Lex was driving down Smallville with his new sister. He wonders what exactly she did to get Lionel to welcome her home as he knows Lionel would do everything necessary to keep an illegitimate heir under wraps but she got through and now has a place at his mansion. She is a curious one. She looked at the plant and was interested in the day to day so at least she's not just riding the trust fund. He picks up the phone and jut talks into it.

Tess sees Lex pick up the phone and buckles herself up. This is not going to be fun. But if she can avoid getting knocked out it will look like she accidentally discovered Clark's secret. Lex hits the barbed wire and knocks Clark into the river with them. Tess braces herself as the car hits the water and she manages to avoid the dashboard knowing what was coming. She unbuckled herself and went to work freeing Lex as his Porsche is given a new sunroof by Clark.

Clark stares in terror for a moment since the redhead is perfectly fine. Clark can worry about his secret later. Clark takes the guy to sure and lays him down.

Tess swims to shore wondering if maybe she can get Clark to not resuscitate Lex. It would save the world a whole lot of trouble. She quickly changes her mind realizing Clark would never go through with it and watches him resuscitate Lex.

Lex coughs up water and looks at Clark. "Could have sworn I hit you."

Tess just shakes her head. "You missed him but not by much." Tess answers finally letting Clark breathe again.

Lex thinks it over maybe he was just panicked with how close to the car he was.

Jonathon came to get Clark and couldn't help but notice the looks Tess and Clark were giving each other. Did she see something? He turns to Clark. "Clark, are you alright?"

Clark just nodded and Jonathon turned to the Luthors. "So which one of you was the maniac driving that Porsche?"

Lex just smirked. "That would be me. Lex Luthor."

Jonathon just looked at him and got Clark before turning to Tess. "And you are."

"Tess Mercer" Tess introduced herself. "You've got a brave son Mr. Kent." Tess turned to Clark. "Thank you for saving my brother…and me."

"I'm sure you would have done the same for me." Clark replied.

Jonathon just glared at Tess. "Tell your brother to drive slower."

Tess just nodded. Chloe wasn't kidding when she said Jonathon really hated the Luthor name though considering what Lex turned into it wasn't exactly unfounded. Tess just sat down next to her brother. "So, did you see any fish?"

Lex just smirked at his sister's apparent dark sense of humor.

Tess just sat up in the Kent barn the next night not that much has really changed at all. Tess is in thought trying to decide what to change and what not to change. She decides that she won't change much of anything for Clark and Lex this year as things actually go pretty well for them. At most she'll talk to Lex in time and see if she can get him to drop his obsession with Clark before it consumes him like it did before. She'll try recruiting this year three people in particular. And at the end of the year she'll see about getting Clark to open his eyes about what's right in front of him.

Clark walks up to the barn and sees Tess. "You came alone."

Tess just turned around. He really didn't change much in 10 years. "It's not like I was going to show up with guys in suits and sunglasses."

Clark just smiled. "I was expecting like the army maybe."

Tess just looked at him. He's afraid. "You're scared I'm going to expose your secret."

Clark just weakly nodded.

Tess just laughed. "Clark you saved my life and you saved my brother's life what kind of person would I be if I ratted you out like that. I don't care if you got bitten by a radioactive spider or bombarded by gamma radiation. Your secret is safe with me."

Clark just smiled and pulled out a set of keys. "Look about the truck."

Tess just smiled and took the keys. "I told Lex it was a waste of time but he insisted."

Clark just smiled this was an interesting night. First he was actually able to talk to Lana and then Tess learns part of his secret and doesn't even see it as a big deal. All in all this day could have gone a whole lot worse considering what he found out. "You know there are times when I wish I was normal."

Tess just shrugged. "You are normal to me."

Clark just smiled and Tess was running a mantra in her head of '14, 19' remembering the current age difference between the two. Tess walked down the steps and to the exit. "I'm a good listener whenever you need to talk about anything."

Clark just nodded and watched her go in a smile. It's nice to know someone who knows his secret well part of his secret and wasn't a parent.

