Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville, but I am considering buying it…

Chapter 6
Pete shuffled through Chloe's office. Everything was still stone except for the snake, which lay on Chloe's desk. He picked it up and stared at it. "Why did the snake turn back? What is it about the snake that made it revert back to its original form? What does it have?"

Then it hit Pete like a brick wall. It was so obvious that Pete wondered if Chloehad beenhit that hard that she couldn't see it. The venom.

Pete wheeled around and found himself face to face with Lana and Lex.

"What are you doing here?" They all asked each other at the same time. Lana answered first.

"We're looking for Chloe, we have some news on Samantha that might help a little bit. You?"

"I think I found an antidote to the stone effect." Pete said, "The venom."

"Pete," Lex interjected, "Do you think I can send that snake to a lab so I can get it analyzed?" Pete turned to Lex, the disgust showing on his face.

"I think we should just get the venom out and give it to Chloe, for protection."

"Then at least let me have my scientist extract the venom from the snake."

"Fine," Pete said, "but we get the venom. All of it. None goes off to some stupid lab for investigations and experiments." Lex nodded, then Lana and Pete followed him out to his Porsche for a little road trip.

"Jonathon, I'm worried." Martha Kent pulled her brown sweater tighter around her shoulders. She sat by the window, the cup of coffee in her hand had long ago gone cold and still remained untouched. Jonathon Kent pulled up a seat besides her. He had just finished his chores, and as usual, he was oblivious to the current situation.

"What's wrong Martha?"

"It's 6:00 and Clark is not home."

Jonathon smiled, amazed at how overprotective his wife was. "He's probably with his friends, he'll be home soon. Besides, 6:00 is still very early, Martha."

Martha sighed. "That's what I thought to, but I called Chloe's father and he hadn't seen her all day, and Pete's mom said Pete went out to find Chloe, and the Talon Staff said Lana had missed her shift, and Lex's office said that he hadn't shown up for any business appointments." Martha's voice was bordering on hysterical, so Jonathon shushed her.

"Don't worry. We always get all wound up, but it's Clark. He'll be fine."

"But you should've seen what happened to Chloe yesterday!" Martha cried and Jonathon embraced her. He rocked her back and forth while saying soothing words. He knew she wasn't worried just about Clark. She loved Lana, Pete and Chloe like children too, and she knew that Clark would not always be there to save him. Jonathon sighed and realized he knew that too.

Author's Note: I know it's really short today, but I figured I'd leave what happened to Chloe and Clark for later, you know, build up the suspense. I know, I'm such a nerd.

Anyway… review!

-Jacqui