Author's note: Chapters 10 and up have been revamped with story line changes as of 11/2022. It is highly suggested to reread those chapters.

"Clark, man it's okay, it's Pete."Pete said.

"Pete?" Clark asked, still a little panicked. He was still standing against the wall.

Pete touched him and Clark flinched back as if he had been stung. "It's alright Clark."

"Pete, I can't see anything, everything is too bright."

Pete heard someone walking down the hall. He pushed Clark into the elevator and closed the door before they could see them. "I'm going to take you to the room that I had stayed in when I first came here." Pete had moved into the same dorm room as a couple of the boys. There had been an extra bed and Xavier had suggested that he stay in the upper levels.

They had been walking in silence for a couple minutes when Clark spoke, "Pete-"

Pete decided to wait patiently for Clark to speak. The elevator stopped and he walked Clark to the room. He watched as Clark felt helplessly along the wall. He had never seen Clark helpless. He had always thought of Clark as steel. Almost nothing could harm steel. Well that almost nothing, named Rogue as he had learned, had found his friend.

"Pete, will you forgive me?"

"Of course I will Clark, but it is not me you should be asking for forgiveness." As soon as he said it he knew he shouldn't have. Clark looked as if Pete had just gut punched him, pain apparent on his face. Pete knew Clark well enough that he knew he was thinking the loss of his, would-be brother or sister, was his fault. He also knew he was thinking of what he had done to the people of this school.

He couldn't believe Clark was finally awake. I guess Mrs. Kent chose the wrong day to head home. He knew she had time sensitive things that needed to be done on the farm, but seriously the timing of Clark waking the day after she left was just bad timing.

Xavier noticed that Clark had gained consciousness. He had noticed because when Pete found him, he had thought so loud it would have been hard to miss. He made sure that everyone was out of their way as Pete had led Clark to the lower levels.

He knew from what he gathered from Clark's memories from Rogue that it would be best if everything was approached slowly for Clark. He called Hank to meet him in his office.

Moments later the Doctor walked into the room. "You called me Professor?" He looked around the room. "It's still kind of unsettling being called in my mind. Uh…sorry." He raised his eyebrows to indicate he was ready to listen.

"Clark is awake."

"Then I must go check on him." Hank said as he turned to leave the room and his body froze.

"Hank." Xavier released him from his hold and he turned around to face him. "I think it would be best if we let him be until his parents get here. Scott is out on one of his drives. Once he gets back I will send him to get the Kents."

"But I must check his vitals and run tests. Find out what has been going on and ask questions." Hank rambled with anticipation and excitement that some mysteries may be solved.

"That is exactly what I am protecting him from at the moment." Xavier said as he smiled. "He has been traumatized by the events that led him to putting on the ring. Now he is carrying the guilt from his actions thereafter."

"I thought you said you couldn't read his mind?"

"You don't need to read minds to be able to understand the mind." Xavier thought back to college when he had taken every subject on the mind. Inspired by his own abilities he had a fascination of all genetic and of the mind. Psychology happened to be one. That knowledge and experience had helped him to be able to read people without using telepathy. "He needs his parents. They have a connection to him that has grounded him thus far. I will send Scott to get the Kents the moment he returns. Until then, I think Pete will be good for him."

Clark sat on the bed and looked around the room with the lights dimmed as low as they could go. Pete had stayed with him for hours. Only leaving one time to get some food for the both of them. He had not been hungry. He knew he should be, but food just sounded terrible.

He hadn't said anything for a while now.

His sight had been slowly coming back and was nearly back to normal. He probably could have turned the lights up, but he didn't want to see Pete's face clearly. He knew Pete would have pity on his face and disappointment. He felt like he would break down into tears if he let himself think too much. My fault, my fault, my fault. I'm not strong enough.

"Clark," Pete said.

Clark stayed silent. What was he suppose to say? Nothing could fix what happened. His father had made it pretty clear that he wanted nothing to do with him.

"Clark man, you need to snap out of this."

Clark threw himself back on the bed. "I don't know what to do Pete. I don't know what to say. My dad hates me."

"Clark, that's not true."

"You didn't see him Pete!" Clark sat up in bed swiftly. "The anger he had in his eyes." Clark could feel the tears building up, "my mom probably hates me too."

"Clark, y-"

"I killed him or her, whoever the baby was or would have been." Clark interrupted. "We will never know what the baby was going to be because I kill it." Clark could feel a tightening in his chest. They sat in silence for a bit. He just wanted to be alone. "Pete, could you just go."

"Clark..."

Clark stayed silent and laid back on the bed again. He heard movement and then he heard the door click shut.

Lex stared at the mess that had been his shelter. Large leaves lay strewn and torn along the beach. The only evidence that he had tried to make a home in this spot was his small pool of happily swimming fish. "I guess there is one blessing."

Lex looked up at the sky and yelled, "I miss having someone to talk to!" He looked at the fish in the pool. "Or maybe I can talk to you." He said as he crouched down next to his makeshift pond. "You know, keep my sanity afloat." He stood back up and wiped his hand on his head then laughed. "Though I am not sure if talking to fish is the epitome of sanity."

"Well I guess I better get started. If you have any suggestions just let me know." He looked around and saw some large branches and started to lay them in a pile.

He kept himself busy because it kept his mind from wondering if Helen was dead or alive. He wanted to believe she was alive somewhere. If she had been picked up by a boat they would have a general idea of where to look for him.

Though something kept nagging him. Why was the plane completely empty when he woke? What could have happened? Did the pilots do something to Helen? Why didn't he wake to any noise? Why was he asleep in the first place? Was he drugged? Was Helen in on it? No, she wouldn't do that. She loved him, didn't she?

He spent his time pulling and braiding the fibers from the branches.

Helen is alive. She has to be. Lex didn't want to admit that she possibly played him. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. He looked over at his pool of fish, "She loves me, right?"

It had been a week since Rogue had acquired Clark's abilities. His memories were starting to fade, but she could still feel his energy rushing through her veins. Usually by now the other persons abilities would be fading if not gone by now. This time if felt as if they weren't going anywhere.

Though his abilities were fun to have they came with a lot of responsibilities too. She thought back to when she nearly crushed Bobby's ribs. She had broke her door the second day. When she had been sitting flirting with Bobby her heat vision had went off. Bobby immediately put the fire out with his ice and thankfully they had been outside so only a bush had been a casualty. There were various incidences and example of his, now her, powers going off at wrong times.

How had Clark ever coped without people with abilities to put out his various fires and power faux pas. If she had had to keep all of this a secret it would have been stressful and exhausting. The amount of control he had achieved through his parents' teachings was impressive.