"Before you jump to conclusions..." 

"I understand how you think this is about you." 

"I can't explain." 

"Secrets…" 

"Clark!!" 

The words ran around his brain again and again, with each step he took as he walked away.  The faster they whirled the faster he walked.  Soon he was running, chasing the words in his head.  Running scared. 

He finally stopped when he realized that he couldn't run anymore, he'd come to the vast expanse of the ocean. 

He took a deep breath and came to the realization that, at last, he could breathe.  For months he'd had felt like a boulder sat on his chest, restricting him.  Preventing him from breathing, from feeling, from reacting – his eyes narrowed in thought. 

He turned his back on the ocean to stare at the setting sun.  How could he be so stupid?  How could Lex be so stupid?  He could return right now and try to explain – try to understand…  But…  He wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer but he knew when something was not right.  He turned to look at the lapping waves, then kicked a rock on the beach and watched it shoot out over the ocean.  He needed to sort it out in his own mind first. 

He sighed and started to walk along the beach.  It was going to be a long night. 

He paused outside the door to Lex's study.  He had to push away the thoughts that darted through his head.  Liar.  Betrayer. He had a good idea now where the constricting pressure in his chest was coming from as well as the unwelcome thoughts.  

'Go to Hell, Jor-el,' he thought.  'It's my life, and I'll do as I please.' 

It was harder to think, here, this close, but he stuck with his plan and opened the door. 

Lex was bent over at his desk, working on something and looked up as he entered, not seeming at all surprised.  Danger clamored at the back of his mind but he ignored it. 

"Lex, we need to talk."  Not the most auspicious opening, but true. 

Lex threw down the pen on the desk.  "You didn't want to talk earlier.  You didn't…" 

"I know," Clark interrupted.  "I was wrong." 

Lex stood up and leaned against the desk.  "Then talk." 

Clark shook his head.  "Not here.  You may have an…infestation." 

"Infesta…"  Lex's mouth snapped shut.  "You're right."  He came around the desk in long strides.  "I'll get my coat.  What do you want to drive?"  He asked as they left the room. 

"The truck," was Clark's short reply as he tossed the keys at him.  "And you're driving." 

Lex looked at the keys he had automatically caught laying in his hand and just nodded to Clark as he shrugged on his coat. 

"Where are we?"  Lex asked as they got out of the truck. 

"The south edge of the lake," Clark replied.  "The football team holds their keggers out here." 

"So talk." 

"Your father sent me the key to that room."  

Lex suddenly straightened and lost all signs of nonchalance.  "That…wasn't what I was expecting." 

"I didn't think so.  You told me once that your father did nothing that didn't profit him in some way.  He sent me the key, and," Clark took a deep breath before continuing.  This was harder than he thought it was going to be. "I went to see him in jail." 

Clark watched as Lex ran a hand over his head and then put his hands in his pockets.  Clark could practically see the wheels turning in his head.  He figured that Lex would figure it out faster than he had. 

"You have to testify."  Lex said slowly.  "He's trying to cast doubt on your testimony." 

Clark nodded.  "Yeah.  I finally figured that out.  And if it ended up alienating me against you, so much the better."  He barely stopped himself from wincing at the use of the word 'alienating', but there were things he couldn't say; he could only imply. 

"We have to inform the D.A.," Lex said as he turned to the cab of the pickup. 

"There's more."  Clark stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. 

"Humm?"  Lex questioned. 

"That room isn't just about you, no matter what you believe – Wait, let me finish."  Clark interrupted himself as Lex started to speak. 

"You've gathered a lot of evidence about me and other people in Smallville and you've seen what can happen to people that are…different.  There are things you know and things you think you know and things you want me to tell you."  Clark shook his head.  "I have secrets that could put you in more danger than you already are.  I won't do that to you.  I have some secrets that I cannot share." 

"Why are you telling me this?"  Asked Lex as he jerked away from Clark. 

"Because you're different, too."  Clark told him simply.  "I've been around farmers all my life.  Things happen, people get hurt and they heal.  I know how long it takes to heal.  And you heal extremely quickly." 

"I – What?" 

Clark nodded.  "It's important that you know.  Because if you don't know you can't protect yourself." 

"Shit!!" Lex paced a little, back and forth.  "It makes a little more sense now."  He glanced at Clark.  "My dad's dying.  Cancer, he says."  

"You need to get rid of that room."  Clark told him firmly. 

Lex paused and looked at him.  "No," he said, shaking his head.  "If I do, it'll look suspicious and I must have a spy in my house.  Nooo," he said, thoughtfully.  "I'll get rid of some things but the others…  I'll make it look like something it's not." 

"You're sure." 

Lex nodded.  "It's better to misdirect than to try to lie outright." 

Clark put his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground at that remark.  "There are some secrets that I can share, though."  He stepped closer, into Lex's personal space. 

He leaned down and kissed Lex quickly, then stepped back. 

"Was I wrong?"  he asked quietly at Lex's silence. 

"No, but I didn't think…"  Lex shook his head.  "Maybe that's the problem.  I just didn't think." 

Lex reached for Clark and kissed him rather more deeply than Clark was expecting. 

"Lex?"  Clark said rather breathlessly.  "What next?" 

"Next?"  Lex chuckled softly.  "Next we go home and I call the D.A.  And we work out what this means.  But no more lies, Clark." 

"Okay, but can you not ask the questions that you know I can't answer? At least for now." 

"I think that's a compromise that we can live with, at least for now."

End