Title: The Good Son
Chapter 1 – Unwanted Attention

Summary: After Ed arrests a kid at Clark's school Clark becomes a special target of revenge. But the kids revenge also extends to Ed and after a heated argument between father and son, Ed's life is put in jeopardy. Can Wordy save his friend in time or will he lose them both?

Disclaimer: Sadly I own nothing from the awesomeness that is Flashpoint (I only own my purchased DVD collection)! Lol Any other OC's are my own and any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidence as I use a random name generator for most of my OC's

A/N: This is set after the ending scene in the eppy 2.19 'The Farm' (one of my all time fave eppies!). Wanted to play up the unsupervised party aspect and of course toss in some angst, tension and peril hehe. Hope you all like this. Words in italics and double quotes from the eppy.

"You break that bag…they don't give us a new one."

"You know what I'm just a little frustrated. Clark's beating me up…he wants to go to a party and I won't let him go…it's just a hassle."

"What's the big deal?"

"Tell you what's the big deal is…there's no parental supervision."

"Ah parents are away and the kid takes advantage. You tellin' me you never went to a party like that when you were Clark's age?"

"Why do you think I don't want him to go."

"No offence Ed but your kid plays the Cello, I don't know how much trouble he's really gonna get into."

"Funny…funny stuff."

XXXXXXXX

"So think Isaac will be okay?"

"I think so…got a good head on his shoulders…hey buddy, doin' your homework? You know that party you wanna go to? You can go…yeah…who's gonna be there? So…can I go? I'm kidding…Clark I'm kidding."

It came down to trust. How could he tell his partner and best friend Wordy that he trusted that a strange boy would be okay after seeing his father killed but wouldn't even let his own son, whom he knew and trusted to go to a party on his own? He was the one that had spouted off to Charles just before he killed himself that they had to let their kids think for themselves.

"I know what it's like…to want to protect your family – keep them safe. But at a certain point you have to trust that you have given them the tools to make the right decisions."

How could he now be a hypocrite by having faith in a stranger's son but not his own? Of course he would worry about Clark, it was only natural. His mind also can't help but think back to when he was Clark's age, sixteen going on thirty and thinking you were already the only man in your life and ready to make every decision because you knew best.

"Eddie?" Wordy's soft voice breaks into his thoughts, pulling his best friend's gaze toward him. "Second thoughts?"

"I was in that field spouting off to Charles about letting go and allowing Isaac to make his own decisions…how could I hinder Clark because I'm not…"

"Ready to accept he's growing up and will soon start to make important decisions without your input?"

"You can't tell me that everyone is going to stay dry at that party."

"Ed you've done a pretty good job with Clark."

"Just things could go very wrong," Ed groans as he turns his stoic gaze back out the window and frowns. "The last thing I want is some officer I know showing up at my door telling me they busted my kid because he was drinking and driving or experimenting with drugs and got into a fight."

"Do you honestly think that or are you just freakin' out for no reason?" Wordy gently teases his friend.

"Trying to anticipate anything that could go wrong."

"Worst case scenario is Clark bores everyone with his talk of band camp and isn't invited back on his own merit and the host calls you up to say next time don't allow your kid to go."

"Funny," Ed retorts in sarcasm. "Can you blame me for worrying?"

"Hell no. I have three to worry about, you only have one," Wordy huffs. "Shelly's already talking to me about what we'll do when the girls start dating. Dating Ed…they aren't even old enough to wear make-up yet."

"Make-up?" Ed snickers. "That's nothin'."

"Hey the next time I have to sit through a Barbie makeover party I'm bringing you along at gunpoint."

"Yeah don't envy you that buddy," Ed chuckles.

"How's he getting there?"

"Well I'd offer to drive but you know he'd say that I'm using it as an excuse to spy on him and his friends," Ed answers with a small frown.

"To which he'd be right," Wordy grins.

"Fine," Ed nods reluctantly. "His friend Ryan and their friend Amber are all going together. Ryan's older brother Justin is going to drive them."

"This older brother…"

"Is clean," Ed smirks. "Yeah I checked him out."

"Okay so you covered all the paranoid parental bases before it happens. And you've had the talk with Clark right?"

"Talk?"

"About you know…"

"Sex?" Ed counters. "Yes I've had the talk. Do you really want to go there right now?"

"Hey man you're the one who looks paranoid, not me."

"Right…just sit back and relax and try not to think about my son at an unsupervised party."

"You've raised him well Ed, he'll be fine."

"He'll be fine," Ed repeats softly.

"Yeah will you?" Wordy queries.

"Just gonna be a long night," Ed replies with a small sigh.

"Yeah...poor Clark," Wordy winks at his best friend. "Ed...he'll be fine."

