Fic: Against All Odds (7/8)
May. 5th, 2008 08:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fandomcornerTitle: Against All Odds
Authors:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hils and lexalicious70
Paring: Clark/Lex with hints of Clark/Rod and Clark/Rod/Lex
Spoilers: None
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Sequel to Highway to Hell and So Long Sylvia. In the aftermath of the alien encounter Lex receives some startling news
WARNING: MPREG!
Previous parts here
After getting Rod the medical care he needed and being assured that Rod would indeed be fine, Clark rushed back to the caves to see about Lex. His lover lay exactly where they'd left him, and Clark's heart ached at the sight of him. He knelt down.
"Lex? Lex please, wake up!"
There was no response, and Clark felt sick. He had no idea what Brainiac had done to Lex before they got there. He was breathing, but what if he never woke up? He pulled out his cell phone and called Lex's doctor. "This is Clark Kent. Something has happened to Lex. Can you come to the house?"
The doctor assured Clark he was on his way and now all Clark could do was take Lex home and make him comfortable.
The doctor arrived half an hour after Clark arrived home, and he examined Lex thoroughly. Finally, he packed his things away and looked over at Clark. "The child seems to be doing fine. The heartbeat is regular and there’s quite a bit of fetal movement."
"What about Lex?" Clark asked, relieved that the baby was ok but still overcome with worry for his lover. "Is he going to be ok? I don't know what happened to him, but he won't wake up."
"His heartbeat and temperature are normal, and I see no evidence of brain damage." The doctor gave him a smile. "I think his body is healing itself, Clark. You know of Lex's abilities, I assume."
Clark nodded. "Did whoever did this...hurt him?" He couldn't bring himself to use the word 'rape'.
The doctor shook his head. "I saw no evidence of it. There are no marks on his body at all. We'll give him another few hours, see if he comes to."
Clark sagged in relief. That was something at least. He still didn't know what had happened to Lex and he guessed he wouldn't find out until Lex woke up. If he woke up. Lex's body might be intact, but Brainiac could have done anything to his mind.
"If there's any change, you can call me and I'll return." The doctor shook Clark's hand and left.
Clark waited until he heard the doctor's car leave and then he crawled into bed beside Lex. "You have to wake up, ok?" he whispered, brushing a hand over Lex's cheek. "I need you, Lex. I can't do this without you. Please, just wake up."
When there was no response Clark buried his head in Lex's shoulder and finally allowed himself to cry.
* * *
Clark wasn't sure how long he lay there; it may have been minutes or hours that he passed in an agonizing reflection of what life would be like without Lex. Eventually, he fell into a restless doze where he dreamed of Lex's touch and his warm, gentle tone whispering his name.
"Clark . . . Clark . . . "
He burrowed closer to Lex. He didn't want the dream to be over. Reality was too painful to face.
"Clark." A gentle hand touched his head and stroked through his hair.
It felt so real, almost too real. "Lex?"
The gentle stroking continued. "Yes, Clark." The voice was weak, but carried a touch of wry humor. "Look at me, baby."
He could never deny Lex anything and slowly raised his head. Lex was looking down at him, his eyes clouded with exhaustion but he was smiling. "Lex! You're awake! How are you feeling?"
"Like I used to after spending several consecutive nights out at Club Zero." Lex blinked.
The tears were rolling down Clark's cheeks as he leaned up and kissed him. "I didn't know if you were ever going to wake up."
Lex reached up and gently brushed the tears away with his thumb. "We Luthors are pretty much indestructible, Clark."
"I should have known that," Clark whispered through his tears.
Lex smiled weakly, and then all at once his eyes widened as the memories of Brainiac and the AI came crashing back to him. He struggled to sit up, both hands going to his belly. "The baby!"
"Hey, hey, it's ok," Clark soothed. "The baby is fine. I called your doctor when you wouldn't wake up."
Lex stroked his belly gently. "Is he certain? There was this man and what I think was an A.I . . . they kept drugging me."
"I promise, the baby is fine. I'm just sorry we couldn't get to you sooner." The guilt was swamping him now. He should have been at home where he could watch Lex.
"It's all right, Clark. You and Rod had no way of knowing-" Lex cut off suddenly and glanced around. "Where is Rod?"
