Hypnotic

Title: Hypnotic
Pairing(s): Actually Clana, but really it's all about the Clex. Obviously :p
Spoilers: up to Season 5 'Hypnotic'
Category: episode-related, drama, angst, romance
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A re-write of 'Hypnotic.' Lex makes some interesting discoveries about Milton Fine, while Clark prepares for his wedding rehearsal. An old friend arrives to liven up the festivities, but a mysterious woman with a blue gem takes events in a turn no one is expecting.

:: dedicated to rmsgrey ::

The early afternoon sun seeped languidly through the stained glass windows of Lex's Smallville mansion, bathing the man himself, along with his laptop and the assortment of maps and papers cluttering his desk, in warm reds and yellows. The glow made Lex appear deceptively relaxed, but his choice of dark blue shirt, buttoned to the top of its crisply pressed collar, and the intent expression on his face as he gazed at the computer screen, betrayed how keyed up he really was.

Displayed on the screen was a Central Kansas University profile of Professor Milton Fine, former member of the history department. He'd been an irritation to Lex for a while, with his persistent, and extremely vocal, opposition to LuthorCorp, but lately Lex had been starting to fear the man might be more of a threat than previously realised. The profile told Lex nothing new, and he tapped his fingers against the side of the keyboard impatiently, glancing at his watch.

He was just about to reach for his phone, when a gust of wind blew through the room, scattering a couple of papers off the desk.

"Lex, I got your text, I'm so sorry I'm late!" an oddly breathless Clark began immediately, harassed expression contrasting sharply with the cool blue of his T-shirt. "There were some last minute arrangements Lana and I had to sort out at the church for the wedding rehearsal tomorrow, and then we got sidetracked by a discussion about what colour scheme we wanted the cushions to be. I mean, honestly, what does it matter what colour cushions are?" Clark shook his head; pulling his red jacket over his shoulders from the position half way down his back it had somehow fallen into. "And then," Clark continued, before Lex could even begin to formulate a reply. "The Vicar was trying to teach me to dance, because the bride and groom are supposed to do that at the reception, on their own, only I'm not very good. I nearly knocked half of the pews over when I missed a step." Clark paused then, looking sheepish, and Lex missed his opportunity to speak because he was too busy trying not to laugh, his impatience instantly forgotten in the face of Clark's wonderfully heartfelt response to such triviality. "So, anyway," Clark finished, rather more calmly. "I really am sorry. But it wasn't entirely my fault."

Lex nodded, relaxing back into his chair with a smile.

"That's okay," he insisted, even though less than five minutes ago it completely hadn't been. "But you really can't dance?" he added, curious - the small details of Clark's life proving, as always, infinitely more interesting to Lex than anything else.

"Not to save my life," Clark replied with a shrug. "Well, I'm okay if it's just swaying a bit, in time with the music, you know? But anything involving actual dance steps? Complete disaster."

Lex raised an eyebrow.

"I've picked up a few dance routines in my time," he stated. "Maybe I could help you." He was immediately taken by the idea - shaping Clark's ungainly farmyard mannerisms into the elegant, refined movements his perfect alien body practically demanded. Not to mention the excuse it would provide for Lex to bring that body just a little bit closer...

The older man forced himself, with a fair amount of difficulty, to end that thought right there. Shoehorning his wandering mind to Lana and the merits of friendship. The friendship he shared with Clark was certainly more than Lex had found in anyone else, including his previous lovers. That should be enough. Clark's my friend. I will not screw that up by forcing something else he told himself firmly. God knew the two of them were lucky to have come as far as they had together. Friend. Friend. Friend. Perhaps he could make it a mantra?

Clark, oblivious to Lex's inner struggle, was unhelpfully smiling sunbeams at his friend.

"Would you really?" he asked, delighted. "Because that'd be great. Right now, I just have no clue, the wedding's only three weeks away, and I'm terrified of letting Lana down."

Lex was happy for Clark and Lana, he really was, but all the same, he couldn't help the way his eyes dimmed at the mention of Clark's impending nuptials.

"We'll work something out," he assured Clark, managing to at least maintain his smile.

"Great," Clark smiled back. "Although, I'm guessing dancing lessons weren't the reason you called me over. Is it something to do with those blood samples you took the other week? You said no more tests till you'd analysed them, so I wondered if maybe you'd discovered something." Clark looked to Lex in simple curiosity, not even the slightest trace of anxiety marring his face.

He and Lex hadn't conducted many experiments in the secret lab as of yet, but the ones they had tried had proved more useful, simple and decidedly un-fearful than Clark had expected. With the image of Victor Stone strapped to that nightmarish chair still fresh in his mind, he'd envisioned strange, humming equipment attached to his body - tubes and wires sucking the life out of him, leaving him bottled, labelled and analysed.

But Lex had suggested nothing like that. Instead, the experiments were very basic and very informal. Wanting to define Clark's reaction to kryptonite as a person, as opposed to a cell sample, Lex would simply have a sample of kryptonite set up on a pedestal and Clark would move progressive closer to it, while Lex noted down distances and the severity of Clark's reaction. In fact, the tests were more social than scientific, often including pizza and soda. It was the kind of easy companionship Clark remembered them sharing while at high school, only now their backdrop was a lab instead of a luxury living room.

The tests were so easy, in fact, Clark wondered why he'd never attempted something like them himself. Sure, he was a bit woozy afterwards, but the results were worth it, since he now had a better idea how far he could push himself - knowledge that could be invaluable in future, inevitably dangerous, situations. He'd learned, for instance, that five meters was about as close as he could get to a standard rock of kryptonite before it started to effect him, and that the effects actually lessened the more sunlight he was exposed to. Lex had suggested a sunlight experiment after learning about the erratic turn Clark's powers had taken during the sunspot phenomenon a few years ago, and Clark was impressed to discover the lab actually had a hidden window that let sunlight in when necessary. Lex had been rather taken by the way Clark seemed to be powered by the sun, muttering something Clark didn't understand about Apollo and Phoebus and the role of the erastes being reversed.

A few days ago though, Lex had wanted to test the effects of kryptonite with different variables, and suggested a blood sample would probably be a safer option than exposing Clark to a perhaps significantly greater amount of pain. By then, Clark had been happy enough to oblige - having chosen to trust Lex, he was now prepared to offer that trust completely - but Lex had been shocked, both by Clark's ready agreement to his request, and by the obvious pain the other man had willingly submitted to in order to grant it.

Lex recalled now Clark's inadvertent gasp as he'd drawn the sharpened shard of kryptonite across his wrist, the tight expression across his face that followed as his blood dripped slowly into the glass container. He'd been valiantly silent as the container filled, concealing his pain for Lex's sake, but that gasp had already exposed the truth. Using kryptonite like that didn't just hurt - it was agony. And Clark had borne it because Lex asked him to. And Lex had let him. He'd hurried over to take the offending substance away as soon as possible, of course, and Clark healed in seconds. But for those few minutes he'd left his friend in agony, not just because Clark's blood might prove useful to 33.1, but simply because Lex wanted to know. And what's more, Lex knew he was more than capable of doing it again. He was still quietly disgusted with himself, thinking perhaps Clark had been right not to trust him all this time. When it was over Clark had shrugged a little breathily and simply said - 'I hope it helps.' Lex didn't think he'd ever wanted to be worthy of the other man's trust more than at that moment. Because in the end that was what really mattered to Clark - helping others. He might get things wrong sometimes, but the important thing was that, as long as he believed he was helping, Clark was willing to do whatever it took, even if that meant slitting his own wrists. It was the type of selfless compassion Lex had given up on years before Smallville, seeing it in Clark now made his heart ache.

Blinking away the vision of Clark in the lab, Lex shook his head, focusing on the cheery, healthy Clark in front of him.

"No, it's nothing to do with the blood samples," he explained, standing and moving next to his friend. "I'm still working on those," he added. A lot slower than normal too, triple checking the set up for every test - Lex didn't want a single drop of blood wasted, considering how costly its extraction had been. "And I'm sorry to interrupt your wedding plans, but I've discovered something about the Kryptonian ship that I wanted to talk to you about."

"Discovered something?" Clark asked, surprised. "You're not saying you've found it, have you?"

"No," Lex replied, tilting his head. "Although you make it sound like it would be surprising if I did."

"I guess I just don't get why you're still looking into it," the younger man shrugged. "I mean, you know the truth about it now. And its owners are gone. I can't see what interest it has anymore."

Lex frowned at the reply for a moment, then allowed it an indulgent nod.

"It's true I know where it came from now," he conceded, expression turning serious. "But it's far from lacking in interest, Clark. In fact, its disappearance is potentially dangerous. Since you didn't take it that leaves us with basically two options: either it vanished of its own accord as part of some Kryptonian mechanism we don't understand, or someone else took it. I have no way of looking into the first option, but I have been following up leads on the second."

Clark blinked. The thought that someone else might have either the desire, or the resources, to take the ship away from LuthorCorp hadn't even crossed his mind. As it did so now, he found it rather frightening.

"And, you've found someone you think might have taken it?" he asked, expression clouding to match Lex's.

"Possibly," Lex replied. With discussion crossing into serious territory, his mouth felt suddenly dry, so he headed to the drinks table on the left. "At first I thought it was my father," he explained as he walked. "It is, after all, the kind of unscrupulous thing he might do." Picking up a bottle of water, Lex unscrewed the lid and took a quick sip. Clark waited uneasily behind him, the thought of Lionel investigating a Kryptonian ship filling him with all kinds of fear. Lex recognised the tension as he turned and was quick to dispel it. "Don't worry," he assured. "It was a suspicion quickly discounted. There is someone else, though, who was seen enough times round the warehouse to warrant concern."

"Who?" Clark questioned, while Lex took another drink. The older man licked the moisture slowly off his lips before replying.

"What do you know about your old history professor Milton Fine?" he asked.

Clark raised his eyes in an 'of course' gesture. He seemed relieved.

"I know he wasn't what he seemed," he stated. "It makes sense your investigation would lead back to him, he told me he came from the ship." Lex started.

"He told you?" he repeated in surprise. "So he is connected to the ship. Why didn't you tell me before? You know, he and the ship disappeared around the same time." The older man frowned, looking hurt.

"He was connected to the ship," Clark amended. "I think he was some kind of artificial intelligence. I didn't know the ship disappeared with him, but maybe that makes sense. If he was the ship, then maybe that explains why it disappeared - because he died."

A instant flash of confusion marred Lex's face.

"What makes you think he's dead?" he asked, surprisingly by-passing the AI revelation completely.

Clark looked down, upset.

"I kind of killed him," he said quietly, raising troubled eyes to Lex's. "It was in the Fortress. He'd been playing me for weeks, convincing me he was another Kryptonian trying to help me. He was the one who sent Lana that silver Kryptonite that time, the one that made me all..." Clark trailed off. He somehow doubted Lex would have forgotten the violent rampage the SilverK had sent him on. "Well, you know. It was just so he could 'cure' me afterwards, to make me trust him. It was all part of a plan to release some criminal he claimed to serve. I don't really understand how, but I know he almost succeeded in the Fortress, until I stopped him by smashing him against the panel of crystals." Clark looked sad.

"And that killed him?" Lex persisted, a little softer since Clark was obviously hurt by the memory - even though it sounded like simple self-defence to Lex.

"He was completely impaled," the Kryptonian clarified. Lex pressed the blue-tinted glass bottle thoughtfully to his lips.

"What happened to the body?" he asked.

"It sort of melted." Clark frowned, puzzled at the focus of Lex's questioning. "In any case, Fine's hardly a threat anymore."

"Ordinarily I'd believe you, Clark," Lex responded. A testament to how close they'd become. "But there are over eight witnesses, three of whom are under my employ, who claim to have seen Milton Fine in Honduras in the last five days."

"What?" Clark exclaimed, eyes widening from shock to disbelief. "There must be some mistake..."

"With two or three sightings, maybe," Lex nodded, moving in front of his friend. "But eight is rather more conclusive. And there's something else..." putting the water bottle down carefully on the only cleared area the desk currently presented, Lex began to sift through some of the papers. He found one with a government logo in the top right hand corner and handed it to Clark.

The younger man's eyes flicked over it, somewhat faster than Lex suspected was humanly possible, and a small crease began to form between his eyebrows.

"Fine's registered as some kind of, government agent?" he queried as he looked up. "Why?"

"I've no idea," Lex admitted with a shrug. "I'm guessing from your response it wasn't an alias he used with you." Clark confirmed this with a quick shake of his head. "Since this morning, when my people first made the discovery, I've been working on the assumption that the government could well have been involved in the ship's disappearance," Lex continued, looking strained. The knowledge that the government, perhaps even the military, potentially had the means to track Clark down had been a hefty burden. Lex had spent much of the morning debating whether to tell Clark about it, or try and solve the problem on his own. It was the memory of Clark in the lab that had clinched the matter - because Clark had shared his blood with Lex, the least Lex could do in return was share information. "But now you say Fine's some kind of Kryptonian computer?" Lex's eyes flashed in excitement as he finally appreciated this new information, but only for a moment, they soon darkened again and he hooked his thumbs into the pockets of his trousers, pursing his lips uneasily. "I guess that just makes all of this more troubling. What's he up to?"

Clark met the concerned expression with a helpless shrug of his own. The idea that Fine was still alive, most likely plotting another evil scheme, was freaking him out slightly. He broke away from the other man's gaze to try and get a hold of himself, leaning over to replace the government file on the desk. As he did so, Clark caught sight of the word 'Honduras' on one of the maps - several areas circled in red pen - and put a hand on it, frowning.

"Wait, you said Fine was seen in Honduras?" he asked, turning to Lex, who inclined his head briefly in the positive. "So I'm guessing this isn't because you're planning an exotic vacation?" He raised the map as evidence.

Lex, who'd had about as much of Clark leaning over before him as he could take, turned round and picked up the water bottle again, taking a long swig. It then provided an easy excuse for him to move back to the drinks table before replying.

"I've got a LuthorCorp jet ready to fly me there within the hour," he said, depositing the now empty bottle next to the collection of full ones. "We need to know what's going on, Clark," he insisted as though in defence, turning to face Clark again gravely.

"No way, Lex," the younger man protested, straightening up and undoing all Lex's hard work by moving in front of him again. "Fine's dangerous. He's got all my powers but, as far as I could tell, none of my weaknesses. If anyone's going to confront him, it should be me."

"Clark, you obviously didn't stop him during your last encounter. What makes you think you'll do any better now?" Lex argued.

"Well, what do think you can do, Lex?" Clark pressed, avoiding the issue. "The guy could kill you, with his bare hands."

"So could you," was the cool response. Clark looked unimpressed.

"Lex..." he started, but the argument died on his lips in the face of Lex's immovable expression. "Alright. But I'm coming with you. When did you say your jet was leaving?"

Lex gave a small smile.

"In an hour. Actually, less, because you were late," he replied, either knowing better than to argue, or just not wanting to. "But if you are coming, it might be better if-"

A shrill ringing from Clark's jeans interrupted them and Clark started. He removed the offending phone with a frown and glanced at Lex in apology before turning away to answer it.

"Lana, hi, I was just..." he paused as Lana cut him off. "The Talon? Does it have to be right now?" he frowned. "Look, there's actually something I have to do..." he tried, but Lana was obviously being persistent.

Lex watched his friend quietly sigh as Lana continued to talk, the younger man's face a mask of confliction, and his mouth quirked into a half smile, remembering how hard he'd tried to get Clark and Lana together. Clark was the only person who'd ever turned down a gift from Lex, and was also, ironically, the only person Lex had ever wanted to give one to. Material items hadn't taken, so Lana had seemed the perfect alternative. It was a classic example of Luthor bad luck that when the two of them finally did get together, it'd had nothing to do with Lex at all. Now, to top it off, Clark's association with Lex was actually taking Clark away from his long-awaited prize. And that was unacceptable.

Catching Clark's attention, Lex mouthed the words "Don't worry. Go." He waved a hand at Clark's phone to indicate Lana, and moved over to his desk where he extracted the map of Honduras and started to fold it.

Clark, looking a little frantic, put a hand over the mouthpiece. "Lex, wait-" Clark sighed as he realised Lana had finished talking and expected an answer. Taking his hand away he spoke quickly into the phone. "Lana, I'll call you back, okay?" he hung up with a snap and moved to Lex's side.

"Look, Lex, Lana just wants me to meet someone at the Talon," he explained hurriedly. "It can wait, I can still-"

"Clark, you're marrying the woman in three weeks," Lex cut him off. "This is not the time to make her wait. Besides, it's probably something to do with the wedding, and they hate it when you miss stuff like that." He shot Clark a knowing look.

"I think stopping you getting killed is a justified reason for being absent, Lex," Clark answered, unphased. Lex smiled at the genuine care behind the comment.

"I appreciated your concern, Clark, really," he said, leaning against the desk with the now folded map against his chest. "But think about this for a second. Up until now, you thought Fine was dead. If I hadn't said anything, you'd still think that. And if Fine really does have your powers, there's no reason he should have let himself be seen at all, especially not by LuthorCorp employees. He could have avoided them easily."

The younger man furrowed his brow.

"So, what are you saying? That he wants to be found?"

"Or more specifically, I think he wants to be found by me," Lex nodded seriously, fabrication successfully masked by well-practiced confidence. "Why else set up the government agent alias? It's certainly not something you would have looked for. And if he has orchestrated things to lead me to him, it's highly unlikely he's planning to kill me."

Clark looked uncertain.

"Even so," he muttered. "That kinda begs the question - what is he planning for you? Going alone still doesn't seem a great idea."

"Alternatively, your presence might disrupt things," Lex argued. "Last time Fine was in Smallville, we weren't exactly on the best of terms. He could be counting on that, trying to play me against you. If you arrived with me it might throw him off, and if we lose him now it's unlikely we'll be able to track him down again."

"So I'll hide," Clark suggested.

"From someone with all your powers? Including superhearing?" Lex looked dubious. The fact he'd been about to make that very suggestion before Lana called fading to irrelevancy as he realised this was actually a good point. My faux-arguing is actually starting to convince myself, he thought wryly, I don't want to know what that says about my psyche.

Clark opened his mouth to respond but was prevented by his phone going off again. A text message this time, not from Lana, but Chloe, also telling him to get down to the Talon right away.

"Clark, honestly," Lex said, as the other man shut the phone again with a sigh. "I can take care of myself, I'll be okay."

When Clark looked over to him, biting his lower lip in deep consideration, Lex knew he almost had his friend convinced. All it would take was one more push.

"Plus, I promise to text you every two hours once I get there. That way, if I don't, you'll know something's wrong and you can whiz right over. It's not gonna take you long to get to Honduras, right?"

Clark gave a small smile, acknowledging the point. He didn't agree instantly, though, and Lex could almost see the pros and cons ticking over in the other man's mind. He was just starting to fear Clark might not be convinced after all, when another text message beeped into the silence, sufficiently swaying the matter in Lex's favour.

"Okay!" Clark exclaimed in frustration, cutting the sound off without bothering with the message. "But every two hours, don't forget," he insisted, pointing his phone at Lex for emphasis. "And if you're not back by this evening, I'm coming after you," he added.

"Clark, we don't know how long I'll have to be there," Lex protested, safe in the knowledge that his victory was assured. "My encounter with Fine could last well into the evening, and my pilot prefers not to fly at night. I probably won't be back until tomorrow morning anyway."

Unlike his earlier suggestions, this was an outright lie - it was Lex himself who preferred to fly in the daytime, if he had to at all. Previous aircraft troubles leaving him rather skittish about flying these days. Not to mention the fear of heights that had plagued him since childhood. He knew well enough how to conceal it by now, of course, but still preferred to travel in relative comfort when he could.

Clark rolled his eyes, and for a shocked second Lex thought the other man had discovered his deception, lie detectors did work by measuring a person's heart rate after all, and Clark had more than one way of doing that. But then Lex realised it was just an overflow of the Kryptonian's previous frustration. His insecurities still safely hidden.

"Right, okay. If you're not back by tomorrow morning, I'm coming to find you," Clark amended.

"Deal," Lex agreed. "Now get to the Talon, before your phone burns out."