XXXXXXXX

"Hey Clark," Amber greets him with a smile as he climbs into the backseat beside her on the way to a friend's party. Todd Barker was a good kid in his grade and he was sure that if had reasoned long enough with his father, he'd be allowed to go. But the two weeks that past were a constant round table of badgering and pushing back – on both their parts.

'Clark, there's not going to be any parents – the answer is no. Don't bug me again.'

'Don't you trust me dad?'

'It's about you Clark.'

'No dad, it's about you right?'

'Damn it Clark...'

In a few years he'd be an adult, wasn't it time he was allowed to start showing his parents that he could do things on his own and still earn their trust. His dad was a cop, he got that but at the same time he always hoped that it wouldn't mean he'd be the laughing stalk of the school because his paranoid father looked at everyone with an ulterior motive.

"Hey buddy, glad your old man finally said yes," Ryan chuckles from the front seat.

"Yeah he was just busy with work and stuff. I wasn't worried," Clark half lies, not wanting to seem too lame in front of his friends, especially Amber.

"He cares, that's kinda sweet."

"Sometimes a bit too much," Clark huffs as they near the semi-secluded house with the music already busting out of one end of the house. Part of it he blames on his father, but as soon as they arrive, Clark scans the crowd to see if there was anyone there he would tell himself to avoid at all costs. So far – it looked pretty benign.

"Alright call when you wanna come home. What like one AM?"

"One?" Clark asks in surprise.

"Well it's a school night so it can't be that late, for me at least," Amber pipes up, seeing Clark's face tense at such a late hour.

"Yeah me too," Clark agrees.

"Fine," Ryan just rolls his eyes. "Is eleven okay with you two?"

"Sure," Clark and Amber trade shrugs.

"Thanks Justin."

The three of them get out and head for the front door, entering the house that was nearly dark on one side and lit up on the other. The darkened side was where the dancing was, a revolving spotlight on the ceiling casting distorted shadows on the bouncing crowd.

They head for the quieter side, dump their jackets by the front door with the rest and then head into the kitchen where there was plates of finger food, bowls of chips and bottles of pop; so far it was just a normal party.

"Hey guys you made it!" Todd comes up to them, wrapping his arms around Clark's and Ryan's necks and then smiling at Amber. "Hey Amber. You still hangin' with these two?"

"She got a ride with us you dope," Ryan groans as he pulls himself free. "Nice place, how long your parents away for?"

"Till tomorrow," Todd grins, a faint trace of alcohol resonating off his words. "But who cares right? It's time to party. And I'm thinkin' that if all goes well tonight, this will be the first of many to come."

"Sweet."

"Hey Clark, your dad actually let you come?" Todd asks loudly, garnering a few snickers from those hovering nearby.

"Yeah sure," Clark shrugs, trying to act like it was no big deal.

"Well whatever. Okay so am gonna go mingle and just…do whatever," Todd grins. "Hey Clark," he puts his arm around Clark's shoulders and pulls him away from his friends. "Whitney's here. Come on check out what she's wearing…her skirt's so short that if she bends over you can see her…" his voice trails off as they become assimilated into the pounding base of the darkened side of the house.

Clark looks back at Amber who only shrugs and gives him an eye roll before she heads for the food. He knows that Todd likes Amber so figures it's a ploy to get alone with her and him out of the way – or at least distracted. Whitney Branson, Clark groans inwardly. The easiest girl in school and certainly one he wasn't attracted to.

'What first attracted you to mom?' He remembers asking his father.

'Well her looks yes but she didn't try too hard to get my attention, kept me coming back for more…chasing her. That's the kinda girl you want. Stay away from the easy ones.'

"Hey Clark," Whitney grins as she walks up to them and stands inches from them; her voice too holding the telltale smell of alcohol. But not wanting to make a big deal and face the ostracism of his friends, Clark bites his tongue and offers him a tight lipped smile just as Todd takes his leave. "Wanna go upstairs and have some real fun?" She whispers in his ear, the smell of alcohol now a bit more distinct.

"Uh no thanks," Clark replies in haste as he tries to pry her arm off his.

"Oh come on…you can practice you know…frisking me?" She giggles with a slight drunken slur.

Clark looks at her in amusement but knows it's not exactly the memory he wants nor does he want to ruin anything with Amber by going with someone like Whitney. "Yeah sorry…I gotta go find Amber." Making a quick exit, he heads back into the kitchen to see where Amber and Ryan had gotten to. He enters to see Amber talking to two other girls and Ryan nowhere to be seen. Amber sees him and then heads in his direction.

"I need some fresh air," she tells him in a low tone as they head for the backdoor and outside. "Michelle is here. I can't believe he invited her."

