Let's skip the preamble.
Onto the show.
"...Thanks, Cathy. I'm here on I-5 where a car has plowed off the interstate and into an iragation ditch, seriously injurying the driver and one of the passangers. Both have been taken to Smallville Medical Center for transportation to Metropolis, where they will recieve proper medical treatment. While the police have yet to realease a statment, other sources have identified those injured as local farmer Jonathan Kent and his wife Martha Kent. Their son, Clark Kent, was also in the truck at the time of the crash. Two passersby who stopped when they saw the wreck claim that Kent pulled his parents from the wreckage. How anyone could have survived that accident is beyond me, Cathy."
The uptight young man that was relaying the news in a melodramtic baritone shifted slightly and allowed the camera to pan the scene. Random car parts from the interior of the truck were scattered across the landscape. Only the bed of the truck was visible from its angle in the ravine, but from the state of the chasse and the deep gashes across the metal and smattering of broken glass that littered the dirt around, it was obviously beyond repair. Assorted rescue personal were leaving the horrific crash in a rush as their jobs were completed. Police officers were meticiuously documenting the scene, going over each truck part and footprint with an almost unnatural studied patience. There was frenzied feeling around the site despite the measured movements of the CSI's, almost as though the entire team had been jacked up on caffine and were speeding their way through. From the looks on their faces they seemed to feel the whole exercise was a futile effort. After all, this was just one more bizarre case to go unsolved in the depth of the Lowel County archives. It would be in good company, among the most baffling unsolved mysteries in the nation that routinely drove scholars and veteran detectives crazy with their random clues insane witness accounts. But nonetheless, the workers toiled away in the noontime humidity and heat beneath a shadowy gray sky in hopes of returning home before the rain once again began to fall, washing away any evidence left behind with it.
The young man straightened his tie and pasted on another grin. His whole demeanor reeked with his discomfort in the dark blue blazer and khaki pants more akin to a museum guide than a television reporter. He continued his speech about the condition of the wounded farmers and the police investigation before returning the viewers to the newroom with veteran anchor and barbie doll look alike Cathy O'Keefe.
On that note, Gabe Sullivan swiftly punched the 'Off' key on his remote and sighed deeply.
Gabe had loved Smallville and it's charm when he had moved Chloe and himself here four and a half years ago. He'd relished the chance to leave the city and its smogy dankness. It offered an oasis from his deadend job and Chloe's unfulling high school with a student paper so censored by the administration even lunch menu had a hard time getting published. She'd had no chance to shine there and had percious few friends to depend on among the rich and priviledged that spread as far as the eye could see. Since the Sullivan's couldn't be counted among their private ranks, Chloe had been outcast and Gabe shunned at the private school PTA. He saw Smallville as a place to start over and get away from all the bad times his family had experienced in Metropolis. 'Smallville is safer,' he'd told himself. 'This is the right move. Accepting this promotion is the chance you've been looking for!'
Now, though, he realized how terrible a misconception that had been. Over these past few years, Gabe had grown to hate Smallville and wish despertely for a chance to escape it. But after pulling the strings he had to secure that promotion years before, he knew there was no way out short of quitting to leave the cursed town behind. And he hated to fathom what might come of that decision. One thing he learned long ago was that you didn't leave Luthor Corp. Luthor Corp chewed on you and wore you down until it spit you out when it was good and ready, never before. He had seen all to well what happened if you tried to escape it, and refused to let it happen to him or to Chloe. 'The consequences are too great, even to be rid of Smallville!' he often had lectured himself, even back in Metropolis. But since he'd moved to Smallville and seen what happened here, he often found himself wondering if maybe, just maybe, it would be worth it in the long run.
In the time he'd lived in this 'leafy hamlet,' as Chloe used to call it, he had worried for his daughters safety more than he had when she walked alone at night on the seedy Metropolis streets. She'd had to endure hostage situations, abductions, physical and emotional attacks, tornadoes, parastic body hijackings, being thrown through a window and almost off a damn, being buried alive, various occasions when she had huge blowouts with friends and countless nights of crying herself to sleep, all on account of Smallville. Chloe didn't know he had found out everything he had. Sometimes she would talk to him about some terrifying instance that had come to be, confide in him like she used to. But it had been years since he had even seen her cry and it hurt to the depth of his heart that she felt she had to do it into her pillow rather than on his shoulder. It was almost as though she didn't trust him anymore and that scared him. Chloe was slipping away into the adult world far before she had to and it felt like she was tearing a piece of him away with her. He cried for her, ached for her, worked to protect in ways she couldn't even understand. In some ways, it was almost worse than what she had to deal with. Because Gabe felt guilt, too. Guilt over the fact that Chloe was broken and pained and scarred and he couldn't fix it. He couldn't save her when she'd needed saving. He couldn't protect her, no matter how hard he tried. And it would kill him if he let it.
