Pretty Shiny

Pretty Shiny

Flora Winters

I do not own anything from Buffy or Smallville.

Summary: Glory will do anything to get her hands on a shiny octagonal key. This key will allow her to open a portal so she can use Dawn's blood once more to try and get home. A certain alien just so happens to possess the item she is after. Can this God of the cornpatch stand in the way of an almighty pissed off Hellbitch while he falls madly in love with the man she is trapped in?

This is not a Clarkie the Vampire Slaying Alien or anything like that. This is a Buffy/Smallville crossover.

Chapter Three

It was going on six in the morning and Ben was in the break room drinking a strong black coffee to keep him awake. He was trying to go over some files but he could not get Clark Kent off his mind. He felt kind of stupid thinking about an eighteen year old that way but Clark looked so much older. When he had first looked into those blue-green eyes he thought them old and had seen too much pain.

He really should be getting home. His shift had ended at six, so he took the files back to Dr. Monroe and was told he was needed for the next three hours. He groaned when he left the office and went back to the break room to drink down three more hours worth of energy.

Clark rolled over in his bed sighing as he squinted from the sunlight streaming through his open window. He had another dream about a certain hunky nurse in scrubs wanting to play doctor with a fine alien specimen.

Clark reached over for his other pillow when his alarm went off making him jump out of his skin. He looked over to see that it was six-thirty and groaned. This was just one more pair of sticky boxers he was going to have to throw away.

He crawled up out of the bed and changed into some clean clothes before his mom knocked on the door to tell him that breakfast was in ten. He held out his sticky boxers and dropped them in his trashcan and put some paper over them in case his mom decided to clean while he was out and about.

Today was the day Chloe was packing to move to Met U with Lana to start College. He had applied at the local community college so he could be close to home and just commute back and forth. Now that he no longer had his powers he would probably see less of his friends and this saddened him, a lot.

He threw on a blue t-shirt with some jeans and raced barefoot down the stairs only to stub his toe yelping in pain. His mother looked around the corner to see him hopping on one foot while squeezing the other one cursing. She knew her baby was not use to this but she could not help but laugh at how ridiculous he looked. He heard her laughing and looked up at her with a pout making her shake her head and went to put breakfast on the table.

Jonathan walked in to see his son hop over to the table to sit down and rub his toe. He smiled at his son and told him that he suffered one of those at least once a day. Martha sat bacon and eggs down on the table, and went back to the oven to check on her biscuits which were browning nicely.

Clark was about to say something when Chloe walked in, “Knock, knock.”

Everyone one looked and Clark smiled, “Hi, Chloe.”

Chloe smelled the bacon and her mouth watered, but she had to tell someone about her weird phone call, “I just got the strangest phone call from Gabriel Duncan.”

“The computer whiz guy from school,” Clark asked fighting his dad over the bacon making Martha smack both of their hands with a wooden spoon with a swap.

“Yeah,” Chloe said laughing at Clark’s face, “Basically he called to tell me to get out of town because Smallville was never about to be the same,” she told them and then looked at her watch, “In forty-five minutes.”

“What did he mean by that,” Jonathan asked.

“Not a clue,” she said taking a piece of Clark’s bacon which earned her a glare, “But, he did sound really strange.”

Jonathan nodded, “How about the two of you try and find this Gabriel Duncan while I go and talk to sheriff Adams.”

“Another good all American breakfast gone to waste,” Martha said shaking her head sadly at her beautiful meal.

“I’ll take a doggie bag,” Chloe said with a bright smile.

Lex was looking in the glass cell to see his father standing in complete silence into empty space. There were strange symbols drawn all over the walls and floor that looked similar to the paintings on the cave wall.

Lionel looked over in Lex’s direction giving Lex the feeling his father was looking right at him. He shook the feeling off and told the doctors to keep him updated on his father’s condition. His father had seemed his normal old bastard self on the drive home from Lander’s field only to lapse back into crazy silent drawer mode. Was it just him, or was there somebody in the hospital that he knew every week? Lex let out a sigh and he knew that his father’s condition was linked to that damn stone which was stolen from him because of that bitch Isobel.

He sat in his car thinking while he looked over a file. Even though the tattoo on Lana’s back was gone she still managed to somehow tap into Isobel’s magic making it her own. Isobel is Lana’s ancestor so the magic that lay dormant in her blood must have been awakened when she touched that book, which was now destroyed. She even taught Chloe how to tap into the magic that was Madeline’s when she was possessed by the evil little slut. Now the two of them were happy little witches who danced naked under the moonlight in the forests. Woo hoo!