Oh, God. He was hoping Lex wouldn't ask until he was feeling stronger. "He...uh...he was hurt when we rescued you. Don't worry, though. The doctor's say he's going to be fine. They just wanted to keep in him overnight to keep an eye on him"
"Hurt? What happened?" Lex tried to remember how Rod had been involved in his rescue, but everything was a blank after the thin dark-haired man had dosed him with chloroform. "Clark, how did you two even find me?"
"Jor-El," Clark explained. "He helped us. I guess he wanted his baby protected. Rod got stabbed in the shoulder by Brainiac but he took him down as well. He was a real hero, Lex. He saved both of our lives."
"Wow." Lex lifted a pale brow. "Who knew the little guy had it in him?"
Clark nodded. "All he talked about after he got stabbed was keeping you safe."
Lex smiled a little. "He's a good man, and I've grown very fond of him over these last few months. We have to make sure he makes a complete recovery."
"I like him a lot too," Clark said. "You should have seen him, Lex. He was amazing. I'm going to take good care of both of you when he comes home."
Lex grinned up at his young lover, never feeling more love and warmth for him than he had at that moment. The earnestness in Clark's voice was like a bright ray of sunlight that illuminated every dark place in Lex's soul. He reached up and touched Clark's cheek. "I know you will, Clark. I wouldn't expect any less."
"I should call the doctor," Clark said, although he was reluctant to move. "Have him check you over again now you're awake. We don't know what was in the drugs Brainiac gave you."
"I don't want to be poked and prodded anymore, Clark." Lex squirmed into a sitting position as best he could, and smiled a bit when he felt their child kick. "And our baby concurs. I'm fine . . . but I could do with something to eat. Call him if you like, tell him I'm awake and lucid, but please, no more exams?"
Clark smiled and kissed him. "Anything you want."
"Clark . . ." Lex smiled up at him. "All I want, all I'll ever need, ever again . . . is you."
Two days later
"Easy now . . . easy . . . " Clark gently helped Rod from Lex's silver BMW. Rod's right shoulder and arm were bound up tightly in a sling, and the young cop looked a bit pale.
"I'm good," Rod assured him as he attempted a few wobbly steps on his own.
"You're still a little weak, Rod," Lex struggled out from behind the wheel of the car and joined Clark at their friend's side. "And the doctors said you lost a great deal of blood."
Clark shot him a glare. "He's not the only one, Lex. The doctor said it would take a least a week for all the drugs worked their way out of your system. You're lucky we didn't get pulled over."
"I'll be joining Rod in bed momentarily, Clark. I haven't forgotten my promise to you that I would rest. Besides . . . it's not like I drove us off a bridge or anything." He winked at Clark.
Clark stuck his tongue out in what was probably not the best display of maturity. It had been his idea for Lex and Rod to share a bed while they recovered, to make it easier for him to watch over them both. Neither man had minded when he’d suggested it.
"It's a good thing I'm not jealous about you sharing a bed with another guy while you're pregnant with my baby."
Rod paused and screwed up his face in thought. "Why doesn't it scare me that what you just said makes perfect sense?"
Clark laughed. "Welcome to the insane world of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. Now, let's get you into bed. You look about ready to collapse."
"I'm all right. Besides, I have to be. I need to get back to work."
Lex shot Clark a glance over Rod's head. Neither of them had told him that the doctors had said the muscular damage in Rod's shoulder was permanent, and that he would only have about 80 percent usage of the limb. Both men knew it would cost Rod his job on the force.
"No one is going to expect you to go back to work right away," Clark finally said. "You need to get your strength back first."
"Need to call the sarge. Although I have no idea how I'll explain how I got hurt," Rod chuckled. "I guess I can always say I fell off the roof while I was painting. He'll believe that. Everyone will . . . they know what a klutz I can be."
Clark shook his head. "I'll call work for you, and I'll tell them you got hurt saving my life. You deserve that, Rod."
Lex unlocked the house for Rod, and the three of them headed into Rod’s bedroom. Once inside, Lex made good on his promise and climbed into bed.
Clark looked pointedly at Rod, waiting for him to do the same.
Rod sighed and climbed into bed beside Lex. "So . . . wanna watch Cops?"
