Sixty Seconds Chapter (3/?)

Chapter 3

Chapter 2
Same Time on The Other Side of Metropolis




The sun shone through the slightly open curtains directly onto a figure lying fitfully in her bed. As the woman slept, she dreamt. She tossed and turned. Her brows creased and her face contorted in pain. A slight breeze blew through the window and the tension on her face evened out, her body relaxed and she smiled.

At the same time in a dark room, deep in the newly created level of 33.1 at LuthorCorp a machine let out a long wailing beep… green liquid flowed through tubes and then something that would change the course of everyone’s lives forever happened…a pair of crystal blue eyes opened and the machines let out a loud noise as the graphical readout of the patient’s vitals peaked. *beep beep* *beep beep*

(Lana POV)

*Knock, knock, knock*

“Mrs. Luthor.”

I rolled onto my back and glanced at the ceiling. Today is the day…the formula is finally complete…by dinner Lex should be exactly where he belongs…here with me and Alexander. Rosita called to me again and I sighed. I heard the door creak open and I smiled slightly.

“Mr. Alexander your mother is sleeping. Please do not go in there…Mr. Alexander stop…”

“Shhhh! Rosie you’re gonna wake mommy up.”

I heard feet pad across the floor and I grinned as I felt a light weight dip the bed very carefully. Before he made it fully onto the bed I quickly turned, grabbed him by the waist and yanked him up next to me.

“BOO!”

He jumped slightly and started laughing.

“Mommy! You scared me! You’re so silly.”

I chuckled.

“Mmmm I’m silly huh? Weren’t you the one trying to sneak up on me mister?”

He smirked and nodded. God his smirk is just like Lex’s. I leaned back pulling Alexander with me. He giggled as I tickled him lightly. I glanced over his shoulder at Rosita as she watched us with a slight smile on her face.

“It’s fine Rosita. Do you think you can tell the kitchen to start breakfast? Today’s Alexander’s first day of school and I don’t want him to be late.”

“Of course Mrs. Luthor.”

She closed the door and I sighed. Alexander moved his feet around and then turned his head toward me. I saw his eyes wide with excitement.

“Mommy…How about I don’t go to school and I stay here with you all day.”

I frowned as I brushed my fingers through his hair.

“What’s wrong sweetheart? Why don’t you want to go to your first day of kindergarten?”

I watched him glance down and shrug. I nudged him with my shoulder and he gave me half a smile. He spoke in a soft voice.

“I don’t know anyone there. What if I can’t make any friends.”

I sat up straight and pulled him with me then moved his chin so he was looking at my face. My voice was gentle when I spoke.

“Listen here and listen good Alexander, you are an amazing little boy. Anyone who doesn’t want to be your friend isn’t good enough to be your friend.”

I smiled and he gave me another grin.

“You’re a Luthor, we lead and people follow.”

I watched the seriousness on his face as he nodded. I patted him lightly and made my way off the bed and toward the closet.

“Why don’t you start getting ready for school. Your clothes are hanging on the side of your armoire.”

“Okay.”

I heard him leave the room as I moved over to the closet and pushed a button. The racks of clothes started to slowly spin as I looked through everything. Right as I was taking out a deep blue pants suit my cell phone rang.

I answered it on the second ring.

“Hello.”

The voice on the other end was an octave higher then normal as he spoke.

“Mrs. Luthor, good morning.”

I started getting dressed as I spoke into the phone.

“Good morning Doctor Rhinehouse. How’s the patient this morning?”

He paused before speaking.

“Awake…”

I nearly dropped the phone. My heart beat sped up and then I tightened my grip around the phone until my knuckles were white. I swallowed hard before speaking.

“He’s awake?”

I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Yes, and he’s asking for you.”

I composed myself and spoke quickly into the phone.

“Alexander starts his first day of school today. I will be there as soon as I can.”

“I’ll let him know.”

I nodded as I slid my feet into my heels.

“Good, and doctor, nice work. I guess you earned that bonus after all. I will see you in an hour or so.”

I closed the phone before he could say anything and I smiled. It’s ridiculous that I’m a grown woman and I feel like jumping around the room, like a silly school girl. After all this time…Lex will finally be back home…god I missed him something fierce.

I glanced at myself in the mirror and my thoughts drifted back to that horrible night five years ago…

*Flashback*

I groaned, moved my body slightly and winced. I heard a light beeping and I frowned. I swallowed hard and cracked my eyes open. The light was bright and I had to bring my hand up to cover them. Where am I…it took me a few minutes to piece together what happened.

Oh god Lex… I started to sit up and pull at the IV in my arm when a hand touched my shoulder. I jumped slightly and looked up. Lionel was looking down on me with sorrow-filled eyes.

“Thank god you’re awake Lana. How are you feeling?”

I frowned. What was he doing here? I tried to speak, but my voice was too dry. I was able to rasp out the word ‘water’ and Lionel immediately complied. I carefully drank two full cups before I spoke.

