Once recovered, the first person Alicia asked to see at the hospital was not her parents but Clark. While he had expected this, it still worried him. While he did like Alicia, and maybe even loved her, he knew that he shouldn't be the center of her universe. Bad things had happened the last time Alicia had viewed him as worthy of that level of dedication.
Still, Clark figured he'd give her the benefit of the doubt. He opened the door and stepped inside of Alicia's hospital room. It pained him to see her looking so vulnerable, and reminded him of how fragile the humans he loved really were.
"You didn't have to do that, you know," Clark said quietly as he closed the door.
Alicia smiled up at him. "Clark, even you aren't bulletproof." When he didn't respond, her eyes widened. "Unless...Clark, are you?"
"There's only one thing that can hurt me on this planet," Clark said quietly, unsure if he was doing the right thing by confiding in her.
"I feel like such a fool," Alicia said. "I took a bullet for someone who is invulnerable. Well, I guess this way your secret is still safe, so it worked out okay." She smiled. "Plus I guess I finally know what it takes to gain Clark Kent's trust."
Clark's eyes narrowed. "To be fair, Alicia, the last time you learned something about me, you almost killed me. I think my caution is warranted."
Alicia turned away. "I guess I deserved that," she muttered. "But Clark I risked..."
"That was never in doubt," Clark pointed out. "Your problem has always been that you were too dedicated to me. I know it's going to be hard, but people will forgive you. Now, I think your parents want to see you." He walked toward the door.
"Clark," she said. He paused. "Will you stop by again later?" He turned and nodded, and she had to turn her head to the side to hide a smile.
LATER
It seemed to take forever for Alicia's wound to heal- at least, in the mind of Clark Kent. She was released from Smallville General Hospital a few days later, though. Predictably, the first thing she wanted to do was spend time with her favorite super-powered boy, Clark Kent.
Clark was studying in his barn when he heard his phone ringing. He took it out and looked at the number, smiling as he flipped the phone open. "See, isn't this just as easy as teleporting to my place?" he teased her. "It's not nearly as fun as catching you by surprise," Alicia argued playfully. "Where are you?"
"In my barn," Clark replied. "Where are you?"
"Just outside," came a nearby voice. Clark closed the phone and looked over the balcony of the loft as the blonde girl skipped into the barn. With a flash of green light, she was suddenly next to Clark.
"You took the bracelet off," Clark noted, his tone indicating disapproval.
Alicia gave him an exasperated look. "Clark, I'm not the same person I was back then. Why do I need to wear it? I hate feeling..."
"Normal?" Clark interrupted.
"I was going to say 'caged' but, yes," Alicia said, her normally playful tone turning acidic. She turned on him with desperate eyes. "Clark, please? Just give me a chance to show that I won't abuse my powers, okay? Don't I at least deserve that chance?"
Some would say no, but Clark Kent, as he had often been told, couldn't help but try to see the good in everyone. "I guess so." He smiled suddenly. "Well, as long as we're both using our powers, there's something else I want to show you. Get on my back."
Alicia gave him a puzzled smile but complied.
In a red and blue blur, Clark took off and deposited them in a scenic field where he had once spent time with Lana. Since it was fall, the multicolored leaves made the place even more beautiful.
Alicia affected a yawn to hide her surprise. "I can travel faster," she pointed out.
Clark shook his head and smiled, knowing she was actually quite impressed. He sat down and Alicia joined him, wrapping an arm around his neck as she did so. "Any other powers you're hiding there?" she asked.
"That's everything," he lied, not knowing what she would think about his X-Ray vision. She smiled and leaned inward, resting her head on his shoulder. To his surprise, Clark found himself wrapping his arms around her waist. It just felt right.
"This makes a good picnic spot," Clark commented. "I could get some..."
Alicia quieted him with a finger to his lips. "There's a lot of other things we could do here besides eat," she said suggestively, kissing him on the lips. Clark responded back with passion, pulling her towards him for a long kiss. Alicia moved to straddle Clark and moved her fingers up and down his firm chest while his went through her silky blonde hair. Clark hoped she couldn't tell how hard he was suddenly getting. A soft giggle from her told her that she could.
He gently gripped Alicia by the shoulders, pulling her back. She looked at him with puzzled eyes. He ran a hand down her cheek. "Alicia, I don't want to risk another relapse with you. Maybe we shouldn't..."
Alicia just smiled and shook her head. "Clark, I'm not going to do anything crazy. The doctors at Bel Reeve were very helpful about teaching me ways to get over my obsession with you. If you're scared and don't want to continue this...well, I'll hurt, but I'll get over it." She cast her eyes down as she said this. "I just thought, that well, I like you, and I know you like me. And we're the only two who really understand each other."
Clark thought about what she said. More than anything, he feared it was true. Yet, could he afford to let his feelings toward Alicia dictate his actions. He had let his emotions guide him before, and it always ended badly for anyone around Clark Kent. Including himself. Could he really risk Alicia getting obsessed with him again? He could put so many people in danger by getting involved with her.
He moved to disentangle himself from Alicia. As he did, Alicia felt the tears start to flow. She gripped his hand, and he stopped in surprise.
"Clark...are you really doing this for me and the safety of everyone in Smallville? Or are you doing it because you fear that this is too good to be true? Or is it because you fear that this is too good to be true?" she looked up into his eyes.
"Alicia..." he began.
She stood up and leaned toward him. "Don't the two of us deserve a little bit of comfort? To not have to live the rest of our lives alone?"
The rest of his life alone. She didn't know how true that statement might be. Clark had once touched the hand of a meteor-infected women who had been given the gift to see the futures of those around her. Perhaps because of his Kryptonian heritage, he had been able to glimpse what she saw when she touched his hand. In the vision, he had seen himself surrounded by the graves of everyone he knew. He didn't know for certain what it meant, but what if it meant he would outlive everyone he loved? Should he try to stay distant from others who would leave him too soon, a task he knew he would fail at, or should he simply appreciate his relationships with others while they were with him?