As a parent, he had learned to compartmentalize most of it as a coping technique and he imagined Chloe did as well. Chloe loved Smallville despite it all and her heart would have been broken if they ever moved back to Metropolis. Though she had never admitted it, he knew the reason lay largely with Clark Kent. He was a wonderful kid that Gabe found himself respecting and admiring for all the times he had saved Chloe when he couldn't, as well as the friendship he gave her. The Kent's had befriended both Sullivan's upon arrival in this hellhole, it was something he vowed never to forget. They were a shining light here that constantly reaffirmed what he had thought he would gain by moving here. But he knew that they had suffered far more than most that lived here and worked harder to retain some sanity through it all than anyone. They succeeded at it and were the most amazing people Gabe knew. He often wondered how they had managed to raise such a magnificant and honest son and keep their farm up and running from day to day. It was a testament to their stregnth and faith in each other.
Now as he gazed on the blank screen and thought of the pain these incredible people were in, Gabe felt himself age ten years in an instant. The prodominent worry lines on his forehead deepened and the dark circles under his eyes seemed to weigh heavier upon him. That poor family. Chloe had been so tired and worn lately and now he would have to tell Chloe this. She would be devasted for Clark and no doubt spend the weekend with Pete by his side. They were such good friends to Clark, he felt certain they would rise to the occasion and help him through this. Clark was a person of extreme personal stregnt. He would be okay.
Gabe just felt lucky that Lana was spending the weekend with Nell. Maybe they could wait until her return to tell her. Lana, Gabe knew, would cry for days if either of the Kent's died, and this in itself would undoubtably rehash old wounds from her 14 years ago. Not what she needed at the moment.
Gabe sighed deeply again, blowing the air out through his lips for a long moment while he formed his speech to Chloe in his head. It would have to be just right if he didn't want her to out and out panic. Gabe grabbed the arm of his recliner and stood up straight, stretching the aching muscles in his back and arms. Groaning slightly, he headed toward the stairs and Chloe's room, pausing at the bottom of the staircase as he glanced up, weary with the burden of the news he had to tell. All that was left to do was walk up those steps and ruin his daughter's weekend. Then he could settle and grieve for his friends properly. He wished that he could just tell her and get it over with so he could collasp into his Lazy-Boy again.
But he wasn't one to have his wishes granted and now was no exception. In fact, he never even made up the stairs.
Thoughts? Feelings? Rant on.
Onto the show.
"...Thanks, Cathy. I'm here on I-5 where a car has plowed off the interstate and into an iragation ditch, seriously injurying the driver and one of the passangers. Both have been taken to Smallville Medical Center for transportation to Metropolis, where they will recieve proper medical treatment. While the police have yet to realease a statment, other sources have identified those injured as local farmer Jonathan Kent and his wife Martha Kent. Their son, Clark Kent, was also in the truck at the time of the crash. Two passersby who stopped when they saw the wreck claim that Kent pulled his parents from the wreckage. How anyone could have survived that accident is beyond me, Cathy."
The uptight young man that was relaying the news in a melodramtic baritone shifted slightly and allowed the camera to pan the scene. Random car parts from the interior of the truck were scattered across the landscape. Only the bed of the truck was visible from its angle in the ravine, but from the state of the chasse and the deep gashes across the metal and smattering of broken glass that littered the dirt around, it was obviously beyond repair. Assorted rescue personal were leaving the horrific crash in a rush as their jobs were completed. Police officers were meticiuously documenting the scene, going over each truck part and footprint with an almost unnatural studied patience. There was frenzied feeling around the site despite the measured movements of the CSI's, almost as though the entire team had been jacked up on caffine and were speeding their way through. From the looks on their faces they seemed to feel the whole exercise was a futile effort. After all, this was just one more bizarre case to go unsolved in the depth of the Lowel County archives. It would be in good company, among the most baffling unsolved mysteries in the nation that routinely drove scholars and veteran detectives crazy with their random clues insane witness accounts. But nonetheless, the workers toiled away in the noontime humidity and heat beneath a shadowy gray sky in hopes of returning home before the rain once again began to fall, washing away any evidence left behind with it.
The young man straightened his tie and pasted on another grin. His whole demeanor reeked with his discomfort in the dark blue blazer and khaki pants more akin to a museum guide than a television reporter. He continued his speech about the condition of the wounded farmers and the police investigation before returning the viewers to the newroom with veteran anchor and barbie doll look alike Cathy O'Keefe.
On that note, Gabe Sullivan swiftly punched the 'Off' key on his remote and sighed deeply.