Leaving them to settle the dispute about the TV amongst themselves, Clark went into the other room and made good on his promise to call Rod's boss and explain what had happened, or something close to it at least.
Rod's commanding officer, Sergeant Brooks, was sympathetic as well as regretful. "The hospital has sent over their report, Mr. Kent. That's standard procedure when a cop is injured. By the looks of things, because of the permanent muscle damage, I don't think Officer Hardwick can return to regular duty."
"There must be something you can do," Clark pleaded. "A desk job? Anything? You can't let him go because he got injured saving someone."
"We'll do our best to get him a desk job, Mr. Kent, but if you know Officer Hardwick as well as you say you do, I don't think he'd want it."
Clark sighed. "I know. It...it's just so unfair. He's a good man, one of the best I've ever met."
"He is a good man. Tell him what I've told you, and tell him to consider it. Good luck, Mr. Kent."
Clark hung up and wandered back into the bedroom. He had no idea how to break the news to Rod, or even whether he should until his friend was feeling better.
Rod was in the middle of telling Lex the story of how he had bested Brainiac. “. . . so there I was, hanging by the shoulder by this metal blade he'd grown out of his hand--and how freaky was that, I am right? Anyway, he was just about to kill me, and--hey Clark!" Rod looked up and smiled. "Come on in! I was just telling Lex about how I kicked that Brainiac thing's ass!"
Clark smiled. "You were amazing, Rod." In that moment, he realised he couldn't tell him. Not yet. Rod was a hero and he deserved to enjoy it for a little while.
"See, he would have probably had me if he hadn't assumed I was right handed! So it was no problem for me to just whip out old Trusty--" Rod looked over at his gun belt fondly, "and just blow the bastard away!"
"I wish I'd been awake to see it," Lex said with a fond smile.
"He really was something else." Clark climbed into bed between them carefully.
Lex leaned over and kissed Clark before reaching over and taking Rod's unbound hand in his. "Thank you, both of you, for saving me."
Rod smiled and blushed a little. "Hey . . . no big deal. To protect and serve, right? That's what Rod is all about!"
Clark placed his hand on top of Lex and Rod's. "Well, we appreciate it. You're an amazing person, Rod. I'm glad we met you."
"I'm glad I met you guys, too. Well, uh . . . " He gave Lex a sheepish grin. "I wish we'd met in a different way. You know that, right?"
"Rod, I don't blame you for what happened," Lex said. "All of this is Brainiac's doing."
"I'm glad you feel that way," Rod smiled.
"And now he's gone we're finally safe," Clark added. "Thanks to you."
"Hey, we all did it!" Rod grinned.
"Well, I was mostly busy being unconscious," Lex said with a wry smile. "You think I'd be used to it by now. But you two did great."
"I couldn't let anything happen to you." Rod shrugged a little. "You both mean so much to each other . . . I'll never have that, but I couldn't let what you two do have die."
Lex smiled and patted Rod's hand. "Never say never."
Clark glanced over at Lex and gave him a wry, questioning glance, and then motioned to Rod with his head.
Lex nodded.
"Yeah buddy . . . never say never." Clark leaned over and captured Rod's lips with his own in a gentle but warm kiss. Rod's eyes widened but he didn't pull away. Lex watched, chuckling as his friend received his first kiss from another man. When Clark finally pulled away, Rod blinked at him in mild amazement. Clark smiled.
"Just a little something to say thank you for everything you've done."
"Uh. Wow. I . . . you're welcome." Rod touched his lips with his good hand. "Wow." He gasped out a nervous chuckle. "You-- you kiss good."
"Mmm..." Lex agreed with a sleepy murmur. As much as he hated to admit it, Clark was right. The drugs that were still in his system left him feeling tired all the time and it was finally becoming too much of an effort to stay awake.
Clark smiled and snuggled down between both men, spooning Rod's left side and resting his head on Lex's shoulder. "Let's get some sleep."
Rod grunted in pain as he tried to find a position that didn't hurt his arm, and finally settled down to sleep.
* * *
Clark awoke some time later to the sound of whistling. He rolled over and cracked open one eye to see Rod holding his gun in his left hand and wedging a can of polish between both knees so that he could open it on his own.
Lex was still sleeping peacefully beside him, and he let out a little murmur of discontent as Clark climbed out of bed. "Shh," Clark whispered gently, and pulled the covers up over him.
