"What do you have to say about this?"

Edna held up her phone and I saw a paused video of the car wreckage.

"It looks really bad, are they okay?"

"We both know you know exactly what happened to this car."

I shook my head and kept my mouth closed.

"Come with me."

She dragged me up to my hide away and got down on her knees and pulled up the board covering the secret compartment I had found. Inside were the bloody clothes, the knife. The crystal.

"I was going to let you come to me or your mom in your own time. But after that."

She pointed at the phone.

"I can't wait. What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't I was angry."

She grabbed me by my arms and shook me.

"You aren't allowed to get angry Amber. You're like Clark."

"I'm human I get angry."

I was getting angry again and I could feel the heat building up in me. Edna winced and let go of my arms. She stepped back and then I realized I could smell wood starting to smolder. I closed my eyes and pushed the heat back down. When I opened my eyes, I could see my clothes were gone and the wood at my feet was blackened.

"You can't let your emotions control you Amber. Clark was taught from a young age to control his powers."

"What are you talking about."

She shouted at me.

"Clark was Superman!"

"What? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I wasn't sure you were really related to him, but after this, and the green rock."

"You have exactly the same reaction as he does. Amber you can't do this anymore."

She shook her phone at me.

"You just can't."

"Why? They hurt my dad, tried to hurt Sarah and Mom."

"You saw what happened to Clark when he tried to save the world. You can't do this. You aren't judge, jury and executioner, you're twelve years old! You are a child playing with a nuclear bomb. You don't understand the…the ramifications of your actions. You're a metahuman. If you're found out they'll take you away from us. They'll say you're a criminal. They will fear you. You might not think they can hurt you, but they can. Think of Sarah, think of Heather and I, think of your Mom and Dad."

I stumbled backwards and collapsed on the couch. It was like she had physically hit me.

"You aren't old enough for this power. But you have it. You saw what happened at the bonfire. How many people you hurt? You cannot do this. You need to learn to control yourself and you need to do it fast. I'm quickly running out of favors to protect you with."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you beat up four deputies, you assaulted several people, you were accused of robbing a drug dealer and god help us if they figure out it was you who did this."

She waved her phone again.

"They found your DNA in Metropolis all over a crime scene. A member of the cartel that attacked your mother was there so beat up he needed surgery. I told the detective who came looking that it couldn't have been you because you were with me all night helping me in the barn. One of them Id'd you in court. He's not going to be telling anyone anything, especially not after trying to kill my daughter. But you put me in this position because you thought you could be, I donno what a superhero?"

"It wasn't like that."

"It doesn't matter what it was like Amber. People who do that sort of thing die tragically."

"I want to die!"

She looked a bit unsure what to say next she seemed to have lost track of her words.

"Why?"

"I killed my family. Isn't it obvious I destroyed that building? I got dad shot. I almost killed god knows how many people at the bonfire and then today. I couldn't control it, I didn't want to control it. I wanted them to burn. I tried pills, I tried molten steel, I tried jumping off a building, I tried getting shot in the head. None of it worked."

She put her phone in her pocket and sat down beside me and put her arm around me.

"You can control it; You just need to learn how. Clark did."

I sobbed into her shoulder for a while and she just stroked my back.

"I just want to be normal; I don't want all of this…power."

"You have it, and that isn't going to change. You can't do this again. You need to stop. I know how it feels to want to hurt people who hurt you. Trust me. But revenge is never free. A friend of mine always says, 'When you start planning your revenge, plan on digging your grave as well.' I have no idea where he got it from but the thing is he's right. Just let it go. This business with the Cartel is done and over with. I made sure of it."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't worry about it Amber, it's taken care of."

"Grandma don't get in trouble for me."

"I had nothing to do with it beyond calling an old friend and letting him know there was a shooting in town, and it was the cartel. What he does with that information is up to him. I was just being neighborly."

I started to suspect at that point that Edna was the kind of Sheriff that just got stuff done and that she was way smarter than I gave her credit for. Smallville was ridiculously crime free for a town its size. Something dawned on me.

"Did you know about the green rock in the field?"

"Yes. I put it there."

I was a bit shocked to hear it, angry at first but I remembered what happened when I got angry now and I pushed it down.