Tess let the next three weeks play out as they normally would. Sadly she had forgotten who Greg Arkin was so she couldn't do anything to save his mother. But as Clark told her you can't save everyone and will likely lose your mind trying. Tess stood outside the savings and loans she was here today because of watchtower. When the Suicide Squad made Chloe disappear she was left in charge of Watchtower and got a full look at the original wall of weird. It was there on a weekend with Clark where he showed her the who's who of Smallville. She saw potential in a lot of them if they had someone looking out for them which she's hoping she can be. Tess sees her brother coming close to the bank.

Tess just stares at him. "What are you doing here Lex?"

Lex just stared at her. Oh crap she knows him. What is he going to do? Just tell her the truth you're a Luthor now. "I'm emptying my accounts and leaving Smallville."

"Well hope you're ready to write your arm off with all the signatures." Tess quipped. "I think I signed over my first born just closing a $200 account."

Lex stopped at the door damn it she forgot bout that. Well this plan is going to hell fast. "Good for you now excuse me."

Tess just sighed she'll try the truth now as Lex opens the door. "Let's try another way. I know who you are…Tina."

Tina Greer swallowed deep. "How do you know who I am? Did the meteor shower do something to you too?"

Tess just shrugged. "Not exactly, I can see the future if you do this you'll throw your life away."

Tina glared at her. "We don't have a future. I'm just trying to get us the perfect life."

Tess just rolled her eyes. "There's no such thing as a perfect life."

"Lana's is." Tina replied.

Tess is currently trying to keep a straight face. Tess struggles for 10 seconds but fails and starts laughing like a fool. Hey her brother stabbed her and she's changing the future you take laughter where you can get it. "Tina, Lana's life is just as screwed up as the rest of ours."

Tina just glared at her Lana is perfection there are no chinks in her armor. "You lie!"

"I don't." Tess assured her. "You know that meteor rock she wears?"

Tina just nodded.

"Prolonged exposure actually led to a pheremone that makes meteor freaks become sexually obsessed with her." Tess explained from Emil's blood work of her right before she left.

Tina breaths a sigh of relief that explains a certain dream she had last week. "So what do you want?"

Tess just breathed. "I saw the future in short the future sucks mainly because we all die. I want to offer you a job it will certainly be a change of life for you. Maybe help you step out of Lana's shadow and get a better life."

Tina was in thought the fact that she's trying so hard must mean she really doesn't want this bank robbed. "What happens if I go in this bank?"

"You get caught, you hurt your mom by accident and eventually well…"

Tina just put her hands up. "I get it. So…do you have a name or do I tell my mom I'm working for someone called Future Girl."

Tess just smiled. "Tess Mercer, Ms. Greer welcome to…I'm going to have to make up a company well that's for tomorrow."

"So what now?" Tina asked.

"Go home" Tess answered. "In a couple weeks we'll get started with training you."

Tess smiles seeing Tina walk off content. Clark always felt remorse that Tina's life came to what it was but that won't happen now not that it was his fault to begin with. She'll go home this afternoon and call Oliver about setting up a shell organization in Queen Industries. She hears her cell phone go off and rolls her eyes. Seriously she was less busy saving the world as Watchtower.

That night Tess is on her way back to the Kent Barn. She has a feeling she's going to be here a lot over the next decade. She should see about setting Clark up with a pool table or blackjack something to do while they have their talks. She sees Clark looking hard at the floor. "You called?"

Clark just nodded without looking away at the floor. "Very strange day and I'd rather not talk about it with my parents."

Tess just sat down on the couch. She's guessing he just got heat vision or X-ray vision. "So what happened?"

Clark was just looking at the floor good news there is someone close to his own age to talk to bad news it's a girl. "Kind of had something happen at school."

"OK, what kind of something." Tess asked.

Clark glued his eyes to the floor. Well it's either Tess or his mom…Tess it is. "I was at gym today we were climbing rope and I fell."