He banged his head against the wheel causing the horn to honk which scared him. All of this was just too confusing and he just wanted to get home so he could get a nice drink of his favorite liquor.

Lana was in the loft of the Talon packing up things to take to school with her. She was handing the place over to Lois so she could have a nice place to live, and Martha agreed to help run the Talon in her absence.

She was humming to herself while she packed when her cell began to go off with Remy Zero singing, “Somebody save me!”

She really did need to change that ring tone because it was so tiring to hear that every time someone called.

She flipped it open seeing it was Chloe, “House of Beauty this is Cutie, may I help you with something?”

“Lana,” Chloe called, “Clark and I are on the trail of Gabriel Duncan.”

“Who,” Lana asked.

“This guy from school,” Chloe said sounding out of breath, “We found his dad dead in his house and all kinds of things about meteor freaks on the walls.”

“Ok,” Lana said, “Do you know where he is?”

“No,” Chloe told her, “And that’s not all. We think he might be using a nuke from one of the missile silos.”

Lana gasped almost dropping her spell supplies, “And why would you think that?”

“Because he said that Smallville will never be the same,” and quickly looked at her watch, “In 35 minutes.”

“Where are you,” Lana asked walking over to her mirror only for the phone to go dead.

“Chloe,” she called, “Chloe?”

She threw her phone down and waved her hand in front of the mirror telling her to find that which she seeks to suddenly see Chloe wreck her car in a ditch on purpose with Clark standing in front of the red barn.

“What the hell,” she gasped and quickly grabbed her cell and keys leaving.

Jonathan pulled up to the road block and got out of his truck calling out to Sheriff Adams. She walked over to him raising her hands, “This is nothing to worry about Mr. Kent,” she said in a tone that convinced him otherwise, “You just go on home now.”

Military vehicles were driving out to a missile silo and Jonathan just looked at her, “Are you sure,” he asked, “I know the military put those things here years ago but they’re harmless, right?”

“Of course,” Sheriff Adams said smiling, “God, I need some coffee.”

Jonathan just nodded and made his way back to his truck. He needed to get back to the house. Maybe Chloe’s little friend was right. Smallville never will be the same if he is going to set one of those monsters off.

Clark was hiding behind a bush when Gabriel pulled up on his motorcycle. He jumped off and ran over to Chloe, “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine,” she said pretending to be shaken, “I was on my way out of town when this rabbit ran out in front of me and I lost control of my car.”

“It’s ok,” he said trying to calm her down, “You can come back with me where you’ll be safe.”

“Safe from what,” she asked taking his hand when he turned away from her, “Safe from what Gabriel?”

“The nuclear fallout,” he said in barely a whisper.

Chloe’s eyes went wide, “You can’t do that.”

“It’s too late,” he said grinning at her, “The countdowns started.”

“Gabriel,” she pleaded thinking about Lana and all her friends, “You have to stop it.”

“You’re going to kill thousands of innocent people,” Clark said walking up behind them.

“I’m sorry,” Gabriel said looking right at Chloe as he whipped out a gun spinning around shooting Clark right in the chest.

Chloe froze. The look on Clark’s face was that of confusion and pain. She saw the blood dribble from his mouth as he fell to his knees. She screamed out his name and tried to run to him only to be swiped across the face by Gabriel’s gun which knocked her out cold.

Clark fell back and just laid there sprawled in the middle of the highway looking up at the blue sky as Gabriel drove off with an unconscious Chloe. He was afraid. He had never felt pain like this before. Was he going to die? Were all the people he ever loved going to die? He was so stupid to not think someone like that would have a gun. He tried to take a deep breath and only got a gasp of air. He wanted his mom.

Lana was speeding down the highway like a witch trying to escape the bonfire, again. How could Chloe and Clark go off and do something like this and without her? Yeah, sure, her pumpkin had magical powers, but really, this guy could have a gun, and unless Chloe was really fast to act her and Clark could wind up hurt or killed.

“Damn it Remy,” Lana yelled picking up her cell, “Hello?”

“Lana!”

“Mr. Kent,” she said speeding up, “I’m on my way to find Clark and Chloe right now.”

“Something bad is happening Lana,” Jonathan said, “The silos I think.”

Lana’s eyes were poisonous, “I know.”