Rod glanced up and smiled. "Hey buddy!" He set the gun aside carefully and unscrewed the jar of oil.
Clark sat down beside him, his face creased with the pain of what he knew he had to do. "Hey Rod."
"I was just giving Ol' Trusty a polish. I figured what the hell, he's a hero too, right?" He frowned suddenly at the expression on Clark's face. "Don't worry Clark, I always take the bullets out first."
Clark sighed. He hated this and it made him feel sick inside knowing what he was going to have to do to the man who had come to mean so much to both him and Lex. "It's not that, Rod. I know I can trust you with a gun. I..it's...there's something I have to tell you, and I wish I didn't have to."
Rod picked up his polishing cloth. "What is it?"
"When I called your work to tell them what had happened to you they already knew. Some hospital policy or something. Rod, the damage to your shoulder is never going to fully recover...and because of that..." He couldn't bring himself to finish.
Rod stared at him a moment and then shook his head slowly. "No, that's . . . that's not possible." He touched the sling with his good hand. "This will heal, Clark, it's nothing! Just a scratch! I'll be fine!" He looked away, his expression bewildered. "They can't just . . . "
"I'm so sorry, Rod," Clark said, eyes brimming with tears. He wanted so badly to hold him right now. "They said they can give you a desk job if you want it..."
"A desk job!" Rod looked back to him. "Sitting there in the office all day, pushing papers around?" Rod shook his head. "Not for me, kid." He tossed the polishing cloth down and looked down at his gun. "Guess they want me to go down there and turn in my stuff, huh."
"You don't have to do anything yet, Rod." Clark assured him, wishing there was something to do to make this right. He'd never felt so helpless before.
"So it's over. Just like that." Rod stood up and turned away. "A twelve-year career. My place. . . . my pension?" Rod ran his good hand through his close-cropped hair. "What am I going to do, Clark?" He turned back, but then his expression turned curious as he looked down at Lex. "Uh . . . Clark? I think Lex is leaking."
Clark glanced over to where Rod was looking. The damp patch on the sheets was too big to be anything other than one thing.
"Oh, shit! His waters broke!"
Chapter 8
Authors:
hils and lexalicious70Paring: Clark/Lex with hints of Clark/Rod and Clark/Rod/Lex
Spoilers: None
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Sequel to Highway to Hell and So Long Sylvia. In the aftermath of the alien encounter Lex receives some startling news
WARNING: MPREG!
Previous parts here
After getting Rod the medical care he needed and being assured that Rod would indeed be fine, Clark rushed back to the caves to see about Lex. His lover lay exactly where they'd left him, and Clark's heart ached at the sight of him. He knelt down.
"Lex? Lex please, wake up!"
There was no response, and Clark felt sick. He had no idea what Brainiac had done to Lex before they got there. He was breathing, but what if he never woke up? He pulled out his cell phone and called Lex's doctor. "This is Clark Kent. Something has happened to Lex. Can you come to the house?"
The doctor assured Clark he was on his way and now all Clark could do was take Lex home and make him comfortable.
The doctor arrived half an hour after Clark arrived home, and he examined Lex thoroughly. Finally, he packed his things away and looked over at Clark. "The child seems to be doing fine. The heartbeat is regular and there’s quite a bit of fetal movement."
"What about Lex?" Clark asked, relieved that the baby was ok but still overcome with worry for his lover. "Is he going to be ok? I don't know what happened to him, but he won't wake up."
"His heartbeat and temperature are normal, and I see no evidence of brain damage." The doctor gave him a smile. "I think his body is healing itself, Clark. You know of Lex's abilities, I assume."
Clark nodded. "Did whoever did this...hurt him?" He couldn't bring himself to use the word 'rape'.
The doctor shook his head. "I saw no evidence of it. There are no marks on his body at all. We'll give him another few hours, see if he comes to."
Clark sagged in relief. That was something at least. He still didn't know what had happened to Lex and he guessed he wouldn't find out until Lex woke up. If he woke up. Lex's body might be intact, but Brainiac could have done anything to his mind.
"If there's any change, you can call me and I'll return." The doctor shook Clark's hand and left.
