COTW 53

[serafina20]

Previously on COTW



This was bad Oh, God, this was so, so bad. It was so bad, Lex couldn't even think. Couldn't figure out what to do. Clark was sick. Possibly dying. And there was a house full of people and Dr. Sutton had taken blood. She's *taken blood* and stuck a needle in his arm and it had gone in and blood had come out. And that was just the worst thing every and, fuck, he couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe, he was going to die and no one would be left to take care of Clark and...

"Lex!" Lana snapped, drawing his attention back to the room. "Breathe."

He shook his head. "I can't."

"You can, you're just not. Breathe. In through your nose. With me." She put her hands on his shoulders and took a deep, slow breath.

He copied her. To his surprise, oxygen filled his lungs easily. When Lana exhaled, he did as well. For several minutes, they sat in the bathroom together, breathing slowly until Lex could think again.

"Thank you," he said finally.

Lana smiled. "It's nice to be good for something. Makes me feel like less of an idiot." She took his hand and shook her head. "You're such a moron sometimes."

He grimaced. His knuckles were bruised and swelling. They hurt like hell. "I know." But he was panicked. And helpless. What else could he have done?

Not punch a wall, a voice in his head that sounded amazingly like Damien said.

"That the bath?" Lex asked, nodding at the tub. It was only a quarter way filled.

Lana nodded, eyes rolling. "I stopped filling it when I heard her telling you guys that egg whites can be used to lower a fever. I guess she sent me up here to get me out of the way, since I was so, you know. Hysterical." She blushed and shrugged. "I figured it'd be wasteful to keep filling it. But it's ready, just in case."

Lex nodded and looked around. In addition to filling the tub, Lana had washed her face and combed her hair. She'd also cleaned the sink and toilet. The brush was sticking out from underneath the seat and the toothbrush holder was on the wrong side of the sink.

"Don't feel bad," he said, pulling his phone from his pocket. "At least you were useful. I got to stay hysterical and incompetent."

"Well, Clark is your boyfriend. It's expected."

He shrugged, dialing Jonathan's number.

"Lex," Lana said softly. "Is Clark's normal temperature really one hundred and three?"

Lex sighed and rubbed his head. It ached and he could feel a migraine threatening in the background. He'd have to ask Dr. Sutton if she had something to get rid of it without getting rid of him.

"Hello?" Jonathan answered.

"It's Lex. Clark is sick."

"What?"

"Dr. Sutton's here, and she took blood. And everyone else is here, too. Mark and Whitney and Lana. Chloe and Pete are on their way, and Clark hasn't woken up, and I'm so sorry I wasn't able to stop her, but..."

"Calm down, Lex," Jonathan cut him off. Lex hadn't realized he was babbling in panic again. "I'm already on my way home; I wanted to get a few things for Martha. I should be there in a few minutes. Keep breathing and stay calm." The connection cut.

Lana took Lex's hand. There was a cut between two of the knuckles that was still bleeding. He hadn't noticed it before. She had a cotton ball in her hand that smelled strongly of alcohol.

"What's the deal with the blood?" she asked as she cleaned the wound.

It stung sharply, and he winced. "Nothing."

"You are such a liar. I heard you from up here, shouting that she couldn't take blood. And then panicking when she did. Why?"

He pressed his lips together.

She sighed. "I'm so sick of secrets." Lana threw the cotton away and stood. "Come on. Let's get ice for you hand."

Lex followed her silently. He couldn't help that she was sick of secrets. He couldn't even bring himself to care. If she thought she was surrounded by secrets, he was welcome to trade places with her. His life was a fucking disaster. If it wasn't for Clark and his family...

Chloe and Pete were downstairs. Chloe was at Clark's side, kneeling by the couch, stroking his hair. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she was whispering to him as her fingers unknotted tangled curls. Pete was in the doorway to the kitchen, arms crossed over his chest, face set.

"Hey," he said shortly when he saw Lex. "Can I talk to you?"

Lex nodded. He'd been expecting this. Hoping for it, actually. Not being able to talk to someone who knew about Clark was killing at him, tearing at his chest. "Let's go," he started, but Dr. Sutton, who was wrapping a wash cloth soaked in what Lex assumed was egg whites around Clark's feet, looked up at him.

"I called the mansion," she said. "Anne's coming over with an oxygen tank and a vitals monitor. She's also bringing supplies so I can study the sample I took. And dinner. I guess Mabel had already made it. I would like to move Clark upstairs, get him settled more comfortably. Is his room up there?"

