One was strapped down to a table next to a huge hole in the wall. He was hooked up to machines and drips. Clark shuddered. The other Lex was sitting, also strapped down, to a large metal chair, with some sort of device above his head.
The one sitting was conscious, but as their eyes met, Clark shivered in horror. Lex's eyes, but cold and dead, as if there was none of his lover's soul present. Amidst the chaos of the Wolfbreed attack, Clark stumbled forward, uncertain, feeling as though his heart was breaking. He had no connection to this Lex, but he couldn't feel his Lex at all. Surely he couldn't be too late? The Lex lying down was wearing his bracelet, his arm marked with red scratches and cuts as if someone had tried very hard to remove it. Clark sighed in relief, at least he could be certain this was his Lex. Hesitantly, he reached out, touching cold, smooth skin. A spark crawled up his arm. Clark? Lex? Clark gasped, almost breaking down in relief. The connection was there, but only just, in fact it seemed to be fading. Lex! Clark, help me, Lex thought desperately. He felt torn in two, everything was dark and he was lost, the faint light leading the way back was getting fainter by the second. I'm getting you out of here, don't worry, Clark replied softly. No, Clark, Lex whispered weakly, They've done something to me... something's wrong, Clark, I can't feel me. Okay, just hold on, please, Lex, hold on, Clark said urgently, looking around desperately. Realising the chair that the other Lex was sitting in was attached via a computer to the machine his Lex had obviously been inside, Clark ran over to the computer. Cowering under the desk, was a man in a labcoat. Clark yanked him out. "What did you do to him?" Clark yelled. The man squeaked, "M-memory retrieval. Leaves the original subject, uh, uh, catatonic." Clark growled and shook him, "Reverse it!" "I can't!" the man gasped. "I said, reverse it!" Clark shouted angrily. "But it could kill him." Clark took a deep breath. "But if you don't try, I will kill you," he promised in a tone of deadly calm. It was the sort of tone Lex used when he was furious, and it seemed to have the same effect for Clark. "Okay, okay, I'll try. Just.... don't hurt me." "Just get on with it." Clark put the man down and he started tapping at computer keys. "You need to push him into the scanner." Clark nodded. He pushed the table into the hole. Hang on Lex, he prayed silently. Suddenly chaos exploded all around. The other Lex stood and grabbed hold of Clark, and Lionel Luthor appeared out of nowhere, shooting the scientist at the computer. As he struggled against fake!Lex, Clark tried to reach the small man and Lionel disappeared amongst the chaos of screaming scientists and snarling Wolfbreed. "He must sit," the scientist gasped, "Press... enter." "Marina!" Clark yelled, holding the arms of the fake Lex. He was strong and Clark was feeling nauseous and weak, as if there was kryptonite near. Suddenly, Clark caught sight of Lionel heading for the computer. He growled. "Marina! Stop him!" he screamed as loud as he could. Marina streamed out of the crowd, catching Lionel by the arms before he could reach the computer. She hit him hard across the face and flung him across the room. "Damn it," Clark gasped. He was losing ground with the fake Lex, the kryptonite, wherever it was, was too much. Another hand grabbed Lex and Clark looked up. "Lucius!" "Come on," Lucius growled. Reneweing his efforts, Clark hit the other Lex as hard as he could and together, he and Lucius shoved him back into the chair. "Hit enter, now!" Clark yelled. The machine flashed and both Lexs started to scream. Pain shot through Clark's head and he opened his mouth for an answering scream before everything went black. @>*~ Lex? Lex, where are you? Clark called. He was floating aimlessly, hopelessly, trying to move, trying to reach out. All he wanted was Lex back. Lex, please! He sighed, I miss you. "Clark." Someone slapped his face, barely stinging him, but enough to startle him. "Clark, wake up!" Clark groaned, "Lucius?" "Hey, good to see one of you awake," Lucius said quietly. "Lex!" Clark sat up with a start, "Where is he? Is he okay?" "Calm down," Lucius pushed him back down, "He's alive, but still unconscious. You need to rest, Clark, what with the green stuff