A/N: This story takes place directly after the end of 'Rites of Passage', the season 4 Series Finale. Lana Lang's seconds away from discovering Clark's secret.

The Adventures of Superboy: Forces of Nature

Chapter 1

Smallville, Kansas

The sharp needle merely grazed Clark's slacks and Lana gasped when it snapped in two. It was the most deafening sound his super-hearing had ever picked up. He quickly slid into the seat and diverted his attention out the window.

Matt Ritter and and Dennis Jackson, their co-worker and boss from the Bureau of Extra Normal Matters, had no idea what'd just occurred and heckled over the radio. They finally called a truce on a station playing Patsy Cline's greatest hits. Lana slowly climbed in and her crystal-blue eyed gaze penetrated Clark, but he couldn't meet it. He would've rather fallen into a vat of liquid Kryptonite. Pity washed over him. Lana was terribly confused and she had every right to be.

Clark, as Superboy, had regained his powers when he installed the purple Kryptonian crystal into his old space ship. After the transference he felt more powerful than ever, and his mind developed a heightened sense of awareness. Lana snooped around the forest and when he'd found her she stuck him with her stupid knitting needle.

Lana demanded proof that Clark Kent and Superboy were one and the same man but when the needle bent out of shape, so did her composure. He had to control his laughter. She looked so earnestly beautiful he decided to give her proof with a tender kiss. Superboy reasoned with her that Clark Kent had never stepped over the boundary of their friendship, but he was a different story.

Clark forced himself to look at Lana and was surprised to see her cheeks reddened and her eyes brimmed with tears. He didn't sense anger, only hurt and betrayal. He regretted making her seem crazy in the woods when they'd kissed.

If there were a lifetime achievement award for a monumental fool, Lana felt she'd be the winner. After practically making Clark Swiss cheese with her knitting needles, he'd gotten angry with her and they had a small argument. Fights with Clark Kent were rare. He was her best friend and she felt lousy the entire day until she'd met up with Superboy in the woods. In his ever kind, but firm manner he all but told her she needed psychiatric help and to leave poor Clark alone.

But she'd been duped again.

She wanted Clark to feel the weight of her accusatory stare more powerful than a blast of Kryptonite from Metallo's body armor. But her expression softened and she turned away. She couldn't do it. She couldn't be mad at the young man who'd saved her a million and one times over and whom she loved more than life itself. That was Superboy.

Then there was Clark Kent, her best friend in the entire world. Clark had always been there for her on an emotional level that Superboy couldn't match. Lana couldn't imagine Superboy lounging on a porch swing with lemonade and Ma Kent's chocolate chip cookies, or playing board games and cards on a picnic during the lazy days of a Smallville summer. Nor could she envision Superboy with her when she and Clark were imaginative children up in the tree house that her father had built, scaring each other with flashlights and creepy stories on stormy nights.

Lana peeked at Clark and she finally saw the stark resemblance to Superboy in his handsome features, despite the thick glasses that veiled his long lashes and soft, hooded blue eyes. It wasn't a resemblance; it'd been Superboy's face all along. She was not only the biggest fool, but blind.

The intense types of love she felt for Clark and Superboy collided. Every doubt now made perfect sense and all her conflicted emotions disappeared. She loved him fully for everything he was.

She wiped her tears and deep laugh bubbled up that she couldn't control. She remembered their first years at Shuster University and how Clark endured nonstop ridicule, not to mention the embarrassment he'd caused her and their friends. Clark went over the top with an engaging, geeky performance. She rattled off the list from his playbook in her mind–Sandals with athletic socks at the pool, never going swimming. He'd often worn cardigan sweaters and bulky plaid shirts to hide his chiseled frame, bragged incessantly about his infamous bug and Encyclopedia collections, and computer hardware. He took numerous pratfalls. He perfected a ridiculously stilted walk that reminded her of Jerry Lewis, especially with his choice of high-water slacks, white socks, and black shoes.

Clark Kent had pulled a fast one on the entire world. Who knew Superboy could have such a sly sense of humor?

Jackson stopped singing. "Am I amusing you, Lana? I didn't think my rendition of 'Walking after midnight' was half bad."

"No, it's half worse." Matt remarked, thankful for the interruption.

"I could fire you for that, Ritter."

"Nah, you love me too much."

Lana stifled her giggles when she saw Clark look strangely at her. She patted her boss's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jackson, it wasn't you at all. I was just thinking of…stupid stuff from college."