“The military is inspecting the silos armed,” he said, “Find them Lana.”

“Ok,” Lana said looking up to slam on her breaks, “Shit!”

“Lana,” Jonathan asked getting scared, “What is it?”

“Call 911 Mr. Kent,” Lana yelled, “Mills Barn, now!”

“Lana,” Jonathan asked, “Whose hurt?”

Lana fought with her door and finally kicked it open in a panic, “It’s Clark!”

She fell at his side to see him look at her with scared eyes and blood dripping from his mouth, “Mommy?”

She took his hand, “It’s Lana, Clark,” she said gently even though she was scared as hell, “An ambulance is coming.”

“Gabriel took Chloe,” he gasped, “Missile.”

She watched his eyes suddenly close and she picked up her phone and called 911 only for them to tell her that an ambulance was on its way. She dropped her phone and quickly set about to help stop the bleeding.

Chloe opened her eyes to feel her hands tied behind her back and then her mind flashed to Clark being shot. She looked up to see Gabriel typing on a panel, “Clark could die Gabriel,” she begged, “Please call 911.”

“In fifteen minutes Chloe,” he whispered, “It won’t even matter.”

“How could you do this,” she hissed, “All these people?”

“The freaks,” he shouted, “Fucked up my life they did!”

“Not everyone,” she said trying to get her hands free so she could hex him to hell, “Is a freak.”

“True,” he said looking at her, “But this has to happen before they infect more people.”

“Are you even listening to yourself,” she asked, “You’re hurting thousands to only get at a few.”

Gabriel grinned and shrugged his shoulders, “Casualties of war.”

Lana and the Kent’s followed Clark in on the gurney and he was bleeding badly. Ben ran out and saw Clark and thanked some god for not going home yet. He looked at the Kent’s, “He’s in good hands.”

Martha was too traumatized to even acknowledge he was even there. She was just looking at the blood covering her baby and listening to him gasp for every breath of air he could get. If she could only get her hands on the little bastard that did this to her baby she would make them wish they were in his place instead.

Jonathan held her tight and Ben nodded as he rushed off with Clark behind the doors leaving them to wait in fear. Lana just looked at the blood that stained her hands and ran the hell out of there to find Chloe.

She ran out to her truck and picked up Chloe’s brush and pulled out some of her hair as her eyes began to glow violet. She began to whisper in Latin and a bright ball of light formed and shot off around her head and then zipped off for her to follow at seventy-five miles per hour. She was going to murder a little bitch for shooting her best friend and kidnap the love of her life, as well as trying to nuke her home. Her eyes glowed a dangerous violet and the truck just sped up.

Ben stood at Clark’s bedside watching the young man breath steadily. He thought it was cute how Clark’s feet hung over the edge of the bed just like his did at home. This was the third time he had seen Clark in the hospital and he was starting to see a pattern. He did not know what the pattern was just yet, but he was sure there was one.

He had been so scared for Clark when he had been gasping to breathe and how his body was sweating profusely. The bullet had been a bitch for the doctor to pull out. Clark had cried out only once and then fell silent as the doctor stitched him up quickly.

Ben was about to go get Clark’s parents when Clark suddenly opened his eyes and smiled at him saying weakly, “You’re cute,” and then gasped for a breath, “I want my mom.”

Ben took his hand and Clark suddenly flat lined as Lionel Luthor opened his eyes in his cell at Belle Reve. Ben shouted for the doctor who quickly rushed in and grabbed the hand breathing device and the Defibrillator. Ben put the oxygen mask over Clark’s face and the doctor pumped the machines shouting, “Clear!”

Clark’s body jolted and the machine still flat lined. Lionel looked so sad as he stared with milky white eyes starting to turn green. Clark’s body jolted again as Ben cried, “Come on Clark!”

The doctor did it once more and then sadly called it and Ben just stood there in shock. What the hell was he going to say to the Kent’s?

Lionel walked over to the edge of his glass prison and punched right through the glass. He stood there and watched it shatter and fall all around him. He stepped out and took off at super speed out of Belle Reve.

Ben held Clark’s hand for a few second and he looked at the doctor, “Let me tell his parents.”

Dr. Monroe smiled sadly and nodded as she walked out of the silent room. Ben brushed back a strand of hair away from Clark’s closed eyes and gently pulled the white sheet over his face. He had not felt this sad since Giles tried to kill him. He saved his life only for him to try and take his.

