Clark felt worse now they'd checked. There was no trace of Helen in Smallville and the surrounding areas; less hope of finding her. They flew down the highway to Metropolis, Clark scanning every car they passed, but still nothing.
We'll find them, Lex thought reassuringly, feeling Clark's growing despair. What if we don't? Clark whispered inside Lex's head, What if Joseph grows up in a lab, experimented on? Don't think like that Lex replied, Between the two of us we can find them. Clark nodded, continuing to scan cars until they reached Metropolis and it became an impossible task. Then he flew them home so that Lex could make more phone calls. Sitting down, Clark watched his lover distractedly. He couldn't hang around for too long, it was just... too much this time and Joseph was just a tiny baby who needed love. Something that bitch Helen knew nothing about. Clark felt like he was hanging on by a thread, like he might start doing some serious damage if they couldn't find her. "Sweetheart," Lex said seriously to his lover, cupping Clark's chin to lift his head. He was worried about Clark's state of mind, they'd dealt with so much to finally get free of his father's legacy, what if this was too much? "Come on, love, I know we can do this. Hold it together, for me?" "I'll try, Lex," Clark sighed, "I'm just so angry and scared and I feel helpless." He clenched his hands together tightly. "I know," Lex said quietly, bending his head to gently kiss his lover, "But don't worry, we have a lead." Clark let his mate's kiss relax the painful tension and he nodded eagerly, "What?" "Apparently, Helen booked herself into a hotel in Metropolis last week," Lex frowned, "I should have been told, but as she hasn't been seen to leave, the agency didn't feel it was necessary to inform me." "Did you fire them?" Clark asked angrily. "Of course," Lex replied with a small grin. Clark could be pretty ruthless when he wanted. "Well, come on then, babe, let's go." Lex let the endearment go, as was usual these days. Over the nine months after his father's death, 'sweetheart' and 'babe' had become part of their day to day language. Up until that day, Clark had forgotten he'd promised dire revenge for babe, and even though Lex actually quite liked it now, he would still get Clark for starting it. When his lover had forgotten about it again of course. "Right," Lex nodded, letting Clark sweep him up into his arms, holding on tightly to his neck. "The Rivell." "Okay." Clark flew them out of the french windows so fast, Lex nearly couldn't breathe. @>*~ Even though it wasn't quite morning yet, the Luthor name had a lot of influence in an upmarket hotel like The Rivell and they were breathlessly informed of Helen's suite number and the fact that despite regular orders of food and fresh towels, Dr. Bryce hadn't actually been seen and had certainly never left her rooms once in her week-long stay. Lex thanked the receptionist with his most charming fake smile, trying not to chuckle at Clark's quiet, jealous growl. They made their way up to Helen's suite, Lex watching the corridor as Clark scanned the rooms. "Nothing," Clark sighed. "Break open the door then, lover, quietly," Lex gestured at the handle. "We'll need to take a good look inside." Clark nodded grimly. Taking the door handle, he pulled it down and carefully wrenched it around, breaking the lock mechanism. The door swung open and Lex preceded Clark inside. Check for bugs, Lex cautioned silently, before he spoke out loud. "It's fine," Clark replied. He glanced round, wondering where to start. "Lights might be an idea," Lex said with a wry smile. "Oh, good point." Clark even managed a smile at his lover when he switched on the lights and Lex blinked. "Closets, drawers, trash, bed, anywhere and everywhere you can think of..." Lex stopped suddenly. "Helen? I thought you weren't... oh, who are you?" A young, blonde woman stood at a door which obviously connected to the next suite. "More to the point, who are you? And where's Helen?" Lex asked harshly. "Oh God," she looked scared all of a sudden, "You're the ex, aren't you? Oh God, please don't hurt me." She started to back away. Lex frowned, "Hurt you? Why would I hurt you?" "B-because I helped Helen," she stuttered, "I'm just doing my job, please, don't hurt me." Lex exchanged a