Clark waited until he heard the doctor's car leave and then he crawled into bed beside Lex. "You have to wake up, ok?" he whispered, brushing a hand over Lex's cheek. "I need you, Lex. I can't do this without you. Please, just wake up."
When there was no response Clark buried his head in Lex's shoulder and finally allowed himself to cry.
* * *
Clark wasn't sure how long he lay there; it may have been minutes or hours that he passed in an agonizing reflection of what life would be like without Lex. Eventually, he fell into a restless doze where he dreamed of Lex's touch and his warm, gentle tone whispering his name.
"Clark . . . Clark . . . "
He burrowed closer to Lex. He didn't want the dream to be over. Reality was too painful to face.
"Clark." A gentle hand touched his head and stroked through his hair.
It felt so real, almost too real. "Lex?"
The gentle stroking continued. "Yes, Clark." The voice was weak, but carried a touch of wry humor. "Look at me, baby."
He could never deny Lex anything and slowly raised his head. Lex was looking down at him, his eyes clouded with exhaustion but he was smiling. "Lex! You're awake! How are you feeling?"
"Like I used to after spending several consecutive nights out at Club Zero." Lex blinked.
The tears were rolling down Clark's cheeks as he leaned up and kissed him. "I didn't know if you were ever going to wake up."
Lex reached up and gently brushed the tears away with his thumb. "We Luthors are pretty much indestructible, Clark."
"I should have known that," Clark whispered through his tears.
Lex smiled weakly, and then all at once his eyes widened as the memories of Brainiac and the AI came crashing back to him. He struggled to sit up, both hands going to his belly. "The baby!"
"Hey, hey, it's ok," Clark soothed. "The baby is fine. I called your doctor when you wouldn't wake up."
Lex stroked his belly gently. "Is he certain? There was this man and what I think was an A.I . . . they kept drugging me."
"I promise, the baby is fine. I'm just sorry we couldn't get to you sooner." The guilt was swamping him now. He should have been at home where he could watch Lex.
"It's all right, Clark. You and Rod had no way of knowing-" Lex cut off suddenly and glanced around. "Where is Rod?"
Oh, God. He was hoping Lex wouldn't ask until he was feeling stronger. "He...uh...he was hurt when we rescued you. Don't worry, though. The doctor's say he's going to be fine. They just wanted to keep in him overnight to keep an eye on him"
"Hurt? What happened?" Lex tried to remember how Rod had been involved in his rescue, but everything was a blank after the thin dark-haired man had dosed him with chloroform. "Clark, how did you two even find me?"
"Jor-El," Clark explained. "He helped us. I guess he wanted his baby protected. Rod got stabbed in the shoulder by Brainiac but he took him down as well. He was a real hero, Lex. He saved both of our lives."
"Wow." Lex lifted a pale brow. "Who knew the little guy had it in him?"
Clark nodded. "All he talked about after he got stabbed was keeping you safe."
Lex smiled a little. "He's a good man, and I've grown very fond of him over these last few months. We have to make sure he makes a complete recovery."
"I like him a lot too," Clark said. "You should have seen him, Lex. He was amazing. I'm going to take good care of both of you when he comes home."
Lex grinned up at his young lover, never feeling more love and warmth for him than he had at that moment. The earnestness in Clark's voice was like a bright ray of sunlight that illuminated every dark place in Lex's soul. He reached up and touched Clark's cheek. "I know you will, Clark. I wouldn't expect any less."
"I should call the doctor," Clark said, although he was reluctant to move. "Have him check you over again now you're awake. We don't know what was in the drugs Brainiac gave you."
"I don't want to be poked and prodded anymore, Clark." Lex squirmed into a sitting position as best he could, and smiled a bit when he felt their child kick. "And our baby concurs. I'm fine . . . but I could do with something to eat. Call him if you like, tell him I'm awake and lucid, but please, no more exams?"
Clark smiled and kissed him. "Anything you want."
"Clark . . ." Lex smiled up at him. "All I want, all I'll ever need, ever again . . . is you."
Two days later
"Easy now . . . easy . . . " Clark gently helped Rod from Lex's silver BMW. Rod's right shoulder and arm were bound up tightly in a sling, and the young cop looked a bit pale.
"I'm good," Rod assured him as he attempted a few wobbly steps on his own.