Gabe had loved Smallville and it's charm when he had moved Chloe and himself here four and a half years ago. He'd relished the chance to leave the city and its smogy dankness. It offered an oasis from his deadend job and Chloe's unfulling high school with a student paper so censored by the administration even lunch menu had a hard time getting published. She'd had no chance to shine there and had percious few friends to depend on among the rich and priviledged that spread as far as the eye could see. Since the Sullivan's couldn't be counted among their private ranks, Chloe had been outcast and Gabe shunned at the private school PTA. He saw Smallville as a place to start over and get away from all the bad times his family had experienced in Metropolis. 'Smallville is safer,' he'd told himself. 'This is the right move. Accepting this promotion is the chance you've been looking for!'
Now, though, he realized how terrible a misconception that had been. Over these past few years, Gabe had grown to hate Smallville and wish despertely for a chance to escape it. But after pulling the strings he had to secure that promotion years before, he knew there was no way out short of quitting to leave the cursed town behind. And he hated to fathom what might come of that decision. One thing he learned long ago was that you didn't leave Luthor Corp. Luthor Corp chewed on you and wore you down until it spit you out when it was good and ready, never before. He had seen all to well what happened if you tried to escape it, and refused to let it happen to him or to Chloe. 'The consequences are too great, even to be rid of Smallville!' he often had lectured himself, even back in Metropolis. But since he'd moved to Smallville and seen what happened here, he often found himself wondering if maybe, just maybe, it would be worth it in the long run.
In the time he'd lived in this 'leafy hamlet,' as Chloe used to call it, he had worried for his daughters safety more than he had when she walked alone at night on the seedy Metropolis streets. She'd had to endure hostage situations, abductions, physical and emotional attacks, tornadoes, parastic body hijackings, being thrown through a window and almost off a damn, being buried alive, various occasions when she had huge blowouts with friends and countless nights of crying herself to sleep, all on account of Smallville. Chloe didn't know he had found out everything he had. Sometimes she would talk to him about some terrifying instance that had come to be, confide in him like she used to. But it had been years since he had even seen her cry and it hurt to the depth of his heart that she felt she had to do it into her pillow rather than on his shoulder. It was almost as though she didn't trust him anymore and that scared him. Chloe was slipping away into the adult world far before she had to and it felt like she was tearing a piece of him away with her. He cried for her, ached for her, worked to protect in ways she couldn't even understand. In some ways, it was almost worse than what she had to deal with. Because Gabe felt guilt, too. Guilt over the fact that Chloe was broken and pained and scarred and he couldn't fix it. He couldn't save her when she'd needed saving. He couldn't protect her, no matter how hard he tried. And it would kill him if he let it.
As a parent, he had learned to compartmentalize most of it as a coping technique and he imagined Chloe did as well. Chloe loved Smallville despite it all and her heart would have been broken if they ever moved back to Metropolis. Though she had never admitted it, he knew the reason lay largely with Clark Kent. He was a wonderful kid that Gabe found himself respecting and admiring for all the times he had saved Chloe when he couldn't, as well as the friendship he gave her. The Kent's had befriended both Sullivan's upon arrival in this hellhole, it was something he vowed never to forget. They were a shining light here that constantly reaffirmed what he had thought he would gain by moving here. But he knew that they had suffered far more than most that lived here and worked harder to retain some sanity through it all than anyone. They succeeded at it and were the most amazing people Gabe knew. He often wondered how they had managed to raise such a magnificant and honest son and keep their farm up and running from day to day. It was a testament to their stregnth and faith in each other.
Now as he gazed on the blank screen and thought of the pain these incredible people were in, Gabe felt himself age ten years in an instant. The prodominent worry lines on his forehead deepened and the dark circles under his eyes seemed to weigh heavier upon him. That poor family. Chloe had been so tired and worn lately and now he would have to tell Chloe this. She would be devasted for Clark and no doubt spend the weekend with Pete by his side. They were such good friends to Clark, he felt certain they would rise to the occasion and help him through this. Clark was a person of extreme personal stregnt. He would be okay.
Gabe just felt lucky that Lana was spending the weekend with Nell. Maybe they could wait until her return to tell her. Lana, Gabe knew, would cry for days if either of the Kent's died, and this in itself would undoubtably rehash old wounds from her 14 years ago. Not what she needed at the moment.
Gabe sighed deeply again, blowing the air out through his lips for a long moment while he formed his speech to Chloe in his head. It would have to be just right if he didn't want her to out and out panic. Gabe grabbed the arm of his recliner and stood up straight, stretching the aching muscles in his back and arms. Groaning slightly, he headed toward the stairs and Chloe's room, pausing at the bottom of the staircase as he glanced up, weary with the burden of the news he had to tell. All that was left to do was walk up those steps and ruin his daughter's weekend. Then he could settle and grieve for his friends properly. He wished that he could just tell her and get it over with so he could collasp into his Lazy-Boy again.
But he wasn't one to have his wishes granted and now was no exception. In fact, he never even made up the stairs.
Thoughts? Feelings? Rant on.