Tess just listened. "OK I don't understand why that involves not looking at me but continue."

Clark was nervous but started. "When I got to the top my head hurt and everything sort of went X-Ray."

Tess just nodded she knew it was X-Ray vision. "OK so seeing bones that's a new one. Anything else happen?"

Clark was nervous. "Yeah, when I landed. I kind of looked into the woman's locker room…right through the wall."

Tess just smiled she didn't think it was possible for Clark to be anymore shy than he was at 24. Tess tries to get him to look at her but Clark's head isn't moving. "OK Clark you can look at me or I can bend down and flash you so there is nothing to hide between us your choice."

Clark's face turned red and he looked up at Tess while trying to hide it.

Tess just smiled. "OK Clark your eye it's a muscle just like any other part of your body. I'm sure there is a way to control it you just have to practice."

Clark's face goes even redder.

"Not on me!" Tess just puts her wallet on the table and stands behind Clark. "OK now how much money do I have in there?"

Tess is just standing there as Clark squints his eyes well the glasses might not be a bad idea in the future as people will just chalk off X-ray vision as a stigmatism. Tess just puts her hands on her shoulders as sign of support. "Come on Clark you can do this."

Just like that the vision returned and Clark saw inside the wallet seeing a folded in half fifty and a pair of twenties. "I thought a Luthor would carry more then ninety dollars."

Tess just smiled. "Well I'm new at being a Luthor. Give it time." Tess took her wallet and put it back in her purse. "See no big deal just keep practicing and you'll have it under control in no time."

Clark just smiled watching Tess leave. He doesn't think he's ever met a girl like her strong, supportive, and she offered to flash him. He wonders if she'd go through with it. Now his head hurts again but this isn't a headache this feels like his skull is on fire.

Tess got into her car and saw the barn ignite in flames. Chloe's files already have it listed what the trigger was and she repeats 14, 19 again. That is a job for Clark's parents.

Tess drives a couple blocks from the mansion and sees soldiers in formation. Damn she thought she had 2 years before these guys show up. She just puts her hands behind her back as she's bound and tagged. She wishes she could just tell them no but then they'd do this a lot more forcefully to arrange a one on one with her.

Tess is driven to an old truck so this will be the meeting. Only this time instead of saying yes and 'serve' her country she'll say a resounding hell no.

Tess is taken into the truck and sees a statuesque African American woman. Amanda Waller the same white queen form before well until Zod killed her anyway. But considering both women were killed by clones of dead men Tess wouldn't be surprised if Waller was still alive in the original timeline.

"Ms. Mercer take a seat." Tess did as told no reason to be rude.

Waller smiled. "Drink"

Probably how they got that parasite into her the first time. "Not thirsty"

Waller just nodded. "You look like you want to know why you're here so I'm just going to keep is short and brief. We want you to look over your family's…"

"No" Tess answered without hesitation.

Waller just looked at her. "You didn't even let me finish."

Tess just sighed. "You were going to ask me to spy on my family. I'm sorry but I won't do it I kind of like the idea of having a family."

Waller just frowned. "We're giving you a chance to serve your country."

Tess just shrugged. "For all I know I was born in Scotland." This isn't that far from the truth thanks to Granny Goodness.

Waller rolls her eyes she thought this girl was bright. "Fine, just remember if one of daddy's projects level a city it's on you do you really want that?"

Tess just shrugged. "When did agriculture become so aggressive?"

Waller just sighed. She's an idiot that hit the genetic jackpot. She pulls out a tranq and shoots Tess who stumbles to the floor hoping she put up enough of an airhead act not to call in Lord. "Drive Ms. Mercer home she's worthless."

Tess wakes up to a bold man tapping the side of her car. Once her vision clears she sees that it's Lex. Well at least it wasn't one of Oliver's tazers. Lex opens the car and helps Tess up who legs instantly go out and feel like jelly.

"You might want to lay off the drinking sis." Lex quipped at her drunken stupor.

Tess just weakly nodded. "Not my best moment. But I pulled over."

