This story takes place post Eureka, and early season 4 of Smallville.

Chapter 1

As Jo Lupo drove past the sign welcoming her to Smallville, Kansas she asked herself for the fifth time in as many hours whether she was making the right choice. Did she really want to go from one strange town to another? Spending the last four years in Eureka had been crazy enough, what with every day seeming like something right out of the Syfy channel; however, just like the last four times she found herself saying yes. Smallville may rival Eureka when it comes to the weirdest town on Earth, but she wouldn't have it any other way. Jack may be able to go back to normal life but for her, normal was just unappealing. Then again, Jack also had Alison whereas she...she had no one. She had been with Zane, but after that night, she just needed to get away. So that was how she came to Smallville. She had seen the ad in the paper and two weeks later she was moving out of her house, ready to move on to the next adventure. However, given that she wasn't due to check in with the woman she was replacing for another couple of hours she decided to stop and get a coffee at the local shop. Pulling up to the Talon she got out of the car, and walked in, seeing the place packed with customers, mostly teens from the high school. It also appeared that her arrival hadn't gone unnoticed as a few of them turned and looked at her before turning back to their drinks.

"Clark, who do you think she is?" Chloe asked, breaking he young man out of his thoughts.

"Who who is Chloe?" He asked, making Chloe shake her head.

"Dude you must be blind to anything but Lana. Otherwise you would've noticed what every other guy in here did." His best friend Pete said, pointing out the brown eyed brunette that had walked in a few moments earlier, and was now sitting at a table by the door. Clark blinked as he felt his eyes heat up when they landed on her, sighing in relief as he controlled his heat vision. He had gotten his heat vision mostly under control or so he thought. If what had almost happened was any indication he would need some work.

"Oh crap." Clark muttered as he saw a few of his teammates walk over to the woman. He didn't know what they were saying, but judging by the look on her face they were trying to hit on her, and failing miserably. He got up and walked over to them, trying to stop his breatheren as Chloe liked to call them, from making complete fools of themselves. He got over there just in time to catch the end of what the wide receiver Graham Duncan was saying.

"...be glad to buy you another one, maybe show you around."

"Duncan, I don't think the lady's interested, so how about you leave her in peace?" He said calmly, making Duncan scoff.

"Stay out of this Kent, it's not your business." He replied, but Clark shook his head, looking past him to the woman who had been watching the exchange with interest.

"I'm sorry for my teammate here, he dosen't seem to comprehend the meaning of the word no."

"Oh it's nothing I'm not used to Mr..."

"Kent, Clark Kent."

"Jo Lupo, nice to meet you." She said, standing up and taking his hand, completely ignoring Duncan.

"Pleasure's mine, welcome to Smallville. I hope you don't judge us all based on this idiot." He said, indicating Duncan.

"Not at all. If you're anything to judge by I think I'm going to like it here." She replied, making him blush slightly.

"Well, I'd be glad to show you around if you like?" He asked, and she smiled.

"I think I'd like that, especially because it saves me the trouble of tracking you down."

Clark tensed, but relaxed again as he saw the easy grin on her face. However, before he could respond Duncan grabbed Jo's arm. She stepped backward, and brought her other arm back into his stomach before pushing him back into the table.

"You bitch! That's assault! I'll call the cops!"

"I wouldn't recommend that." Jo replied easily as he stood up.

"Oh, and why's that?"

"Because...I'm the new Sheriff in town. Well, not for another couple hours, so I'll forget this whole thing ever happened. Just watch where you put your hands." She told him before turning back to Clark who was looking at her in shock.

"So, about that tour?"

Ignoring the stares of everyone in the Talon, Clark nodded and walked out, Jo following close behind.

"So, why did you want to track me down Sheriff?" He asked a few minutes later as they sat in her car, a surprisingly comfortable four door sedan.

"Call me Jo, and as for why I tracked you down, well I was hoping you could tell me."

"Excuse me?"

"I did some research before I came here, and your name was mentioned in almost every report. Apparently you're quite the hero."

"I'm no hero." He replied, but she shook her head.

"I know you are. Either that or you just have really convenient timing when it comes to meteor freaks."

"Just good timing I guess." He replied, and she nodded, the two lapsing into a comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"So should I be worried about you playing the hero?"

Clark hesitated for a minute, unsure of how to respond.

"Jo, can I be blunt with you?"

"Of course."

"No I mean can I trust you to keep your mouth shut? That what I tell you won't end up on the five o'clock news?"

Jo looked into his eyes, seeing the worry and fear there, and made her choice.

"Of course."

"I'm not going to stop because all due respect intended, there are certain aspects of this town that you are unable to deal with on your own." He said and she had to fight the urge to laugh as she thought of some of the strange things that she had seen during her time in Eureka.

"And you can?" She questioned.

"I can hold my own. Please keep this to yourself. I know I haven't said much, but I haven't told anyone what I just told you after I've just met them." He pleaded, and she nodded, giving him a soft smile.

"Your secret is safe with me. Well, what little I know anyway. Although I have to admit, it will make writing up police reports a pain."

"Well, I may have an idea about that."

"Oh? Do tell."

