Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are the property of the writers, creators, and producers of the Smallville television series.

Story Note: Jonathan and Martha Kent have taken in Martha's sister's child. Martha's sister and her husband died in a car accident soon after Jessie was born and the 9 year old girl has been raised by her paternal grandmother. It's sometime during the second season and Clark is in the 10th grade.

The next morning Jessie walked to the end of the driveway to catch the bus. Claudia was already there waiting.

"Hey, Bonnie. Where's Clyde?" Claudia ribbed.

"Not funny. And if you mean Clark, he's taking the truck to school so he can pick up the feed order on his way home."

"Excellent. Do you think he'd give us a ride home?"

"I don't think you're exactly his favorite person right now," Jessie informed her.

"What'd I do?"

Jessie gaped at her. "You're kidding, right?"

"No."

Jessie rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Do you have any idea how much trouble I got in yesterday because of you?"

"Hey. I was just trying to help you do something nice for Clark. What's so awful about that?"

"Look, we just shouldn't have done it is all. I'm not saying it was all you. I knew it was wrong when I walked out of the store."

"So, are you grounded or what?"

"No," Jessie said vaguely, not wishing to elaborate.

"So what's all this trouble you got in?" Claudia pressed.

"Here comes the bus," Jessie observed, thankful for the interruption.

The next weekend was Jonathan and Martha's 25th wedding anniversary. Jonathan wanted to take her to Metropolis for an evening on the town. He wanted to stay over for the weekend but after what happened last year, they decided that staying away overnight was probably not a good idea. Clark agreed to baby-sit Jessie and Martha and Jonathan made it very clear that they were not to have anyone over.

Clark spend the better part of Friday afternoon trying to teach Jessica how to hit a softball. She managed to hit it twice before they both got frustrated and decided to throw in the towel.

"Are you hungry?" Clark asked her about 4:30.

"I could eat. I mean, as long as you're not cooking or anything."

"Relax," Clark said with a smile. "Mom left money for pizza. I'll call it in. What kind do you want?"

"Pepperoni," Jessie said quickly.

"One large half pepperoni, half everything it is," he said and went inside to make the call.

An hour later a car pulled up and Jessie went outside, assuming it was the pizza delivery. Instead, she found Lana getting out of her car.

"Hi, Jessie. How are you?" she asked with a smile.

Jessie smiled back. She liked Lana. She wondered if she would ever grow up to be as well put together as she was.

"I'm fine. Are you looking for Clark?"

"Yes, actually, I am. I was hoping he could help decipher some of this math before the test on Monday. Is he home?"

"He's inside. Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Martha went to Metropolis for their anniversary. We're waiting for the pizza guy."

"That sounds yummy. I promise not to keep him too long."

Lana went inside and found Clark in the kitchen.

"Lana. Come in."

"Hi, Clark. I came by to see if maybe you could help me study for our math test, but it sounds like you and Jessie already have plans."

Clark stood up. "No, not really. We're just ordering some pizza and hanging out. Would you like to stay?"

"Well, I don't want to intrude…"

"You wouldn't be. Really. Besides, I need to study for that test myself. Stay," he coaxed.

"Why don't you at least ask Jessie if she minds," Lana suggested.

Clark smiled. "Okay, I'll be right back."

Jessie was sitting on the fence waiting for the pizza when Clark found her.

"Hey, Jess. Is it okay with you if Lana stays for dinner?"

"I thought we were going to watch a movie," Jessie reminded him.

"I know, but she needs me to help her with some school stuff. You could still watch the movie. In fact, you can watch all the TV you want. What do you say?"

Jessie looked skeptical. "Uncle Jonathan said we weren't allowed to have anyone over."

"He didn't mean Lana. He wouldn't mind me helping her, especially with something for school."

"He said nobody."

"He only said that because last year when they went away on their anniversary I kind of had a party."

"Shut up! You?" Jessie was shocked.

"Well, it was supposed to be just a few friends but then it just got way out of hand."

"Well, if you get to have Lana, then I get to have Claudia."

Clark shook his head. "No."

"That's the deal. Take it or leave it."

"Fine. I'll leave it. Lana's staying. Deal with that."

Jessie jumped down from the fence. "She won't stay if I ask her not to. She's too nice."

