The journey back to the farm had been awkward.
Clark looked over the other passengers in the truck. His mom was driving with one hand on the wheel, her other arm resting on the open window frame of the driver's side door.
Sitting next to her was Lindsey, who had been brainwashed by Jor-El to believe she was his Kryptonian cousin Kara. Apparently she had been staying with mom on the farm the whole time Clark had been trapped in the caves, getting his own version of the Jor-El treatment. Every now and again she would turn her head to look back at the ruins of the caves that she had helped him and Kal destroy, before turning back and grinning like a monkey.
And finally there was the raven haired beauty sitting between Lindsey and himself, who had introduced herself as Jenny Calendar. She was sitting still with a taser clutched to her chest with both hands. Lost in her own thoughts.
He really wanted to apologise to everyone for Kal-El, sorry my brainwashed version of me tried to kill you didn't quite cut it. And as for Kal? This wasn't the first time his rebellious nature had run wild. It was definitely the first time he'd done so independently. Kal's memories and emotions of the fight, the destruction of the caves and that damn machine, were still clear in his head. Not to mention being able to remember the whole thing from two distinct perspectives.
There was also the fact that he had recognised Jenny from their one night together in Metropolis. But the last thing he wanted to do was have that discussion, especially when his mom was in hearing distance.
So Clark kept his mouth shut and enjoyed his newly earned freedom from Jor-El and all of his manipulations.
The first thing Martha did when they got back was place the green and black Kryptonite in separate containers under the sink. She then made coffee for everybody to give her hands something to do while her body tried to release the nervous energy it no longer needed.
As everybody filed in she noticed how Clarks eyes followed Jenny.
"I know you, don't I?" Jenny whirled around to face him and prayed he wouldn't talk about that here and now.
With her back to Lindsey and Martha, Jenny eyes screamed at him, DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT METROPOLIS! DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT METROPOLIS!
"Introductions are in order." Lindsey moved forward and stuck her hand out to Clark and Jenny.
"Lindsey Harrison, former herald of Jor-El brainwashed to think I was Kara. But thanks to Martha I'm now going by Lindsey Kent, distant cousin from california." Jenny wanted to hug the tall blonde at that moment. Instead, she smiled and took the offered hand.
"Janna Kalderash, born into a Romani gypsy clan that has been keeping it's eyes on powerful individuals for centuries. But I go by Jenny Calendar, Smallville high's newest computer science teacher." Clark finally got the hint and exchanged handshakes with them.
"Kal-El, last son of Krypton, sent to conquer earth and 'rule them with strength' by Jor-El." Everybody looked at him as he raised his arms and paused for dramatic effect.
Clark shook his head as he dropped his arms. "But I prefer Clark Kent, high school senior and newest tryout for the football team. Besides, mom would kill me if I didn't go to college first." Lindsey sniggered as Martha and Jenny shared a sigh of relief for different reasons.
Before Martha could comment the phone rang.
"So let me see if i've got this right." Jenny paused long enough to take a sip of her first decent cup of coffee since arriving in the midwest. "You ran through the wall?" Lindsey was giggling again at the mental imagery of Clark pulling a looney tune-esque stunt.
Clark just groaned in response. "I was six years old, my speed had a habit of kicking in randomly and I didn't know how to control it." Lindsey was now outright laughing.
"So that's when your mom came up with the 'no running in the house' rule?" Clark just nodded. Despite everything, it was nice to be able to talk about his powers to someone other than his parents. Pete had tried, but in the end he couldn't cope with it and had moved away from Smallville.
Lindsey was looking at the measuring post while she tried to get her laughter under control. "So heat vision, check, super strength, check, super speed . . . hey, is this right?"
Clark turned to look at what Lindsey was pointing at. "They're all accurate." Clark confirmed.
Jenny turned to look as well. Holy crap! "You really did grow fast."
Looking at her own 'J.K. 14' before looking at the 'C.K's that were above it. There hadn't been time to really notice before. Oh that is so unfair! "You mean to tell me you've been this tall since you were twelve years old?"
