Chapter 11

Lex rubbed the bridge of his nose wearily before returning to his scanning of the document that he’d just gotten earlier that day. If what he was reading was accurate, there was an ancient Chinese medallion that could mimic a person’s spirit form so well that it would be used to confuse certain soul eating monsters so people who had been getting hunted by said monsters could escape their fate. It had been discovered in the ancient ruins of a Buddhist temple outside of a tiny Chinese village. He had been lucky to get someone on it so fast for translation.

He glanced over at the bookshelf where another amulet was sitting in a case of Plexiglas. It had been discovered in New Orleans and was said to have the ability to capture a person’s soul and keep it safe until the body was safe. The voodoo priestess who had given it to him had warned him that the body had to undamaged or could recover and the soul needed to be returned within six hours or else it would be for nothing. If everything worked out as he was slowly planning it and Dean hadn’t been injured too much, then they could trick the demon into thinking the contract had been fulfilled before returning Dean’s soul to his body with no chance of repercussions.

There were a million things that could go wrong and that was before they found Sam and Dean, but Lex knew that sometimes you just had to fly out and take what you could whenever you could. They had three days until time was up and, according to Sam, Dean had already started hearing the hellhounds. They were currently staying with their friend, Missouri Mosley, in Lawrence, but the psychic’s defenses would only be able to keep the dogs at bay for so long. Eventually, Dean was going to want to face his destiny. For now, he was driving them up the wall with his bored antics.

Thinking about Sam, Lex couldn’t help the grin that surfaced on his face. They talked every night and sometimes during the day, but it didn’t lessen their longing for each other. Sometimes he felt like they were living a bad harlequin romance novel with how much they talked and admitted to their desires for each other, but he shrugged it off. Sam was becoming one of his closest friends as well as his lover and he didn’t care how sappy he sounded or what he had to do. He just wanted Sam happy and that meant saving Dean.

“Well, well...studying hard, I see.”

Chloe’s voice broke through his thoughts and he looked over and smiled slightly before standing. “Chloe...to what do I owe the pleasure?” he asked formally as he stepped around his desk and faced her.

“Oh come on, Lex. I’m not going to bite. I know what had happened with Lana. Clark told me everything. I don’t blame you. You did what you had to in order to save Dean and Clark…and Lana. I hope you forgive yourself someday,” Chloe replied gently, then rolled her eyes at him. She held out some papers when he finally smiled and he took them cautiously. “Got something for ya.”

“What is it?” Lex inquired warily as he skimmed over the first page. He stopped and focused a bit before looking at Chloe. “Chloe...this is-”

“That is a full translation plus two important spells for that Chinese medallion you got. I talked to Sam and got into contact with an esteemed Chinese professor who once worked with Sam on a case and we figured out how to use the medallion,” Chloe explained excitedly as she grinned at Lex. “I really wish Sam was single. He’s hot *and* smart!” she added with a sigh and Lex couldn’t help grinning as he returned his focus on the instructions.

“Too bad he’s mine. But I might let you play with him every now and then,” he teased her and she laughed.

“Lex, I’ve got to say...you’ve really changed. It looks like love really is doing you some good,” Chloe remarked fondly and smiled when he glanced up at her and smiled.

“Then you must have been fooled as much as my son, Miss Sullivan,” floated to them as Lionel strode into the room briskly, his long coat flying around him like a bat.

“Dad, what are you doing here?” Lex asked defensively as he put the papers on his desk and moved to meet Lionel just in front of Chloe, who was looking worried.

“Stopping you from making some serious mistakes, son,” Lionel replied grimly and glanced at the papers before focusing on Lex. “Those Winchesters are nothing more than murdering con artists and they’ve got you so ensnared th-”

“The Winchesters haven’t *ensnared* me in anything, Dad. I know about their criminal record. But I also know about *them*,” Lex retorted angrily and his hands clenched into fists at his father’s meddling and deliberate misunderstanding.

Snorting, Lionel rolled his eyes. “Oh I’m *sure* that they showed you *everything*. Is that the excuse the younger Winchester gave you when he slept with you? What’s his name...Saul? Stan?”