He walked to the door and looked back once more to see what could have been and walked out to find the Kent’s sitting in the lobby. Martha saw the look on his face, “Ben?”

Ben walked up to them realized he could not speak. The pain he saw in their faces was too much for him. He could only whisper, “I am so sorry.”

Tears streamed from Martha’s eyes and her knees gave out as she screamed. Jonathan caught her as she punched at his chest and Ben closed his eyes, “I’m so sorry.”

Jonathan looked up from his wife to see a doctor running out, “Ben, there’s a problem with the Kent boy.”

Ben took off running after her with both Kent’s hot on their heels as all four stood in an empty room. Ben looked around the room, “Where did he go?”

Clark opened his eyes to find himself lying on the ground in his icy Fortress of Solitude with a light snow falling around him. He realized that he was no longer in any pain and got to his feet.

“Welcome back to the land of the living,” a familiar voice said, “My son.”

Clark looked around, “I died, didn’t I?”

“Yes,” that voice said, “I restored your life and your powers.”

Clark frowned, “Why?”

“Because your mortal journey is over,” the voice said, “Your destiny is too great and too important for me to lose you my son.”

A figure walked out of the light and Clark gasped when he saw that it was Lionel Luthor standing there smiling at him warmly, “How did you get here?”

“This is my vessel Kal-El,” Jor-El said speaking through Lionel’s lips, “An oracle of Kryptonian knowledge.”

“How,” Clark asked.

“The stone of power was activated when it touched blood,” Jor-El told him, “This vessel had one on his person when the keys were activated thus filling his mind with vast amounts of knowledge.”

Clark looked around, “How did you get me here?”

“Through the portal,’ Jor-El told him, “In the cave.”

“My friends need me,” Clark told him remembering the nuke.

“I know,” Jor-El said reaching out to grasp a shoulder, “Thousands of lives are at risk right now.”

“I have to go to them,” Clark said.

Jor-El nodded and then said gravely, “For me to restore your life my son a life in return must be forfeit.”

“What,” Clark asked clearly confused.

“Someone whom you love dearly will die,” Jor-El told him.

“No,” Clark begged, “Don’t bring me back.”

“I can’t even if I could,” he said, “Your life has been restored as well as your powers and without you all those people will die.”

He wrapped his arms around Clark whispering, “Always remember, my son,” he said tenderly, “That no matter what happens, I love you.”

Clark just stood there and Jor-El pulled away, “Now go.”

Clark was gone.

Lana was flooring the gas pedal as she plowed through the wheat field following the sparkling ball of light. Suddenly she came to a clearing where a silo could be seen in the distance opening. The ball of light zoomed on and she followed madly.

Gabriel was too busy typing away for him to see that Chloe had gotten her hands free and was now sneaking up on him. He turned around only to me smacked across the face with a police rod she got off the dead body. He fell to the floor with a smack and she started to type in information to cancel the nuke only for the panel to be locked by a password. She screamed when he grabbed her ankle making her fall as he grabbed the gun.

She scrambled to her feet and turned around to face him, “Stop!”

“I can’t,” he shouted, “I won’t!”

She was about to say something when he looked at one of the monitors, “What the?”

She quickly grabbed the gun and pulled him back as they struggled. Her face twisted as he fought her only for her eyes to glow violet and the gun went off. Chloe looked horrified as blood splattered her face and the window. Gabriel looked at her and gurgled, “Freak,” and fell to the ground dead.

Chloe felt the room shake as the missile ignited. She looked at the monitors, “Oh, my, god.”

There was Lana kicking at the door trying to get in. Chloe quickly ran over and turned the wheel and the door swung back for Lana to jump in grabbing her shrieking, “Where’s the little bitch who did this to your lovely face?”

“Dead,” Chloe said pulling her in, “Get in here!”

She slammed the door shut and twisted the wheel, “Clark?”

“At the hospital,” Lana said, “I found him.”

“That’s good even though it doesn’t matter now,” Chloe said tearfully as the blast windows shut, “Its too late now.”

“The computer,” Lana asked.

“Locked,” Chloe said as the room shook violently.

Lana closed her eyes wishing she had Isobel’s power. That missile would be a flock of ravens if she was in control. She opened her eyes, “Oh god,” she said watching the monitor and the target screen, “Shit.”

Clark stopped in the middle of the field to see the missile start to rise in the sky. He raced forward and the ground cracked and groaned under the pressure he was putting on it and then jumped to grab hold of the side of the missile trying his best to not look down.