Clark gave an innocent shrug. "What can I say, I was a healthy, growing boy. Mom was just relieved that I finally stopped." Which for a couple raising an alien child, had been a real concern at the time.
"What about x-ray vision?" Lindsey quickly changed the subject. Only to watch as Jenny nearly choked on her coffee, before asking with a bewildered voice.
"X-ray vision?" When both Clark and Lindsey nodded in the affirmative, Jenny knew they weren't joking.
"It only works when I, we, focus our eyes." Clark said with a questioning look at Lindsey who nodded her head in confirmation. "Except lead, can't see through lead at all." Jenny nodded her head at this information, the whole time thinking, must remember to look into lead lining my apartment.
"What about flying?" At this both Lindsey and Clark looked uncertain. Which was odd.
"Kal-El could, so stands to reason I could too. I'm not sure, I'm also in no hurry to try." Jenny accepted that even though it seemed to her like a great power to have. She Turned her head to Lindsey with a questioning look.
Lindsey shrugged, "Only with a jet-pack. Do they have those now?" Clark and Jenny both shook their heads wiping the hopeful look off the blondes face.
"What about hover-boards?" Again her hopeful look was dashed by Jenny and Clark.
"The future sucks!" Lindsey mumbled before looking down at the floor in disappointment.
"Vampires are real." Jenny said in an effort to console the girl.
It seemed to do the trick, Lindsey perked up at that. "Really? You're not just saying that?"
Jenny nodded. "They can't go out in daylight, survive decapitation, a stake through the heart, or enter private residences without an invitation. Public buildings like a school after sundown are fair game." Jenny noticed Clark straighten at her last comment.
"That was you that night wasn't it?" Jenny had already put it together in her head. Clark simply nodded.
"Thank you for saving my life. What were you doing in Sunnydale?" Clark took a deep breath before answering.
"Do you know who Virgil Swann is?" At Jenny's nod and Lindsey's shrug of indifference, Clark continued. "He had spent the better part of his life trying to translate transmissions that were sent from Krypton. He believed they were a message. After tracking me down he showed me them and that's when I found out about the kind of planet I had come from. I was more than a little distracted running back from New York . . ."
"New York?" Jenny couldn't help blurting out.
"Manhattan to be exact." Clark answered with a self-deprecating smile. "I can run really fast remember. So I was running back from Manhattan and didn't stop until I nearly crashed into a school building, guess I was a little distracted. Anyway, I turned myself around and was about to get moving when I saw you running away from that guy in the long coat. The rest you know."
Jenny took a moment to try and reconcile just how a person runs from Manhattan to Sunnydale.
Lindsey just looked annoyed. "Well I don't! What happened?"
"I was being chased by Angelus, a particularly nasty vampire who wanted me dead because my clan were the ones who put the soul of the body he was inhabiting back in charge leaving him trapped." Jenny fought the shudders the memory of that night sent through her body.
"Come again?" Lindsey asked.
"A vampire is made when the soul leaves and a demon basically car jacks your body and goes for a joyride. What my clan did was magically hogtie the demon and stick it on the backseat, putting the original owner back behind the wheel." Jenny explained what had been done to Angel.
"So why was he after you?" Lindsey asked while mentally filing away everything she was being told about vampires and demons and magic.
Jenny sighed before answering. Having already decided she wouldn't lie to these people. They had already shown an incredible amount of trust and she would do nothing to betray that.
Taking another sip of coffee she answered. "Because no-one knew that if he got happy then his soul would move on. My Clan cursed him because the demon killed one of their daughters. They decided killing it was too good for it. But demons don't feel remorse or guilt. So they put his soul back in his body to punish him."
Lindsey jumped to her feet in outrage. "But that's sick! You said the soul wasn't responsible! Why punish some poor guy who got body-jacked?" Jenny shook her head. I said the same thing when I found out.