glance of confusion with Clark. "Look, calm down," Lex said quietly, trying to reassure the young woman, "I'm not going to hurt you. Why don't you tell us what your job was." Looking round nervously, she finally sighed. "I stay next door and order food and what-not to make it look like she's staying here. She goes out looking like me so no one suspects." "Why?" Lex asked. "Because of you," she replied. "What?" Lex exclaimed. "She told me you were obsessed with her, wouldn't leave her alone, beat her up..." "What?" Lex repeated more vehemently. Clark gently touched his arm to keep him calm. She squeaked in fear. "That's what she said!" "Miss, number one, Helen tried to have me killed on our honeymoon, I think that alone gives me the right to be angry. Number two, why would I want anything to do with her when I've been more than happily married for the last nine months? And number three, I have never physically hurt Helen, although that might change when we find her," Lex stated calmly. Clark grinned widely and happily at his lover's declaration, sliding his hand up Lex's arm to rest on the back of his neck. "I... what?" She looked confused. "What's your name?" Clark asked gently. She met his eyes, "Jill." "Jill, I'm Clark, and this is Lex. He is Helen's ex, but I can assure you, I keep him far too busy to even think about Helen, let alone obsess over her." Clark leered at Lex who snorted softly at him. Glancing back at Jill, it appeared that the penny had dropped. "Oh," Jill blinked, "Ooh, you and... oh! But then, why? I don't understand." "Helen kidnapped my baby brother last night, Jill," Clark's face fell and he felt Lex move closer, "Can you help us?" "She... oh my God, really?" Jill exclaimed. "This was all to make sure she stayed off my radar so she could get to my lover's family," Lex said with a nod, "We need to find her, Jill, anything you can remember might be a big help." "Oh man," Jill sat down heavily, "I don't know, I mean she paid for everything with cash. All she told me was that she was hiding from you. Which I guess she was." Lex sighed and nodded, "I guess it's back to searching the room. Clark?" Clark nodded, "Sure, I'll get started in the bathroom." "Why don't you get some sleep, Jill?" Lex suggested. "Here's my number in case you remember anything." He gave her his card. "Okay," she smiled hesitantly, "Thank you for not holding it against me." Lex forced a smile, "No problem." "Nothing." Clark returned to the room as Jill left. "I don't think she stayed long enough to do more than bleach her hair." He'd found a box of hair dye in the trash and nothing else. "I'm still going to check though," Clark added before Lex spoke. Lex smiled and sat on the edge of the bed while Clark carefully scanned every inch of the room. "There!" Clark exclaimed suddenly. He leapt over to the closet and bent down. Lex pushed the image of jeans drawn tightly over Clark's firm ass out of his mind and moved forward to see what his lover had found. Clark held up a small piece of paper triumphantly. It was a boarding pass dated a week before under the name Jennifer Montgomery. "Well done, lover," Lex smiled and kissed Clark gently, "Let's have it." Clark passed it to Lex, following his mate back to the bed and sat down with him as Lex pulled out his cell phone. He didn't listen as Lex barked out orders, just watched, a small smile hovering at the edges of his mouth. There were still times when he couldn't quite believe this amazing, beautiful, intelligent man was really his. Lex put down his cell phone and turned back to his lover, smiling softly at the adoring gaze focused on him. "Sweetheart?" Clark smiled back. "I really love you." Turning sideways on the bed, Lex wrapped his arms and legs around him. "I know. I love you too, Clark." "I know," Clark sighed, "I'm still not sure why sometimes, but I'm grateful, in the weirdest way possible, to Vincent for precipitating it." "Clark?" Lex stared at his lover, "Are you the one who puts flowers on his grave?" Clark blushed and nodded hesitantly. Lex chuckled softly. "It's okay. I don't mind. I'm glad he's dead, but yeah, I'm glad he forced the change too." Clark sighed in relief, pulling Lex closer. "Babe?" "What is it?" Lex asked. "Are we going to have to wait for a phone call?" "Yes," Lex sighed ruefully. "Because