"Well, my senior class was given an offer. For those of us who have kept our GPA's up, we were offered the chance to spend our last year of high school working instead of going to class. This is supposed to give us a chance to look at possible careers..."

"And you were thinking about something in law enforcement?" She asked, quickly connecting the dots.

"Something like that. I just want to help people."

"That's a good thing Clark, and I have been looking for a Deputy. There is one rule though, if I agree to this." She said seriously, and Clark just nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"I'm your partner, meaning you don't go off half-cocked without backup. I don't care what abilities you may have, this is non-negotiable."

"I understand."

"Do you? You understand that if you slip up even once, you're out."

"I understand. So do I call you boss now?" He asked, and she chuckled.

"No. On the job you call me Sheriff, and off the job you call me Jo. You're my friend Clark...at least, I'd like you to be."

"I'd like that. Now, on to the last stop of the tour. Turn in here." He said and she looked at him in surprise as he directed her to Smallville High.

"The high school? What's there?"

"I'll show you." He replied, getting out, and walking over to the door, Jo following close behind.

"It's locked."

"I've got a key, perks of your best friend being the editor of the school paper." He explained, unlocking the door and leading her inside. He flipped on the lights to the Torch office and walked over to the back wall.

"This is the wall of weird. Chloe built it, a sort of collage of all the strange and unexplained things in Smallville. If you're going to work here, you need to know what you're getting into."

So for the next hour and a half the two new partners poured over article after article as Jo was educated on all things Smallville.

"Oh crap. I'm late." Jo said as she looked down at her watch.

"Late for what?" Clark asked as they stood up and walked out of the school, Jo practically burning rubber as she tore out of the lot.

"I was supposed to meet Sheriff Adams ten minutes ago for a last brief before she left." She replied and Clark chuckled.

"It's fine, you can just blame it on me. She'd probably be more surprised if I wasn't involved." He finished with a grin and Jo laughed in return, thinking he was right based on the number of times he had been mentioned in the reports she read.

"Ah, there you are Sheriff. I was worried you had forgotten our appointment."Adams said as Jo walked into the station.

"Not at all Sheriff."

"It was my fault Sheriff Adams. I was showing her around and lost track of time." Clark said as he came in, making Adams glare, although he could have sworn he saw the barest hint of a grin on her face.

"I'd watch out for this one. He can be trouble."

"Oh, I think I can handle him. He is my subordinate after all." Jo replied, and Adams looked at her in shock before she grinned.

"Good. I always said you should think about a career in law enforcement Mr. Kent. Just don't go off half-cocked and get yourself killed."

"I won't Sheriff." He replied and she nodded.

"Well then, I guess that's everything. Here's the key to your office and the car is out back. Good luck Sheriff, Deputy." She said, giving both of them a nod before exiting the station, leaving the two alone.

"So, what now?" Clark asked.

"Now you head home and get some rest. I'm going to get dinner and crash, we've got an early day tomorrow."

"You do know the place is called Smallville right?"

"Oh I know. I'll see you here at six a.m." She said, laughing at the look on his face. He headed for the door, but stopped and looked back at her.

"Do you want to have dinner? With my family I mean? My mother makes more than enough as it is."

"I think I'd like that." She replied with a smile, following him outside.

"Mom, dad!" He called out as he walked into the house.

"In the kitchen Clark! You're just in time, dinner's just about ready." His mother called, and Clark laughed, thinking that his mother must have powers; she always seemed to know just when he was coming home.

"I brought someone over for dinner, I hope you don't mind." He said as he embraced both his parents.

"Of course not son." Martha replied with a smile.

"Mom, dad, I'd like you to meet Jo Lupo. Jo, my parents Jonathan and Martha Kent."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Kent." Jo said shaking hands with the two of them.

"You wouldn't happen to be the new Sheriff would you?" Jonathan asked and Jo laughed before handing Clark five dollars.

"I told you they would know you were the new Sheriff." Clark said as he pocketed the money.

"Last time I bet against you. How did you know Mr. Kent?" She asked and he grinned.

"Sheriff, the place is called Smallville. When one of Smallville High's football players gets shoved into a table you can pretty much bet the whole town's going to be talking about it."

"Duncan had it coming. Idiot wouldn't leave her alone." Clark said, and Jo grinned at his words.

"Clark tried to tell him to back off, but he wouldn't listen. Then he grabbed me and I out him in his place." She said simply.

"Speaking of, you're not in trouble are you son?" Jonathan asked and Clark just laughed.

"No. I just figured I'd use mom's cooking to get into the boss's good books." He said, making his parents look at the two in question.

"I had seen Clark's name on a few police reports and he told me he wasn't going to stop being a hero. I don't intend to say anything, but at least this way there's less red tape." She told them, and Jonathan nodded; he may not be happy about the new Sheriff knowing something about Clark, but at least she was willing to keep her mouth shut. That earned her some points in the farmer's book.

Two hours and one very satisfying meal later Jo stood up from the table.

"Thank you for dinner Mr and Mrs. Kent, but I have to go. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow Clark."

"You know I still have to show up for class tomorrow, just to let them know that I have the job."

"Why do you think we're starting so early?" She replied cheekily before walking out of the door.

Clark just groaned before excusing himself to go to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Please read and review and the next chapter should be up soon!