Lex had a rare smile knowing she's likely too drunk to remember it. He imagines this is what he would have been doing right now with Julian as this was when he would have likely discovered the joys of alcohol to avoid Lionel by now. Lex got her up to his room and put her to bed. One day she'll work up to his level of drinking. "Good night Tess."

"Bastard" Tess quipped from the bed seeing the future for a moment.

Tess woke up the next morning with a raging hangover. Maybe she should have told Waller about Davis Bloom that would have been a fun site. But hey at least now Checkmate thinks she's just a harmless idiot billionaire. That shouldn't be hard. Future Oliver just makes it look hard because he's an idiot that can't keep his mouth shut.

She walked into Lex's study and sees him playing pool. "Morning"

Lex just nodded. "Morning…so am I going to get the details of why you were piss drunk last night."

Lex just looked at her he could almost see her brain coming back online.

"Depends are you going to tell me why there's a beautiful pair of earrings on your desk?" Tess asked.

Lex shrugged. "Met a girl a couple nights back. You"

Tess shrugged. "Met a guy didn't work."

Tess looks over the earrings. "So when do I meet her?"

"Who?" Lex asked.

Tess took the card. "The girl you got these lovely earrings…" She read the card it read to Shannon. As in Shannon Bell who killed two people trying to give Lex what...well he actually deserved.

Lex just looked at her. "Well it's a one time thing I thought it would be a nice…"

"You say thank you I will kick your ass." Tess warned.

Lex actually backed up a little. "I didn't want anything further than one night."

"Then tell her that don't send her earrings." Tess said sternly.

"Earrings are better then what you usually get in a one night stand." Lex countered.

Tess just grabbed him by the suit. "Lex telling her the truth is the best you get from a one night stand. It doesn't matter how nice of a thing you get her. Ending a one night stand with giving her something and never talking to her again is paying the hooker."

Lex frowned OK his sister is scary. "I'll call."

Tess just sat there and watched. Hopefully this won't get too bad all things considered.

Lex just hung up the phone. "Happy now she yelled at me for about 5 minutes and called me something I'd rather not repeat."

Tess just smiled. "Little bit yeah."

Lex just sighed. "So what's on your agenda today?"

Tess thought about whether or not she should tell him but then decided with the best lie which will contain as much of the truth as possible. "I am off to see my own ex in Metropolis so that should be fun."

Lex just smirked apparently she's speaking from experience. "Do you need the strong and supportive big brother?"

Tess just smirked. "I can handle him. I actually pistol whipped him once."

"And dad says you're not really a Luthor." Lex quipped as Tess left.

Tess met Oliver right outside the Daily Planet disguised. They both agreed to wear disguises. No need to have the world wonder what Oliver Queen was doing with the newest Luthor heiress over lunch. Tess looked at the accounts Oliver gave her and her eyes bugged out. "I hope I'm not getting any form of special treatment here because you want me."

"You're not." Oliver answered. "That thing you said to me on the way back. How a lot of people are going to thank me for helping them. I have a feeling I'm not going to be the only one that gets thank yous. This is just to help get you started."

Tess looks it over the same front company she asked him to set up. Oliver always did do whatever was necessary. "Artemis Global Consortium thank you for this."

Oliver just nodded. "Just make sure it gets put to good use and we'll call it even Mercy. It's a good thing you called when you did. I'm going to be off the grid for a while."

Tess just looked at him and smiled. This Oliver hasn't broken her heart because she hasn't let him. Maybe they can be good friends in this time. Tess was in thought off the grid? He must be learning the finer arts of archery with Vordigan sooner. She'll let this be for now. She may be a good guy but she's no angel either. Besides she's going to be using that money as early in half an hour. "Take care of yourself Oliver."

Tess just hugs him and Oliver hugs back. "You too Tess. This isn't the end."

A month later and Tess is ready to go. She used a chunk of the money to buy what had become her home away from home; The Watchtower. Tess enters the remodeled building with Tina who is left in awe.