and well, I think you shared whatever Lex went through." "Green stuff?" Clark asked. "Yeah. Lex was very clear on that, any green stuff was to be destroyed. The replacement Lex oozed out green goo when he died," Lucius replied with a nod. "I just assumed it was the reason you weren't beating the crap out of him, like you did me." "Oh." Clark frowned, no wonder he'd felt so weak fighting him. But even using kryptonite to create the clone, how had they been able to accelerate its growth like that? It had taken them years to grow a complementary aged Emily. "Where is he, Lucius?" Clark asked, his worry taking over again, "I can't... I can't feel him." "He's right there, Clark, beside you," Lucius said sadly. He got up, "I'll tell Mom you're awake." Clark nodded and turned to where his unconscious lover was lying beside him. "Oh Lex," he whispered. Lex was even paler than usual, lips almost blue. "Where are you, Lex?" Clark's eyes stung and he felt his heart start to break. Burying his face in Lex's neck, Clark cried. "Why can't I feel you?" he sobbed. "There is little that can kill or harm a Wolfbreed, Clark," Marina said quietly from the doorway, "But we need blood." Clark lifted his head, staring at the small woman. "Thank you!" he gasped. Of course, Lex would need blood after what he'd just been through. She nodded and left the room again. Clark slipped his arm under Lex's shoulders and lifted him into his arms. Carefully, Clark opened Lex's mouth and massaged his gums to expose his sharp canines, then he lifted Lex's head to his neck and pushed his lover's teeth into his skin. "Feed, Lex," he breathed, Come back to me. @>*~ Cast adrift in nothingness, a void more black than anything he'd ever seen, Lex tried to find something to hold onto. Wasn't there something he was supposed to be doing? Wasn't there someone he was supposed to be waiting for? Lex just couldn't remember. How long had he been there? It felt like forever and never. Maybe it was just how it was. No. This was wrong. Somehow, he knew it; somehow he knew something was missing... a part of him. Then the void changed. Lex blinked, grasping at the blood-red cord he could see amidst the dark. It felt like home, it felt like... "Clark!" Lex grabbed his lover, clasping him tightly, sucking urgently at his blood. "Oh Lex, oh thank God, Lex." Clark cried harder, rocking his lover's body slowly as he started to feed actively. I'm sorry, Lex whispered mentally as he swallowed the rich, strengthening blood of his lover. He ambushed me. "I know, it's okay. As long as I have you, everything's okay," Clark said quietly, wiping at his tears. Slowly, Lex lifted his head to meet Clark's eyes. He licked the blood from his lips. "You'll always have me, Clark." Clark sniffed and smiled, pulling Lex close and cupping his cheek. "I love you," Clark whispered, brushing his lips gently over Lex's forehead, then down to his other cheek. With a quiet whimper, Lex nudged Clark, turning his face to catch his lover's mouth in a soft kiss. Clark felt his eyes slide closed and he parted his lips under the lightest pressure from Lex's. Breath catching in his throat, Lex wrapped his arms round Clark's neck. Tears flowed down his cheeks and he pressed closer, softly sucking at Clark's lips. It had been close and Lex suddenly knew that one without the other was no longer complete. They were bound, connected, they couldn't survive apart. And his father had nearly succeeded in splitting them. Lex pulled back, wiping away his tears. "What happened?" he asked quietly. "They tried to replace you, Lex, they took you!" Clark whispered painfully. "We managed to reverse the process, the lab was destroyed but I don't remember, the pain... you and I... I passed out." "Oh Clark, I'm sorry," Lex touched his temple gently, "I'm sorry, are you all right?" "Of course," Clark took a deep breath and smiled, "You're safe and you're better. That's all I need to be happy. I need to know if your father's still alive though before I can stop worrying." "I know, me too," Lex agreed, "You okay to get up?" "Yeah, let's find Marina and Lucius," Clark replied. "No." Marina walked back in, "You're not getting up at least till this evening and even then you're not leaving the house, Doctor's orders. You were out for two days you know? You need rest." "Two