Chapter 6 

"Mr. Kent! Mr. Kent!" the voice intrudes on the darkness. Someone or something shaking him and shouting his name. "Can you hear me, Mr. Kent? It is alright, you are out. Do you know where you are?"

The voice continues plaguing him with questions, and information that he has trouble focusing on. Trying to raise his arms to wave the pest away, Clark finds that he is restrained by straps across his chest and attached to his wrists. This jolts him back to full consciousness. 

"What is going on?" Clark's voice sounds faint and muffled. Clearing his throat, he tries again. "Where am I?"

The nurse that the voice was attached to answers kindly..."Mr. Kent you are in Radiology. You were undergoing a MRI and you started having a seizure in the machine. We had to restrain you. Can you tell me your name?"

"My name?...." Momentarily confused by the shock of his condition Clark appears unable to answer. His brows knit in concentration and he finally answers..."My name is Clark Kent." Fear he has never really known before for his safety starts to dawn on him. Maybe I am just seriously ill and trying to escape into some fantasy world where I am well. God help me....I don't know which world is real they both seem to be. I seem to be losing the battle in both worlds. 

"That is alright, Mr. Kent, it is understandable under the circumstances." The nurse smiling patiently and patting Clark's hand. 

"Nurse?" A strange question forming in Clark's thoughts. "Why is it I seem fine when I am awake, but get worse when I fall asleep. I mean I am tired all the time, and kinda weak; but when I fall asleep my condition seems to deteriorate rapidly?" Clark's eyes pleading with the nurse for some sort of explanation. 

"I don't know, Mr. Kent. You will have to take that up with your doctor." The nurse no help at all. 

Sighing in exasperation Clark lays back on the table. "So what now? Are you going to try to do the test again? 

"Yes we need to finish the test, just try to relax. It will only take a few minutes. Try not to move, Mr. Kent" the nurse walking behind the wall into the control room. 

The machine hummed loudly, and the table holding him started to move. How could I fall asleep with all that noise? I have to try to stay awake so I can get this over with. Holding as still as possible, Clark strains to keep his eyes open. The test over in minutes. The table still holding Clark down slides out of the MRI machine. The nurse reappears. 

"Ok I will take you back to the ER now." Steering the bed toward the door. 

"Is everything ok? Did the test show anything?" Worried now that the test was over. "Can you untie me now? I don't think my mother would take it well seeing me restrained like this." Uncomfortable with the nurse's silence. 

"Mr. Kent, you will have to wait until the test is interpreted by the doctor. I cannot tell you anything at this time." The nurse looking less kind to Clark. "I believe we can take off the restraints at this time, you seem to be over your seizure." Stopping the bed's journey back to the ER the nurse removes the restraints from Clark's wrists and ankles. Clark sighs with relief and rubs his wrists restoring the circulation. Nearing the ER Clark puts on a brave face for his mother who sits red eyed and sniffling. 

"Here we are." The nurse says brightly again. Moving to re-attach all the monitor leads. Finishing up she leaves. 

"Hey mom, it's alright. I will be ok." Clark tries to reassure his mother, and himself. Holding out his hand to his mother, she grasps it firmly. 

"Oh honey," she sobs burying her face in his chest. "They told me you had a seizure in Radiology." Her words muffled. 

"I am alright now, really" trying hard to reassure her. Her fear relaying itself to him. Trying hard not to break down himself he puts on his best brave face and smiles at his mother as he raises her head from his chest. "Mom, really I will be fine."

 "Try to get some sleep, maybe you are just rundown." Martha responds showing some renewal of the strength she has always shown. 

His eyelids droop in response, but then he shocks awake again. Sleep was the last thing he wanted to do right now. He needed to see what was going on....where was the doctor. Had the doctor even been in to see him even once?

 "Mom"? Clark calls softly trying not to disturb the quiet of the Emergency Room. "Has the doctor been in to see me yet?" Everything around him taking on a surreal appearance. Hoping that he was not losing control and falling back asleep, he tries to keep talking. His words seem muffled and garbled to himself. Shaking his head trying to focus on his mother, he waits for her reply.