The two men shared a smile and Clark turned to leave, not even completing the first step before a new thought struck him and turned him sharply back.

"Wait, what time tomorrow morning?" he asked.

Lex rolled his own eyes in exasperation.

"Clark..." he muttered.

"No, it's not about that," Clark insisted. "Really, what time?"

"I don't know," Lex shrugged. "Maybe something like eleven?"

Clark shook his head curtly.

"No, you have to be back here for ten," he stated with certainty. "I can't have a wedding rehearsal without my best man."

Lex blinked, suddenly bewildered.

"What?" he managed.

Clark looked up, surprised - then realisation dawned.

"Damn," he muttered. "I forgot to ask. You will be, won't you? My best man I mean. There's no one else I'd rather have."

Lex stared at Clark's hopeful face in silence - lips curved of their own accord, chest full of irrational joy. We're up to best man status now? he thought, wow, when Clark trusts someone he really goes all the way, huh? Lex blinked at that, realising 'all the way' was not a good phrase to be thinking about him and Clark right now. He also realised Clark was still waiting for an answer.

"Of course," he said, because really, what other answer was there? "I... I'd be honoured."

"Great!" Clark grinned sunbeams again. "So you'll be back in time tomorrow? At the church for eleven?... I mean ten!" he corrected, shaking his head in a way that conveyed irritation without in any way lessening his happiness.

"I'll be there. I promise," Lex assured him. "At ten."

"Okay," Clark nodded. "I guess I better go." Lex nodded back. This time Clark actually made it to the doorway before turning round. "Oh, and Lex," he called back. "Don't be crazily formal and turn up in a suit or something, it's just a rehearsal."

Lex grinned. It seemed impossible not to.

"I'll be there in flannel and jeans if that's what you want," he responded.

The suggestion triggered something in Clark, a past memory resurfacing - Lex in the barn, carefully buttoning up a blue shirt, flannel, one of Clark's. Absurdly long sleeves engulfing his wrists. He looked small, fragile, weak - everything he tried to hide, openly displayed, and cemented by the bloody cut on his forehead. The vision was vivid and affecting, prompting a strong, desperate desire to embrace Lex that was almost overpowering. Clark wanted him close. Safe. Wanted to hold Lex and not let go.

"Clark?" Lex prodded, still grinning.

Clark shook his head. Where did that come from?

"Yeah, that'd be great..." he muttered, distracted. Before either could question the pause further, the phone in Clark's hand beeped once again.

"Gotta go," Clark shrugged.

Lex inclined his head in goodbye and when he blinked, Clark was gone. Lex stared at the empty doorway for a while, still smiling. Then turned with a brief laugh, mocking the intensity of his emotion, and started to gather the necessary papers for his journey.

Clark came to a halt in the alleyway next to the Talon with a practiced skid. It was still only the afternoon and he couldn't risk zipping straight inside in case people besides his friends were there. Plus, there was the person he had to meet, putting an instant restriction on his powers. Clark wondered who it was - probably, like Lex had said, something to do with the wedding. Maybe even a wedding planner...

The Kryptonian felt nervous at the thought and his mind wondered back to Lex to escape it. He couldn't fathom where that sudden, desperate urge to protect the other man had come from. The desire to protect people was hardly new to Clark; he felt it towards everyone to varying degrees, but never like that. Never so raw, and passionate and... No, wait, yes he did - he'd felt it back when Desiree set Lex on fire, and when he'd found Lex bloody fingered at his piano after Isabelle put that spell on him, and when he'd visited Lex in Belle Reve. In fact, any time Lex had been in danger of, or experiencing, violent pain, Clark's desire to protect had always been that bit higher. And it made sense, he supposed, because Lex got into serious trouble so much more than anyone else. It was only natural Clark's senses were more sensitive towards Lex, because Lex usually needed Clark's help more urgently. Except, Lana had an almost equal tendency for trouble, and yet Clark had never felt more than comfortably confident about his ability to protect her, even during her car accident, which didn't seem to make sense...

"Oooh, where's Clark?!"

The sound of his name drifting through the walls broke Clark's contemplation and he pricked his ears up curiously. The voice sounded like Chloe - impatient, but excited.

"Chloe, we've sent him, like, three messages now. I'm sure he'll be here any moment." Lana - calm, laughing.

"But he should be here now," Chloe's voice insisted. "You know as well as I do, Clark could've got here seconds after your call. I just can't wait to see his face!"

Clark frowned. Even with no customers in the Talon there was still the guy he was meeting to consider - Chloe shouldn't be casually mentioning his powers like that. And what were the girls so excited about anyway?

"Come on guys," a third voice began. Male this time - familiar. "I know Clark as well as you do. Fast as lightening when he has to be, but always late for everything else."

Clark blinked.

"Pete?" he questioned to no one in particular, a wide grin of surprise making up the face Chloe would sadly miss.

It was almost two years now since he'd seen his old school friend, and contact via e-mail and phone had been sparse. Besides, it was no substitute for Pete Ross in person. A large part of Clark's thoughts still remained with Lex, but the guy had talked him out of the mansion quite successfully, and apparently Clark had more friends than he'd anticipated waiting for him - there was no point ignoring them while he fretted over another. Lex would understand that, Clark reasoned as he whizzed through the Talon doors.

It only took Clark a split second to register his friends' positions - Chloe and Lana milling about by the counter, while Pete stood in the aisle in front of them, a couple of overfilled duffle bags at his feet. He looked absolutely no different to how he'd been in high school, Clark noted, same slouching stance, hands in his jean pockets, a casual white shirt bringing out the warm tones of his dark skin. Zipping up beside his friend, Clark pulled Pete into a joyful hug.

"Pete!" Clark repeated over his friend's shoulder.

"Woa!" Pete mumbled at Clark's shirt, moving his hands to Clark's chest and applying enough pressure to make the excited Kryptonian pull away. Behind them, Chloe and Lana were laughing. "Way to surprise a guy, Clark," Pete said, grinning, as soon as he had enough space to speak.

"I'm surprising?" Clark challenged, beaming. "What are you doing here?"

"Think I'm gonna miss the wedding of the century?" Pete replied, eyes flicking between Clark and Lana, who blushed slightly. "No way man. It'll be, like, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not a chance I'm turning that down."

Clark shrugged beneath his smile.

"I'd hope not, we sent an invitation and everything," he said. "But Pete, the wedding's not for another three weeks."

"Well, you can blame the girls on that one," Pete said, nodding to the grinning figures by the counter. Clark turned to look at them properly and saw Chloe had that knowing reporter look in her eyes.

"I kinda asked Pete to arrive a little early," she explained. "As a surprise."

"She told me about it a couple of days ago," Lana added. "It's been torture having to not tell you about it."

Clark looked over them with affection.

"Well, congratulations guys," he smiled. "Your plotting has succeeded. This is one fully surprised Clark Kent, right here." He put his hands on his chest for emphasis. "Wow Pete, it's good to see you again."

"You too bro," Pete said warmly, slapping Clark on the arm. "Oh, hey, and talking of surprises," Pete said, frowning in mock disapproval. "When were you planning on telling me I was no longer the sole Clark Kent secret keeper?"

"Ah..." Clark floundered.

Pete's tone was light, but Clark knew how hard keeping said secret had been for his friend - it was the stress of the burden that finally prompted Pete's move from Smallville, so Clark hadn't liked to broach the topic over their infrequent correspondence.

"It wasn't really something I was comfortable discussing over the phone or in an e-mail, Pete," he replied, voice tight with pervading apology.

Pete nodded, tensing for a moment as he acknowledged the severity of the issue. But then he grinned and the atmosphere was light again.

"Yeah, well I guess that makes sense," he conceded. "It took a good half hour of cryptic speak on the phone with Chloe before I figured out what the hell she was talking about."

Clark raised his eyebrows to Chloe in surprise, and she shrugged.

"Well I knew he knew, you already told me," she said, somewhat defensive. "I and figured it would be better if everyone who knew was in the know about everyone else... who knew." Her brow furrowed comically as she worked through her last sentence to make sure it made sense.

Clark laughed.

"Well, I've got to admit, it is pretty cool having you all here and knowing I don't have to hide," he admitted.

Everyone sobered a little at that, remembering times past when Clark had lied to them and thinking how different things might have been if they weren't united in the truth now.

A tinkle of the bell above the Talon door distracted them, and they watched as a few customers milled inside.

"Well, not completely hide, anyway," Lana said quietly, moving to slip her hand inside Clark's. He tilted his head in agreement.

"Is that more people arriving?" a cheery voice asked from the kitchen, shortly followed by the form of Martha Kent, decked in one of the Talon's green aprons, her hair tied back in a neat half ponytail. "Oh hello Clark, honey," she smiled, noticing her son. "You met up with Pete alright then, that's good. The girls were getting worried. I'd stay and talk, but I have to go take these orders," she nodded to a couple who'd just sat down a few tables away and hurried towards them.

Clark smiled at her fondly before turning back to the others.

"My mom knew too?" he asked, mock accusatory.

"Oh, it was a real conspiracy," Lana nodded at his side. "Your dad was involved as well."

"Uh-huh," Chloe nodded. "And Lois."

"Lois?" Clark repeated, baffled. "Lois doesn't even know Pete."

"Not yet," Pete admitted, looking nervous. "But I'll sure be seeing a lot of her for the next three weeks. Chloe bullied her into letting me share her room here at the Talon."

Clark looked sympathetic.

"So you'll be living with Lois for the next three weeks?" he asked.

Pete pulled his mouth downwards and nodded. Clark copied the gesture, sharing his friend's pain.

"Oh, come on, she's not that bad!" Chloe protested in defence of her cousin.

"Not that bad?" Pete repeated, instantly sceptical. "You should've heard some of the things Clark e-mailed me about her when she was staying at the farm - irritable, annoying, overly talkative, messy..." he counted off each word with his fingers, making Clark wince and turn sheepishly to Chloe.

"Okay, fine," Chloe cut him off. "Maybe she can be a little bit of a handful sometimes. But, when I mentioned you needed a place to stay I didn't bully her, as you so rudely implied. She offered to let you stay with her, and, well, I didn't have the heart to turn her down," Chloe admitted slightly shame-faced. "She's even out shopping right now for extra supplies for you, so you're going to stay with her and be grateful about it. Come on, I've got a spare key, let's get you set up before you can run off somewhere else."

"Yeah, like a park bench maybe," Pete muttered to Clark and Lana, while Chloe valiantly hefted one of the heavy duffel bags over her shoulder.

"You guys want some help?" Lana asked, as Pete picked up the second bag and headed up the staircase after Chloe.

"Nah, it's cool, I can throw clothes on the floor just fine on my own," Pete grinned.

"Pete!" Chloe scolded from the landing. Pete shrugged, eyes twinkling and the couple below beamed at him.

"Oh, and Clark," Pete added. "You're sure lucky I turned up early. Cos I'm betting you've got nothing sorted for a bachelor party yet." Pete raised his eyebrows, and a glimmer of anxiety crossed Clark's face as he looked from friend to fiancée. "Thought not," Pete nodded. "But don't you worry, I've got it all planned. And I've got my best man speech all written out too, you're gonna love it! Man, this'll be the best wedding ever!" he grinned wickedly and disappeared up the rest of the staircase.

Lana turned with a smile, intending to tease Clark about the bachelor party, but the troubled look in his eyes stopped her.

"Clark, what's wrong?" she asked in concern. Clark shook his head.

"Oh, it's, nothing important. Not really," he muttered, though his tone implied otherwise. "It's just, I already asked Lex to be my best man."

"Really?" Lana asked in surprise, releasing Clark's arm and moving in front of him. "Do you really think that's such a good idea?"

"Why not?" he asked, tilting his head at the unexpected opposition.

"Well, it's just..." Lana began, then stopped, taking in the other people now crowded round them. A tall girl with short blonde hair gave an overly bright smile as Lana's gaze passed over her. Lana pulled Clark to a secluded table before continuing. "Look," she said, grasping his hand across the plastic surface. "I know you and Lex are getting closer again now, and I'm glad, for both you. But I can't help being worried at the same time." She sighed. "He is still investigating the ship, Clark, we can't forget that. And as much as I want to trust him, lately I've been... concerned."

Clark frowned. Since he and Lex had started re-building their friendship again, Lana had probably been the only person who hadn't been so distrusting of the other man, her decision to spy on him aside. Clark wondered what had changed.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, there was that business with Victor," she said.

"Lana, Lex never meant for that to happen. It was Doctor Kreig who did that to Victor," Clark protested.

"I know," Lana replied. "But Lex did give the project a green light, Clark. And there's something else." She leaned closer to Clark over the table, forcing him to bend his head down too to be level with her. "He promised me he'd keep me updated on the investigation into the ship, but he hasn't contacted me about it in weeks now. And when I phoned him this morning to ask about it, he was just, really evasive." She shrugged. "It was nothing I can put my finger on, but he was distracted and didn't seem to want to talk. Clark, I think he's hiding something from me."

As Clark stared at Lana's worried face, his own expression clouded with hidden conflict. Of course Lex had been distracted this morning, he'd been worrying about whether the government had the black ship or not. Lana's call must have complicated things for the other man terribly, forcing him to decide whether to tell her about his findings or wait until after he'd discussed it with Clark. He hadn't mentioned Lana at the mansion, so Clark assumed his friend had decided to keep her out of the loop about Milton Fine. He hadn't realised what a difficult position he'd put Lex in by keeping the truth about him from Lana. Lex had promised to involve her in his investigation, but at the same time he couldn't speak freely to her about it because he obviously felt obligated to keep Clark updated first. Neither could he easily tell her afterwards, because that risked revealing information Clark might not want her to know.

Clark sighed. This was getting confusing. He shouldn't let Lex keep juggling two relationships like this, it wasn't fair.

"Lana..." A tense pause. "Lex is a busy man, anything could have distracted him," he said, inwardly kicking himself - yet another opportunity for the truth squandered because by cowardice. "It might not have had anything to do with the ship."

"Maybe," Lana replied, unconvinced. "But what if it was? What if he's found something? Something that could lead back to you."

"Well..." Clark shrugged. "Would that really be so bad?" he asked tentatively. "I mean, after seeing you, Chloe and Pete together just now, it just seems better when my friends know my secret. Maybe, Lex should know it too." His eyes grew nervous, this was rather closer to reality than he'd intended to get.

Lana met his gaze with sympathy.

"I understand why you'd think that," she said, a touch of sadness in her voice. "And part of me wants to bring him into our circle as much as you do, he's always seemed so lonely. But, I just don't think we can be sure enough of how he'd react to the truth yet."

"So, you really don't trust him anymore," Clark stated.

"Clark, I don't think I ever completely trusted him. Certainly not with something as important as this," Lana's eyes dulled as she squeezed his hand, and Clark gave a soft nod.

He could hardly blame her for the distrust; he'd felt the same way himself for years - not just about Lex, but about everyone. A secret like his created distrust, even towards the most loyal of friends, and Lana had only known for a matter of months. Clark couldn't expect her to overcome the fear of revealing it in that time, not when it was something he still struggled with himself. It was just sad the truth should have drawn her away from Lex like this. Because she was right - Lex was lonely, Clark had always known that, and it wasn't right for Clark to take one of the other man's few friends away from him like this.

"Look, Lana," Clark began, tone lowering, serious. "I don't want you to worry about Lex and his investigations anymore, okay. I mean it. We have got a lot closer lately, and if he does figure out anything I'll find out about it myself, alright?"

"Clark, I don't mind keeping an eye on him for you, you don't have to protect me," Lana insisted.

"That's not what this is about, Lana," Clark pleaded. "Lex is a friend. To both of us, I hope. We shouldn't be spying on him."

"He is a friend," Lana agreed, eyes brightening with quiet intent. "But you're the man I love, and I told you before, I'll do whatever's necessary to keep you safe. Nothing's more important to me than that, Clark."

Clark swallowed, throat suddenly dry. Whatever's necessary? That sounded like the same 'ends justify the means' argument he'd recently been trying to talk Lex around. He'd never have considered applying it to Lana.

"Lana, it... it means a lot to know how much you care," he replied truthfully - he might not know what it meant exactly, but he knew it was a lot. "But please, I'm asking you, don't be a part of Lex's investigation anymore. By all means, meet up with him - have drinks, talk. Be a friend. But don't keep letting your fears for me cloud your relationship with him."

"That's really what you want?" Lana questioned.

"Yes," Clark said definitely. "Yes it is."

"Alright, I'll try," Lana promised, sitting up again with a soft smile. Clark relaxed a bit.

"And I still want Lex as my best man," he insisted. Lana lifted a shoulder.

"Well, the best man is the groom's decision," she conceded, a touch of her usual light-heartedness filling her tone, making Clark think he might have really had got through to her this time. "You should probably talk to Pete about it though."

"I will, I promise," Clark nodded. "But later, not now. I should let him settle in first."

Lana nodded back in understanding.

"Well, you've got the whole three weeks before the wedding," she smiled.

"Hmmm... but only tonight before the rehearsal," Clark muttered, wondering if there might be a time this evening when he could take Pete aside to talk. Best make it in-between Lex's two hourly updates, that'd be easier. And thinking of that, Clark wondered if Lex's jet had left yet, meeting up with Pete again hadn't taken long, maybe there was still time to join Lex on the trip after all.

"Actually, Clark," Lana said, sounding oddly coy. "About tonight - are you busy?"

Clark looked up, distracted.

"Why? Is there more wedding planning you need me for?" he asked.

"No," Lana replied, with a pretty smile and shake of her head. "I think we've both had enough of that for today. But I thought maybe we could try something else instead." Her eyes twinkled in a way Clark couldn't quite grasp.

"Like what?" he asked mildly.

"Well, I'll give you a hint," Lana said, voice turning bright and playful. "Once Chloe's got Pete settled upstairs, she has to rush off back to the Daily Planet, where she's pulling an all-nighter tonight." She grinned at Clark suggestively, eyes hopeful.

The implication hit sharply and Clark tensed.

"So, you have the dorm room all to yourself," he noted, playing for time.

"All to ourselves," Lana amended, fingers curling tighter around his hand.

Clark nodded, hoping his panic wasn't showing. This wasn't the first time Lana had tried taking the physical side of things further, and Clark was running out of excuses to turn her down. It was stupid to be feeling the way he was about it, he knew that, he'd wanted Lana forever, he was marrying her in three weeks - he should be jumping at the chance to get closer to her. But every time he tried these days the image of her bent and broken by the roadside loomed before him. She was so delicate. He'd been fearful enough during sex in the barn, and he'd been effectively human back then, now he had his powers back he was quite literally terrified of touching her - even the thought of it made him tense, like it was now.

He'd assumed he'd get over it eventually, that the fear would ease with time, but it felt like the opposite was happening. It wasn't her fault, it was his, and if he explained it, he supposed she might understand. But then again, she might be angry and hurt - knowing your lover was turned off at the thought of sleeping with you wasn't exactly the stuff of happiness. So Clark was still hoping to snap himself out of it before she found out. All he needed was another excuse...

"Um, that's great, it really is," he nodded with an overly bright smile, slipping his hand from Lana's in a way he hoped was casual and inoffensive. From the way her eyes seemed to dim he guessed he'd probably failed. "But, ah, shouldn't we maybe hang out with Pete for a while? It's kinda rude to leave him on his own on his first night back here."

"Well, sure we can," Lana replied. "But we don't have to spend the whole night with him, and I'm sure he'd understand if we wanted to leave early."

Damn, Clark thought, one excuse down.

"Right, right," he nodded, thinking furiously. "It's just that, ah, there's really a lot of stuff I should take care of back at the farm tonight," he tried, looking down. Lame. "Ever since dad became Senator, it's been harder for us to keep up with everything and..."

"Clark," Lana said, cutting him off. He looked up at her, face flush and nervous, and although still smiling, Lana's eyes gleamed with disappointment and concern. She'd obviously seen right through him. "I'm not trying to pressure you into anything you don't want, but we are getting married in three weeks. If something's wrong, just tell me, I'll understand."

Clark took a breath; it looked like there was no getting out of it this time.