"Sort of. Yeah. How do we get him up there?"

"Pete and I can carry him," Mark said.

"If necessary," Dr. Sutton replied. "I'm hoping he regains consciousness soon." She slipped a sock on Clark's foot. "Let's give it ten more minutes. Until then, we wait."

Lex nodded. "Thank you, Doctor. Pete?"

Lana sighed in exasperation and thrust a cold pack into Lex's hand. Then she crossed her hands over her chest and glared as Lex and Pete left the room.

"What's gotten into her?" Pete asked as he and Lex closed themselves in the laundry room.

"She was asking about Clark's temperature and blood. I wouldn't tell her why I was freaking out about them." He put the ice on his swollen knuckles. "I don't know what to do here, Pete. Dr. Sutton took Clark's temperature and freaked. Mark was going to call for the paramedics, so I had to tell him Clark's normal temperature. And now she's got a sample of his blood."

"Why didn't you stop her?"

He clenched is jaw. "Because I'm panicking here. My boyfriend is unconscious and I can't reach him."

Pete frowned at him.

"We're telepathic," he explained dismissively. "I've been trying to contact Clark, but he's too muddled. If I lay down and really concentrated, I might be able to do it, but not with so many people around."

"Since when is Clark telepathic?"

"Since he first landed. He'll explain it later."

Pete looked at him for a long moment, questions clearly written across his face. He opened his mouth, that accusing look in his eyes. Then, abruptly, he snapped it shut. Shook his head sharply. "Okay, fine. But right now, we need to make everyone leave, man. They're way too close to finding out about Clark. Go back in there and tell everyone to go."

Lex rolled his eyes. "Dr. Sutton won't leave a patient, especially not if he's unconscious. Mark isn't going to leave until he's convinced we're not killing Clark. Whitney won't leave Mark. Lana won't leave Chloe. Chloe doesn't have to leave, since she knows about Clark."

"What? Since when?"

"I don't know. She just does. Has for awhile. I think she figured it out over the summer or something. Anyway, she told Clark she knew when the two of you were sick, so he knows she knows, and she knows I know, but she doesn't know he knows and right now, it doesn't matter because she won't leave unless we manage to convince her it's for the greater good."

"That should be possible." Pete rubbed his forehead. "I can't believe she knows. How come she never said anything to me?"

Lex sighed. "You'll have to ask her." He rubbed his hand over his head. "Jonathan's on his way." He sighed again. "I'm sorry, Pete."

Pete started. "For what?"

"Letting this happen."

"Please," Pete said, rolling his eyes. "It's not your fault. Least I don't think it is. I may not like you very much, but at least I know now that you're not out to hurt him. At least, I'm pretty sure you aren't."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

The door opened and Chloe stuck her head in. "Mr. Kent here."

Lex nodded, and reached for Chloe's arm, tugging her inside. "You and Lana have to go home," he said.

"What?" She looked at Lex as if he'd suddenly started speaking another language. "I'm not leaving Clark's side."

"There are too many people here," Pete said. "You need to make Lana go."

"She won't go unless you go," said Lex. "She's already pissed off at me because I won't tell her why Dr. Sutton shouldn't have been able to draw Clark's blood."

"Lex!" Chloe exclaimed, her eyes darting to Pete. Her cheeks flushed. "Um. I don't get that either."

He rolled his eyes. He really didn't have the patience for these stupid games today. "Chloe, I told Pete you know about Clark."

"Why?" She punched him on the shoulder. Hard.

"You already told Clark, it's stupid to pretend," he said, scowling. He rubbed his shoulder. "And I'm sick of the stupid and unnecessary subterfuge."

Her mouth fell open, brow furrowed. "I told Clark? I told... When?"

"When you were sick, but he already knew. He's been angsting about whether or not he should tell you he knows, but you know what? Cat's out of the bag, now." He grabbed Chloe by the shoulders and shook her. "Get Lana out of here."

Chloe raised her eyebrow. Cocked her head. "Why don't we just tell Lana?" she asked. "I'm sure she could be trusted with the secret."

Lex gaped at Chloe.

"What?"

"Have you met Lana Lang? If we tell her, first she'd yell at us for keeping secrets. Then, she'd be like, 'My parents died in that meteor shower,'" he said in his best impression of Lana. "'I'm an orphan because of that shower. And all those mutants? If the meteor shower had never happened, then I'd never be under attack every other week.' And, worse, then Clark would agree with her. And he'd be all, 'Oh, woe is me, she's right. I ruined Lana's life. I must crawl into bed and sleep forever.' Except, oh yeah, Clark is drying!"

