Chapter 11

(Clark quietly walks up the stairs in his house.  He hesitates just before opening his door, and looks over at his parent's room.  Light can be seen coming from under the door.  After thinking a moment more, Clark turns and opens their door instead, poking his head in.  His mother is reading a book, and Jonathan a newspaper.  They look up.)

Clark: "Can I come in?"

Martha: "Of course, honey."

Jonathan: "Everything alright?"

(Clark enters the room.  He sits down on the end of their bed.  For a moment, it looks as if all the weight that was on his shoulders has been lifted.)

Clark (Smiling): "Yeah.  It's just, uh...  I can fly."

(Jonathan and Martha look at each other, exchange a glance, and then look back at Clark.)

Jonathan: "We noticed."

Clark: "Dad, you feel like coming out to the barn for awhile?"

(Jonathan looks over at Martha.)

Jonathan: "Only if your mother will let me."

Martha (Lightly squeezing Jonathan's hand): "Go ahead."

(Jonathan stands from the bed, wearing only a pair of ragged looking work pants.  He grabs a shirt and slips it on as he and Clark exit the room.  Martha watches them go, shaking her head and smiling as they do.  She returns to reading her book.  Several minutes later, Clark and Jonathan exit the house and begin walking towards the barn.  Jonathan stops when he sees the newly formed crater in his yard.)

Jonathan (Raising his eyebrows): "Clark?  Is that-?"

Clark: "I kind of... fell."

Jonathan (Shaking his head): "We'll have to clean that up in the morning."

(They enter the barn.  Jonathan closes the door behind them, and then turns to Clark.)

Jonathan: "So what were you thinking about earlier, when you were flying?"

Clark: "Well, I was,"

(Clark hesitates, remembering the dream,)

Clark: "...running, and I saw something up in the sky, and reached out for it.  It was like I was lifting myself to it, almost."

(Jonathan thinks for several seconds.)

Jonathan: "I've got an idea; stay down here."

(Jonathan jogs up the steps to the loft.  He disappears for a couple of moments, and then leans over the railing.)

Jonathan: "Okay, try and focus on me, Clark."

(Clark focuses his eyes on his father, squinting in concentration.  After several seconds of this, two thin beams shoot out from Clark's eyes, barely missing Jonathan.  Jonathan watches them shoot past him and strike the ceiling.  In an instant, Clark has a blanket and is putting out the small fire that he had started.  When it is out, he stands eye to eye with Jonathan.)

Jonathan: "Let's try this again."

(Clark walks down the steps, shaking his head as he goes.  When he is in position again, he looks up at Jonathan.)

Jonathan: "This time, I'm going to give you a bit more motivation."

Clark: "What?"

(Jonathan draws back from the edge.  Clark can hear him pull something from his pocket.  Without warning, a small piece of jewelry launches into the air.  Clark sees it and his eyes go wide.  It is headed directly for the wall opposite the loft!)

Clark: "NO!"

(Time slows down as Clark sees it flying through the air.  His eyes grow intense as he watches it, and he coils his body up under him.  His muscles ripple as he shoots upward, his hand reaching out for it.  It is only several inches from smashing into the wall now!  At the last instant, Clark snatches it from the air.  Time returns to normal.  Clark looks over at Jonathan, horrified.  Jonathan smiles back.)

Clark: "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

(Clark looks down at the bracelet.  It is the one that adorned Kyla's wrist, given to Clark by her father.  Clark hasn't looked at it in a long time; the memories it has tied to it surface.)

Jonathan: "Hey Clark."

Clark (Looking back up at him, still mad): "What!"

Jonathan: "Look down."

(Clark stares at him for a second before looking down.  The tips of his toes point to the ground.  Clark hovers, drifting slightly, fifteen feet off the ground.  He nearly drops the bracelet as he loses his balance, but he quickly recovers.  Clark looks back up at Jonathan, they exchange a glance.  Jonathan holds out his hand.  Carefully balanced on it is a small wallet sized picture of Lana.)

Jonathan: "Now, come back."

(Uncertainty comes into Clark's eyes, and he looks back up at his father.  His father nods almost imperceptibly.  Clark looks back down at the picture of Lana, and slowly begins gliding forward.  Several feet before he reaches the loft, Clark looks up at his father alarmed.  The barn door below can be heard as it opens.  Clark losses his balance and falls hard to the ground below.  He remains motionless.)

Lana (Rushing over, Chloe behind her): "Clark!"

Chloe: "Are you alright?!"

Lana: "What happened?!"

Chloe: "Come on, talk to us, Clark!"

Lana (Looking frantically at Chloe): "I think he's unconscious!"

(Chloe looks up.  Jonathan smiles, waving to her.  Lana looks up, as well.  Both of their eyes reflect utter horror.  Much to their surprise, they hear laughter coming from Clark, and look back down at him.  He opens his eyes and smiles broadly.  Chloe slaps him, and Lana stands.)

Clark (Still laughing): "Don't worry, I just slipped."

Chloe: "You jerk!  You were awake that entire time?"

Clark: "Well, yeah."

(Clark pats the ground.)

Clark: "Soft landing, I guess."

(Lana stares at him from behind, trying to work something out in her head.  Clark looks over at her.)

Clark: "Lana?"

(She shakes her head; the look leaves her eyes.)

Lana (Smiling): "You sure you're okay?"

(Clark stands, offering his hand to help Chloe up.)

Chloe (Standing up): "It takes a lot more then that to hurt Clark Kent.  I should have known."

Jonathan (Stepping off the last step from the loft): "Come on, I bet Martha will be delighted to see you two here."

Chloe (Smiling and following Jonathan as he steps out of the barn): "Why thank you, Mr. Kent!"

(Lana looks after them, turns to Clark, smiles briefly, then follows them.  Clark watches her for several seconds then looks down at the bracelet carefully clutched in his hand.  He looks up at Lana again.  She steps out of the barn and out of sight.  Looking up at the loft, Clark bites his lip and unsteadily floats into the air.  Wobbling, he finally gets over the railing.  He jumps down uneasily, looking over his shoulder.  Clark carefully sets the bracelet back in its drawer.  Beside it sits Lana's necklace, it's now diamond appearance flickering slightly in the light. Clark closes the drawer and jogs down the stairs.  He exits the barn, pausing only briefly to look at the small depression he created with his fall.  Clark catches up with Lana and they quietly enter the house.)