"Lana, I know this sounds really stupid, but..." he broke off, looking away as he tried to determine the most painless approach. That was when the brainwave hit - perfect in its simplicity. He turned back to Lana more hopefully. "But I was kinda hoping we could hold out until after the wedding? It's a little outdated I know, but I thought it might be romantic..."

Lana broke immediately into one of her 'you're adorable' grins and Clark relaxed gratefully.

"Clark," Lana smiled. "That's not stupid, it's... it's sweet. You could have just told me that's what you wanted."

"I know," Clark shrugged, smiling back in relief. "I just, I thought you might laugh or something, I don't know..." He shook his head, as though mocking his own stupidity, which, in a way, he was.

"Well I'm not laughing," Lana responded. "I think it's a nice idea. I can wait. After all, it's only three weeks, right?" Clark nodded in what he hoped was an excited manner, while Lana continued to grin at him.

A few minutes later Chloe came bounding down the stairs towards them.

"Okay," she stated, standing in front of their table. "I've left Pete, hopefully, packing his things away neatly in the spare cupboard Lois emptied last night. But now I really need to get back to the Planet, or I'll never meet my deadline. So could I maybe take your car Lana?" she looked at Lana hopefully, clasping her hands against her lips in a prayerful gesture. "Please, please, please? It's just, Lois took mine to go shopping with cos hers is playing up and I have no idea how long it'll be before she gets back."

Lana laughed at her friend's desperate expression.

"No problem, Chloe," she said, standing up. "In fact, I'll drive you. There are a few things I should finish up at the University anyway."

"Thanks, you're the best!" Chloe grinned, giving Lana a quick hug. "I'll wait for you outside," she added briefly before hurrying away, obviously keen to get going as soon as possible.

Clark stood up and moved in front of Lana before she could follow, worried that her decision to leave was perhaps rather sudden.

"Lana," he said softly. "You don't have to leave now, just because..." he waved a hand vaguely over the table they'd just been sitting at to indicate their previous conversation.

Lana smiled up at him, putting him at ease.

"It's okay, Clark," she assured him. "There really are some things I need to do back at Uni, and..." she looked over his shoulder for a second. "Don't tell Chloe, but I'd rather not leave her alone with my car if I can help it," she whispered conspiratively. Clark grinned. "Let me know if you and Pete plan to do anything tonight though," she added. "I'd be happy to come back and join you. Providing it's not some crazy bachelor party preparation, of course."

Clark accepted the teasing with a nod.

"I'll be sure to let you know," he promised. "See you tomorrow if not."

"Okay." Lana gently stroked his arm before heading to the exit and Clark turned to watch her leave - tight skirt hugging the curve of her waist and thighs as she walked, mocking him for turning them down. He shook his head. What's wrong with me?

"I thought she'd never leave," a rich, feminine voice sighed behind him.

Clark turned to see a woman moving towards him in a manner that could only be described as seductive. Her short blonde hair had been stylishly crimped and was perfectly accentuated by the low cut, light green shirt she wore. A large, turquoise gem dangled from a black thread about her neck.

"Hi," the woman continued, stepping easily into Lana's vacated position. "I'm Simone."

"I was just leaving," Clark nodded politely, stepping back. Now would be a good time to try and catch Lex...

"What's the hurry?" Simone asked, fingering her necklace. Clark opened his mouth to respond, but was distracted by the blue gem, which suddenly seemed fascinating. "You're not going anywhere until I tell you to," Simone continued, voice slipping to a lower, more commanding tone.

Clark lifted his eyes to meet hers.

"Okay," he agreed. Sounds reasonable, he thought. Simone smiled like a satisfied cat, showing a row of beautifully straight, perfectly white teeth.

"You're going to believe everything I tell you, and you're going to do everything I say," she stated confidently. "Starting now."

"What do you have in mind?" Clark asked.

Five minutes later, Clark was outside the back of the Talon, pushing Simone roughly against the wire fence separating the alleyway from the delivery area. Simone sighed with pleasure, licking her open lips in invitation, and Clark moved in quickly, trapping them under his own - fears of intimacy, along with Lana, nothing but a dim memory. Putting his hands round her waist, Clark pulled her closer, mouthing his way across her cheek and down her neck. Moaning happily, Simone wrapped her arms round his shoulders, while he slid a hand down her leg, lifting it up and sliding his palm along the smooth skin of her thigh, slowing moving higher until his fingers brushed beneath her black leather skirt. Meanwhile, his other hand found its way under her shirt and moved up her back, reaching for her bra. In the back of his mind, Clark registered a car pulling up in the alleyway behind them, but he was having too much fun to really care. Simone hooked her left hand through one of the diamond shaped holes in the fence for extra support and grabbed the back of Clark's head, pulling him in for another kiss, body pressed as close as possible.

The sound of a car door opening and shutting echoed behind them, followed by the click of high heels and a disbelieving:

"Smallville?"

Clark broke away from Simone and turned to see Lois frowning at him, a large bag of groceries in her arms.

"What the hell are you doing?" she questioned, too shocked to even be angry.

"Lois," Clark grinned, releasing Simone and pulling her in front of him, hands resting possessively on her shoulders. "I'd like you to meet Simone. My new girlfriend."

Lois deepened her frown from confusion to suspicion.

Lex stepped out of the jeep and made his way through the spindly trees and thick undergrowth with short, careful steps. He was already at a disadvantage because of the sweaty, red-faced appearance the hot Central American sun had inevitably imposed upon him, despite the white ensemble he'd donned in an attempt to reflect the heat away - it wouldn't do to have the locals' opinion of him lowered further by tripping on an unseen vine. The camp his people had tracked down might be far enough from the village to ensure its inhabitants could no longer see him, but Lex knew the driver of the jeep was watching his progress, and in a place as small as this word would travel fast. Fortunately, he arrived at the small, white tent without mishap and moved out of the driver's line of sight by stepping inside.

Lex looked around not without trepidation. Meeting with a government agent he could prepare for, but alien AIs were rather outside his experience, and now he was actually here Lex was starting to wonder if he was perhaps moving too far out of his depth. Maybe Clark had been right, and coming here alone hadn't been such a good idea.

Lex had alerted the other man via text of his arrival in Honduras half an hour ago and been surprised to receive no response. He'd worried that perhaps signal was bad in this part of the country and his message had failed to get through, meaning any moment now an anxious Clark might turn up demanding to know why Lex hadn't contacted him. The thought had troubled him at first, but now Lex couldn't help feeling slightly relieved about it. The idea that Clark could soon be near by was comforting, and in any case, thinking of Clark in general gave Lex courage. It reminded him he wasn't just here to investigate Milton Fine, he was here to help protect his friend, which was infinitely more important. He couldn't allow his fear to get in the way of that.

Bolder now, Lex stepped into the centre of the tent, only to realise it was currently empty. Whether this was by accident or design Lex couldn't be certain, but he planned to take advantage of the situation for as long as he could. He gazed round the tent thoroughly, taking in every part of it - from the shiny laptop resting on the surface beside him, along with the maps and charts next to it, to the tribal carvings arranged on the table at the far side. It looked every inch the work place of a serious academic, right down to the element of disarray.

Lex picked up a carving - a woman with ornate headdress - and examined it, curious. The work was crude - made by one of the villagers, Lex suspected. Fine was certainly presenting an elaborate show if he was getting the locals involved in his alias. Unless, of course, these carvings really did interest the man - no, the machine. The thought seemed unlikely even as it formed, but then again, Clark had come to live successfully in a human environment, caring about Earth enough to turn down an invitation of world domination from his own people, even - perhaps Fine was starting to appreciate life on this planet as well? It was wishful thinking and Lex knew it, but he'd been fearful of alien life ever since the second meteor shower and he was tired of it, longing for the wonder he'd once held - wonder fuelled by a old, childish hope that perhaps the stars held something better than life on Earth had been able to offer. A wonder that Clark was once again fanning into life.

"I would have had tea and petit fours waiting, but I didn't expect you so soon."

The voice flew cool and crisp along the heavy, humid air, but did little to ease Lex's anxiety - it was a tone his father often used. A quick but casual turn revealed Fine himself watching Lex keenly from the tent opening. A backpack slung carelessly over his shoulder, while a second bag hung from his hand. Like Lex, Fine wore a white jacket; rather more faded than the young billionaire's, but in contrast, underneath Fine sported a loose black T-shirt. Just like Clark, he looked perfectly human. Perfectly - body slim and well toned, eyes a deep, vivid blue, nose and mouth perfectly aligned with his narrow face, skin clear of blemish with no hint of sweat to trouble it. He was a beautiful man, Lex acknowledged, with the same out-of-this-world quality Clark possessed - and perhaps that would have tipped Lex off sooner, if he'd only thought to look before.

"You knew I was coming," Lex stated, expression neutral, body tense - ready for anything, even a fight.

"When you leave a trail of breadcrumbs, it's no surprise when the crow comes calling," Fine responded lightly, moving to rest his bags on a near by table inside.

Lex smirked. Metaphors implied mind games and he was particularly well-versed in those. Perhaps being Lionel's son had its uses after all.

"A simple phone call would have sufficed," Lex responded, gently pushing for more information. The other man didn't disappoint.

"I couldn't reveal the truth about myself until I was sure you were dedicated to your cause," he stated. Lex raised an eyebrow - which 'truth' was this then?

"Well, I hate to disappoint you," he said, moving closer, testing limits. "But I already know what you are, and it's not a professor of history is it?" Deliberate in his ambiguity, Lex watched carefully to see how Fine would take the insinuation, but the gaze upon him was frighteningly impassive, revealing nothing. Choosing not to risk a reveal just yet, Lex kept to the script Fine had laid out for him. "No, it's something much more exciting," he continued smoothly. "Tell me, what is the benefits package of a government agent, working for a secret branch of the State Department?"

Fine gave an, oddly relieved, breath of laughter.

"Very good," he muttered, face twisting in a smirk of his own. "You found that breadcrumb on your own."

He moved to shuffle some papers on a desk to the right and Lex frowned at the empty space before him. Fine's response didn't quite ring true with someone who'd set up that alias deliberately, in fact, it was almost as though Fine hadn't expected that assumption at all. But that didn't make sense. A light pattering sound against the canvas distracted his thoughts and Lex realised it was raining.

"What I want to know," Lex persisted, turning round - whatever truth he might be missing, he needed to at least keep up his show of confidence. "Is what you were doing posing as a college professor in a Kansas farm town." This should bring them back to whatever 'truth' Fine was trying to sell.

Fine busied himself with tiding up the papers he was looking at before answering - a tactic of control through silence Lex recognised instantly.

"I was investigating the possibility of an extraterrestrial presence," Fine stated, tone low with forced sincerity, and it took all Lex's self-control not to laugh at the alien, the claim seemed so absurd from him. Fortunately, long practice at hiding emotion allowed him to confine his response to a curious head tilt.

Fine nodded back, apparently satisfied, and moved outside again with long, deliberate strides. Lex had to turn round again to follow him, and realised Fine was heading for a crate of equipment resting on the grass a few feet away - apparently intending to save it from the rain. Lex suspected the constant movement was just another tactic to throw him off guard.

"This investigation," Lex called, following him outside. Warm, light raindrops dripped uncomfortably on his face, but he didn't let them distract him. "Did it bear any fruit?"

Fine laughed again, short and without any humour.

"Well, we believe a spacecraft of unknown origin touched down in the recent meteor shower," he replied over his shoulder, bending down to pick up the crate. He gave a decent initial impression of finding it heavy, Lex noted, but the way he walked with it suggested an ease in the carrying that didn't quite tally. "But," Fine was continuing, eyeing Lex significantly as he walked passed. "An individual with quick reflexes and vast resources was able to get to it before we could."

Lex smiled a little at that. Praise from an intelligent alien life form, even if for dubious purposes, was nothing if not gratifying.

"So that's why you were investigating LuthorCorp," Lex stated, playing along.

"Yeah," Fine agreed, pausing just outside the tent to look back at Lex wryly. "And I admire the remarkable advances you've made in science. It's just too bad you couldn't get into that ship when you had the chance."

Lex narrowed his eyes. Praise to criticism in less than sixty seconds - this was playing more like a conversation with his father by the minute.

"You know where it is," he stated, calmly, refusing to give in to the rise.

Fine smirked, eyes glinting with arrogance.

"You know, the ancient Mayans believed that they were visited by great beings from the heavens," he stated, staring Lex down.

The tone was light, a friendly voice for a friendly hint, but the cold humour in those sparkling eyes gave Lex the distinct impression he was being mocked - along with the rest of humanity. A sudden urge to shiver coursed through him and it took a lot of willpower to resist. Because with that look Lex finally understood just what he was up against. Fine didn't appreciate this world, but he didn't dislike it either. No, it was worse than that, because to Fine, humanity was irrelevant - no more important than the tribal carvings lined up in the tent. Free, enslaved, destroyed - it didn't matter to him. Which meant Lex needed to be very, very careful.

"You think the ship's in Honduras," he said, since it was obviously the next step Fine wanted him to make.

"Well, I'm certainly not here for the coffee."

Fine gave another brief laugh and took the crate inside.

Back at the Kent Farm in Smallville, Clark was in the kitchen, resting a desert spoon artistically beside a plate of apple pie. Soon bored with Lois' inevitable protestations about her, Simone had asked Clark to take her home, leaving him to fix a snack while she explored the house. He was just altering the angel of the spoon when the sassy blonde sauntered in, crossing her arms casually over the kitchen counter.

"Here you go," Clark said, smiling with triumph as he slid the plate over.

"Apple pie," Simone smirked. "Well, what else?"

"My mom just made it this morning," Clark explained.

In the back of his mind he realised it would probably upset Martha to learn he'd taken the dessert without permission, but the knowledge seemed strangely unimportant just now.

"Of course she did," Simone responded, holding the spoon delicately between her fingers.

Clark's face creased with anxiety as she took a bite, the thought that it might not please her suddenly an overwhelming source of distress. Fortunately, Simone grinned and Clark was instantly at ease again.

"That's delicious," she assured him. "Now all I need is a glass of champagne, but I don't suppose you have that hidden behind the marmalade."

Clark frowned. Champagne? He could get that. Quickly too. It would mean revealing his powers though, which was... wrong? And wasn't there something else he should be caring about? Clark shook his head. What was he thinking? Simone was all that mattered now. He flashed her a bright, excited look and sped outside.

It took him longer than intended to get the champagne, since he'd had to stop for cash, making it a whole minute or so before he returned. Simone was standing in the doorway to the dining room, calling his name in confusion and the breeze from his arrival ruffled her careful bob of hair. She turned in surprise.

"What did you...?" she began, then noticed the bottle in Clark's arms. "Where did you get that?" She pointed at the bottle, eyes sparking with curiosity.

"Hal's liqueur store in Metropolis," Clark replied immediately, holding the bottle out to her.

"What?" Simone responded, taking the bottle with a bemused smile. "Metropolis? How?"

"I can run really fast," Clark explained with a grin.

Part of him was shocked at how much he was giving away, but mostly he was delighted. It felt great to be able to please someone so easily and speak so freely, like a great burden had been lifted from him. He had a nagging suspicion that was significant, that he'd felt burdened before for good reason, if he could just put his finger on it... but then Simone's laughter cascaded through him and it didn't matter anymore. Simone was all that mattered.

"So," she said thoughtfully. "If I were to say: Clark, I want some chocolate covered strawberries...?" She put the champagne on the kitchen table and crossed her arms, baby-blue eyes bright and expectant.

Clark was gone in a flash. Sixty seconds later he re-appeared, heralded by a delighted squeal from Simone, not only with a box of chocolate covered strawberries, but also a single red rose.

"Here you go," he beamed, holding them out. Simone shook her head as she took the box.

"You are too good to be true," she grinned, placing the box next to the champagne and taking the rose. "Quite the catch..." She held the bloom to her nose and inhaled, eyes narrow and glinting. "I've got some business to take care of tomorrow. I think you could be a great help to me."

Clark's grin lessened ever so slightly.

"Tomorrow?" he questioned. Isn't there something I'm supposed to be doing...? The memory was heavy and sluggish. "I'm supposed to be having a wedding rehearsal tomorrow," he explained, surprised at his disinterest.

Simone grinned.

"The girl from the coffee shop?" she asked. Clark nodded. "Well that's easily solved." She raised a pair of smouldering eyes. "Call her and ask her to come over."

Lana had just got back to her dorm when Clark called but didn't seem to mind the request to return, 'so they could talk,' agreeing without question. It's like I've become her life, Clark thought distantly, doesn't she have one of her own? Meanwhile, Simone caught sight of the barn through the kitchen window and expressed a desire to visit it. Clark quickly told Lana to meet him in the barn loft when she arrived and hung up, hurrying to grab Simone's beckoning hand.

"So, lightening legs," she smiled over her shoulder as she led him up the wooden staircase. "Got any other special skills? I want to know everything you're capable of." Now at the top, she let go of Clark's hand and turned to face him, a rather suggestive expression crossing her features.

Missing the sexual implication, Clark looked round the loft, face creased in thought as he considered how best to demonstrate his other abilities. His eyes fell on a metal baseball bat resting against the far wall, a remnant of high school he'd failed to file away. He smiled and walked over to it, while Simone stayed behind to watch.

Holding the object in both hands, Clark proceeded to bend it easily into an 'S' shape.

"An S for Simone," he said, holding the mangled bat in front of his chest.

Simone looked away for a moment, blushing. When she looked back, her eyes shone with a surprising amount of honesty and she seemed genuinely touched.

"I always dreamed of my knight in shining armour," she muttered, tone wistful, as she moved towards him. "And now that dream's actually come true."

She gazed up at Clark in wonder, so close now he could feel her breath on his lips, and leant towards him, slowly this time. A trail of warmth trickled up Clark's spine and he bent down to meet her, lips brushing his own in a gentle caress. This was nothing like the wild passion outside the Talon, this moment was quiet and full of longing, Clark felt it in the way Simone's hands trembled slightly as she placed them behind his neck. He responded in kind, placing his hands delicately on her waist, gently stroking the skin between her jacket and skirt. It felt good - the touch, the closeness. Things Clark had been missing for a long time now. But Clark also felt strangely distant, like something was holding him back.

Simone broke away just then and Clark worried he'd done doing something wrong. But if he had, it couldn't be too awful because she was smiling at him.

"Take off your shirt," she whispered.

Clark smiled back at her and complied. As the blue fabric stripped away, the teasing girl blew hot breath across his chest, making Clark shiver. When he met her eyes again his were dark with desire - the paradoxical combination of closeness and distance starting to grate on him. He needed more.

"Your turn," he muttered.

The blue of Simone's eyes deepened to navy in a look that seemed to match Clark's, but to the Kryptonian's sorrow she moved away from him, turning her back as she slowly unbuttoned her shirt. Clark watched with obvious hunger as the green top slipped away, revealing a black lace bra strap across the smooth, lightly tanned skin of Simone's back. Clark wanted to rush over and hold that skin close against his own, to break the continuing detachment his mind was experiencing, but instead he held himself back. If Simone had wanted him closer she would have told him, and he couldn't do anything she didn't want.

Simone turned, running a tantalising finger under her skirt. Then she moved her hand away completely, lips curving in a sinful grin.

"Now take off the rest of your clothes," she instructed.

Clark nodded eagerly and unbuttoned his jeans. As he unzipped his fly, bringing the two of them ever closer to the contact he craved, an old fear resurfaced and the Kryptonian thought perhaps he'd found the cause of his maddening detachment.

"Simone," he said, suddenly serious, as he stepped out of his jeans, slipping shoes and socks off on the way. "With my powers... I could hurt you."

Simone tilted her head in acknowledgement, but her smile didn't waver.

"That's a chance I'm willing to take," she said confidently, removing the belt around the top of her skirt.