"Whitney's been drinking."

"Yeah I think Sarah has too. Oh well as long as it's not public that's okay right?"

"Sure," Clark answers with an uneasy tone. "I think he invited the whole school."

"At least the grade oh and don't be mad but I think I saw Jeremy and Brett here."

"What?" Clark asks, hearing the names of two kids that were known as school bullies. Both had already had several run-ins with the law and Jeremy even has a juvie record; with them here, Clark fears the night will not progress without incident.

"Just no big deal okay?"

"Amber, Jeremy was just busted for drug possession," Clark frowns. "By my dad of all people. It is a big deal."

"Just don't go all wanna be cop on them and you'll be fine."

"I don't want to be a cop Amber," Clark insists. "But I thought Todd and him weren't friends?"

"Sarah said that Jeremy heard of it as he normally does and just came over anyways and to keep the peace Todd allowed it. It'll be fine. Come on lets go dance."

"Okay but you promise me that if he starts to use in front of everyone or drink openly, we leave."

"I doubt he'd be that stupid but sure. Okay let's go dance."

Clark looks at her and sighs; dancing. But not wanting to appear to be a social outcast, he merely nods before they both stand up and head inside. Sure enough as soon as they near the entrance to the darkened side of the house, Clark watches as both Jeremy and Brett look up at him and exchange amused expressions before making a purpose to come right over. Cops son and not just any cop, team leader of the SRU who had arrested a fellow student – he was a target for sure. So much for it being just a fun harmless night.

"Hey Clark Lane's here," Jeremy states loudly as he walks up to them. "Seriously your old man unlocked the bars around that jail you all live in?" Asks in sarcasm.

"He was cool with it," Clark shrugs.

"Cool? Seriously? Yeah like he trusts you. He's trained not to trust anyone; you included. I'll bet he's either parked out there himself, hiding in the shadows or has a cruiser on standby down the street," Jeremy laughs.

"Nah he's at home watching the game…or whatever. So Amber you um wanna dance?"

"Probably disguise himself as the pizza delivery guy and linger for a tip so he can see what you're doing," Jeremy nudges Brett who offers a false laugh at the stupid comment.

"Ignore him, his father's a dead beat," Amber rolls her eyes.

"You know I think it's great Clark, really," Jeremy nods as his smile fades. "I mean that your father is such an open kinda guy. I mean no parents…drinking…underage minors…who knows what else…trust me he's probably busting a gasket right now wondering what the hell you're doing."

"No one is drinking," Amber butts in.

"Why are you here?"

"Leave her alone," Clark huffs. "My dad's cool with parties."

"Cool?" Jeremy snickers. "The only time that guy would be cool is if he was like locked in a meat locker in his undies. You come home smelling like booze and I'll bet you'll be grounded like a little kid. Trust me, he doesn't trust you – no parent, especially a cop doesn't trust their kids, it's not in the harddrive man."

"Jeremy what is your problem?" Amber groans.

"Me? I got none…my dad doesn't care. He trusts me no matter what. Does yours Clark?"

"I didn't come here to talk about my dad…sorry Jeremy," Clark replies calmly. "You wanna talk to or about him – call him yourself."

"Whatever," Jeremy growls. "You'll fall Clark…one of these days it'll be your ass he's busting."

"Come on Amber lets go," Clark sighs as he merely pushes past them, takes Amber by the arm and heads for the opposite end of the dance floor; leaving a few to laugh at Jeremy who only seethes at Clark for embarrassing him.

"Oh man he blew you off…and in front of Cindy also," Brett motions toward one of the girls that was watching, laughed and then walked off.

"Little goody two shoes is gonna pay for that."

"Man you've had it in for him ever since his old man busted your ass for stealing those sleeping pills a few months back," Brett whispers.

"I told you never to mention that again!" Jeremy hisses under his breath.

"Still…sucks to be you man. He's untouchable."

"We'll see about that. He thinks his father trusts him? Well let's see who has the last laugh when he finds this…" Jeremy pulls out a small flask of alcohol and shows Brett. "Maybe Clark would like some."

"He'll never drink it willingly," Brett reminds him quietly.

"He won't have to."

"You're gonna frame him? How?"

"Actually I'm gonna do a lot worse than that. Ed Lane will rue the day he dared to cross me and so will his kid."

A/N: Well hope you are liking it so far. Wanted to play up the angle of Clark coming under some personal tension from a kid that had a run in with his dad and the whole trust issue between parents and teens. Will Jeremy get his way and start building mistrust between Ed and Clark? And if not how will Jeremy escalate? Please review and let Alice know what you think and thanks so much!