“How long have I been here?”

He sat down and there was concern in his voice when he spoke.

“You’ve been out of it for two days.”

I scrunched my eyebrows together. Two days…I remember being brought to the hospital…I remember calling Bartlett from the hospital, telling him what happened and to send a team out to make sure Lex was okay, but everything between then and now was kind of foggy.

I cleared my throat and my hands traveled to my stomach, which was flatter then I remembered. My heart rate sped up and I sat up quickly. I glanced frantically around the room. I saw Lionel frown and move toward me, but I waved him off.

I looked at him and spoke in a loud voice.

“Where is he?”

He looked confused.

“Who?”

I nearly screamed.

“MY SON…WHERE IS MY SON?”

Understanding finally dawned on his face and he tried to call me down.

“Lana please relax, he’s just down the hall in the nursery. I will get a nurse and have her fetch him. Please calm down. You’ve just been through quite an ordeal.”

I calmed slightly as he walked out of the room and spoke with a nurse, who quickly took off in the opposite direction of my room, and then towards a doctor. The doctor followed him back in the room and smiled at me.

“It’s good to see you awake Mrs. Luthor. How are you feeling?”

I tensed and controlled the emotions on my face. I glanced over at Lionel and my voice came out colder than I had intended.

“Lionel, where is my doctor?”

He sighed and his stance was weary.

“I wasn’t privy to his information and you needed to be tended to immediately. There were complications.”

I nodded. Well from here on out no one, but Doctor Rhinehouse would be looking at me. I glanced out the door. I wonder what’s taking so long for that nurse to bring me my son. I looked back at Lionel and the doctor and spoke quietly.

“Well now that I’m awake I’d like someone to call in Doctor Rhinehouse please. Also, I need to speak with the head of our security team. Please call Bartlett right away.”

I watched Lionel hesitate before speaking.

“Lana…maybe that isn’t such a good idea.”

I glared in his direction.

“Call him, or get me a phone and I’ll call him myself. What’s the word on Lex? Where is he?”

The doctor opened his mouth and Lionel put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. He motioned for the doctor to leave us. As he was walking out of the room I saw the nurse standing outside the door.

When the path was clear she rolled in my son. She smiled, picked him up and handed him to me. I glanced down and tears filled my eyes. Oh my god…he’s perfect. As I looked him over I couldn’t help but feel a sharp pain in my chest…

Lex should be here to see this…Lionel’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“He’s beautiful.”

My eyes met his and I held the baby closer to my chest.

“Where is Lex?”

Pain filled Lionel’s eyes again.

“Lana…I’m so sorry…he didn’t make it out alive…no one has seen Lex since the accident…”

I felt my chest tighten. No…no I don’t believe that…I can’t. Lex can’t be gone. I felt a sob bubble up in my throat and I had to use one hand to cover it as I frantically shook my head.

“No…get Bartlett…”

He cut me off.

“Lana…”

“NOW…”

My voice startled the little boy in my arms and he jumped slightly. I closed my eyes and calmed myself down. I rocked him gently and whispered a few comforting words to quiet his whimpers. I raised my eyes back to Lionel.

“Now…I need to speak with him.”

He stood there for a minute before nodding and leaving the room. Twenty minutes later there was a knock on the hospital door and I glanced up from my son. I could see Bartlett through the glass door and motioned for him to come in.

He closed the door behind him and stood with his hands behind his back. I raised an eyebrow.

“Well…what the hell is going on? I have people telling me Lex is dead. I thought I sent you out there to find him…what the hell happened?”

My voice was quiet, but angry. He swallowed and took a step toward me before speaking.

“I did as you asked Mrs. Luthor. We took a team and went to recover Lex…by the time we got there the whole facility was in ruins. It took us over a day to sift through everything…”

His voice trailed off and it took everything in me to hold in my emotions the way Lex taught me.

“Well, did you succeed? Have you recovered Lex?”

He opened his mouth and then closed it. After two minutes of silence I started to speak, but he cut me off.

“We did recover Mr. Luthor…”

I smiled, but his next words knocked the air out of me.

“But, I think we got there too late. Right now he’s in the care of Doctor Rhinehouse. At this point Mr. Luthor can no longer survive on his own. He has no motor functions and is not even conscious. I’m sorry Mrs. Luthor…we did all we could…”

My jaw tensed and I spoke in low tones.

“Bartlett…this is what we are going to do…”

I explained my plan to Bartlett and he nodded. I trusted him to take care of this…he’s been with Lex for a while.

“No one is to know we have Lex. As far as everyone else is concerned Lex Luthor is dead…I’ll work the rest out from here. Tell Doctor Rhinehouse I need to speak with him.”

He nodded and left. I don’t care how long it takes…what I need to do…or who I need to do it to…Lex would be okay…I gazed down at our son. Alexander will know his father if it’s the last thing I do…

Present Time

I was startled away from my thoughts by the hand touching my shoulder. I turned around in confusion and saw Rosita standing there. Her brows were creased and I could see the worry in her eyes.

