The whole high school was at Lex’s New Year’s Eve Party. In theory, this was ‘Lana’s’ party, in return for some favor Lex owed Nell. Everybody knew the excuse was weak, but nobody cared. Lex had told Clark yesterday that he wanted everyone to know that he was throwing them a party. It was good publicity; for public opinion around town. At least with the younger set.
Clark looked out over the balcony at the partygoers below. The main room had been done up in cheap white streamers and balloons that clashed with the elegantly decorated room with crystal chandeliers and antique oil paintings. The staff had installed a giant digital clock high on the wall to count down to midnight, the disc jockey was busy playing a slow dance, and Lana and Whitney were wrapped in a close embrace.
“Clark, you are a lll..lost cause.” The voice behind him was slurred, but familiar.
Clark turned. “Pete.”
“Hey man, you really should give up.” Pete snickered, coming to look over the rail.
He sighed. “I’m just watching the crowd.”
“Yeah right.”
“Really.”
“Yeah right.” Pete shrugged, holding up his glass, “you should hit the punch, somebody spiked it.” Pete looked around, pretending to be sneaky, “betcha I know whoo…oo…”
“Oh really?” Clark tilted his head, looking Pete up and down, trying to figure him out. He was acting strangely. Heartbeat down, speech slurred…
“Football team.” Pete said, nodding slowly. Clark blinked. Pete was smashed. “It’s always them, isn’t it?”
“Usually.” Clark smiled. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go get some food. I’m starved.” Idly, Clark wondered what being drunk felt like. But he couldn’t risk it- he might hurt someone or say something he shouldn’t.
////
“Well Clark, like my party?” Clark turned from the buffet table, seeing Lex step away from a group of chattering teenagers. Pete had staggered off to get more punch.
“It’s all right.” Clark shrugged.
“Good to see at least one of my guests who hasn’t snuck in a flask, popped pills, or started smoking weed in my bathrooms.” Lex rolled his eyes. “And I thought country folk were rather innocent.”
Clark gave Lex a small smile. “There isn’t much to do in this town besides get wasted. Or at least, that’s what some people think.”
“Not surprised. Smallville is rather provincial.” Lex glanced around, and then leaned close. “Stay late.” He whispered, before continuing, “Lana went that way- without Whitney.”
////
Pete was draped over one arm, laughing about something. Clark had forgotten the joke- and was rethinking just how ‘fun’ getting blasted out of his mind would be. Last he had seen Whitney, the man had been puking in the bathroom into the tub. And Pete was being an idiot.
“Come on man… I can make it- I’m not that drunk.”
“You’re wasted, Pete. I’ll drive you home, don’t worry about it.”
“Awww… man. My folks will be pissed if they find out I needed a ride tonight.”
“You’re drunk Pete. I’m not letting you drive.”
Lex walked up, shaking his head. “Remind me- no more favors for Nell. My security has had a wonderful time keeping everyone out of my private rooms, and half my guests got so drunk I can’t let them drive home without risking a lawsuit.”
“Including Pete.” Clark said.
“Hey, I’m not that drunk.” The young man whined.
“I need to drive him home.” Clark told Lex, rolling his eyes.
“Damn.” Lex mumbled, running a hand over his smooth head. “Well, your dad’s truck is right next to the house- it’s blocked in, half the cars in my driveway aren’t going to get picked up till morning. And I sent the limo to take the football team home.” Lex reached into his pocket, pulling out his keys. “Here. Take my car- it’s by the gate. Just hit this button here for the alarm.” He looked at Pete. “You aren’t going to get sick are you?”
“No man, I’m cool.”
“Your car? Are you sure?”
Lex shrugged. “I’d drive him, but I shouldn’t leave. It’s no big deal.” Lex smirked, “in fact, I’ll probably stick you with chauffeuring duty when you get back- I’ve got at least twenty more guests that could use a ride.”
////
Clark dragged himself up the steps of Lex Luthor’s impressive stone mansion. He pushed the door open, looking back at the lightening sky. He groaned, stepping back inside. “Lex?” He called.
“Clark.” Lex called back from the upper balcony. “That was the last- the rest are just going to sleep it off. Do you want to crash here, or go home?”
“Home? Oh crap- I forgot-” Clark looked panicked.
Lex waved a hand- “I called your folks hours ago, and told them that you were driving people home for me. They said that it was acceptable.”
“Acceptable?” Clark asked.
“You dad was rather groggy. It was more of ‘Sure… tell ‘em not to forget his chores in the morning.’ ”
Clark looked at his watch. “Oh damn, I need to go home.”
“Fine by me. But you truck is still blocked in. I’ll drive you.” Lex turned around, quickly walking down the stairs.
