Crisis Part 4

At the Kent farm…

Triple bypass.

Clark stared out the truck's window and watched the familiar countryside pass by. When his mother returned to the hospital, the doctors explained their recommended plan for Johnathan's health. Their plan was for Clark's dad to have open heart surgery.

Triple bypass.

Martha Kent had already been shaken from her experience on the road. Clark phoned his mother to check on her instead of racing back to Main Street. Perry White had already seen him. With his powers glitching, Clark didn't want to take any more chances.

Clark also mentioned on the call how he had the octagonal key with him.

Triple bypass.

"The words 'home sweet home' have never been truer." Mr. Kent sighed in relief as his boots touched the front porch.

"Let's get your feet up." Clark followed inside and began to make a spot on the couch ready for his dad.

"I'm done having my feet up. Now, the doctor told me to take it easy. I'm not an invalid."

"Well, I'm going to make lunch," Mrs. Kent announced as she headed for the kitchen. "I got us some low-sodium turkey."

"Low-sodium turkey?"

"Johnathan," Martha said in a warning tone.

"Sounds great, sweetheart."

"You've been awfully quiet. Clark, sit down." Johnathan cleared his throat as the two sat together on the couch. "What's bothering you?"

"Jor-El was talking to you."

"Clark…"

"Why else did you ask mom to grab the key?"

Mrs. Kent came back into the living room, drying her hands on a towel. "I have some questions about that myself, Johnathan."

"And those pale people…they said, 'return him to me'. It was like they were connected to it. That was the key's message, wasn't it? Return who? What's going on?"

"Clark. Martha." Johnathan took in a deep breath. "I have been getting messages from the key. I don't understand them. I don't know what they mean. I didn't know then how long they were going to have me stay in the hospital. I just didn't want that thing near you, Clark. I wanted to keep an eye on it. So, I asked your mother to bring it to me."

"That's it?" Clark glanced between his parents.

Mr. Kent nodded. "That's it."

"It's not over with Jor-El is it?" Clark asked as his mother returned to the kitchen.

"As much as it pains me to say it, Jor-El is your biological father. He'll probably be in your life one way or another."

"Dad, I'm sorry. All of what's happening to you is my fault."

"Clark, listen to me." Mr. Kent changed his seat, so he was now on the coffee table, looking directly at Clark. "Yes, I did talk with Jor-El. And I do think maybe that's why my heart gave out. But I want you to know I walked into that cave knowing full well there'd be risks involved. And I'd do it again if I thought you were in trouble. But it doesn't take a genius to know that something other than my health has been bothering you lately. Want to talk about it?"

Triple bypass.

"It's just that I put that Torch edition together so I could save Alicia," Clark deflected the question. He couldn't tell his dad now what was truly bothering him. "I'm not proud of what I did, but I don't see what I could have done differently. Without my powers, that is."

Mr. Kent put his hand on Clark's shoulder. "Your mother and I trust your judgement. We raised you to know the difference between right and wrong. In the world, things aren't always black and white. Sometimes you gotta wander out into the grey areas and do what you think is best."

"Dad, all those people!" Clark moaned. "Their lives are changed forever now because of what I did."

"Clark, you're different from your mother and I. You're gonna make choices in your life, moral choices that she and I will never have to make. And we know when that time comes, you'll do what you think is best. What's right. That's what's important."

Clark reached over and pulled his dad close in a hug.

"I'm glad you're home, dad."

At the Smallville Medical Center…

Lana made her way to Alicia's hospital room. She didn't want to do this, but Alicia deserved an apology.

Alicia was sitting up in bed, reading an issue of the Torch. It was the special edition everyone in town had found by their front door. Alicia was frowning at the pages, and her frown only darkened when she noticed Lana in the doorway.

"I bet this makes you real happy." Alicia lifted the paper.

"Alicia," Lana began, "I came to say that I'm sorry for what I said in the Talon. I was unknowingly under the influence of a drug…"

"See, that's an excuse. Not an apology."

Lana made herself count to ten, then took in a deep breath before trying again. "I am sorry."

Alicia continued to glare at Lana, arms crossed.

"I don't know what else I can do or say to make…"

"Make it better?" Alicia spat out. "Guess what? There's not. Cause now I'm on a hitlist."

Lana tried to speak, to say something to defend herself, but Alicia continued to talk. "What did Clark ever see in you? You're just a horrible, horrible person for wanting others dead! If you hate it here so much, why don't you just leave?"

The question hung in the air as Lana was too stunned to speak. She didn't want people dead. Lana just wanted them to stop trying to kill her.

