Chapter 17

Clark followed Jonathan into the house. Issues upset Bliss' apple cart. He pulled his boots off. "Dad, I just wanted to say sorry about the chores. I got into doing my homework. I needed to do some thinking. Sorry. I didn't mean to dump them on you."

Jonathan nodded. "I know, Son. Thinking and doing homework are good things. Apparently, you were sitting in the corner. You didn't use your abilities. That sounds like a productive use of time. At least you let Lana do her work. You didn't cause a scene like Lex did." He narrowed his eyes. "Those are good things. It's definitely a step up and back in the right direction from the Wild Coyote a few days ago."

"Dad, I was on that red meteor." Clark frowned. "I wish I could remember." He shook his head. "I'm glad Lana's okay. Mom's call really turned her around. Now, Pete's talking about this surprise. Apparently, something happened and I started floating there? Really?" He shook his head. "The only other time I did that was during the twisters. What happened?"

"Maybe your inhibitions went away? Maybe your emotions overrode your thinking? Remember how your heat vision overwhelmed you? Your feelings for Lana did that then. Maybe it happened again tonight?" Jonathan released a deep breath. "Look, Son. It's great that you're happy for Lana being happy. We all should be. You just can't let your focus go. Maybe you can work on it out in the barn? We can test it out in the back fields and maybe in the woods? Pete can help. We just can't have you doing that where people can see you. We've been very lucky. Your episode this week can be linked to Nicodemus. The Talon tonight was empty except for Pete, Lana, this Miranda and you."

"She's already let me know she'll keep my secret, Dad. Lana called me on the way back. It's okay. She wants to talk with us tomorrow too. Trust me. She's a good lookout for us." Clark ran his hands through his hair. "And she's asked to talk with Mom and you."

Skepticism took its turn in Paranoia's Shotgun Seat. Jonathan regarded Clark once again. He had to admit that Miranda's situation had its benefits. He'd talked with her more than once there. She always watched and knew what was going on around herself. Besides, she didn't go to Lionel or Lex. She had Lana call Clark to inform him. He softened. "If she wants to talk, Clark, the least we can do is listen. At least, Lana helped us to contain things twice this afternoon. We need to talk with her about those times that she gets frustrated."

"Why?" Defensiveness stiffened Clark. "What did she do?"

Jonathan curled his lip. "Apparently, she confronted Pete at his locker this morning. She wanted to know what he and your mother didn't tell him last night. She came over here after you tried to apologize yesterday. That's all I know. Pete didn't tell her anything. Then, she turned her back on you. That attracted attention. I'm glad that Miranda kept things fairly normal today. Clark, that's just another example of how we can't let our guard down. Anything out of place can attract attention! How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Dad, it was just for a split second." Frustration built up within Clark (yet again). "Everyone slips up once in a while. I'm glad Pete was there." He paced the old oak floorboards underfoot.

"But, Son, we aren't always going to be so lucky! That's part of why I've agreed to do what we're doing tomorrow." Jonathan hissed through clenched teeth. "You're going to find out sooner or later anyway. There are those around us who have figured things out or are really close to it. Pete and your mother think we should talk with them and show some trust. I don't agree. At least, they're people we know. Lana is one of them. Miranda's another one now apparently. The others you'll find out about tomorrow."

"Clark?" Martha came in the front door. "I'm glad you're home! You must be starving! I've got your dinner in the fridge. I told Pete to tell you that." She took her coat off and hung it on the hook. "Jonathan, we can talk at the table."

"Martha, we need to talk right now. Clark was seen again tonight at the Talon. Fortunately, the café was empty except for Pete, Lana and her waitress, Miranda. Lana called him right afterwards." Jonathan folded his arms across his chest.

"Clark? Is that true?" She set Padded Envelope on the table. "What happened?"

Clark slumped against the wall. "Lana got a call about 7 or so. She really seemed to be happy. Then, we talked on the phone. I went up to the counter. We talked. Pete pulled me toward the door. I just forgot about my problems. I felt really good. Then, I guess I felt really light. I felt Pete pull on my arm. I managed to get out of there. I felt it happening on the way home too. Fortunately, I had the seat belt on." He shrugged.

"Good thing." Jonathan nodded at Clark's explanation. "So, it's like your heat vision then. We just have to practice with this hovering thing. As I was saying before, we can have someone watching with you while you're doing it. That way, we know if anyone sees you."

