If there was one person, Emmeline missed, it was Ryan James. She'd sent a few emails back and forth with him, but lately she hadn't heard very much. From what Clark told them, she figured out why.

According to Clark, Ryan called him in a panic, saying that he was being held against his will at a place called Summerholt.

"I just keep thinking I missed something," Clark said to Pete and Emmeline as they all headed to the Torch. "Some clue in his email, some sign that things weren't okay. I guess I just wasn't listening."

"I feel the same way," Emmeline told him. "When his emails got less frequent, I just assumed he got busy. I should've tried harder to stay in contact with him."

"I know Ryan means a lot to you guys, but you gotta cut yourselves some slack. Second-guessing isn't gonna help," Pete said.

"Hey, um, remember that really cute guy Heinrich who works at the phone company?" Chloe said as she came over to them.

"Yeah, you mean the Hungarian one with the toy scooter?"

"He's Austrian and it's a classic Vespa, but anyway, he was able to trace Ryan's call back to its point of origin."

"You found something," Clark said eagerly.

"Summerholt Neurological Institute. But it's not in Edge City, it's in Metropolis."

"Well, that explains why we couldn't find it."

"Yeah, but the weird thing is that Summerholt is strictly a research facility. They don't even take patients. And if they did, why would Ryan be in lockdown in a place that specializes in super-esoteric brain research?"

Clark looked confused, but Emmeline couldn't help thinking that there was something he wasn't telling them. In all honesty, that really shouldn't have surprised her anymore.


The second Emmeline found out that Clark had gotten Ryan out of Summerholt and he was now under protective custody of the Kents, it took all of her willpower to not bust down the door to the Kent farm to see him. Chloe convinced her to put on a surprise party at the Talon, so she had to go there and get ready for him.

"Oh, he's coming!" Chloe cried. She dimmed the lights and everyone stood in a large bunch in the middle of the room.

When Ryan and Clark walked in, the lights came up and everyone yelled, "Surprise!"

"It's your jailbreak party!" Chloe said as she ran up to the boys. "We even have the obligatory pistachio log ice cream cake and we managed to rustle up a band."

"This is so cool!" Ryan said. "Thanks, guys."

Emmeline raised her eyebrows a little. Ryan's voice had gotten a lot deeper since the last time she had seen him!

"Good to see you, man," Pete smiled.

"I'm so glad you're back!" Lana laughed before kissing him on the cheek.

"Wow," Ryan breathed. "Yeah, me too."

Emmeline rolled her eyes then smiled broadly. "Alright, my turn. Come here, Ryan!" She hugged Ryan tightly and didn't want to let go. She hadn't realized how much she had really missed him.

"I've missed you, Em."

"I've missed you more."

"Oh, thanks for that book. It's been a real lifesaver. I've read it like 15 times."

"No problem. I'm glad you liked it."

Emmeline and Chloe listened to the band, even though she wanted to talk to Ryan until they ran out of things to talk about. That was the first time that had ever happened with anyone.

However, when she was about to go talk to him, he got up and left with Clark, holding his head in pain. She was really concerned, and made a mental note to ask him what was going on.

Evidently, she didn't need to. Clark called her the next day to let her know that Ryan had been admitted to the hospital after passing out at Lex's house.

She rushed there as fast as she could and headed to Ryan's room. Clark was already inside.

"Hey," she said as she walked in. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm…alright," Ryan said slowly.

"My parents said the doctor's going to run some more tests," Clark said to both of them.

"They don't need to. I know what's wrong with me."

"What is it?"

"There's a tumor in my head. It's getting bigger."

Emmeline's heart sank even further. How could this be happening now?

"I'll tell the doctors."

"They know." Tears started to fall down Ryan's cheeks. "I'm dying. And no one can save me."

Emmeline forced back the tears in her eyes and ran over to Ryan's bedside, taking his hand in hers. She slowly rubbed comforting circles over his skin with her thumb as he continued to cry.


Emmeline returned to school with the promise that she would come see Ryan as soon as she was let out.

She headed to the Torch office looking a little worse for wear. Lana was on Chloe's computer and Chloe was organizing some files.

"Hey, Em, how's Ryan?" Chloe asked.

"He's doing okay considering the circumstances. It's just a lot to take on for me at the moment."

"I understand." She looked over Lana's shoulder at what she was researching. "Facts on child emancipation. I have a feeling this isn't for a research paper."

"I decided to tell Nell that I wasn't moving with her to Metropolis," Lana admitted.

"Wow. That's very Erin Brokovich of you. How did Nell take it?"

"One, she's my legal guardian, two, I'm a teenager, and three…I don't have any say in the matter."

"That pretty much covers all your bases. So are you going to pursue this emancipation thing?"

"From everything I've read, it could take up to a year and a half to complete the process."

"Sounds like you're already talking yourself out of it."

"It was my last shot."

"You know…you might have one other option." There was a pause before she said, "I mean…at my house, there's only my dad and me, so we would have the room. Maybe…you could move in with me for the time being."

Emmeline looked up at them. Had she just heard right?

"Seriously?" Lana smiled.

"Well, I'd have to talk it over with him obviously, but it's a possibility."

"Thank you so much, Chloe!"

Lana smiled brightly and left the office.

"Chloe," Emmeline said quietly. "You're not…replacing me as a friend…are you?"

"What?! Em, of course not! I'm just trying to help her out. Besides, there are things that I talk to you about that I could never tell Lana."

"Like basically everything with Clark?"

"Exactly. Don't worry. No one could ever replace Emmeline Brooks. Especially not Lana Lang."


Emmeline returned to the hospital after school finally let out and headed straight for Ryan's room.