Tina just looked around. "What is this place?"

"A beacon" Tess answered. "A place for people like us."

"A lab for the freaks." Tina quipped.

"A place for the team." Tess answered. "Once we start recruiting more."

Tina just rolled her eyes. "You realize your first recruit is an attempted bank robber."

Tess just looked at her. "Don't be so hard on yourself. We might just make a hero out of you yet."

Tina just smiled a hero her she certainly doesn't see it. "I'd like to see that."

"You just might." Tess replied before handing Tina her first paycheck. "If you take this job it has the potential to be a lot of hours and maybe life threatening."

Tina just saw the paycheck. Good money and a secret agent. "I'm in. So where do we start?"

"First I train you, and then we get another recruit." Tess answered as her phone rang. "Hello?"

Tina saw Tess' face go from calm to panic to shock and rage all in the lines of a conversation as Tess hung up the phone. "So boyfriend or parent?"

"Neither" Tess answered. "Farmer that was Martha Kent. Apparently something's happening at the Smallville Plant so this is going to have to wait until tomorrow to get started."

"Is Lana OK?" Tina asked out of curiosity she's keeping her distance but she was still her friend.

Tess just nodded. "She's fine my brother got everyone else out of the building except for himself and the gunman. I'm sorry Tina but I have to get to Smallville."

Tina just nodded. "Of course"

Tess nearly growled at the drive. How the hell did Chloe do this all those years? No wonder why she made it look like she killed herself this was 15 hours of her week right here. 21 when she became Watchtower. Maybe Tess shouldn't hold off on the second recruit that long.

Tess drove up and walked out and ran up to see Lex and Lionel having an argument.

Lex glared at his father. "You lied to me."

Lionel just gave a smug shrug. "No, no I didn't. I said Level 3 wasn't on any plans. It wasn't. It's plausible deniability."

"What were you doing down there?" Lex asked.

Lionel just shrugged. "It doesn't matter. It was a failure; we closed the door and moved on."

Lex glared at his 'father' he swears the world would be better off if he just killed him one day. "You almost got me killed."

"No, you almost got yourself killed. It was your call, remember? " Lionel reminded him.

A reporter ran up. "Mr. Luthor!"

Lionel just turned to Lex. "I'll handle this."

"Mr. Luthor, what can you tell us about Level 3?" The reporter asked.

Lionel just smiled putting on a show. "I think you're referring to a redundant storage area at the base of the plant. Mr. Jenkins is a very sick man who desperately needs medical attention…"

Lex cut in. "That's why my father and I have pledged to find Mr. Jenkins the best medical care possible. He was a Luthorcorp employee and here at Luthorcorp, we always put family first. Isn't that right, Dad?"

"Mr. Luthor, is it true the government is trying to shut you down?" The reporter asked.

Lionel just 'hugged' Lex. "No, no, no. No more questions, please. My son has been through quite an ordeal today."

Lex sees Clark in the embrace of the Kents both are so relieved to see Clark alive. His own dad took the hug for PR and to stop the questions. Once the hug stopped Lionel was just as quickly gone after sharing a mutual glare with Tess.

Tess just looked at him and walked up and hugged him. "What you did today was very brave."

Lex just smiled and hugged her back. "At least someone thinks so."

The two broke apart and Tess punched him in the arm. "Just try to be more careful if the worst ever happens I'm stuck with Lionel."

Lex just shook his arm. "Don't worry Tess if I'm ever murdered it will be with a needle in the arm for killing dear old dad."

Tess just smiled. "So I'm heading home in the truck it's not much but Lionel is in the limo."

Lex and Tess walk by the Kents and just let them have their moment. Clark looks up and sees Tess and the redhead just smiled in gratitude knowing it was Clark who saved her brother.

Authors Notes

Thanks for all the reviews

Seriously she wore kryptonite for 10 years straight but I guess Lana's Mary Sue-ness deflected radiation poisoning and mutation.

Up Next: The second recruit also Tess and Jonathon