Title: Prologue

Rating: PG-13

Summary: As Clark feels the effects of the meteor shower, he finds support in an unexpected place. Clois.

Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville, Superman, etc. That's all A&M, The WB, etc.

Pics from: DTS, and Thanks to jenni for being the most amazing beta!

http/img. One: Responsibilities

http/img. Lane stared down at her name on the byline. Never had she imagined how proud she could be of herself. Lois hadn't meant to write the story now printed on the front page of the Daily Planet. She had only wanted to do something to help in someway the town she had resided in for a short period of time.

Though, if she was honest with herself, Smallville was the one place where she had felt at home Which is why she wanted to help. Chloe was the one who had suggested that Lois write the article, because she felt too close to the town to write it herself. Lois was surprised how easy writing it was for her. Except for the spelling, which was what spell check was made for.

Lois was even more surprised when Perry White wanted to print it in the Daily Planet. She wasn't sure the story was good enough for the Planet, or anywhere else for that matter; but Mr. White had complimented her over and over, and soon Lois caved. And now the story was in print, circulated all over the world.

Which was what both excited and frightened Lois. Hopefully Mr. White was right about her.

After Lois had written the story, she still couldn't leave Smallville. At least not in the shape it was in. So she had called the General and explained why she couldn't help him in his search for Lucy. He had not taken the news well. The General couldn't understand that Smallville, and especially the Kents, had treated Lois more like family than he ever had. But she couldn't abandon them at a time like this.

Especially since Jonathan Kent was killed in the meteor shower. It had surprised Lois how saddened she was by this. Though she was appreciative of generosity, Lois had thought she had kept Mr. Kent, as she did everyone, at arm's length. She knew how much it hurt to lose somebody you loved, and she had never wanted to feel that way again after her mother had died.

Lois had grieved once before after her mother, when she believed Chloe had died. But that was proven to be a cover, so all was right in the world and Lois could go back to not hurting and protecting herself. But apparently she hadn't protected her heart as well as she thought she had.

She felt as if her own father had died. Or at least what she had always wished her own father would be. Now Lois would have to go on without that kind of paternal support again. It was a difficult adjustment for her to make.

Though Lois still worried about her little sister, Lois had other responsibilities now. And it was time for Lois to grow up and face them. That meant helping Smallville rebuild itself. Plus Lois felt she owed it to Mr. Kent to help his family when he couldn't.

Thankfully the Red Cross had stepped in to help the town, so Lois could focus on the Kent Farm. The house and barn had been destroyed. Fortunately Martha Kent had survived. Mr. Kent had died protecting her from the meteor that came crashing into the house. And from Jason Teague. Mrs. Kent hadn't told Lois too much that had happened, but she had pieced together that Jason had attacked the Kents before the shower.

Mrs. Kent was pillar of strength. Somehow she was able to hold it together and start rebuilding her home. She was grieving for her husband, but Mrs. Kent knew there was work to be done.

Then there was Clark Kent, who was nowhere near Smallville. Mrs. Kent assured Lois of his safety and tried to explain away his absence, but Lois had a hard time understanding how she could be there helping his mother reconstruct everything from scratch, but he couldn't. Lois couldn't understand how someone like Clark, with his devotion and protective nature towards his family, could just disappear in his family's time of need.

Despite herself, she felt angry towards Clark. Mrs. Kent saw her anger and tried to reassure her that Clark's absence was necessary; but Lois didn't see it. She knew Mrs. Kent was hiding something about Clark's absence from her, yet Lois still felt he should be here.

Clark didn't even know about his father's death. That was the only thing that gained sympathy for Clark from Lois. She had lost a parent, and knew that when Clark finally did come home, he would have a lot to deal with. Mrs. Kent was postponing Mr. Kent's funeral until Clark got back from who knows where. Lois hoped Clark would return soon, so their family could start the healing process and move on from this tragedy.

Lois took a breath and put down the paper. She didn't need to get herself so agitated. She took one more sip of her coffee and exited the trailer on the Kent Farm. Today they were starting the framing for the new house.