At that, Clark couldn't wait any longer. He felt like another burden had just been stripped away - maybe now he'd know the wholeness he was aching for. Hurrying forward, he placed his hands on the small of Simone's back and drew her to him, sighing at the warm friction of skin on skin. He worried a little about still wearing his boxers, Simone had told him to take off all his clothes. But then again, she hadn't specified a time limit on that, so extra activities in the meantime shouldn't be a problem right? And having Simone against his chest wasn't enough, Clark needed to be closer. Sliding a hand along the elastic of her skirt, Clark found the zipper at the back and undid it. As the offending item fell to the ground, Clark ran his hands over soft buttocks and black lace, sliding them up Simone's back and pulling her into a deep kiss. The two of them stayed locked together for what seemed like eternity, and yet when Simone finally pulled away, Clark realised it was equally far too short - because it still wasn't enough. Simone's face was just inches from his now, breath mingling in the heat between them, and Clark was tingling all over with desire, he could feel it, and yet he couldn't. It was like he was observing his own body from afar. He locked on to Simone desperately, seeking a connection, a way to draw him back to himself. Simone gazed back at him deeply, but didn't provide the hold he was looking for.

"Make love to me, Clark," she breathed, wistful tone returning.

Clark's mouth slipped into a hopeful smile and he scooped Simone quickly into his arms and carried her to the sofa behind them.

It was roughly two and a half hours later when Lana arrived, her journey from Metropolis unusually smooth. Clark was dosing when her car pulled up, so he didn't hear it. Neither did he hear the crisp knocks of Lana's heels on the staircase. It was the sharp, distraught intake of breath that finally roused him, eyes blinking lazily as he looked round. Positioned as he was above Simone, left arm cradling her neck, the rest of his naked body sprawled on top of her to keep her equally unclothed figure warm, he wasn't able to see Lana immediately. Shifting his weight to his left elbow, Clark raised his head from Simone's shoulder, careful to keep his chest against her to prevent a rush of cold air.

Looking to the top of the staircase, his gaze fell straight into Lana's, her soft, doe-like eyes wide with horror. She muttered 'oh god' beneath her breath. The sight and the sound pulled Clark into wakefulness and he realised this was an important moment; he should care about what happened next. Having sex with Simone had unfortunately done little to alleviate his sense of disengagement, though, and the only response Clark found himself capable of was an odd feeling of relief. Before he could speak, Simone stirred beneath him, eyes flicking open. She smiled darkly at her bedfellow, then furrowed her brow at his distraction. Twisting round to follow Clark's gaze, she also noticed Lana, eyes shining now with unshed tears. Simone's grin widened in satisfaction.

That was the last straw for Lana, who turned and ran abruptly back down the stairs. Clark watched her leave with a frown. Something wasn't right. Seeing Lana's adoration of him finally broken was an undeniable ease on his mind, but Clark couldn't understand why he wasn't happier - he'd given Simone what she wanted and that was what mattered, he should be complete now. But despite his desire for her, despite the sex, Simone remained ultimately unsatisfying. It was troubling.

Mistaking his frown for distress at Lana's reaction, Simone put a hand on Clark's cheek and drew his face quickly towards her. "You're with me now, Clark," she said. "Go tell her it's over."

Clark nodded, glad to have a clear purpose again, and with a quick spurt of superspeed he was back in his jeans and hurrying up behind Lana before she'd even reached the door.

"Lana, wait," he said grabbing her arm. Lana threw it off and whirled round, suddenly furious. There was a pause while she took a deep breath to compose herself.

"So this is why you couldn't spend the night with me," she said quietly. "And to think I honestly believed what you said about wanting to wait..." her voice broke at that and she closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them again they were hard as stone, demanding an explanation.

"Lana," Clark sighed. Why is talking to Lana always so dramatic? "It's not working. It hasn't been working for weeks. We both know it."

"So instead of talking to me about it, you thought you'd just have a fling behind my back?" Lana exclaimed, incredulous. "How long were you going to wait before you told me, Clark? Until after the wedding?"

"Lana, Simone's not a fling," Clark stated frankly, wanting this over with as soon as possible. "I'm in love with her." Clark caught sight of the silver ring on his left hand glinting in the moonlight and suddenly felt incredibly frustrated with himself for being tied to Lana for so long. He pulled the metal band off roughly and held it up between them. "And we're not going to have a wedding," he continued, capturing the ring in his fist and squeezing hard. When he opened his hand again a small lump of twisted metal fell to the ground at Lana's feet with a dull thump. Clark had to give his ex-fiancée credit - she didn't flinch, just breathed deeply through her nose, stony expression unchanged. "It's over, Lana," Clark finished.

There was silence as the two of them just stared at each other. Then Lana gave a curt nod. Turning round, she walked slowly and calmly out of the barn, the pinnacle of self-control. But once out of sight, a sharp sob reached Clark's sensitive ears and continued as Lana stumbled to her car. Clark stared impassively at where Lana had been - part of him was sorry to know Lana was crying, but the rest of him was more concerned with the sudden, overwhelming sense of liberation washing over him.

Meanwhile in Honduras, Fine had led Lex into the small village he was apparently camped next to. The two of them passed a group of children playing soccer and approached a small hut with a kid in grubby clothes sitting in the doorway. He was playing with a wooden carving of some kind and Lex wondered if this was where Fine got his own collection. As they moved closer Fine called out to the boy, asking to see what he was holding. His tone was friendly and he spoke perfect Spanish. The boy responded immediately, offering the object with a smile. It seemed Fine was well known, even liked, around here and, therefore, clearly well versed in the art of deception. Lex wondered if he too might have been taken in, had Clark not tipped him off.

Fine turned and held the carving up for Lex - it was an almost perfect rendering of the Kryptonian ship. Lex took it from Fine's hands to examine more closely and noticed a lot of the finer details were missing, as though the carver only had a basic knowledge of the ship's outline, knowledge you might get from a distance perhaps. Lex looked back at Fine, questioning.

"His father carved it," Fine explained. "After claiming to have seen a Carro de los Dioses fall from the sky."

"Chariot of the gods," Lex translated obediently, the casual mix of Spanish and English reminding him unpleasantly of the tests his father used to give him as a child. "I'd like to talk to him," Lex continued, hoping the involvement of a third party might ease the intensity of being with Fine alone.

Fine turned to the boy apparently in concern and then reached over and put and arm round Lex's shoulders. Lex tensed at the touch, but didn't flinch, and it only lasted a moment, while Fine led him a few feet away.

"I know you can do many things, Mr. Luthor," Fine said, dropping his arm. "But I'm not sure you can communicate with the dead." Lex frowned as Fine continued. "A few days after the sighting his wife came home to find his charred remains on the floor."

Fine's tone was explanatory and he clearly meant to shock, not threaten, but Lex read a threat there anyway. Clark had said Fine had all his powers, which included heat vision, which meant it was most certainly Fine who'd killed the poor carver. It added an extra sense of macabre to the alien's wooden collection, especially if, as Lex suspected, Fine had got his figures from this family.

"Despite urban myths," Lex stated, burying his fear and throwing the toy casually back to its owner. "Human beings don't spontaneously combust."

Fine shook his head in agreement, before turning to resume his constant movement by walking deeper into the village.

"We believe whoever, or whatever, was in that ship incinerated the man," he stated matter-of-factly over his shoulder. "In fact, we suspect this alien race poses a great threat to this entire planet."

Unseen by Fine, Lex indulged in a blink of astonishment. Because Fine was pitching precisely to his worst fears, voicing the very suspicion Lex had held before learning the truth. Fine was playing him like a pro and if it wasn't for Clark, Lex knew the other man would have hooked him by now. Whatever the alien was planning, he'd clearly gone to great lengths to ensure Lex's involvement, been sure to learn exactly what buttons to push to get Lex on his side. Lex felt cold thinking about it and he was suddenly incredibly grateful Clark had chosen to hide their new relationship, because it meant Clark, at least, was part of himself Fine didn't know about.

"So," Lex said eventually, once he knew his voice would be calm enough. "How do you defend against a threat of that magnitude?"

"It poses a great challenge," Fine replied, pausing his marching to turn and face the other man. "But we are working on a weapon..." his expression moulded to appeal. "One that would greatly benefit from LuthorCorp's help." His eyes glowed with manipulative hope. So that's your game, Lex thought, you want my resources. I suppose if you need them badly enough you'll move on to flattery next. "We're well aware of your tireless quest for extraterrestrial life, Mr. Luthor, your tenacity is impressive," Fine finished, fulfilling Lex's prediction exactly.

Emboldened by his perception, Lex stepped daringly forward.

"I'll help in any way I can," he insisted. "But I want unrestricted assess to all of your data." That might at least tell him for certain what Fine's alias was, and who else he was deceiving.

"That's a bold request," Fine remarked, a hint of admiration in his tone.

"Well, without it, this discussion is over," Lex shrugged, pressing his newfound advantage. Because as chilling as it was to learn Fine had been manipulating him, it meant Fine needed him, apparently badly, which now give Lex an upper hand. Lex made as if to walk away, forcing a response - a tactic that always served him well in business deals.

"I'm not sure you understand me, Mr. Luthor," Fine said quietly, a hard edge to his words that made Lex turn back. "If we don't work together, there might not be a LuthorCorp or a government left. Think about that on your flight home."

What Lex had learnt from Clark had been enough to persuade him that the alien invasion Fine was hinting at was less than likely - the odd Kryptonian visitor maybe, but not a massive force. Yet Fine's expression now was deadly certain, the cold superiority Lex had seen before returning to his eyes. It made Lex wonder if the odd Kryptonian visitor might be more than enough to cause the destruction Fine was implying. Assuming they didn't get what they wanted. Perhaps Lex didn't have the upper hand after all.

"I'm telling you, this is going to be a waste of time," Lois insisted to Pete the next morning as they walked down the street towards Smallville's local church. "They've probably called the wedding off already."

Pete sighed.

"Are you still going on about that?" he muttered, shaking his head in irritation. "You obviously got the wrong idea, that's all there is to it."

Lois shook her head animatedly.

"Hey, I know what I saw," she insisted. "It was like, Last Tango at the Talon. Unfortunately, I had front row seats."

"Well, either you saw wrong or you got confused with some other farmboy," Pete replied with an anxious shrug. "Because there is no way Clark Kent would cheat on Lana. The guy's wanted her forever, it'd be, like, physically impossible."

"Well, he certainly didn't have a problem with the physical side of things when I saw him," Lois quipped back.

Pete shot her an unhappy look. He desperately wanted to write off Lois' description of last night as a false conclusion - an example of her overt inquisitiveness perhaps. But she was being so persistent about it, and there was certainly more than one reason in this town for Clark to be acting out of character. What Pete really wanted to do was talk to Chloe, alone, but hadn't yet found a chance with Lois always dogging him around. He knew she was only trying to be friendly, but that didn't stop it being anymore annoying. Hopefully he'd get a chance to speak to Chloe during the rehearsal - or even better, hopefully whatever had been wrong with Clark last night would be sorted by now and they could forget all about it.

"Well, maybe something happened to him," Pete suggested, desperate to get Lois off the case, because if something weird and alien was happening to Clark it was best to involve as few others as possible. He found it slightly worrying how easy it was to slip back into covering for his friend. "Or, maybe it was a dare, or something for his bachelor party. I'm sure there'll be a perfectly logical explanation."

"God, what is it with people around here?" Lois muttered, flailing her hands in exasperation. "I thought it was just Chloe, but it seems like everyone has some kind of hero worship for the guy. Why can't you just except that maybe Clark's no different than any other red-blooded male? His brain? It's not his commanding officer."

They'd reached the church by now and Pete put his hand on the door handle, turning his head before he opened it to shoot Lois an affronted look.

"Ah, no offence," Lois shrugged, a little sheepish.

Pete rolled his eyes.

"Okay, look," he stated, voice firm and full of deluded ideas about actually being able to enforce some control on the woman before him. "Maybe you are right, maybe Clark really has lost his mind and turned his back on the love of his life. But let's at least give him a chance to tell his side of the story before blabbing to anyone else, alright? Especially Lana."

Lois seemed about to protest, so Pete opened the church door before she had the chance, hoping the sight of Lana might shock her into silence. It was an unhappy surprise, then, to find Lana wasn't there. Neither, in fact, was Clark, or Chloe. The only people in the entire church were the Vicar and the Kents, the three of them talking quietly before the altar at the end of the aisle. Pete frowned and checked his watch, his other hand still on the door. It read 10.01am. He knew Clark was late for most things, but Lana at least should be here already. Lois raised her eyebrows in an obvious 'I told you so' gesture.

The others turned as Lois and Pete made their way inside, footsteps echoing unpleasantly round the nearly empty hall. Martha and Jonathan smiled at the new arrivals, while the Victor sighed and eyed his watch with obvious impatience.

"Lois, Pete, good to see you," Martha grinned, putting her hands affectionately on Pete's shoulders.

"Hey Mr. and Mrs. Kent," Pete nodded, while Lois just smiled, a little nervously, behind him.

"Pete, good to see you again," Jonathan nodded, holding out a hand, which Pete grasped with a smile. "Did Clark not come up with you?"

Next to her husband, Martha looked over questioningly and Pete's expression faded to another frown.

"Clark?" he queried. "Why would he be arriving with me? I assumed he'd be hitching a ride with you guys."

Jonathan let go of Pete's hand, brow furrowing. "Well, um, yes... he was, but -"

"But his new friend told us to go on ahead without them," Martha completed with a smile. "Which is why we thought perhaps he was getting a lift with you two."

Pete and Lois looked at each other in equal confusion.

"Mrs. Kent, Pete and I walked up here," Lois explained. "And we haven't seen Clark all morning... who's this 'new friend' you're talking about?"

"Oh, you mean Simone," Jonathan nodded, suddenly beaming. "A lovely girl. Clark met her yesterday. She spent the night."

"Yes, she was charming," Martha agreed. "She loved my apple pie."

"Right..." Lois nodded slowly, shooting Pete a 'something's definitely wrong' look.

Pete couldn't have agreed more. He knew Mr. Kent, and he wasn't the type to let strange girls spend the night with his son at a moment's notice.

"Um, Mr. and Mrs. Kent?" he began tentatively. "This girl, Simone? Did she maybe do anything, unusual, while she was with you?"

Martha and Jonathan both shook their heads, bemused.

"No," said Martha. "She was just, very nice."

Before Lois and Pete could question further the door behind them clicked open and a slightly breathless Lex hurried in. As per Clark's instructions, he'd made sure to keep his attire casual and was wearing a simple, light blue sweatshirt and black pants.

"Am I late?" he breathed, looking round in concern.

He'd overslept a little in Honduras that morning, but fortunately it was a clear day and his pilot was fast, getting them back to Smallville just in time. Lex still felt pretty groggy though, the result of further talk with Fine, which lasted late into the night. Even when it was over he'd stayed up until early morning replaying the discussion in his mind, running through countless different scenarios as he tried to determine the best course of action. But a little tiredness was hardly going to keep him from Clark's wedding rehearsal, not after Clark's request yesterday. Plus, he really needed to speak to the guy soon about what Fine had told him. He'd tried to contact his friend sometime before midnight, wanting to update him as soon as possible, but hadn't been able to get through - unfortunate but understandable, he supposed, presumably the guy was spending some quality time with his fiancée. Lex had been slightly put out by the diversion to voicemail when he'd called from the jet this morning though.

"Lex, hi honey," Martha smiled, beckoning to him. "Come right in. Yes, you are a little late, but then so are Clark and Lana, so it doesn't really matter."

Behind her the Vicar huffed in disagreement, but the others ignored him.

Lex shook his head, an amused smile crossing his lips as he made his way to the others. Trust Clark to be late for his own wedding rehearsal. Lana's absence was a surprise though, although if she had been with Clark in the evening... Lex pushed the rest of that thought firmly away. Suffice to say Lex probably hadn't been the only one kept awake last night.

"Lex," Jonathan nodded politely, eyes dark with distrust. Lex nodded back, accepting the gaze - he'd long since given up hope of ever being accepted by Jonathan Kent and in any case could hardly blame the man for his current uncertainty, given what Lex had resorted to during the recent senatorial campaign.

"Mr. and Mrs. Kent, good morning," he said cordially, turning next to Lois and finally Pete, whose expression matched Jonathan's. "Lois," Lex continued. "And Pete, I didn't know you were in town."

"The girls dragged me down as a surprise for Clark," Pete said a little stiffly. "I didn't know you were coming today."

Lex raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. Pete's presence explained why Clark had been called away yesterday, but the fact he hadn't been updated on the best man situation was strange. There was a conflict there, Lex supposed, since Pete Ross was one of Clark's oldest friends - clearly the groom-to-be hadn't known how to break the news. Lex grinned a little at Pete's ignorance, a childish desire to gloat passing through him. He had nothing against Pete as a person, but the thought of how he might feel learning Clark had chosen Lex over him was something the older man couldn't help thinking would be gratifying to see first hand.

"Well," Lex shrugged coolly. "After Clark made me his best man yesterday I thought it would be rude not to show."

Pete's response was the exact mixture of shock and disappointment Lex was hoping for - brow furrowing as his head pulled back in instant disbelief. A short pause, and then his eyes were clouding uncertainly.

"You're Clark's best man?" he questioned - to his credit, a lot more composed than Lex expected him to be.

"I didn't have the heart to turn him down," Lex replied with a small smirk, making Jonathan frown. Martha, however, after glancing at Pete in apology, shared an oddly unsurprised look with Lois.

An awkward silence fell over the group and the Vicar took the opportunity to step in, coughing authoritatively before speaking.

"I'm sorry," he started, not sounding it at all. "But I do have a busy schedule to get through today. If the bride and groom don't arrive soon the rehearsal will have to be cancelled."

"Yes, of course," Jonathan nodded in understanding. "I'm sure they'll be here soon."

The Vicar looked unconvinced and another uncomfortable silence developed. After a minute the click of the church doors opening broke it, echoing imposingly around the five of them. Everyone turned towards the entrance in relief. But instead of the happy Clark and Lana everyone was hoping for, a nervous Chloe stepped through.

"Um, hi," she greeted with a rather obviously false smile. Her fingers twirled in a quick, compulsive gesture round her thin purple scarf as she made her way down the aisle. "So, err, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there's been a change of plan. Lana and Clark won't be having a wedding rehearsal today."

"What's wrong?" Lex asked.

"Oh, you know, nothing important," Chloe shrugged. "Just, stuff." She looked over to Pete and the Kents, eyebrows raised. Lex caught the look and its implication and bit back a sigh. Something was wrong, possibly on a supernatural level, but it wasn't something he could easily be privy to.

"I see," Lex obliged - after fooling an advanced alien computer, tricking a young reporter into belief of her deception was like child's play. He turned to the Vicar with a wry smile. "Looks like your schedule just cleared."

"Hmmm," the Vicar huffed, while Chloe and the Kents smiled their apologies. Next to Martha, Pete was trying to catch Chloe's eye again.

"Well," Lois stated, brief and to the point. "Guess there's no point in hanging around here then, huh?"

Lex smiled at the girl's no-nonsense attitude, which immediately propelled everyone into action. Pete moved instantly over to Chloe and started whispering to her, while Jonathan and Martha muttered a few more apologies to the Vicar. Lex tried to make out what Pete was saying, but Chloe had shushed him before the millionaire had picked up anything concrete. Not long after, the Vicar nodded curtly to the Kents and left the hall through a curtain to the left. Their apologies over, the Kents joined Pete and Chloe and the group made their way towards the door, leaving Lois and Lex behind.

The two of them stood quietly in front of the alter and watched as the others reached the door. Both of them sighed simultaneously.

"Marriage," Lois muttered with a small shake of her head. "Too much bother if you ask me."

"Definitely overrated," Lex nodded.

They shared a smile of agreement. Then registered their positioning with a frown.

"Well, err, I better..." Lois trailed off, embarrassed, and pointed to the others, who were just stepping outside.

"Yeah," Lex nodded. Lois gave him a quick smile before hurrying outside herself.

Lex stayed behind in the empty church and chewed his lip, wondering how to find out what was going on without letting the others know how much he knew. A buzz from his cell interrupted him and Lex frowned - that particular ring tone signalled a specific caller and was only supposed to be used in emergencies. Lex pulled the item from his pocket and checked the screen unhappily. Sure enough, it read 33.1.

The grey shirted security guard held himself strictly to attention outside the 33.1 elevator. Beneath his spiky blonde hair his expression was one of complete self-control, but a tapping of fingers against his legs betrayed his nervousness. A quiet 'ping' announced the elevator's arrival and Lex stepped out and into the corridor with a single, authoritative stride before the doors had even finished opening.