days?!" Lex exclaimed, "Oh fuck, you've got to be kidding." She shook her head, her face serious. "Rest, I'll bring up some food." "Wait, Marina," Lex said hurriedly, "My father?" Her face fell and she shook her head, "He escaped." "Damn," Lex whispered. He turned back to Clark with a sigh, leaning on his lover's chest. "What do we do now?" Clark asked worriedly. "We'll have to find him before..." Lex stopped, a thought suddenly occuring to him, "Clark, it's been two days, God knows what he's done in that time, Marina!" Lucius sloped into the room. "She ran away," he huffed. "Why? What's he done?" Lex asked quickly. Sighing, Lucius sat on the edge of the bed. "You're supposed to be resting, you know." "Lucius," Lex said warningly. "You and Clark are wanted in connection with malicious destruction of LuthorCorp property, kidnapping and murder." He grimaced apologetically. Lex closed his eyes, "Shit." "Yeah," Lucius said dryly. "I saw Marina tear a guy's head off and she ran away rather than tell us?" Clark gasped. "She tore... never mind," Lex blinked and shook his head, "Why didn't she tell us?" "Because..." Lucius sighed, "It's not the worst news. Look, it's bad enough that the cops and feds are after you, it's all over the news and you've destroyed all the evidence, but..." "But what?" Lex asked charily. "Promise me you'll get some more rest," Lucius urged, "Or Mom will kill me for telling you." "Lucius," Lex growled. "We promise," Clark said hurriedly, seeing the stubbornness developing on Lucius' face. Lex raised an eyebrow at him, but nodded. "Clark, we found out your parents disappeared, we think just after the attack on the warehouse," Lucius said quietly. "Wh-what?" Clark gasped, his chest clenched in panic. Lex put his arm round Clark immediately to hold him close and Clark clung to him, burying his face in his neck. "How did you find out?" "Clark's friends found us," Lucius explained, "They still won't tell us exactly how they found us." Clark lifted his head, sniffing back worried tears. "My friends?" "Yeah, um, Pete, Chloe and uh, Lana, is it?" Lucius frowned thoughtfully. "They're waiting downstairs." "Downstairs, really?" Clark asked quietly. "Do you want to see them?" Lucius asked with a soft smile. Clark nodded. "Yeah," Lex agreed, wanting Clark to have the comfort of his friends more than his instinctual need to have Clark all to himself. Lucius nodded and got up. Lex gently stroked back Clark's hair and kissed his forehead. "Don't worry, we'll find them," he whispered. Clark stared deep into his lover's eyes, throat tight with tears, his gut knotted with worry. Promise? he thought. I promise I will do everything in my power to find them and make sure my father pays for what he's done, Clark, okay? Lex said silently. He cupped Clark's cheek and leaned forward for a gentle kiss. Okay. Clark accepted his lover's pledge and kissed back a little desperately until a soft gasp made him pull away. Lex kept his arms round Clark as they turned to look at the door. "Chloe, Pete," Lex nodded, "Lana," he added begrudgingly. "Oh my God," Lana breathed, "I didn't realise... I mean... wow, maybe that's what I saw in the Talon." "Sure, whatever," Lex shrugged. "So, Pete, what happened?" He could tell the younger boy was impatient to speak. "Oh man, Clark, I'm sorry, I mean, I just thought they'd come to see you or something," Pete moved further into the room, followed by Lana and a distinctly nervous looking Chloe. "It wasn't until I mentioned it to Lana and she told me that she'd overheard Chloe on the phone to Lionel Luthor that we realised something was wrong." "What?" Clark gasped. "You told him we stayed over?" Lex asked Chloe angrily. Clhoe's eyes shone and she nodded, swallowing hard. "When we realised, we made her help us find you, after we realised we couldn't find you either," Pete stopped, blinked and took a deep breath, "Yeah, so here we are. Clark, are you okay? You've been out for a while." "We're fine," Clark said quietly. He looked at Chloe, trying desperately to understand and not to feel hurt. "I'm sorry!" she burst out suddenly. "It started because I was angry at you and Lana, but then he... blackmailed me. And then you and Lex... oh Clark, I'm really sorry." Lex growled at her quietly, annoyed that she had betrayed them and furious that