SV Fic-For Closure's Sake (Part Two)- PG-13
Title: For Closure's Sake -Part Two
Part one is here
And the fic that started it all, "Regretting the Future".
When Oliver arrived home, he knew instantly that something was amiss. The apartment was eerily quiet and there didn’t seem to be any lights on. Walking in the direction of their bedroom, he could see that their bathroom light was on. Pushing open the door, Oliver gasped.
“Clark!” He ran to the other man’s side. Clark was lying on his side next to the tub. He was deathly pale, eyes closed.
Heart thudding, Oliver brushed the hair off of Clark’s forehead. “Clark, please!”
Much to his relief, Clark actually began to come around. He moaned and blinked a few times before finally focusing on Oliver’s face.
“Clark, what happened?”
“I-I don’t know.” His voice was soft and weak.
Oliver swallowed and took Clark’s hand. “What’s the last thing you remember?”
Clark moaned again and his head lolled to the side a little before he focused again. “Waking up sick.”
Waking up? This morning? Oliver frowned. “How do you feel now, Clark?”
“Bad,” he mumbled, eyes squeezed tight.
Licking his lips, Oliver nodded. “Okay, we need to get you back to bed.”
Sticking his hands under Clark’s arms, he hefted the man to his feet. He wrapped an arm around his waist when Clark’s knees began to buckle. The going was exceedingly slow- mostly because Clark kept stopping to grab sturdy objects. He would squeeze his eyes closed and Oliver assumed he was feeling dizzy.
“Has this been happening often?”
Clark slowly shook his head and then winced. “No, it’s like I’ve been around kryptonite, or something.”
Oliver tightened his hold on Clark’s waist. “But you haven’t, have you?”
Brows puckered, Clark looked as if he were struggling to remember. “I don’t know. I can’t rem-” He groaned and bent at the waist, clutching his stomach.
“Clark, baby, what is it?” Oliver held him up when he almost pitched forward.
Clark looked up at him, his eyes wide with pain, body trembling. “Something’s wrong,” he managed before his eyes rolled back and his body went limp in Oliver’s arms.
oOo
Clark had been out for a few hours and Oliver was frantic. He’d contacted Senator and Martha Kent and they were both on their way. Oliver was really just at his wits end. He didn’t know where Clark had been today, what he’d done, who he had been with and he didn’t know where to start.
He bit his lip and watched Clark’s pale, supine form. His round belly stuck up in the air and a wave of bitter helplessness washed over Oliver. He couldn’t even take Clark to the hospital because he didn’t know if this sudden illness had anything to do with his origins or not.
When the doorbell rang, Oliver was close to pulling at his hair in frustration. Martha Kent took one look at Oliver’s face and hers visibly paled. He led them back to the bedroom where Clark lay.
“Oh God,” she breathed and sat at her son’s side. “What happened?”
“I don’t know.” He sighed and collapsed into a nearby chair while Jonathan Kent sat down on the other side of his son. “When I came home, he was lying on the bathroom floor. He said he felt sick like he was around Kryptonite. And then he started having pains in his stomach and passed out.”
The deep lines in Jonathan’s forehead deepened. “Kryptonite? Was he exposed to any?”
“I just don’t know. None of the staff were on duty and I can’t get a hold of our driver so I don’t know what Clark did today. But Clark said the last thing he remembered was waking up feeling sick.”
“But even if he was exposed, he wouldn’t still be this sick after he got away from it,” Martha interjected. “The Kryptonite must be in the apartment.”
Oliver recoiled. “There’s no way.”
Jonathan turned to him. “My son is lying in this bed unconscious and something caused it, so don’t you tell me there’s no way.”
Oliver opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by the chiming of the doorbell. He frowned, not expecting anyone. After exchanging, uncertain glances with the Kents, he went to answer it, Jonathan trailing him and Martha staying with Clark.
