I had to stop for a about thirty seconds and just lean on one of the walls. I was dizzy and exhausted. I realized when I went back over the day, I had barely eaten anything and that I'd had maybe fifteen minutes of sleep. It was starting to catch up to me. After a few deep breaths I was able to push myself into looking for a nurse's station. There were a couple of young women working. I looked at the clock behind them and it was showing 3:16 am. I leaned heavily on the desk, mostly because I was close to passing out from exhaustion.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I was hoping you could give me some information on my dad."

She looked up at me from her computer.

"What's his name?"

"Henry Morris. He was in surgery but then my mom needed an emergency c-section and now I have idea where he is, or what is going on and mom is asking."

The nurse looked a bit pained at my story. She nodded and started typing at her computer.

"He's out of surgery and he's listed as critical. He is in the ICU. I can give you directions and let someone know you're coming."

I was torn, I glanced back at the room where Emma was.

"I'm not sure how my mom would handle that news. She can't really get out of bed."

"Why don't you go tell her you're going to visit your dad and that a doctor will be by to have a talk with her about his condition?"

I nodded and dragged myself to the room Emma was asleep by this time, so I just went back to the nurses station.

"She's asleep, I'll go see him."

The nurse nodded and told me how to get to the ICU she also made a phone call. The directions were pretty clear, and I didn't have much trouble finding him. Henry was very pale. At the time I had no idea how to read the medical monitors. I could only go by what I was told. They had given him a very low chance of surviving. They let me sit in the room with him. He and I weren't close. It wasn't that I didn't think he cared but that I don't think he quite felt comfortable being himself around me. Emma had told me he had some form of autism. She told me he feels very deeply but he is socially awkward and that eventually he would get used to me and open up. He was also very specific about personal space. I was pretty sure if he was awake, he'd be a bit shocked to have me try to hold his hand but at that point I wasn't sure what else to do, so I took his hand.

"Henry, Dad, I'm not sure you can hear me but I'm sorry. I wish I could have protected you too I wasn't fast enough. Sarah is fine. Mom is recovering. The baby is doing great. Mom said you'd already decided to name her Martha. She's so adorable. The people who did this didn't get away with it. I made sure of that. If you were awake there is no way I'd tell you that last part, but I would want you to know."

I held his hand for a long time. At some point I fell asleep and woke up to someone shaking my shoulder gently. I recognized her immediately. She was Henry's mother. I'd seen her many times on video chats. She lived in Miami, so she didn't have a chance to visit Sarah in person often so spent a lot of time on video chat with her. She had treated me pretty well on the video chats. She looked tired. I wasn't sure how long I'd been asleep, but I felt better so that was probably a good sign. I released Henry's hand and stood up.

"You look tired please take my seat, ma'am."

"You're always so polite Amber."

She sat down. She was younger than Edna and Heather. Her hair still had color, she was a brunette with grey streaks. I always thought she had a kindly face. She looked up at me.

"Could you fill me in?"

I nodded.

"They aren't sure he is going to make it, I'm sorry. He lost a lot of blood to internal bleeding and he didn't get enough oxygen to his brain. If I understood what the doctor was saying. But Sarah is unhurt."

"Where is your mother? She hasn't answered me since she called me to tell me what happened."

"She… the baby…"

She went a bit pale and I blinked and shook my head.

"No, no, they're fine. I just don't know why it happened. Mom had to have an emergency c-section, mom and the baby are fine."

She held her hand to her chest.

"You scared me there Amber."

"I'm sorry I was just having trouble putting thoughts into words."

"It's okay."

"I wasn't sure what to do for Dad, we don't talk much."

"He has always been like that. I'm sure he appreciated you being here. He's been very proud to be your adopted father. He's always telling me about how you managed to catchup on a year of school in six weeks. He's been worried about you though. Are you doing okay?"

"I'll be better when he's awake."

"What room is Emma in?"

I gave her the floor and room number.

"Okay I'm going to visit with Henry and then I'll come up, maybe you should go see if she needs help with the baby."

I nodded. I was still starving but the nap had revitalized me. I wouldn't say I had a bounce in my step because it would be a lie. Henry being on the verge of death put a damper on my spirits. I could hear talking Emma's room. I stepped inside. Edna, Heather and Sarah were there. Edna was holding the baby. Emma was napping, Sarah was playing on her tablet and Heather was watching Edna with the baby. Edna and Heather looked at me when I entered. Sarah was too entrance by whatever game she was playing. Heather came over and gave me a hug.

"Amber, you poor thing."

I hugged her back. She stepped back and looked me up and down.

"You look like crap dear."

I nodded.

"Have you slept?"

"I got a bit of sleep."

"You don't look like it."

Heather turned to Edna.

"Are you okay here with Sarah?"

"Sure."

"I'm going to take Amber back home so she can get some rest and food."

Edna nodded I was about to resist but then I realized I desperately needed both. I fell asleep in the car and woke up to Heather gently shaking my shoulder. I fell asleep in their spare bedroom shortly after we arrived. I woke up and went downstairs. I hadn't even gotten changed for bed, so I felt like crap. I could hear rain falling on the roof. It was coming down hard. I looked outside for a few seconds and then noticed a note on the counter. There was also a brand-new cell phone still in box. It had been opened already. Also, there was a keyring with a couple of keys. I recognized one as the one for my house. I tried the other one in the Farm door. It fit. I picked up the letter and read the very gorgeous cursive.

