Notes: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. All other characters and scenarios belong to me. Please send comments to dante0220@yahoo.com .



Chapter 1 [Kent Farm—a week following “Baby Steps”]

Lana cautiously made her way around the barn, trying to remember where every passage, door or other obstacle might be. In the time since she and Clark had been blind, they’d progressed beyond feeling helpless. Now with their friends’ help (and their own self confidence), they took steps to assert themselves. I can do this. I can do this. She reached out with her mind, sweeping the stall in front of herself.

Bessie stood patiently and mooed at her.

“Hi, Girl,” she expressed. “Just need the daily milk.” Just as Jor-El had taught her, she used her sense of smell to assure herself of any potential threats to her new jeans. Sensing there were none, she quickly milked the cow. “Thanks.” She patted the cow’s side.

Bessie mooed gently back at her.

As she made her way back, Lana heard a “looking good, Boss.”

“Miri,” Lana realized with a smile. “Mom send you out here to help?”

“Nah. I wanted to watch you in action,” the sensei informed her.

“Big hero, I am. Milking Bessie and doing a few chores. I haven’t even made it back to the Talon yet,” Lana groused.

“Excuse me? Hey, in case you missed it, you’re learning to do everything without your sight! The last few days, I haven’t seen an excuse out of you or Clark, okay? Lighten up on yourself. As for the Talon, we can start you back any time you want,” Miri informed her. “Don’t rush things.”

Recalling the injuries that the Black Hand inflicted on her best friend, Lana sighed, “You’re right. I just want everything to be back to the way it was.”

“Be patient. Life’s long enough so one doesn’t need to rush. Advice that my sensei gave me a long time ago,” Miri advised. “You’re doing better than you think. Come on. Mrs. Kent’s got some cookies in the house to go with that milk.”

“Now that sounds like a plan,” Lana agreed as they headed back there.



*****

[Talon]

Clark sat in a booth, sipping on a cup of coffee and collecting his thoughts. As with Lana, he’d experimented with filtering out sounds and focusing on the patterns surrounding himself. After a few days, he’d figured out a few things. This is really slow but I can get this. Picking up on a familiar scent of perfume, he called out, “Alicia?”

The teleporter stopped in surprise, not expecting him to notice her. “Yes, Clark?”

“Can I get a refill? Sorry to startle you,” he requested.

“No problem,” she agreed readily. “Can I have your cup?”

He handed the cup over to her—or rather toward the source of her voice, perfume and heartbeat.

“Thanks,” she expressed while taking it and filling it up. “Can I get your cream and sugar?”

“Appreciate it but I can get it. Thanks,” he replied while using his finger to find the cup’s rim and aiming the milk dead center. He did the same with the sugar. Then he probed, missing once before getting it in the cup. “There.” He smiled, feeling a little triumphant. “See?”

“That’s great,” she complimented. Over the past week, she and the rest of the town had buzzed over how well the two super teens’ progress with their blindness. She cleared her throat. “Take a peek if you’d like,” she offered with a smirk.

He reached into her mind, restraining himself to the part controlling her eyes and vision. Through her, he could see everyone watching them as well with equal parts of amazement and bafflement. “They can’t believe it.”

“You’ve come a long way,” she replied, assuring him. “How’s Lana doing? Any chance of her coming back soon?”

“Miranda’s trying to talk her into it,” he informed her. As he looked at her, he saw himself. “That’s still weird.”

Recalling what Lex and Jasmine had told her, she nodded. “You’re being more natural about it.” Seeing the crowd was building again, she apologized, “Sorry…umm, I have to take off.”

“It’s okay,” he assured her. “Thanks for the peek.”

“No problem,” she agreed while heading back toward her duties.

He subconsciously tipped his cup in her direction before sighing, “You can join me, you know, Lex.”

“You’re definitely getting sharper on the uptake, Clark. Been practicing, I see?” the billionaire supposed.

“Every waking minute,” the Kryptonian muttered. “Sorry. It’s a lot to take in.”

“I can imagine. But it’s sure working well for you. Coffee’s on me by the way,” Lex told him. “Think of it as a reward for getting this far.”

Clark shrugged, relenting to the gift. “I can’t sit helpless in the Loft forever, Lex. I’m glad you all made me realize that.”

“What are friends for? I wanted to ask how the treatments are going,” Lex wondered.

“Heloise takes us to the other side twice a week. It’s not as much of a headache trying to focus on the telepathy and all of that,” the younger man reported. “I just want to see Lana again, you know?”

