Alright people, here's a new idea. Sorry it's taken a while, I think I burnt myself out at the rate I was writing before hand. Been tossing this idea around for a bit, and I finally started putting it on Word. Let me know if you think it's worth continuing. And thank you all for (hopefully) continuing to read Sheriff Kent. I own none of these characters or settings.

/

He had been in a rough mood since his phone rang at 3 AM. Driving back into town, Clark parked at the curb in front of the hotel and saw Old Charlie standing in the front lobby. Clark hadn't even taken the time to find one of his uniform shirts, settling for an old blue flannel button up and jeans. Clipping his pistol and badge into place on his belt, he walked through the front door. "What's the problem Charlie?"

The old man hopped up from his chair. "Sheriff, sorry to wake you up so late, but something weird is going on."

Rubbing the last of the sleep form his eyes, Clark sighed. "What might that be Charlie?"

"Well, earlier I did rounds like I do every night, make sure the roof is locked and all the rooms are secured. I woke up a little while ago and something felt strange, so I did it again. I got up to the top floor, and one door was open. It was… the room that kid stayed in last time, the thief."

Clark raised his brow. "That was a long story Charlie, not as simple as all that. What was missing?"

Charlie shook his head. "Nothing from what I could see. It looked like the door had just been slipped open. But the fact that it was that room creeped me out a bit, so I called you."

Clark nodded. "Alright, I'm gonna go up and have a look around Charlie. Stay down here, and if you hear anything you call the station and get someone else here immediately, understand?"

Charlie nodded as Clark started walking up the stairs. Pulling his pistol outside the doorway he reached in to flip on the light, slipping into the room with his gun drawn. Clark walked through and checked the bathroom then the closet, with no sign anyone was in there. Letting out a deep breath, Clark holstered his gun and sat on the end of the bed. "Why this room?"

Propping his elbows on his knees, Clark looked around for anything out of place. The heater vent was crooked. That hadn't been messed up when they searched the room after arresting Bart. Grabbing the chair from the small desk, Clark stepped up on it and pulled at the corner of the vent. It popped off easily.

"What the hell…? Reaching into the vent Clark felt around and found… a small box? Stepping back down he flicked the box open, his eyes opening wide for the first time since he was woken up. "Son of a bitch." He grinned as he looked down at the ring in the box. The ring he had gotten for Lois. "Bart."

Sitting back on the bed, Clark pulled his cell phone out and found the number. Not surprisingly, a fully alert voice answered him, cheery and not sleepy at all.

"Hello?"

"Bart. How'd you do it?"

"How'd I do what big guy?"

"How did you get into the hotel in Smallville? Or, how did you get the ring back? Or, how did you get up here with that charm bracelet on your ankle? Pick any of them, I'm just curious." He heard a chuckle on the other end of the call.

"Don't ask a magician for his secrets, CK."

"You're a magician now? Does that entertain the kids at the house?"

"Funny funny. Look, I just did a lot of thinking and I wanted to try to make things right. I got it back, even gave back the cash it was bought for. Or, close enough. Not really sure how it got up there though, I've been down here since you dropped me off. Check the tracking device, it'll tell you that."

Clark just laughed. "I guess I should say thanks then."

"Nah, it's just a little compared to what I owe you man. Anne's the one who pushed me to track it down, she didn't talk to me for a couple days."

"Anne huh? Is there something I should know about Bart? I didn't figure you the type of guy who would go to those lengths to just keep a coworker from being mad at you."

"Shut up stretch, it's not like that."

"Uh huh. Well thanks anyway Bart. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your little vacation."

"Thanks man. I'll talk to you later."

Clark smiled as he ended the call, staring at the box in his hand. Tucking it away in his pocket he fixed the room and the vent quickly before he shut the door and walked back downstairs.

"Well, what was it?" Charlie was standing at the counter waiting for an explanation.

Clark shrugged. "I didn't see anything strange in the room. Maybe the door just slipped open, didn't latch fully. It's all clear Charlie." Clark patted him on the shoulder. "Feel free to call anytime, don't worry."

Charlie locked the door after Clark left. Climbing into his car, Clark couldn't help but smile at the thought of having the ring back and finally being able to figure out how to ask Lois.

/

Clark sat with his car hidden in the brush. The radar gun beeped as another car passed, reading out at two miles over the speed limit. Sighing, Clark reset the gun and laid his head back. "In charge and I still have to pull speed trap duty. Stupid morale boosters. I'm the Sheriff, they should have to do all the crappy jobs."

Feeling a buzz in his pocket, Clark reached down and grabbed his cell phone, smirking at the name on the display. "Hello darlin'."

"What did I say about pet names buddy?"

"That you love them and want me to use them as often as possible." Clark pulled the phone back from his ear at the sudden burst of laughter.

"Oh boy, you think you're a comedian now, that's great for me. And what's going on with you, you sound a lot more… perky. What's up?"

Clark shook his head. Nothing got by Lois. "Nothing's going on. I'm just looking forward to seeing you. Is that a crime?"

"I don't know. Gonna let me borrow your handcuffs if I say yes?"

Even with no one around to hear her, Clark turned a shade of red. "Something tells me you have your own by now."

"You should know better than to ask a girl for her secrets Smallville, that takes the fun out of it. And I'm looking forward to seeing you too. Is your mom still expecting us for dinner tonight?"

"Yea, she told me to remind you. I was going to call you on my lunch break."

"That sounds perfect. I just have to do something for this story, and I'll see you guys around seven, that good?"

"Sounds perfect Lois. Be careful, alright?"

"Aren't I always? Don't answer that, gotta go, love you."

"I love you too Lois. See you tonight." Flipping his phone closed, Clark stared at it and chuckled to himself. Putting it back in his pocket, he pulled the small box out and looked it over again. He knew the time was coming, very soon.

The radar gun beeped again, this time the tones running closer together and higher pitched. Looking at the screen, Clark pushed the ring back into his pocket as he fired the Charger up. "76 in a 55. Someone's in a hurry." Hitting the siren, Clark took off after the car, flinging dirt and grass before the tires squealed on the asphalt. Grabbing for the mic, Clark keyed up his radio. "Sheriff Kent to dispatch, Sheriff Kent to dispatch, you read me?"

"Gotcha Sheriff, go."

"I got a speeder out here, late 90s Jeep Cherokee. Minnesota plates, license number Kilo-November-Tango-2-4-7. Any outstandings?"

"One second… no outstandings Sheriff."

"Thanks dispatch. I'll check back later." Setting the mic back into place, Clark pulled over behind the Cherokee as it stopped in the grass. Grabbing his ticket book Clark shut the car off and stepped out, fixing his sunglasses as he shut the door. Walking up to the driver's side he reached for the pen in his pocket. "License and registration please."

"Well this is a heck of a welcoming committee."

Shutting his eyes tightly, Clark reached up and pulled the shades from his face. "You gotta be kidding me." Stepping in front of the driver's side door, Clark leaned down and finally opened his eyes. "Kara. What are you doing here?"

The perky blonde grinned up at him, giving a little wave. "Hey big cuz. Miss me?"

/

Good start? Trash bin fodder? Lemme know what you think folks. Have a good one.