The absolute last person Oliver expected to see on the other side of his door was Lex Luthor. But he stood there rumpled and anxious.
“Oliver! Is Clark here?”
“Why?”
Lex shook his head. “We don’t have time for that. Is Clark okay?”
Oliver’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Lex’s eyes- wide and fearful. Lex knew something. Without thinking, he took a hold of the man’s lapel and slammed him against the wall. “What the hell did you do to him,” he shouted.
He could feel Jonathan’s hand on his shoulder, trying to pull him away. “Oliver, stop. He may be able to help us.” His tone left no room for argument and Oliver reluctantly released the glaring man. Jonathan spoke to Lex. “What do you know?”
Taking a deep breath, Lex launched into his story. “Clark came to the mansion today. He was asking me something about a serum that allows people to read thoughts. I told I had nothing to do with it. Then my father showed up and admitted that he was actually the one behind the whole project. The next thing I knew, he had injected Clark with it.”
Mind whirling, Oliver tried desperately to take this all in, knowing that Clark’s life depended on it. He focused again when he noticed Lex was still speaking.
“My father made that serum out of meteor rocks.” He looked from Oliver to Jonathan. “He injected Clark with Kryptonite.”
Jonathan leaned against the nearest wall and ran a hand over his face. “My God.”
“Wait, wait.” Oliver held out his hands. “Every other time Clark was around Kryptonite, all he had to do was get away from it and he was fine. What the hell are we supposed to do if the Kryptonite is in him?”
Lex sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Oliver snapped and advanced on him. “Clark could die! Our baby could die! Your sick, twisted family did this! You damn well better know how to fix it!”
“Jonathan!” Martha’s fearful cry reached all three men and they ran in the direction of it, all fearing the worst. What they found shocked them all.
Clark still lay motionless and white on the bed, but now his cheeks were slightly flushed and the hair flopping on his forehead was damp. Tiny beads of perspiration, tinged a pale green dotted his forehead and rolled down his face.
“He has a fever.” Lex laid a hand on Clark’s forehead. Examining the slick green sweat on his fingers, “I’ll be damned,” he breathed. “He’s going to sweat it out.”
oOo
Clark was so hot. And he was so tired. His head hurt and his stomach hurt and…and-God, he was on fire!
He moaned and kicked, trying to get from under the offensive flame-consumed blanket. A hand held down his shoulder and he tried to fight against, but found he was too weak.
“Shh, Clark, baby, it’s okay, shh.” That voice was so familiar.
“Oll…?”
“Yeah, babe, it’s me. But I need you to calm down and rest so you can get better, okay?” The hand on his shoulder then moved to cup his cheek.
Clark shivered, now clinging to the blanket’s warmth. He was cold now. But the hand on his face and the one rubbing slow, soothing circles low on his belly was warm.
He wanted desperately to open his eyes and get a glimpse at Oliver’s face, but he was just too tired. Already he could feel himself being pulled under again.
oOo
Lex watched Clark moan and tousle in the bed from the doorway. The sheets were stained green, as were his clothes. Oliver was constantly mopping his brow but it was never long before more tiny green beads popped up and rolled down his face.
It had been almost forty-eight hours since Clark had fallen ill and the tension in the apartment was thick and palpable. Jonathan and Martha had taken to sitting quietly in the corner of the bedroom holding hands or pacing in the living room. Oliver was never more than a few steps away from Clark. Whenever anyone suggested he rest or eat, he would toss them an exhausted glare before his eyes snapped back to Clark and he tightened his grip on the pale, limp hand.
No one really allowed Lex to be in the room with Clark alone. He didn’t blame them, but he didn’t understand why. Hadn’t he proved where his loyalties lay by coming there to help? Lex wanted to help shut down his father’s project, but when he said as much to Oliver, he had only grunted, never taking his eyes from Clark.
oOo
His head felt heavy and his mouth full of cotton. His body was disgustingly sticky and wet. He had to blink a few times to get rid of the gritty, sleepy feeling from his eyes. Pale morning light streamed in through the curtains, casting a dull gray light on the room. Glancing down at the pressure on his arm, Clark smiled softly. Oliver was sound asleep in a chair beside the bed, his forehead resting against Clark’s arm.
“Ollie?” Even to his own ears, his voice was weak and hoarse.
The blonde man moaned and blinked lazily, his eyes finally landing on Clark’s face before he smiled brightly and moved to collect Clark in a tight embrace. “Oh God, Clark, you don’t know how scared I was!” He pulled back to look Clark over. “How do you feel?”
Clark assessed himself. He felt oddly drained and bit nauseous. His stomach was still big and round. “I’m okay.” He frowned down at the bed dressings. Weird, they were green. But his head was too muddled to even wonder about it. “I really would like a shower right now.”
Oliver grinned. “Yeah, I bet you do, but why don’t you take it easy for a little while and we’ll see how things go.”
“Oliver, what happened?”
He sighed. “Lionel Luthor.” He continued when Clark gave him a confused look. “Apparently, you went to the mansion to question Lex about that secret lab. While you were there, Lionel took it upon himself to inject you with some of that thought serum. It was made with Kryptonite. By the time I came home, you were in pretty bad shape. You’ve been unconscious since then and that was three days ago.”
Clark sat back, mind whirling. His hand went down to his stomach. “Is the baby okay?”
Oliver’s hand covered his. “I don’t know.” His eyes were filled with apprehension.
Clark swallowed hard and bit his lip. He looked down at his stomach, straining in concentration. It took longer than normal, but eventually he was able to travel through the layers and see his baby. Everything looked fine. He appeared to be asleep, curled in a tight ball and sucking contentedly on his thumb. Clark breathed a sigh of relief and fell back onto the pillows.
“He’s okay,” he breathed. He watched as Oliver’s shoulders seemed to sag with relief. He dropped a quick kiss to Clark’s belly, and then to his forehead.
“I love you so much,” he whispered into the dark damp locks.
oOo
A few hours later, when it seemed as if Clark and the baby would be fine, Jonathan and Martha left to pack for a meeting in Topeka. Oliver had a few things at the office that desperately needed his attention that he had neglected for the past three days. After Clark’s assurance that he would be fine, he left Clark, inadvertently, in the care of Lex Luthor.
After a shower, Clark was feeling much better. His head was clearer and he was a lot stronger on his feet so he decided to venture out to the living room. Lex was staring intently out of one of the large windows with a clear view of the busy streets of Metropolis. He was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he didn’t Clark approach until he spoke.
“You keep that up and you’re going to burn a hole through the glass.”
Lex spun around, surprised. “Clark! How are you feeling?” He rushed forward to help Clark unto the sofa.
“Lex, I’m fine.”
The older man sighed. “Clark, I’m sorry.”
“Wow. That’s twice now, Lex. Working on a record, are we,” Clark joked weakly.
“I’m serious, Clark. You could have died.”
“But I didn’t, Lex. I’m fine and I don’t blame you.”
“I blame myself.” Lex’s eyes said he meant it.
Clark slid over until they were sitting closer. “Well don’t. It was Lionel, not you. You had no idea, okay.”
Lex shook his head and seemed to stare off into the distance for a few moments. “It’s not just that, Clark.” He turned back to him. “It’s last year- I treated you like crap.”
Letting out a short, breathy laugh, Clark nodded. “Yeah, you did. It hurt like hell, too.”
Lex’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “It was just that living with my father after my mother died; I never really experienced a happy, loving relationship before you. I had no idea what I was doing. And when we got married, I was so sure you would see how bitter and twisted I was from it all and be disgusted. I knew I wouldn’t be able to deal with that, so I pushed you away.”
Instinctively, Clark grabbed his hand. “Thank you. I know it wasn’t easy to tell me that, and it helps to understand why you did the things you did back then. But Lex, that’s all in the past now. I’m happy and I hope you will be too.”
It seemed like forever that Lex’s grey eyes bore into his. He seemed to be searching Clark’s expression, but at the same time battling a war within. Suddenly, he leaned in and before he knew it, Lex’s lips were pressed firmly to his. The kiss was warm and familiar, but all it elicited from Clark was memories. And when they pulled apart, he sighed sadly.
“I-I just had to…” Lex bit his lower lip. “I’m sorry.”
Clark chuckled. “You seem to be saying that an awful lot. And it’s okay…what just happened. But you have to know, I love Oliver.” He blushed. “I know this is awkward and cheesy but I hope we can be friends.”
Lex gave a crooked smile. “Yeah, maybe.” He glanced at his watch. “Look, I should be going. You’ll be okay?”
At the door, Clark stopped him, feeling the need to express the way he was feeling. “Thanks, Lex, for…you know, everything.”
Lex seemed to know what he meant. “Anytime. You know I’ll always keep it secret.”
oOo
Clark looked up from his laptop in the study and smiled when Oliver walked in. Clark hadn’t seen him in almost two days and was a little disappointed when Oliver’s kiss and usual “how are you feeling” were quick and distracted. He wondered if maybe the other man’s mind was still on the mission. He and the League had been in Florida for the past two days bringing down Lionel’s lab. That would explain why Oliver’s brows were furrowed and his attitude preoccupied.
“How’d it go?”
“It went fine,” Oliver answered, but his eyes were guarded.
Clark frowned at him. “Then why do you look like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like your head is miles away right now.”
Oliver sighed and sat down next to him. “Maybe it is.”
Shutting his laptop, Clark turned to face him. “What’s up?”
“I love you, you know.” Oliver pressed his hand on the side of Clark’s belly and smiled softly when the baby kicked at him.
Clark smiled. “Yeah, I might have guessed.” He waited for Oliver to continue.
“I’m really sorry about that night,” he shushed Clark when he opened his mouth to protest. “No, let me finish. I really feel bad about all that stuff I said. It’s just…you just don’t understand what it was like to have you defending Lex , of all people.” His green gaze held Clark’s. “I love you Clark, but have to know: is there anything going on with you and Lex?”
Clark sputtered and gaped at him. “What- how could you ask me something like that? Of course not, Ollie!” He grabbed Oliver’s hand and held it tight. “I love you, okay? And I know it was a little confusing for me to be questioning Lex’s guilt, but I did believe him that night in the barn. And I was right, wasn’t I? And he was a big help when I got sick, wasn’t he? I know how you feel about him, but he knows my secret, Ollie, he’s always going to be apart of the picture. But as nothing more than a friend.”
Oliver was silent for a while before he blew out a breath. “I guess I’m just going to have to accept that.” He twined his fingers through Clark’s. “And now that that’s over, I do have something a bit more exciting to ask you.” He took a deep breath. “It’s pretty tacky and impromptu; I would rather have taken you out to a nice dinner or something, but you’re answer to the first question was pretty important.” He gave a small, nervous chuckle. “Okay, I know I’m rambling so I’ll just ask: Clark, will you marry me?”
Clark just sat there. He knew his mouth was slightly opened, eyes wide, and he probably looked ridiculous. He should really give Oliver an answer- the one that was rolling around in his mind, yes, yes, yes! But he just couldn’t think straight, let alone form words.
“Clark?” Oliver was waiting and Clark looked up into those green eyes- wide with anxiety and fear- and snapped out of his speechlessness.
“Gosh, yes!” He launched himself into Oliver’s arms.
Oliver was laughing and gasping from Clark’s heavy weight. “Good, because I hate to tell you, but I think you’re pregnant.” He covered the hand Clark had resting on the round bump and they both smiled when the baby jumped and moved around, obviously giving them his blessing.