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Chapter Six: A Missing Piece of the Puzzle

"Martha, I'm fine. Really." Jonathan said, later that afternoon. He was lying down on the sofa, propped up with about a dozen pillows. "It was only a mild shock."

Martha, who was standing over him, with another pillow in her hand, looked uncertain. "Well, I don't want you moving about no more tonight."

Clark came in the front door and spotted his father lying down sofa. He instantly knew something was wrong. "Dad!" he hurried over to him. "What happed? Are you okay?"

Jonathan gave his son a weak smile. "I'm fine. There was a little accident. Annie seems to have another power."

"What happed?" Clark asked.

"Well, Annie was pitching hay in the barn when her arm did an invisible act. I went to help her and when I grabbed her arm, her whole body seemed to be shooting off electric. Next thing I know, I woke up here on the sofa."

"Are you sure you you're okay?" Clark asked.

"Yes. I'm just a little jittery."

Clark looked around. "Where's Annie?"

Martha shook her head. "I don't know. She left out the front door as soon as she found out Jonathan was all right. I think she's upset. We told her that everything was fine."

"I'll find her." Clark hurried out the door. He looked around, trying to think of places she might be.

It was almost dusk before he found her out in the west field, about a mile from the Kent House. She was sitting on the grass with her head in her hands.

"Hey." Clark said, softly as he sat down beside her. Annie didn't even look up. "How are you?"

Annie slowly raised her head, tearing flowing down her cheeks. "I...I..." she sobbed even harder.

"Don't cry. Please don't cry. " Clark said. He put his arm around her shaking shoulders. She jumped and moved away.

"Don't touch me. I might hurt you too."

"I'm tougher then I look." Clark said with a small smile.

"Oh, Clark, what have I done?" Annie moaned.

Clark shook his head. "Nothing. My dad's fine. No harm done."

"This time!" Annie cried out. "What happens if it happens again? Do you realize that your dad could be dead this very minute? And it would be my fault! What am I? Shooting off electric and invisible acts aren't normal, are they?"

"Calm down. I think well all realize what COULD HAVE happened but the thing is, it didn't." Clark said. "You didn't mean to do it on purpose. It was just an accident."

"I know." Annie sighed and fell back onto the grass. She looked up a the night sky. "I'm just a freak."

Clark shook his head. "No, your not."

Annie looked at him. "You don't know what it feels like!"

Clark gave her another small smile. "I understand more then you think."

Annie raised her eyebrow. "Oh, you do, do you?" she looked back up at the sky. "I would love to be living on one of the those planets right now. I couldn't hurt anybody up there."

"But you would be lonely." added Clark. He laid on his back beside her and glazed at the twinkling sky.

"That's the price I would have to pay." she sighed again. "I feel like I have this big block in my head. I can't remember much of anything except for flashbacks now and again. I don't know who to trust."

"You can trust me." Clark said.

"I know that Clark. You and your parents have shown nothing but concern and care for me. I've only known you for a day but I feel like I could tell you anything. If I could remember it, that is."

They sat in the grass in silence for a while, staring at the sky, each thinking totally different thoughts.

Finally Clark stood up. "We better get back to the house."

Annie didn't move from her spot. "I can't go back. Not after what I've done."

Clark shook his head. "Come on. Trust me." he held out his hand to her. "And you did say you trusted me."

Annie looked at his hand then at Clark. "Okay." she grasped his hand and he helped her up.

When they got back to the house, Martha and Jonathan were waiting for them.

"Annie!" Martha cried as they entered came in the door. "Thank God you're all right!" she threw her arms around Annie. "We were so worried."

"You were?" Annie asked, in surprise. She looked at Clark, who grinned at her as if to say 'I told you so'.

"Of course we were." Jonathan said. He waved for Annie to come over to him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. What about you, sir? I'm sorry about what happened. I didn't mean-."

"I know you didn't." Jonathan said. "And I don't blame you. It was an accident. Let's just put it behind us."

"Hey Clark." Lana said as Clark entered the Talon the next afternoon. She was filling up mugs with coffee.

"Hi, Lana. Is Chloe here? I'm suppose to meet her." he looked around the busy coffeehouse.

Lana shook her head. "No, I haven't seen her all week. I was hoping her and I could get together before she leaves."

"That's why I'm here. We are going to hang out all day together. So, how's it going?" Clark asked. He sat down on one of the stools in front of the counter.

Lana rolled her beautiful green and smiled, her nose crinkling up. "It's so busy! I've been handling making the coffee, taking orders and running the cash register all by myself."

"Where's Tracy?" asked Clark, noticing that Lana's new helper was absent.

"She's out sick. And Nell is-." she stopped as a customer waved at her.

"Miss! Where's our coffee?" the man called out.

"It's coming!" she yelled back. She smiled at Clark. "See?"

"I'll take over something." Clark offered.

"Could you?" Lana asked, gratefully.

Clark nodded. "Just tell me what you want done. I'm at your service, Madame." he joked, standing up and bowing.

Lana laughed. "Thanks Clark. Could you take Lex's order while I deliver this coffee?"

"Sure." Clark grabbed the notepad and pen off the counter and made his way over to Lex's table.

Lex, dressed in one of his many expensive suits, was reading some very professional looking papers that were scattered all over the table. He didn't even look up as Clark stopped at his table.

"Lex," Clark said. "When did you get back to town?"

Lex glanced up. "Oh, hey Clark. I got back very early this morning. How are you?"

"How am I? Maybe you should ask yourself that question." Clark looked closely at Lex's face. "No offence, but you look awful."

Lex yawned and stretched. "I've had virtually no sleep all week."

"Why?" asked Clark.

"Well, where do I start? When you left after that interview last Friday, I went straight to Metropolis to check on my father."

"How is he?"

"The doctors say that they are almost hundred percent sure that he'll walk again. But he's completely blind. And," Lex sighed. "That's my fault too."

"No it's not." Clark said.

Lex shrugged. "When I'm not at the hospital, I'm trying to keep Luthor Corp. running in Metropolis. That's not an easy job because the workers insist that they will only listen to my father. Then I've been trying to get Luthor Corp. reopened here in Smallville." he pointed at the papers on the table. "Now, I'm trying to balance the profits of each company from last one month. Then tonight I have to meet with builders who are going to fix up the mansion."

Clark smiled sympheticly. "I'm glad I'm not you."

Lex smiled back. "Me too. But sometimes, I wish I was you. I have all the money anyone could ever ask for but you have something I've always wanted but can't buy."

"What's that?"

"The love of a parent." Lex looked down at the table. "So," he said, changing the subject. "How are you? And your mom and dad?"

"We are all fine. The rebuilding of the farm is almost complete. Now all we have to do-." Clark's voice trailed off as he spotted a copy of the 'Daily Planet' on the Lex's table. It wasn't the paper itself that had caught his eye. It was the front page article. 'Staten Labs head scientist found murdered.'

"Uh, Lex, do you mind if I read that?" he asked, pointing to the paper.

"Sure." Lex said, handing it to him. "Be my guest."

"Thanks." Clark sat down in the chair beside Lex to read. 'Ben Johnson, head scientist at Staten Labs, was found dead Sunday night. Police believe that cause of death was electrocution...' Clark stood up.

"Clark," Lex looked at him in surprise. "What is it?"

"I have to go. Can I borrow this?" he pointed to the paper.

"Sure. Keep it. I've already read most of it. But Clark, what is it?"

"I have to go." he hurried out of the Talon, leaving Lex and Lana, staring after him in puzzlement.