Latino women. It also didn't escape her attention how Clark instantly went to them the moment they entered the room. Supergirl she knows is his daughter. He mentioned that last month down in Miami. The other…she guesses is the mother. The one who ruined her dream of Clark and her. Lois…isn't sure what she feels towards her.

It's only a few minutes later before Clark returns, his face grim. "She was gone," he reports. "In fact most of them were gone. They're pulling out in a hurry."

Tess sits herself down at a computer and scans the city using all the security cameras. "They're pulling out everywhere. The Planet included. It seems without Slade they're leaderless. My guess is they'll regroup somewhere and wait for the government to get their act together."

"Slade was probably the driving force behind this whole thing," Oliver thinks

"No probably about it," Clark corrects. "He basically told me this whole operation was his idea. He named it Icarus on purpose because he believed it would be our own arrogance, like Icarus flying too close to the sun, that would cause our downfall…and unfortunately he succeeded with one of us," he says with sadness, gazing at Hawkman's body.

"Well, without Slade, the pressure on us might be eased for awhile but for as long as the VRA exists we're under threat," Tess lays out the grim truth.

"We needed time. Time for people to realise the mistake and now we've bought time. We just have to take advantage of it," Clark says, showing that he still believes in the better nature of people. "I need to talk to my mother," he figures since she is still leading the resistance to the VRA in the Senate. They need to talk and come up with a plan.

"That's a good idea," Tess agrees.

"What do we do about him?" Oliver asks about Hawkman.

"Give him the burial he deserves," Lois says. "He died a hero. We should make sure we treat him as such."

"We take him home then," Clark follows up with. "Back to Egypt."

"Yeah. Doesn't he have a tomb there or something," Oliver says, his face scrunching up as he tries to recall the facts.

"Yes," Clark confirms.

"Sounds about the right thing to do," Oliver agrees because despite the antagonistic sniping between the two of them he did respect the man.

The Daily Planet...

Short time later Clark drops Lois off at the Planet. After all she has a hell of an expose to write on the VRA Stormtroopers and their activities. By the time she's done she swears she'll have the public rioting in the streets demanding the repeal of the Act.

Why did Clark agree to do this? First off; he volunteered to do it. Second; he wanted to speak to her. "Are you ok?" he asks his ex.

"It's not a normal day in Metropolis unless someone is either arresting, kidnapping or trying to kill me," she quips, attempting to bring some levity to an otherwise hellish day.

Clark manages at least a small smile at her attempt.

"Honestly I'm not sure how you cope with it all, Clark."

"Yes. Carter mentioned you were having doubts. That's why you left the first time wasn't it. You discovered I was the Blur and doubted you could be a part of my life," he says. While Carter never actually said that explicitly Clark can put some things together.

"Don't make me speak ill of the dead. Especially one who saved my life," Lois requests, while part of her can't help but curse Carter's loose lips.

"Lois, why didn't you just talk to me?" he asks earnestly.

"Why didn't you just be honest with me?" she asks back.

Clark has to bite back his instant reply. "Lois. I don't want us to not be able to talk without exchanging angry words. Despite everything I thought we were friends."

"So did I."

"Lois. My secret…is the most difficult part of me to explain. It makes me different to everyone else on the planet. I can't always be sure people will accept me once they know. It can also be a big burden to carry. I don't want to inflict that on people I care about because once you cross that line there is no going back," he tries to explain to her, to make her understand without actually spilling the beans. He's not ready nor willing to do that at the moment. Not after the night they've all just had.

"A line has already been crossed Clark. You have a kid with someone else."

Clark sighs. He can still hear the hurt in her voice. "If you had talked to me, Lois I would have told you you were wrong with your doubts but with all due respect to our friendship, as you pointed out I am a father, I don't have time to work out whatever is going on inside your head. Frankly, since we broke up, I'm not sure it is any of my business any longer." She opens her mouth to speak. He stops her by raising his finger. "Let me finish," he says to her. "I will say I still care Lois. I will always care and I would like nothing better than for us to be friends again but that choice is yours to make at this point," he lays it out as he sees it. "One final thing before I go. Since you knew Carter it seems only right to invite you to his funeral. Once we work out the details we'll let you know. It's up to you whether you want to come or not," he advises her before he zips off.