Hi Amber,

I hope you got a good sleep. I made you some chicken and rice just warm it up in the microwave. I had to go back to the hospital. I bought you a replacement cell phone and got it activated. Couldn't get your stuff transferred sorry, your old one is in evidence. Made sure it had everyone's numbers programmed in. Sheriff said if you call the office, he can get a deputy out to escort you into your house to get clothes for you, Sarah and your mom. You should get the dog food and her bowl. She's staying with the Spencers. When you're ready to come back to the hospital give your Uncle Dean a call, he will give you a ride.

Grandma.

I was expecting it to be signed Heather for some reason. I picked up my phone and had received several texts from Jacob and April since it had been activated. I responded to both with I'm alright will call when I can. I ate the meal Heather had left me, which was delicious as usual. The Sheriff's office phone number was on the fridge. I dialed it.

"Smallville sheriff's office, how can I help you?"

"Hi Mrs. Jane, this is Amber Morris. Grandma said I could call and get an escort to my house so I can get some clothes for Sarah, my mom and myself. Does anyone have time?"

"Of course, dear. I'll get someone right out for you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Jane."

"You tell your mom and Grandmother we're praying for Henry."

"I will Mrs. Jane. Bye."

I hung up the phone and put my dirty dishes in the dish washer. I took one of the umbrellas and locked the house on the way out. I stood on the porch with the umbrella open waiting for the deputy. I was a bit surprised to see the Sheriff pull up. I closed the umbrella and got into the front seat of his SUV.

"Hey Amber."

"Thank you for helping Sheriff."

"Oh, it's no problem Amber. How are you holding up?"

"Not well."

"Ya, I heard about Henry, things get around."

"And Mom had her baby, and the nursery isn't ready, and we can't even go to the house."

"Now that I hadn't heard. I don't think the feds are going to need the house for much longer."

"I hope not."

"I'm glad you and Sarah came out okay. Terrible stuff this."

I nodded, he pulled into the driveway for my house. There were two black SUVs parked by the house along with a white van. The sheriff took his hat and got out. He put his hat on and started talking to one of the Feds on site. After a few minutes he waved me inside. The rain had stopped so I left the umbrella in the SUV. One of the agents held out his hand and offered me a pair of booties.

"Just get what you absolutely need please."

I put the booties on. I entered the house, and I froze as my eyes caught site of the bloodstain on the floor where Henry had fallen. I saw him there gasping for breath. Looking on powerless as bullets flew past us and towards his wife and daughters. Then I was back in Precious Angels my face in a puddle of April's blood. I started feeling the heat building up inside me. Like I was going to burst into flames again. The sheriff touched my shoulder gently.

"Amber, are you okay?"

The gentle touch on the shoulder was all I needed to pull me out of the panic spiral was falling into. I blinked a few times and pushed the heat back. Forcing it back into my core. I felt my cheeks and they were moist.

"No, but I will be. Sorry."

He nodded and stepped back outside. He glanced at the agent. I stepped further inside and avoid looking at the blood stain. The problem with a perfect photographic is when you flash back to an event you are back there. Every sensation, emotion, feeling is back with you. For me it was like being in a high definition VR simulation. It was not a pleasant experience unless the memory was pleasant. I shook it off.

I went to the basement got a couple of suitcases and filled them with clothes for the three of us. I also slipped in several of Sarah's favorite toys. Because screw the Feds I was going to make her as comfortable as possible. I carried the suitcase down the stairs and went into the kitchen and grabbed the unopened bag of dog food and threw it over my shoulder. I figured a bowl was easy to replace and didn't bother with that. I picked up the suitcase and Left the house not bothering to remove the booties. The Sheriff and agent watched me with open mouths. I admit I probably should have made the 50 lb bag of food look like it took some effort for me to lift but I wasn't really thinking I was just trying to avoid looking at the blood stain on the floor where Henry had fallen.

The sheriff rushed to open the hatch on his SUV, and I put the dog food and suit case in. I got into the passenger seat again and he started it up. Much like most of the vehicles on the Kent Farm this thing was a relic of a bygone error. An old Bronco. It had Edna's decision written all over it. As the Sheriff pulled out on the highway glanced at me then back to the road.

"You know, it's okay to not be okay, right?"

I nodded keeping my eyes on the road.

"It can't be easy for you with a memory like yours."

I shook my head tears starting to well up in my eyes. I could still feel Henry's and April's blood on my cheek and in my hair. I touched it and was just moistness from my tears. He pulled the side of the road and looked at me.

"You know I have a daughter, just four years older than you. I don't know that she would handle this as well as you. Most adults wouldn't."

A car went whipping by at an extremely high speed. The Sheriff seemed to forget I was in the SUV and turned on the sirens and took off after it. It was some form of European super car I couldn't identify, mostly because at that point I didn't know about cars. I was starting to get interested, since I'd found the Black Challenger in the barn. I would become very familiar with cars. Much to my parents and the Sheriff's consternation later in my life. My love for cars laid the groundwork for my financial empire after all. The car slowed down and pulled over to the side of the road. The sky was growing dark and lightning was flashing in the distance toward Metropolis.