“Sure?” Clark asked as he yawned, “it’s really late- you probably want to get to bed.”
The older man only chuckled. “This isn’t that late, Clark. The sun’s barely up. Come on, I’ll take you.” He held out his hand, and Clark tossed him the keys. “Well, did you like her?”
Clark smiled, ruffling his hair. “Your car? She’s fast, man. Corners great too.”
Lex laughed.
It didn’t take long for Lex to drive Clark home in the early dawn light. The sporty car pulled quietly into the gravel driveway, and cutting the engine, Lex jumped out. He tilted his head towards the barn, and the two of them headed over.
“Clark.” Lex whispered. “I wanted to ask you something, while no one was watching.”
“What?” Clark was instantly nervous. Lex had ignored ‘the secret’ for these last few weeks, not even needling Clark a single time.
“That janitor. From the plant- the one in the hospital.”
“Earl?”
“Yes.” Lex sighed. “He’s dying, Clark. I’ve managed to get my father to spend almost half a million dollars on his treatment in this last month, but he’s not going to make another week.” Lex paused, leaning against the barn door. He turned towards the sun, watching the pink sunrise. “And I promised myself that I wouldn’t push you, but I thought that you should know. There’s a possibility, a small hope- but it depends on you.”
Clark gulped, whispering, “What?”
“I’ve thought about it.” Lex nodded to himself. “And… well. You know how you’ve adapted to the higher speeds without any negative side effects? The doctors can’t cure him, but they might be able to… permanently adjust his metabolism, like your obviously has adjusted.”
Clark shivered, suddenly cold. “What are you saying, Lex?”
The older man shrugged his shoulders. “Simple, really. If the doctors could figure out how speed up his entire body- his nerves and metabolism, and not just his muscles- then they could cure him. They’re working in the dark, however. They don’t even know where to start- let alone what the final product would be. They’d need to study a working, well adjusted subject in order to reproduce the results in the time frame we have.” Lex watched Clark, “The doctors would need to evaluate you, Clark.”
Clark Kent shuttered, face bleached white. “C..C..Can’t.” He shook his head. “No. I…”
“Clark- I could keep my father from finding out who you are. I could keep anyone from finding out. I’ve got friends at some universities that could run the tests- they aren’t allied with anyone.”
“No.” Clark shook his head, backing up.
“Clark, I wouldn’t ask. But he’s going to die without help. I know you’re a good guy, Clark. And you are the only person on the entire planet who could help him- the doctors need a living human subject to figure out how to fix him.” Lex begged, unwilling to mention how much he really needed to determine a ‘cure’ in order to appease his father.
“N.. n.. no.” Clark shook his head, “I… I can’t. I don’t… think I’d be able to help, Lex.” He looked down. “I’m sorry.” Clark turned away.
“Clark, he’s going to die.” Lex watched, almost in wonder, as Clark- the man who had risked his life several times for others- walked towards the house.
“I- I can’t help.” Clark sounded lost.
Lex sighed, and headed back to his car. “I’ll talk to you later, big guy.” He didn’t hear Clark’s reply, too lost in confusion on why the young man wouldn’t help. Clark- damn it, the whole Kent family- was always willing to help anyone who needed it. They were generous to a fault.
Lex drove home in silence, trying to figure it out. He remembered lunch with the Kents on Christmas day. He, and another family had come over. He didn’t really remember the other family’s names- but it didn’t take a genius to figure out that he may have been there for the company; they were there for the food. The kids sure ate enough, anyway. Before Christmas Martha had spent hours working with their church’s charity drive for food, clothing, and toys for the poor living in the area. Even Clark had helped out with the drive- when he was finished with his schoolwork, of course. And Jonathan had spent his time helping a friend with his roof. Lex had been stunned that Jonathan didn’t expect to get paid for his help.
But Clark wouldn’t help out an old family friend? Even when it meant the man would die?
Why was Clark so terrified of doctors and medical tests?
Lex pulled into his own driveway, turning off the car and burying his head in his hands. He had managed to get his father to spend near a half million dollars on that nameless janitor- and the man was going to die. His father was furious- ‘wasted money, wasted resources’. It would have been acceptable if the man would have gotten healthy, the good PR would have made the expenditure worth it. Or even if they could have learned something marketable- like how to reproduce the effects. But now…
And naturally, it was just another example of Lex’s poor business sense. The unforgivable crime in the Luthor handbook.
Lex lifted his head, walked back to his manor. He could deal with his father.
But he still wondered about Clark’s reluctance to help. What about doctors would scare a young man so much? With narrowed eyes, Lex entered the front door.
It was time to call his investigative reporter.