sydsvaughn
13th September 2009, 21:48
ENTIRE v4.1 NOTE: All stories here are rated PG, perhaps PG-13. They should be safe for everyone to read, keeping in mind we tried to write what would appear on a TV screen. Hence, no graphic sex, no major drug use, no violence (at least not graphic or major-TV acceptable).
ENTIRE v4.1 DISCLAIMER: We don't own anything but the plots created for v.4.1. All the characters belong to their DC/WB creators. No copyright infringement intended.
So with that said ... and thanks to all ... off we go!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Title: “Guilty” (v.4.1-Episode 1)
Written by: SaraC & Impress
Notes: Character thoughts are in italics
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
COURTROOM - METROPOLIS
“Objection!”
Lex Luthor tensed as his father’s lawyer jumped from his seat as if it were on fire. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been expecting this reaction, but the fury expressed in those three syllables by Lindsey Kane was a powerful thing to behold.
“The defense received no prior notification of this witness.”
The judge looked intently at the younger man who looked like he was struggling for composure. Next to him, his client, the once and still feared Lionel Luthor, looked on with a placid expression. He would never admit it, but the judge was extremely unnerved by the unchanging eyes that always seemed focused on his. He was distracted by the smooth voice of the prosecuting attorney Michael Vincent.
“Your honor, we ourselves only received notice of the witness several hours ago.” The lawyer paused and looked over at Lindsey, whose face had become stoic.
The judge simply looked resigned.
“Mr. Vincent, surely I do not need to explain to you the legal requirements to disclose witness evidence to the defense prior to the trial?”
“The defense was notified,” Michael’s voice was calm and steady as he nodded to the other lawyer sitting next to him. “My associate sent a letter stating the witness and our intent to the defense this morning. We received no reply so we assumed there was no contention and that the defense would have the time to formulate its questions.”
“I received no such letter.” Lindsey turned to look questioningly at his assistant who had been sitting behind him. The cowering young man’s expression of guilt forced the rage he had only moments ago suppressed to surface once more.
“Lyle, did you check your desk before coming here this morning?”
The young man turned bright red, fidgeting in his seat. “Not exactly. I figured there was no reason. You had everything wrapped up and we were ready to go-”
“Incompetent fool!” Lindsey hissed. It was only the light touch on his arm that helped him find restraint.
“Mr. Kane, perhaps your energies would be put to better use dealing with this…inconvenience rather than getting angry over it.”
Lionel watched as his lawyer clenched his fists, but slowly relaxed. His own nerves felt quite fine, as he was used to such occurrences in the life he’d chosen to lead. His gaze moved to where Lex sat watching, a blank expression on his face. However, there was a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. It was barely there, hardly noticeable unless you knew what to look for.
I’ve trained you well, Lex.
Lionel couldn’t help wondering if he had trained his son a little too well as recognition of the expression set in and a slight wave of anxiety passed through his body.
I wonder what you’re up to Lex.
“Permission to approach the bench?”
The judge nodded and waited as Lindsey and Michael walked up to him. Steepling his hands, he waited to hear their proposals.
“I request a recess so that I may be briefed about this witness.” Lindsey’s voice was calm and clear, any sign of frustration gone.
“That sounds reasonable. Any objections, Mr. Vincent?”
Michael looked carefully at Lindsey, before nodding to the judge. “None, your honor.”
“I’ll grant a two hour recess for the defense to be briefed on this witness. Mr. Vincent you will provide Mr. Kane with a summary of this witnesses testimony and other relevant information. Step back.”
Lindsey forced his blood pressure under control. It wouldn’t do to look as unsettled as he felt. But he had two hours; he could do a lot in that time and had before.
The judge struck his gavel and the room quieted. “Court is in recess for one hour.” He struck the gavel again and rose, walking quickly from the room. He had a feeling he might be dipping into a bottle of Jack Daniels to wash down that extra strength aspirin to get through the next few hours.
Lex watched as Michael and Lindsey disappeared into the hall, and he decided now would be the time to stretch. He had a feeling things were going to get tense very, very soon. He was only glad that the trial was very small, with no public audience or press allowed inside. It was no surprise the Luthor connections and money had contributed to the agreement of a private trial.
“Son.”
He stopped as he heard his father’s voice call to him. Wanting to ignore it, yet somehow powerless to stop his movements, he walked slowly over to Lionel.
“Dad.”
Lionel eyed him intently for a moment, but remained silent. He knew Lindsey would fill him in as soon as he learned the basics but it never hurt to hedge his bets.
Lex knew the trick, try to intimidate with silence. Well, it wasn’t going to work. He’d learned from the best. He stared his father down, refusing to speak. Lionel finally sighed and broke the stalemate.
“You know, things did not have to be like this.”
Lex snorted.
“You mean you didn’t have to drug me, send me to an insane asylum, rob me of weeks of my life or poison me and leave me for dead?” The bitterness in his tone was obvious to Lionel and for one brief moment he felt something shift dangerously near his heart. He quickly masked the feelings.
Lex turned and left the room before he could let his father needle him more. He strode outside, ducking away from the main hall, happy to find no one seemed to be paying much attention to him at the moment. When he finally reached a deserted bench, he sank down onto it, his face blank as he thought about his father’s words. About how the bastard still had the ability to make him feel … something.
He refused to acknowledge it as the longing that still remained in some corner of his heart for his father’s approval. That had been forced aside as he’d lay dying on the floor of his study, his mind awash with how horribly wrong everything had gone.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Flashback
Pain. Agonizing and unbearable pain, coursed throughout his body. Unnoticed went the cuts and prods from the glass shards he lay rolling in, as a fire seemed to consume his entire being. A vice attached itself to his lungs at the same time his windpipe began to swell, and the struggle to take in even the smallest breath became more and more difficult. Somewhere in his pain filled mind an image of his father hovering over him, mouthing “I Win!” came unbidden and unwelcome. Finally, as blessed darkness began to overtake him, the awful vision of his father was replaced with Chloe’s determined face.
Sometime Later...
He was alive.
At least he assumed he was. If the burning sensation he was feeling in his limbs was any indication. After all, one didn’t feel pain if they were dead, did they? Then again, he was a Luthor so it was within the realm of possibility that he had in fact died, and the burning he was feeling was his soul suffering its eternal damnation in Hell.
A steady beeping sound began to make its way into his conscience. Along with this came the realization that he was in fact breathing. Could in fact feel the rise and fall of his chest, feel and hear himself taking in air that had, at least to his hazy mind, only a short while ago, been very difficult to take in. The bright white (and immediately painful) light that greeted him after he won the struggle to open his eyes, confirmed what he had suspected. He was indeed among the living. Judging from the sterile atmosphere, he guessed he was in the hospital.
Closing his eyes again, he sank back against the pillows, thanking whomever for small miracles. His eyes flew open again as the questions began to pound at his mind.
“Mr. Luthor. Good to see you back among the living.”
He jumped at the nurse’s voice as she walked into the room, looking almost too cheerful for how he felt.
“What happened? How did I get here? Who found me-”
“You were poisoned. All we know for sure is that your butler found you after you collapsed. We pumped your stomach but the residual effects of the poison will take a few days to wear off. You’re a very lucky man, Mr. Luthor.”
Lex closed his eyes, struggling to grasp what he’d been told. Obviously, Enrique had found him and gotten him here. His butler had once again saved his life. He made a mental note to give the man a huge bonus when things settled back down.
“How long till I can be released?”
The nurse looked amused at the impatience in his voice. “Not for a few more days Mr. Luthor. The poison wasn’t like anything we were familiar with. We need to make sure it has run its course and left your body completely.”
He looked at her carefully, wondering what kind of lethal cocktail his father had managed to create this time. He made another mental note to find out – as well as never to drink from another open bottle of alcohol in the mansion.
Suddenly, something else hit him.
“How long have I been unconscious?”
The nurse looked at him steadily. “One week.”
He drew in a harsh breath. One week! Shakily, he ran a hand over his forehead. This was NOT good. Everything depended on timing and he might have seriously screwed up any chance he had of getting any of them out of this mess.
“I need my cell phone.”
The nurse looked irritated now. “You’re not ready to do more than sleep Mr. Luthor-”
“I need to make a phone call.” He stared the woman down, but not to his surprise, she looked like she would not budge.
“Excuse me, Mr. Luthor?”
Enrique’s voice interrupted their standoff and he waved the man inside. “You may leave us now.”