"This won't take long, sorry Amber."

I nodded to the Sheriff. He got out of the SUV pulling on his hat and getting out his ticket pad. He walked to the car and had a conversation with driver. He passed a piece of paper into the car after a few minutes. I was half paying attention to whatever was going on there. I was rather shocked when a massive tree came flying down on top of the car it threw power lines down and rain started falling. Then more debris started falling around. The sheriff was hit by something. The wind was really picking up and I saw a tornado cross the highway about two hundred feet away. I honestly dropped my phone and almost peed myself. Funny I am literally Superman and I almost peed myself because I was scared. I don't care who you are nature is scary as hell when witness its full force. The scale of it is mind-blowing. The Sheriff was on the ground and power lines were all over the place and arcing like crazy.

I dropped my phone on the bench seat of the SUV and got out. The wind was still crazy, and the rain was like slashing pieces of glass. I barely felt the pain of it. I used a long piece of wood that likely used to be part of a bard and started throwing power lines away from the road. I know, never do that, to be honest I wasn't sure what that kind of power would do to me so I didn't want to take any risks. I scooped the Sheriff over my shoulder in a fireman's carry like we learned in health class and put him in the back seat of the SUV. He had a bleeding head wound. I made my way to the car. The license plate read – CAIT6. I tried to open the door, but it was jammed. I could see a girl inside and she was pinned. She didn't seem to be moving. I slid my hand in between the door and the frame and yanked the door unjammed and I pulled it out. I then pried the dashboard away from her. I could see flames starting under the car the downed power lines must have ignited the fuel. I pulled her out and put her in the driver's seat of the SUV. She was dressed in a beautiful blouse and skirt she was barefoot. She had several cuts and bruises. I picked up my phone and tried to make a call to 911 but couldn't manage to get through, seems like the cell towers in the area were down.

I saw a flash and the car went up in flames. Not one of those movie explosions, just a spark fuel and flammable paint. The SUV had a radio, and I will admit with no internet to look up instructions it took me about ten minutes to figure it out. I pressed the button.

"Hi"

"This is dispatch, who this?"

"It's Amber Morris, a tornado just came through mile marker 345. The Sheriff got hit by some debris and there was another person hurt, car was license plate is a Kansas plate CAIT6. She doesn't look too hurt. Highways impassible to Metropolis from here. There is a…"

I paused trying to figure out what it was that was across the highway a few hundred feet in front of us.

"A train car, I think? Across it."

"Oh dear. We can't get anyone out to you, we have calls coming in from all over. Can you get them into the Hospital?"

"Uh I don't know how to drive anything but a tractor, ma'am."

"Driving a car is the same hon. Just keep your eyes on the road."

"I'm only twelve years old."

"You can do this; You won't get in trouble."

To my great relief about this time the girl woke up and looked around herself.

"Wait ma'am, she woke up."

"Good, see if she up to driving you to the Hospital."

The girl looked a bit out of sorts, but I mean a tree fell on her head so who wouldn't be. She looked at me and to her burning wreck of a car. She looked like she died a little bit inside.

"My dad is going to kill me."

I waved at her.

"Hi, excuse me, do you feel like you can drive?"

She rubbed her forehead and looked at me with a slow blink.

"Ya…yes, I guess I can."

"Ma'am she said she could we'll get the hospital as soon as possible; Can we use the sirens?"

"Yes, yes you can use the sirens."

"How ma'am?"

She told me where to find the switch and I turned them on.

"We're on our way I think?"

The girl who seemed to be getting more and more cognizant of the situation nodded and put he SUV in gear and did a U-turn and floored it.

"We're on our way."

It took us about fifteen minutes to get the hospital. The girl didn't say much but she did glance at me a few times. When we got there, we were met by some EMT's who put the Sheriff on a gurney and rushed him into the hospital.

The girl turned off the SUV and handed me the keys. She started to get out and as soon as she tried, she fell. I rushed around and picked her up. She was about my height, so it was slightly awkward. I carried her inside. It was chaos. With no main highway to Metropolis the ER was full of people. There were so many I stood there for a few minutes before a nurse noticed me. The girl was unconscious again. The nurse rushed over.

"What happened to her?"

"A tree fell out of the sky onto her car. She was awake and drove the Sheriff and I here but then she tried to stand up and she fell. She was unconscious for several minutes after I got her out of the car."

The nurse nodded and put her hand on the girl's wrist.

"Please bring her this way."

She led me to a gurney, and I put her down on it. The nurse opened her blouse, and I could see this ugly looking bruise forming along the woman's abdomen. The nurse looked at me.

"How was she stuck in the car was anything pushing into her?"

I gave her every minute detail that I saw. Being able to close my eyes and see the scene made it much easier to do so. She was nodding along.

"Thank you, you may have just saved this young woman's life."

I nodded and got out of the way. I was reaching into my pocket for my phone when I realized it was in the Sheriff's SUV still, I turned to leave, and I felt someone grab my arm.

"Wait you need to fill out the paperwork for the girl you brought in."

It wasn't a nurse. Her name tag read triage intake. She had a tablet with her.

"I have no idea who she is, I'm sorry ma'am"

"You just carried her in here, how can you not know who she is?"

