crack_van | Closer by nonotthatone (PG-13)

Fandom: SMALLVILLE
Pairing: none - Clark & Lex friendship fic
Length: 7,956
Author on LJ: nonotthatone
Author Website: none
Why this must be read: This story asks the questions: What if Clark hadn't been able to reverse events after Lana died in Reckoning and she stayed dead? Where does that leave Clark and Lex?

The answers lie within this wonderful story. The author creates a very believable scenerio for both men, in how they might react to Lana's death and how it changes them. It's an emotional, messy process, not easy at all.

Jonathan and Martha appear in this story as well, and their characters are spot on too. It's a great AU of this episode, and a take I've never seen before. I hope you'll head on over to enjoy it.

She finally pulled back to arm’s length, reached up and wiped his tears away. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m still not sure,” he said miserably. “The only thing I can think of that could keep Lex from to exposing my secret … would be to do it myself.”

Martha kept listening, her hand tight on his.

“I don’t know if I can do that, though,” he went on, looking at her beseechingly. “I don’t want to bring that kind of scrutiny down on you and Dad. I don’t want to cost him his Senate seat.”

“Your father doesn’t back down that easily,” she assured him. “But even if it did cost him the Senate, you know he would give it up willingly for you.”

“I don’t want that,” Clark insisted. “He worked so hard for it – and everyone worked so hard for him. He can do so much good.”

“He can,” Martha agreed. “But the only one he really wants to do good for is you.”

Clark looked at his mother and felt such tremendous admiration – and despair. “I love you so much, Mom. I wish I could have brought you anything but trouble.”

She smiled and patted his hand. “I wouldn’t change you, Clark. Not for the world. In fact, I think the world will need you exactly as you are.”

“Mom … I’m not ready for everyone to know. Not yet.” At that moment he reminded her so much of the little boy he had once been, frightened not of monsters under his bed but of powers beyond his own comprehension. “What should I do?”

Martha sighed faintly. Jonathan was so convinced it was impossible, but she had always had this need to believe the best of people. She considered her words carefully. “… Lionel,” she finally said, “helped your father too, in so many ways.”

“What does that – ”

“It means that a person can change. A trauma, a loss, can make someone become … someone different.”

Clark gaped at her. “You aren’t saying that you think I can trust Lex?”

“I don’t know if you can. But you were close once – and I believe that he loved you. That much was always clear to me.” She smiled at him, a little sadly. “It might be too late for him, Clark – but maybe it’s not.”

“He’s been trying to find out my secrets for years,” Clark whispered.

“But now they’re in the open,” she answered simply. “They can’t hurt you anymore.”

“But, Mom,” he choked, tears welling up again. “Lana.”

“I know, baby,” she said, taking him back into her arms. “I know.”

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