"Got here as fast as I could," she laughed.

"Hey, Em," he smiled at the sight of her. She pulled up a chair next to his bed. "Em…there's something I have to tell you."

"Okay. What is it?"

"No one except the Kents know." He took a deep breath and then just said it. "I have the ability to read minds."

Emmeline was taken aback for a few seconds. "Wow…that explains a lot."

"You're not freaked out?"

"Believe it or not, I've seen stranger."

"Really?"

"I could tell you about this guy who sucked the heat out of teenage girls, or Chloe's boyfriend who had telekinesis, or about this guy who was interested in me who turned into a bug freak and attempted to mate with me."

"I get the point," Ryan laughed.

"So no, I'm not freaked out. That's how you know all that stuff before people say it."

"Yeah, and how I knew about the tumor. I read about it in Dr. Garner's mind."

"So can you control when you hear people's thoughts?"

"No, I kind of get it all at once, but I only hear whatever they're thinking at that moment. You know, what's on the surface. I can't really control it."

"I bet that can get annoying."

"It's how I know…about your mom having cancer."

"Oh…that."

"Don't worry, Em. She'll be fine. She's going to get the proper treatment and everything will be okay."

"That's what everyone's saying to me. To be honest, I'm tired of hearing that. I know the treatments will help her get better, but what if it's only temporary?"

"Then enjoy the time you do have with her. Cherish the time you've been given."

"I will."

Emmeline stayed with Ryan all day when Clark came bounding in, saying he had a doctor with him that could perform surgery on Ryan and help the tumor.

They prepped him and off he went.

Emmeline decided to head home, promising Clark that she would be back bright and early to see Ryan in recovery.

As soon as she stepped through the door, Emmeline went up to her mother and hugged her tightly.

"Oh, honey, what's this for?" her mother asked with a smile.

"It's just…I love you."

"I love you too. How's Ryan?"

"They're giving him surgery to help with the tumor. I'm going back to the hospital in the morning to see him."

"That's a bit of good news. I'm sorry you've got so much on your plate right now. Me, and now Ryan…"

"It's fine. We'll just take it one day at a time."

Emmeline and her mother went onto the couch in the living room and put on their favorite chick flick. She ended up falling asleep in the protectiveness of her mother's arms.


Around 8:00 in the morning, Emmeline awoke on the couch in the living room. She took a quick shower and then rushed to the hospital. When she got there, she noticed ashen looks on Martha and Jonathon's faces.

"What is it?" she asked hurriedly.

"The surgery wasn't as successful as they wanted it to be," Martha said with glassy eyes. "I'm afraid Ryan doesn't have much longer."

Emmeline's eyes watered at the horrible news. Why Ryan? Why now?

"Clark's in there with him now. You should go in there too. He's been asking for you."

She nodded and poked her head through the doorway. "Hey."

"Em!" Ryan smiled weakly.

She gave him a sad smile and saw no point in hiding the tears from him. "I guess I can't try to hide my thoughts from you, huh?"

"I told her," Ryan said to Clark. "She deserved to know."

She came around and saw on the other side of his bed, taking his hand again.

Ryan handed Clark the Warrior Angel comic he had been reading. "This is one of Lex's favorites. Would you give it back to him?"

"No, you give it to him," Clark insisted. "When you get out of here."

"I know I said you should be careful of Lex. But I never told you how much he admires you. Promise me you'll keep an eye on him after I'm gone."

"Ryan, don't talk like that, all right? You're not going anywhere."

"Clark—"

"Look, you just don't give up hope, Ryan. There's more doctors we can see."

"Clark, you're not listening to me. The doctor said he bought me a few extra days. I want to spend that time with my friends."

A few tears dripped down Emmeline's cheeks and the same went for Ryan. He began to move his head around in pain.

"Ryan, what's wrong? Ryan. Ryan, what's wrong?"

"It's so loud in here.

"I'm sorry," Emmeline said quietly as she began to get up, knowing it must be because of her thoughts. "I'll leave."

"No," Ryan said quickly, grabbing her hand which forced her to sit back down. "Don't go."

"All right, look," Clark said. "We'll take you somewhere quiet, all right?"


And that's how Emmeline found herself high above Kansas in a hot air balloon. She never expected this to happen in a million years and though the height kind of scared her, she loved it at the same time.

"What do you think?" Clark smiled.

"It's peaceful," Ryan said. "I thought you were afraid of flying."

"Not when I have you and Em here to protect me."

"Thanks, Clark."

"For what?"

"This moment. Getting to be here with you and Em. It's perfect. And Em…whatever happens with your mom, I know you're all going to get through it. You're tougher than you give yourself credit for." Tears found their way to Emmeline's eyes again. "I don't want either of you to be angry or sad. You both changed my life. You're both gonna change a lot of people's lives. Promise me neither of you will ever give up?"

The three of them joined in on a group hug.

"We promise," Emmeline said.


True to his words, Ryan passed away not long after their hot air balloon ride. Emmeline was home alone sitting on the couch hugging her knees to her chest. Tears streamed down her face at the loss of her friend.

The doorbell rang which was the last noise she wanted to hear. Nevertheless, she wiped her eyes and got up to answer it.

"Clark."

"Hey, Em."

"What are you doing here?"

"I…I know that you were really close with Ryan too. I just wanted to see if you were doing okay."

Emmeline looked away from him and slowly shook her head.

"Yeah. Me neither."

Clark stepped inside and Emmeline allowed herself to begin sobbing all over again as Clark just stood there and held her, occasionally letting tears slip down his own cheeks.

While they were both devastated by Ryan's death, neither would ever regret becoming friends with him in the first place.