Thank you all who reviewed! You rock. Beautiful? blushes Nah, not me! (Also, still in the process of deciding the 'ship for the 'fic. Either Dawn/Clark or possibly Chlark. Decisions, decisions. Oh, and in case anyone cares, I reallyreallyreally don't like Lana. FYI.)

GreenCrazyMuse: Ugaha buaoog! (Means: Stop staring at pictures of Orlando Bloom and get to work!)

Me: I am working. This is a brain stimulant. (hugs picture)

GCM: Ugha. (Means: Whatever.)

Chapter 2—Of Coma Girls and Super Heroes

"I still can't believe that you pulled a girl out of a destroyed car and got her to the hospital in less than 15 minutes all by yourself!" Chloe said, snapping a few pictures of the smashed Nissan in the middle of the road.

"I told you, Chloe, it wasn't all by myself," Clark argued, leaning on his red truck. "My dad helped me get open the door."

"Mm-hmm . . . "Chloe walked around the car for another angle, bumping into people and police officers. "This will make a great Torch exclusive." She raised her hands in a mock marquee. "'New Town Hero saves Girl in Car Crash'! I can see it now."

Clark responded a bit angrily, "For what? For saving a girl from being crushed to death when she probably won't wake up from a coma? Sounds deserving of 'Town Hero' any day."

Chloe winced. "Sorry. I guess I'm getting a little carried away with . . . you know, the Torch." She smiled hopefully. "But still the exclusive?"

Clark grinned. "Sure. Actually," He opened his car door. "I was going to drive over to the hospital to go see how she's doing. Do you wanna come?"

"Do you need an answer?" Chloe said, walking around to the other side of the car and opening the door. "Although, if it' not too much trouble, do you think we could stop off at the Talon? I haven't had my daily caffeine dosage yet."

"Sure!" Clark said, a little too enthusiastically, starting the car.

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Lana's heard, already, Clark, along with the entire town."

Clark shrugged, and attempted to maneuver through the crowds of people. "I still don't care if being a hero is a good thing, the crowds are still awful."

Chloe grinned. "That's why superheroes keep their identities secret."

"I'm not a superhero, Chloe. I'm just . . ."

"A normal, sweaty farm boy?"

"Thanks, Chlo, that makes me feel a whole lot better," Clark said dryly.

"Any time, Clark."

"So you just pulled her out of the car like that?" Lana asked, pouring coffee into a paper cup.

"Or so the stories say . . ." Chloe said with a hint of sarcasm.

Clark rolled his eyes. "It wasn't just like that, my dad had to help."

Pete clapped Clark on the back. "That's my man, never wants the credit."

Lana handed out coffee. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but as you can see it's rather crowded around here," She gestured to all the people. "Monday rush!"

Clark reached in his pocket. "Oh, Chloe, I wanted to show you something."

Chloe and Pete sat down at the nearest table. "Sure, Clark, what is it?"

"This."

Clark unfolded the note and placed it carefully in the middle of the table. All three of them simultaneously leaned forward to look at it.

"The nurses found this in her pocket."

Pete picked up the note and read it. "So . . . her name's Dawn."

Chloe took the note from him. "Not necessarily. She could've wrote the note herself."

"I just wanted to know what you thought of it." Clark said.

Chloe frowned. "I don't know . . . If we could find one of these people, we might know more."

"We could ask her when she wakes up," Clark suggested.

"But she's probably not going to wake up from a coma anytime soon." Pete deadpanned.

"Hm . . . "Clark muttered. "Chloe, what do you think?"

Pete grinned. "Hey, doesn't my opinion count anymore?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Obviously not."

"Ouch! Through the heart." Pete pantomimed getting stabbed.

Clark snorted. "And you two will be the first I call if I ever need serious friends."

Chloe stood up abruptly. "We were just going to the hospital to see . . . Dawn. Can Pete come?"

Clark shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

"She looks so helpless."

Dawn was lying in a white hospital bed. Her face was covered in various bruises and cuts. Her head was bandaged, and breathing shallow.

"This is awful," Chloe said, snapping a picture.

Clark and Pete looked at her.

"What? I have sympathy." Chloe took another picture.

Pete rolled his eyes. "What do the doctors say, Clark?"

Clark didn't take his eyes off the half-dead body in front of them. "Aside from possible coma for life, brain damage, amnesia—"

Pete held up his hands. "Whoa! All that I know."

"Then why'd you ask?" Clark asked dryly, looking up at Chloe and Pete.

Who weren't looking at him. Clark frowned. They were looking behind him in shock.

"Guys?" Clark asked uncertainly. Chloe raised a shaking hand and pointed to the bed.

Clark turned around, and saw that Dawn's eyes were open in what could only be described as terror.

Yes! Hurrah! This story is NOT a ficlet, it should be at least six chappies, 11 is my challenge, my dream. Ha. Dream on. But I'm glad you liked it! Next chappie already in the works. (The crazy, fontafide one.)