*

Despite sharing the same hair and the same surname, Dr Lang was actually nothing like Lana. Lana, for example, had never screamed and passed out simply because Lex had walked into the room.

This could say either very good or very bad things about his physical presence.

By the time Beckett had arrived at the lab she'd already come around, staring at Lex as he kept a careful distance (well, six foot - it wasn't a particularly large room). There was no point in causing her to pass out again.

Never tearing her gaze away from him, she clung onto Beckett's arm as he tried to assess her condition. "Is he real?" she hissed.

"Very much so, my dear," Beckett replied, not even bothering to see who she was referring to. "Now, are you sure you didn't hurt yourself when you fell?"

Before long Beckett ascertained that it was simply the shock, recommending that she be looked over in the infirmary as a precaution.

Agreeing, Sheppard helped the doctor bring Dr Lang to her feet, asking her a few questions before allowing one of the nurses take his place.

She was still staring at him as she was guided out of the lab. Lex had the distinct feeling that if he could see through walls - much like Clark, apparently - she'd still be staring at precisely where he was standing even now.

"According to Dr Lang," Sheppard began, gesturing to a storage container near the end of her desk, "they're in here. Apparently she likes watching them sometimes when she's waiting for test results."

Of course. It made sense. In the kind of scientific work she did, no doubt there was a lot of waiting around...he was from a television show, on an alien city countless light years from Earth. *Nothing* made sense.

Slowly approaching the container, Lex waited as Sheppard grabbed the edges of the lid and pulled.

He hadn't even realised he'd closed his eyes until he opened them again. Thankfully having not been vaporised, Lex carefully peered inside as Sheppard quietly placed the lid on the desk.

There were a number of items inside the container, mostly small pieces of scientific equipment, but...there. It was partially obscured by a small *thing* he didn't recognise, but it was undoubtedly Clark's naked chest on a DVD cover. In fact, it seemed to be the naked chest...it seemed to be Clark from when Lex had rescued him in the field, untying him and helping him down from the cross.

This was so very, very odd.

"That must be it," Sheppard said, obviously having seen it.

"Yes," Lex agreed, "I'd recognise that che-Clark anywhere."

Grasping around on the desk for something, Sheppard's hand eventually returned holding a pen. Reaching into the container, he aimed the pen towards the object on top of the DVD case.

But paused.

Much to Lex's relief.

"You know," Sheppard drawled, pulling back from the box, "even if it's nothing it's probably a good idea not to take any chances." Turning to address one of the guards, Sheppard nodded at him. "Let's get a containment team in here. And call McKay in - see if he recognises this thing." As the guard scurried off Sheppard focused back on Lex, lifting an eyebrow. "We don't want to get in the way - I'll get someone to escort you to the briefing room. I'll wait for McKay and then join you myself." Glancing at the container, he slowly shook his head. "Given what McKay's told me about Smallville, if that thing is somehow responsible for you being here, God only knows what else it could make appear."

That was true enough. Lex's own father could come from that DVD set.

Lex shuddered.

Sheppard, not noticing, kept talking as his expression turned grim. "Barring the Wraith, these DVDs could be the most serious threat we've encountered since arriving in the Pegasus Galaxy."

Good God, did these people ever *listen* to themselves?

*

Weir joined Lex in the briefing room not long after he arrived and - making good use of the room's name - he briefed her on everything that had happened in the lab.

They were postulating theories about exactly what was happening when a young African-American man in uniform walked briskly in, standing stiffly to attention besides Weir. "Ma'am, sorry to interrupt, but I heard-" Spying Lex, then, his stance relaxed and a wide, beaming grin spread over his face. It made quite a difference. "Oh, *wow*. It really is you!"

"Yes," Lex confirmed, amused but confused, "I really am myself."

The grin was still there, though it faltered as the man - not much more than a boy, really - glanced at a slightly smirking Weir. "Uh, it's nice to meet you."

Finally taking pity on him, Weir spoke. "Mr Luthor, Lieutenant Aiden Ford. Lieutenant Ford," she swept a hand towards Lex, "Lex Luthor."

"Yeah," Ford grinned brightly again and reached out to shake Lex's hand, "I know."

"So you know this Smallville show?" Weir guessed.

"Sure," Ford replied, releasing Lex's hand. "I saw it pretty often, at least until we came out here. I really like..." he hesitated, quickly glancing between Lex and Weir. "...the stories."

Well if that didn't scream guilty, nothing would. Intrigued, Lex was about to ask more about that when Sheppard and McKay walked in.

Both looking rather...dishevelled.

Hmm.

McKay began speaking immediately. "It's something we found in one of the other labs. We couldn't determine its immediate purpose and it gave off no significant energy signature - and it still doesn't, in fact. It was being kept in the lab for further study. Nevertheless," he continued, "Lang should have had it safely locked away somewhere, not just stuffed in with her DVD collection."

"I agree," Weir nodded, "but she doesn't have the gift of foresight and we all make mistakes sometimes. I'm sure she thought it was harmless."

"It was careless."

"Careless?" Sheppard asked. "Say, like...oh, I don't know. Putting on a personal shield and having no idea how to take it off?"

Lex had no idea what he was referring to, but it definitely struck a blow with McKay. He still seemed grumpy, but not quite so annoyed. "Point taken. Anyway," he heaved, hooking a thumb over his shoulder, "I have to go keep running tests on this thing. At the very least it seems like a good bet that it's somehow involved in our guest being here." Mood lightening again, he smiled slightly towards Lex.

"Of course," Weir agreed. "Just...be careful and keep me updated."

Muttering something, McKay nodded and left the room. Smiling lazily at everyone, Sheppard trailed out after him.

"Well," Weir continued, "if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have to get back to work myself." Holding Lex's gaze, she smiled. "I'm sure Lieutenant Ford won't mind keeping you company."

"Not at all, Ma'am," Ford enthused, practically bouncing up and down.

Frankly, Lex was a little concerned. "I'm sure it will be an experience."

Weir left, then, and it was just the two of them. Well, and the guards, but they blended so well into the walls that Lex could almost forget they were there.

"So," Ford began, indicating for Lex to sit down as he took his own seat, "I just have to say, I really like you on the show. You're like...really cool."

"Uh," Lex blinked, settling into a chair, "thank you."

"No problem," Ford beamed again. "So..." Hesitating, he glanced over his shoulder at the guards, and then leaned a little closer to Lex, speaking quietly. "Can I ask you something?"

Lex fought the ridiculous urge to bolt for the exit. "Of course." He'd taken on his father. This should be easy.

Briefly smiling his thanks, Ford cleared his throat.

And spoke.

"What's Lana like?"

TBC

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