Lex leaned close to his friend and whispered, “So why don’t you? You both are telepaths, right?”

“Sure…” Getting the point, Clark exhaled heavily. “I don’t want memories.”

Lex rolled his eyes at his friend’s thick headedness. “Do I have to draw you a picture?”

“No, Lex, that won’t be necessary.”

“Good. Glad to hear you haven’t forgotten about that,” the billionaire declared wryly.

Clark’s perturbed glare spoke volumes in that regard.

“Maybe you are getting somewhere,” Lex teased. “Drink up and I’ll drive you back to the farm unless you want to stop by the mansion for a little while?”

“I don’t want to leave Lana for too long,” Clark noted. “Maybe just a ride home? I really appreciate it.”

“My pleasure,” his friend agreed while accepting a coffee cup from another of the waitstaff.





Chapter 2 [Heloise’s Hotel Room]

Even as the others met and talked, Dave walked up to Heloise’s hotel room anxiously. Just an hour earlier, he had received a call from the priestess asking that he meet her there. Now what’s going on? He scratched his head feeling perplexed about things.

“Entre vous,” she bade while opening the door to admit him.

“Merci,” he replied while entering the room and closing the door behind himself. He glanced around the simply furnished room. <”Kind of downscale for you, isn’t it?”>

<”Rules of the new order, Dubois,”> she informed him. <”I’m glad you came. Take a seat. I wanted to talk to you about our situation.”>

He warily did so by her ornate desk but watched her every second. <”Sure. What’s on your mind?”>

<”First, I wanted to apologize for not being around more the past few months. Deirdre and Cybelle have been training me for my role here,”> she apologized.

<”At least you got back in time to bail us out after I failed miserably,”> he assured her. <”I let us all down.”>

She snorted—a rather unrefined and unexpected reaction from her. <”I think not, Dubois. Your nature and its shortcomings are well known to those of us around you. Was it not you who warned the young ones not to underestimate my sister? Jor-El has advised me that he warned them on that very day not to engage her or to put you in a situation where the Protector would emerge. Actually, given everything, I’m rather impressed to tell you the truth.”>

“Pardon moi?” He stared at her incredulously.

<”You’ve held your own against the tide thus far. Granted, I am sorry about the suspension. Alexandre works to get it lifted. I will add my weight to that cause once our situation is past. For now, Dubois, it is the goddess’ will that you are here full time to watch things,”> she explained. <”Meantime, we cannot have you exposed to whatever Therese or her dark ally have planned alone. Whatever we face, here is where we will make our stand. Together. Speaking of being together, have you the list?”>

<”I have it.”> He opened his notebook revealing a list of names and respective abilities.

She nodded in admiration. “Tres bien, Dubois.” She perused the list, recognizing most of the names on it. <”You have assembled quite the legion.”>

<”Only six names. With Clark and Lana still incapacitated…..”> he started.

<”You sell yourself short, Dubois. Have some faith, will you?”> she chided. <”I have met all but one—this Samantha Cooper. I have seen her but I have yet to talk with her.”>

<”She’s nervous about her abilities. Go slow, Heloise. Pete Ross and I are still trying to work on her confidence,”> he retorted firmly.

<”Time, unfortunately, is not a luxury we have right now, Dubois,”> she countered. <”Althanor is watching anxiously.”>

<”They are? I thought they had enough to do with their own universe?”> he queried in surprise.

<”Believe it or not, they consider us worthy allies. Oui, Dubois, even you. They have their own concerns but I am their sister now. As such, my concerns are theirs. Paramount to our concern are Clark and Lana. They need to regain their sight,”> she revealed patiently.

<”Maybe you can try another spell or herb?”>

She shook her head. <”We’ve done all we can for them. You have tried too. So has Jor-El. Now they have to find the answer for themselves.”>

<”They’re adjusting to their situation really well thanks to Jor-El,”> he added.

<”And the rest of us as well. As I said, they need to look within themselves for the answer. When they trust in themselves and each other, they’ll find the answer. Now, we need to meet with these teens to discuss the situation at hand and begin training. Perhaps tomorrow morning?”> she proposed.

<”These are teenagers we’re talking about, right?”> he asked with a bit of cynicism.

<”They can forego their other things for this occasion. Their lives will depend on it. So will yours, Lana’s and those of your children. Let’s agree to get together for an hour at least. Perhaps Alexandre’s mansion?”>

<”Fine. I’ll see what I can do,”> he relented. <”See you then.”> With that, he departed.