"You're still a little weak, Rod," Lex struggled out from behind the wheel of the car and joined Clark at their friend's side. "And the doctors said you lost a great deal of blood."
Clark shot him a glare. "He's not the only one, Lex. The doctor said it would take a least a week for all the drugs worked their way out of your system. You're lucky we didn't get pulled over."
"I'll be joining Rod in bed momentarily, Clark. I haven't forgotten my promise to you that I would rest. Besides . . . it's not like I drove us off a bridge or anything." He winked at Clark.
Clark stuck his tongue out in what was probably not the best display of maturity. It had been his idea for Lex and Rod to share a bed while they recovered, to make it easier for him to watch over them both. Neither man had minded when he’d suggested it.
"It's a good thing I'm not jealous about you sharing a bed with another guy while you're pregnant with my baby."
Rod paused and screwed up his face in thought. "Why doesn't it scare me that what you just said makes perfect sense?"
Clark laughed. "Welcome to the insane world of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor. Now, let's get you into bed. You look about ready to collapse."
"I'm all right. Besides, I have to be. I need to get back to work."
Lex shot Clark a glance over Rod's head. Neither of them had told him that the doctors had said the muscular damage in Rod's shoulder was permanent, and that he would only have about 80 percent usage of the limb. Both men knew it would cost Rod his job on the force.
"No one is going to expect you to go back to work right away," Clark finally said. "You need to get your strength back first."
"Need to call the sarge. Although I have no idea how I'll explain how I got hurt," Rod chuckled. "I guess I can always say I fell off the roof while I was painting. He'll believe that. Everyone will . . . they know what a klutz I can be."
Clark shook his head. "I'll call work for you, and I'll tell them you got hurt saving my life. You deserve that, Rod."
Lex unlocked the house for Rod, and the three of them headed into Rod’s bedroom. Once inside, Lex made good on his promise and climbed into bed.
Clark looked pointedly at Rod, waiting for him to do the same.
Rod sighed and climbed into bed beside Lex. "So . . . wanna watch Cops?"
Leaving them to settle the dispute about the TV amongst themselves, Clark went into the other room and made good on his promise to call Rod's boss and explain what had happened, or something close to it at least.
Rod's commanding officer, Sergeant Brooks, was sympathetic as well as regretful. "The hospital has sent over their report, Mr. Kent. That's standard procedure when a cop is injured. By the looks of things, because of the permanent muscle damage, I don't think Officer Hardwick can return to regular duty."
"There must be something you can do," Clark pleaded. "A desk job? Anything? You can't let him go because he got injured saving someone."
"We'll do our best to get him a desk job, Mr. Kent, but if you know Officer Hardwick as well as you say you do, I don't think he'd want it."
Clark sighed. "I know. It...it's just so unfair. He's a good man, one of the best I've ever met."
"He is a good man. Tell him what I've told you, and tell him to consider it. Good luck, Mr. Kent."
Clark hung up and wandered back into the bedroom. He had no idea how to break the news to Rod, or even whether he should until his friend was feeling better.
Rod was in the middle of telling Lex the story of how he had bested Brainiac. “. . . so there I was, hanging by the shoulder by this metal blade he'd grown out of his hand--and how freaky was that, I am right? Anyway, he was just about to kill me, and--hey Clark!" Rod looked up and smiled. "Come on in! I was just telling Lex about how I kicked that Brainiac thing's ass!"
Clark smiled. "You were amazing, Rod." In that moment, he realised he couldn't tell him. Not yet. Rod was a hero and he deserved to enjoy it for a little while.
"See, he would have probably had me if he hadn't assumed I was right handed! So it was no problem for me to just whip out old Trusty--" Rod looked over at his gun belt fondly, "and just blow the bastard away!"
"I wish I'd been awake to see it," Lex said with a fond smile.
"He really was something else." Clark climbed into bed between them carefully.
Lex leaned over and kissed Clark before reaching over and taking Rod's unbound hand in his. "Thank you, both of you, for saving me."
Rod smiled and blushed a little. "Hey . . . no big deal. To protect and serve, right? That's what Rod is all about!"
Clark placed his hand on top of Lex and Rod's. "Well, we appreciate it. You're an amazing person, Rod. I'm glad we met you."