He punched his fist in climbing higher as the missile rose into orbit releasing the lower half to fall back to earth. Clark looked back to see nothing but clouds and blue ocean gulping.

He climbed higher and as the missile turned to fall back to earth he punched his fist in the door and ripped it open pulling out the nuclear charge and hurled it out into space for it to explode. He then proceeded to close his eyes and go down with the missile.

Lana was holding Chloe tightly as they waited for their home to be decimated. The both of them jumped and cried as the ground rumbled above them from the explosion. The monitor on the screen started to bleep and Chloe looked over to see that it read missile malfunction. She wiped the tears from her eyes as Lana cried happily. She smiled and shouted happily, “Clark!”

Lana smiled.

Martha was sitting at the table in tears while Jonathan was ranting on the phone with the authorities at how the hospital had lost their son. He was so pissed and upset he did not even hear the kitchen door open until Martha screamed and had her son in her arms.

Jonathan just spoke into the phone, “Never mind.”

Clark hugged his mom like there was no tomorrow and Jonathan rushed over to embrace his son to. It was a miracle. Sure his son was a bit scorched, but he was alive.

Martha held him tightly because she was afraid that if she let go he would disappear on her. Jonathan pulled back from him, “What happened son?’

Clark pulled away and looked really sad, “I died.”

“Baby,” Martha cried and took his hands as he said, “And Jor-El brought me back.”

Jonathan looked at him, “Thank god he did, otherwise we would have gone crazy.”

Martha nodded and pulled her baby to her, “I’m so happy you’re ok.”

Clark nodded, “I love you guys.”

“We love you to, son,” Jonathan said.

“If you did not have your powers Clark,” Jonathan told him, “Smallville would not even be here right now.”

“I know,” he said sadly, “But I can never be normal again.”

Martha smiled warmly at him in understanding as Jonathan asked, “What did Jor-El ask for in return son? We know he does nothing without a price.”

Clark shook his head not allowing the tear to fall, “Nothing,” he lied, “He told me he loved me.”

Both Martha and Jonathan looked at him with wide eyes as Jonathan said, “Well, he has a lousy way of showing it.”

Martha was about to say something when they heard the living room door open and a sad voice call out, “Mr. and Mrs. Kent?”

All three recognized the voice. Martha and Jonathan went into the living room to see Ben standing there looking tired and depressed, “I am so sorry,” he said and then saw Clark walk in and his eyes suddenly looked fearful, “Oh my god!”

Martha and Jonathan turned around to see their son who was smiling at Ben. Ben just shook his head sadly, “Please tell me you see him to,” he begged, “Or I’m going to go check myself in somewhere nice.”

The funny part was that the three of them could not tell if he was being serious or funny. Martha just smiled, “Of course we can see him, dear.”

“Oh, good,” Ben said finally allowing a smile to grace his face, “For a second I thought I was seeing another ghost.”

“Ben,” Martha asked, “Would you like some tea?”

Ben nodded, “That would be wonderful Mrs. Kent, thank you.”

Martha smiled warmly at him as she went back to the kitchen to put some on. Jonathan suddenly chose to go help her and left Clark and Ben all alone in the living room.

“Oh my god,” Ben said as Clark walked closer to him, “You’ve been burned.”

“No,” Clark lied, “I just got roughed up getting back here.”

“How did you Clark,” he asked wondering if Clark was a demon of some kind.

“I don’t know,” he lied yet again.

Ben just shook his head. It had been a long day, “Well, whatever it was, it was a miracle.”

Clark smiled at him, “Why did you come all the way out here for?”

Ben felt nervous. He really didn’t know why he had come. God! He was shy around girls but when it came to men he turned into a blushing statue. He let out a small breath, “I..I don’t know Clark,” he said honestly, “I felt horrible.”

“Why,’ Clark asked completely intrigued.

“You told me you wanted your mom,” Ben said trying to stay calm, “I moved to go get her and you just…flat lined, Clark.”

Clark nodded even though he was smiling on the inside as he went on, “The doctor and I did everything we could. You were just gone,” he said as a tear fell. God! He really was starting to fall apart, “You…said you wanted your…mom.”

Clark didn’t know how he suddenly got the courage to do it but he reached over and hugged Ben, “It’s ok,” he told him gently, “See, I’m fine.”

Ben nodded and pulled away when he saw Martha and Jonathan standing in the doorway watching the two of them with identical intrigued expressions. Ben coughed and Clark looked to see his parents standing there and blushed.

