Rudy picked up the last two green rocks and clutched them tightly in his hands. After a few seconds of absorbing their energy, he felt the raw, powerful energy flowing from the rocks suddenly changed to a wave of searing heat; the pain was intense, and his screams echoed loudly in the abandoned metal building.

Rudy dropped the rocks, and they clattered to the floor, smoking, all the color drained from them. He stared at his palms as they shook; they were scorched, as if they had been burned from a fire. The fugitive barely had time to register that fact as his eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he fell to the floor, unconscious.


Perry White grabbed his jacket and shrugged into it when his phone rang. He crossed his office and picked it up. "Perry White," he answered.

"Chief, it's me."

Perry furrowed his eyebrows. "Kent?" he asked, recognizing the voice. "Where are you? We're heading out."

"Already on my way to Smallville, sir."

"So, looking to start in on your mother's cooking without us?" Perry asked wryly, a smile playing on his lips.

"Close. I heard over the police scanner that Rudy Jones escaped while en route to Metropolis, so I thought I'd get a jump start on the investigation."

"Great," Perry muttered before sighing. "So, I guess we're cancelling the party, huh?"

"Well, Superman's already looking for him, so I think we'll be okay."

"If you say so," Perry said. "I guess we'll see you at your parents' place, then."

"Okay."

Perry hung up and grabbed his things before heading out of his office. "Lane!" he shouted as he walked through the bullpen, "Sullivan, Olsen! Let's go!" He watched the trio from the corner of his eyes as he headed to the elevators, and he hid a smile as he saw them scramble to grab their things. He made it to the elevators and pushed the down button, waiting, listening to the voices behind him. The elevator doors opened, and he had just stepped in when Chloe, Lois, and Jimmy came running towards him, almost tripping over each other as they squeezed into the elevator just as the doors closed. The trip leaned against the walls, trying to catch their breaths.

"Cutting it close, don't you think?" Perry asked, smirking as he reached over and pressed the button for the parking garage.

"Where's Clark?" Chloe asked.

"Already in Smallville," Perry replied.

"I thought we were all going together," Chloe said.

"Rudy Jones escaped from his police escort," Perry explained, "so Clark's heading out to investigate."

"So glad he gave us a heads up," Lois muttered, looking upset, but everyone knew it was just a front for how much she was worried about Clark.

"So, I guess that means no party, huh?" Jimmy asked, looking a little upset.

"Actually, party's still on," Perry answered. "Clark said he'll meet us at his parents' place."

"Which means we finally get to meet the mysterious cousin," Lois said with a smile as she glanced at Chloe, "although if someone would stop being so tight-lipped…."

"Hey, I already said all I could," Chloe replied, shrugging and smiling.

"Her name, height, and birthday," Lois retorted. "Information that can be found on a driver's license doesn't count."

"Well, you'll get your chance tonight, Lo," Chloe replied, "but I wouldn't play investigative reporter. Linda's a little shy, and she's still getting adjusted to…well, everything."

"I'm not looking for a story, Chlo," Lois said, almost insulted. "I'm just curious, that's all." She decided to change the subject before she got huffy; she turned to Jimmy. "Hey, Lucy texted me a few minutes ago: she said she's really sorry she couldn't make it."

Jimmy suddenly shifted as he quickly readjusted the shoulder strap of his beat-up camera bag before stuffing his hands in his pockets. "It's okay," he said, shrugging.

Perry raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the young photographer. "Jimmy, I know it's rough not having your mother and girlfriend at your party," he said gently.

"Well, Mom had to work," Jimmy replied, "and it's not like you can help getting a stomach bug, huh?" He forced a brief smile before he looked down at his feet.

"If you want to cancel," Chloe said gently, "I can call the Kents and let them know."

"No," Jimmy said, shaking his head as he looked up. "It'll be nice to get out of the city for a while." He shrugged. "Besides, I've been looking forward to a home-cooked meal." The elevator stopped on their level, and they exited, heading to Perry's parked car.