"Ma'am I was just getting a ride with the Sheriff and he pulled her over. I need to go, I left my phone and my mom is going to hear about the tornado and be worried."

"You're not going anywhere young lady. Where are you parents?"

Now I was getting annoyed. I couldn't have been more clear with her and I was about to get rude which was my go to with people who wouldn't listen when I noticed the woman's face light up and she gave me the same look a teacher usually gave me when they knew they had caught me.

"Deputy, this girl was trying to leave without filling out paperwork for a girl she brought in."

I looked back and recognized Deputy Stevens right away. He put his hand on my shoulder, not in a you're coming with me sort of way, but a reassuring way.

"Teresa, this is Amber, Sheriff Edna's granddaughter. And the girl she brought in is Caitlin Luthor I'm sure someone at Luthorcorp can get you touch with her father."

I usually don't take pleasure in other's discomfort and embarrassment but in that moment I understood karma. I must say I genuinely enjoyed watching the hard swallow that Teresa made. I looked up at the Deputy.

"Sir, I need to get my cell phone from the Sheriff's SUV and my bag is there and some dog food for our dog is it okay if I get my phone?"

"You go ahead Amber; I'll deal with this."

I went out and got my phone. I had several text messages but no calls. They were from Edna asking if I was all right, if the tornado had hit the farm. I picked up my phone and tried to call but couldn't get a call through. It looked like the network was overwhelmed. After trying to send the same text fifteen times finally one got through.

I'm fine, Farm is fine, our house is fine. Sheriff is in hospital. Rescued him and Caitlin Luthor from car fire. Stuck here, train cars on highway. Impassible. Can't get call through. Will update.

I found Deputy Stevens and offered him the Sheriff's keys; He took them.

"Sure, lucky you where there Amber."

I shrugged.

"If I hadn't been there, I'm pretty sure Sheriff wouldn't have been there, and neither would Caitlin."

He shrugged. Then pointed to a free chair in the ER waiting room.

"Hey why don't you go have a seat over there and we'll get you back to your Grandmother's house as soon as we have someone available."

I nodded. I realized there would be no power there, possibly for days. I went and sat down in the chair and started playing mahjong. It was the sole app on the phone that did not require internet access and the cellular network was so overwhelmed it was useless to me. I waited for a couple hours, by this time the cellular network was working fine so I was able to read social media. I was fourteen and all I wanted to do was decompress from the tornado and the stress. A fourteen-year-old doesn't really understand the how or why of that sort of thing but I just could not deal with anyone, friends or family included. Look, I read reddit, even now okay? It was what taught me I could never work retail because I was more than likely to burst into flames and melt people.

I was reading a post when I saw a pair of black suit pants enter my frame of vision. I honestly hadn't noticed them until that point. The ER was still a zoo and I was just trying not to see or hear the chaos it was better for my brain. I pulled my earbuds out and the noise flooded back in. My therapist would later diagnose me with a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. Fun. I looked up at the man. I recognized him immediately it was Alexander Luthor current CEO and majority stockholder in Luthorcorp. Not to be mistaken for his father Lex Luthor. It was quite intimidating to have one of the richest men in the world staring down at you. I looked up at him and after swallowing hard because I had no idea why he was talking to me I simply said.

"Hello, sir, did I do something wrong?"

"No, I was led to understand you saved my daughter's life two times over today."

"Oh, yes, I guess I did do that."

"Thank you."

That was it, he uncrossed his arms and walked away. I wasn't quite sure how to take that, so I put my ear buds back in and went back to reading rather than dwelling on the exchange. It was about 6 pm when I was interrupted next by a tap on my shoulder. I looked up and it was Deputy Stevens. I pulled my ear buds out.

"Amber, the Sheriff wants to see you, then I can take you home."

I nodded, stood up and stretched. I put my phone in my pocket. I was led to a room on the third floor where the sheriff was sitting up in the hospital bed he was on his cell phone he made a quick end to the call when he saw me his eyes lit up. There was a girl in the room I recognized as his daughter. I had never spoken to her, but it was a small town, so I knew who she was. I knew her name was Meagan. I also knew him to be a widower.

"Amber, thank you for saving me. I've never seen such a brave kid. You're a hero you know that?"

I shrugged. I didn't much like attention, and this sounded like an awful lot of attention was going to come my way.

"I just did what needed to be done. I don't think I'm a hero."

He looked at me in disbelief then glanced at Deputy Stevens and his daughter.

"Can you believe this? Pulls me away from high voltage lines, pulls someone out of a car that is on fire and she doesn't think she's a hero."

Deputy Stevens nodded.

"She's a hero alright."

Meagan looked a bit embarrassed for me. I could like her I thought at that point.

"Dad, she's just embarrassed looked how much she's blushing."

He nodded.

"You're right sport. Sorry Amber, it's just you don't see courage like that every day."

I felt my cheeks burning. If only he knew it was not bravery. I didn't even think about what I was doing at the time I just did it.

"I uh, well I just didn't want to be stuck alone out there on the highway, I don't know how to drive a car and I couldn't get any calls through."

The sheriff laughed, Deputy Stevens and Meagan chuckled a bit.

"You're like Edna, don't take compliments easy. Thank you."