<Focus, Dubois, on what we need to do!> She opened a portal and stepped through it. Whatever waited for them, the answers were still a dimension away.

And she had a lot of studying to do in the meantime…..




Chapter 3 [Loft—Kent Farm]

After Lex dropped him off, Clark found his way up the barn’s stairs to the Loft. Counting off the steps from memory, he pulled off his normal gait in getting over to the couch and settling down into it. This feels a whole lot better.

I’m glad you think so, my Son. Jor-El’s spirit appeared in front of him.

[“Lana and I have really been working on the sensitivity stuff,”] he reported.

And doing very well with it at that. I have been very impressed with you both. Perhaps there might be a silver lining after all to this situation after all. I noticed though that you both pulled away from each other since this has happened?

Clark rolled his eyes. [“We’ve been a little preoccupied with other things.”]

Even so, you still need to be sensitive to each other.

[“I thought Kryptonians didn’t get all emotional?”] he asked, recalling the earlier lectures.

True but even so, you both are halves to a whole. After the Joining, it has been and always be so. Go to Lana tonight, Kal-El. Even if you both are consigned to this darkness, you are still the heirs of Krypton. As such, you share everything…trials, tribulations and rewards of existence.

[“As you do with my mother?”] he supposed.

Some things were only meant for duty’s sake. Your mother and I never had the kind of love that you and Lana share. After we passed on, she released me from our bonds. For a second, Jor-El relented and chuckled—an unusual sound for them both. Ironically enough, your bond with Lana is not the first between our families.

[“It isn’t? Then why did you give Lana and me such a hard time?”] he queried.

Because it was hard for me and my Earther love. The spirit’s mind drifted back forty solar cycles recalling his whirlwind affair from those days. Louise McCallum was her name. We loved each other despite my own father’s wishes. That love killed her. I would have spared you the pain I had suffered. When Lana passed her test, she reminded me so much of Louise. That is why I relented. Kal-El, Louise is Lana’s ancestor—what you on Earth call an ‘aunt’. The point is that Louise taught me the value of love and emotion despite what the maxims on Krypton say.

[“And that made everything else worthwhile?”] Clark supposed.

Indeed it did. Go to her, Kal-El, and share in your love. With that, the spirit vanished, leaving the teen to his own thoughts.




Chapter 4 [Talon]

Meantime Lana got out of the car and felt the concrete under her feet. “You sure this is going to work, Miri?”

“Positive, Boss. Just think positive thoughts. Hey if Mr. Plaid can do it then so can you,” Miranda asserted.

“Besides we’re here to help,” Chloe added while holding the door open for her friends. “As promised.”

“She called you,” Lana realized.

“Yeah she did. Hey, I promised to help, right? If you need it, I can be a set of eyes here,” Chloe revealed while adding the offer to help.

“Thanks,” Lana expressed as they all walked into the busy café. Despite the fact that she couldn’t see the customers, she easily picked up on their thoughts toward herself. Keeping her focus, she headed for the front, managing to keep to brushing up against a few tables. “Apron?” She focused and with Chloe’s help, could see the back room and the desired item. “Thanks. You know, I think I’ll try it solo.”

“Solo?” the other two asked.

Lana grinned. “Jor-El’s been on us to use our stuff more—be more sensitive to what’s going on around us.”

Miranda sassed, “That would be news.”

“Quit it!” Lana snapped, feeling the stress.

“Hey, I was just kidding,” her best friend retorted. “Calm down. It’s okay.”

“I know. Sorry, Miri, I’m nervous is all,” Lana apologized while tying on her apron and taking a book of order checks. Then she headed out to the floor.

Chloe and Miranda looked at each other not being sure of what to expect next…..

****


[Two hours later]

Lana surprised everyone—staff and customers alike. While she took her time so as not to jar anything, she maneuvered her way through the rows and performed her duties aptly. After about five minutes, she relearned how to take orders and pour coffee by herself. Recalling the muffin order, she took out the right ones for each customer. Using the telepathy, smell and hearing, she got the orders out without mixing anyone up.

Chloe retired to the corner and kept an eye on the affair, making notes for her column with the Ledger. People will want to read about this!

Miranda kept the coffee pots and the register going. While she knew Lana could survive any mishap, she didn’t want to let any secrets get out inadvertently.

