Chapter 21 [Fifteen Minutes Later—Kent Farm]

Martha checked the ham. She flaked it apart with her fork. She took a deep whiff to enjoy the aroma. Then she stirred the beans in the other crock pot. "That's going to be good!"

"We have faith in you, Martha." Angie set napkins and silverware down. "Glasses and coffee mugs or just glasses?"

"Glasses are fine. I think everyone will be getting enough coffee at the Talon later." Martha turned down the heat on the crock pots. She opened the oven door and looked in on the cornbread. "That'll need about another ten minutes." She shut the door again. "David's still the way he was back then, isn't he?"

Angie shrugged. "We deal with the tremors and shakes. Occasionally the Big Kid gets out. What gets me is when he goes quiet like right now." She shook her head. "Something's going on."

Martha glanced toward the barn. "I just wish you and he could find some measure of peace, Angie. Is that why you had yourselves declared dead?"

"We had to. We miss everyone. Still it's been nice the last fifteen years. Our neighbors know but they have had our backs. Dave is the most helpful neighbor you can imagine. We're just sorry we missed out on Clark's growing up and that we couldn't help Lana out more. Losing our family was hard. Missing out on Miranda's childhood and teenage years tore our hearts out. I'm just glad she was here." Angie set the glasses on the table. She set a stack of plates on the counter. "So they're ready when we need them."

"I remember that blank look though." Martha shook her head. "I just want a quiet time for those kids. I know you and he have a life up in New York State but you're welcome here too. A lot of people remember what you both have done for the town."

"It's something to keep in mind. Miri's down here. We hate to impose on Lex but you know how he is." Angie smiled. "Lillian was something like a force of nature. I still remember how she helped my village."

"I'm just glad that if Lex is doing something for her like this, David's involved. She'd want it that way." Martha batted the scent of the cooking ham.

"She'd move Heaven and Earth to make it happen. Remember when she set up that graduation party for us? Jonathan and you were so good to host it. He wanted all of us in one place. I don't think he understood the logistics."

Martha sighed. "We just set up a few tables and baked some pies." She chuckled. "Remember how Laura was? That was one of the few times I saw her get flustered in the kitchen." She took the glasses from the cabinet. "That's another reason we'd like you down here. Lana has so many questions."

"As long as they're about her Mom and Dad and not the other family stuff. I don't want Dave having to deal with that stuff again and…." Angie heard wheels driving up the dirt driveway. "That's them now."

"Right on time I'd say." Martha saw Jonathan come out of the barn and watch the vehicles coming up the driveway. "These will be all right for a few minutes."

"MARTHA! GET OUT HERE!" Jonathan ran toward the vehicles.

"Oh now what?" Angie gnashed her teeth. She beat Martha outside. She watched as the teens got out of Clark's truck. Frustration and Lament paled Lex's face. Rather in the anticipatory mood, she saw anxious looks.

Clark glanced back toward the airport. His first response would've been to super speed right back there after that ghost. Still, he couldn't leave. Lana needed him. His parents would want to know. He shook his head ever so tacitly at his father.

"Can you see them into the house? Mrs. Kent, Angie, I'll be back." Lex hustled into the barn.

"Hey! Wait a minute!" Jonathan rushed after the billionaire.

"Where's Lex going?" Lana looked toward the barn.

"He's talking with my husband." Angie motioned toward the house. "Let's get inside. Kids, let's go." She ushered the younger girls through the door.

"Clark? What is it? What happened?" Martha grabbed onto his sleeve.

"Mom, there was a glowing ghost lady. Then this shadow thing showed up and drove her off. Then it vanished." He leaned close. "That's what Jor-El wanted to talk about."

"Wish he could've warned the rest of us." Martha looked around the yard. Foreboding ate at her for the first time in years. "Let's go. I want you inside. Now."

"Mom, I know we have to keep appearances but…." Clark started.

"Clark, I mean it! Get in the house NOW!" Martha snapped completely out of character. "Not even you can deal with what that woman is!"

What the heck? As long as she's not packing meteor energy, I can deal with it! First Lex and now her? "Lex acted like he knew her."

"He does, Clark. Please. Let's go." She tugged him toward the house.

Now what? He glanced again toward the barn.

"Listen to your mother, Clark." Jonathan pointed to the house. He led Lex and Dave to the house. "Let's just get inside."

Clark was about to argue. Lex pointedly shook him off. "Listen to your Dad." He practically dragged Clark into the house.

"Jonathan, I…" Dave bowed his head.

"Look. Don't you dare apologize. The only thing you've done is come here for your niece and to help Smallville. All right? You know as well as I do that Lionel Luthor is behind this. Come on!" Jonathan assured him.

Dave rubbed his forehead. Now what did you do? He shook his head and stormed into the house. He spasmed. "ARGH!"

"What's with him?" Chloe arched an eyebrow.

Peter's spider sense went off. What's with him? He wasn't even there! "You all right? It's okay. I…."

"Nah. G…gotta be careful. Dam' Witchie Poo close!" the Child snapped before letting Dave out again.

"The voice!" Lana stared at him. "The shadow thing. It was him?"

"Shadow thing?" Dave slumped onto one of the chairs at the table. "Great. Let me guess. You ran into her. Didn't you?" He rolled his eyes. "So that's where he's been."

"He?" Peter considered Dave. "You're David Dubois. Aren't you? I heard about you."