"Jason," he nodded after only a split second glance, stopping in front of the other man. "What's the emergency?"

"One of our artefacts is missing, sir," Jason responded, stopping his tapping and managing, somehow, to stand even straighter. Lex glared at him and despite Jason's bravado, the guard was unable to meet the gaze.

"Missing?" Lex repeated coldly. "Missing as in - Lost? Misplaced? Or missing as in stolen?"

"We're, ah... not sure, sir," Jason replied uneasily. Lex continued to stare, unimpressed. "I ah, discovered its absence this morning during the usual eight o'clock inventory," Jason hurried to explain. "And I immediately called in all of yesterday's staff, as per regulation." He nodded, pale blue eyes lighting with hope, and Lex inclined his head in response - no cause for reprimand so far. "The rest of today's staff and I spent the last two hours interviewing them all, but... unfortunately, the procedure failed to yield any results. We thought it best to inform you before any other action was taken."

"What do you mean 'failed to yield any results'?" Lex insisted with a frown. "Someone must know something."

"They say they don't remember, sir," Jason replied, grimacing.

Lex shook his head with a short, mocking laugh.

"Then they're lying, and it's your job to make them remember," he said tone firm and irrefutable.

Jason swallowed.

"You, you don't understand, sir," he persisted. "They haven't just forgotten certain events. All twenty security guards on duty yesterday claim to have forgotten the whole day. How they got to work, what they had for lunch, everything." Lex's frown lost its condemnation and softened to confusion instead. "Stokes even woke up this morning in a hotel room with no recollection of how he got there or why."

"What about the security tapes?" Lex asked, rather more subdued. He didn't hold out much hope though, if they'd had any information he was sure Jason would have mentioned it first.

"Wiped," Jason explained with a sigh. "I checked them right after I called in the staff. The last ID card used to enter the security room was registered to Catherine Winters, but she claims-"

"Not to remember," Lex finished with a resigned nod. "What's the missing item?" Lex stifled a sigh as he looked up - he had an unpleasant suspicion he already knew.

"Number B-7, sir," Jason confirmed.

Lex raised a hand to his eyes, suddenly weary.

"I feared something like this would happen if that got out," he muttered. Taking a breath he pulled his hand away and looked back to his employee. "Okay. Given the ability of this particular item, it's actually most likely the others are telling the truth. But I want them all submitted to a thorough second interrogation anyway, just in case."

"Yes, sir," Jason nodded, grateful to have the responsibility he'd been labouring under finally lifted.

"That can wait though," Lex continued. "The next step is to talk to the inhabitants..." Lex paused, tapping his lips as he considered the best approach. "Formal interviews are likely to make a lot of them nervous, if not uncooperative. So a casual address might be more beneficial." And a lot friendlier, Lex thought, not that he'd ever admit to considering personal comfort above efficiency. His eyes flicked back to Jason. "You're one of the living area security guards, aren't you?"

The living quarters at 33.1 were supposed to be somewhere the project's members could relax, so Lex had tried to keep security there to a minimum. In an area filled with superpowered people, though, there was too much risk of accidents to ignore completely, as well as the usual threat of intruders, so the area did have two or three guards assigned to patrol it each day - it was to these Lex now referred.

"Yes, sir," Jason agreed. "Checking the inventory is really the only time I enter the labs."

"So you'll have been in contact with the members here then? They know you?" Lex queried.

Jason gave a small smile.

"I like to think I've come to be on good terms with some of them, sir, yes," he said.

"Good," Lex nodded, turning and heading down the corridor. "Come with me," he called crisply over his shoulder. Jason, surprised by his employer's sudden movement, stood and blinked for a second before hurrying after him. After a few paces Lex stopped with a frown - remembering Fine's constant movement yesterday. He had an uncomfortable feeling he was putting Jason through a similar ordeal. "Jason..." Lex started, turning to look behind him, only to find the guard was standing quietly at his side. Lex blinked at him awkwardly for a second. "Uh. You did well. Good job," he nodded in what he hoped was a considerate manner.

Jason looked at him blankly for a moment and then broke into a sudden grin, reminding Lex of Clark - not that that was ever difficult.

"Thank you, sir," he breathed in relief. "I've been terrified all morning that I was going to mess up, or that I was already doing something wrong. It's, ah, the first emergency I've had to deal with you see and..." Realising he was babbling, Jason looked down a little sheepishly. "Sir," he finished.

Lex nodded again, a little impressed - wishing all his security had such dedication. Instead of embarrassing the guy by continuing the conversation though, Lex tilted his head down the corridor and they made their way down it together.

Once they were through to the living quarters, Lex led them both towards the games room, figuring it was the best place to make a general address. It was also the place most members were likely to be.

As they reached the entrance, they ran into Bobster arriving from the opposite direction. He was dressed in a long, blue, cotton dressing gown, tied only lightly round his waist, leaving it open enough to reveal his bare chest. In his hand he carried a porcelain mug filled with steaming liquid. His eyes were closed in mid-yawn when Lex and Jason approached him, and he scratched casually at his untidy hair with his free hand.

"Morning, Robert," Lex said dryly, put out by the other man's obvious laziness, considering that so far today hadn't allowed Lex the same luxury. Bobster lowered his hand and blinked sleepily.

"Boss?" he muttered as his eyes can into focus. "Morning," he agreed. Then his eyes flickered over to Jason and Bobster's lips spread into a smile. "Hey, Jason," he greeted, voice softening.

Jason smiled back in a way Lex found rather interesting, but didn't have time to think about now. Leaving the others to follow him as they would, Lex stepped quickly into the games room. He was glad to see the place humming with activity, as it meant he had access to more people. Stepping away from the doorway, he cleared his throat commandingly, but before he could say anything Clara bounced up from the cushions by the TV and skidded in front of him.

"Boss, hey," she grinned, between chews of her gum. "Is Clark with you?"

Lex rolled his eyes a little. What is it with kids and Clark? he thought.

"No, not today," he explained. "And I'm actually here about something important."

Clara frowned and, picking up his anxiety, grabbed one of her blonde pigtails and began to twist it. While Jason and Bobster stepped into the room, Lex placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and moved her gently to the side, making more space in front of him.

"Okay people, listen up," he called; pausing while everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to him. "I need your help."

"Now that's a fascinating statement, coming from you," an all too familiar female voice muttered. Looking over to the pool tables, Lex saw Phoenix leaning against the nearest with a smirk, dark ponytail trailing over her left shoulder, gloved hands wrapped round an upright pool cue. Next to her Molly and Mikhail, standing hand in hand, looked to each other and shared a quiet laugh.

"Not now, Phoenix," Lex shot at her firmly. Phoenix grimaced and put a hand to her forehead.

"Okay, I'm sorry. Just turn down the irritation, alright? I'm five days without the serum today," she muttered.

The millionaire's eyes clouded.

"Isn't that a day over your limit?" he asked.

Phoenix removed her hand and looked up at him, apparently relieved.

"Not anymore. My tolerance is up again. No more juice till tomorrow," she explained, mouth quirking in a small smile. "Thank you, though," she added. "For the concern. It's actually quite touching."

Lex looked away with a shake of his head. When you'd spent your life learning to gain authority by concealing emotion, knowing an empath could be exceedingly annoying at times. Still, at least she didn't seem angry with him today - though Lex suspected that was more due to Clark's influence than his own.

By now, a small crowd had developed, and Paul stepped out of it, blinking his yellow, cat-like eyes curiously.

"So what's up, Boss?" he asked. "What'd you need as for?"

Lex gazed around the gathered members for a second, ensuring their attention.

"Yesterday, something was taken from this facility," he explained. "Something valuable, and potentially dangerous. My security's investigation into the matter has unfortunately proved ineffective." A lot of people smirked at that, and Bobster, Clara and Phoenix shared knowing looks. "I was hoping any one who was here yesterday might have some information about what happened."

Paul shrugged, nose scrunching in a remarkably cat-like way.

"Sorry, Boss," he said. "I wasn't here yesterday. Me and Clara went to visit Nick at the set up in Edge City."

Lex nodded.

"Anyone else?" he called. There was a pause while everyone thought hard.

Behind Lex, Bobster shook his head with an exasperated sigh.

"I'm just as useless," he said, when Lex turned to him. "Can't remember a thing about yesterday. Though considering the state of my head when I got up this morning, I'm guessing it was probably a good night."

Over at the pool table, Phoenix was frowning.

"It's weird," she said, shaking her head. "I can't seem to remember anything either... but I was fine when I woke up. And I doubt I'd've been drinking anyway, it lessens my control too much."

The others in the room were shaking their heads in a similar fashion and Lex sighed. To his left, Mikhail chuckled.

"I know what has been taken," he stated with a haughty grin. "It's that necklace, is it not? The one you used to try and kick start my power."

Lex didn't reply, but he didn't deny the claim either. Next to Mikhail, Molly tutted.

"Ugh, how droll," she murmured. "Using jewellery as a medium for mind control."

"It was very crude," Mikhail agreed. "Not the sophistication of our powers. The wearer no doubt told all they came across not to be concerned with them. To forget all that happened yesterday. A foolish covering of tracks, it would have been better to say 'forget about me only,' yes? It is how I would have done it."

Ignoring the rest of the crowd for the moment, Lex moved closer to Mikhail.

"Okay, supposing that is what happened," he said, holding the other man's gaze. "Would there be any way to break the mind block?"

Mikhail shook his head.

"No," he replied. "The gem is crude, but effective. Once a command is given it cannot be undone. Unless, of course, the gem is destroyed," he amended.

Lex pursed his lips.

"Is there no way anyone could have escaped its influence?" he persisted.

Mikhail gave a one-shouldered shrug; his right arm still locked round Molly's.

"The necklace requires physical presence and eye contact with the wearer to work, so if that was avoided perhaps..." He quirked an eyebrow at Lex. "Seems unlikely though, no?" Lex looked away, clicking his tongue, and Mikhail chuckled again at the move. "To think, a whole facility deceived by a simple stone." He shook his head mockingly.

Lex turned his head back to glare at the Russian, sharp eyes narrowed in irritation.

"You think you're so superior?" he queried. "What do you remember about yesterday?"

Mikhail opened his mouth confidently and then stopped, his brow furrowing.

"Chyort voz'mi!" he exclaimed, throwing his free hand up. "I also? Jopa..." He sighed and Molly leaned over to pat his arm.

Although seeing Mikhail taken down a peg was certainly gratifying, in the current circumstances Lex gained little satisfaction from the display and stepped away from the memory-less pair in defeat.

"Well, I guess that means-" He was interrupted by a sudden tap on his shoulder, making him jump. To his left stood a tall man in loose blue T-shirt and jeans. He sported long, dark hair and an impressively bushy beard; a pair of wide spectacles perched on his nose. Lex could have sworn he hadn't been there before.

"Wha-?" Lex started. "Who are you?"

The man gave a benign smile.

"If you need a name, you can call me Grey if you like," he stated. "There's no point telling you anything else, you'll just forget it."

Lex's face clouded. This day was just getting stranger by the minute.

"Where did you come from?" he pressed, trying to regain some of the control he'd felt slowly slipping away from him ever since waking up late this morning.

"I've always been here," Grey answered simply. "You just didn't notice me."

"Invisibility?" Lex ventured. Grey shook his head.

"No," he said. "People can see me. They just don't, notice," he shrugged. "Not unless I concentrate, like now. And afterwards, they just forget about me. You will too when this conversation is over."

Lex nodded slowly.

"Right..." he muttered. Considering everything he'd faced since moving to Smallville, the explanation was worryingly reasonable. "Are you a member here?"

"Oh yes," Grey replied with a smile. "I even have a file, you compiled it yourself. You just-"

"Don't remember," Lex finished wryly. "It seems to be the order of the day."

"I know," Grey nodded. "That's why I'm here. I saw the person who took the necklace. I thought maybe I could help you identify her."

Lex blinked. It wasn't often he ran into good luck and he wasn't sure how to take it.

"You, what?" he insisted.

"I saw the woman who took the necklace," Grey repeated patiently. "She didn't see me, of course, which is why my mind isn't affected like the others. I can describe her to you, if you'd like."

Lex was silent for a moment as the knowledge that he'd just found exactly what he wanted finally filtered through.

"That would be great," he said finally, turning away briefly to nod at Jason. "Jason, stay here and get statements from everyone who was here yesterday, just in case anyone remembers anything. Then get started on the second interrogation of the staff. You," he turned back to Grey, who was thankfully still there. "Come with me." With that, Lex headed out of the room, an obliging Grey in tow.

Ten minutes and a detailed description later had Lex and Grey sitting in front of the computer in Lex's office, a newspaper article entitled 'Famous Hypnotist Cures Mayor' displayed on the screen. Beneath the heading was a picture of a smiling, elderly man with a neatly trimmed grey beard, a large blue gemstone hanging from a chain round his neck. Next to him was a young and oddly conservative Simone, her blonde hair hanging limply down her unsmiling face.

"So you're positive, it was her?" Lex clarified, pointing to the screen. Grey nodded.

"Yes," he replied with certainty.

Lex leant back in his chair with a humourless laugh.

"Of course," he muttered. "I got the necklace from her father. He said at the time she was a trouble maker, but I never expected she'd be this much of a threat..." Lex cradled his chin thoughtfully in his hand, recalling his meeting with the old man. Grey watched him with a small, satisfied smile.

Thinking the man's advanced hypnosis might have been the result of a more than human ability Lex had intended to offer him membership at 33.1. It was one of those rare occasions when Lex had benefited despite a false assumption, since knowledge of Lex's project had impressed the guy enough to give the necklace away freely, in the hope that Lex might use it for a greater purpose - he'd been a nice man, actually, with exotic taste in teas.

Lex nodded decisively and stood up, intending to instruct security to start tracking Simone down. He frowned when his chair collided with an empty one next to him and he looked round the office in confusion, wondering why the second chair was moved behind the desk in the first place. Shrugging it off as one of the usual oddities the facility was becoming plagued with he headed to the door with a satisfied smile. Good idea about Simone, he thought. It wasn't conclusive, but she was certainly more than likely to be the culprit. Sometimes my genius even surprises myself...

Back at the Luthor mansion, Clark and Simone were in one of the many upstairs bedrooms. After sending Jonathan and Martha to the church without them, Simone insisted it was time she completed her business in Smallville, and led Clark straight to Lex's stately home. For once, Clark hadn't needed to dodge security in order to arrive unannounced - Simone had simply convinced the guards to let them both in and then told them to take the day off. She'd been briefly disappointed to find Lex absent, but soon cheered up as she took Clark on an exploration of the place, regaling him with tales of her life as they went, speech flowing with animated relief - the desire to talk had obviously been pent-up for a while.

Many of the rooms they examined Clark had never been in before, so it was proving an equally entertaining experience for him learning what his friend had hidden away. The room they were in now was especially intriguing because of the selection of woman's clothing and jewellery it contained - Clark wondered what it was all about; potential girlfriends, perhaps? Or previous ones? Simone, on the other hand, couldn't have cared less why Lex had what appeared to be a feminine boutique in his home - her only concern seemed to be how much stuff she could pilfer from it. Clark was currently sitting amongst an array of suits and dresses Simone had discarded on the bed, watching quietly while she rummaged through an ornate velvet jewellery box at the dressing table a few feet away - the heavily locked drawer that had once held the item now smashed at her feet, opened obligingly by Clark.

"...so then," she was saying, holding up a pair of sparkling, diamond earrings. "The bastard turned round and told me he'd given it away. Without even consulting me. I mean, it's a family heirloom, for god's sake - he didn't have the right. Not when I'd waited twenty-one years for the chance to use it." Simone's eyes blazed in the dressing table mirror as she slipped the earrings on, and Clark met her reflection's gaze with a sympathetic nod. "When I challenged his decision, all he did was jabber on about the power being a great temptation and how I wasn't ready for it... stupid fool."

"So what did you do?" Clark asked, seemingly more out of politeness than actual interest. Simone locked on to his reflection, eyes hard.

"I took care of him," she said darkly and with a hint of pride - as though glad to finally voice the fact. Clark accepted the statement without a blink; appearing, if anything, generally indifferent. Simone shrugged in disappointment and spun round in her chair. She indicated the earrings with a smile.

"So, how do I look?"

Over at the Daily Planet, Pete and Lois peered over Chloe's shoulder at a newspaper article on her computer. Like the one Lex had been reading, this article also displayed a picture of Simone's father, alone this time. The heading - 'Hypnotist Murdered'- was nowhere near as optimistic.

"Wow, Chloe," Pete murmured, looking over her desk in admiration. "I gotta admit, this sure is a step up from the Torch."

After leaving the church, Chloe had quickly related the real reason behind the rehearsal's cancellation - namely a distraught Lana who Chloe had returned from the Planet to find sobbing face down on her bed. After hearing the story of Clark and Simone's escapade in the barn, Chloe immediately suspected foul play, but it was clear Lana was in no condition for research. So Chloe had spent the rest of the night calming her down and packed her off to her Aunt Nell's in the morning.

Once her explanation was over, Chloe suggested a trip to Metropolis for a research session at the Daily Planet to see what they could dig up about the mysterious Simone. Jonathan and Martha had been surprisingly hostile towards the plan, however, turning it down point blank and claiming Simone was a wonderful person they would never do anything to harm. Unable to shake their conviction, Chloe, Pete and Lois had left the Kents looking for Clark back at the farm and headed into Metropolis on their own, less than ten minutes after Lex began his own journey to 33.1. The three of them had arrived at the Planet around the same time Lex was addressing everyone in the games room, and Chloe had immediately begun searching for Simone over the Internet - fortunately, in her praise of the woman, Martha had inadvertently revealed Simone's surname: Hilz.

As Chloe now read through the article she'd found, Lois squinted at the picture.

"Wait a second," she muttered. "I've seen that jewel..." She pointed to the man's necklace, eyes narrowing. After a second she clicked her fingers in recognition. "That's it! Simone had it round her neck when I saw her outside the Talon... you don't think it might have something to do with her hold over Clark?" she added - since witnessing the Kent's inexplicable attitude towards the woman, Lois had reluctantly reconsidered her condemnation of the farmboy.

Chloe nodded, eyes still on the screen.

"It says here the stone is a family heirloom that dates back to the alchemists in Medieval England," she explained. "And considering the substantial array of afflictions this guy is credited as curing, a little supernatural help seems likely."

Pete puffed his cheeks out with a sigh.

"So it's hypnotic jewellery now?" he frowned. "I knew there was a reason I left this place. You just don't get crazy shit like this in Wichita."

"The police ruled that he was killed as the result of a botched burglary," Chloe continued, ignoring her friend's complaint. "But the necklace was the only thing reported missing..." Chloe spun her chair round and raised her eyebrows at the others.

Pete and Lois looked at each other for a second, eyes equally clouded.

"Are you saying Simone's responsible for her own father's death?" Lois asked, a little shocked.

"Well," Chloe shrugged. "If it meant getting her daddy's hyper hypno powers, maybe."

"Hypnotic jewellery and homicide," Pete stated darkly. "Things just keep getting better."

"What I don't get," Lois said, folding her arms and leaning against the desk. "Is, of all people, why go after Clark? She could bag any guy she wants, what's so special about him?"

Pete and Chloe shared a brief glance, before shaking their heads with a shrug.

Clark considered the earrings carefully - because everything Simone asked of him was important.

The cut of the diamond seemed oddly familiar and Clark's brow furrowed a little at the recognition, an uncomfortable feeling stirring in the pit of his stomach - it felt like, disappointment? jealousy? He stood up quickly and moved over to Simone, shaking his head.

"They don't suit you," he said, looking in the box for something else. After a second he pulled out a pair of delicate, sapphire studs. "Try these," he suggested with a small smile.

Simone grinned, wrinkling her nose in pleasure.

"Honest, but also considerate," she stated, taking the offered jewels happily. "It sure was a lucky break finding you."

Clark tilted his head, curious.

"How did you find me?" he asked, suddenly feeling more aware than he had in a while.