The nurse looked as if she wanted to say something about his regal demeanor, but wisely chose to leave as directed. She’d heard enough about her patient to realize that it would be better all around if she did not stir things up too much.
Lex watched as Enrique approached, his usually stoic expression thawing a bit.
“Thank you, Enrique.”
The man nodded. “I believe you need to make a phone call.” With that, he held out the small cell phone he’d hidden in his jacket pocket.
Lex grabbed for the phone. “Remind me to double your Christmas bonus,” he muttered as he punched in the familiar number and waited for a reply. Closing his eyes as the phone continued to ring, he could only pray that his father hadn’t somehow managed to get the upper hand once again.
~*~*~*~*~*~
PRESENT DAY-METROPOLIS
He jumped at the light touch on his arm. Looking up, he saw Michael Vincent standing over him with a slight smile.
“It’s time to bring this thing to an end once and for all. You ready, Lex?”
Taking a deep breath, Lex concentrated his energy on the present, all thought and emotion for the moment, locked away for possible later contemplation.
“I’m ready.” The words were calm and steady as he rose and followed the older man down the hallway.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“All rise!”
Lex settled back into his seat. His father was staring straight ahead, wearing his usual mocking expression as the lawyers took their seats and the judge made himself comfortable on the bench. He saw Lindsey lean over and whisper something to his father.
“The prosecution may call its final witness.”
A small, barely noticeable smile crossed Lex’s features as Michael’s voice rang out clear and true in the dead silent courtroom. Turning his attention to the double doors near the back, he waited for them to open.
Across the room, despite the sick feeling in his normally cast iron stomach, Lionel stared straight ahead. Deep inside, he felt something like pride for what his son had managed to accomplish. It was a feat of which he hadn’t thought him capable. Still, he would not give his son the opportunity to see him flinch at the unexpected turn of events. He was Lionel Luthor. He would remain strong and stoic. Even if his life was about to change for the worse.
“The prosecution calls Chloe Sullivan to the stand.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
KENT FARM - SMALLVILLE
Jonathan Kent snorted as he held the Smallville Ledger away from him as if it disgusted him. The front page featured a rather scary looking image of Lionel Luthor and the headline “Metropolis Trial of the Decade.”
“Why do I get the feeling that Lionel Luthor will once again get away with his crimes?”
Clark Kent looked up at his father. Guilt ran through him as he noticed the slight tightening around the older man’s eyes and heard the tiniest hitch in his breathing as he shifted on his stool. If it weren’t for his superior hearing and the fact that he had taken to watching his father more closely when they were together, Clark would not have noticed the lingering effects from Jonathan’s encounter with Jor-El a few months before. Clark knew his father was doing his best to hide his discomfort in an effort to keep his son from feeling guilty.
It wasn’t working.
If he had not used the red kryptonite to make himself into the unfeeling Kal-El, his human father would not have been forced to make a deal with his Kryptonian father to bring him home. If he had simply followed Kara to begin with, the elder Kent would not have spent weeks in the hospital, struggling to recover from the effects of Jor-El’s power. Shoving the feelings of guilt down, hating to dwell on them around his parents, he tried to concentrate on the conversation the two people in question were now conducting.
“Jonathan, I’m sure the prosecution wouldn’t be going through with this three ring circus if they weren’t confident that they could get a guilty verdict.” Martha’s voice was calm and rational, comforting in many ways to both of the Kent men.
“Most of the prosecution’s case relied on the testimony of Chloe. With her…”
Jonathan stopped at the warning look his wife was giving him. Mentally cursing his slip, he looked toward his son and saw the guilt that seemed always present now in the young man’s demeanor.
“It’s my fault she’s dead.” Clark’s words were precise and hard, the bitterness and pain behind them making both the elder Kents look concerned.
“No son, Chloe made a bad choice when she chose to get involved with Lionel and Lex. Sometimes, bad choices have horrible consequences.”
Clark knew there was some sense in his father’s words, but the anger and guilt were still blinding him to rational thought at the moment.
“But I should have been here to protect her. She is…was my best friend.” He hated the way he had to remember to speak of Chloe in the past tense. It made it all seem so real, that Chloe was gone, never to return. It only deepened his frustration. “If I hadn’t given in to Jor-El. If I had stayed in Smallville maybe I could have gotten her out in time. Maybe I could have…”
“Clark, you didn’t know Chloe’s safe house was going to explode.” Martha put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Even if you had been here, unless you knew someone had planted a bomb in her safe house, and where her safe house was, it would have been impossible for you to reach her in time.”
Martha watched her son struggle with the truth of the situation. She knew he shouldered great responsibility and because of that struggled constantly with a myriad of nearly overwhelming emotions that no one, let alone a teenager, should have to deal with. Had she been able, Martha would have taken the responsibility from her child or at least helped him to shoulder the burden. It pained her to know that she couldn’t do more to ease her son’s torment.
“I can’t help feeling it’s all my fault. Chloe would never have gotten mixed up with Lionel Luthor in the first place if it weren’t for me.” While Clark knew Chloe had a mind of her own and did what she wanted most of the time, he knew it was his relationship with Lana that had pushed her into her deal with the devil.
He was also responsible for his father’s deal with another kind of devil… a deal that nearly cost the elder Kent his life. “Just like dad wouldn’t have had to spend weeks recovering from whatever Jor-El did to him, if I...”
“Stop right there, Son. We’ve been through this. I made my choice. And I would make the same one again. Just as Chloe made her choice.” Jonathan’s voice was stern, broking no argument.
“Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that my choices led you to your choices.” Clark was on a roll now, the anger and sadness mixing to create a maelstrom of emotion. “And because of my choices, you will probably never be as healthy as you were before, and Chloe is dead.”
Jonathan opened his mouth to dispute his son’s claims but quickly found himself staring at an empty space, the kitchen door swinging on its hinges from where Clark had shot through it at super speed. He closed his mouth and looked at his wife.
“I’m not sure we’ll ever convince him that he can’t save the world,” Martha sounded sadly resigned and Jonathan could only shake his head at his wife. Whether in denial or acceptance, he wasn’t sure.
“Give him a little time, it’s what he needs right now.” Martha stood and walked over to wrap her arms around her husband’s neck. “I’d stay, but I need to get to the Talon. I’ll see you later?”
Jonathan nodded, turning to give her a kiss goodbye. Watching as she gathered her things and blew him another kiss before disappearing out the door he tried to fight the unease he felt every time she left for work. While he didn’t like the idea of her working for a Luthor again, he knew it was something she really wanted to do. He was only slightly reassured by the fact that Lex took little interest in the business, letting Martha run most of it. The less interaction she had with the Luthors, the better.
He was also relieved to see Clark backing off from his friendship with Lex, but at the same time, he could see how much his son was hurting over losing another friend. And while he might not like Lex that much, he knew that the younger Luthor had helped Clark in numerous ways his parents and other friends could not over the past few years.
Sighing, he rose and walked over to the window, watching until Martha and the truck disappeared from sight. Turning back to the table, he picked up the paper again, wondering how their lives had gotten so complicated.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clark streaked through the back roads of Smallville in a vain attempt to outrun the thoughts swirling in his head. He knew, somewhere in the logical part of his mind that there was truth to what his parents said, had been saying for the past few months.
But it didn’t stop the flood of remorse that swamped him whenever he let his mind go and started thinking and remembering. He slowed his pace as he recognized the path he’d unconsciously taken and the familiar place it had led him.
He stared at Chloe’s headstone for a long moment, taking in the simple chiseled lettering on the slate colored background. Slowly, he knelt down and placed a hand on the gravestone, finding it cool to the touch. He’d done the same thing the first time he’d visited her grave, shortly after he returned from his time with Jor-El.
Barely hearing his parents calling out to him, he’d rushed directly to the cemetery, unwilling to believe their words. It wasn’t until he’d seen the tombstone bearing her name, touched and traced the lettering, felt the coldness of death it embodied, that it had sunk in.
Now, as he had then, he whispered a familiar litany to the stone.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there. But sorry doesn’t really mean a lot right now does it? I always seemed to be saying I was sorry to you.” He stopped, his throat clogging as he struggled with his emotions. “I know I wasn’t always there for you, but you have to know I would have done anything to keep you safe. I guess some part of me believed that Lex could and would keep you safe when I couldn’t. I’m so sorry I was wrong.”