Finally, Lana collapsed into the seat right across from Chloe. While this normally didn’t tire her out, the stress of making sure that everything was right exhausted her. “Wow. I did it.”

“You sure did,” Chloe complimented. “Great job. Feeling up to another round or do you want to head home?”

“What time is it?” Lana asked.

“About 5:30. Why?” the reporter wondered.

“I should head home. Mrs. Kent’s expecting me,” the blind girl noted while getting up from her seat. “Just a minute.” She slowly made her way toward the counter and the back. Putting her apron back on its hook, she took a minute to consider everything. Then she punched the time clock and returned to the door where Chloe waited for her. “All set.”

“After you then.”

“Why thank you,” Lana expressed after heading out.

Chloe turned to see more than a few smiles among the crowd. About time something around here happened that was a good thing! She grinned at the thought and followed Lana out toward her car.



Chapter 5 [Later that night—Kent Farm]

After yet another of Mrs. Kent’s savory meals, Clark and Lana retired to the bedroom to talk and gather their thoughts. Besides, it had been awhile since they had felt comfortable enough by themselves to relax.

“It’s nice, isn’t it? At least being able to get around and do things,” he supposed.

“It’s definitely better than lying here all day feeling sorry for ourselves. That’s for sure,” she agreed. “You should’ve seen me, Clark! I did it! I actually did half of a shift today without a single mistake!”

“Don’t get mad…but I was watching you do it over our link,” he revealed. “I’m proud of you.”

“Well I’m proud of you too. Alicia told me how you sensed her and Lex. I know how hard it is to try something new. I’m definitely glad we’re doing this together,” she declared while snuggling up against him.

“Me too,” he agreed while feeling a warm rush surging through himself. “Say, Lana, it’s been a while since we…umm…”

She chuckled, feeling her cheeks flush almost shyly. “Oh. It has, hasn’t it? Would you like to?”

“More than anything. I….”

Before he could say anymore, she pressed her lips to his, savoring the contact between lips and then their tongues.

Both of their hands moved instinctively over the other’s body practically tearing the clothes off of each other. Much as their counterparts would’ve read a Braille book, their fingertips brushed across each defining feature, reaffirming the image of the other in their minds.

“Clark, take me,” she insisted.

“Lana, I don’t know where they are,” he noted, thinking of the need for protection.

“I…don’t…CARE! Clark Kent, I love you. Let what happens happen!” she almost growled, pulling him to her and gently stroking his enlarged member.

He pushed her legs apart, feeling her soaked core. “I love you too.” He kissed the region, letting his tongue tease her momentarily.

As he did so, she arched her back, trying to contain her own arousal. “Clark,” she moaned while stroking him faster.
After another minute, he could wait no longer. He kissed her deeply as he entered her nether regions, allowing himself the full pleasure of her and savoring their common bond. For a full five minutes, they moved as one, dancing on the old mattress.

Then they both climaxed together, giving everything of themselves to the other.

As they did so, they felt something—an almost unnoticeable pop followed by a tingling throughout their bodies but more so in their heads. Thinking it was the rush from the sex, they pulled each other close. The exhaustion of their day and the lovemaking finally pushed them into a well deserved sleep in the safe harbor of each other’s arms.




Conclusion [Next Morning]

Lana stirred, feeling the warm of the sun on her face. “What?” She stirred groggily, still feeling her husband’s arms around her bosom. She smiled. It really happened. We should let our guard down more often. With her eyes closed, she instinctively eased out of bed so as not to wake him and across the room. As she reached the bureau, her eyes slowly opened expecting darkness but finding something else.

She jumped in surprise as her face’s reflection in the mirror blurred itself back into focus. “What?” She touched the mirror gingerly, making sure it was the glass and not someone’s telepathic assist. “I can’t believe it!” She surveyed the entire room, seeing the ragged remains of their clothes from the night before and the sun shining into the windows. Instinctively, she grabbed her robe and covered herself. “Clark! Clark! Wake up!”

“Uh, Lana?” he asked drowsily.

“Open your eyes, Clark. Go ahead! Open them!” she insisted almost laughing.

“Okay, what’s it going to matter….We can….” As he opened his eyes, he jumped back.

Her face blurred into focus as well.

“Good morning,” she giggled before kissing him.

“Lana, we can see!”

“That’s why I woke you, Silly,” she informed him.

“So that’s what Jor-El meant!” Seeing her confusion, he explained, “He told me the truth was inside of us. For the answer to the darkness, we needed to look to our bond.” He flashed the Kent grin at her. “I’ve been an idiot.”