She and Clark finally locked gazes and he self-consciously pushed the glasses up his nose. It was no doubt all the stupid stuff he did.

"Clark would know." She added.

Matt shook his head. "College is eighty-five percent stupidity. I couldn't wait to finish."

"I thought you got your Journalism degree by mail order?" Jackson quipped.

"Signed by Sally Struthers herself, thank you." Matt fired back with his usual wit.

Everyone laughed. They were fifteen minutes into the drive to the Smallville airport when the music cut off.

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you an urgent weather announcement currently in effect for Smallville, Kansas and surrounding counties. An F5 scale tornado watch has been issued and local authorities are urging people to find shelter in underground cellars, buildings…"

Matt stopped the car and they listened intently as the reporter listed precautionary measures and finally ended by saying that all flights to and from Kansas had been suspended until further notice. The watch was liable to turn into a warning. Matt clicked off the radio.

"Of all the times! F5's are the worst tornadoes, right? What can we do?"

"My parents have a solid underground shelter. Let's all head back to the farm." Clark offered. "Lana, we can drop off and pick up your mother and…"

"My mother's not here, she's off in Hong Kong with my father. I found her note on the table." She replied with traces of bitterness. Her mother was apt to leave with little notice; she adored traveling. Lana occasionally felt neglected by her, but it'd been that way since she was a child. Lana had endeared herself to the Kent family, and they treated her as one of their own.

She stared out the car window, noting gray and yellow clouds gathering in the distance. "Matt, you'd better step on it, there's no telling where or when a tornado will drop."

Matt didn't need to be told twice, even though Jackson suggested they could just drive as far away as possible before it hit.

"I don't think that's a good idea, sir. The reports mentioned other counties. Tornadoes are no joke, they stretch out for miles and sometimes…well, Kansas is in the heart of Tornado Valley, we can wind up getting more than one." Clark said. "Do you mind if I call my parents, in case they didn't hear this report?"

Jackson grumbled an affirmative and handed him the car phone. "I'm only listening to you kids because we're on your home turf and I don't want to be transported to the Land of Oz…though I wouldn't be surprised if it existed with all the craziness we find at the Bureau."

Matt picked up speed and covered over his agitation with humor. "I don't know, boss, you might look good in a pair of ruby slippers, a blue and white gingham dress, pigtails…"

"Just keep it up, Ritter."

Lana trembled and her fingers groped for the seatbelt as if to hold on for dear life. Her chest rose up and down and Clark could almost see the fear grip her heart. Lana was truly scared from a childhood trauma. When they were thirteen-years-old, Lana survived being sucked into a tornado with Clark. It was a tumultuous experience, because at a crucial moment Clark learned he had the power to fly.

Lana barely remembered what happened when she passed out, but the event sealed their friendship for life. Although it appeared that Clark followed Lana around like a puppy, it was two-sided. Clark never wanted her to come to harm and Lana sought him out to be her emotional crag. When it was time for college, Lana couldn't bear to see Clark go to Shuster University without her. By then Clark was in love with her, but he also knew his identity had to be protected if he wanted to become Superboy.

It was amusing to play the geek role to the hilt, but also a humbling experience. By the time he started internship at the Bureau, Clark toned it down. The act grew wearisome, especially in front of Lana and other friends. It would've cost him a job he loved. Working for the Bureau brought Superboy closer to the paranormal entities of the world, helped him to understand their motives, and vanquish the evil ones.

Clark hung up the phone. His parents were aware of the tornado and made preparations. He sat back and stared at Lana. Her face turned ashen and sweat broke out on her forehead. She was still riveted by the clouds. Clark cautiously reached over and grasped her hand, gently prying her fingers off the leather seat until they firmly laced through his. Her heartbeat quickened.

"Clark, I'm really scared. I don't know why…but out of everything that's ever happened, this terrifies me the most." She whispered.

"We both know why. It's a force of nature, unpredictable, uncontrollable, unlike my…I mean…Superboy's enemies." Clark's grip tightened and he shifted closer.

Lana nestled her head on his shoulder and he brushed his lips over her soft, red hair. He smiled. Despite his deception, she'd not lost her trust in him…at least not yet. He also imagined that when everything blew over she'd have mounds of questions.

"It'll be okay, Lana. I'm here. I promise I'll protect you."

Her heart skipped a beat and the fear subsided.