Despite his mixed emotions about the state of his friendship with the bald billionaire, Clark had truly believed Lex would do everything in his power to keep Chloe safe. If for no other reason than that Chloe was a valuable asset in Lex’s continued struggle for supremacy over his father.
It made the news of her death even harder to take; increased the guilt he wondered if he would ever stop feeling. Clark had come to depend on Chloe being there if and when he needed or wanted her, both as a friend and on rare occasions, as more. Now, she was gone and there was nothing he could do to bring her back. All the powers he had and none of them could reverse death.
Coming back to the present, he found himself sitting in front of Chloe’s grave, leaning slightly against the headstone. Thoughts and emotions were still swirling inside of him and he wondered if Chloe could sense his presence.
Then again, she was probably better occupied looking down at the Metropolis courtroom where Lionel Luthor’s future was being debated. A future that could allow the murdering bastard to remain free, now that Chloe was not there to provide the smoking gun. The feelings brought back his anger—at himself for not being there to save Chloe and at Lex for not being able to keep her safe.
Sinking back into his thoughts, he allowed his mind to return to the angry conversation he’d had with Lex shortly after paying his first visit to Chloe’s grave.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Flashback
With a burst of speed, Clark ran towards the Luthor mansion. Avoiding the main entrance, he sped around to the side door that he used when delivering Lex’s produce orders for his mother. Knowing exactly where Lex would be, he moved quickly through the dark hallways and pushed through the study doors with a burst of irritated energy.
Lex was startled by the doors crashing open with so much force they slammed against the wall. He was equally startled to see Clark come barreling through said doors. The farmboy had not been in the mansion, much less tried to contact him, since discovering the “Clark Room” before the summer of hell had begun. Years of control however allowed him to quickly mask his surprise at the sudden intrusion.
“Clark…”
“You were suppose to keep her safe.”
Lex sighed internally knowing this particular confrontation had been inevitable. “I see you heard about Ms. Sullivan.”
“She put herself out there to help you and you repay her by letting her die?”
Clark watched Lex turn away from him and walk towards the small desk that served as a makeshift bar. He clenched his fists trying to keep his temper in check. There were brief moments, such as this, that Clark wished he had Kal-El’s lack of restraint. His alter ego wouldn’t have had an issue with using whatever means necessary to get the information he wanted out of the man who had just turned back to him.
“I did everything I could, Clark. I had a team go over her safe house. Unfortunately, I found out to late that one of those men wasn’t as loyal as I thought.” He kept his words cool, his gaze focused intently on Clark.
“I want to know who was responsible. Tell me what you know, Lex. Chloe was too valuable to your case against your father for you not to have done a thorough investigation.”
Lex grimaced at the raw pain mixed with anger in the young man’s voice. It was getting harder to keep his own emotions in check as he watched Clark struggling before him.
“There is nothing to tell. The bomb destroyed the house, and leveled much of the surrounding area. By the time I discovered who and where the traitor was, it was too late, he was already dead.”
Clark stared at the man in front of him for what seemed like an eternity before turning on his heel and leaving with a bit less force than he entered, but with just as much barely suppressed fury and guilt.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
PRESENT DAY-SMALLVILLE
Clark snapped out of the memory suddenly and returned his gaze to his lost friend’s memorial.
“I promise you Chloe, I’ll find out what Lex is keeping from me, and who was really responsible for your death. Then I’ll make them pay.”
He shivered at the menace he could hear in his own voice, realizing he sounded more like Kal-El than Clark Kent. Forcing the image down, he rose and with one final, wistful look at the gravestone, he took off at breakneck speed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
METROPOLIS AIRPORT
Lana felt a strange sense of peace as she stepped off the plane and into the bustling crowd thronging the gates of Metropolis International Airport. It was a completely different feel than when she’d walked off the plane a few months ago at De Gaulle International Airport.
Despite the enjoyable months she’d spent in Paris, the shocking news of Chloe and Gabe’s deaths had forced her to admit she missed Smallville and a few of its residents. She’d meant what she said about wanting to start over, to figure out who she was and where she was supposed to be. But stumbling over the article of the Sullivan’s murder while surfing the Net, had also forced her to realize that in her effort to find who she was supposed to be, she had completely cut herself off from those she cared about most.
Sadness swept through her as she thought about the family that had taken her in so she wouldn’t have to move to Metropolis. She had never asked Chloe why she did it. The two of them weren’t really friends at that time, in fact Lana would have gone so far as to say Chloe didn’t like her at all. So the offer had made no sense. But Lana had been too relieved, and admittedly too self-centered, at the time to question her good fortune.
Somewhere along the way, the two unlikeliest of people had actually managed to become friends. At least that was how Lana viewed them. She was pretty certain Chloe viewed them that way as well, at least until Lana’s confession while Chloe was under the influence of the truth serum. Guilt swept through her as she remembered the look on Chloe’s face, and remembered that she had made no effort to apologize. Now she would never have the chance to make it right.
Still, despite the sorrow of losing someone she considered a friend, her first thought after hearing the news had been how Clark would take it. She’d been frustrated to realize that even an ocean was not enough to push him from her mind. But she knew how much he valued Chloe’s friendship, despite whatever strain it had been under.
It was rather ironic, she thought, her need to escape her life had instead brought her back to it, although she wasn’t sure why.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone, which she’d switched back on as soon as the plane landed. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed, flipping it open and placing it to her ear.
Despite it all, it was good to be home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
METROPOLIS COURTROOM
Chloe took a deep breath as she observed the scene that greeted her as she stood in the open doorway to the courtroom. The murmurs that greeted her appearance would have amused her if her heart had not been in her throat.
Almost without thinking, her gaze flew to Lex, who was watching her with an almost vacant expression. But as her eyes locked on his, she saw a spark of something resembling pride in those blue depths and she felt her courage return.
Tearing her gaze from his, she strode confidently down the aisle, nodding to the prosecutor as she took the stand. Settling into the uncomfortable chair, she crossed her legs, thankful she’d decided on a pantsuit for the occasion. She looked sharp, professional, and hopefully older than the 18 she would turn in several weeks.
Feeling a strange sense of calm settle over her, she finally turned her gaze to the man watching her with an impassive expression. She almost hoped he would show some emotion, be it anger, fear, surprise, even that all knowing smirk he wore so often. But he remained staring at her, no expression visible on his face.
She felt a slight flutter of the butterflies in her stomach as she waited for the questioning to begin.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lionel Luthor was nothing if not a good strategist. He knew when to cut a deal and when to surrender, although he’d never had much occasion to do the latter. This trial had been of little consequence to him a few hours ago. He knew full well without Chloe Sullivan’s testimony, there was no way to convict him.
Now, staring at her composed expression, he had to admit he was if nothing else, impressed by her determination –and his son’s resourcefulness.
It really was, when he thought about it, very Macedonian. After all, hadn’t Alexander the Great been the downfall of his father? And now, Lionel’s own Alexander would one day be the downfall of him. Thanks to his son’s cunning and skillfulness, Luthor traits that, until now, Lionel hadn’t been certain Lex had inherited, it appeared as though he might very well be forced to serve time behind bars. The thought sent a slight chill down his spine. He didn’t show it however. To do so would be a sign of weakness, and Luthors never showed weakness.
Lionel took some comfort in knowing, thanks to this little power struggle, that there was enough of his blood running through Lex’s veins to always keep the Luthor name in power, feared and perhaps even revered.
He glanced over at his son and was struck with not a little warped sense of pride to see the gleam of triumph in those dark blue pools, so like his mother.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lex wasn’t sure what he was feeling. The sight of Chloe standing tall and proud in the doorway had almost made the past four months worth it. He caught her eye, sensing her hesitation, and attempting to boost it with some confidence of his own.
He’d learned a lot about Chloe Sullivan during that time and he wasn’t sure he was happy with all of it. But that was neither here nor there. The important thing was she was now confidently seated in the witness box, looking cool, professional, and definitely older than the 18 he knew she would be in a few weeks.
Looking over at his father, he took note of the calm expression on Lionel’s face. It took a lot to surprise the old bastard. For a moment, he felt a pang at the thought that he was really going to do this; that he was really going to help send his father to prison.
But the fact of the matter was that Lionel had hired Morgan Edge to kill his parents and for that, along with many of his other deeds, deserved to be punished. Lex knew it, accepted it, was happy to see it finally come to fruition.
But as he watched his father eye Chloe with a cool expression, he wistfully remembered the disastrous birthday party from years ago, and the soft expression Lionel had worn on giving him the special box to put his fears in.