“We’ve both been guilty. Still, Mr. Kent, we do need to do that more often,” she agreed while savoring the sight of him.

At that moment, Martha stuck her head in the door. “What’s going on? We heard you both yelling.”

“Mom!” Lana greeted before running up to hug her. “Guess what?”

Martha looked over her daughter-in-law’s face, noting that the latter’s eyes lacked the emptiness from the previous few days. Then it dawned on her. “You can see?”

“We both can! This is great! Sorry we scared you both but….” Lana apologized.

“Thank God! Don’t worry about that, Lana. We’re all so happy!” the older woman assured her while pulling her into a tighter embrace.

“Think we can get some breakfast? Then I want to meet Miri at the Talon for my shift!” Lana supposed.

“Miranda just left for a meeting at Lex’s with some of the others. Maybe you both might head over there? I can leave you to get showered and dressed if you like,” Martha supposed.

“We’ll do that,” Clark agreed. “Thanks.”

“Sure, Clark. My pleasure,” his mother agreed while closing the door to give them their privacy and heading down the stairs.

“Race you to the shower,” she dared.

“Yeah right,” he agreed while following her down the hall.


****

[Luthor Castle—twenty minutes later]

Lex sat behind the desk in his library, going through the accounts for the Talon and his other holdings. While everything held its own, he still worried about the changing whims of the marketplace especially given the situation rapidly approaching.

He heard a knock at the door. “Come.” Seeing Chloe walk in, he smirked at her. “Want to see the torture, huh?”

“Thought I’d brighten your day before the big meeting,” she retorted while holding up a Styrofoam cup. “I’m sure it’s not as good as what you get from the staff but….”

“I think I’ll manage,” he assured her, letting the Smirk drift into a warm smile. “Thanks.”

“Hey, don’t think I’ll do this every day, Luthor. I….” she started before his lips stopped hers.  When he took a breath, she gasped, “Wow.”

“You do it everyday for me. Thanks,” he expressed while locking eyes with her.

She collected herself, gazing warmly at the diamond ring sparkling on her left hand and then at his blue eyes across the room. “My pleasure.” She ran her right hand through her blonde locks, trying to let the moment last.

“Something you want to say, Sullivan?” he supposed; the eyebrow arching over his right eye.

“Always but I thought you might like to know that the others are waiting downstairs,” she informed him.

He winced while realizing it was later than he had thought. “Let’s go.” He took her hand. “Face the issue together?”

She squeezed his hand affectionately. “As if I’d let you go it alone, Lex?”

“That’s my girl.” He walked her out into the hall and closed the doors behind them. Then they descended the grand stairs toward the living area to find their guests waiting. “Sorry, everyone, I lost track of time.” He looked out on the group finding Sasha, Byron, Alicia, Jasmine, Miranda, Samantha, Pete, Heloise and Dave sitting there. “I hope you enjoyed some snacks and coffee while you were waiting?”

“It was only a few minutes, Lex,” Dave noted. “Thanks for letting us do this here.”

“My pleasure,” the billionaire assured his friend. “Especially given what we’re facing.” Seeing Samantha’s hand pop up, he answered, “Yes, Samantha?”

“Excuse me, what are we facing exactly? I saw that ghost but the others are saying there’s something else?” she asked.

“We’re facing a dual threat, Miss Cooper,” Heloise interjected. “A ghostly witch and a demon wizard. They will return—rest assured of that. When that happens, we’ll need to be ready.” Feeling a familiar pair of auras rushing toward them, she smiled. “All of us. Alexandre, if I may….” She waved her hand, opening the front doors.

As the doors opened, Clark and Lana came to a stop and looked around at their friends.

“Mind a couple of more recruits?” she proposed with a grin.

“Do you even need to ask?” Lex asked incredulously. “Guys, you can see?”

“As of this morning, our sight’s back,” Clark informed him as the trio embraced.

“Hey, guys, we don’t have all day!” Miri cracked.

“Let them have their moment, Arighatto,” Chloe admonished.

“Looks as though our legion is that much stronger,” Dave supposed.

“It appears that way, Dubois. I told you to have faith, did I not?” Heloise added from the side.

As one, the other teens rose and came forward to greet the couple. In doing so, they included the super teens into their ranks. In so doing, the Legion was strengthened for all concerned…a necessary move given what they would all be facing next.



THE END (for now)


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