"No problem."

"Deputy Stevens get her home would you, make sure you get the stuff from the back of the SUV."

"I was just going to take your SUV, boss."

"Sure."

I waved and followed Deputy Stevens to the SUV, and he drove me home. Trying to make small talk, something I was pretty miserable at, but I tried anyway. It seemed like a long drive. He helped me get my things into the house. There was power. I was thankful for that. I thanked Deputy Stevens and collapsed on the couch and turned the TV on. It was on the news station. Edna was a fan of the news. I was highly embarrassed to see myself pushing electrical wires with the piece of the barn. I turned the tv off immediately. I didn't want to even think about how many people were seeing that. I thought about Edna and what she was going to day to me about that. My phone started to ring, and I looked at the caller. It was Edna I hovered my finger over the decline button not really ready for a lecture, but I tapped accept and put it to my ear.

"Hi Grandma. I guess you saw the news."

"No, why?"

I was silently relieved I guess the lecture would come later.

"No reason."

"You need to get the hospital right now. I need you to get a box from the back of the third draw in my dresser then call Dean and get here."

"Sorry Grandma the highway is still closed."

"Then run here with it."

"But you said…"

"I know what I said but I'm telling you get the box and run here now. Don't open the box."

"Okay Grandma on my way."

I was very confused, but I slid the phone in my pocket after she hung up and went upstairs and looked where she said and found a weird lead box. It had a latch on it. I was tempted to open it but she told me not to so I just shook my head an picked it up. I locked the door and ran to Metropolis General. It probably would have been better if I'd changed out of my soot and blood covered clothes first but it was too late. I pulled out my phone holding the box in one hand and texted Edna.

Me: I'm here.

Edna: Meet me in the blood lab on the 4th floor.

Me: OMW

I put my phone away and got an elevator. She was at the door she looked me up and down.

"Why do you look like you were in a fire?"

"I uh, pulled a girl out of a burning car."

She did a double take and then gave me a look I was familiar with from seeing it when she looked at Dean and Emma. It was the 'we're going to talk later and you're in trouble' look.

"This is going to hurt, but I know what I'm doing, just follow my lead and don't ask questions. I know you're going to want to but just keep your mouth shut and do as your told."

I was unaccustomed of her telling me to keep my mouth shut. So, I assumed it was important and so I just kept silent from then on in. She knocked on the door. A man answered it. He was youngish, couldn't tell how young, he was an adult, and he had a goatee. I assume he was trying to make himself look older.

"Oh, hey Sheriff Kent!"

She offered him an envelope.

"I need a favor and its Mrs. Kent now."

He nodded.

"Sure thing Mrs. Kent."

"I need you to not ask any questions and draw some blood from my granddaughter."

"Whatever you want, you're the customer."

I looked at Edna like she was a bit crazy. If bullets couldn't do more than bruise me there was no way a needle is getting in my arm. It was another lesson to never underestimate Edna. He looked at me.

"I found a vein are you ready?"

I felt the weakness set in at that point and I started gasping for breath and my right hand twisted up. He pulled back with his needle and looked at Edna. She pointed at my left arm.

"Do it."

He jabbed the needled in and I saw my blood starting to flow into the vial. I felt the weakness subside.

"Throw that first bit out, use a new vial."

He shrugged and started filling a second vial. Once he finished, he pulled the needle out and put a bandage on my arm. I looked at Edna, I must have been giving her look like she'd just kicked my dog or something because her eyes were starting to get moist. She wasn't a crier, but I could tell she was feeling really guilty about what she'd just done. She didn't say anything and just held out her hand. He put the vial in her hand, and she grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room. I was so shocked by her betrayal I didn't put up any resistance. While she pulled me through the hospital, she spoke to me. I was openly crying by this point.

"I will explain later, I promise you I had no choice."

All I could think was: 'Of course you had a choice you could have warned me, or asked me I would have said yes if you'd just asked first. I wouldn't even have asked any questions you just had to say I need to expose you to the green rock so we can get some blood out of you, I would have said Yes.' But I just nodded, still muted by my shock and disappointment at her actions. The next stop gave me some insight into just how ruthless Edna could be. She leaned on a nursing station.

"Karen."

The nurse looked up at Edna and she froze her eyes going wide. All color drained from her face. She dropped her pen and I thought she was going to faint.

"Sheriff Edna…what are you doing here?"

"Calling in a favor."

"You promised you'd bury that."

"I did, and now you need to pay me back."

"Please."

The nurse begged.

"Karen, I need you to inject this into someone."

"That could kill them."

"It won't, and think of it this way, then you'll have something on me so if either of us say a word we'll destroy each other."

The nurse pondered it for a few seconds and grabbed the vial.

"Fine, who?"

"Henry Morris. If you tell anyone about this, I will make sure no medical licensing board will even want to see your name. Which would sure make that MD thing you're working on be a waste of time. And if you don't do this, he's dead anyway they pulled his life support."

The nurse looked like she was going to throw up. But she just pulled on some rubber gloves and walked away. Edna followed dragging me along. We passed Heather and Henry's mother they were in the hall and Heather was comforting her. We went into his room. Henry looked paler than before. All the machines had been pushed aside and he was breathing very shallowly. Karen gave Edna another look Edna nodded her along and Karen drew some blood into a long needle and jammed into Henry's chest. I almost threw up. For all the carnage I caused in days before this watching someone jam a massive needle into someone's chest was probably the most disturbing thing I'd witnessed up to that point. She rammed the plunger home and the blood vanished into his body.