I was thinking," Clark continued, running his fingers up and down Lex's spine, "We're in a very nice hotel room here, an unoccupied hotel room..." Lex shivered, shifting closer. "Have I ever told you how much I love the way you think?" "Frequently," Clark said with a smirk. Licking his lips, Lex leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Clark's neck, nibbling softly with his lips before licking slowly up to his lover's ear. He nipped gently at Clark's earlobe, tightening the grip of his arms and legs to keep his lover from moving. Even though he could easily free himself, Clark let himself stay trapped, trembling under the attention of Lex's mouth, nerves flaring with every nibble and bite, his cock hard and needy against his zipper. Clark whined and wriggled against him, and Lex rubbed his erection against his young lover's hip. He moved a hand, pulling Clark's face round. They shared a smile even as they leaned in for a kiss. Lips met lips softly, Lex clasping Clark close, lovingly pressing his tongue into Clark's mouth. Whimpering quietly, Clark relaxed into Lex, feeling possessed and utterly safe. Lex's hand slipped from his chin and trailed up and down his chest before sliding down under his waistband to wrap carefully round his cock. Clark shuddered against him and moaned into his mouth as Lex stroked his lover's erection firmly. He pressed his own aching cock slowly against Clark's hip, focusing more on his younger lover than himself. Clark sucked hungrily on Lex's tongue and rocked into his mate's fist, heat spreading through his groin and tingling along his cock. He wrapped his tongue around one extended canine, slicing his flesh open with a groan. Lex bucked against him, sucking suddenly, urgently at his blood. Growling, Lex started to jack Clark harder, humping his hip frantically as the taste of blood enflamed him with need. In one smooth move, Clark freed himself from Lex's arms and legs and dragged his lover onto his lap, all without breaking their desperate, bloody kiss. Grasping Lex's hips, Clark rocked them together hard and fast, plunging his tongue deeper into Lex's mouth. The blood seemed to surge through Lex's body combining with his need and desire, exploding from his body in a hard, almost painful orgasm. Lex pulled his mouth away from Clark and dropped his head on a broad shoulder, his body lax under Clark's hands. Clark tugged harder, his cock leaking into his shorts with his own need. Nudging into Lex's neck, Clark bit down sharply, gasping at the tang of blood on his tongue and trickle down his throat. "Cla-ark," Lex moaned, wrapping his arms round his lover, jerking spasmodically as his body continued to be racked with jolts of orgasmic pleasure. Groaning, Clark arched into Lex's body, shuddering with the force of his climax, coming into his pants almost with a sigh of relief, tension releasing until he flopped back onto the bed, taking Lex with him. They clung together tightly, still taking comfort in each other. Clark stroked Lex's scalp absentmindedly, smiling softly to himself. No matter how bad things got in their lives, he always had Lex's love, always had Lex to turn to. Even with Joseph missing, Lex helped him keep going. "You okay, love?" Lex asked quietly, lifting his head. Clark focused his smile on his lover and nodded. "I'm happy," he said wonderingly, "I'm worried about Joseph and I'm furious with Helen, but I'm still happy." Lex returned his lover's smile. "Yeah, I love you too." He pushed himself up and walked to the bathroom to clean himself up. Lex threw a damp washcloth at Clark, laughing at the raspberry he got from his lover. Pouting at Lex, Clark unzipped his pants and wiped himself off, throwing the dirty cloth back at Lex. "Hey!" Lex yelped, barely missing being hit in the face, only his own enhanced reflexes enabling him to catch the washcloth. His phone rang before he could retaliate and Lex glared at Clark, despite his lover's beaming smile. "Luthor," he barked. Clark nipped into the bathroom to rinse out the cloth and leave it to dry. "Uh huh, right," Lex nodded jotting down a few details, "Good, you'll get your usual fee." "News?" Clark asked eagerly. Lex nodded, disconnecting the call as Clark pulled him close again. "Not as good as it could be. No cell phones registered to