"Because my ancestors were hurt and angry. Hell, they were fools." And I nearly did the same thing to him, just so I could be accepted again. Jenny dismissed the old thoughts that re-entered her head. She'd gone back the next day after her near miss and destroyed her notes, the disc, everything. Not wishing that fate on anybody. Wherever you are Angel, I hope you're at peace.
Noticing the look on Jenny's face. Lindsey quickly changed the subject. "What is that crystal thing Clark?" Clark placed the Crystal he'd been holding in the middle of the table while Lindsey retook her seat.
When she had helped Clark and Kal destroy the caves, it had been the only thing left. Everything else had vaporised under a triple dose of heat vision.
"Fire." Murmured Lindsey when she looked at the symbol.
"You can read that?" Clark asked with concern in his voice. Jenny just leaned in to get a closer look.
"Apparently. I look at the symbol and the word fire pops into my head. Where'd you get this anyway?" Lindsey interlocked her fingers and twiddled her thumbs nervously. Apparently i've got the language skills to go with my Kryptonian abilities.
"Took it from Kal-El, who took it from a Jet in mid-flight." Clark answered before remembering it was a Luthorcorp jet. I really hope everyone onboard is okay. And that no-one saw me.
"Why didn't you guys destroy it?" Jenny asked, while resisting the urge to touch it. Even if it is from another planet.
"Believe me, we tried. This thing can survive a triple shot of heat vision, I have no idea what could destroy it." Clark looked to Jenny and Lindsey, hoping they had an option.
"Better put it someplace safe for now, how about we bury it somewhere?" Lindsey suggested. Jenny nodded in agreement, if only because the temptation to touch it was starting to worry her.
Clark rose to his feet. "Any suggestions where?" Jenny and Lindsey followed him outside. After looking around, Jenny pointed to a fence post.
"How deep do those posts go?" Lindsey smirked and effortlessly pulled it up and out, revealing that it had been two feet deep into the ground. Long enough for an arm to reach the bottom without having to make the hole wider with tools. Still, it would look pretty funny for someone to try explaining why they were up to their armpit in the ground.
Clark sealed the crystal in a small metal container. The Kents seemed to have a stock of them. Then gently dropped it into the hole. Allowing Lindsey to push it a little deeper with the post before everybody turned back to the house.
"What about flying cars?" Lindsey asked out loud, making Clark and Jenny smile.
"Sorry Lindsey, no." Jenny answered, knowing Lindsey was fighting the urge to stamp her foot in annoyance.
"Before Jor-El kidnapped my ass, everybody said we'd have flying cars, jet packs, hover boards, the works! I've been asleep for fourteen years, you'd think the future would be like the Jetsons by now!"
Clark couldn't help it, he cracked up listening to Lindsey complain about the apparent lack of progress. Unable to resist poking the proverbial angry bear with a stick, Clark told Lindsey.
"We don't have robot pets either." Jenny didn't think it was possible for Lindsey to get more wound up.
"SUCKS! I TELL YOU! THE FUTURE SUCKS!" flinging her hands up in annoyance, Lindsey followed Clark and Jenny into the house.
Jenny observed Lindsey watching nervously for any sign of the truck Mrs Kent was using to drive Mr Kent back from the hospital. The phone call had been to let them know Mr Kent was awake.
Every few minutes she would get up from the kitchen table and walk over to the window and take a peak. Then come back and sit down.
It was getting to the point where she was starting to super-speed between table and window and Jenny was starting to worry.
Clark wasn't as worried.
"Lindsey, would you relax, they'll be here when they'll be here." It had been decided that Mrs Kent would go and get Mr Kent alone. That way she could break all of the news to him gently. And not run the risk of shocking him back into a coma.
"Easy for you to say, you were all little and cute when you made your first impression. I insulted your folks and tried to kidnap you when it was my turn." Lindsey bit her lip as all of her nervous energy prevented her from sitting still.
So that's what this is about! She was worried they would turn her away. Jenny shared a mischievous look with Clark.