That was true and Clark knew it. "Fine. Go get Claudia. I'll order some more pizza."

"She likes sausage," Claudia called as she ran down the driveway.

After everyone had finished eating, Clark and Lana cleared the dishes and then settled in at the dining room table to study.

Jessie and Claudia had started watching their movie in the living room and the noise was quite distracting.

"Hey, Jess. Would you guys mind watching in your room? It's kind of loud," Clark asked nicely.

Claudia leaned over and said something to Jessie.

"Why don't you and Lana go study in your room," Jessie countered.

Not wanting to get into a conversation about why taking a girl to his bedroom wasn't such a good idea, Clark simply said, "Please?"

Jessie looked at Claudia and the two girls whispered together again.

"I don't want to. This TV's bigger," Jessie finally said.

"We could go to the loft," Clark suggested to Lana.

Lana looked unsure. "Are you sure it's okay to leave them in here alone?"

Clark started gathering books. "It's fine. Anybody who broke in here and tried to kidnap Jessie wouldn't keep her long because she's too mean," he said in Jessie's direction.

Jessie ignored him and Clark and Lana finished collecting their things and left.

After an hour or so, Jessie and Claudia became bored with the movie and Claudia said, "Let's go out to the barn and spy on Clark and Lana."

"Why? They're just studying. Who wants to spy on that?"

"Did you see that way he looks at her? He wants her baaad. What if they're out there doing it right now?"

Jessie hesitated. "Well…."

Claudia jumped up and ran to the door. "Come on."

Jessica followed her and they crept into the barn undetected. From underneath the steps they could hear Clark and Lana talking quietly.

"…ever be like this. Friends, just hanging out." It was Clark.

"I used to think you were the clumsiest person alive," Lana admitted. "Every time I saw you, you were tripping over something," she laughed.

Suddenly, Claudia sneezed. Clark came bounding down the steps.

"Jessie!" he called.

Knowing there was no escaping, Jessie answered, "Yeah?"

Clark spotted them under the steps. "Are you spying on us?" he accused.

Jessie became defensive. "We weren't spying. We were just sitting here."

"Why?"

"Because we felt like it, that's why," Jessie said childishly.

Clark was angry. "Look, you made a whole big thing about wanting to watch the living room TV, so why aren't you in there watching it?"

"I don't have to answer to you! Why don't you just go back up there and "study" with your girlfriend?"

Clark glanced up, hoping Lana hadn't heard. "She's not my girlfriend," he whispered fiercely.

Jessie smiled. "Yeah, but you wish she was."

"Get out! Now!"

Jessie crossed her arms. "We're bored. There's nothing to do," she complained.

"Look, Jessie. I don't care what you do. Just leave. I mean it."

Seeing that he did indeed, Jessie motioned for Claudia to follow her.

"Come on, Claudia. There's not going to be anything to see here tonight. Clark's too scared to make a move on Lana."

Clark took a menacing step towards Jessie, who ran out of the barn.

Lana was getting her things together when he got back to the loft.

"I should go. Jessie obviously needs your attention more than I do."

"Attention's not all Jessie needs," Clark said irritably. "Lana if you leave then her bratty behavior pays off. Please stay."

Lana was torn. She didn't want to upset Jessica, but she was really enjoying spending time with Clark.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Positive," he said, taking the books from her arms. "Where were we?"

Jessica and Claudia had made it as far as the porch when Claudia had an idea.

"Do your folks have a liquor cabinet?" she asked Jessie.

Jessie shrugged. "Not that I know of," she said honestly.

"Well, they must have some booze somewhere. Think."

Jessie thought. "In the dining room cabinet, I think," she said finally.

The girls went inside to look.

"Bingo!" Claudia said, pulling out two bottles, one scotch, one vodka.

"What do you want them for?" Jessie asked innocently.

"What do you think, stupid?"

Jessie looked around nervously. "What if we get caught?"

"Well I wasn't planning on drinking them here." She thought for a moment. " Let's go to the lake!" she suggested.

"I don't know. Clark would get really mad."

"Who cares? He's not the boss of you," Claudia said.

"Well, technically he is tonight," Jessie told her.

Claudia sighed and tried to be patient. "Look, as long as he has Lana up in that loft, he'll never even notice we're gone."