"Oh, everyone at the facility was talking about you," she replied distractedly, turning back to the mirror and removing the diamond earrings to attach the new ones. "Saying what a great guy you were and that Luthor was lucky to know you. Since I was heading to Smallville anyway I thought I might as well look you up, see what all the fuss was about."

"The... facility?" Clark questioned with a frown.

"Yup," Simone nodded, slipping on the sapphires. "The one I got the necklace back from. My father stupidly left Luthor's business card on the coffee table." She paused, holding the second sapphire to her ear, to give a small laugh. "They'd never had business together before, so I knew he had the stone." Both earrings now attached, Simone rested her arms on the dressing table and smiled in satisfaction at her reflection. She turned her head to look at Clark, who was now leaning against the table next to her, face alert and inquisitive. Encouraged, Simone continued. "I spent months watching him, trying to figure out where he was keeping it. Eventually I discovered he was hiring a second security team, one that didn't work here at the manor, or in the LuthorCorp building. I managed to track one of them down and... let's just say I have some pretty mesmerising charms of my own," she smirked, pride evident this time. "He told me about this freak project Luthor's set up - 33.1. It's, like, a collection of people with abnormal abilities. God knows what it's for... Anyway, it didn't take a genius to work out that was where my prize was, so yesterday I convinced the guy to sneak me in and, voila." She put a hand on the stone against her chest with a grin. "Finding you was a bonus."

Clark recognised Simone's pride and knew he should praise her - wanted to - but something kept him frowning.

"This... guy," he muttered. "Who is he?"

Simone gave a delighted giggle.

"Aw, baby, don't be jealous," she insisted, standing up and giving Clark a kiss on the cheek. "He didn't mean anything. I barely even remember his name. It was... Stick? Stokes? Something Stokes..." She shrugged, turning from Clark to look over the clothes on the bed again. "It doesn't matter now anyway. He doesn't remember me, I made sure of that. Kind of a shame for him really, because our last night together was pretty memorable."

Clark nodded, eyes turning distant as Simone picked up a red dress and held it in front of her. Once again, the amateur hypnotist had mistaken his emotion, because Clark wasn't jealous. Part of him considered this strange, considering his girlfriend had just been boasting about a past affair, but mostly Clark was concerned at how easily she had breached 33.1's defences. He'd have to talk to Lex about it once they'd finished Simone's business. Which was another thing...

"Simone?" he began uncertainly. "What... Why did you come to Smallville? What is your business here?"

Simone turned from the red dress and curved her lips at Clark, eyes glinting with icy excitement.

"Luthor conspired with my father to take away what's mine," she explained. "I'm here to make him pay."

Clark looked at her uneasily for a moment, then looked away, expression clouding. He had to please Simone, he knew that, but he was suddenly very worried this would mean hurting Lex, and Lex in pain was something he definitely didn't want - a sudden surge of emotion convinced Clark of this. The confliction was... disturbing.

Simone inclined her head in surprise at Clark's reaction and after watching him struggle for a moment she threw the dress back on the bed and stepped towards him. Holding her left hand round the blue gem, she used her right to turn Clark's face towards her.

"I will make Lex Luthor pay," she stated firmly, holding Clark's gaze. "And you're going to help me, Clark. Aren't you?"

Clark, still frowning, opened his mouth to argue, but then his mind cleared and Simone's request was all that mattered again. He smiled; relieved at the simple focus he'd regained, and nodded.

"Why she chose Clark isn't really important right now, anyway," Chloe insisted to Lois. "What is, is that we find a way to snap him out of it fast, before he does anything he can't ever come back from."

"Assuming he hasn't already," Lois responded. "I mean, Clark may be hypnotised, but Lana isn't. What she's feeling right now is real."

"Yeah, but once she knows the truth she'll bounce right back," Pete assured. "The two of them have been to hell and back countless times already, one more day of weirdness isn't gonna stop them."

"For their sake, let's hope not," Chloe nodded. And for our sake too, she thought, silently weary - she'd been hoping once Clark and Lana were married there'd be less fallout on her over the turbulence of their relationship and that maybe she'd even, finally, be able to get over the guy. "I was thinking," she continued; tone more commanding now. "Since we have no idea where Clark is, it might be a more effective use of our forces if we split up. I'll stay here and get in touch with my sources at the police department, see if they can keep an eye out, while you two check Clark's college and also the Kent farm. I know Mr. and Mrs. Kent said they'd call if they found Clark there, but after their behaviour earlier, it wouldn't surprise me if they decided to keep the information to themselves."

Lois and Pete nodded their agreement.

"Okay. It's probably best if I deal with the Kents," Lois offered, waving at Pete. "You're real close to Clark, so if they have been whammed by Simone they're likely to suspect you more. Me, I can just claim not to care either way, I'm barely involved in the Clark/Lana epic."

"Good call," Pete agreed. "I'll take the college, then. Let's go."

"Oh, Pete, wait a sec," Chloe called as they headed for the door. Pete and Lois both turned back and Chloe floundered for a second. "Ah, Lois, you go on ahead," she said eventually, waving her hand. "I just need to give Pete my new number, so we can all keep in touch with each other."

"Chloe, I already-" Pete broke off when Chloe raised her eyebrows at him, finally catching on to what she wanted. "Oh, right. That number. Yeah, got it. See you later Lois." He gave Lois a quick wave and headed back to the desk. Lois nodded at Chloe behind him and stepped into the corridor outside.

Once back next to Chloe, Pete turned to make sure Lois was out of sight before bending down across the desk like a conspirator.

"Okay, what's up?" he whispered.

"I just figured," Chloe replied, lowering her voice as well. "If Clark's really not himself, we might be forced into drastic measures."

Pete frowned, eyes darkening, as he wondered if Chloe meant what he thought she did and just watched as she reached over and opened the drawer to her right. There was a soft clicking sound of a latch being undone and then she was turning back, a small, faintly glowing green rock in her hand. She looked at Pete intently for a second, then down at the rock. Taking a deep breath, she placed it on the desk in front of him.

"Woa," Pete breathed. "That's exactly what I think it is, isn't it? How long have you been keeping it in your drawer?"

Chloe flushed with shame.

"That's not important," she said quickly, refusing to look up. "The point is, I think you should keep it with you. Just in case."

Pete nodded in understanding. He didn't want to hurt Clark any more than Chloe, but the guy was ten times stronger than either of them, if he was acting out they needed a way to keep him in check. Pete reached a tentative hand to the kryptonite, then stopped, remembering all the times he'd used it against his friend already - both varieties of it. He'd broken their friendship enough by leaving town; he didn't want to do anything to make the rift worse.

"No, you keep this one," he said pulling his hand away. "You're gonna need it if Clark comes your way. I'll find my own if I have to."

Chloe looked up in concern.

"You're sure?" she queried. "I mean, I'm just acting as info-girl here. You're much more likely to run into him than me."

"Chloe, chill," Pete assured, straightening up and moving away. "I was dealing with wacked-out Clark before you even knew about the possibility. I'll be fine."

He flashed her a smile with more confidence than he felt and Chloe returned it with a weak one of her own, placing a hand over the rock with a nod. "Okay."

Pete gave her one last nod and hurried out of the office, heading for his car outside.

If the others had thought to check, they would have realised he didn't have the faintest idea how to get to Clark's college, but that mattered little to Pete - he wasn't going there anyway. He had a theory of his own he planned to follow up instead, one he was going to take great pleasure in dealing with personally.

Lex was preoccupied with thoughts of how to get the necklace from Simone once her whereabouts were determined, so he didn't notice the lack of staff as he entered the manor. Neither did he notice the second presence in his office until it was too late and the dark skinned fist was already slamming into the side of his jaw. Completely off guard, Lex fell to his knees before the desk with a sharp cry, palms hitting the tiled floor with an all too familiar smack.

"Bet you thought you'd get away with it, didn't you?" an angry voice yelled down at him, and Lex looked up into the eyes of a glaring Pete Ross - not nearly as attractive as Clark's had been during his last punch to this position, Lex reflected.

"Pete?" the older man muttered in confusion, putting a hand to his still stinging mouth - it came away with a small spot a blood. "What...?" Using the desk for support he pulled himself to his feet, searching his mind rapidly for an explanation behind the other man's attack. "This isn't about the best man thing, is it?" he tried, wiping the last of the blood from his upper lip with his thumb. "Because, really, this is-"

"Don't gimme that," Pete responded, moving threateningly closer. Lex stood up straighter and tensed, but didn't flinch. "You don't even care about being Clark's best man, because you're not planning on there ever being a wedding."

At that, Lex figured he'd reached his daily capacity for surprise and gave up all efforts at pretence, forehead wrinkling in an expression of complete bafflement.

"Pete, what are you talking about?" he questioned, shaking his head lightly.

"I'm talking about Lana sobbing her heart out, while Clark's off making out with another girl," Pete shot back, his face inches from Lex's.

"Clark's... what?" Lex muttered, at a loss for a reply. Pete's statement made little enough sense in itself, let alone in relation to him. "What other girl?"

"Your lackey, Simone," Pete replied with a triumphant sneer. "You got the others fooled alright. Blaming it on her, covering your tracks. But there's no way she'd have gone after Clark if she hadn't been tipped off."

"Simone? Simone Hilz?" Lex muttered, the speed of Pete's speech pushing him into thinking aloud. "She's with Clark..." This new development didn't sound in any way good.

"So you admit it, you know her!" Pete stepped back, waving a hand at Lex in a gesture both accusatory and victorious.

"Pete, it's not what you think - " Lex started, trying to hold the other man's gaze, but Pete shook his head violently.

"Don't try and lie your way out of it," he insisted. "Clark might be willing to buy that crap, but I always knew you couldn't be trusted."

Lex sighed. Pete Ross was temperamental at the best of times. Reasoning with him now, when he was obviously worked up, wasn't going to be easy.

"Why?" Lex asked with a tired shrug. "Why would I try and stop Clark and Lana's wedding? What do you think I hope to gain?"

Pete scoffed, as though at a trick question he'd already figured out.

"I figure since the engagement Clark and Lana have been pretty close, putting you out of the picture," he stated. "Turn Lana against him and you get full buddy status back."

Lex broke into an open grin, shaking his head in silent amusement, because Pete couldn't have the situation more wrong. As he took a breath to compose himself, though, Lex had to admit as a theory it wasn't half bad. In fact, if he hadn't known about Clark by now he could well imagine concocting such a plan. Fortunately, things hadn't come to that.

Pete, apparently thrown by Lex's reaction, paused uncertainly and Lex took the opportunity to fix him in a hard stare.

"Clark's already my friend," he stated, slow and calm. "He asked me to be his best man. What more do you think I want from him?"

If they'd been discussing anyone else Lex might have worried about the question's implication, but since it was Clark he knew it only held one interpretation - and it didn't involve Lex's sexual preferences. It was a hazardous tactic, as it risked confirming Pete's suspicions that Lex was pushing for Clark's secret. But since Pete wouldn't risk betraying said secret in his answer, it bought Lex some time while the other man formulated a suitable reply.

Sure enough, Pete continued to frown without reply, thinking things over, and Lex increased the unease by staring him down. He might not be able to reason successfully with the guy, but if Lex could just distract him long enough to call security...

"Wait..." Lex muttered with a frown of his own, recalling the lack of people on his way in. "How did you get in here?"

Pete narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but the simple curiosity in Lex's tone must have got to him, because his stance lost some of its hostility.

"I didn't sneak in and snoop around, if that's what you're implying," he said, switching to the defensive. "I came in through the front door and waited for you."

Lex shook his head, as though trying to dispel the fact.

"No," he said. "My security has orders not to let anyone in when I'm not here."

"What security?" Pete scoffed. "There's no one else here."

Lex raised his eyes to the other man, suddenly worried, and searched in vain for any sign of a lie. Because Simone was with Clark and a rather unpleasant suspicion had started to form in his mind.

"I admit it's become increasingly apparent of late that my security team aren't America's brightest," he said. "But they usually have more sense than to take the day off without notice. All at once."

Pete's frown turned to confusion.

"What are you playing now, Luthor?" he asked.

"Shhh!" Lex instructed, waving a finger over his mouth and tilting his head. Pete stared at him as if he were crazy, but obliged Lex with silence. After a second the sound of female laughter filtered down the hallway outside, followed by rapidly approaching footsteps. "The staff might be gone, but I don't think we're alone," Lex said, giving Pete a sombre look before moving purposely round the side of his desk.

He reached out to the top, left-hand drawer, but before he could open it the sound of two people stepping through the doorway distracted him.

Pete and Lex looked over simultaneously. And were both stunned into instant paralysis.

Clark, arm draped about Simone in a very intimate, very un-Clark Kent kind of way, had ditched his plaid and jeans for a cool, black silk shirt and designer pants Lex recognised as his father's - from the wardrobe in Lionel's room upstairs. While Simone was now wearing the sleek red dress she'd been looking at earlier, the powerful blue gem displayed prominently in the low neckline. Lex recognised the dress too and pursed his lips, silently fuming.

As the two figures walked brazenly into the office Clark nuzzled Simone's neck, making her laugh. It wasn't until they'd reached the centre of the room that they finally looked up, stopping in their tracks when they saw the others. Simone looked over Lex with a smirk and for a brief second Clark looked worried, then his face cleared and he broke into one of his famous smiles.

"Hey, Lex," he nodded happily, as though nothing were wrong. Lex looked between him and Simone cautiously in response, but the less than cordial greeting didn't seem to dampen Clark's spirits in the slightest. Giving Simone a gentle squeeze, he slipped away from her and towards Pete. "And Pete," he said, still grinning. "What are you doing here?"

"Trying to stop you making the biggest mistake of your life," Pete replied.

Clark's brow furrowed for a moment, then cleared in understanding.

"You mean Lana," he nodded. "It's okay. It wasn't working out anyway."

"Clark, listen to what you're saying," Pete pleaded. "This is the love of your life we're talking about."

Clark grinned again, reassuring. "No she's not. Simone is."

Clark's tone was so sure it made Lex feel cold. She can really make him do and think whatever she wants, he acknowledged, eyes bright with apprehension as he looked Simone over. The hypnotic femme fatale was currently watching the exchange between Clark and Pete with interest and Lex used the opportunity to start pulling the drawer slowly open.

Meanwhile, Pete had his hands on Clark's shoulders.

"Clark, you gotta snap out of it, man," he said as he looked up at his friend, tone beseeching. "It's that stone round her neck, it's messing with your mind. You're doing just what Lex wants."

Lex groaned inwardly. Not at Pete's suspicions - they'd long become inevitable - but because mentioning his name would draw attention back to him. He stilled his hand at Clark and Simone's predictable glance.

"Lex?" Clark queried, turning back to Pete, puzzled. "What do you mean...?"

Clark blinked, shaking his head as he tried to clear the cobwebs fogging his mind again. He had a suspicion what Pete was saying was important, if he could only grasp it. Something about Simone's necklace? But no, Clark was helping Simone, and that was fine. So it must be what Pete was saying about Lex. Pete who'd always hated Lex. Clark's lips quirked into an amused smile.

"Oh, I see," he said with a chuckle. "You think this is one of Lex's nefarious schemes." Clark flicked sparkling eyes back to Lex and leaned over to his other friend, whispering in mock conspiracy. "Well, he has had a few of those since you left," he nodded, then stepped back again, turning to Pete with a bright smile. "But this isn't one of them, Pete. Simone and I fell in love, that's all there is to it."

"Clark, you didn't fall. You were pushed!" Pete insisted, but Clark was indifferent, making Simone chuckle while Pete sighed. "Why do you never listen to me, man. I told you a thousand times Lex Luthor couldn't be trusted..."

Clark frowned at that as something inside him broke through - a long felt irritation the detachment plaguing the rest of him kept pure and unfettered.

"Why Pete?" he asked sharply, a sudden anger in his tone. Pete blinked in surprise. "Because you've got my back, but Lex won't?" Clark scoffed. "Didn't exactly work out that way, huh? Think what you like about Lex but at least he was here for me. Which is more than you can say."

Pete looked away, shocked and hurt by the venom in Clark's words, while at the desk Lex was dumbfounded. Clark had said more than once he was glad to have Lex back as a friend, but Lex had no idea he felt so strongly about it. Forgetting his hand now had the drawer half open, Lex broke into a small, half grin and let out a breath of happy surprise. Simone turned to him instantly.

"Step away from the drawer," she commanded and Lex frowned as he found himself obeying.

Clark looked up and shook his head at Lex affectionately, while Simone stepped next to him, placing a hand on his arm.

"Clark, honey," she smiled. "Why don't you go open that safe now? I'll deal with this."

Clark nodded and walked passed Pete towards the bookshelf where he knew Lex had a hidden safe. Pete hurried after him, grabbing his friend's arm with a weak protestation, but Clark pushed him away easily, sending Pete tottering next to Lex a few feet from the half open drawer.

"Now, let's see what we have here, shall we?" Simone asked brightly as she moved over to the drawer.

At the bookcase, Clark ripped off a shelf like it was duct tape, revealing the small, metallic container behind it. Pete winced, and was just opening his mouth to say something about hypnosis and extra strength, when Simone finished opening the drawer and Pete closed his mouth with a snap, shooting Lex an odd look. Inside the drawer was a silver handgun, a case of bullets and a small lump of kryptonite, carefully refined so all surrounding rubble was gone, leaving its surface pure green.

"Oh, a gun," Simone stated, picking it up and ignoring the kryptonite completely. "How predictable."

She quickly checked it was loaded, before turning to aim at the others, giving Lex a depreciating look. He stared back at her impassively; ignoring the piercing look Pete was still giving him.

"We all have our faults," Lex muttered, eyeing Simone up and down. "Nice dress, by the way."

Behind the gun, Simone grinned.

"I just acquired it," she simpered. "Do you like the earrings too?"

Lex turned his gaze to her ears and took a deep breath to hold in his anger.

"Take them off," he instructed icily. "Now. The dress too."

"But Lex, we hardly know each other."

"They belonged to my mother, like everything else in the room you took them from," Lex snapped back, balling his hands into fists so he didn't use the energy for something stupid, like stepping into gunfire. "You have no right to be wearing them!"

"Your mother?" Clark called curiously, looking inside the now open safe. "So that's what it was about," he nodded to himself, reaching inside and pulling out a wad of cash and a collection of papers. Turning round with them, he gave Lex a sympathetic look. "Sorry, Lex," he said, apparently sincere. Lex held his gaze for a moment; glad to find the caring Clark Kent he knew was still there and wondering if he could be appealed to. Before Lex could try anything, though, Clark broke away, moving towards Simone. "Puts an interesting spin on those diamond earrings though..." he muttered as he walked.

"What did you find?" Simone asked, keeping her eyes on Lex and Pete.

"Some cash and these papers," Clark replied, putting the cash down on the front of the desk. Lex was pleased to note Clark wasn't yet feeling the effects of the kryptonite - a result of the lead the drawer was lined with probably. It meant the substance remained an element of surprise. "I don't know what they're about," Clark finished, holding the papers up.

Simone glanced over at them briefly and then turned to Lex. "Tell us what the papers are for, Luthor," she said firmly.

Lex rolled his eyes, lips moving against his will.

"Research on a company I'm hoping to buy out," he replied.

Simone shrugged.

"They're not important to us, Clark," she stated. "Burn them."

Clark nodded and moved over to the small, metal dustbin next to Pete. Using his heat vision, he incinerated the papers in seconds, careful not to let any ash fall on the floor. Since that pretty much dispelled any hope of pretence as to Clark's true nature, Lex finally caught Pete's eye. While the other man's gaze was still suspicious, it seemed to acknowledge a need to work together now too, albeit reluctantly.

"Now," Simone muttered, placing the gun against her lips as she thought. "What else? Hmmm. Rich guy like Luthor, I bet he has more money on him. Frisk him, Clark."

Clark gave another passive nod and Lex fumed at the sight of his friend being ordered around like an animal. As Clark stepped towards him though, Pete suddenly jumped in the way, pushing roughly against the other man's chest.

"Clark, that's enough, for god's sake, you have stop!" he babbled.