"Why would you do that to me?"

"I knew why you were getting sick, I decided to make it obvious so Heather and Emma would drop it."

I closed my eyes. She really was on my side.

"Are you going to tell mom about this?"

"No, she's a federal officer of the court if they put this metahuman registration into effect then she would have to report you. So, it would be best if she didn't know. What happened to the clothes you were wearing when Henry was shot?"

"They burst into flames, like the ones I was wearing. I just had this…"

I looked down and was naked now. I wrapped my hands around myself.

"Okay, so they won't find any traces of them. Fine. Get some of your other clothes you have here on, and we'll go to the hospital."

I nodded. And pulled out my back-up summer clothes now that the silver whatever it was, was gone. I know what it is now, it's a biofilm my body creates. Don't ask me how. It makes it then it reabsorbs it. She was waiting in her truck and she drove towards Metropolis.

"Why are we going to Metropolis?"

"Henry was airlifted to Metropolis General. They couldn't do the surgery here; He was less critical then the deputies and there were no rooms available."

I nodded.

"Don't worry, Emma says he's doing alright. And it's not your fault."

"What?"

"You're thinking this is your fault. It's not your fault. And no, you can't save everyone. Trust me I know."

I nodded again leaning my head on the door's frame. I could feel the warm summer brushing against me. As awesome as the old pick up was, it did not have air conditioning. I could see the flashing red and blue of police lights up ahead. She slowed down as we approached the numerous vehicles on the side of the road. Someone waved her down and she pulled over, it was the Sheriff. He leaned on her open window.

"Hey Edna. Agent wasn't to abrasive with ya, was she? She seemed kinda rude for my tastes."

"She was fine Earl. Is this them?"

"Ya, feds are taking over the scene. Someone did a number on them. Got downright nasty."

He glanced at me and lowered his voice to almost a whisper. My hearing was so good now I could make it out clearly. I wondered what other surprises my body had in store.

"Roasted them like pigs on a spit Edna, I've never seen the like. Someone really wanted them dead. Feds think it was someone with a flame thrower. A fucking flame thrower? What is this world coming too? Driver musta lost control. Rolled. Whoever it was started spraying from here on the highway and just walked right up to the car and cooked all in there. Couple got away but he got 'em too."

Edna glanced at me then back at the Sheriff.

"You know these cartel's Earl, no sense of humanity about them. Always wanting to send messages. Just wish they wouldn't do it here in the US."

He nodded.

"Sickos the lot of them. You headed to Metropolis General? Heard Henry was being airlifted there."

"Yes."

"You got our prayers going with you Edna."

"And we're praying for the Deputies."

He tipped his hat and stepped back. Edna pulled off the shoulder and back onto the highway. I was staring at the flashing lights. They were sort of mesmerizing and had head leaning on the inside of the door.

"Look, I don't blame you for taking them out. Just know it's something you're going to have to live with. I've shot a few people in my time and it sticks with you."

I wiped away a few tears and nodded. I wasn't in so much a talking mood.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?"

I shook my head and wrapped my hands around my arms. She nodded and continued driving. It took about twenty minutes more and we were pulling into the Metropolis General Parkade. I had been here for some tests so I was actually familiar with the layout. Apparently so was Edna. We found Emma right away, she was still wearing blood stained clothes. Enda handed her a bag.

"Go get changed before someone starts trying to operate on you too."

Emma's lips curled into the smallest hint of a smile. She looked like she'd been crying since the last time I saw her. I sat down and so did Edna. She leaned her elbows on her knees.

"Remember what I said."

I nodded and sunk into my own chair. It was several minutes before Emma reappeared. She still looked like an emotional wreck. She sat down and held my hand; I squeezed her hand.

"Amber, you've been so strong today. Thank you."

"How's dad?"

"He's in surgery. He lost quite a bit of blood, but he's stable. How is Sarah?"

"She was asleep with Grandma last time I saw her."

"Saw the FBI talking to you, did they question you?"

"Yes, Grandma was there"

I looked at Edna who nodded.

"I made sure they didn't get too rough on her."

Emma looked at Edna now.

"Did they catch them?"