Three hours later Superman quickly scanned the farm before landing in the front yard. He quickly changed into his civilian clothes before heading up the porch steps; he glanced into the distant field and saw both his father and Linda with the herd; even though it was muddy, they both appeared to be having a good time. The young man smiled as he watched them for a few moments before heading into the house.

"Hey, Mom," he said as he saw his mother working in the kitchen. He breathed in the wonderful aromas that hit his nose and grinned as he walked over to the island and sat on one of the stools. "Oh, man, remind me to thank Jimmy for liking ribs and wings," he sniffed again and grinned some more, "and peach cobbler."

Martha smiled as looked over as she pulled a casserole dish with a loaf of golden brown cornbread and set it on top of the stove; she turned the oven off. "Hi, honey," she said as she busied herself with various tasks in finalizing dinner. "How's the search going?"

"So, Linda filled you in, huh?" Clark said.

"Every detail," Martha answered as she wiped her hands on a towel and walked over.

Clark shrugged. "Well, I found Jones's parachute in the woods south of town," he replied. "I looked around, but there's no sign of him."

"And the crew?"

"I stopped by the hospital to check on them before coming here," Clark answered. "They awoke about half an hour ago, and they're expected to make full recoveries."

"Well, that's good," Martha replied as she pulled out a stack of plates. "So, how did Linda handle herself out there?"

"No offense or anything," Clark said gently, "but I'm a little surprised you and Dad let her go."

"Your father was a little more reluctant," Martha said as she walked over to her son and put the stack on the island, "but I figured with all the times we let you run off to help others," she shrugged, "it was only fair to give Linda the same chance. Of course, if we'd known Rudy Jones was involved, we'd never have let her go."

"Well, there really wasn't much to do," Clark said honestly. "No fires, no injuries to tend to…we actually spent the time talking about her classes," he gave his mother a sideways glance, "and her new—"

"Hello?"

Martha and Clark looked over and saw Perry peering in the half-opened kitchen door; he smiled cheerfully, holding a brightly-colored wrapped gift. Chloe, Lois, and Jimmy stood behind him, smiling; Chloe and Lois also had gifts tucked under their arms.

"Hi, everyone," Martha replied, smiling, as she walked over to greet the guests. "Come on in." She held the door open, letting them inside.

"Whoa, Mrs. Kent," Lois replied, sniffing the air, "that smells wonderful."

Jimmy looked a little surprised as he recognized all the different aromas. "You really made the ribs and wings?" he asked.

"Well, that's what you asked for," Martha replied, smiling at everyone, then she glanced behind them. "Where's Lucy?"

"She got a little stomach bug," Lois said.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Martha replied, glancing sympathetically at Jimmy. She noticed a miserable expression briefly cross his eyes before they brightened up again, but she didn't say anything as she smiled again. "Well, everything'll be ready in about thirty minutes, but you can all get seated at the table now if you want."

"Where are Mr. Kent and Linda?" Chloe asked as she, Perry, and Lois deposited their gifts on the counter and joined Jimmy at the kitchen table.

"Well, that's what you asked for," Martha replied. She noticed a miserable expression briefly cross his eyes before they brightened up again, but she didn't say anything as she smiled at everyone. "Now, everything will be ready in about thirty minutes, but you can all get seated at the table now if you want."

"Where are Mr. Kent and Linda?" Chloe asked as she, Perry, and Lois deposited their gifts on the counter and joined Jimmy at the kitchen table.

"I saw them out with the cows," Clark answered as he grabbed the plates to start setting the table. "It looks like they're finishing up."


"Come on, ladies," Linda said, trudging through the muck mud in her work clothes and a pair of muck boots. She followed the small herd of cows, waving her hands in order to steer them toward the metal pen. "We just put fresh feed and hay in the troughs." A few of the cows bellowed in annoyance, but Linda wouldn't be deterred. "'Mooo' yourself, Elsa. Now, go!" She smacked the rump of the cow, and the cow trotted faster. "Good girl."

