Chloe walked into the apartment wondering why in the world Rory hadn't been at work. She'd called in sick just an hour before their shift. She hoped nothing serious was wrong; then again Rory rarely missed class or anything important so there had to be something really wrong.

"Or? You here?" she said as she placed her purse on the kitchen counter, heading for the fridge for a bottle of water.

"Hum....yeah just in here." she heard Rory say in a muffled tone. Chloe walked into the living room and found Rory curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped around her. Her eyes looked like she'd been crying for days.

"Rory what's wrong?" Chloe said immediately by her roommate's side.

"Nothing....I - well...I mean...." It seemed Rory couldn't get the words out as she just sat there tiny tears falling from her eyes.

"Rory you're scaring me..." Chloe said as she smoothed Rory's hair down.

"I have to go home....I'm sorry..." Rory said as she stood up. "I have to see my brother. I'm going to Smallville for a few days...."

"Smallville? You're brother? What's wrong?" Chloe questioned curiously.

"He and Mary were in a car accident. It looks bad.... the's nobody to look after Kayla...I need to go." she said standing up and headed for the door. "I'll call you when I get there."

Chloe watched as Rory left the apartment, not a bag in hand. Her mind must've been completely gone because how in the world was she supposed to get to Smallville?

Chloe stood up and went after her but found that she'd disappeared in a matter of seconds.

Clark was walking down the street towards Chloe and Rory's apartment when something smashed into him at break neck speed and sent him flying backwards. He landed in the dumpster in the ally he'd been taking a short cut through. He stood up completely shocked, wondering what the hell was going on when he saw a glimpse of her. She was standing still, looking around as though she didn't have a clue what to do now.

"Rory?" Clark said confused. How had she done that - how had she managed to knock him over?

Her head shot towards him and her mouth dropped open in shock as she turned away and started to run away. He ran after her, the pace she was taking much slower now. Had he imagined seeing her run like he did? Or was something terribly wrong? He finally caught up to her, surprised at how fast she was. Then again had she not just knocked him over?

Catching her arm he turned her towards him. "Rory, are you okay?"

"I have to go....I need to get to them." she said in a tiny whisper. "Please let go of me."

"Rory what's wrong? Who do you have to get to?" Clark questioned, confused at the emotions that ran through his body as he saw the look of pure pain in her eyes. "Did Lex do something?"

"Lex? No my brother...I have to get to him. I have to go to Smallville." she said frantically trying to loosen his grip on her arm and to his surprise she got free.

'This is getting eerie....what is going on? Am I losing my powers? Or is Rory just another one of those people who've been affected by the meteors?' He thought trying to register what was going on. 'She can't be - she wasn't anywhere near Smallville when the meteors fell...or was she?'

"Rory, wait....I have to go home to Smallville tomorrow morning, you can come with me if you want." Clark said as she turned to him.

"I can't wait that long...I have to get there now." she said still in a state of shock.

"We can leave now if you want?" he said frightened by the way she was acting. What if something was wrong with her?

"You'd do that for me?" she said in shock.

"Well I do need to go home....and I'd do anything for a friend." he said wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Thank you." she said her burden suddenly becoming lighter. 'Friend - yeah, would you want to be my friend if you knew the truth about me?' She thought mournfully. Nobody would ever know the truth - only her brother knew and their parents had sworn him to secrecy when they'd found out. She'd been adopted by her parents - around the time that Josh had been 10....she'd been five at the time....and everything about her life from there had been a roller coaster ride; one which didn't seem to be slowing down. She silently cursed herself for being so reckless earlier. She'd just have to keep the secret closer and never let anybody know the truth. Or else it would mean the end of her world as she knew it.

"No problem. Come on let's go pack so we can go." he said as he lead her back towards her apartment.

She nodded and let him lead her without hesitation. For some reason his being there felt right; made her feel better. Why she couldn't explain, but it just felt right. Like he knew what was going on in her life, and could understand even her darkest secrets. Though that wasn't at all possible, how could he when she was something that nobody would even be able to comprehend.