Lex looked to Simone - she was blinking at Pete in surprise, still holding the gun ineffectively to her lips. Lex recognised a distraction when he saw one. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he made to rush at Simone, hoping to grab the gun and the kryptonite in one smooth motion. It was a couple of seconds before he realised that, despite his mental exertions, his body wasn't actually moving. He looked down at himself in confusion and then realised what must be happening - Simone had told him to step away from the drawer and that instruction still held, preventing him moving towards it now.

Unaware of Lex's disability, Pete was still struggling valiantly with Clark, now holding on to his left arm.

"Give it a rest, Pete," Clark sighed in frustration, shaking the other man off. The momentum flung Pete back passed an amused Simone and he hit his head against the desk, slipping to the floor with a moan, eyes flicking closed. Clark frowned at his fallen form for a moment, then shrugged, moving over to Lex.

Lex closed his eyes as Clark started to frisk him, refusing to look at the sight of a Clark who wasn't quite Clark patting his chest and his waist with those big, smooth, and even now remarkably gentle farmboy hands. Crouching down in front of him, as Lex had so often imagined.

"Clark," he breathed, desperately seeking a distraction as Clark started feeling round his pants. "Think about this for a moment. You barely even know Simone..." Clark found the wallet in Lex's pocket and the other man opened his eyes in relief as Clark stepped away from him, standing up to examine it. "Before she wore that jewel she was nothing but a failing student and petty shop-lifter," Lex continued, a little breathlessly. Clark looked over as he spoke, a small crease marring his brow. "She's not your type, Clark, trust me. Why are you obeying her like this?"

"You stole her necklace," Clark replied, voice turning distant. "And you have to pay for it." Lex felt a flicker of hope at the way Clark's deep green eyes started to cloud. "Lex I, I don't want to hurt you any more than I have to."

"Then don't hurt me at all, Clark," Lex pleaded, holding his friend's gaze. "I didn't steal anything. Simone's father gave me the stone because he didn't trust her with it. When she found out, she murdered him. Are you really going to put your faith in a cold-blooded killer over me?"

Clark tilted his head, suddenly uncertain, and locked on to Lex. Lex - whose eyes were shining blue, like Simone's necklace. But no, not like that, because Lex's eyes were soft and warm, inviting, like summer sky over the farm, and Simone's gem was hard and cold... Could she really be a cold-blooded killer...? Simone was all that mattered... but Lex was right, Clark couldn't just put his faith in a murderer, could he?

"Clark, give me the wallet," Simone called from behind him, once again straightening his confusion to simplicity.

Clark smiled as the now familiar ease of detachment took over and turned, placing the item into the outstretched hand before him. Simone held her other arm, and the gun, loosely by her side, clearly aware of Lex's inability to move.

Lex glanced at Pete's unconscious body in the vain hope the other man was faking and could take advantage of the situation. But Pete remained on the floor and Lex realised with a sinking feeling he was on his own.

Simone looked over the wallet with one hand and smiled. Still holding it, she placed her hand behind Clark's neck and pulled him down into a long, slow kiss.

Lex turned his head, nose crinkling in disgust at the degradation his friend was being put through, and as Simone broke away she noticed his expression with a smirk.

"You really thought you were getting through to him then, didn't you?" she jeered over Clark's shoulder. "You just don't get it. He's mine now."

Lex glared furiously at her smug face, enraged at everything this upstart of a girl had taken from him - his mother's sapphires, the dress, Clark, who even now was brushing a hand softly against her cheek. Lex couldn't technically claim Clark as his, of course.... But he could at least oppose him being hers!

"He's not some accessory to be bought and sold," Lex hissed at her. "He's a human being!" Part of Lex wondered at his choice of words there, but he had a momentum going and couldn't stop to think about it now. "It won't be much of a life for the two of you, you know. Him always drugged up like that, you knowing it's not really him. He doesn't love you."

The last part came out rather more bitter than intended and Lex realised his reactions were moving somewhat beyond friendship. But Simone either didn't care or didn't notice, because she just scoffed at his words.

"Love?" she repeated, voice laced with sarcasm. "Love is a fairy tale I gave up on a long time ago. What I have is so much better, so much..." She ran the hand with the gun down Clark's arm, slowly. "Hotter."

Lex pursed his lips. The girl's opinion was all the more repulsive for being one he'd held himself for many years and it sickened him to think at one time he might even have felt a certain kinship with her. Fortunately, having Clark in his life had changed all that. Seeing the younger man's genuine affection for the people around him had made it impossible not to hold out hope for the finer things in life again - love, truth, justice - and it had held Lex back from the seduction he could have so easily accomplished. Because he'd known instinctively that Clark was better than that, that it would be more than criminal to tarnish him by it. But the soft curve of the hypnotic blonde's lips as she stroked Clark's arm suggested Simone had already accomplished what Lex had so carefully resisted, and the older man blazed inwardly at the thought.

"Why don't I prove to you just how good it is," Simone continued, tone lowering to something decidedly more dangerous than before. "Clark, Lex thinks he can convince you not to obey me. Let's test his theory, shall we?" She held out the gun and Clark took it with a bemused smile. "I want you to kill him, Clark," she stated. Clark's forehead crinkled briefly, but he nodded. "But first, he gets three attempts at persuading you otherwise. If you haven't changed your mind by the third try... shoot him through the heart."

Lex swallowed as Clark turned towards him, cocking the gun and staring intently before aiming at his chest. The older man's anger bled away and he had an uncomfortable feeling Clark had just determined exactly where his heart was so he could aim the gun directly for it. Nope, escape seemed pretty unlikely this time.

It was vaguely romantic, he supposed, in a macabre sort of way, that his death should be a shot in the heart by the same man who'd saved his life those five odd years ago, the same man Lex had failed to stop loving all that time.

"So much for not hurting me then, Clark?" he tried.

Clark shrugged.

"It's nothing personal, Lex," he said simply, still holding the gun steadily in his right hand. "And you still have a chance. Come on, convince me."

Lex just stared.

"I'm not going to beg for my life," he stated, with more than a hint of pride. .

Clark rolled his eyes.

"Leeex," he responded in disappointment, waving the gun slightly. "This is no time for classical nobility. Show some of that famous Luthor self preservation why don't you?"

Lex shook his head. If he was going to die, he would die with dignity, damn it.

"I'm not afraid to die. Considering the number of near misses I've had since coming here I was starting to think I was living on borrowed time anyway. If this is where my life ends, I'm ready for it..." As Lex watched Clark's pretty face slip into a woeful pout, though, he thought there might be something worth fighting for yet. "Your life though... I might be willing to beg for that."

Clark looked away with an amused smile.

"No, really," Lex continued seriously. "You kill me, what do I care? I'll be dead. But you'll still be here. And I don't care how long Simone thinks she can control you, one day you'll wake up from this and be yourself again. I'd hate you to have my blood on your hands when that happens. Because the Clark Kent I know is no murderer."

Clark turned back to Lex with a wry grin - a mischievous and worryingly feral look in his eyes. Having Lex in his power like this was sparking an odd excitement inside him and Clark embraced it gladly - anything to break from his usual sense of disassociation. Yes, that was pleasant enough, simple, but it left Clark lacking.

"We'll call that strike one, Lex," he said, moving a little closer. "Because me?" He pointed the gun at his chest in an oddly chilling gesture. "I'm not the Clark Kent you know."

And this, Clark understood suddenly, really was the truth. He wasn't himself. He was outside himself, looking in. And perhaps this was because of Simone's necklace, like Pete and Lex had said. But that didn't matter anymore, because now Clark understood what was happening he found he kind of liked it, examining himself objectively without his usual fears to bog him down. It was liberating - a little like being on Red K only without the high. He missed that high...

"And you know what?" Clark continued, taken with his newfound freedom. "The Clark you think you know? He's not even the real Clark Kent either."

Lex looked up at that, curious in spite of everything.

"Are you saying you are?" he asked.

Clark gave a slight chuckle, delighted to have drawn Lex into his game.

"I dunno," he shrugged. "I'm closer, I think. Not so... confined by convention, not trying to hide under a mask of normality, like he always is."

Lex raised an eyebrow. He didn't know much about hypnosis, though he had read subjects often felt separated from themselves during the process. Perhaps schizophrenia was a usual side effect, or perhaps this was a purely Kryptonian reaction? In any case it was interesting, and it was new - maybe he could use it to his advantage, bring Clark back to himself after all.

"You don't think it's unusual, talking about yourself in the third person like that?" Lex suggested quietly, hoping if Clark recognised something wrong with his thinking it might help snap his mind out of the control it was under.

"This coming from the man who was literally split in two not so long ago?" Clark responded with a grin. "Anyway, enough small talk. We've got a job to do remember? You're on your second try." Clark slapped a hand on Lex's shoulder, making the other man wince, and pointed the gun once again at his chest.

Lex sighed. Well, that clearly hadn't worked. So, what else might appeal to his friend's true self...?

"Okay," he continued, with far more confidence than he felt. "So what about Lana?" he tried. "You can't possibly tell me after loving the girl the better part of your life you're really happy just to ditch her for someone you've known less than two days?"

Clark shook his head, an oddly smug grin on his face.

"Strike two, Lex," he stated, emerald eyes sparkling with triumph. "I don't love Lana... I've never loved Lana." Clark chuckled, seeming to positively relish the statement. When he'd sobered up a bit, he leant over to whisper in the older man's ear, the muzzle of the gun brushing Lex's shirt. "And I'll tell you something else. Neither does he. He just won't admit it."

Clark pulled his head back and grinned, close enough for Lex to see the flecks of hazel in his eyes, and the older man's heart beat wildly. Having Clark this close, saying almost exactly what Lex had been hoping him to for years - it was unbearable. He wished this false, hypnotised Clark would just pull the trigger already and get it over with. But it was too soon for that, as Clark was quick to remind him.

"Just one try left, Lex," he murmured, blowing hot breath over Lex's lips. "This is your last chance."

Lex took a shaky breath to steady himself, which only distracted him further as he took in a mouthful of Clark's tangy farmyard sent, tampered now by the hot, sweaty taste of sex and Simone. Bizarrely, this just made the boy more appealing and suddenly touchable; Lex wanted to cover every inch Simone had tarnished and leave himself in her place. Clark raised a perfect eyebrow questioningly and sucked his bottom lip, prodding Lex for a response, and it was all too much for the older man. Last chance? The boy had no idea. Screw dignity. I'm making my last second of life a good one.

With that resolve, Lex slipped his right hand behind Clark's neck and leant forward, capturing the younger man's lips decisively in his own.

Eyes firmly closed, Lex felt Clark tense in response. He wasn't surprised, in fact he'd been expecting it, and didn't plan to let it deter him. Death had deprived him of the feel of Clark's lips once already that day by the river and Lex had no intention of letting it do so again. So, very slowly, he kissed his way over every part of Clark's unresponsive mouth, savouring the wonderfully smooth feel of it against his own - still dry from his time in Honduras - and when he finally did pull away, it was with a soft, satisfied sigh.

"Strike three..." Lex murmured to Clark's cheek, eyes still closed, right hand tightening behind the other man's neck while his other slid round Clark's waist, grabbing at the silky material there as he waited for the inevitable blow.

A sharp pain against his chest made him start, and Lex had been so ready for a gunshot it was only the lack of sound that made him realise there hadn't been one. Opening his eyes quickly, Lex found Clark licking his lips, eyes thoughtful, and he realised the pain he'd felt was Clark sliding the gun barrel away so his palm was more or less flat against the older man's chest instead, gun hanging loosely from his fingers.

"Fuck that," Clark muttered with a small smile. "Not yet." And then he was leaning forward himself, pulling Lex towards him by the shoulders in a kiss of his own.

Lex took a second to think about this, and decided not to think, responding with reckless abandon. This might not be Clark, but Lex was about to die, so it was close enough and - god! - that was Clark's tongue snaking over his lips, soothing the fresh cut there so beautifully that Lex was insanely grateful to Pete for providing it. Wanting more, Lex slid his hand to Clark's back and pulled himself closer, sliding his own tongue into the warmth of Clark's open mouth, all else forgotten.

Clark grinned round Lex's lips as the other man drew him in, because - god yes! - this was exactly the connection he'd been craving since the barn yesterday, hell maybe even his whole life. Every nerve in his body suddenly awake and alive in a way Clark had never known and he could feel every spark. Way better than RedK! Taking his hand from Lex's shoulder and sliding the other, still grasping the gun, up his chest, Clark cupped Lex's face, stroking soft, slightly sunburnt skin with his thumbs. Clark shivered at the coarseness and for a second he worried about the hard metal he was pressing to Lex's cheek. But then Lex threaded nimble fingers through his hair, holding them both in position, and Clark knew it didn't matter.

For half a glorious minute, the two of them stayed that way, breathing each other in like drowning men gasping for air, only vaguely aware of Simone's shocked muttering in the background. Then there was a scraping sound of someone rising hurriedly to their feet, a soft tap of fingers over metal, and Clark was pulling away with a groan.

"Sorry I gotta do this to you again, man," Pete muttered over Clark's right shoulder, holding something green and glowing against the other man's arm.

Pete looked up at Lex for a second, eyes curious and oddly pitying, but soon focused his attention to Clark, who was falling rapidly to the floor - hands sliding off Lex's face in an oddly sensual way, making the older man catch his breath. A louder moan of Clark in pain brought Lex to his senses and he was glad to find Pete no longer looking, he didn't want the younger man catching the obvious anguish his face must be showing at having Clark pulled away from him.

It took Lex a couple more disorientated seconds to fully comprehend that - yes, he was still alive; oh god, yes, he and Clark really had been kissing just then; and no, the situation was far from over.

Lex glanced to Simone and found her to the side of the open drawer, watching them in shocked confusion. Springing into action, Lex bent down and grabbed the gun from Clark's weakened fingers.

"You don't want to..." Simone began, but Lex was already firing.

The bullet ripped through her chest before she could finish the sentence, shattering the gem along the way, and Simone crumpled to the floor by the side of the desk.

"Oh yes I really do," Lex muttered, breath heavy, gun still smoking in his hand.

There was a moment of stillness as the three of them stared at the body - Clark propped up on the floor by his elbow, Pete crouched next to him, still holding the kryptonite to the other man's shoulder. Then Clark closed his eyes with an agonised sigh.

"Clark?" Pete asked quickly. "You back with us?"

"Oh god..."

"Good enough for me," Pete nodded, throwing the kryptonite away to the far end of the room.

As Clark's body relaxed and Pete reached out a hand to help him up, Lex moved away - not sure he was ready to face the real Clark again quite yet - and bent down to check Simone's body. Once he was certain she was dead he put the gun down beside her and took off the sapphire earrings.

"Is she dead?" Clark's familiar, worried, guilt-ridden voice asked behind him.

Lex nodded without turning round.

"Yes," he said coolly, slipping the jewellery into his pocket as he stood up. "I had to, to destroy the stone. It was the only way to break her control."

"How'd you know that?" Pete asked, weary again.

Lex sighed.

"Because yes, the stone belonged to me," he stated, turning round, bypassing Clark's anxious expression and focusing on Pete. "Simone didn't though. Believe me, if I'd masterminded things, this situation would have turned out a lot differently."

"It's true, Pete," Clark added quietly. "Lex was only involved at all because Simone had a vendetta against him. She explained everything to me upstairs and I, I remember." His eyes flicked to Lex and he blushed. "I remember everything."

Lex looked over to him then and saw the curiosity, tinged with embarrassment, in Clark's eyes. Yep, there was no easy memory loss to get them out of this one - this time they'd have to deal with the consequences. The older man looked away again, a flash of unease crossing his usually controlled face.

"Lex," Clark began, and for one terrifying moment Lex thought Clark was going to ask about it now, right in front of Pete, with a dead body needing attention beside them and more importantly, before Lex had had time to formulate a suitable excuse. But Clark had other anxieties to get off his chest first. "I'm really sorry, about your stuff," he looked down and fingered the collar of the shirt he was wearing a little helplessly. "About everything."

Lex shook his head.

"Don't worry about it, Clark. It, it wasn't you," he answered, trying to keep the disappointment from his voice.

Clark, predictably, didn't look very satisfied and Pete put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, man," he insisted. "You were one hundred percent under the influence. Nothing you could have done."

"But Pete," Clark said, face crumbling. "Some of the things I said, I..." He broke off suddenly, eyes widening. "Oh god. Lana."

Lex looked down at that, surprised at the sudden pang he felt at Clark's concern. He hadn't realised just how much hope he'd been putting in what the hypnotised Clark had said.

"Clark, chill, it's okay," Pete assured. "Chloe found out all about the mystic blue gem, she'll have explained everything to Lana by now. Chances are the girl's already loved-up again and waiting for you."

"I dunno, Pete," Clark shook his head, unconvinced. "I said some pretty bad things to her..."

"You should go find her," Lex nodded, Clark's clouded face reminding him of the milder affliction he'd seen in it yesterday - only this time the damage was significantly greater and the fault all the more heavily on Lex's shoulders. Because in a way Pete was right, Lex was responsible for what had happened - he'd been in charge of the stone after all.

"Lex, what about...?" Clark questioned, nodding at Simone.

"Don't worry," Lex assured him. "We'll take care of it. It'll be better for you if you're not here anyway."

Clark blinked at that and looked between Lex and Pete in growing apprehension, realising for the first time what Pete must have figured out.

Lex and Pete shared a glance as well and reached the same conclusion - whatever issues they might have with each other, Clark's happiness right now was paramount.

Pete turned to his friend again with a smile.

"Yeah, Clark, don't worry," he nodded, giving Clark's shoulder a squeeze. "We got it sorted. Go be with the woman you love."

Clark flicked his anxious gaze between them a little longer. Then he nodded, disappearing in a flash.

Lex and Pete's eyes met over the place Clark had been standing, only seconds before, and they stared at each other in silence.

For the next few minutes Clark was a small whirlwind, moving from the farmhouse, to Lana's dorm room and, finally, the Daily Planet, all before Lex had even dialled the police. Once there he met up with a relieved Chloe, who told him, after much fending off of other questions, that Lana was staying at her Aunt Nell's. When Clark got there, however, it was only to find Lana had already left, though Nell couldn't tell him where to. Clark spent the next twenty minutes or so frantically whizzing about the Metropolis and Smallville area hoping to run into her, without success. He tried her cell phone multiple times, but it was switched off. He even made a quick trip to the Fortress, on the off chance she'd holed-up there, only realising once he'd got there how impossible that was considering he had the key, or rather his jeans, currently residing in a bedroom at the Luthor mansion had it - he'd have to make sure to pick them up quick, before Lex's cleaners had a chance of getting hold of them.

Finally realising panicked running was getting him nowhere, and that waiting for Lana to come to him was probably a better option, Clark headed wearily for the barn. As he stepped inside, his foot hit something small and metallic, sending it skittering across the floor. Picking it up, Clark held it up to one of the beams of fading afternoon light and realised with a dejected sigh it was the remains of his engagement ring. To think, it was just yesterday he'd stood in that very spot and let a sobbing Lana walk away into the night. It pained him to think how hurt she must have been, maybe still was, because of him - and it was always because of him, wasn't it? No matter how hard he tried, he never seemed to keep Lana happy for long.

As Clark stared at the twisted metal, he remembered again the amazing sense of release he'd felt at its destruction, the liberation Lana's exit had fostered inside him. I was hypnotised though, Clark told himself, I didn't mean it. But that didn't seem quite enough, didn't explain the vague hope he had now that maybe Lana wouldn't show, that the standard out-of-character disclaimer and apology wouldn't be enough, that maybe this time she really was gone for good. Clark wrapped his fingers round the metal in a mockery of his action yesterday, holding his fist pensively against his mouth. Things were getting confusing again, and that was without even thinking about Lex...

It was evening by the time the police finished up at the mansion and Lex and Pete just watched as Simone's body was carted away in an efficient black bag. Pete's expression was respectfully sombre, Lex's was one of simple distaste - his mother's red dress was needed by forensics, making it a good few weeks before he could have it back, most likely far from the unsullied condition he'd kept it in. Considering that, on top of what she'd done to Clark, Lex didn't feel too inclined to respect.