"I'm glad I met you guys, too. Well, uh . . . " He gave Lex a sheepish grin. "I wish we'd met in a different way. You know that, right?"
"Rod, I don't blame you for what happened," Lex said. "All of this is Brainiac's doing."
"I'm glad you feel that way," Rod smiled.
"And now he's gone we're finally safe," Clark added. "Thanks to you."
"Hey, we all did it!" Rod grinned.
"Well, I was mostly busy being unconscious," Lex said with a wry smile. "You think I'd be used to it by now. But you two did great."
"I couldn't let anything happen to you." Rod shrugged a little. "You both mean so much to each other . . . I'll never have that, but I couldn't let what you two do have die."
Lex smiled and patted Rod's hand. "Never say never."
Clark glanced over at Lex and gave him a wry, questioning glance, and then motioned to Rod with his head.
Lex nodded.
"Yeah buddy . . . never say never." Clark leaned over and captured Rod's lips with his own in a gentle but warm kiss. Rod's eyes widened but he didn't pull away. Lex watched, chuckling as his friend received his first kiss from another man. When Clark finally pulled away, Rod blinked at him in mild amazement. Clark smiled.
"Just a little something to say thank you for everything you've done."
"Uh. Wow. I . . . you're welcome." Rod touched his lips with his good hand. "Wow." He gasped out a nervous chuckle. "You-- you kiss good."
"Mmm..." Lex agreed with a sleepy murmur. As much as he hated to admit it, Clark was right. The drugs that were still in his system left him feeling tired all the time and it was finally becoming too much of an effort to stay awake.
Clark smiled and snuggled down between both men, spooning Rod's left side and resting his head on Lex's shoulder. "Let's get some sleep."
Rod grunted in pain as he tried to find a position that didn't hurt his arm, and finally settled down to sleep.
* * *
Clark awoke some time later to the sound of whistling. He rolled over and cracked open one eye to see Rod holding his gun in his left hand and wedging a can of polish between both knees so that he could open it on his own.
Lex was still sleeping peacefully beside him, and he let out a little murmur of discontent as Clark climbed out of bed. "Shh," Clark whispered gently, and pulled the covers up over him.
Rod glanced up and smiled. "Hey buddy!" He set the gun aside carefully and unscrewed the jar of oil.
Clark sat down beside him, his face creased with the pain of what he knew he had to do. "Hey Rod."
"I was just giving Ol' Trusty a polish. I figured what the hell, he's a hero too, right?" He frowned suddenly at the expression on Clark's face. "Don't worry Clark, I always take the bullets out first."
Clark sighed. He hated this and it made him feel sick inside knowing what he was going to have to do to the man who had come to mean so much to both him and Lex. "It's not that, Rod. I know I can trust you with a gun. I..it's...there's something I have to tell you, and I wish I didn't have to."
Rod picked up his polishing cloth. "What is it?"
"When I called your work to tell them what had happened to you they already knew. Some hospital policy or something. Rod, the damage to your shoulder is never going to fully recover...and because of that..." He couldn't bring himself to finish.
Rod stared at him a moment and then shook his head slowly. "No, that's . . . that's not possible." He touched the sling with his good hand. "This will heal, Clark, it's nothing! Just a scratch! I'll be fine!" He looked away, his expression bewildered. "They can't just . . . "
"I'm so sorry, Rod," Clark said, eyes brimming with tears. He wanted so badly to hold him right now. "They said they can give you a desk job if you want it..."
"A desk job!" Rod looked back to him. "Sitting there in the office all day, pushing papers around?" Rod shook his head. "Not for me, kid." He tossed the polishing cloth down and looked down at his gun. "Guess they want me to go down there and turn in my stuff, huh."
"You don't have to do anything yet, Rod." Clark assured him, wishing there was something to do to make this right. He'd never felt so helpless before.
"So it's over. Just like that." Rod stood up and turned away. "A twelve-year career. My place. . . . my pension?" Rod ran his good hand through his close-cropped hair. "What am I going to do, Clark?" He turned back, but then his expression turned curious as he looked down at Lex. "Uh . . . Clark? I think Lex is leaking."
Clark glanced over to where Rod was looking. The damp patch on the sheets was too big to be anything other than one thing.
"Oh, shit! His waters broke!"
Chapter 8