She pulled the needle out and gave Edna a dark look she was putting it in the biohazard disposal when we heard movement from the bed. Karen and I jumped when Henry sat bolt upright and gasped for breath. Edna didn't bat an eyelash. He fell back into the bed and was looking around and then started holding his chest where one of the bullets had entered.

"Wha…what happened?"

I looked at Edna she put her finger to her lips, and I looked back to Henry. Karen started taking his vitals. She pressed the announcement button by the microphone in the room.

"Code Blue ICU 6, Code Blue ICU 6."

She reattached the heart monitor and it was going all over the place. She turned to Edna and I.

"You two need to leave now."

She started pushing a cart towards the bed and flicking switches on it. Several doctors and nurses rushed into the room. Edna pulled me out I looked up at her to ask a question, but she shook her head.

"I will explain later."

She motioned to Heather and Henry's mother's whose name was Sarah. Rushing towards us. His mother looked at Edna.

"What's going on?"

"He woke up when Amber held his hand and his heart started beating stronger than the nurse called a code blue. I guess he was not as gone as we thought."

"Oh, thank god!"

"You should sit down Sarah; We're going to need to wait and see."

Heather looked at me.

"Amber why do you look like you ran through a fire?"

Edna held up her hand.

"She's fine, and that's a conversation for another time and place. Right now, let's focus on Henry."

Heather nodded. It took about fifteen minutes and people started filing out of the room. Karan lost herself in the crowd. A doctor came over after rubbing his face a few times.

"Hi, I don't know what to say besides beyond all reason, he's stabilized and breathing on his own. He's still unconscious but he's stable. We'll be monitoring him at this point, but it looks like he's going to recover."

I gave Edna another look and she gave a slight shake of her head. Sarah looked like was going to faint. Heather and Edna steadied her.

"I…I don't understand. You said we should take him off life support because his organs were shutting down. How…how?"

"I'm sorry to say I have no idea. It's basically a miracle. Look, we don't know how much brain function he's going have. We'll have to wait and see. But right now, all we can do is wait."

"Can I see him?"

"Yes, but let's keep the visitors to a minimum."

Heather went in the room with his mother and Edna followed leaving me in the Hallway alone. A few minutes later Edna came out.

"Let's go see your mother and tell her the good news."

I nodded and followed her. She didn't seem ready to share any more information then she had every time I went to open my mouth, she'd shush me. I was getting frustrated and impatient at this point but I wasn't getting anywhere so I focused on my mother. She was laying in the bed still Sarah was coloring on the bench along one wall and Martha was sleeping in her bassinette. Emma looked like she had given up. She was staring at the wall blankly and barely acknowledged our entrance. Edna motioned with her chin that I should go see Emma. When I got close, I could see she was crying.

"Mom?"

She blinked up at me and reached for my hand which I let her take. I squeezed her hand.

"Your dad..he..he's…"

"He's fine."

She looked at me I could see hurt in her eyes.

"He woke up, asked what happened and passed out again. Doctor says he's stable. He said it's a miracle, but we should be cautiously optimistic because we don't know how much brain function, he'll have."

I could see hope returning to her eyes and she squeezed my hand tightly. I realized then that hope is the greatest gift you can give someone. I didn't process it at the time but that's where it started. It's something Clark learned young. It wasn't his superpowers; It was the hope he could bring to people. I sat down.

"I got some clothes for you, me and Sarah, mom. And dog food. I couldn't find his bowl."

She nodded and was wiping her tears up with her free hand. She let go of my hand and saw soot on it she was looking at it. I realized I must look terrible. She looked at the bandage on my arm.

"What happened?"

"There was a tornado in Smallville I donated some blood to help."

She smiled.

"You look like you've been through a warzone something tells me there is more to the story."

I looked towards the TV that was off.

"Not much more, I just helped some people after an accident. I wasn't close to the tornado at all."

I ran my hand through my hair it was tangled from the whipping winds near the tornado.

"You should take Sarah home and get some sleep and cleaned up. I'll be fine, especially now that your dad is in stable condition."

I nodded. Edna cleared her throat.

"That's probably a good idea. We'll get a bed set up for Henry's mom too. We'll be back in the morning Emma."

"Thanks mom."

We filed out of the room and I went with Edna, Sarah, Sarah and Heather went in Heather's truck. We rode for several minutes in silence and I looked down at the lead box that sat in the seat between us.

"Why do you have that Grandma?"

"Same reason my mom and dad had it. So, if you get out of control I can put you down."

"You would?"

"If you were hurting innocent people I absolutely would, and I would expect the same."

I nodded. Still felt like a knife in my back, but she was right. What could the police or military do to stop me. I the stronger I got the more invincible I became.

"You could have asked me; I would have agreed."

"I didn't have time to answer questions, and you would have asked a lot, and would you have believed me if I said your blood could help Henry?"

"All you had to do was say you needed my blood and that you don't have time to explain why, I would have given it to you. I trust you. Why don't you trust me?"