Martha smiled and walked over, “Here’s your tea Ben,” she said gesturing to the sofa, “You look so tired dear. Won’t you sit down?”

He took the steaming cup from her and took a seat, “Thank you, Mrs. Kent.”

“You’re welcome, dear,” she told him kindly, “It means a lot to us that you would come all the way out here like this.”

He nodded his head and Jonathan reached over to shake his hand, “Thank you.”

Ben smiled warmly and Clark noticed how Ben suddenly looked fresh and revitalized. He took a sip of his tea and smirked, “You’ve ruined me for all other tea, Mrs. Kent.”

“Excellent,” she beamed happily, “I guess you’ll just have to keep coming here for more then.”

Jonathan just looked at his wife and Clark smiled. Ben felt himself blushing and had to look down at his hands.

“It means a lot to us Ben,” Martha said warmly, “You helped me, you helped Clark twice now, and you even came here to see us.”

“Yes,” Jonathan said following his wife, “You’re more than welcome to visit at anytime.”

Ben smiled, “Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Kent but,” he started but the gave him “the look” and he cleared his throat, “I’ll always call first.”

Clark snorted, “Now that you think we’re all pod people, let me show you our spaceship in the barn.”

Ben laughed, “I hated that movie. It gives aliens a bad name.”

Martha just looked at them while Jonathan tried his best not to whistle. He knew then if he did the cat would be out of the bag and they would have to bury Ben in the cellar with the rest of their dark secrets.

Clark laughed and Ben sat his empty mug on the coaster, “I need to get going,” he said rising to his feet thanking the Kent’s again and turned to Clark, “I’m so happy you’re ok.”
Martha smiled up at him from her seat, “Have a safe drive dear.”

Jonathan shook his hand again and Clark said, “I’ll walk you out.”

Ben nodded and Clark followed him out the door. Clark looked at his car and whistled, “Wow, that’s nice.”

Ben laughed, “It’s not mine.”

“Whose is it,” he asked.

“My sisters,” he said sighing, “She loves the flashy stuff.”

“And what you do you like Ben,” Clark asked.

Ben stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at him. No one had ever asked him that before, and if they did they never really listened. He looked Clark in the eye and Clark said, “You could stay for awhile if you want.”

Ben chewed on his lower lip and nodded his head. Clark smiled and led him into the barn, “Now don’t freak out,” he said laughing, “No crazy ax murderers here, although my mom did chase a meteor freak with one a few weeks ago.”

Ben stopped, “Your mom, a what?”

“A meteor freak,” Clark repeated, “Some people get infected by the meteor rocks and get powers.”

“You’re serious,” Ben said following him.

“Deadly,” Clark said, “Most either die or wind up in Belle Reve where they are more than likely exploited.”

Ben nodded. He lived on the Hell Mouth for a good year. None of this scared him. Hell, not even his sister scared him.

Clark led him up the stairs saying, “This is my Fortress of Solitude, or so my dad calls it when he build it for me when I needed my own space to vent.”

Ben looked around and grinned, “This is cool.”

Clark smiled goofily and Ben felt himself melt, “This is where I’m at most the time if you drop by.”

“Ah,” Ben said and then asked, “You like solitude then?”

Clark’s smile was a little sad, “Not if I had the choice.”

Ben frowned at that, “We have that in common.”

“You save people,” Clark said.

“If its in my power,” Ben said, “Yes.”

Clark nodded, “So tell me,” he asked, “What do you like?”

Ben sat down on the sofa offered him and Clark sat next to him. Ben thought it over, “I like simple things that are full of meaning. I like to help people. Not because it makes me feel good or important, but because it makes me feel human. It makes me feel like I am doing something good and meaningful with my life. It just feels like it’s the right thing to do.”

Clark smiled as he thought of how scary it was that the two of them had a lot in common. Ben looked over at him, “What do you like, Clark?”

“People who are honest and kind,” he said without thinking.

“Then why are you hanging out in your fortress with the likes of me,” he asked looking at the telescope.

“Because you were concerned about me,” Clark said, “And not once did you mention how I said you were cute.”

Ben almost choked and stuttered, “You, you remember?”

Clark nodded and Ben got up and walked over to the telescope and looked through it, “Nice pond.”

“I’ll take you fishing when you’re free,” Clark said.

Ben turned around to look at him, “Really?”