she'd hurt Clark. "It's fine," Clark said softly, squeezing Lex's arm firmly. "Really?" she whispered hopefully. Really? Lex asked silently, a little confused. "Yeah," Clark sighed. Lex, I don't really want to lose anyone else in my life right now, please let it go. "Thank you!" Chloe exclaimed. All right, Lex replied, But only because it's you asking. Clark almost managed a smile at his lover and he hugged him close again. "Thanks," he whispered, kissing Lex's cheek quickly. Chloe and Pete looked confused, but Lex ignored them to smile at Clark. "We'll start looking for them now," Lex said quietly. "No," Pete interrupted, "Lucius told us to say you need to rest." He raised an eyebrow, "Come on guys, two days unconscious isn't exactly normal, is it?" he asked quietly. Lex glanced at Clark, It was true, he was worried that his lover had been out for that long too. "Okay, but only because I want Clark to rest." "But," Clark started with a frown. Lex, I'm not a baby, I'm fine. Lex raised an eyebrow. Okay, but if you get up, then I'm getting up. Clark sighed. Lex knew he was just as worried about him, which meant he wouldn't be getting out of bed either. @>*~ After effectively emotionally blackmailing each other into resting for the remainder of the day, Clark spent time chatting to his friends, while Lex discussed the pack with Lucius, wanting to know more about his heritage. They were both worrying about Clark's parents as well. Later, after Lucius had gone to see about dinner, Lex and Clark started to make plans. "There must be somewhere we haven't thought of, or we've missed," Lex sighed, "After all, we didn't realise West Coolidge was a lab facility." "Maybe," Clark mused. "Lab facility?" Chloe asked curiously. Lex glared at her, he hadn't forgiven her after all, just promised Clark he'd let it go. She flushed, but didn't back down. Clark touched the back of his hand and Lex looked up. Might as well tell her, Clark said mentally, She isn't going to report back to your father. Don't bet on it, Lex replied with a mental snort. He turned to Chloe, "Whatever he's said to you, what we've done was necessary. We've been destroying labs where my father was carrying out cloning experiments using meteor rock." Pete and Lana gasped, Chloe blanching significantly. "I... I understand," she breathed. Pete and Lana nodded vigorously, although Pete turned away and shook his head for a moment. "There were a few places we didn't hit because they didn't appear to be labs. Unfortunately, we found out first hand that we were wrong, which is why we're lying here instead of getting things done," Lex finished. "Lex, I can still remember them all though," Clark interjected. "Okay, good. Can you make a list, love?" Lex asked. "Sure," Clark said with a nod. Chloe dug in her bag and handed him a notepad and pen. "Thanks," Clark said quietly. She flushed lightly and nodded. As Clark began to write down addresses, Lex realised Pete was staring at him curiously. "What, Pete?" he asked with a sigh. "These guys are your family?" Pete asked. "My mother's side, yes," Lex replied with a frown, "Why?" "It's just," Pete looked away, "Well, they're kinda weird. I was wondering if they're... like you." Lex suppressed a laugh, Pete looked incredibly uncomfortable. While he was tempted to act obtuse, Lex decided he didn't want to draw awkward questions from the other two, especially Lana. "Yes, yes, they are," he answered simply. Then he smiled, "Why? A young lady catch your eye?" Pete grunted and looked away again. Chuckling, Lex continued, "Ah, Helena maybe? I'd watch Lucius if I were you, protective older brother and all that." "Lex, don't tease," Clark looked up from his list and poked his lover gently. "What did you mean like Lex?" Chloe asked. "You know..." Pete paused, looking vaguely panicked, "Um, weird." "Pete!" Lana reprimanded him softly, looking nervously at Lex and Clark. Clark just shook his head and smiled. No more teasing, Lex, he said mentally. "Yes dear," Lex said with a put upon sigh, "Are you done with that?" "Yeah." Clark stared at the extensive list, grimaced and sighed, before handing it to his lover. "Fuck," Lex sighed. It was a very long list. "Well, it's going to be a long night." Chloe leaned over, "Whoa, how'd you remember all that, Clark?" Clark flushed. "Uh, photographic