She kept staring at the road ahead without looking at me.

"Look Amber, I'm used to people not helping others without some form of payment. I made a mistake today and I should have told you I needed your blood and how we would have to get it. I am sorry."

I had never heard her apologize before and it seemed like something she didn't do often. I nodded.

"Accepted."

With that solved I looked in the mirror in the sun-visor. I really did look like I'd been through a war. Perfect. I pulled out my phone. It was down to 3G but it would do. I downloaded the Help! App. It was a crowdfunding site. I typed in my request for help and took a selfie in all my soot and blood colored glory.

Hi, my name is Amber Morris. My mom is a federal prosecutor. My dad was shot by some bad people because she was doing her job and trying to put them in jail. My dad is going to have a lot of medical bills. My mom went into early labor and there were complications. There are going to be so many medical bills I know we are going to need help. Our house was shot up and we're going to need to fix that and we don't even have a nursery ready for the baby. We need your help. Anything you could give will be welcome. If anything is left over we will donate it to Precious Angels Hospice for Children in Metropolis. God bless.

Edna looked at me when I snapped the selfie.

"Not you too."

"I was just positing a Help! request."

"A whatsit?"

"It's a crowdfunding app. You put up your story and people donate if they can help."

"You don't need to do that. We will help."

"Yes, I do, I'm part of this family and I'm going to do what I think is right too."

Edna sighed and shook her head.

"Kids these days."

I kept looking at my phone, mostly because I was still mad at Edna for the green rock thing. I looked at a text from April.

April: Saw you on TV. You be crazy.

Me: It took you that long to figure that out?

April: rofl emoji

April: Are you ok?

Me: I'm fine still tired. I put up a Help! post like you suggested."

April: Send me a link I'm gonna put out a red alert!

Me: link from Help! app Don't go too crazy okay?

April: I'm just going to send it to Jacob and his dad.

Me: We just got home, will text later if I don't fall asleep.

I put the phone in my pocket again and felt I vibrate shortly afterwards. Edna was shaking her head.

"Only took you what, three months to get addicted to that thing?"

"I guess."

She shook her head again and put the truck in park. Heather and Sarah were getting Sarah out of her child seat as we arrived. We all headed inside. I was exhausted and wanted a shower. I looked down and Sarah was reaching up to me to pick her up. I smiled and scooped her up. She wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I saw you on the internet."

"You did?"

"You saved the Sheriff and the pretty girl."

"I did."

"You went near ground wires, you're not supposed to do that."

"I know. And you should never do that Sarah."

The three adults were all looking at me now. I nuzzled Sarah's nose and she giggled.

"Now you need a bath too."

"Aww."

"Sarah can I get a shower and get changed then I can tell you all about it."

She tapped her nose a few times.

"I guess."

I put her down and riffled her hair. While the three adults were still recovering, I rushed upstairs into the shower. I could put off the lecture a few more minutes. I spent as long as I could in the shower for the first three minutes it was running off me grey. I had no idea I was that dirty. I blushed thinking of me sitting in the hospital looking like that most of the day. I brushed my teeth and used a hair dryer I tried my hair back and pulled on a t-shirt and some of Emma's old athletic shorts from when she was a kid and went downstairs. Henry's mother took Sarah upstairs for a bath. Heather and Edna were sitting at the table there was pizza sitting in the kitchen I started walking towards the pizza and Edna shook her head.

"After we talk."

I nodded. I wanted to vanish, unfortunately that isn't one my abilities, so I sat at the head of the table. Heather started and pushed a tablet towards me it had the video from the sheriff's dash cam.

"Amber, what were you thinking walking into those power lines? You could have been killed."

"I wasn't thinking of me, if I hadn't moved them the Sheriff and Caitlin would have been killed. The car was on fire."

She pointed to the tornado that was only a few hundred feet away.

"You should have been running the other way. Can you imagine what your mother would feel like losing you and your father in the same day?"

I closed my eyes I could feel the heat rising in my core again. I was starting to burn up from the inside out. I resisted the urge to unleash the heat. I pushed it back and I yelled without meaning too. It was so hard not to let the fire take over.

"The same thing could happen a hundred times and I would do it again, and nothing either of you can say to me will change that. I need to get out of here."

I stood up and rushed outside I ran into the barn and up to the hidden loft. I paced by the open doors with my fists clenched I could feel my nails dinging into my palms. It would seem I could hurt myself just fine. I struggled to stop my core from exploding. I had no idea what would happen if I went nova. That's what I started calling it. Now you know how I got my superhero identity. What you see the aura of plasma and the plasma jets is me selectively letting energy out, siphoning it off if you would but there is a sun inside me. A fusion reactor of unimaginable power, and I can barely contain it. Even as an adult. I'm surprised I made it through my teen years without melting more things. Excellent anger management skills, I guess. I continued to pace. I saw Edna's head appear at the top of the stairs. I couldn't look at her.

"You need to go away grandma it's not safe. I can feel it trying to get out again."

My teeth were clenched. My anger at her betrayal earlier and the lecture for helping people were not helping me calm down. I saw my reflection in the telescope my hair was streams of plasma and my eyes were glowing, I could see veins running out from them like my blood vessels had pure solar energy flowing through them.

