READ: If anyone is interested in helping me beta my stories and such, please email me, thanks! I could really use the creative help.

Okay, here's chapter 11 – Powerless

The long drive had practically driven him insane, at times he forgot why he was in the car in the first place and almost had asked Pete to stop to let him speed towards Metropolis. Then reality kicked in and he slumped further into the seat. He crossed his arms and let them fall heavily upon his chest, his mind going through different possible ways to help his parents out of the precarious situation, but then the possibility of it all being over by the time he got there crossed his thoughts and his frown deepened.

That whole process took about 10 minutes, and then it repeated itself every 20 minutes. For Pete's misfortune those 30 minutes repeated themselves endlessly the whole three hours.

Pete let out a sigh as soon as the high skyscrapers of Metropolis came into view at the end of the road. Finally, he thought, wait, and then what? Now the same insecurity settled into his mind.

Well he guessed they had to get there first, and then they would know.

Lex still couldn't believe what he was hearing, or most accurately what he was deducting from what he was hearing. He walked away from the police tent and ran a hand through his head, looking up at the towering bank building, waiting for it to give him all the answers.

What he thought was just a check up on his friends parents, turned out to be a powerful nightmare. He was very involved, now he knew, but he didn't know how. The police had let him stay due to the fact that his father owned the bank and he was nowhere to be found. That was another mystery to be solved.

He felt utterly lost, he wanted to just make contact calls and get this over with, but this seemed bigger, even than himself.

"Is everything all right?" a soft voice asked, a small hand on his shoulder accompanying the question. He turned and faced Chloe, her face in sincere concern and confusion. She didn't understand what was going on, or why Lex would be so distraught about it, and he sure as hell wasn't going to tell her.

"Yes, they have finally made their requests, looks like it was just a bank robbery not done quickly enough." He lied, and she could sense it, but she didn't call his bluff.

"Okay, well, I got some pretty good shots, seems like everyone is okay in there, I spotted Mr. and Mrs. Kent. I guess they will hold a while longer." But how much? She didn't dare voice that question, and he didn't ask just how she had managed such close shots.

Sensing a very awkard silence coming Chloe broke it.

"Look, I gotta go, my cousin is nosier than me, if you can believe it, and she might get in trouble.." she dragged, moving her arms in loud gestures as she walked away. "I will catch you later." She finished and turned, she knew he wouldn't tell her much, but there was more than one way to skin a cat.

Clark rushed out of the car as soon as they were a block away from the bank. The street was covered with people and police, there was no way to get there by car anyway. Pete ran to catch up to him. They made their way through the crowd to get as close as they could get. The farther they went into the mass the tighter the bodies came around them, and made it harder to pass through without hurting anyone or getting hurt.

"Excuse us, please, excuse me sir..."

"Watch where your going!"

"Hey!"

"Sorry, please, excuse us..." He felt arms and bones hit at him, he turned and to his disbelief found that Pete was no longer with him, the crowd growing tighter around him.

"Watch those hands mister!" the reproach was followed by a hard slap on his face. He blinked surprised to find a very angry woman in front of him.

"I..." he stammered, his eyes conveyed true confusion. "I'm just trying to get through ma'm" he said as politely as possible. The woman snorted in response to his apology and disappeared in the crowd.

Lois was trying to make her way out of the crowd, she wanted to get to apartment building next to the bank to survey things better, the police had people on all the building surrounding the bank, except that one, they only had men outside, but they hadn't yet disturbed the people inside. But she wasn't going to be that patient. Something didn't feel right, and she had nosed around in plenty similar occasions to know that something was different about all this, even the cops were acting strange. She had made it almost halfway when she saw a woman beat a guy in plaid. He looked so out of place, his reaction to the situation only confirmed he didn't belong in the big city.

"Farm boy," she breathed with a smile, breaking fully when she saw him blink in confusion and distraught after the woman had left. The situation was amusing to say the least, and to see a fellow woman get the uphand with a man, innocent as he may seem to be, was always refreshing.

"Don't kill yourself over it farm boy." She meant to smile and leave, but when he turned to face her she had to stop and stare when his eyes met hers.

They were blue, just plain, deep, blue; and so full of farm innocence she had to do a double take.

"So you really are as innocent as you seem." Not one to stay speechless long. She smirked and took his strong anatomy in.

"Sorry?" What was up with women here? He asked himself, frustration beginning to build up, the look on his eyes changing radically, he really had no time for this.

"Just making conversation." She lifted her hands in surrender and turned to leave.

Clark rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Sorry, okay? I just really need to get to the front, I have family in there and I want information." He pleaded with her, that much his father had taught him.

"Playing the mercy card." She lifted an eyebrow then grabbed his hand. "come on, I'll tell you what I know on the way." He stood fast, not knowing how to take her invitation. "Look, I found a spot where we can see better without angry ladies lashing out at you, kay?" he still seemed dubious but he followed her anyways.

Sorry guys, not feeling very inspired, hope you like and please review!!!!