Edna glanced at me then back to Emma.

"Not exactly. Someone did though. It was a very gruesome scene."

"What do you mean?"

Edna glanced at me again.

"Its not something we should be discussing in front a twelve-year-old girl. That's what I mean."

Emma nodded and squeezed my hand.

"Grandma and I are going to go talk."

I nodded and leaned on my elbow. They came back about fifteen minutes later with food for me. It was a hospital sandwich. I ate half of it, but it reminded me of Precious Angels so much I couldn't finish it. I wrapped the other half and put it on the table between us. Emma looked concerned.

"You should eat."

"I'm sorry it just reminds me of Precious Angels and I just, it makes me feel sick."

I dozed off at some point. I woke up and Edna was nowhere to be seen Emma was asleep in her chair. I stood up and stretched and walked around when I got close to Emma, I noticed she was very pale.

"Mom."

I shook her gently.

"Mom please wake up."

I shook her again. Then I started yelling for help. Screaming would be a better description. I was running up and down the halls yelling. A young-looking doctor walked up. He looked half asleep.

"Its my mother she's pregnant and she's not waking up she's pale and cold the touch."

"Where is she?"

By this time a few other people had come out into the hallway, one was a nurse who rushed after us. I led them to Emma and they told me to step back. He checked her wrist then her neck. He looked at the nurse.

"We need to get her to a trauma room now."

The nurse rushed off and I heard an announcement.

"Code Blue ICU waiting area, Code Blue."

Within two minutes was gently moved aside several times as they got her on a gurney and rushed off I followed and eventually ran into the nurse who had been one of the first on scene. She stopped me at the door.

"Your mother is extremely sick. You need to wait out here. We'll come and get you when we know more."

I found a seat and collapsed into it. What followed was an hour of me alternating between sitting and pacing. Edna still hadn't come back, and I had no phone. I hadn't even realized I had my mother's purse in my hands. I opened and looked for her phone but couldn't unlock it. I saw several texts from Edna but I couldn't respond. I sat back down. The doctor who had responded to my calls for help first came out of the room. He looked exhausted.

"Hi, what's your name?"

"Amber, sir."

He sighed and sat down rubbing his face.

"Amber where's your father?"

"He's still in surgery as far as I know."

"He's been admitted too?"

I nodded.

"What for?"

"Gunshot wounds."

He looked shocked but then covered it up well.

"Amber, You're mom, she's had some complications from her pregnancy. We're trying to stop the bleeding."

"The good news is your sister is doing great. She was close enough to term that she doesn't need to go to neo-natal but it's very important she get skin to skin contact with someone. Could I ask you to do that for us?"

I wiped out the tears that were dropping down my face and stood up.

"Come with me. I'll get you to a room where you can have some privacy."

He led me to a hospital room. There was no bed but there was a comfy looking chair. He offered me a blanket and I draped it over myself and pulled off my top and bra. A nurse brought my baby sister in and I held her by my chest and rocked her. I'd never held an actual baby before let alone held one up close. She cooed silently and after stirring for a bit fell straight asleep. I kept rocking her. I don't know how long I held her but soon mother was wheeled in. She was still unconscious and had a bag of blood hooked up to her. She looked pale. I kept rocking the baby in my arms she kept grabbing at my chest with her tiny hands. She opened her eyes and looked into mine. Hers were newborn grey. She had a shock of blonde hair. I had thought she would be bald. She kept looking at me.

"Hi there. I'm sorry your mom and dad aren't here for you. I'm your big sister Amber. I'm not sure what your name is going to be but I'm sure it's going to be amazing."

I held out my finger and she grabbed onto it and started gumming it.

"Oh, you're hungry I bet, I'm sorry I don't have any milk for you. I'm sure they'll bring us something."

She made a few squeaks and kept holding my finger. We played a light game of tug of war with my finger. Truth be told I was trying to keep her distracted from my chest. I held her for about another hour and Emma started to stir. I took the baby to her. Emma seemed confused.

"Mom, you had the baby."

Emma blinked and rubbed her eyes.

"What…where am I?"

"You started bleeding. They took you into surgery."

Emma put her hand on her forehead.