memory?" he said hesitantly, almost questioningly. "Right," Chloe replied, drawing out the word disbelievingly, "After all the things you forget, you expect us to believe that?" "There's a difference between remembering things and memorising them," Lex said quietly. Really? Clark asked his lover privately. Presumably, Lex replied with a smirk, They're buying it, anyway. They were, Pete was nodding and Lana said, "Ah." "Whatever," Chloe said with a pout, "Anyway, how do you expect to check all these out? It'll take forever." "We'll just have to do the best we can, won't we?" Lex sniped. "Don't get snappy, I was going to suggest an alternative," Chloe huffed. Lex raised a doubtful eyebrow but Clark poked him, again. Lex growled lightly at his lover, not quite warningly. Clark was immediately contrite and ducked his head, whining almost inaudibly in the back of his throat. While Chloe stared in confusion and Pete snorted in disgust, Lana suddenly made a tiny screeching noise and jumped up, backing towards the door. "Lana?" Chloe asked with a frown. "What's wrong?" "I was right," Lana murmured, eyes wide and shocked, "I wasn't hysterical, you really were biting him... and Clark let you!" Uh oh. Clark glanced at Lex a little panicked. What do we do? "Okay, okay," Lex sighed, "I'm sorry about that, but at the time, we didn't know what had happened to me." "Pardon me?" Chloe interjected, "What the hell are you all talking about?" "My family are a different species to humans, it would seem," Lex started to explain, "I need blood to live, Clark feeds me because of our connection." "Connection?" Lana whispered, moving warily back into the room. "Yeah," Clark smiled proudly. "We're together, connected," he breathed. "Oh," Lana frowned at them. "It's more than that," Lex said quietly. Clark smiled wider and leaned over for a kiss, despite Pete's groan. Wolves mate for life, Clark thought quietly, We mate forever. "Ah, Clark, you really are a romantic," Lex said with a soft laugh. "Yet still you doubt me," Clark replied, chuckling quietly. "Never!" Lex put a hand over his heart and sighed melodramatically. "Oh euw!" Chloe exclaimed with a small shudder, "Save it for when you're alone, would you?" Clark almost poked his lover again when Lex glared at Chloe, but refrained just in time. "Sorry, Chloe, what were you going to suggest?" he asked pacifyingly. Chloe sniffed and glared back at Lex before she replied. "I was going to say, I can check out these addresses and see which are the most likely candidates; if you're still looking for labs that is." Are we still looking for labs? Clark asked Lex privately. Probably. He'll be after us both to 'help' continue his research, being in a lab would be the obvious place to start, Lex thought back. I'm surprised he hasn't been in touch actually. "Did you check your phone?" Clark asked out loud, forgetting the others had missed most of the conversation. Lex blinked, suddenly realising he hadn't. For possibly the first time since he'd got one, Lex had forgotten to check his cell. Despite the continuing confusion on the faces of Clark's friends, Lex shook his head. "I can't believe I forgot!" Quickly, Lex checked his voicemail. Clark watched his lover turn even paler with fury, his eyes glittering and on the verge of changing. "Lex?" he said quietly. "Well, we were right about needing to look for a lab," Lex growled, "He says he's sure we'll work it out, but we'd better come alone or the police won't just be looking for us. He wants the girls too." Lex grimaced, he should have known his father would have found out about them. "Oh no, we can't..." Clark started to object. "Don't worry," Lex interrupted, "I'll talk to Bruce and make sure no one can find them." Clark nodded in relief, "Thank you." "Girls," Chloe asked suspiciously. "A couple of clones we rescued," Clark said quietly. "Why do I feel like I'm stuck in a spy movie?" Chloe sighed. She shook her head, "Let me have the list, Clark." Clark glanced at Lex, who nodded and handed her the list. She got up and left the room and Lex raised an eyebrow inquiringly. "Her laptop is downstairs," Pete explained. "Well, if you two wouldn't mind following her, Clark and I can get showered and dressed," Lex suggested. "Oh sure," Pete nodded and got up, leaving the room with Lana. @>*~