Jonathan took a deep breath before stepping into the barn. Lex was there, petting the black horse, Onyx.

"Lex." Jonathan cleared his throat. "Can we talk?"

"You didn't have to punish Clark."

Martha had reminded Jonathan that of all the reasons Lex could be angry with them, this was the best possible scenario—Lex was already attached to Clark, enough to be protective. Jonathan came to stand beside Lex. "What do you think I should have done?"

"Punished me," Lex whispered.

"You didn't know the rules."

"So?"

"So Clark did."

"He's six. He doesn't deserve . . ." Lex's voice trailed off. He buried his fingers in the Onyx's mane.

Jonathan frowned. Lex probably had no idea what had even happened in Clark's bedroom. "What would your father have done if you broke his rules?"

Lex shrugged. "He yelled a lot. Shook me. He sometimes made me hold my arms over my head for an hour."

Jonathan's throat felt dry. Lex had said his father had never beaten him, but Jonathan hadn't thought to ask what he did do. "Lex . . . we don't intentionally hurt or humiliate Clark. We usually just take away privileges."

"My dad does that too. He takes away my hat when I argue. He made me sleep outside a couple of times, when I was up after bedtime. And one time, I stole candy, and he didn't let me eat for a day."

Jonathan felt like vomiting. "Those—those aren't privileges, Lex." The kid wasn't covering for Lionel—he really just didn't know he was being abused. "We discipline Clark to make him stronger, not weaker."

"My dad wants me to be stronger, too. I wouldn't open my eyes in the helicopter because I was afraid, so he didn't let the pilot land until I looked out of the window. I had an asthma attack the first time, but now I don't have to close my eyes in the helicopter."

"That's horrible."

Confusion filled Lex's eyes. "I'm not scared of heights anymore."

"But you're terrified of your father."

"Isn't Clark terrified of you?"

"No, he's not."

Lex frowned. "What did you do to him?"

"I told him he has to go to bed before dessert tomorrow. Actually, I think an early bedtime might be good for you, too."

Lex's eyebrows shot up. "That's not even a real punishment. I heard him crying."

"You're right. The real punishment was when I told him I was disappointed by his choices. He cried because he felt guilty. But he's not scared of me, Lex. He knows I love him."

Lex lowered his hand from Onyx and looked down. "You tell him you love him?"

"Of course. Every day."

"Even when he's in trouble?"

"Especially then."

A tear traced its way down Lex's cheek. He hastily wiped it away.