Quickly steeling his gaze as he heard the Judge call the court to order, he focused again on Chloe, willing her to be strong and to finally see this through to conclusion.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
SMALLVILLE
Lana smiled as she walked into the Talon, that sense of home returning once more, as she smelled the familiar scent of coffee and cookies. Something twisted in her heart as she noted Martha Kent happily chatting with several patrons at the counter. She looked completely at ease in the atmosphere that Lana had for so long considered her own.
Taking a deep breath, preparing for the questions she knew would be coming, she walked towards the counter. Her heart felt a slight surge of happiness as she saw disbelief, then a genuine smile appear on Martha’s face.
“Lana, what a nice surprise.” Martha walked over and hugged the young woman.
She’d been startled to look up and see Lana watching her with a wistful expression. Considering the girl was supposed to be in Paris, she wondered briefly if everything was all right, noting the girl looked tired, but strangely peaceful. Her clothing color, Martha was happy to note, seemed subtler, with decidedly less pink. Overall, it served to give the girl a slightly more mature air, but Martha sensed more was going on beneath the surface. For a moment, she wondered if this would only make Clark’s life more complicated.
She could only hope the girl’s return, whether temporary or permanent, would be a good thing. If for nothing more than providing Clark with a friend who could sympathize over the loss of Chloe. And while she knew the three friends had a long and complex history, she knew that Lana was most likely the best person to help Clark grieve and move on.
Leading Lana towards the counter, she wondered if Chloe were looking down on the little scene with irony. Her death had brought everyone back to where it had all began. Whether that was a good thing or not, remained to be seen.
“Mrs. Kent, things look wonderful. I’m glad business seems to be going strong.” Lana heard the wistful tone in her voice and quickly tried to focus. It wouldn’t do to let Mrs. Kent think she regretted giving this up—even if she somewhat did.
“Well, you got it back on track, I just added a few little things since Lex has given me free reign.” Martha watched as Lana gently ran a finger across the counter. She could sense the young woman needed to talk, and she had to admit, she was curious about the return.
“So, are you back for good, or just a visit?”
Lana smiled as she accepted the coffee placed in front of her. “Actually, I’m back for good. Paris was wonderful, but,” she paused, looking longingly around again, “it wasn’t home.”
Martha nodded but remained silent, sensing the girl wasn’t through.
“I guess I left because I thought I needed to get away. I enjoyed my time in Paris but the whole time I was there, it was like a part of me was missing. It only got stronger when I heard about Chloe’s death.” She stopped realizing that she would never see Chloe sitting in her favorite corner booth again. Looking sadly towards it, she felt Martha squeeze her hand.
“It was a beautiful funeral and I’m sure you were there in spirit.”
Lana only nodded before looking back at Mrs. Kent. “I never figured out what it was that was missing, but I just knew it wasn’t there and that I needed to find it.” She twisted her napkin, unwilling to admit that she was beginning to suspect the missing piece had been Clark. That would just be complicating things even more.
“Sometimes you need to get away from things to see what you are missing.” Martha watched the girl digest her words, satisfied that they’d started her thinking. She wondered if what Lana had been missing was her son, but she was not going down that road just yet. That was something they’d have to work out themselves.
And no time to start like the present.
“Clark,” she motioned to her son who had just entered the Talon. “Come see who’s come back to us.” She stepped back as Lana took a deep breath and turned to meet Clark’s gaze. Watching them stare at each other, she decided to make herself scarce for the moment.
Clark felt his heart do the strange summersault it always performed at his first glimpse of Lana. This time was no different although the butterflies were slightly tempered by the thought of how Chloe would have rolled her eyes at his reaction.
Walking forward, he smiled awkwardly as Lana did the same. She looked different, he noted. She wasn’t wearing pink and there was something about her that just seemed off. Not a bad off, just different.
“Lana, when did you come home?”
Lana refused to acknowledge the flutter in her stomach at the warmth mixed with confusion in his statement. The fact he still considered Smallville her home said a lot.
“Just a few hours ago. Paris just wasn’t for me.” She shrugged, trying to look sophisticated, but probably not pulling it off. As it always did around Clark, her self-confidence got confused.
“So, you’re back for good? You’re going to stay here for senior year?” Clark knew he probably sounded more eager than he would like, but the thought of having someone, even with the history he and Lana had, that would help him walk the halls of Smallville High without seeing Chloe everywhere, was like a balm to his soul.
Now if only his stomach would stop somersaulting.
Lana smiled, sensing the almost desperate plea in his words. And she knew it wasn’t just because of her. The idea of facing the halls of the high school without Chloe brightening them was not something she looked forward to. At least with Clark, it would be a bit easier.
Now, if only her heart would stop pounding.
They sat in silence for a few moments, unsure of what to say to broach the months they’d missed. Lana sipped her coffee, twisting her napkin, while Clark sketched patterns with his fingers on the countertop.
Finally, he decided to break the silence.
“You know, they’re still not sure what to do about The Torch.” It was the easiest way he could think of to bring up Chloe. He knew they’d need to talk about it, suspected that Lana might even want to. Despite their strained relationship, he knew Lana and Chloe had been somewhat of friends.
“Do they want to assign another editor?” Lana kept her voice even, although she felt tears building behind her eyes. Suddenly, all the petty grievances she’d held at times for the blonde reporter didn’t look so monumental. Swallowing hard, she realized she was truly going to miss her friend.
“I think they’ll have to. Chloe would laugh.” Clark felt the bitterness creep into his tone, but was powerless to stop it. “If I’d only been here, maybe I could have saved her-”
“You weren’t here when Chloe died?” Lana wasn’t sure why this surprised her, but it did. She watched as he tensed up and instinctively knew he was not going to tell her the truth. It reminded her vividly of why she’d wanted to get away in the first place.
“I couldn’t get to her in time. I should have saved her-”
Lana cut him off by placing a hand on his arm. The usual tingle that accompanied such touches was still there, not to her surprise. “I don’t know why you think you can save everyone Clark, and heaven knows I’m glad you try, but Lionel Luthor is a dangerous man. Nothing and no one could stop him when he planned something and it sounds like Chloe, sadly, was another casualty of his sad and twisted life.”
Lana sounded bitter now, wondering what had caused Chloe to decide to help Lex take down his father. If only she’d stayed away from Lionel, things would have never gone this far. She herself had relatively little to do with Lionel, meeting him only on a few occasions, but it was enough to know she did not want to get tangled up in whatever web he was weaving.
“Now that bastard is going to walk. He killed the only person who could have made him pay for the hell he’s put everyone, even Lex, through.” Clark hit his fist on the counter, causing Lana’s cup to jump.
Looking contrite, he quickly placed his hand back in his lap, noting Lana was looking at him strangely.
“He’ll get his one day, Clark.” She wished she were more certain of that.
The two remained sitting in an awkward silence until Martha returned.
“Clark, your father called and wants you to run over to the hardware store and help him load up the order.” Martha thanked her husband’s timing, sensing Clark and Lana were at another impasse. She noted Clark looked slightly wistful, but more relieved at her words.
“Okay, Mom, I’ll go help him.” Clark turned to Lana with a hesitant smile. “I’ll see you later Lana?”
“Sure, Clark,” Lana said softly in reply.
Clark smiled, made his goodbyes and shuffled out the door. It did not escape Martha’s notice that Lana watched him until he disappeared.
“So, Lana, do you have a place to stay?”
Lana looked at Martha in surprise. In all her musings, she hadn’t even thought about finding a place to live. Of course, with Gabe and Chloe gone, she couldn’t go back to the home she’d had for a short time.
“I don’t know. I really hadn’t thought that far ahead.” She felt really stupid now, wondering if she had enough money to rent a small apartment somewhere.
Martha sensed her confusion, wondering even more at what had prompted the girl to rush home with so little preparation. Still, she had a suggestion that might solve some problems.
“Well, the apartment above the Talon is empty and I really don’t think I need to get references on whether you’d be a good tenant.”
Lana’s face lit up. “You’re sure? I don’t have a lot of money right now, but I can pay the first month’s rent and I’m sure Nell will help out-”
“Don’t worry about it, Lana. The apartment’s yours.” Martha smiled. “And if you’re interested I am in need of some part time help around here.”
Lana wondered if there was anyone kinder than Mrs. Kent. Right now, she didn’t think so.
“If you’re sure it wouldn’t be a problem?”
Martha smiled. “Let’s get the cleaning supplies and clean the place before we move you in.”