“Yeah,” Clark said and Ben smiled, “I’ve never been fishing before.”

“Cool,” Clark said, “I get to be mean and make you learn how to dig your own worms and worm your on hook.”

“Oh, I can do that tough guy,” Ben said, “Just as long as you take the fish off.”

Clark laughed, “The smell is terrible.”

“I’ve heard stories,” Ben said laughing.

“It’s a date then,” Clark said boldly.

“A date,” Ben asked playing confused, “When did you ask me out?”

“When I said I would take you fishing,” Clark said matter of fact.

Ben shook his head, “You’re serious?”

“You don’t have to,” Clark said.

“No,” Ben shouted and then blushed, “I would love to go fishing with you.”

Clark got up off the couch, “Just let me know when you’re free.”

“Clark,” Ben said, “I’m twenty-three.”

Clark nodded, “Cool. You can buy the booze.”

Ben snorted, “I need to get back to work,” he said, “Here’s my cell number.”

Clark wrote it down and gave Ben his and Ben waved as he left and Clark heard two sets of whistles and heels on the steps. He was blushing something furious when Lana and Chloe grinned at him.

Lana could not help herself, “This is more than just too cute, this is adorable.”

Chloe agreed and Clark just looked at them and realized he was acting normal with Lana here and suddenly pretended to be in pain from his gun shot wound.

“Hi guys,” he said in a weak voice and Chloe looked at him as Lana said, “I know Clark.”

“Know what,” he asked looking at Chloe a little hurt, “Chloe?”

“I’m sorry Clark,” she said running over to him and taking his hands, “The nuke went off, you were shot and in the hospital, everything just came out, and I spilled it all to her.”

“It wasn’t your secret to tell Chloe,” he said pulling his hands away from hers.

“Clark,” Lana said looking dead at him, “I love you. I would and will hex, smite, kill anyone who ever tries to hurt you again.”

Clark closed his eyes, “Thank you, Lana.”

“Do you forgive me,” Chloe asked in a low whisper.

Clark smiled at her, “Under the circumstances, yeah, I can understand why you did it Chloe.”

Chloe hugged him only to gasp when Lex asked from the steps, “Did what Chloe?”

Lana laughed, “She screwed up a potion Lex and turned her hair purple.”

Lex just stood there knowing that the two of them were held up in a missile silo, “Uh-huh.”

“It’s the truth,” Chloe said, “God, Lex, you should have seen it.”

Clark moaned in fake pain and Chloe pulled back, “I’m so sorry Clark.”

“Yeah,” Clark said holding his chest, “I’ll live.”

Lex smiled, “I’m so glad you’re ok Clark.”

“Thanks Lex,” Clark said trying to smile through the fake pain, “It would get really boring around if I had croaked.”

“Smallville!”

Clark cringed when he heard the scream that made them all jump and he held his chest tighter.

“Oh, thank god you’re ok.”

Lois pushed past Lex who only looked at the muffin peddler with scorn. She walked over to punched him the shoulder making Clark yelp, “That’s for not calling me,” she cried, “And as for you two,” she said pointing at Lana and Chloe, “Where’s the little bitch that did all this?”

“Dead,” Lana said evenly.

“I accidentally on purpose used the powers of Jesus and black magic to make the gun shoot him,” Chloe said, “And he called me the freak.”

Lois smiled, “Still into that dark magic?”

Chloe nodded, “It’s the best. Just wait till that bitch at the Daily Planet messes with me.”

Lex coughed and glared at the four of them, “Sorry to interrupt Witches Weekly, but how did that missile malfunction?”

“How the hell should we know,” Lana asked him.

Lex was looking right at Clark who was still scorched, “I’ll see you all later.”

“Bye Lex,” Clark called over the girls chatting at mad speed, “Thanks for stopping by!”

“I dunno about you three,” Lois said, “But that guy needs to get laid.”

“He’s not the only one,” Clark said out loud and both girls backed away from him as Lois advanced, “What was that?”

Before Lex left the barn he heard a loud yelp and a groan, “I’m dying again,” Clark moaned in pain, “Chloe, call Ben!”

“What,” Lois yelled, “Who the hell is Ben?”

“Clark’s boyfriend,” Lana cooed sweetly.

All went silent and then Lois exploded, “WHAT!”

Lex just shook his head and made his way to his car. He had some new plans for Level Three at Luthorcorp and he needed to get started right away. He pulled out his cell and made a quick call.

TBC…