Chapter 6

(A shot is seen of the hospital, showing "SmallvilleMedicalCenter".  Lana and Chloe walk into the hospital and the shot transitions to the reception area.  Clark is sitting in a chair wringing his hands together nervously when they enter.  They sit down on either side of him.  He doesn't look up.)

Lana (Putting her hand on Clark's shoulder): "Clark?"

(The sound of her voice shakes him from his daze.  He looks up at her, but his face is lined with fatigue and worry.  Chloe eyes Lana's hand on Clark's shoulder, and places her own hand on top of Clark's.)

Chloe (Sounding worried): "We came as soon as we heard."

Lana (Sounding worried as well): "How are they?"

Clark (Still wringing his hands, he looks back down at the ground): "The doctor says they're going to be fine now...  But..."

(Both girls look at him as he hesitates.)

Clark: "But I don't know what happened to them.  I mean, I walked into the barn and they were both lying there, unconscious, and-"

(Clark stops mid-sentence as he sees a doctor approaching.  He jumps to his feet, Chloe and Lana follow suit.  Clark looks eagerly to the doctor.)

Doctor: "Your father is awake and wants to speak with you."

(The doctor turns and they follow him to a room.  He gestures to the door and walks off to see another patient.  Clark opens the door and holds it for Chloe and Lana.  They all get inside the room and the door closes behind them.  Jonathan is hooked up to a number of machines and a faint 'beep' is heard every few seconds.  He flutters his eyes open as Clark approaches the bed.  Clark pulls up a chair and sits down, taking his father's hand in his own.)

Clark: "Dad?"

Jonathan (Speaking slowly, painfully): "Hey son."

(He looks over and sees Lana and Chloe standing awkwardly just inside the door.)

Jonathan: "Chloe, Lana, thanks for coming."

(He tries to prop himself up on his elbows, but falls back, grimacing in pain.)

Jonathan: "How's your mother doing?"

Clark: "She's fine dad.  What happened?"

Jonathan (Thinking hard): "I.... can't remember.  I was bailing hay with your mother.  I felt something tear through the back of my shirt and, and everything went black..."

(He grimaces in pain once again.  The doctor returns.)

Doctor: "Mr. Kent, may I have a word with you?"

(Clark follows him out of the room.  Just outside the doctor flips through several papers in his clipboard and quickly reads over what is written on it.)

Doctor: "After examining the wounds, we believe that they were caused by a wild animal.  However, when we cross checked them against our records, we could find no matching species that could do this without either of them seeing or hearing it.  The abrasions on his back and leg seem to be from being thrown across on a rugged wooden floor.  We did find a deep claw mark on his back, though."

Clark: "What kind of claw mark?"

Doctor: "It could be from any belonging to the family felinae.  They are identical to that of a case brought in six months ago."

Clark: "Do you know who it was?"

Doctor: "I vaguely remember her... dark brown hair, deep circles under her eyes."

Clark: "Sarah Conroy?"

Doctor: "Maybe.  I really don't remember."

Clark: "She was my neighbor."

(The doctor looks at him thoughtfully for a second.)

Doctor:  "I'll look into it, but for now, I would suggest you stay inside until we can properly identify whatever is causing this.  Perhaps your mother can be of more help when she awakens."

(The doctor turns and walks away down the hall.  Clark watches him go, and looks in the window at his dad.  Lana and Chloe are sitting next to him, smiling and speaking.)