"Peter, I wouldn't bring that up." Lex cleared his throat.

"Is he the guy who followed Spider-Man to see the Fraud?" Dave raised an eyebrow. "Yeah I thought so. The shadow thing, as Lana put it, is my alter ego's astral form. He is very protective of this town and the people at this table. He dealt with Lionel's stooge this morning. Some guy named Octavius."

"Him? He's here?" Gwen bit her lip. "Lex, can you do something?"

"I just served him breakfast. Apparently the Child heard him talking to Lionel on the phone. He walked over and advised him not to talk about us. There was a stare down. That's it." Angie shrugged. "Why? What happened?"

Peter hugged Gwen. "He murdered Gwen's father."

"Wow. I…I'm sorry. I didn't know nor did he. I understand." Dave apologized.

"Like you said, Mr. Dubois, there's no way you could've known," Clark interceded.

"Although it would've been a short fight. Dr. Octopus has four metal arms with metal pincers at the ends," Peter advised.

"The bulges under his overcoat," Lex recalled. "Well let's say if he attacks Mr. Dubois, he won't have a chance to use them. I'll have LexCorp's best security on alert at the mansion and at our facility. I won't let either of you, Dr. Connors, or Mr. Bingham be at risk. I'll let the high school know as well." He shook his head. "My father strikes again."

"Lex, now that you know, you can talk to the State Police. We want to do everything to keep the situation contained. Don't we?" Jonathan tapped his fingers on the table. His eyes glared into the Billionaire's and then into Clark's.

Clark didn't react. Somehow he kept a straight face. Hope that guy doesn't force me to do anything.

"Good idea, Mr. Kent. Thank you." Lex turned to Gwen. "Octavius will be brought to justice."

"Thank you. I know he'd rest easier. He wouldn't want anyone getting hurt doing it though." Gwen turned to Peter. "That goes for you too, Mr. P. I know Mr. Jameson wants the pictures of his capture. You be careful."

"I always am. Got more reason to be now," Peter agreed.

"You be careful, Peter. I don't care what Jameson wants. I don't want you getting hurt for a scoop," Lex instructed. "You're getting married in a few months."

"I know." Peter mulled that point over. Yeah. And what happens when Spidey has to face Doc Ock? How will I explain that one? He sighed.

"Peter, I know you're really good at it. You'll do what you need to be safe. Just promise me that you will take care," Gwen requested.

"I will." Peter agreed. He offered her a smile. "Lex, did you say Dr. Connors as in Dr. Curtis Connors?"

"He'll be flying down on Sunday. I'll introduce you all next week. Do you know him?" Lex wondered.

"I've read several of his journal articles," Peter noted. Of course, as Spider-Man, he knew the reptile specialist. He also understood Connors' hidden condition as well. Let's hope Dr. Connors isn't stressed out. We don't need the Lizard on top of everything else! "He's apparently tried to regrow his missing arm."

"Regrow?" Lana rubbed her chin.

"Dr. Connors is studying a reptile's ability to regrow severed limbs and tails. He wants to adapt reptilian regeneration to human physiology." Clark shrugged. "I looked online. Meantime, can we start on that ham? It smells great!"

"What is that?" Chloe looked over at the crock pot. "It's ham something."

"It's called Dijon ham. Trust me, Guys, it's good." Clark grinned at them.

"Didn't your grandmother make something like this, Dave?" Lex asked.

"She had a special glaze like it on her turkey. You remember it from a couple of Thanksgivings," Dave recalled. "I adapted it. Mrs. Kent can make anything her own though."

"You convinced me," Jonathan admitted.

"We all have something to bring to the table." Martha placed a few slices on each plate. She ladled the beans into a bowl. "Clark, can you cut the cornbread please?"

"Got it." Clark sliced off several pieces. He put one on each plate and helped to serve them.

Lex broke off a piece of ham and sampled it. He closed his eyes. "Mrs. Kent…mmm! I swear this takes me back!"

"I think this is more of what we should have in mind for a welcome," Jonathan assessed. "So, Peter, you work for a newspaper back east?

"I freelance for The Daily Bugle in New York. I take pictures," Peter noted.

"That's like me saying I like to write news stories. Mr. Parker, your photos are amazing! I can't wait for your insights," Chloe praised.

"It's a lot of practice and hard work. Mr. Jameson will tell you my first pictures weren't very good. You have to get the angle and details right, Chloe. Who takes the pictures?" Peter replied.

"We all take turns. I'm going to have you talk to Pete Ross and Danny Mathers. They do most of the picture taking for the Torch," Chloe noted.

"Maybe you should listen in, you Two?" Jonathan suggested to Clark and Lana. "It never hurts to learn new things."

"I'm game if you are, Clark," Lana agreed.

Clark nodded. Even if he didn't see himself being a photographer long term, he recalled Reynolds' advice on learning new things. Besides, if he could learn alongside Lana, all the better. "I'll do it."

Chloe coughed. What a shocker! Disappointment threatened a frown before she covered it with a bite of cornbread.

"There we go. A Pulitzer in the making to be sure!" Lex cheered.

"Just remember the story, Folks. Never lose sight of the story," Angie noted.

"And our story's good food and meeting great friends. Everything comes from that." Lana raised her glass.

A point well made in spite of Challenge's looming presence indeed….