"Anyone ever tell you that you worry too much?" Clark asked with a mischievous smile. Lindsey turned to him with such a look of anger it was a wonder Clark was still standing. Even with his invulnerability.
"Clark be nice. It's not like Mr Kent is going to immediately find his shotgun and chase her off his land." Lindsey mouthed thank you to Jenny as she turned back to the window. "He'd probably need at least a day to make kryptonite shells for the gun first."
Lindsey spun back to face Jenny with such a look of horror. Before realising both Clark and Jenny were silently cracking up.
"You two are NOT FUNNY!" They were spared any more from the irate teen when the truck finally arrived. Unable to wait any longer, Lindsey ran out the door to greet Martha and Jonathan.
The tall blonde quickly schooled her features into a look of welcome as they got out of the truck.
Even from this distance the elder Kents could feel her nervousness as she hesitantly approached. Before she could say anything Jonathan spoke. "Martha tells me you've been staying on the farm with her while Clark and I were . . . away. And that you're calling yourself Lindsey Kent now"
She nodded quickly, too scared to speak. Jonathan noted out of the corner of his eyes that Martha seemed to be giving him a curious look. Crossing his arms he continued.
"Funny thing is, I don't remember having a niece." Her eyes suddenly found something over by the barn intensely interesting to look at as her lip trembled in heartbroken resignation.
"Welcome to the family, I'm your uncle Jonathan." In the space of a heartbeat Lindsey's surprised eyes snapped back to face him and with a sob of relief she wrapped him up in a rib cracking hug. As soon as the surprise wore off Jonathan awkwardly reciprocated. The whole time Martha watched with a proud smile at the good man she'd married.
"Toldja." Clark's voice came from the doorway as he smiled at his newly extended family.
"Fine." Came Lindsey's muffled reply. Jonathan stifled a chuckle as Lindsey refused to let go. Jenny just hid behind her coffee cup and felt happy for her friend as Clark stood on the porch with a smug look on his face.
"I think we have a few things to talk about." Lindsey finally relinquished the hug and everybody turned back into the house.
Taking that as he cue to leave, Jenny handed Clark her empty mug and made her way down the steps to her car.
"Where are you going?" Martha asked.
"This is a family thing, I don't want to intrude." Martha just frowned in confusion before sharing a look with Jonathan.
"Lindsey, would you mind carrying Jenny into the house, something's obviously wrong with her legs." Lindsey just smiled eagerly.
"Sure thing Uncle Jonathan." In the blink of an eye, Jenny found herself looking at the ground as she was unceremoniously slung over Lindsey's shoulder.
"Guess I'm not the only one who's sticking around huh?" Lindsey declared as she carried Jenny to the house.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I freely admit to being a compulsive tinkerer and would just like to say a big thank you to everybody who has waited patiently for me to get my head in order and commit to a direction for my story. The re-write of my re-write is nearly up to speed. I also really appreciate everyone taking the time to review my work. For anyone with questions about why I've gone in the direction I have, my answer is this. For all the success of Smallville and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, both shows lacked consistency.
In canon, Bridgette Crosby showed up with Black K, the fix to Martha Kent's months long problem. How could Swann's people possibly know what Black K would do to Clark? This seemed too easy to believe.
Lindsey Harrison a.k.a. Kara from Krypton: Killed by Cave Jor-El, which everyone in canon seemed to either forgive or forget about.
Jenny Calendar a.k.a. Janna Kalderash, knew both a Watcher and a Slayer, she'd know the rules for vampires. Angelus was her assignment, you'd think she'd do her homework . The real big one is this. Why would a computer science teacher so pro-technology not have a computer at home?
Clark taking down Cave Jor-El: Clark is a nice guy, doesn't mean he's a pushover. No way would ma and pa Kent raise their boy to not stand up to a bully. Make no mistake, A.I. Jor-El is a bully. Clark shut down Fortress Jor-El in canon, he even destroyed Ship Jor-El, why he never took down Cave Jor-El never made any sense.