It's only as he is running off his words really sink in. He just told Lois that he wanted to be friends and only friends.

And he meant it.

Ever since he saw Earth 2 Lois was engaged to Oliver on that world he had been grappling with how little he felt. It seems he was right with his thought back there. He is over her.

Smallville…

"This is probably a stupid question but are we safe here?" Andrea asks as she, Mia and Clark enter the Kent home.

"Until the VRA is repealed none of us are safe," Clark answers.

"I feared you'd say something like that," Andrea says in downbeat tones.

Mia, who Clark has never seen so sullen, remains silent.

"Mia, why don't you go get cleaned up," Andrea suggests to her daughter who nods and starts to head up the stairs. The Latino woman then looks at Clark. "So, how much do you know?" she asks for the starting point she can jump off from.

"That the VRA arrested you when they arrested Emil and I got a brief summary out of Tess and Oliver."

"Yeah. They wanted me to squeal all I knew about your team."

Clark frowns. "You don't know that much. Not enough to compromise us certainly."

"I hardly think they cared Clark. I'm a mutant freak in their eyes. More specifically her eyes."

"Her? Rose Wilson," he supposes.

"Yeah. Charming woman. Likes snapping fingers."

Clark's eyes shoot down to Andrea's hands. He reaches out and takes them into his own.

"I snapped the bones back into place in the van after we escaped," she says so casually it is unreal.

"They tortured you," he says, his voice brimming with barely controlled anger.

"Clark. I'm not ready to talk about this," she says. She has not remotely had the time to process the fact she died, saw her mother and came back.

"I get that."

"You really do don't you," she picks up from his tone.

"I've got plenty of stories I haven't told you yet. I've managed to cram a lot in into 24 years," he says with an expression that barely reflects the madness of his life.

"Well I doubt I've lived a life as exciting as yours but I've still got a few stories that may surprise you."

"I believe I said before I would like to hear all your stories, Andi."

"One day soon I will take up your offer on that," she vows. "But we need to talk about Mia," she moves onto the most pressing issues as she points upwards to reflect she means this Mia.

"She tired to kill Rose. Oliver and Tess mentioned it."

"But I stopped her, Clark. I believe I reached her. Made her understand how killing Rose is not the answer. By the way, we will be talking about why you didn't tell me the truth about why Mia came back in time!" she snaps, punching him hard in the arm.

"Ow!" he moans, rubbing the spot. "You have your powers back?" he asks shocked as he realises this.

"Oh, Queen forgot that bit did he?" she asks, still furious.

"Yes," Clark confirms and he'll be asking Oliver all about why soon enough.

"Why Clark? Why didn't you tell me the truth about Mia?" the furious brunette woman wants to know.

Clark rubs his face. How to explain?

"Is there something to eat?" Mia asks as he comes back down the stairs, saving Clark from his interrogation…at least temporarily.

Egypt…

Although temporarily got quite the extension, what with Clark having to come here for the funeral and Andrea needing to take care of Mia…and Mia. Both Mias. She really is quite an amazing mother. It's kinda…sexy as matter of fact.

But enough about him and his dry spell.

When he left he promised Andi they would talk when he got back and he promised complete and total honesty. She deserves that. Though with her superstrength back he does have a niggling worry about how many teeth he'll have left by the time they finish their talk.

So here they were. The entire team together plus Lois, who decided she wanted to pay her respects to the man who save her life, to lay one of their own to rest. Though if Clark understands this reincarnation stuff correctly they are likely to see Hawkman again within their lifetimes.

Once the service is over they begin to slowly make their leave only to all stop when a strange object pushes its way out the sand and begins to glow.

It pulsates brighter and brighter until it unleashes a wave of energy and that is the last anyone present knows.

Author's Note: I did consider whether to change the story and have Hawkman survive. That Mia's presence would somehow allow it but I want what happens in the next episode Collateral to still happen and that needs them all to be at Carter's funeral so the government can whammy them. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews.