Revenge ( PG-13) Lexana- Drama/Romance: Chapters 5 & 6
Here are the fifth and sixth chapters of the second fic I ever wrote. Enjoy!
SUMMARY: What happened the days between Lex´s rescue after his plane crashed and his arrival in Smallville ? What would have things been like if Helen had decided to take revenge by hurting someone close to Lex ?
If you´ve missed the beginning read it now:
CHAPTERS 1 TO 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5: Revenge
Four years had gone by since Lex's ill-fated marriage and subsequent annulment. Four years for Helen to plan her revenge and this time she wouldn't let herself be diverted by sentimentality. She had made a mistake the previous time, but now she was going to choose the target well to make him suffer.
It was eight o'clock on Thursday evening and Lex was still at his office at Lexcorp. He was going through some private documents concerning a secret plan of Lionel's for a surprise take-over of an avant-garde lab Lex had been planning to acquire. His reading was so absorbing that it took him a minute to realise that his private line was ringing insistently.
“ Good evening ? “ answered lex questioningly. Only a few had his private number and it was an unusual hour to be phoned at the office.
“ Are you Mr Alexander J. Luthor ? “ asked a woman's voice on the other side.
“ I'm afraid we haven't been introduced. May I know how you've got my private number ? “
“ My name's Dr Susan Garland, Mr Luthor. I'm a doctor at Metropolis General Hospital. I found your personal card in a young woman's purse. Her name's Lana Lang. Are you acquainted with her, sir ? “
“ Miss Lang's a friend not an acquaintance, doctor. What's happened to her ? “ he asked, a note of deep concern in his voice.
“ She was admitted to our ICU three quarters of an hour ago. She's in critical condition, Mr Luthor.
She's been assaulted and badly beaten. She needs to be operated on inmediately to remove a clot that's putting pressure on her spinal cord. Do you know who we should contact to authorise the procedure ? “
“ Her next-of-kin is an aunt but she isn't living in America, now. There's nobody else, but we're best friends and we've been business partners for five years, doctor. Prepare the papers and the operating room, I'll be there in fifteen minutes with my personal physician. Don't worry about legal matters, my lawyers we'll see to them, “ he said in a businesslike manner.
“ I agree with you, the patient's life is always first, Mr Luthor. I'll prepare her for surgery. See you on floor two in fifteen minutes, sir. “
“ Thank you, Dr. Garland. “
Lex put down the receiver, grabbed his Porsche keys and took the private lift to the underground garage. He'd have to rush to make it in time and if that meant not stopping at the red lights, so be it- Lana's life was worth a hell of a lot more than a couple of speeding tickets or an impounded Porsche.
He arrived at the hospital unscathed- no patrol had crossed his way - and Dr Ferguson stepped out of his car a couple of minutes later. They both went straight up to the second floor where they were met by Lana's doctor. Dr Garland gave Dr Ferguson the patient's record, CATscan and X-rays and left him alone to check the girl over while she joined Lex to have a chat with him.
“ Mr Luthor, I want you to know that it's touch and go. She's in coma now. We hope the surgery'll relieve the pressure and reduce the swelling. However, there's the possibility of internal haemorrhage and even if we manage to stop the bleeding and remove the clot, it's not certain she'll survive the operation. And if she does, there's no guarantee she'll walk again. “
Lex found it very hard to breathe, he could feel the blood pumping in his ears and his chest ready to burst/explode. If he hadn't known his asthma was cured, he would have thought he was on the verge of a severe attack. Dr Gardiner looked at him alarmed, regretting her crudeness.She had always been a good judge of character and this young man seemed so cool and composed, she thought he could take the unadulterated truth.
“ Why don't you sit down, Mr Luthor ?... Janice, bring him a cup of strong coffee with two lumps of sugar from the nurses' island. ... I'm sorry, sir. I've been too blunt but I thought you'd appreciate my telling you the odds... Hope's the last thing we should lose. “
“ Thanks, doctor. You're right, I'm not one who's fond of beating around the bush... but it's just that ...every woman close to me ... has been invariable snatched from my side..., “ he said with tears in his eyes.
“ Dr Ferguson and I will do our very best to make sure you don't lose her as well but, Mr Luthor, I suggest you pray for all of us. Are you a believer ? “
“ I used to pray as a child, when my mother was still alive, but I'm afraid God stopped listening to me by the time I was twelve... Still, I believe in miracles. I've seen them. My own life's been spared so many times..., “ he said trying to pull himself together.
“ Pray for a miracle, then, Mr Luthor. Miss Lang's in desperate need of one. “
“ Couldn't I see her, doctor, before she enters the operating room ? “ he entreated her.
“ I'll tell the staff to clear the room to give you some privacy. You'll have two or three minutes to be with her at the most. Time's not on our side, Mr Luthor, “ she told him placing a caring hand on his sleeve. “ And sir, get ready, it's not a pretty sight. “
Lex entered the room donning scrubs, booties and a mask to preserve the sterile environment. Lana lay motionless in the orthopaedic bed, her face battered and bruised beyond recognition. Lex fell down to his knees next to the bedside and, with tears running down his cheeks, took her right hand in his and placed a tender kiss on the crown of her head, afraid of making her hurt by grazing her face.
“ Lana, what have they done to you ? I swear to God, whoever's put a hand on you will wish he hadn't been born...You've got to be strong, Lana... You can beat this... I know you can... Don't you dare leave me alone !... I promise I'll be here waiting for you, “ he pleaded with Lana brushing her lips with his.
“ I'm sorry, Mr Luthor, but it's time, “ said Dr Ferguson entering the room with Dr Garland.
“ See you later, Lana, “ whispered Lex placing a kiss on the back of her hand.
CHAPTER 6: Surfacing
Lana underwent a long delicate surgery to remove the clot and control the internal haemorrhage. God listened to Lex's fervent prayers; the swelling started to subside after the first 24 hours and both doctors informed him that the chances of her regaining consciousness were better. As to whether she would have mobility in her legs, they couldn't tell yet.
On the seventh day, Lana came round to find her hand being tightly held by an exhausted Lex, who was sitting asleep on a chair by her bed. She looked at the face of her faithful friend with affection and heard his pleading words in her mind: “ Don't you dare leave me alone ! “ He had brought her back and she'd be eternally grateful for that but she dreaded the moment she'd have to look at him in the eye. She felt dirty and ashamed. She prayed Dr Garland had kept her promise, the one she had extracted from her before she passed out.
Lex felt her fingers move in his grasp and woke up all of a sudden. “ Lana ! Lana, thank God you're back !, “ he exclaimed with misty eyes.
“ I'm glad you've kept your word, Lex. You said ...you'd be here when I woke up... and you are, “ she said with a raspy voice once the nurse removed the endotracheal tube.
“ Lana, I must leave the room for the doctor to check you over but I'll be right back.”
“ It's OK, Lex. I'm not planning to go anywhere, “ she said smiling.
Lex saw two big teardrops rolling down her cheeks and, overtaken by emotion, leaned forward to plant a chaste kiss on her lips.
“ Don 't cry, Lana. Everything'll be all right, “ he added gently, dabbing her wet eyes with his Egyptian cotton handkerchief.
“ Could I keep it ? “ asked Lana in a small voice, finding the gesture comforting and the scent of his after-shave enveloping.
“ Certainly, be my guest. “
“ Miss Lang, how are you feeling ? “ asked Dr Garland after checking the patient's vital signs.
“ As if a herd of elephants had trampled all over my head ... ,“ answered Lana.
“ I know, Miss Lang... I didn't mean how you felt physically... ,“ said a concerned doctor.
“ Have you told him ? “ she asked with a catch in her voice.
“He's a very special young man and it felt awful to hide the truth from him but you're my patient... I don't mean to pry, Miss Lang, but are you just friends ? “
“ Yes, he's been the best friend I could wish for for the last five years. “
“ He feels a lot for you, I could tell. You're lucky to have someone who cares so much about your well-being. You'll need his support throughout your recovery because there's a long way ahead. Let me advise you something, Miss Lang, don't wait for too long to tell him the truth if you want to feel whole again. “
“ I don't know if I can ..., “ sobbed Lana.
“Tell you what. I'll leave you Dr Madison's card. I'd like you to talk to her-she´s the hospital's head psychiatrist. She'll come to see you this afternoon and you can agree with her on what days to meet, “ said the doctor handing Lana the card. “ Something else... and this is good news... I've got the test results. There's nothing to worry about ..., “said Dr Garland smiling.
In the meantime, Lex was conversing with Nell and his husband Dean in the corridor. They had come back from a cruise to hear the messages he had left on the answerphone the previous week and they took the first flight they could jump on. Nell was all nerves and Lex reassured her, saying that Lana was stable now and clearly on the road to recovery.
“ There's Dr Garland, Nell. We'll know more now ..., “ said Lex. “ Dr Garland, these are Miss Lang's aunt and uncle. They'd like to see the patient now. Do you think she feels up to it ? “
“ You'll have to keep it short because she must rest. I'd like to keep her under observation for another 72 hours and then, if there aren't any complications, I'll discharge her, “ informed the doctor.
“ What about her treatment ? “ asked Dean.
“ I was coming to that. She's going to need counselling and physiotherapy. It'll take between three to six months for her to regain sensation in her lower limbs but the prognosis is very encouraging. It'll be an expensive treatment, thought. Do you have health insurance ? “ the doctor queried Lana's aunt.
“ Don't worry about the expenses, Nell, “ said Lex, “We'll get her the best treatment and doctors available. “
“ I'm grateful you were here to see that she was taken care of, Lex, “ said Nell sincerely. “ Doctor, do you think my niece'll be fit to fly back home with us ? “
“ We'll have to wait and see how she progresses. Besides, there's the question of the police enquiry. Now that she's awake they'll want to talk to her to see what she remembers of the incident and the man that attacked her on campus, “ responded the doctor.
“Oh ! I haven't thought of that, “ said Nell worried.
“ I've already hired a PI, Nell. He's been talking with the young couple that found her and has been asking around to see if there were any witnesses. If anybody saw anything, we'll know. I promise you,I'll hunt down whoever's done this to her; and when I find him, he'll pay, “ pledged Lex.
TBC
CHAPTERS 7 & 8