“Mrs. Luthor, you okay?”

I smiled and nodded.

“Fine Rosita. Has Alexander finished getting ready?”

She nodded as she gathered the laundry from the basket.

“Yes ma’am, he’s waiting for you in the dinning room.”

I grabbed my phone, glanced in the mirror to check my appearance and nodded.

“Thank you.”

I brushed off my jacket as I walked out of mine and Lex’s bedroom. It’s weird…Lex has never stepped foot into this penthouse, but I still feel as if everything is ours. Our bedroom, our kitchen…our home. I shook off my sentimental thoughts. They wouldn’t be any help in rehabilitating Lex.

When I made my way into the dinning room Alexander was sitting there with his head buried in a copy of The Daily Planet, while eating a bowl of cereal. I love my son more than anything in this world…but I think the one habit of his that I could live without is his need to read that garbage.

I sighed as I sat down and he poked his head over the large paper. I could only see down to his nose, but I could tell he was smiling. I Couldn’t help the grin that overtook my face. I spoke with an amused tone as I buttered Alexander’s toast then mine.

“What are you smiling about over there?”

I watched as he bounced slightly in his seat and spoke in an animated voice while moving his hands around.

“There’s a story in the paper about Superman! He saved a whole bus full of kids my age yesterday! Do you think maybe something will happen to our bus and he’ll save me so I can meet him? OH MY GOD….Mom that would be so cool Superman is like the biggest superhero ever!”

I winced and put down my coffee. I have spent the last five years doing my best to raise Alexander in the way I feel is best. I make sure he knows how much I love him and how much Lex loves him. I have tried to imprint the moral codes that I have for myself in him.

I’ve tried to give him the culture of Lex’s youth without taking away his childhood. Alexander is well rounded. He speaks two languages, plays piano, and yet still has the freedom to play video games, basketball and anything else he wants to do.

I’ve taught him to believe he can accomplish anything and to be loyal to your family, because they will always be there for you…There aren’t many things I don’t let him do, but one thing I will never allow him to do is speak of ‘Superman’ in this house…and he knows it.

I moved the paper away from his face and gave him a stern look. I watched as he hunkered down in his chair slightly.

“Alexander, how many rules do we implement in this household?”

His voice came out quiet.

“Not many…maybe three or four.”

“And how many of those rules do I expect you to follow without fault?”

He sighed and looked down at his hands.

“Two.”

It was like slowly pulling teeth.

“Which two young man?”

He glanced up at me and spoke.

“Never talk about the work you and dad do…”

His voice trailed off, I gave him a nod of encouragement and he continued.

“And never, under any circumstances mention Superman in this house.”

I softened my tone before speaking.

“Why?”

“Because he’s the reason dad had to leave us. He’s not a hero, just an alien in a stupid cape who destroyed our family.”

I nodded and reached over to brush his hair out of his face. He gave me half a smile and I returned it. I glanced up when the clock chimed and then gave Alexander a wide-eyed look. I took one last sip of my coffee, wiped my mouth and stood.

“Come on sweetheart, we’re going to be late if we don’t go now. Do you know where your backpack is?”

He got up and ran into the other room. I gathered up my papers and started walking away from the table when I heard Rosita’s voice behind me.

“Ma’am here, take this with you. You didn’t get a chance to eat much. You’re too skinny.”

I chuckled and turned to face her. Rosita has been with us since Alexander was 6 months old. She’s a part of the family. I don’t know how Alex and I would get through a day without her and yet she still refused to call me Lana…

“Thank you Rosita.”

I hurried to the elevator door as I called out to Alex.

“Did you find it?”

“Yup. Can we call grandpa and ask him to pick me up from my first day?”

I nodded as Rosita helped Alex with his jacket and handed me a to-go mug with coffee.

“Sure, we’ll call him on the ride to school. Let’s go.”

I watched as he turned around and gave Rosita a big hug.

“Bye Rosie, I’ll see you after school and then I’ll tell you all about it.”

I smiled and she chuckled as she tapped his bottom until he was in the elevator. As I walked toward the open elevator I called to her over my shoulder.

“Don’t forget, I’m making that special dinner tonight so please…”

She cut me off.

“Get ingredients, and tell chef he has night off…si, si…no worries Mrs. Luthor, everything will be ready.”

I smiled and nodded before getting into the elevator. The doors closed and we stood in silence. I looked at Alex fidgeting and I grabbed a hold of his hand.

“Everything is going to be fine. You’re going to have a wonderful day today. I promise.”

He glanced up at me and gave me a look that told me he didn’t quite believe my words.

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

I chuckled. From a son of Lex’s…I didn’t expect any less…the doors opened, the limo pulled up and we headed off to school. I leaned back in the limo and a satisfied smile crossed my face.

Even if Alex has a horrible day at school, which I’m sure he won’t, coming home will make everything better…tonight for the first time since he was born…Alex was going to meet his father…