Title: Fill in the Blanks
By: Amanda Feedback: sweety167@yahoo.ca Rating : R
Disclaimer: Sadly I don’t own anything Smallville, (I do own The Clarksons though)…I just work for reviews. Could you spare a few? Summery: A lot happens in 3285 days. But just what happened between Smallville and destiny? (Added part to the Handmaid Trilogy.) AU Chapter Completed: November 9, 2004
PROLOGUE
Dr. Arthur Clarkson sat at his computer, staring at the financial report like a hungry dog. He just couldn’t believe he managed to devour the amount of money that he did. It would be a task to cover it up and explain the missing million in research funding, but he could do it. He had planned on it almost from the day he stepped into his position at LuthorCorp.
Wiping at his mouth he looked at the framed picture of his daughter and wife, late wife. The photograph was fourteen years old. His two-year old daughter held protectively by his dying wife – although that fact hadn’t reached her face yet, hadn’t ruined her image. He smiled at the frozen moment of his family, only months before she was taken leaving this broken man with a child to raise.
A child who was pain and joy. The living proof of love, and also what had physically killed it. His beautiful wife had developed the deadly condition after giving birth to their perfect child. It became a perfect cover story as well, develop the cure.
And that would take funding.
Funding for a cure to an incurable condition.
No little pill could have made her happy, truly happy enough not to kill herself. Not that anyone else knew that was the real cause of death; he was a doctor and created a fantastical illness. A much more respectable, and tragic, official ruling. An illness who’s ‘cure’ could make millions – Luthor had loved that. An illness that he had recently told his perfect daughter she had – the best and easiest cover-story he could concocted to explain his devotion and embezzlement to the girl, especially when he tells her that daddy’s hard work cured her.
Desperate feelings make men do desperate things.
She would understand later, wouldn’t she?
Leaning back in his chair, he had been so lost in thought he didn’t notice the quest enter his office.
“Mr. Luthor,” he scurried to stand and greet the man.
Gesturing for him to remain seated, Lionel spoke, “Please Clarkson, no need.” He sat himself in an opposite chair, “We do need to talk though,” a file landed on the desk with a flop.
He looked between the file and his boss, saying nothing.
“Seems a lot of funding has run through your hands,” Lionel steepled his fingers in front of her sneering mouth.
“All with productive results,” he didn’t miss a beat.
“I’m sure, even if I’m not allowed to see the research,” a twisted amusement played in his eyes, “not that I could understand them.” He was playing coy with the other man.
Clarkson knew the gavel was falling. He was just unsure of how hard. Fear flashed in his eyes, his gaze flickering between his family and his boss.
“Nervous Arthur?” Lionel leaned back in the chair, secure in his dominance, “That is a good start.”
Clarkson let out a long breath, he was caught. Just before he planned on leaving the placebo as he fled, he had been caught.
“Embezzlement comes with a hefty prison sentence, that is unless repayment can be made,” Luthor did his best to look bored and still interested.
“I…I…there’s no way I could repay that kind of money,” he sputtered, currently regretting his ‘perfect’ scheme. He lowered his head in defeat, he was foolish to think he could get away with this, and now he had ruined everything.
Lionel’s lips twisted into a sick smile. He loved witnessing defeat, the defeat of others. He fought the humour in his voice, “Of course you can’t, and it’s just bad PR to let the world know your top researcher embezzled a small fortune from you…”
Arthur felt a cold chill run through him.
“…That’s why I have an arrangement.”
The good doctor perked up at this; a way out, a godsend?“You’ll leave here, go set up a little practice and enjoy life with your daughter,” the multi-millionaire dictated the future as if his word were law – and it now was for Dr. Arthur Clarkson, “Then when I need it, I’ll come claiming my repayment for your disloyalty.”
“H...How?” he was still in shock and disbelief.
The sick grin still had its place on his face, “It all depends on what I see fit.” In honesty, Luthor didn’t care much about the repayment. In fact he was almost impressed with how well the lowly doctor had managed to steal from him, but he loved having people under his thumb much more. And looking across at the broken man in front of him, he just acquired a new one, “It’s settled then,” abruptly Lionel stood, finished with the little meeting, “you maintain your freedom, debt to be paid later.” He extended his hand to the other.
Clarkson weakly shook on it, sealing his fait.
“Never let it be said Lionel Luthor isn’t a fair man,” he added, withdrawing but stopping at another framed picture in the small office. A pretty sixteen-year old smiled back at him. “Such a lovely daughter,” he commented as he slipped from the office, leaving the broken man to wait for his return.
And he came.
Two years later, two years of fearful waiting and Lionel came to claim his repayment. A strange request, a companion. The time and service of Dr. Clarkson’s only daughter. A request that her father filled. What else could be do? He couldn’t stand risking his reputation by admitting to being a failure and fraud, so he gave up his daughter to pay a debt that only he owed.
Anna Clarkson wondered if all she had paid only equalled a million dollars. It felt like so much more to her. A priceless more. A lifetime of more. Even as she thought it was her fault, her way of fixing it all – the price seemed high, too high. And with truth came clarity. It was a game of selfish men.
She walked out of the Luthor castle, willing herself to not run back up the stairs and into his arms. At the very least she could do that if she could not stop the crying. If she looked back she knew she couldn’t do this, she couldn’t pull herself away from Lex or her friendship with Chloe. But if she didn’t get herself away from this Kansas town she was sure it would kill her. It had already raped her, sold her and stole her baby. She couldn’t let it take what was left of her or her soul for that matter.
But could she condemn a town for what her father and Lionel Luthor had done to her, made of her? Could she blame a town that had given her a taste of love and the best friend she could ask for? Yes, she could, and did.
But would ever really know who’s fault – man vs. environment – it was, who’s will? Would anything ever change?
She chanced a glance behind her shoulder, looking at the massive brick building, would she ever be free? Could she ever come back?
Behind the brick walls – both literal and figurative, Lex Luthor had all the same questions. As he damned his father, and hers, he wondered if this town didn’t play its own part. Giving him a taste of happiness only to rip it away piece by piece, life by life. He wondered if everything would be different, if anything, if they weren’t here in this one Kansas town. Was it really Smallville or destiny itself? Was she really leaving here, or was it him that she fled?