Taking the offered hand, Lana realized that despite everything, she’d truly come home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(episode continues in next post)
ENTIRE v4.1 DISCLAIMER: We don't own anything but the plots created for v.4.1. All the characters belong to their DC/WB creators. No copyright infringement intended.
So with that said ... and thanks to all ... off we go!
~*~*~*~*~*~
Title: “Guilty” (v.4.1-Episode 1)
Written by: SaraC & Impress
Notes: Character thoughts are in italics
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
COURTROOM - METROPOLIS
“Objection!”
Lex Luthor tensed as his father’s lawyer jumped from his seat as if it were on fire. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been expecting this reaction, but the fury expressed in those three syllables by Lindsey Kane was a powerful thing to behold.
“The defense received no prior notification of this witness.”
The judge looked intently at the younger man who looked like he was struggling for composure. Next to him, his client, the once and still feared Lionel Luthor, looked on with a placid expression. He would never admit it, but the judge was extremely unnerved by the unchanging eyes that always seemed focused on his. He was distracted by the smooth voice of the prosecuting attorney Michael Vincent.
“Your honor, we ourselves only received notice of the witness several hours ago.” The lawyer paused and looked over at Lindsey, whose face had become stoic.
The judge simply looked resigned.
“Mr. Vincent, surely I do not need to explain to you the legal requirements to disclose witness evidence to the defense prior to the trial?”
“The defense was notified,” Michael’s voice was calm and steady as he nodded to the other lawyer sitting next to him. “My associate sent a letter stating the witness and our intent to the defense this morning. We received no reply so we assumed there was no contention and that the defense would have the time to formulate its questions.”
“I received no such letter.” Lindsey turned to look questioningly at his assistant who had been sitting behind him. The cowering young man’s expression of guilt forced the rage he had only moments ago suppressed to surface once more.
“Lyle, did you check your desk before coming here this morning?”
The young man turned bright red, fidgeting in his seat. “Not exactly. I figured there was no reason. You had everything wrapped up and we were ready to go-”
“Incompetent fool!” Lindsey hissed. It was only the light touch on his arm that helped him find restraint.
“Mr. Kane, perhaps your energies would be put to better use dealing with this…inconvenience rather than getting angry over it.”
Lionel watched as his lawyer clenched his fists, but slowly relaxed. His own nerves felt quite fine, as he was used to such occurrences in the life he’d chosen to lead. His gaze moved to where Lex sat watching, a blank expression on his face. However, there was a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. It was barely there, hardly noticeable unless you knew what to look for.
I’ve trained you well, Lex.
Lionel couldn’t help wondering if he had trained his son a little too well as recognition of the expression set in and a slight wave of anxiety passed through his body.
I wonder what you’re up to Lex.
“Permission to approach the bench?”
The judge nodded and waited as Lindsey and Michael walked up to him. Steepling his hands, he waited to hear their proposals.
“I request a recess so that I may be briefed about this witness.” Lindsey’s voice was calm and clear, any sign of frustration gone.
“That sounds reasonable. Any objections, Mr. Vincent?”
Michael looked carefully at Lindsey, before nodding to the judge. “None, your honor.”
“I’ll grant a two hour recess for the defense to be briefed on this witness. Mr. Vincent you will provide Mr. Kane with a summary of this witnesses testimony and other relevant information. Step back.”
Lindsey forced his blood pressure under control. It wouldn’t do to look as unsettled as he felt. But he had two hours; he could do a lot in that time and had before.
The judge struck his gavel and the room quieted. “Court is in recess for one hour.” He struck the gavel again and rose, walking quickly from the room. He had a feeling he might be dipping into a bottle of Jack Daniels to wash down that extra strength aspirin to get through the next few hours.
Lex watched as Michael and Lindsey disappeared into the hall, and he decided now would be the time to stretch. He had a feeling things were going to get tense very, very soon. He was only glad that the trial was very small, with no public audience or press allowed inside. It was no surprise the Luthor connections and money had contributed to the agreement of a private trial.
“Son.”
He stopped as he heard his father’s voice call to him. Wanting to ignore it, yet somehow powerless to stop his movements, he walked slowly over to Lionel.
“Dad.”
Lionel eyed him intently for a moment, but remained silent. He knew Lindsey would fill him in as soon as he learned the basics but it never hurt to hedge his bets.
Lex knew the trick, try to intimidate with silence. Well, it wasn’t going to work. He’d learned from the best. He stared his father down, refusing to speak. Lionel finally sighed and broke the stalemate.
“You know, things did not have to be like this.”
Lex snorted.
“You mean you didn’t have to drug me, send me to an insane asylum, rob me of weeks of my life or poison me and leave me for dead?” The bitterness in his tone was obvious to Lionel and for one brief moment he felt something shift dangerously near his heart. He quickly masked the feelings.
Lex turned and left the room before he could let his father needle him more. He strode outside, ducking away from the main hall, happy to find no one seemed to be paying much attention to him at the moment. When he finally reached a deserted bench, he sank down onto it, his face blank as he thought about his father’s words. About how the bastard still had the ability to make him feel … something.
He refused to acknowledge it as the longing that still remained in some corner of his heart for his father’s approval. That had been forced aside as he’d lay dying on the floor of his study, his mind awash with how horribly wrong everything had gone.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Flashback
Pain. Agonizing and unbearable pain, coursed throughout his body. Unnoticed went the cuts and prods from the glass shards he lay rolling in, as a fire seemed to consume his entire being. A vice attached itself to his lungs at the same time his windpipe began to swell, and the struggle to take in even the smallest breath became more and more difficult. Somewhere in his pain filled mind an image of his father hovering over him, mouthing “I Win!” came unbidden and unwelcome. Finally, as blessed darkness began to overtake him, the awful vision of his father was replaced with Chloe’s determined face.
Sometime Later...
He was alive.
At least he assumed he was. If the burning sensation he was feeling in his limbs was any indication. After all, one didn’t feel pain if they were dead, did they? Then again, he was a Luthor so it was within the realm of possibility that he had in fact died, and the burning he was feeling was his soul suffering its eternal damnation in Hell.
A steady beeping sound began to make its way into his conscience. Along with this came the realization that he was in fact breathing. Could in fact feel the rise and fall of his chest, feel and hear himself taking in air that had, at least to his hazy mind, only a short while ago, been very difficult to take in. The bright white (and immediately painful) light that greeted him after he won the struggle to open his eyes, confirmed what he had suspected. He was indeed among the living. Judging from the sterile atmosphere, he guessed he was in the hospital.
Closing his eyes again, he sank back against the pillows, thanking whomever for small miracles. His eyes flew open again as the questions began to pound at his mind.
“Mr. Luthor. Good to see you back among the living.”
He jumped at the nurse’s voice as she walked into the room, looking almost too cheerful for how he felt.
“What happened? How did I get here? Who found me-”
“You were poisoned. All we know for sure is that your butler found you after you collapsed. We pumped your stomach but the residual effects of the poison will take a few days to wear off. You’re a very lucky man, Mr. Luthor.”
Lex closed his eyes, struggling to grasp what he’d been told. Obviously, Enrique had found him and gotten him here. His butler had once again saved his life. He made a mental note to give the man a huge bonus when things settled back down.
“How long till I can be released?”
The nurse looked amused at the impatience in his voice. “Not for a few more days Mr. Luthor. The poison wasn’t like anything we were familiar with. We need to make sure it has run its course and left your body completely.”
He looked at her carefully, wondering what kind of lethal cocktail his father had managed to create this time. He made another mental note to find out – as well as never to drink from another open bottle of alcohol in the mansion.
Suddenly, something else hit him.
“How long have I been unconscious?”
The nurse looked at him steadily. “One week.”
He drew in a harsh breath. One week! Shakily, he ran a hand over his forehead. This was NOT good. Everything depended on timing and he might have seriously screwed up any chance he had of getting any of them out of this mess.
“I need my cell phone.”
The nurse looked irritated now. “You’re not ready to do more than sleep Mr. Luthor-”
“I need to make a phone call.” He stared the woman down, but not to his surprise, she looked like she would not budge.
“Excuse me, Mr. Luthor?”
Enrique’s voice interrupted their standoff and he waved the man inside. “You may leave us now.”
The nurse looked as if she wanted to say something about his regal demeanor, but wisely chose to leave as directed. She’d heard enough about her patient to realize that it would be better all around if she did not stir things up too much.