"Take deep breaths Amber. In and out, in and out. Focus on the moon. Just focus on it and how far away it is and how quiet it is. Find your center."

I stood staring up at the moon breathing in and out slowly and it started to work I could feel my core pulling back inside. I watched the glowing veins around my eyes retreat and my eyes fall back to their normal deep turquoise my hair went back to platinum blonde. Edna looked relieved. I started to cry realizing what I'd done in the house.

"I'm sorry Grandma I didn't mean to yell I just was getting so angry and I was losing control of it."

"It is okay Amber, it is good you had enough of a clear head to get away from us to calm down. We really need to work on this. People could get hurt."

I nodded she hugged me tightly. I leaned against her and she rubbed my back.

"It's okay we'll figure it out together. I promise I'll never hurt you again."

I sobbed into her shoulder and she just held me tightly. Heather peaked around the top of the stairs now. It was a rare occasion for her to come to the barn. I guess Edna had been gone a while. Heather looked like she had been crying herself. They sat me down between them on the couch. Heather took my hands in hers.

"It's only been a few months but it feels like we've had you with us your whole life. We worry about you."

"I know, I'm sorry I yelled."

"You are more like Edna then I care to admit. She never would leave well enough alone, always running into danger. Emma too. Ran off and joined the military. I think it runs in our family. Our weird dysfunctional adoptive family. But we are a family. And we argue sometimes, and we get on each other's nerves. But we're there for each other when it counts. And this week you there for us all. You saved your mother and your sister's lives. I'm sorry I told you to ignore that instinct. There is a hero in you, and I was just, I know you're fine, but I was so worried for you. Because you didn't look worried for yourself."

"I wasn't worried about myself; I was just worried about them."

She rubbed my back.

"I had a phone call asking if you were alright from an old friend."

Edna glanced at her.

"Who called?"

"Alexander Luthor."

"Oh, that asshole."

"What your tongue. I have been friends with that family for forty years. They came to our wedding."

"It doesn't mean I like him. If his kid wasn't speeding none of this would have happened."

"I'm sure she learned her lesson being as she is intensive care and all. Not that you seem to care. He just wanted to tell you that Caitlin is stable and conscious. She wants to meet you Amber."

I shrugged and wiped my tears up. Edna crossed her arms.

"I don't care what the Luthors want they can wait until she's eaten a good supper and gotten some sleep. She's might have saved several lives this week but she's still a twelve-year-old girl."

Heather nodded.

"I don't disagree. Why don't we go inside and I'll warm up some pizza in the oven for you Amber. Then we can watch what the news is saying about you."

I blushed and shook my head.

"I'd rather not its embarrassing."

"Then next time don't do it on camera."

Heather ruffled my hair like I did to Sarah so many times. They wrapped their arms around me and hugged me close and we went into the house. The pizza was delicious. It was from Mother's Pizza in Smallville the same place Jacob had ordered from. We piled onto the couch with the Sarah's and Edna put on the news. Sarah climbed onto my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck and before I knew it she was sleeping. Henry's mother looked at me with a new appreciation after that. She told me later she had no idea what her son and daughter in law where thinking taking in a distant relation but that when she saw how comfortable Sarah was around me that she knew they made the right decision. The news started.

I had been right, listening to them talk about me on the news was embarrassing. They were acting like there was risk involved for me or something. I had to admit it looked like something out of an action movie without the dramatic music. My hair whipping around in the wind and the flames looked closer on the camera then they were. I could see why it was getting so much airtime. There was an interview with the Sheriff and his daughter who were singing my praises. Alexander and Lana Luthor also made a statement singing my praises. Thanking me for saving their daughter. I suspected Emma's work phone was probably ringing off the hook. It was safely stored in our sealed house. I smiled to myself bullet dodged. They must have been desperate because they had an interview with Kat at Precious Angels. I smiled when I saw her face again it was a welcome site. She looked nervous to be on camera.

"Amber Morris was a resident here?"

"Yes. She was orphaned in the Riverside towers explosion."

"Am I to understand she was in a coma up until this last Christmas?"

"I can't really discuss specifics on her medical history, ma'am, it would be a violation of HIPAA."

"Of course, what can you tell us about her?"

"She's brave, driven, brilliant and strong. She lost everything you can imagine, and she still got up every morning and put on a smile for the other children here. She even saved another resident's life while she was still using a walker."

The three adults on the couch looked at me after the last part.

"April… She cut her wrists. I broke down a door to get to her. It's her blood on my old pair of jeans I refuse to throw out. It reminds me what happens when I don't pay attention to the people around me."

Heather's hand went to her mouth and she put her arms around my shoulders.

"You poor dear. To have to go through that when you're barely out of a coma."

"She had to go through more. She remembers her family dying, I don't. She was shot in the back. I just got hit on the head. I was so focused on myself I didn't notice how much she was hurting."

"Oh, Amber. It wasn't your fault."

"Then whose fault was it? I am her closest friend."

Heather hugged me tightly and Sarah stirred slightly, tightened her grip and nuzzled into me more closely. I wrapped my arms around her, she stopped shifting around and started breathing more deeply. Poor kid was exhausted. After another hour of being forced to watch myself rescue the Sheriff and Caitlin Luthor I took Sarah to bed and went to sleep myself.