Spoilers: For Tempest
Disclaimers: I don't own any characters from Smallville (but Tom is my mistress). This disclaimer goes for all of my stories (forgot to put them up, sorry)
At a weather forecasting center in Wakefield, Virginia, Brian Pullian was checking the nation's weather radar for signs f disturbing weather patterns. All patterns looked normal except for activity in the nation's heartland. Three separate storm cells were all heading east and if they stayed on their current path, they would eventually converge and combine to create a huge cell of storms that could wreak havoc on any town or city that they came upon. Brian copied the radar picture and sent warnings to many of the nation's weather forecasting centers including Kansas. " They are in for a big treat," said Brian to himself as he watched the blips on the screen move closer to the unsuspecting states.
Lana Lang was driving along the deserted highway back toward Smallville, teary-eyed. The wind howled outside and dirt flew into a cloud around the truck. A huge chunk of debris fell into the road and Lana swerved to avoid hitting it but landed in a ditch. Her head hit the steering wheel but it did not render the girl unconscious. Lana tried to open the door but it would not budge. Lana then rammed her petite shoulder into the door and still it did not move. Her shoulder still ached from her first attempt but Lana was persistent and the door buckled under the pressure. Lana crawled out and the sharply blowing wind blew her hair into her face and she pulled her hair out of her eyes just in time to see the three gray-white funnels dance around each other before combining into one super funnel. The sight mesmerized her until she saw the funnel completely decimate a barn in less than a few seconds. She ran and jumped into the cab of the truck. Lana used all of her strength to close the door against the howling wind. She tried to use her cell phone to call for help but all she heard was static in her ear. The funnel was moving closer as Lana tried to start the truck but it would not start. " Come on, come one," whispered the girl like a mantra. Again she tried to start the truck but the engine rumbled but did not roar to life. Lana did not try again because the funnel was now consuming the truck and she felt the truck begin to life up, the jerky movement brought Lana's head back to the steering wheel and this time it did succeed in knocking the diminutive brunette unconscious.
Clark Kent ambled toward the punch bowl when a hand touched his shoulder. " Hey, Pete." " What's up, Clark." " Nothin much, bro." " Looks like Chloe is having a good time," said the young man who was gazing at his female friend. " Yeah, she is," said Clark as he watched Chloe laugh at something that someone had said. She was so very beautiful to him but he had never told her that before tonight. " I like these guys," said Clark who pointed at the band that was playing on stage. " " Yeah, that's Remy Zero, I love this band, YEA REMY ZERO!!!!" Just then the band switched from a catchy dance tune to a slow ballad. " Hey this is Chloe's favorite song," said Pete who was searching the nicely decorated gym for his foxy dance partner. " I know, why do you think I requested it," said Clark to his best friend as he made his way to Chloe. Pete just smiled after his friend. Chloe spotted him way before he got to her. " Can I have this dance?" " Of course, you may." Clark took her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. She smiled up at him and Clark smiled at the sight of her beautiful smile. " My dancing lessons helped," she said smiling. He nodded, his gaze fastened onto her face.
Suddenly, the only noise that Chloe heard was the softness of the music and the rapid beating of her own heart. Clark was leaning down toward her, he wanted to kiss her not Ms. I'm perfect Lana Lang. Chloe tightened her arms around him and rose slightly onto her tiptoes. They were not even millimeters apart when the microphone screeched with feedback. Her dream-like state was broken and Chloe wanted to curse the timing of the dance coordinator. " Excuse me but we just wanted to inform you that Smallville has been issued a tornado warning so we want to get everyone into the basement ASAP just to be on the safe side." Chloe turned to see Clark's brow furrowed. " What's wrong?" " Lana might still be at the bus station." " I'll call her." Clark was quiet and Chloe saw that look in his eyes; he was going to leave her so she did the first thing that came to mind. He looked surprised when she grabbed his hand as she held the phone to her car. He didn't fight it either but Chloe could feel his tension. Nell picked up the phone. " Hi Nell, this is Chloe Sullivan I was wondering if Lana made it home. Chloe listened to the woman as she kept her eyes trained on Clark. " She did, oh okay, thank you. I was worried." She hung up the phone. " Nell said that Lana was pulling up into the driveway." Clark looked as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders but his brow was still wrinkled. " Are you sure?" " That's what Nell said, why would she lie to me, Clark." He shrugged and stayed silent. " Come on, guys, everyone is going to the basement," said Pete as he passed them. Hands still linked, they followed the throng of people that were headed for the school's basement.
Clark had no reason not to believe Chloe and Nell but something in his gut was telling him that Lana was still in danger. The feeling was almost stifling but Clark pushed the feeling aside, focusing on Chloe's nervous babbling. She only babbled when she was scared, it was one of the many idiosyncrasies that Clark noticed of Chloe, so Clark have her hand a comforting squeeze. She looked up at him and he saw her fear through her smile. " It'll be okay, Chlo." " It is now," she said as they descended into the darkness that was the basement.
Lana opened her eyes and saw only bright white light. " Where am I?" ' You're with us now, honey," said a familiar voice. " Mommy," said Lana in a little girl's lost voice. " Yes, honey, its me." Lana looked up and into her own eyes that she got from her mother. " Hello princess." " Daddy," she cried out happily as she hugged them both. Then a dark cloud of realization rained on Lana's happy reunion. " I'm dead." They both nodded. " But I was so young, I wasn't supposed to die." " You are right, you weren't supposed to die but your guardian angel wasn't there to save you." " What, my guardian angel?" Her mother held a crystal ball in her hands and Lana looked into and saw the fog turn into a familiar face. Clark. " He came to earth to protect you when we died and up until now, he has done that." " He did always save me," said Lana who was flabbergasted but it made a few things a little clearer, his behavior made sense. " Someone changed your destiny, you are with us now." Lana smiled but sadly mourned the fact that she never told Clark that she loved him.
The wind outside roared, as bodies were slightly crammed into the small space of the basement. He felt Chloe shiver beside him so he took off his tuxedo jacket and threw it over her shoulders, he didn't see her smell the collar to get a whiff of his unique scent. They'd been down there for quite awhile with only the low whisper of conversation to disturb them. Clark felt Chloe's head land on his shoulder and he put his arm around her slim shoulders. She scooted closer to him and he didn't mind. She felt small and warm beside him and he rather liked it that way. He listened to her even breaths and kissed her forehead. He hoped that everything was okay but in his heart, he felt that something was terrible wrong.