Lex watched as Enrique approached, his usually stoic expression thawing a bit.
“Thank you, Enrique.”
The man nodded. “I believe you need to make a phone call.” With that, he held out the small cell phone he’d hidden in his jacket pocket.
Lex grabbed for the phone. “Remind me to double your Christmas bonus,” he muttered as he punched in the familiar number and waited for a reply. Closing his eyes as the phone continued to ring, he could only pray that his father hadn’t somehow managed to get the upper hand once again.
~*~*~*~*~*~
PRESENT DAY-METROPOLIS
He jumped at the light touch on his arm. Looking up, he saw Michael Vincent standing over him with a slight smile.
“It’s time to bring this thing to an end once and for all. You ready, Lex?”
Taking a deep breath, Lex concentrated his energy on the present, all thought and emotion for the moment, locked away for possible later contemplation.
“I’m ready.” The words were calm and steady as he rose and followed the older man down the hallway.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“All rise!”
Lex settled back into his seat. His father was staring straight ahead, wearing his usual mocking expression as the lawyers took their seats and the judge made himself comfortable on the bench. He saw Lindsey lean over and whisper something to his father.
“The prosecution may call its final witness.”
A small, barely noticeable smile crossed Lex’s features as Michael’s voice rang out clear and true in the dead silent courtroom. Turning his attention to the double doors near the back, he waited for them to open.
Across the room, despite the sick feeling in his normally cast iron stomach, Lionel stared straight ahead. Deep inside, he felt something like pride for what his son had managed to accomplish. It was a feat of which he hadn’t thought him capable. Still, he would not give his son the opportunity to see him flinch at the unexpected turn of events. He was Lionel Luthor. He would remain strong and stoic. Even if his life was about to change for the worse.
“The prosecution calls Chloe Sullivan to the stand.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
KENT FARM - SMALLVILLE
Jonathan Kent snorted as he held the Smallville Ledger away from him as if it disgusted him. The front page featured a rather scary looking image of Lionel Luthor and the headline “Metropolis Trial of the Decade.”
“Why do I get the feeling that Lionel Luthor will once again get away with his crimes?”
Clark Kent looked up at his father. Guilt ran through him as he noticed the slight tightening around the older man’s eyes and heard the tiniest hitch in his breathing as he shifted on his stool. If it weren’t for his superior hearing and the fact that he had taken to watching his father more closely when they were together, Clark would not have noticed the lingering effects from Jonathan’s encounter with Jor-El a few months before. Clark knew his father was doing his best to hide his discomfort in an effort to keep his son from feeling guilty.
It wasn’t working.
If he had not used the red kryptonite to make himself into the unfeeling Kal-El, his human father would not have been forced to make a deal with his Kryptonian father to bring him home. If he had simply followed Kara to begin with, the elder Kent would not have spent weeks in the hospital, struggling to recover from the effects of Jor-El’s power. Shoving the feelings of guilt down, hating to dwell on them around his parents, he tried to concentrate on the conversation the two people in question were now conducting.
“Jonathan, I’m sure the prosecution wouldn’t be going through with this three ring circus if they weren’t confident that they could get a guilty verdict.” Martha’s voice was calm and rational, comforting in many ways to both of the Kent men.
“Most of the prosecution’s case relied on the testimony of Chloe. With her…”
Jonathan stopped at the warning look his wife was giving him. Mentally cursing his slip, he looked toward his son and saw the guilt that seemed always present now in the young man’s demeanor.
“It’s my fault she’s dead.” Clark’s words were precise and hard, the bitterness and pain behind them making both the elder Kents look concerned.
“No son, Chloe made a bad choice when she chose to get involved with Lionel and Lex. Sometimes, bad choices have horrible consequences.”
Clark knew there was some sense in his father’s words, but the anger and guilt were still blinding him to rational thought at the moment.
“But I should have been here to protect her. She is…was my best friend.” He hated the way he had to remember to speak of Chloe in the past tense. It made it all seem so real, that Chloe was gone, never to return. It only deepened his frustration. “If I hadn’t given in to Jor-El. If I had stayed in Smallville maybe I could have gotten her out in time. Maybe I could have…”
“Clark, you didn’t know Chloe’s safe house was going to explode.” Martha put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Even if you had been here, unless you knew someone had planted a bomb in her safe house, and where her safe house was, it would have been impossible for you to reach her in time.”
Martha watched her son struggle with the truth of the situation. She knew he shouldered great responsibility and because of that struggled constantly with a myriad of nearly overwhelming emotions that no one, let alone a teenager, should have to deal with. Had she been able, Martha would have taken the responsibility from her child or at least helped him to shoulder the burden. It pained her to know that she couldn’t do more to ease her son’s torment.
“I can’t help feeling it’s all my fault. Chloe would never have gotten mixed up with Lionel Luthor in the first place if it weren’t for me.” While Clark knew Chloe had a mind of her own and did what she wanted most of the time, he knew it was his relationship with Lana that had pushed her into her deal with the devil.
He was also responsible for his father’s deal with another kind of devil… a deal that nearly cost the elder Kent his life. “Just like dad wouldn’t have had to spend weeks recovering from whatever Jor-El did to him, if I...”
“Stop right there, Son. We’ve been through this. I made my choice. And I would make the same one again. Just as Chloe made her choice.” Jonathan’s voice was stern, broking no argument.
“Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that my choices led you to your choices.” Clark was on a roll now, the anger and sadness mixing to create a maelstrom of emotion. “And because of my choices, you will probably never be as healthy as you were before, and Chloe is dead.”
Jonathan opened his mouth to dispute his son’s claims but quickly found himself staring at an empty space, the kitchen door swinging on its hinges from where Clark had shot through it at super speed. He closed his mouth and looked at his wife.
“I’m not sure we’ll ever convince him that he can’t save the world,” Martha sounded sadly resigned and Jonathan could only shake his head at his wife. Whether in denial or acceptance, he wasn’t sure.
“Give him a little time, it’s what he needs right now.” Martha stood and walked over to wrap her arms around her husband’s neck. “I’d stay, but I need to get to the Talon. I’ll see you later?”
Jonathan nodded, turning to give her a kiss goodbye. Watching as she gathered her things and blew him another kiss before disappearing out the door he tried to fight the unease he felt every time she left for work. While he didn’t like the idea of her working for a Luthor again, he knew it was something she really wanted to do. He was only slightly reassured by the fact that Lex took little interest in the business, letting Martha run most of it. The less interaction she had with the Luthors, the better.
He was also relieved to see Clark backing off from his friendship with Lex, but at the same time, he could see how much his son was hurting over losing another friend. And while he might not like Lex that much, he knew that the younger Luthor had helped Clark in numerous ways his parents and other friends could not over the past few years.
Sighing, he rose and walked over to the window, watching until Martha and the truck disappeared from sight. Turning back to the table, he picked up the paper again, wondering how their lives had gotten so complicated.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Clark streaked through the back roads of Smallville in a vain attempt to outrun the thoughts swirling in his head. He knew, somewhere in the logical part of his mind that there was truth to what his parents said, had been saying for the past few months.
But it didn’t stop the flood of remorse that swamped him whenever he let his mind go and started thinking and remembering. He slowed his pace as he recognized the path he’d unconsciously taken and the familiar place it had led him.
He stared at Chloe’s headstone for a long moment, taking in the simple chiseled lettering on the slate colored background. Slowly, he knelt down and placed a hand on the gravestone, finding it cool to the touch. He’d done the same thing the first time he’d visited her grave, shortly after he returned from his time with Jor-El.
Barely hearing his parents calling out to him, he’d rushed directly to the cemetery, unwilling to believe their words. It wasn’t until he’d seen the tombstone bearing her name, touched and traced the lettering, felt the coldness of death it embodied, that it had sunk in.
Now, as he had then, he whispered a familiar litany to the stone.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there. But sorry doesn’t really mean a lot right now does it? I always seemed to be saying I was sorry to you.” He stopped, his throat clogging as he struggled with his emotions. “I know I wasn’t always there for you, but you have to know I would have done anything to keep you safe. I guess some part of me believed that Lex could and would keep you safe when I couldn’t. I’m so sorry I was wrong.”
Despite his mixed emotions about the state of his friendship with the bald billionaire, Clark had truly believed Lex would do everything in his power to keep Chloe safe. If for no other reason than that Chloe was a valuable asset in Lex’s continued struggle for supremacy over his father.