“It’s Sam and if you ever insult him, his brother, or our relationship again, I swear to God that I will make you remember what it was like to have your life bleeding out slowly,” Lex hissed out dangerously and stared his father down as Lionel looked at him in surprise. “I know what I saw, Dad. I know what I felt and heard. There were spirits and demons and those two men not only saved my life, but they probably saved hundreds of other lives because *it is what they do*.  You can stare at and wave around their criminal record all you want, but if you don’t *know* them, then you need to shut up because they are greater men than you will *ever* be!” he snarled as he all but trembled with his anger. He glared at his father until Lionel backed up a step and then he relaxed only a little.

Lionel glanced at Chloe, who was smirking smugly. “Did you meet them?” he asked her and she shrugged.

“I’ve been working with Sam. He’s really awesome and he genuinely cares about people. I’ve looked at the records too and, if you really examine what they were charged with and compare it to what they hunt, you can see why what Lex says is true,” she answered him and smiled sweetly.

“They dug up graves to salt and burn the bones of angry spirits who couldn’t move on. They break into places to take care of cursed objects or to get information that they couldn’t normally get through interrogation. They pull credit card scams and fake identity fraud to cover their tracks and to pay for what they need, like food, shelter, clothes, and weapons. All of it is to help others. They’re truly part of the few that actually do something about the things that go bump in the night,” Lex explained as he went to behind his desk. “And Chloe and I have been working to help them beat something that could seriously jeopardize the balance of good and evil.”

“What’s that?” Lionel asked curiously as he came over and was surprised that Lex didn’t hide anything that he had before him. It was either not as important and secret as he had thought or it was something that was more important and didn’t need to be hidden.

“Saving Dean Winchester’s soul. He made a deal to have Sam brought back to life in exchange that he would be taken to Hell in one year. His year is almost up,” Lex said as he brought up his own document and showed it to them. “I’ve managed to locate two talismans that could be the way for us to trick the demon into taking a shadow of Dean’s soul.  But it’s really risky and it might not work and might backfire, which would mean both Winchesters might die. That’s what Chloe was working on with Sam,” he clarified when Lionel looked at him in surprise.

“The really hard part is making sure Dean doesn’t know. As long as Dean remains in the dark, we think it’ll work cuz then the clause where Sam will die if we try anything won’t kick into action. Though…we’re not really sure,” Chloe added with a slightly sheepish smile.

“Huh…so what are you doing with Dean’s actual soul then?” Lionel asked in interest as he looked over the papers that Chloe had brought over.

“This voodoo amulet that a priestess outside of New Orleans gave me. It’ll hold Dean’s soul safe and sound until we know for sure that we can put it back into Dean’s body. I just hope that he hasn’t gotten injured to the point where he wouldn’t survive long if we did. Like I said…a lot of variables that could have this go wrong, but…”  Lex sighed softly as he sat back and fiddled with the ring that he’d put on from Sam.

“But you’re willing to go through with it,” Lionel murmured as he examined his son’s tired features. He reached over and patted his son on the shoulder. “If you need my help, just ask, Lex. I’m…proud of you. You’re sticking up for what you believe in and for someone….someone you love. Though I never expected you to…to become gay, I can tell that he means a lot to you,” he said and smiled as Lex smiled up at him.

“Thanks, Dad. It means a lot for you to say that. I hope you can help,” Lex replied softly and sighed. Having his father helping him was a relief. If anyone could help him find ways to make sure things would at least get to the level he needed to work, it would be Lionel Luthor. “I should call Clark and let him know that we’ve got more info.”

“Clark’s not home. He’s trying to do his own search,” Chloe told him quickly and he glanced at her with a frown.

“Where?” Lex asked and noticed the look that his father and Chloe exchanged. “Something to do with his being an alien and all that?” he elucidated and they looked at him in surprise. “Clark told me that a while ago. So where did he go?” he added with a huff. He hated that they were still trying to hide things from him.