The office doors closed with a sharp click, and the two men were left, once more, uncomfortably alone. They'd carefully avoided the subject of Clark since he left, focusing instead on a story for the police, but Lex knew Pete wouldn't keep silent about it for long. He headed over to the drinks table and poured himself a generous scotch to prepare for the inevitable confrontation. And also to try and wash the lingering taste of Clark from his tongue. The flow of alcohol stung the cut on his lip painfully, but Lex welcomed the sensation, it kept him alert - and if he wanted to convince Pete he was no threat to Clark, preferably avoiding revelations to Lana, Chloe and the others as well, Lex needed to be alert.

"Thank you for your help with the authorities," Lex said turning to Pete, glass held easily in front of him. Hopefully, if he was the one to break the silence he could keep some control over the conversation. "It's not something I tend to have a problem with, but it's always nice to have support."

"Yeah, well," Pete responded from his position a few feet away. "Just remember, I didn't do it for you, I did for Clark."

Lex nodded.

"Of course," he said smoothly, taking another sip of his scotch and staring at Pete calmly, waiting now for the other man to broach the subject.

Pete turned away from the gaze and shifted his feet. Lex smiled, if he had the upper hand already this might prove easier than he thought.

"So..." Pete muttered eventually, moving next to Lex at the table and pouring a scotch himself. A liberty, Lex felt, but let it pass. He was trying to ease the guy's concerns after all; complaining about a drink would only make him more of an antagonist. And besides, after what Clark said to Pete earlier, Lex figured the other man needed alcohol as much as he did right now.

Pete took a deep swig from his glass before turning to Lex, expression oddly sympathetic.

"How long, man?" he asked, tone soft, almost gentle.

"Have I known about Clark?" Lex completed, voicing the unspoken issue. "Only a few months." He sipped at his scotch again. "So don't worry, you're still one up on me with that."

Pete shook his head.

"I wasn't asking about Clark's secret," he said evenly. "It's not exactly surprising you clued in to that. The way you're always hanging around, and Clark was always half-way to telling you anyway..."

Lex couldn't stop a blink of surprise at that. Clark always wanted to tell me? This was news. Pete continued without noticing.

"So nah, don't care so much about that right now. Turns out what you've been hiding is way more interesting." Pete took another gulp of scotch, smacked his lips with a refreshed sigh and fixed Lex with a sudden, surprisingly confident, glare.

"What do you mean?" Lex asked with a casual smile.

Pete looked at him quietly for a moment, building up suspense in a way Lex wouldn't have thought the other man capable of - or himself susceptible to. And yet Lex found his chest contracting with sudden nervousness nonetheless.

"I mean, that I wanna know how long you've been in love with the guy," Pete stated.

Lex's heart skipped a beat as his upper hand was overturned for the second time in two days. With the enormity of Clark's truth hanging above them Lex hadn't even considered Pete would care about the kiss, let alone make any, accurate, inferences from it. And of all the secrets Lex had stashed away over the years, his feelings for Clark had been the most carefully guarded - for a while even from himself. To hear anyone, especially Clark's best friend, confront him about them now filled Lex with the kind of embarrassment and irrational shame he hadn't felt since his early days of high school.

Brought into awareness again by the need to breathe, Lex turned and placed his glass back on the table, releasing his breath in what he hoped was a dismissive laugh. From it's overly breathy quality he suspected it bordered more on hysteria though.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Lex muttered, shaking his head.

"Whatever, man," Pete chuckled. "I might have been kinda hasty with my accusations in the past, but I saw the way you were kissing him. You don't fake something like that."

"A distraction, to allow you time to retrieve the kryptonite," Lex responded to his half empty glass.

"Guys don't create distractions by kissing each other," Pete argued, tone irreprochable. "Not in small towns like this one, anyway. And besides, you had no idea I was even conscious."

Lex gave a small shrug.

"I was out of options, I had to trust you were," he tried to explain. "And I needed something outlandish enough to give the others pause. I was desperate."

"Oh, I'm not saying you weren't that," Pete responded, lips curving as he put his own glass on the table and calmly topped it up. "God your face. Priceless." He shook his head as he put the bottle down, then paused for a moment, staring into the distance. "Guess mine must have been just the same after I kissed Chloe that time."

Lex furrowed his brow as he watched Pete down half his newly filled glass in one gulp. The situation was veering into the unpredictable again, because Pete didn't look angry, or disdainful, or even mocking anymore - he looked weary in a way Lex was all too familiar with.

"You and Chloe?" Lex inquired with interest - he thought he'd kept up with the ins and outs of Clark's group of friends but he'd never heard anything to indicate a Sullivan-Ross relationship. Pete turned to look at him with a sigh.

"No, not 'me and Chloe.' You think there could ever be a 'me and Chloe' with Clark Kent over my shoulder?" Pete said with a frown. Not sure if the question was rhetorical or not, Lex settled with a half shrug in response. It seemed to be enough because Pete continued. "I only even got to kiss her because of that truth stuff she was infected with at the time."

"The Levitas gas," Lex nodded, remembering his own all too revealing encounter with the infected reporter. It was disheartening to note his attitude towards Lionel hadn't changed since then, despite everything.

"That's it," Pete nodded back, surprisingly friendly. "It was a crazy, complicated time at high school. Smallville weirdness happening every other week made relationships hard enough, but with Clark and Lana's never ending 'will they-won't they' thing? Man it was impossible. See, Clark never looked at anyone but Lana, most of the time, but that didn't matter, because as long as the guy was technically free, Chloe was right there. Because she never gives up, no matter what... It's one of the things I love about her." Pete's shoulders sagged in another sigh and Lex couldn't help frowning a little in sympathy.

When Pete looked up at him again, the younger man's eyes were refreshingly free of hostility, looking instead for understanding.

"Who knew Lex Luthor was as much a part of the Clark Kent confusion as any of us," he said with a partly amused, partly pitying smile. "So tell me man... how long?"

Lex paused, eyes flicking over Pete's open expression - not calculating, just with pure, simple, vaguely astonished curiosity. Because this was Pete Ross, Lex's sometime enemy, threat and rival, offering him sympathy, understanding and even comradeship.

Slowly, Lex's face softened into a small, defeated smile. It wasn't often anyone offered him a moment of genuine friendship and it had been a difficult two days. Lex was tired, the unexpected warmth was hardly unwelcome and to be completely honest, loving Clark the way he did was a lonely experience - it might be a relief to discuss the truth with someone sympathetic. A lousy long-term plan, perhaps, but right now there was just the two of them and at least three more bottles of scotch in the cabinet. The future could wait until tomorrow.

"Too long..." Lex admitted, downing the rest of his own glass. As he returned it to the table Pete nodded knowingly, picking up the scotch bottle once more.

"Tell me about it," he said, pouring the rich, brown liquid smoothly into the crystal, filling it to the brim.

Clark had long since moved to the loft of the barn and was now staring out the window, watching the moon - a slither away from fullness - rise slowly before him. The moonlight played about the silken fabric of the black shirt he still wore, painting odd, silver patterns on it, but resting against the window frame as he was, Clark's face remained in shadow. His mind was only too bright, though - images and emotions flashing across it as though in defiance of the murky inertia Simone's hypnosis had enforced upon him. Words rang in Clark's ears, matching the pictures - different places, different times, different tones. But always the same voice.

:: Trust me, Clark, our friendship is going to be the stuff of legend ::

:: We have a destiny ::

:: I don't want anything to stand in the way of our friendship ::

:: You're closer to me than any blood brother ::

:: I'm willing to give this friendship another shot if you are ::

:: Tragedy either tears people apart or brings them together, I hope for us it'll be the latter::

:: Don't give up on me yet ::

The moon shifted, sending a shaft of light over Clark's face - his eyes were closed. The last image his mind presented had no words, and Clark took a deep breath, folding his arms tighter across his chest as he absorbed it. Tilting his head as he felt a strong hand once again at his neck, warm, confident lips against his own, the heat of someone fragile yet wonderfully firm and controlled at his chest. A hot flush bled into Clark's cheeks and softly, tentatively, a small smile spread into it - three words seeming to echo around him. :: ...stuff of legend...stuff of legend...stuff of legend... ::

"Clark?"

Clark opened his eyes with a start at the nervous, feminine voice behind him, whipping round, flustered.

"Lana," he breathed, trying to frantically push his thoughts away so he could focus on the girl in the cream jacket now in front of him. He didn't quite succeed. "I... I've been looking for you everywhere," he stuttered, cursing himself inwardly. He'd been waiting for hours, he really should have prepared better, instead of wasting time thinking about... well... whatever.

Lana gave a brief nod and paused awkwardly at the top of the stairs, hands in her pockets.

"I was driving round Metropolis," she explained. "To think, you know."

Clark nodded too, and both of them were silent for a second. Staring.

"Lana, about yesterday..." Clark began eventually, face clouding. "What I said... what I, did, I..."

"You weren't yourself," Lana completed. "I know. Chloe explained everything. Simone, the necklace. You were hypnotised. I understand."

Clark relaxed a little at that - explaining things to Lana was always tricky, so he was grateful to escape the difficulty this time. Realising she was far from pacified though, he continued to frown. Whatever personal issues he was going through, restoring Lana's happiness was still his first concern. He could sort himself out later.

"So you know I never meant to hurt you," he said quietly, moving towards her but not quite daring to touch. "That what I did..." his cheeks flushed again, with shame this time. "I would never... never do that to you."

Lana looked away, a mask of sorrow clouding her face.

"Yes, I know," she whispered. "Now... but when I saw you last night, everything you said..." She raised wide, sad eyes to his. "Clark, I believed every word."

"You didn't know what was happening," was Clark's quick response. "You had no reason not to believe me."

To Clark's surprise, Lana shook her head in irritation.

"No, Clark," she said firmly, stepping briskly away from him. "I had every reason. I'm your fiancée. I should have realised there was something wrong immediately."

Clark frowned at the self-condemnation. He'd hurt Lana enough himself; she shouldn't suffer more by feeling guilty.

"Hey," he said, voice softening. "I don't blame you for not noticing, it was a crazy situation, you-"

"Don't. Don't do that," Lana cut him off, turning round. "Don't just forgive me without a second thought. I let you down, Clark. You should be mad at me."

Clark blinked in surprise.

"But I'm not," he said honestly, taking her hands in a vague attempt at comfort. "I love you," he added, supposing it was the assurance she needed.

But instead of relaxing as Clark hoped, Lana tensed at his words, gazing at him with, if anything, an increased amount of sorrow.

"That's the problem, Clark," she said, voice very small. "I don't think you do. Not the way I love you." Clark dropped her hands, bewildered, but before he could protest Lana was continuing. "And I'm not saying that because of what happened with Simone. I think it was true long before then..."

"But, Lana," Clark shook his head. "How could you think that? You're the only girl I've ever wanted..."

The words tripped off his tongue automatically, said and thought so often. But they felt wrong this time somehow, parroted, like when he'd claimed to love Simone.

Lana shook her own head lightly, gaze strangely calm and collected.

"No, Clark," she stated. "Now we're really together, it's like we've been seeing each other properly for the first time. And you were right about something last night - it isn't working. And it's not because of hypnotic stones, or a lack of free time, or what you are... it's because the girl you want isn't me. You're looking for the fairy princess next door - pure, innocent and perfect. But I'm not that girl, Clark. I never was. I'm sorry, but I can't be what you want." Lana looked down, closing her eyes. "And I don't think you'll ever be what I do either."

"Lana..." Clark began, tone and face desperate. He trailed off when no argument came to mind.

Lana looked back up at him, a little hopeful.

"Tell me I'm wrong," she suggested, voice hitching - challenging, pleading. "Tell me I really am the girl you want to marry. That it really is me you want to spend the rest of your life with. Tell me now, and I'll believe you."

As Lana's wide eyes held his own, pulling him to her, Clark felt again the smooth sensation of metal compressing in his fist, the enticing sense of liberation just within his reach. He broke the gaze with a heavy sigh, his own eyes clouded with sudden, painful understanding.

Silence stretched between them and was eventually broken by a stuttered, answering sigh from Lana. Clark looked back to her and watched dumbly as she slipped the hand-made diamond ring from her finger, lifted Clark's right hand and pressed the item gently to his palm.

"Goodbye, Clark," she whispered, using both her own hands to wrap Clark's fingers round the thing, hiding it away. She held on a second longer, then quickly let go, walking passed him to the stairs without looking back.

Clark heard her footsteps echo across the barn, but didn't move. After a moment he raised his eyes and stared quietly through the window at the now risen, almost full moon.

"...okay, so then he turns to me and he says, and this is with me panting like dog on the floor while he's not even breaking a sweat right? He says..."

"Just lucky I guess!" Pete suggested, grinning like a maniac. Next to him on one of the office's black, leather sofas, Lex shook his head.

"Nope," he responded, with a wide, equally intoxicated smile of his own.

"Damn," Pete muttered with a laugh, grabbing a glass from the table and downing the last few dregs inside it. "Okay, how about... metal fatigue?" he tried, waving the glass towards Lex unsteadily.

"Metal fatigue?" Lex scoffed, leaning over to take a sip from his own glass. "That doesn't even fit the context, have you even been listening to this story?" He attempted a glare, but a current lack of communication between his brain and his body rendered it ineffective.

"Okay man, I'm sorry, just kiddin'" Pete said, good naturedly taking the hint anyway. "So, the three of you were on this catwalk, Clark pulled you both up and when you asked how he did it he said..." Pete leaned back against the sofa, resting the empty glass on his lap and waving his left arm in the air. "I dunno," he shrugged eventually, slapping his leg in defeat.

"Yes, he did say that," Lex chuckled, placing his glass back on the table. "But his main explanation was, 'adrenalin... I guess'" Lex shook his head.

"Adrenalin, huh?" Pete nodded vaguely. "Not bad... almost reasonable, even."

"Reasonable?" Lex repeated, unimpressed. "He was fifteen years old! It would have had to be a fucking crazy amount of adrenalin..."

"Alright, alright," Pete insisted, holding his palms out in a pacifying gesture. "I don't deny we're still firmly in the realms of implausibility here. All I'm sayin' is, at least you got something kinda scientific, all I got was 'gee, I dunno' or 'wow, that was lucky.' It says something about how different he rated our intelligence, is all I'm sayin'"

"Or our trust," Lex suggested with a not unsympathetic head tilt. "You've been his best friend for years, he probably figured you didn't need fancy explanations. Me, I was the millionaire playboy, I had to be properly pacified, he had to keep me at arms length."

"Yeah, he sure did a real good job of that, huh?" Pete noted, leaning over again, this time to pick up the scotch bottle. He held it up with a frown - it was empty

"Might have been easier if he had," Lex sighed, reaching for his own glass again. Pete's frown softened.

"Hey, come on, cheer up," he encouraged. "Three weeks and it's all over. Clark and Lana ride off into the sunset, the two of us finally move on with our lives."

"Easy for you to say," Lex replied, absently twisting his glass. "The object of your desire will be finally at your disposal. But mine..." Lex lost himself in the amber liquid before him, watching it swirl gently round the sparkling crystal - rich, beautiful, contained. "Mine stays as he's always been - unobtainable."

Pete watched Lex quietly for a second, a deep pity filling his eyes. Then, with a sharp shake of his head, he snapped out of it - knowing Lex would be mad as hell if he caught himself being looked at like that.

"Yo," Pete called, as upbeat as he could manage. "Your glass is half empty, man. What you need is more of this." Pete placed the empty bottle down in front of Lex, who broke from his musings to focus on it. "You got more, right?"

Lex slipped slowly back into a smile.

"This?" he said, resting a hand on the bottle as he stood up - possibly resting a hand on the bottle in order to stand up. "This is nothing. I've got something much better." He raised his eyebrows at Pete knowledgably, and Pete grinned back.

"I was so hoping you were gonna say that," the other man responded in delight.

Lex took a breath to steady himself before raising a finger to Pete seriously. "You stay here, I'll go get it..."

Moving away from the sofa and table, Lex headed across the room to the drinks cabinet, only to meet up with a confused looking Clark Kent standing in the doorway. Still decked in black as he was, Lex didn't notice him properly at first and did a double-take as he passed the door.

"Clark," he breathed, stopping dead - or rather, his feet stopped, his shoulders kept going for a moment, forcing him to pull them back sharply. "What... How long have you been there?" Lex asked quickly, sudden panic filling his eyes.

"I just came in," Clark replied, looking from Lex to Pete and the empty scotch bottle in utter bewilderment. Lex breathed a sigh of relief. "What-?"

Before Clark could finish his question, Pete jumped up from the sofa and tottered towards them.

"Clark!" he called. "Glad you're here, man, there's something we gotta tell ya." He wrapped an arm round Lex's shoulders, grinning, and Clark blinked - stunned into silence.

Lex meanwhile, though unperturbed by Pete's intimacy, did turn his head to the other man with obvious significance. Pete caught the expression and rolled his eyes in an 'as if' gesture.

"It's about the best man thing," Pete explained, leaning into Lex a little on the phrase 'best man,' making the other man's face clear into a small, understanding smile. "Lex and I, we've been talking, and we think we got it figured out."

Pete nodded heavily, and silently Clark copied the gesture, the corner of his mouth flicking up a little in amusement. After a brief pause, Pete slapped the older man's chest with his free hand, while prodding with his shoulder.

"Yeah, right," Lex nodded, blinking briefly to dispel a sudden wooziness. He hadn't been this drunk since... well, since Lana's accident he supposed. That thought certainly helped him focus. "Pete should be your best man, Clark," he said clearly. "He's known you longer, it's only fair."

Clark tilted his head, brow furrowing in surprise at the certainty in Lex's tone, not to mention how calmly the other man accepted Pete's touch.

"Exactly," Pete continued, beaming. "Which means I get the speech and the bachelor party and all that, cos I know best how to embarrass you, get it? Only I'm crap at any official stuff, you know, so we figured if I do all that, Lex can be the guy at the alter with you. You know, during the 'with this ring I do this' part? That way it's like, we're you're two best men, right? What do you think?" Pete finished, nodding at Clark hopefully, while beneath his embrace Lex gave a good-natured shrug.

Clark tried to smile but the result was lukewarm at best. Any other time he would have been delighted to see his friends like this, now it just seemed rather disheartening that the one thing bringing them together wasn't real.

"I, I think it's great guys, it's a great idea..." Clark said, lack of enthusiasm all too obvious as his gaze fell to the floor.

Lex discarded Pete instantly, slipping from his hold with surprising ease, and stepping before Clark.

"Clark, what's wrong?" he asked, voice low with sudden concern, resting a hand on the other man's shoulder in a gesture that, had he been thinking clearly, he certainly wouldn't have made just then - not after what had happened earlier. Clark didn't seem to mind it though, and when he looked up Lex met a sad, but surprisingly clear, gaze.

"It's just..." Clark breathed, pausing as his own eyes reflected in the ones before him, blended green and blue circles forming a whole world. Then Clark blinked, and Lex had moved away, hands in his pockets, eyes averted self-consciously. Clark cleared his throat, moving quickly between the two men towards the sofa. "It's just, the issue's strictly academic now, anyway," he continued, falling into the spot Pete and Lex had so recently occupied. "There's no point having a best man if I'm not having a wedding."

Pete and Lex shared a look, equally shocked.

"What are you saying, man?" Pete questioned, hurrying to sit beside his friend. Lex followed rather more slowly. "Lana called it off?"

Quietly, Clark pulled the ring from his pocket and nodded, holding it before him, elbows on the table.

"But, but you told her right? About Simone? The hypnosis?" Pete insisted, while Lex placed a hand on the sofa arm behind him, watching with silent intent.

"She knows all about it," Clark replied, leaning back as he turned to the others. "That's not the reason. She... she thinks I don't love her. Not enough. Not the way I should... and I..." he looked down, eyes deep with thought as he stroked round the ring. "I think she might be right."

Another moment of shock.

"Clark, what are you talking about?" Pete asked, incredulous. "Lana's the girl of your dreams."

Clark looked up quickly, nodding, like Pete had just discovered the meaning of life.

"Exactly, Pete," he said. "So, maybe it's time I woke up."

As Clark looked back to the ring in his hand, Pete turned to the end of the sofa and shook his head, baffled. Lex responded in kind, shrugging out confusion - but the hand on the sofa clutched the leather tightly. Well, fuck.

——end credits——