"That sounds good." She cleared her throat. "I just came from Lex's mansion. He's coming tomorrow." She pointed to the envelope. "He gave me that as a 'token of good will'. Apparently, it's a security video that he had made. It came this afternoon. He hadn't opened the envelope yet. He is trying, Jonathan."

Skepticism evoked Scoff from the farmer. "I'll be the judge of that." He opened the envelope and slid VCR Tape out onto the table. He walked the tape across the room.

"Dad." Clark rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Lex isn't that bad! This should be another reminder of that." Frustration with Jonathan's Prejudice and Paranoia grew yet more inside of himself.

"He did try to have us investigated. I shouldn't have to remind you of that." Jonathan turned the TV and VCR on. "Okay. Let's see what Lex has for us. Come on over. We should all watch this." He stepped back to allow the others to see Screen's display.

Tape cued and start running. Lex's Pool Table and the chamber came into view. Lionel stood off to the side in Blindness' shroud. He tried (or acted like he was trying) to figure out the events around himself. Federal Marshall threatened Kal. He pressed Kal for information about Jessie and her father. Amusement's Smirk akin to Overreaching Rat threatening a Cat spread across Kal's face. He grabbed Gun away from Marshal's Grasp. Lionel demanded to know what was going on. Kal fired several times into his hand. Then, Crushed Bullets dropped onto Pool Table's Velvet Surface. After Lionel ran out, Kal pinned Marshal against the wall with Pool Table's weight. He sped from the chamber.

Clark winced. How I can't remember that? That's me. Why can't I remember? WHY? He ground his teeth.

"Jonathan, what about that marshal and Lionel? Lionel's blind so he didn't see. Still, what about the bullets? What about if that marshal says anything?" Worry flooded her mind in that moment.

"I know. I was just thinking the same thing. We'll have to talk with Lex tomorrow." Jonathan glared at Clark. "That's what we were talking about, Clark. If you didn't have that class ring…."

"Dad, not now! I don't want to hear about the money again," Clark griped. Resistance had built up over Jonathan's harping in that regard. "I get it. I shouldn't have spent the money!" Impatience added edge to Tone.

"Clark, that's not what your Dad was getting at." She shook her head at Jonathan. I'm sure he's thinking about that again though. "He's talking about that red meteor rock. If you hadn't been wearing it at that point, that scene wouldn't have happened. There are other kinds of cost besides money. We have to think about the ramifications. Who else has seen this tape? What will they do with that information? We don't need another Phelan. What about that man? He's seen you now. What if Lionel figures it out? We can't take chances."

"Listen to her, Clark. Your mother is absolutely correct! How can we protect you if you don't take care? I know there are things we don't know about. Still, we can't be taking chances. We have to look into these things together." Jonathan stewed over these points in his mind. Frown cut deeper across his face. "At least, Lex showed us this tape. I intend to thank him for giving us his copy." Squirm resonated throughout his body. "Let's hope it's the only one."

Clark bowed his head. "It's like I can't try anything! Sometimes it feels like I'm in a cage."

"We're trying to protect you, Clark. That's the difference." She put her hand on his arm. "You do know what it took for us to do what we're doing tomorrow? That's balancing protecting you with allowing you some friends. Lana's shown she can handle things. That's why she's coming tomorrow. We have to protect them as well as you. Abilities like yours require sacrifice. If you try the wrong thing and this keeps happening, you'll end up as someone else's Guinea Pig or in their cage. Just think about that."

"I know, Mom. These abilities come up. It's like the heat vision. I couldn't control it at first. How could I know my feelings triggered it? This hovering/flight thing is just like that." Clark pointed at Jonathan. "It's like Lana and Dad around that flower last year. They couldn't help it. They just have to keep away from it if someone gets stupid and tries what Dr. Hamilton did last year." He shrugged. "Red meteors, I guess, are like my Nicodemus. Sorry, Dad. Not trying to slip responsibility."

"We had to deal with that, Clark. That's a fair assessment. Question is what do we do with it from now on? That's the question." Jonathan glanced at Clock's face. "It's getting late and you do have school tomorrow. Now remember, just act normally. Maybe Pete and you might not want to talk with the girls about it? If they have questions, remind them that we'll answer them here tomorrow night. All right?"

"I can do that. Thanks, Guys. Good night." Clark grinned at them. He climbed the stairs one at a time. Thought and Burden weighed on every step. This is so hard! Pete's words echoed back through his mind as well. Guess I have a lot to think about and watch for. Can't wait for this discussion! He rolled his eyes.

The next day would drag. That was for sure….