That was probably true. "Okay, let's do it," Jessie said and the two girls hurried out the back door.

About 11:30 Clark opened his eyes and found himself staring into his father's face. Jonathan was shaking his shoulders.

"Clark. Wake up," Jonathan said.

"Dad. What's wrong?" Clark asked.

Lana, who was asleep on the other end of the couch, began to stir.

"Son, where's Jessie?"

"In the house," Clark answered. "Claudia came over. I know you said not to have people over but Lana needed some help with trig and Jessie was bored…"

Martha sat down on the table in front of the couch. "Clark, your dad and I have looked all over the house and we can't find Jessie anywhere. Do you think maybe they went back to Claudia's?"

Clark got up, worried. "I don't know. Maybe."

Jonathan got right up in his face. "Well just exactly how long has it been since you checked on them?" he asked, his temper rising.

Clark backed off a bit. "I don't know. We were studying and I guess we must have fallen asleep. Dad, I'm sorry."

Martha started down the stairs. "I'll phone the Petersons and see if the girls are there."

Everyone else followed her back to the house and waited anxiously while she made the call. From her end of the conversation it was clear that the girls were not at Claudia's house, either.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were on their way over.

Jonathan turned to Clark. "Son, why don't you check with Lex. She went there once before."

Clark did but unfortunately Lex had not seen them. Jonathan went to the barn to get lanterns and flashlights and by the time the Petersons arrived they were ready to begin searching the farm. Martha took Clark aside and suggested that he try "listening".

As he did, Martha watched his face go from calm to alarm.

"They're at the lake. Jessie's screaming," he whispered to her. Making sure no one was watching, he took off in a blur.

Martha hurried over to the rest of the group. "Clark said Jessie mentioned something about the lake."

"Let's go," said Claudia's father.

Clark was at the lake in a matter of seconds. Jessie was standing on the dock screaming and looking into the water.

Clark rushed to her and took her by the shoulders. "Jessie, what's wrong?"

Jessica continued crying. "It's Claudia! She dove in but she didn't come up! I can't see her!"

Clark ran to the edge of the dock and used his x-ray vision to look around. Once he spotted her, he dove in and pulled her out. She wasn't breathing. He quickly started CPR and after several attempts he could feel a pulse and see that she was breathing, but just barely. She was still unconscious.

The Peterson's car arrived just then and Claudia's parents rushed to their child.

"Oh, my God!" Mrs. Peterson cried. "Is she alive?" she asked Clark.

Clark nodded. "I did CPR but I don't know how long she was under. You need to get her to the hospital."

Mr. Peterson scooped her up and carried her to the car. Mrs. Peterson got in the back and he laid Claudia in her lap. The sped away to the emergency room.

Jonathan called to Clark. "Your mother and I are going to the hospital. Can I trust you to stay with your cousin?"

Clark looked down, ashamed. "Yes, sir."

Martha and Jonathan got in their truck and left Lana, Jessica, and Clark to walk back to the house.

Lana decided it would be best for her to leave but made Clark promise to call her whenever there was news. He said he would.

The next few hours were tense. Clark and Jessica had changed into dry clothes and sat in the living room. For a long time neither spoke, then Jessie finally broke the silence.

"Do you think she's okay?"

"I hope so," he said quietly. "What happened out there, Jess?"

Jessie was too tired to even try to make anything up. "We swiped some alcohol and took it down to the lake. I thought it was pretty gross so I didn't really drink that much. But Claudia liked it. She liked it a lot. One second she was laughing and the next, she was in the lake. It just all happened so fast."

The ringing phone startled them both and Clark quickly snatched it up.

"Uh huh. Uh huh. I'm glad. Okay. Bye."

Jessie held her breath and waited as he hung up.

"She's okay. They're letting her come home."

Jessie flopped back against the back of her chair. "Thank you, God."

"Mom and Dad are on their way home," Clark told her and Jessie sat back up.

"How mad are they?" she asked him.

"You don't want to know," he told her.

Jessie looked miserable. "Clark, I am so sorry. All night you were being so nice. I don't know why I acted like such a brat."

"You know you mostly only act like that when Claudia's around," he said gently.

"I guess I was trying to show off. Now you're probably going to get in trouble and it's all my fault."