It made the news of her death even harder to take; increased the guilt he wondered if he would ever stop feeling. Clark had come to depend on Chloe being there if and when he needed or wanted her, both as a friend and on rare occasions, as more. Now, she was gone and there was nothing he could do to bring her back. All the powers he had and none of them could reverse death.
Coming back to the present, he found himself sitting in front of Chloe’s grave, leaning slightly against the headstone. Thoughts and emotions were still swirling inside of him and he wondered if Chloe could sense his presence.
Then again, she was probably better occupied looking down at the Metropolis courtroom where Lionel Luthor’s future was being debated. A future that could allow the murdering bastard to remain free, now that Chloe was not there to provide the smoking gun. The feelings brought back his anger—at himself for not being there to save Chloe and at Lex for not being able to keep her safe.
Sinking back into his thoughts, he allowed his mind to return to the angry conversation he’d had with Lex shortly after paying his first visit to Chloe’s grave.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Flashback
With a burst of speed, Clark ran towards the Luthor mansion. Avoiding the main entrance, he sped around to the side door that he used when delivering Lex’s produce orders for his mother. Knowing exactly where Lex would be, he moved quickly through the dark hallways and pushed through the study doors with a burst of irritated energy.
Lex was startled by the doors crashing open with so much force they slammed against the wall. He was equally startled to see Clark come barreling through said doors. The farmboy had not been in the mansion, much less tried to contact him, since discovering the “Clark Room” before the summer of hell had begun. Years of control however allowed him to quickly mask his surprise at the sudden intrusion.
“Clark…”
“You were suppose to keep her safe.”
Lex sighed internally knowing this particular confrontation had been inevitable. “I see you heard about Ms. Sullivan.”
“She put herself out there to help you and you repay her by letting her die?”
Clark watched Lex turn away from him and walk towards the small desk that served as a makeshift bar. He clenched his fists trying to keep his temper in check. There were brief moments, such as this, that Clark wished he had Kal-El’s lack of restraint. His alter ego wouldn’t have had an issue with using whatever means necessary to get the information he wanted out of the man who had just turned back to him.
“I did everything I could, Clark. I had a team go over her safe house. Unfortunately, I found out to late that one of those men wasn’t as loyal as I thought.” He kept his words cool, his gaze focused intently on Clark.
“I want to know who was responsible. Tell me what you know, Lex. Chloe was too valuable to your case against your father for you not to have done a thorough investigation.”
Lex grimaced at the raw pain mixed with anger in the young man’s voice. It was getting harder to keep his own emotions in check as he watched Clark struggling before him.
“There is nothing to tell. The bomb destroyed the house, and leveled much of the surrounding area. By the time I discovered who and where the traitor was, it was too late, he was already dead.”
Clark stared at the man in front of him for what seemed like an eternity before turning on his heel and leaving with a bit less force than he entered, but with just as much barely suppressed fury and guilt.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
PRESENT DAY-SMALLVILLE
Clark snapped out of the memory suddenly and returned his gaze to his lost friend’s memorial.
“I promise you Chloe, I’ll find out what Lex is keeping from me, and who was really responsible for your death. Then I’ll make them pay.”
He shivered at the menace he could hear in his own voice, realizing he sounded more like Kal-El than Clark Kent. Forcing the image down, he rose and with one final, wistful look at the gravestone, he took off at breakneck speed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
METROPOLIS AIRPORT
Lana felt a strange sense of peace as she stepped off the plane and into the bustling crowd thronging the gates of Metropolis International Airport. It was a completely different feel than when she’d walked off the plane a few months ago at De Gaulle International Airport.
Despite the enjoyable months she’d spent in Paris, the shocking news of Chloe and Gabe’s deaths had forced her to admit she missed Smallville and a few of its residents. She’d meant what she said about wanting to start over, to figure out who she was and where she was supposed to be. But stumbling over the article of the Sullivan’s murder while surfing the Net, had also forced her to realize that in her effort to find who she was supposed to be, she had completely cut herself off from those she cared about most.
Sadness swept through her as she thought about the family that had taken her in so she wouldn’t have to move to Metropolis. She had never asked Chloe why she did it. The two of them weren’t really friends at that time, in fact Lana would have gone so far as to say Chloe didn’t like her at all. So the offer had made no sense. But Lana had been too relieved, and admittedly too self-centered, at the time to question her good fortune.
Somewhere along the way, the two unlikeliest of people had actually managed to become friends. At least that was how Lana viewed them. She was pretty certain Chloe viewed them that way as well, at least until Lana’s confession while Chloe was under the influence of the truth serum. Guilt swept through her as she remembered the look on Chloe’s face, and remembered that she had made no effort to apologize. Now she would never have the chance to make it right.
Still, despite the sorrow of losing someone she considered a friend, her first thought after hearing the news had been how Clark would take it. She’d been frustrated to realize that even an ocean was not enough to push him from her mind. But she knew how much he valued Chloe’s friendship, despite whatever strain it had been under.
It was rather ironic, she thought, her need to escape her life had instead brought her back to it, although she wasn’t sure why.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone, which she’d switched back on as soon as the plane landed. Looking at the caller ID, she sighed, flipping it open and placing it to her ear.
Despite it all, it was good to be home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
METROPOLIS COURTROOM
Chloe took a deep breath as she observed the scene that greeted her as she stood in the open doorway to the courtroom. The murmurs that greeted her appearance would have amused her if her heart had not been in her throat.
Almost without thinking, her gaze flew to Lex, who was watching her with an almost vacant expression. But as her eyes locked on his, she saw a spark of something resembling pride in those blue depths and she felt her courage return.
Tearing her gaze from his, she strode confidently down the aisle, nodding to the prosecutor as she took the stand. Settling into the uncomfortable chair, she crossed her legs, thankful she’d decided on a pantsuit for the occasion. She looked sharp, professional, and hopefully older than the 18 she would turn in several weeks.
Feeling a strange sense of calm settle over her, she finally turned her gaze to the man watching her with an impassive expression. She almost hoped he would show some emotion, be it anger, fear, surprise, even that all knowing smirk he wore so often. But he remained staring at her, no expression visible on his face.
She felt a slight flutter of the butterflies in her stomach as she waited for the questioning to begin.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lionel Luthor was nothing if not a good strategist. He knew when to cut a deal and when to surrender, although he’d never had much occasion to do the latter. This trial had been of little consequence to him a few hours ago. He knew full well without Chloe Sullivan’s testimony, there was no way to convict him.
Now, staring at her composed expression, he had to admit he was if nothing else, impressed by her determination –and his son’s resourcefulness.
It really was, when he thought about it, very Macedonian. After all, hadn’t Alexander the Great been the downfall of his father? And now, Lionel’s own Alexander would one day be the downfall of him. Thanks to his son’s cunning and skillfulness, Luthor traits that, until now, Lionel hadn’t been certain Lex had inherited, it appeared as though he might very well be forced to serve time behind bars. The thought sent a slight chill down his spine. He didn’t show it however. To do so would be a sign of weakness, and Luthors never showed weakness.
Lionel took some comfort in knowing, thanks to this little power struggle, that there was enough of his blood running through Lex’s veins to always keep the Luthor name in power, feared and perhaps even revered.
He glanced over at his son and was struck with not a little warped sense of pride to see the gleam of triumph in those dark blue pools, so like his mother.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Lex wasn’t sure what he was feeling. The sight of Chloe standing tall and proud in the doorway had almost made the past four months worth it. He caught her eye, sensing her hesitation, and attempting to boost it with some confidence of his own.
He’d learned a lot about Chloe Sullivan during that time and he wasn’t sure he was happy with all of it. But that was neither here nor there. The important thing was she was now confidently seated in the witness box, looking cool, professional, and definitely older than the 18 he knew she would be in a few weeks.
Looking over at his father, he took note of the calm expression on Lionel’s face. It took a lot to surprise the old bastard. For a moment, he felt a pang at the thought that he was really going to do this; that he was really going to help send his father to prison.
But the fact of the matter was that Lionel had hired Morgan Edge to kill his parents and for that, along with many of his other deeds, deserved to be punished. Lex knew it, accepted it, was happy to see it finally come to fruition.
But as he watched his father eye Chloe with a cool expression, he wistfully remembered the disastrous birthday party from years ago, and the soft expression Lionel had worn on giving him the special box to put his fears in.