Jonathan watched with a smile on his face as he watched the young girl work. He was relieved to see she was no longer afraid of the herd after Uncle Jesse had been sold, but what amused the farmer was how she treated the cows, as well as the rest of the farm animals: she had no problem talking to them, but they seemed to respond to her as well. Jonathan wouldn't have thought much about before today, but he wondered if that was connected to her telepathy; he made a small mental note to ask her about that later. Suddenly, a young heifer named Elizabeth broke from the herd and trotted back toward the backfield.

"Can I get her?" Linda asked as she turned to Jonathan.

"Sure," Jonathan answered.

Linda grinned as she blurred away. Twenty feet into her sprint, she hit a slippery spot and fell, landing face down, sliding for twenty feet before coming to a stop. Jonathan hurried over as she slowly stood up and turned around. Jonathan stopped short when he saw her entire front—face, clothes, feet—covered in thick mud; her blonde hair was blotted with numerous dark brown spots, making her hair look dull and matted.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" Jonathan asked.

Linda removed her mud-covered glasses, her eyes the only clear areas on her. "I'm fine," she replied, slightly annoyed, as she wiped mud from her cheeks.

Jonathan couldn't help but grin. "Why don't you get the rest of the herd in the pen?" he suggested. "I'll get Elizabeth."

"Okay," Linda replied as she carefully walked back to the rest of the herd. Jonathan watched her for a few moments, chuckling softly and shaking his head, before he went to recover the wayward heifer.


"So, what's it like to suddenly have a new member of the family around?" Lois asked before taking a sip of her tea. "I'm sure having another teenager must be really hectic."

"Well, it was for a while," Martha replied as she worked in the kitchen, "but thankfully things have calmed down a bit." Everyone looked over as the kitchen door opened and Jonathan and Linda came walking in. Linda still had a lot of mud covering her front, but her glasses and face were cleared off—mostly.

"What it really necessary?" Jonathan asked, his once-clean shirt covered in a few large splotches of mud; speck dotted his arms and face.

"You're just mad because I'm a good shot," Linda retorted, grinning.

Both father and daughter were oblivious to the six pairs of eyes looking at them: Lois just stared, an eyebrow raised; Clark, Chloe, and Perry appeared slightly amused; and Jimmy's expression was a mixture awe and hilarity.

"What happened?" Martha asked, stopping and staring, completely mortified. Jonathan and Linda looked over, noticing their audience for the first time.

"Hi, honey," Jonathan replied cheerfully.

"Don't 'honey' me, mister," Martha said as she walked over. "What happened?"

"Well," Linda said, smiling, "we were putting the cows up for the night, and Elizabeth bolted from the herd, so I ran off to get her. I tripped and fell into some mud."

"And then Linda decided to throw some at me when I returned with Elizabeth," Jonathan added.

"You were laughing at me," Linda retorted, still smiling.

"Only because you looked adorable," Jonathan replied, tweaking her nose a little.

Martha sighed, trying not to look too upset. "Okay, you two," she said. "Our guests are here, and dinner should be ready in a few minutes, so why don't you both go get cleaned up?" Jonathan and Linda started for the stairs, but Martha held up her hand. "Hold it. Lose the boots, or you two can spend the evening cleaning the floors.

Jonathan and Linda quickly removed their boots, setting them near outside on the porch before crossing the kitchen and heading up the stairs. Martha sighed and shook her head before continuing her work. "Sorry about that."

"So, that's Linda?" Lois asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Somewhere under that mud, yes," Martha answered wryly.

"Well, you were right, Mom," Clark said, grinning. "Things have sure calmed down around here." Martha shot a look at him, even though she couldn't help but smile herself.

(End of Chapter 4)