"I should have been keeping a better eye on you guys," he admitted.

"What do you think they'll do?" she asked him.

Just then headlights shone through the window.

"Looks like we're about to find out," he said.

Martha and Jonathan came through the kitchen door looking exhausted. They walked into the living room and sat down. Clark and Jessica waited nervously for them to speak.

"Claudia filled us in on most of what happened," Martha told them. "Jessica, why would you do such a thing?"

Jessica could only hang her head and shrug.

She turned to her son. "And Clark. How could you be so irresponsible?"

"I'm so sorry, Mom. If anything had happened to them I'd never be able to forgive myself."

Martha could see that he felt terrible but Jonathan was not so quick to let it drop.

"Why the hell weren't you watching them?" he asked loudly.

Jessie spoke up. "It was my fault," she said quietly.

"Go on," Jonathan prompted.

"Claudia and I kept pestering them, even after they went out to the loft," she explained. "They were just trying to study but we wouldn't leave them alone."

"I see," Jonathan said. "Well I am far too tired to deal with the two of you tonight. We'll talk about this more in the morning. Go to bed."

Grateful for the reprieve, Clark and Jessica went to their rooms. A little while later, Clark knocked on his parents' door.

"Come in," Martha called softly.

Clark stepped inside and leaned back on the door facing.

"What is it, Clark?" his mother asked him.

"Are you going to punish Jessie?" he asked his father.

"Don't you think she deserves it?" Jonathan asked in return.

"I guess so," Clark answered hesitantly. "It's just…"

"Just what, son?"

Clark looked at his father. "Do you remember when you said that Jessie would stop being friends with Claudia when she realized she was just going to keep getting her into trouble?"

"I remember."

"Well, I was thinking about it and…since she doesn't seem to care about Claudia getting her in trouble, maybe it would make more of an impression if what she and Claudia did got me in trouble."

"What are you suggesting, Clark?"

"I think that instead of punishing Jessie, you should punish me."

Jonathan and Martha exchanged surprised glances. Clark attempted to explain.

"See, if I got in big trouble because of what she and Claudia did. I think she might just feel so bad about it she wouldn't want to be friends with her anymore."

"Interesting idea," Jonathan said. "This wouldn't by any chance be your way of trying to get Jessie out of trouble, would it?"

"Dad, I really think this could work."

"Tell you what, son. Your mother and I will sleep on it. You'd better get to bed."

Clark closed the door behind him as he left.

Breakfast the next morning was unbearably quiet. Once everyone had finished and the table was cleared, Jonathan called everyone back to the dining room.

"Jessie, what you girls did last night was very dangerous. You were wrong on so many counts I've lost track."

He turned his attention to Clark. "Son, I am very disappointed in you. I thought we had raised you to be more responsible. I know Jessica can be difficult sometimes, but to completely ignore her because you were so wrapped up in whatever was going on up in that loft is inexcusable."

"Yes, sir."

Jonathan continued. "Since you were the one in charge here last night, I put most of the blame for what happened here on you."

Jessie watched this exchange unfold in horror. She jumped up and ran to her uncle.

"Please, Uncle Jonathan. Don't blame Clark! I told you it was all my fault!"

"And you will be held accountable for your part in this, Jessica. But right now I need to deal with your cousin. Now, go back to your seat."

Realizing it was useless, Jessica sat back down in her chair, crossed her arms on the table, and put her head down.

"You're grounded for two weeks, Son. No torch, no basketball with Pete, and no Talon. You go to school and you come back home. That's it."

"Yes, sir."

Jonathan then turned his attention to Jessica. "Jess, the same thing goes for you. And so you won't be bored, I'll have some extra chores for you both to do when you get home. Now, you two get dressed and get to school."

Walking down the driveway a few minutes later, Clark noticed that Jessica was unusually quiet.

"You okay, Squirt?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry you got grounded."

He put his arm around her. "I'm sorry you got grounded, too. What about Claudia? You think she got grounded?"

Jessie rolled her eyes. "I think she probably got flowers."

Clark laughed.

Jessie suddenly stopped walking and looked at him. "Have you noticed that she's the one who's always getting me in trouble and I'm the one who's always getting punished?"

Clark rested his hand on top of her head and smiled broadly. "By George, I think she's got it!"