Title: Realizing
Author: ty-rant84
Summary: Everything was finally back to normal…
Archiving: Just ask
Feedback: Rocks!
Parts: 2/1 (And yes, that's correct)
Rating: G
A/N: I've started up and continued yet another one shot. Don't expect much. Blame VladLycan. Yet again I was listening to Switchfoot- The Beautiful Letdown. They're awesome.
Disclaimer: Are you kidding me?
"Martha, you go ahead, I'll get the rest of the bags." Jonathan kissed his wife and smiled as she walked off to the house. They'd just come back from town; everything had been getting back to normal again.
They'd had to deal with people consoling them for the loss of someone they'd never even met, that woman Cassandra. That happened to them a lot. Everyone in town seemed to think that they intimately knew whomever Clark had been dealing with for the week.
There were always going to be mutants in Smallville, but that didn't mean Jonathan and Martha had met them.
They'd had a nice time regardless. Martha had been able to buy Clark another blue shirt. Honestly, it was the only thing the boy would wear! Red and blue, blue and red, blue and blue, red and red. Some of their neighbors would say he only wore primary colors, but had anyone ever seen Clark in yellow? Most definitely not. Martha didn't mind, though. She took it as a challenge to find a variety of styles and clothes that Clark would wear. Whenever she found something, she had to buy it and couldn't wait to show Clark her accomplishment. Clark would marvel on the new clothes and wear it the very next day. Sometimes he'd even go up and change right then.
Jonathan was happiest when everything settled back down to how they were before Clark's powers kicked in. Well, that wasn't exactly true. They had a lot of good and wonderful times while Clark had his powers. It was just that they were always interrupted by some meteor 'freak' or someone new poking into their affairs. And with Lex Luthor's help, Clark had gotten into even more trouble. Luthor even started half of the problems.
It grated on Jonathan's nerves that Luthor could ruin Clark's life constantly but remain in his good graces. He'd run him over with a car the first time they had met for Pete's sake! Yet all was forgiven and forgotten. Maybe they'd raised their son a little too morally. As if.
Jonathan grabbed the last shopping bag and swung it onto his shoulder. Martha was already in the house and putting things away when he got in. She turned and smiled at him when he shut the door and everything was normal. Normal and happy.
"Jonathan, did you see Clark out there? He wasn't in his room."
"No, he probably went out to the Talon or to the Torch. He's been neglecting his friends lately."
"Now that's not fair. You know that he's had a lot to deal with," she looked reproachfully at her husband.
He grinned, "I know, there's always something he can use as an excuse. I just wish he would stop being forced to save everyone in this town. Next thing you know, he'll branch out, start a chain. First Smallville, next Metropolis! The perfect logo, 'Everyday farm boy by day, Superhero extraordinaire by night'. He could make a fortune."
"Jonathan, don't joke," Martha held back a snicker and struggled to keep a straight face.
"But of course. I'm going to finish up with the chores. I'll be back around four thirty?"
"Okay, that'll be fine. See you then."
"Oh, and send Clark out to help out if he comes back early enough."
"And if you see him, send him over quick so he can see the new shirt."
Martha watched Jonathan jog out to the field before beginning to prepare dinner. Tonight they were going to have fried chicken, Clark's favorite. He needed a treat after the shock of having that woman Cassandra die. He was such a strong boy, but no one should be dealing with what he had to at his age. She'd grown up in Metropolis and had never seen a mugging until she turned 24. He was just 15 and had already dealt with a lot. Not to mention adjusting so well to his powers and the differences he had with all of his peers. He was remarkable. Martha went back to the vegetables with a happy vigor. At least now things would get back to normal.
-. -. -. -
Jonathan was finally finished with the chores and was heading back to the house for dinner. Clark hadn't come out to help him out, so he had probably only gotten home right in time for dinner. He reached to open the screen door and saw Martha in the kitchen setting the table.
"Isn't that usually Clark's job? Why isn't he doing it for you?"
"He was with you, wasn't he?"
"No, he never came out to the field. Are you telling me he still isn't home? He knows better than to be out before dinnertime."
Martha sighed and glanced over to the phone, "I'll call Chloe and ask if she's seen him."
Jonathan nodded and took the plates from her. As she dialed the number, he finished setting the table.
"Hi, Chloe? Is Clark still with you? …. What do you mean he wasn't at school today? … He didn't show up? …. No, Clark wasn't sick. … That's what he told you? Oh, well… yes, thank you anyway. I'm sure he'll turn up in a minute or two. …Yes, I'll have him call you when he gets in. Bye now."
Jonathan paused in his task, "He didn't go to school?"
"Apparently not. Jonathan, I'm worried, this isn't like Clark. He'd tell us before doing anything rash like skip school."
"I know. I'll go check the Fortress. He's probably been up there the whole time. Nothing to worry about." He tried to reassure Martha even as he was walking out the door and then began running over to the barn.
Martha pulled out the silverware and started placing them in their proper spots before she heard the scream.
-.-.-.-