“Let’s just say he’s communing with his dad,” Chloe replied finally and smiled soothingly. “Don’t worry…he’ll come back to help soon. He’s just got other resources to hit up first,” she added with a wink. Lex smiled back, feeling more confident with that revelation. If Clark was looking into his more other worldly informants for help, they just might succeed.

*~*~*

Clark looked around his crystal fortress as he walked along the snowy paths within it. “I need to know if you can help! Is there anything I or you can do to save Dean from his fate?” he called out as he came to a halt next to the large crystal panel that he used to operate his home away from home.

“I can not help you in this, my son. The man that you have come to love, Dean Winchester, made the deal he did with a creature that is beyond our power. It is out of your hands. You need to focus on your mission,” Jor-El’s voice resounded around him and he clenched his hands into fists.

“I’m not giving up on him! I refuse to! He’s a good man and is fighting the same fight as I am!” Clark shouted angrily as desperation and panic welled up within him.

“He is fighting for a different world than you, Kal-El. He agreed willingly to give his soul to this creature to save his brother. He is expendable in this fight since it is Sam that is more important in your fight,” Jor-El answered coldly and Clark snarled.

“Dean is *not* expendable! No human life is, whether they are good or bad! He and Sam work together to save this world and I love Dean! I will not let him die and be tormented because he loved his brother enough to sacrifice himself!” he roared in rage and fell to his knees as tears rolled down his face in his helplessness.  He screamed again as he rammed his fist into the snowy ice floor, letting go of his anger as he continued to punch the floor until it cracked and became a deep depression. He panted as he sobbed before finally calming down slowly.

“I am sorry, my son. I know he means a lot to you and I admire his sacrifice. But you can not become involved in it any longer. If you do, the balance will be tipped.” Jor-El’s voice was compassionate, but firm as well. Clark looked up slowly as tears rolled down his cheeks. “When the time comes, you will understand.”

“I can’t live without him. I lost my dad, Lana…I can’t lose him too,” Clark whispered as he rocked himself and looked down.

“How touching…your weak little feelings will give me just what I need.”

Clark stood up at the dark sinister voice as it echoed around him. “Who’s there?” he demanded and wiped his face of his tears as he looked around defensively. The crystals were darkening around him and he started to feel a bit more apprehensive.

“I’m the one who will be collecting your beloved Dean’s soul soon. And I think having you as my vessel will be more than amusing,” the voice answered with a hiss that sounded like air going through a leak.

“I’ll never let you hurt Dean! I’ll destroy you!” Clark cried in fury as he stood defiantly in the center of the hall.

“You could…if you knew how. But you don’t, so I guess that your threats are nothing,” the hissing voice responded and laughed slightly. Clark suddenly saw a black cloud as it floated leisurely around the columns, but still inexorably towards him. “Clark Kent…or rather the infamous Kal-El. You will be perfect for bringing Dean Winchester to Hell.”

“Not in this lifetime!” Clark snarled back, but then was suddenly thrown backwards into a crystalline pillar. He cried out as he tried to break free as the cloud floated closer to him, but he was pinned.

“I’ve lived many lifetimes…you should watch what you say,” the cloud commented with an evil laugh before suddenly darting forward and becoming one with Clark as he gasped and a choked out denial came out. Clark’s body slowly floated to the ground as his head hung down and he looked up slowly, his eyes a deep pulsing purple as he glanced around with a smirk. He stretched slowly and hummed in approval as he cocked an eyebrow at the pulsing fortress. “No comments, pops?” he asked with a sneer and laughed as the crystals dimmed. “I’m going to enjoy this body. I think after I’m done with dear old Dean, I shall go on a little rampage.”

“You will not succeed. Never doubt the power of my son’s will,” Jor-El replied softly, but Clark merely laughed.

“Keep telling yourself that, pops. You broke his spirit quite well for me by denying him the help that he could have gotten from you. Too bad your higher than thou attitude will now cost you your only son and this world’s only hope,” Clark remarked before laughing again. He floated up and then shot out of the fortress, heading for Lawrence, Kansas. He had a soul to collect and it had been a long time coming.

TBC

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