Quickly steeling his gaze as he heard the Judge call the court to order, he focused again on Chloe, willing her to be strong and to finally see this through to conclusion.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
SMALLVILLE
Lana smiled as she walked into the Talon, that sense of home returning once more, as she smelled the familiar scent of coffee and cookies. Something twisted in her heart as she noted Martha Kent happily chatting with several patrons at the counter. She looked completely at ease in the atmosphere that Lana had for so long considered her own.
Taking a deep breath, preparing for the questions she knew would be coming, she walked towards the counter. Her heart felt a slight surge of happiness as she saw disbelief, then a genuine smile appear on Martha’s face.
“Lana, what a nice surprise.” Martha walked over and hugged the young woman.
She’d been startled to look up and see Lana watching her with a wistful expression. Considering the girl was supposed to be in Paris, she wondered briefly if everything was all right, noting the girl looked tired, but strangely peaceful. Her clothing color, Martha was happy to note, seemed subtler, with decidedly less pink. Overall, it served to give the girl a slightly more mature air, but Martha sensed more was going on beneath the surface. For a moment, she wondered if this would only make Clark’s life more complicated.
She could only hope the girl’s return, whether temporary or permanent, would be a good thing. If for nothing more than providing Clark with a friend who could sympathize over the loss of Chloe. And while she knew the three friends had a long and complex history, she knew that Lana was most likely the best person to help Clark grieve and move on.
Leading Lana towards the counter, she wondered if Chloe were looking down on the little scene with irony. Her death had brought everyone back to where it had all began. Whether that was a good thing or not, remained to be seen.
“Mrs. Kent, things look wonderful. I’m glad business seems to be going strong.” Lana heard the wistful tone in her voice and quickly tried to focus. It wouldn’t do to let Mrs. Kent think she regretted giving this up—even if she somewhat did.
“Well, you got it back on track, I just added a few little things since Lex has given me free reign.” Martha watched as Lana gently ran a finger across the counter. She could sense the young woman needed to talk, and she had to admit, she was curious about the return.
“So, are you back for good, or just a visit?”
Lana smiled as she accepted the coffee placed in front of her. “Actually, I’m back for good. Paris was wonderful, but,” she paused, looking longingly around again, “it wasn’t home.”
Martha nodded but remained silent, sensing the girl wasn’t through.
“I guess I left because I thought I needed to get away. I enjoyed my time in Paris but the whole time I was there, it was like a part of me was missing. It only got stronger when I heard about Chloe’s death.” She stopped realizing that she would never see Chloe sitting in her favorite corner booth again. Looking sadly towards it, she felt Martha squeeze her hand.
“It was a beautiful funeral and I’m sure you were there in spirit.”
Lana only nodded before looking back at Mrs. Kent. “I never figured out what it was that was missing, but I just knew it wasn’t there and that I needed to find it.” She twisted her napkin, unwilling to admit that she was beginning to suspect the missing piece had been Clark. That would just be complicating things even more.
“Sometimes you need to get away from things to see what you are missing.” Martha watched the girl digest her words, satisfied that they’d started her thinking. She wondered if what Lana had been missing was her son, but she was not going down that road just yet. That was something they’d have to work out themselves.
And no time to start like the present.
“Clark,” she motioned to her son who had just entered the Talon. “Come see who’s come back to us.” She stepped back as Lana took a deep breath and turned to meet Clark’s gaze. Watching them stare at each other, she decided to make herself scarce for the moment.
Clark felt his heart do the strange summersault it always performed at his first glimpse of Lana. This time was no different although the butterflies were slightly tempered by the thought of how Chloe would have rolled her eyes at his reaction.
Walking forward, he smiled awkwardly as Lana did the same. She looked different, he noted. She wasn’t wearing pink and there was something about her that just seemed off. Not a bad off, just different.
“Lana, when did you come home?”
Lana refused to acknowledge the flutter in her stomach at the warmth mixed with confusion in his statement. The fact he still considered Smallville her home said a lot.
“Just a few hours ago. Paris just wasn’t for me.” She shrugged, trying to look sophisticated, but probably not pulling it off. As it always did around Clark, her self-confidence got confused.
“So, you’re back for good? You’re going to stay here for senior year?” Clark knew he probably sounded more eager than he would like, but the thought of having someone, even with the history he and Lana had, that would help him walk the halls of Smallville High without seeing Chloe everywhere, was like a balm to his soul.
Now if only his stomach would stop somersaulting.
Lana smiled, sensing the almost desperate plea in his words. And she knew it wasn’t just because of her. The idea of facing the halls of the high school without Chloe brightening them was not something she looked forward to. At least with Clark, it would be a bit easier.
Now, if only her heart would stop pounding.
They sat in silence for a few moments, unsure of what to say to broach the months they’d missed. Lana sipped her coffee, twisting her napkin, while Clark sketched patterns with his fingers on the countertop.
Finally, he decided to break the silence.
“You know, they’re still not sure what to do about The Torch.” It was the easiest way he could think of to bring up Chloe. He knew they’d need to talk about it, suspected that Lana might even want to. Despite their strained relationship, he knew Lana and Chloe had been somewhat of friends.
“Do they want to assign another editor?” Lana kept her voice even, although she felt tears building behind her eyes. Suddenly, all the petty grievances she’d held at times for the blonde reporter didn’t look so monumental. Swallowing hard, she realized she was truly going to miss her friend.
“I think they’ll have to. Chloe would laugh.” Clark felt the bitterness creep into his tone, but was powerless to stop it. “If I’d only been here, maybe I could have saved her-”
“You weren’t here when Chloe died?” Lana wasn’t sure why this surprised her, but it did. She watched as he tensed up and instinctively knew he was not going to tell her the truth. It reminded her vividly of why she’d wanted to get away in the first place.
“I couldn’t get to her in time. I should have saved her-”
Lana cut him off by placing a hand on his arm. The usual tingle that accompanied such touches was still there, not to her surprise. “I don’t know why you think you can save everyone Clark, and heaven knows I’m glad you try, but Lionel Luthor is a dangerous man. Nothing and no one could stop him when he planned something and it sounds like Chloe, sadly, was another casualty of his sad and twisted life.”
Lana sounded bitter now, wondering what had caused Chloe to decide to help Lex take down his father. If only she’d stayed away from Lionel, things would have never gone this far. She herself had relatively little to do with Lionel, meeting him only on a few occasions, but it was enough to know she did not want to get tangled up in whatever web he was weaving.
“Now that bastard is going to walk. He killed the only person who could have made him pay for the hell he’s put everyone, even Lex, through.” Clark hit his fist on the counter, causing Lana’s cup to jump.
Looking contrite, he quickly placed his hand back in his lap, noting Lana was looking at him strangely.
“He’ll get his one day, Clark.” She wished she were more certain of that.
The two remained sitting in an awkward silence until Martha returned.
“Clark, your father called and wants you to run over to the hardware store and help him load up the order.” Martha thanked her husband’s timing, sensing Clark and Lana were at another impasse. She noted Clark looked slightly wistful, but more relieved at her words.
“Okay, Mom, I’ll go help him.” Clark turned to Lana with a hesitant smile. “I’ll see you later Lana?”
“Sure, Clark,” Lana said softly in reply.
Clark smiled, made his goodbyes and shuffled out the door. It did not escape Martha’s notice that Lana watched him until he disappeared.
“So, Lana, do you have a place to stay?”
Lana looked at Martha in surprise. In all her musings, she hadn’t even thought about finding a place to live. Of course, with Gabe and Chloe gone, she couldn’t go back to the home she’d had for a short time.
“I don’t know. I really hadn’t thought that far ahead.” She felt really stupid now, wondering if she had enough money to rent a small apartment somewhere.
Martha sensed her confusion, wondering even more at what had prompted the girl to rush home with so little preparation. Still, she had a suggestion that might solve some problems.
“Well, the apartment above the Talon is empty and I really don’t think I need to get references on whether you’d be a good tenant.”
Lana’s face lit up. “You’re sure? I don’t have a lot of money right now, but I can pay the first month’s rent and I’m sure Nell will help out-”
“Don’t worry about it, Lana. The apartment’s yours.” Martha smiled. “And if you’re interested I am in need of some part time help around here.”
Lana wondered if there was anyone kinder than Mrs. Kent. Right now, she didn’t think so.
“If you’re sure it wouldn’t be a problem?”
Martha smiled. “Let’s get the cleaning supplies and clean the place before we move you in.”
Taking the offered hand, Lana realized that despite everything, she’d truly come home.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(episode continues in next post)