"Dude," Pete said. "You need to chill."

Chloe was biting back a smile.

"What?"

"I dare you to do that in front of Lana."

"What?"

Pete snickered. "Oh, man, I'd pay to see that. Twenty bucks, Lex. You do that impression of her, and I'll give you twenty."

Lex turned incredulous eyes on Pete. "First off, I'm a billionaire. Twenty dollars is hardly sufficient to bribe me."

"I thought your funds were cut off," Pete said.

"Well. True. But, second? Twenty dollars is hardly sufficient to cover the medical bills for the care I would need after Lana guts me. So, no, I don't think I'll be doing that impression to her face."

"Fifty."

"Fuck you," Lex snapped, just as the door opened again.

"Chloe, Pete?" Jonathan said in the door, shooting Lex a dirty look. "Thank you for coming. But, right now, I'm trying to clear everyone out. Would you two mind taking off? We'll call you if anything changes."

"Sure, Mr. Kent," Chloe said. She took Lex's hand and squeezed. "You going to be okay?"

"I'll survive."

Lex started to follow the other two out of the laundry room, but Jonathan put his hand on Lex's shoulder and pushed him back. "I need to talk to you. Pete, you too. Just for a moment."

Chloe frowned and looked at Lex.

He sighed. "If this is about Clark, Chloe can hear too," he said.

"What?"

"Jonathan, she's a smart girl."

Jonathan grimaced, but nodded tersely. "Fine." He closed the door behind them all, shutting them in the too small space. Chloe was pressed against Lex, who had his back flush against the dryer. There were scant inches between him and Pete, and Jonathan was so close, Lex could smell the coffee he'd been drinking.

Lex could feel his lung wanting to close in a protest asthma attack. He fought it back valiantly.

"Lex, we need to get the key to Clark's ship back," Jonathan said with a sideways glance at Chloe.

"I already have Damien working on that. He thinks it might take a week, though."

"I want it back now. As soon as possible. It might be the only way to save Clark and Martha."

"Wait, who has a part of Clark's ship?" Chloe asked.

"The DCA. The government," Jonathan said.

She paled. "We need to get that back. They could trace it back to him, couldn't they?"

Lex nodded, his mind working quickly. "It's possible," he said. "Anyone know where they might be holding the items they took from the farm?"

"The government owns property at the north side of town," Pete said. "It's a real small base. Usually when the government has to come here for some reason, they use that space." At Lex's look, he shrugged and said, "It's where they were after the tornado. I went by a few times. They're probably there."

"The guards. They wear military fatigues, right?"

"I think so."

"Anyone know where a military surplus store is?"

"There's one in Grandville," Jonathan said. "Why?"

"I've got a plan," Lex said. "I'm going to pose as a guard, sneak in, and get the key. One of you is coming with me," he added, looking at Chloe and Pete. "The other one is going to help create a diversion. Which one of you is the better driver?"

Chloe and Pete glanced at each other. Then Pete raised his hand. "I probably am. Especially if you want me to drive a truck. Why?"

"If they catch us, I want them chasing a truck with something in the back. That way, Chloe and I can take off without being seen, meet up with Jonathan, and give him the key."

"I don't like this," Jonathan said. "I don't want you kids in danger."

"Better us than you," Lex said. "We can pass as military. No offense, sir, but you're too old and too obviously a civilian. I think Chloe and I might be able to pull it off." He pulled out his wallet and shoved a few bills into Chloe's hand. "If you're not sure what we need to look like, take Whitney."

"Whitney knows?" Jonathan demanded.

Lex shook his head. "But Whitney suspects Clark is different. He probably thinks Clark's a mutant, and that's fine. He'll help us, because he wants to keep Clark safe. And he won't demand the truth, like the princess will."

"Stop it," Chloe snapped. She pocketed the money. "Okay. I'll go tomorrow morning and come here right away. Pete, you feel like skipping school?"

"Always." He gave Lex a half-smile. "Am I an ass for thinking this is kind of fun?"

"Not as long as you remember we're doing this because two people we love are sick," Lex countered. He couldn't be angry, though, because he couldn't help feeling the same way.

There was a timid knock on the door. "Mr. Kent?" Lana called. "Lex? Clark's awake."