Chapter 13

(Roby and Stacey move along the well packed trail on their way, finally, back to the cabin.   Sitting between him and the handlebars, Stacey wears a helmet and goggles.  As they round a corner, Roby slows down to a stop.  Taking his hands off, he gestures to the handle bars.)

Roby (Yelling over the engine): "Want to drive?"

(Stacey nods her little helmeted head and takes hold of them.  Roby quickly wraps his arms around her to hold on as she guns it and they take off.  Squeezing the seat tightly between his thighs Roby smiles happily down at his little sister.  They approach a steep incline, the last one before they reach the cabin.)

Roby (Whispering to himself): "Something tells me she isn't gonna slow down..."

(She doesn't.  In fact, she gives it even more gas as they speed up the slope.  They reach the top and the machine flies into the air.  They float for several seconds before coming back down into the snow with a slight jolt.  A hundred yards away, they spot Francie's Cabin, gently tucked in the midst of a grove of evergreens.  Speeding up to make it through the deep snow, they stop ten yards away and shut off the snowmobile.)

Stacey (Excitedly): "Thanks, Roby!"

(She energetically jumps off of the snowmobile, only to find that the snow is far too deep for her.  Sinking in to her chin, she looks over at Roby who looks back at her with a glimmer in his eye.)

Roby: "Need some help?"

Stacey: "Not funny!"

Roby: "One sec."

(Jumping down, Roby only sinks in up to his waist.  Stacey sticks her hands up out of the snow.  He carefully lifts her up and sets her back on the snowmobile.  Turning his back to her, he lets her climb up on his back.  Pushing his way through and lifting his legs high, he gets them to the cabin.  Reaching the deck after walking up the thick wooden steps and panting slightly, Roby kneels, letting her jump off.)

Stacey: "Thanks!"

Roby: "No problem.  Go on in; Aunt Patti probably needs some help getting everyone lunch."

Stacey: "Okay."

(Picking up a pair of snowshoes, Roby turns to go back to the snowmobile.  Stacey reaches for the door knob but stops and turns back to face him.)

Stacey: "Hey, Roby?"

Roby (Turning to face her): "Yeah?"

(She runs to him and nearly knocks him over as she hugs him around the waist.  Slightly surprised, Roby doesn't react for a moment, but then embraces her back.)

Stacey (Looking up at him): "Thanks for letting me come."

Roby (Smiling): "I couldn't leave behind my favorite little squirt, now could I?"

Stacey: "But I'm your only little squirt!"

Roby: "You're still my favorite.  Now get on inside."

Stacey: "Be in soon!"

Roby: "Course."

(They let go of each other and Stacey goes into the cabin.  Standing still for a second, Roby stares at the now closed door.)

Roby (Whispering): "I'll never get used to that.  I know I just can't."

(Shaking his head slightly, he straps on the snowshoes and jogs over to the snowmobile.  Clipping in, starting it, and revving the engine, he moves the machine over under the cover of a couple of trees and a makeshift lean to.  Stepping off, he covers it with a tarp.  Satisfied, Roby jogs back to the cabin.  Taking off his snowshoes and slipping out of his boots and gloves, he enters.  Passing through the short hallway and two bedroom doors, he enters a larger, more spacious common room.  Two couches sit next to a fireplace in the corner.  Three more doors, one on the wall opposite him, and the others on the wall to his right, give exit from the room.  The two to the right lead to more bedrooms, the other leads to the Sauna, the bathroom, and to the downstairs.  Students mill about - some sitting, some standing - all with a plate, a drink, and a sandwich in their hands.  Clark sits on one of the couches in front of the fire.  Lana leans against him, her legs tucked warmly under her.  She wears a red turtleneck underneath a matching sweater.)

Lana (Speaking quietly): "Clark, when we get a chance to be alone, I want to tell you about a couple of things that have been going on lately."

Clark (His chin resting on the top of her head): "What kind of things?"

Lana: "Dreams, mainly... of your home."

Clark: "What's there to dream about my house?"

Lana: "No, Clark - not your house - your home."

(She looks up at him, and he stares back, a bit shocked.)

Clark: "You mean...?"

(She nods.  Clark instantly looks concerned.)

Clark: "They're not hurting you or anything, are they?"

Lana: "I don't think so.  I haven't had one in awhile, either.  Not since that day in the caves..."

(Clark looks uneasy; Lana notices.)

Lana (Sitting up, cupping his face in her hand): "Don't worry.  I told you I'd wait until you were ready to explain everything to me.  But... how long are you going to wait?"

Clark (Smiling, putting his hand over hers): "Soon."

(Pete walks by them and heads to the room Clark, Amandil, Roby, Garret and he are sharing.  He walks past a partially opened door.  Inside, Chloe and Lois are unpacking.)

Lois: "So we'll be here for a week?"

Chloe: "Think so."

Lois (Trying to remain positive): "Well, at least... it kind of smells good in here."

Chloe: "Gotta love that camp fire smell."

(Lois rolls her eyes.)

Chloe: "So what have you been up to?  It's been like, a year since we've had a chance to talk."

Lois: "Not a whole lot..."

Chloe: "Oh, come on.  I know you keep busy; what do you do?"

Lois: "Don't laugh, but I've been trying my hand at journalism."

Chloe (Slightly skeptical): "But I thought you hated all things Pulitzer?"

Lois (Putting her hands on her hips): "I still do.  Then I found out about investigative journalism."

Chloe: "I kind of do that."

(She drops her hands and returns to her suitcase, carefully extricating her pillow without spilling everything else out.)

Lois: "I mean big time, Chlo.  I want to work at the Daily Planet."

Chloe (Raising an eyebrow): "That's a pretty big goal, Lois."

Lois: "Yeah?  Well, I'm a big girl.  That's why I got an internship there this summer."

Chloe: "Seriously?"

Lois: "Yeah."

Chloe: "Props to you!  I always pictured you as..."

(Lois stops what she is doing and turns to face her, hands back on her hips.)

Chloe: "Nothing, sorry...  So, um, we'll see a bit more of each other this summer, then?"

Lois: "You've got an internship too, right?"

Chloe: "Yup.  With Lionel Luthor out of the picture, it seems a couple of my articles were rediscovered where fear had previously buried them before."

Lois: "It'll be good to get to know you better, Chlo."

Chloe (Smiling, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear): "Yeah.  That goes both ways, you know."

Lois (Moving her suitcase under one of the bunk beds and straightening her pillow one last time): "Well, let's go see what everyone else is up to."

Chloe (Finishing up as well): "Sounds good to me."

(They leave the room and walk out into the main area.  Spotting Clark and Lana sitting on the couches, they make their way over and sit beside them.  As they do, the camera leaves them and exits out the window to their left.  High above the small cabin, the sun shines down, unhindered by any clouds.  The sky is completely clear, a forbearer of the perfectly clear night soon to be.  Slowly, it arches its way through the sky.  Below the horizon, the moon waits patiently for her turn to quietly appear behind MountHelen and coat the land in a soft, shimmering blanket of sparkling snow.  The trees bristle and small animals scurry about, making preparations for the coming night...)