"Mom the baby needs to breastfeed can you do it?"

Emma nodded and tried to pull herself up. Helped her shift a bit and then placed the baby in her arm and she latched immediately. I pulled the sheet over to give Emma a bit of privacy. I went in the bathroom and put my top on and folded the blanket putting it on the chair and I brought the chair next to the bed. By the time I got back Emma seemed more alert and was smiling down at the baby.

"Where's mom?"

"I don't know my phone was shot and I couldn't open yours to find out what she was texting."

"Could you hand it to me."

I nodded and pulled her phone out of her purse, she unlocked it and handed it to me.

"What are the texts saying?"

"She went home to check on Heather and Sarah. She'll be back in the morning with a change of clothes for both us. Then a few hellos. Should I respond?"

"Just tell her okay."

I typed the message and hit send then put the phone back in Emma's purse.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep mom. I should have noticed sooner."

"You always take the blame for things that you have no control over. How long was I out for?"

"I don't know, I've been sitting here for two hours."

"You held her for that long?"

"The doctor said skin to skin contact was very important."

"The doctor was right."

Emma paused and looked into the baby's eyes.

"She has Henry's eyes."

"I'm sorry mom I haven't heard anything about Dad and I have no idea where to ask."

"Its okay Amber, its okay."

"What is her name going to be?"

"Martha."

"Martha?"

"After my grandmother."

I nodded and leaned down resting my hands on the hospital bed bar and my chin on my hands. Watching Martha who was now reaching out towards Emma's face with her hand. She eventually gave up and closed her eyes. Emma looked up at me.

"Could you swaddle her and put her in the bassinet please?"

I picked up Martha and found a baby blanket.

"I'm sorry… how do I swaddle?"

Emma walked me through it, I made several mistakes but in the end Martha was swaddled and I laid her gently in the Bassinet. I brought her closer to us and then I sat back down in the chair. Emma put her hand on mine.

"I'm so glad we have you."

"No, I'm glad I have you."

"I remember you pulling Sarah down first then me and protecting us. It should be me protecting you."

"I'm fine mom. No bullet holes. Except in my phone."

"Your phone was in your back pocket."

"I guess I had a good phone."

"You're just a kid, you shouldn't be jumping in front of bullets."

"Sarah's just a kid and so is Martha. I would gladly take a few bullets to keep you all safe. I just wish I could have shielded Dad too."

She reached up and stroked my hair as I leaned my chin on my hands again.

"Amber, we don't deserve you."

I felt tears welling up.

"No mom, I don't deserve you."

"I want to just grab you and hug you."

"I'm pretty sure the doctors would get mad at you for that."

Emma laughed and then winced in pain.

"You're going to have a lot of responsibility until I'm out of here. Sarah and Martha are going to be depending on you."

"I won't let them down."

"I know you won't. You're going to be the best big sister they could ask for."

"How do you know that mom? I've only been here for a few months."

"Because your first instinct was to protect Sarah. That tells her all she needs to know. You'll protect her without thought for your own safety. That's a big sister thing to do."

I sniffled a bit, tears were trickling down my face and dropping onto fingers. I heard footsteps then a knock on the door. I looked back and it was an Asian woman she was wearing a white coat.

"Can I come in?"

Emma waved her in, I sat up and dried up my tears with my fingers then blew my nose into a tissue. The woman nodded and walked in, she stopped to check on Martha.

"She's an adorable one."

She moved closer to the bed and checked the monitors that were attached to Emma.

"Well everything is looking good."

"Sorry, I should introduce myself. I'm Dr. Lynn. I delivered your daughter. I'm sorry we couldn't get your normal ob-gyn but we needed to get her out as soon as possible. So, mom, how are you feeling?"

"I've been better."

The doctor chuckled.

"I hear that a lot. We had to do a c-section. You lost a lot of blood. But you should be okay now. Your daughter is healthy as far as I've been told. I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself. You'll have to stay for a few days to recover."

Emma nodded.

"Well then, I'll let you get some rest."

She waved and walked out.

"Mom, do you want me to go find out what's going on with dad? Martha's fast asleep and you could use some rest."

"If you could."

I squeezed her hand and walked out into the hospital proper.