Helen Bryce, Helen Luthor or Jennifer Montgomery and no calls made from this room. And the ticket was paid for using a numbered account." Clark's face fell but Lex continued, "It's okay, we have a couple of options. First off, that account also paid full rent in advance on an apartment in the city." "So we can check it out, right?" Clark asked hopefully. "Of course," Lex nodded, patting Clark's hand reassuringly, "But we need to make a stop first." "Option two?" Clark asked, raising an eyebrow. "Exactly," Lex replied with a smirk. "Let's go." Clark grinned and leaned forward for a quick kiss. Then he grabbed Lex's hand and pulled him out of the room and back to the elevator. They made their way quickly round to the back of the hotel where Clark swept Lex into his arms and took off. Where are we going? Clark asked silently. First off, Hanover, Lex replied. What?! That's a really dangerous part of town, Clark gasped mentally. So? I can protect myself now better than I could before all of this, Lex replied. I protect you, Lex, me, Clark growled. Lex laughed into the wind, Are you actually jealous of me? I... Clark paused and thought about what he'd said, then he started to laugh. Sorry. That's okay. Oh down there, Clark. Lex pointed at a dilapidated building and Clark decided it would be easier to land them on the roof. Lex slipped out of Clark's arms and led his lover down the steps a couple of floors. Clark frowned, glancing round at the dark, dingy hallway, feeling a little unnerved. A couple of minutes later, Lex stopped in front of a door. Automatically, Clark scanned it, or rather, tried to. "A lead door?" Clark questioned. "In a place like this?" "Security's high," Lex nodded. He pressed a buzzer three times quickly. "I.D." "A. J. L." Lex stated clearly. "Password." Lex grimaced. "Son of Satan." "Voice and password recognised, welcome Lex, please enter." The door slid open and Clark followed Lex inside. Son of Satan? he asked silently. Long story, Lex sighed in reply. "Jakey, where are you?" "In here, Evil One," a voice replied from a side room. Lex sighed again and shook his head. "Jakey," he said warningly, beckoning Clark after him, "How many times?" "Well." A young, cute blond with big, blue eyes and an innocent-looking face turned to grin up at them. "You never visit, what am I supposed to think?" Clark tightened his lips in uncomfortable jealousy. Lex had never mentioned this friend before, nor the fact that he was gorgeous and obviously an old friend. "You don't like visitors," Lex scoffed. Easy, Clark, he's just a friend, he added silently. Clark realised he'd been growling, but Jakey continued to smile easily at him. "You must be Clark," Jakey nodded, "You look better than your picture." Lex was momentarily surprised, but then he smiled, "I should have known you'd keep tabs." "After Katrina? You betcha. A bigger sucker for punishment I have never met," Jakey laughed and glanced at Clark, "I'm glad he's finally met someone who loves him." Clark blinked, then he smiled, deciding not to ask who Katrina was and could he kill or at least maim her, "Thank you." Jakey nodded then turned back to Lex, "So, what you got for me?" "Numbered Swiss account, I need to know whose it is and, if possible, who has access," Lex said quietly. Linking his fingers together, Jakey cracked his knuckles with a sigh, "Piece of cake." "Great. Here are the details, you have my cell number, right?" Lex asked. Jakey snorted, "Of course. I'll be in touch." He took the paper from Lex and turned back to his huge array of screens, computers and keyboard. Clark frowned in confusion. "Come on, love," Lex nodded towards the door. "Oh, okay," Clark shrugged, slipping an arm round Lex's waist. "Where now, babe?" "Camberly," Lex replied, heading out again. "Ooh, nice," Clark raised his eyebrows, "Is that where the apartment is?" "Yeah." On the roof, Clark was happy to get Lex back into his arms. "How did you meet him?" "School, believe it or not," Lex replied. Jakey was younger than he was. "Absolute genius, nice kid but a true loner. He makes a lot of money doing stuff like this, but he just spends it on building and upgrading his computers." "So, he's good?" Clark asked. "He's the best," Lex said with a nod. "Good." Clark dropped a kiss on Lex's lips before he took off. @>*~