Lana watched as Alicia's expression melted from pure rage to an angelic smile.

"Am I interrupting?" Clark's voice said behind her.

"No." Alicia squealed in childlike delight as Clark walked over, holding a small, brown teddy bear. Between its' paws was a white heart that had "Get Well" stitched in red thread.

"I love him." Alicia hugged the toy.

"I figured candy might not be the best idea. Hi, Lana," Clark said to acknowledge her presence.

"I can think of something sweet you can give me." Alicia grabbed Clark's shirt and pulled him in close for a kiss.

Lana averted her eyes as Alicia continued to kiss Clark with audible smacks. She took their make out session as an ideal time to leave.

But Alicia's words echoed in her mind.

Why don't you just leave?

And Lana seriously wondered why she didn't.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Clark finally managed to pull himself away from Alicia's kiss. One look around the room showed Lana had already left.

"What did Lana want?"

Alicia shrugged and straightened the newspaper that was on her lap. Clark noticed it was the infamous paper that listed all the meteor infected.

"Alicia, I'm sorry. It's my fault your name got put on that list."

"You can't blame yourself."

"No, I'm the one that put that edition together." Clark explained. "Van wouldn't have handed over the antidote if I didn't."

"Hey," Alicia reached for his hand. "I'll be just fine. Besides, it sounds like you saved me. Getting the antidote; rushing me to the hospital."

"Yeah, about that," Clark cleared his throat, "The thing is, I kind of let everyone believe you took us to the hospital. It's just that, Lana already knew…"

"It's okay. I'm happy to protect you. I'll do anything for you."

"It's not fair to you." Clark sighed "Look, I'd feel better if I gave you a ride home from here. Unless your mom's picking you up?"

Alicia shook her head. "I'll just pop myself back home. No point of hiding anymore."

Clark frowned. According to his mother, Alicia's mom never made an appearance.

"It's hard working for Lionel," Clark said, trying to comfort her. "My Mom worked for him for a few months, and he had her work on her anniversary."

"Clark, it's okay. I know my mom didn't visit me. I, um, don't come from a happy home."

Clark just sat by her side to listen.

"She still blames me for what happened to dad. He wasn't a good guy. He would…he would hit her. When that happened, I was locked out of the house or in the root cellar." Alicia brushed away a tear. "You know, the second time I used my powers, it was because it was so cold outside. The one place I wanted to be most in the entire world at that moment was my warm bed. And that's where I woke up. I had to sneak back outside and then convince him he just locked the front door."

"I'm so sorry."

"Anyway, after I got the hang of my powers, there was this one night he was attacking mom. I took him to the basement. It was the first time I took someone with me, so we ended up at the top of the stairs, right outside the door.

"That's when he called me a Freak. He backed away and fell down the flight of stairs. I teleported out and called the ambulance. He died of a broken neck."

"Sounds like it was an accident."

"That's what everybody said it was." Alicia's eyes welled up with tears. "After all he did to her, you'd think she'd be more grateful."

Clark didn't know what to say, so he just hugged Alicia closed.

"Clark?" Alicia hiccupped.

"Hmm?"

"Take me to the caves." Alicia looked at him with wide, innocent eyes.

"Are you using your brush with death to get what you want?"

"Is it working?"

Clark kissed Alicia's forehead again. "Not yet."

"Clark…" Alicia whined.

"Not yet. Please. I'm not ready."

"Fine," Alicia conceded as she snuggled closer in Clark's arms.

At the Luthor Mansion…

Lex stared out of his office window.

The subjects had all disappeared. There had been a reported glowing light on Main Street. Eyewitnesses claimed how the subjects began to shimmer and then their bodies had just dissolved.

Exactly what happened and why was still a mystery.

That should have been the end of things. Just another day in Smallville where the weird and the unexplained occurred on a daily basis.

But there had been plenty of sightings. Damages done. Lex had heard that some people had been hospitalized.

Questions were going to be asked. And there would need to be answers.

Lex's security notified him that cops were on the way up to his office. He was expecting this and dialed the one number he had planned if this was to occur. Two cops barged in, flashing badges, and standing still as if they were posing for a photoshoot. Lex almost rolled his eyes at the display.

"Detective Cage, Metropolis P.D. I've got a warrant to search the premises."

"On what grounds?"

"Negligent homicide. Did you happen to catch the news? That report about those unintellectual beings that went on a rampage."

"I did."

"Two people were killed. And words still out on how many are in the hospital." The detective made a show of sitting at Lex's desk and putting his feet up. "I think I'll make myself comfortable."