When Kara got on the bus the next morning she didn't see Billy in his usual seat, when she got to school he wasn't in his seat either.
"Mrs. Cooper, where's Billy?" She asked quietly.
"Oh, his dad called today, Billy fell down the stairs, his dad said he would be fine," Kara felt her face go pale as she thought about that.
When the school bus arrived at her house she raced past her dad, who attempted to say hello, past her mother and baby sister, up the stairs past the arguing twins to her brother's room. She could hear his music going loudly, he was probably doing homework. She began to pound on the room, as hard as she could crying loudly the entire time.
"Clark!" She cried. The door swung open and Clark looked at his little sister, Pete was in the room sitting on the bed. Clark grabbed his sister by the arms, he could tell by the look on her face this was serious.
"Pete, call your mom, tell her you need to be picked up," Pete nodded. Clark looked at his sister, "what happened honey?" He asked. She shook her head.
"His father said he fell down the stairs, he didn't Clark! He couldn't have, he lives in a one story house! He missed school! What if he dies," her words were beginning to jumble together as she sobbed in her brother's arms. He sighed and lifted her into his arms easily as she clung to him.
"Mom's on her way, what's going on?" Pete asked as he watched Clark and Kara.
"Pete, I don't feel comfortable telling you at the moment," Pete nodded.
"I understand man, let's go wait outside for her," Judge Abby Ross was one of the finest judges in all of Smallville, and the only person, besides their parents, that would take this seriously.
Abby didn't take long to get there, her son had sounded urgent. She was surprised to see Kara waiting with them outside. Abby got out of the car and looked at them.
"What's wrong?" She asked, seeing Kara crying in her brother's arms.
"A lot, you know Billy Henderson?" She thought for a minute.
"His dad's name is Greg Henderson, yeah I know him, not a big fan of his father," stated Abby.
"Neither am I, Billy told Kara that his father abuses him, we didn't want to tell mom and dad," Abby nodded.
"I understand, Kara, honey is that true?"
"Yes ma'am," she whimpered.
"Kara, come here and talk with me for a moment okay," Abby took the little girl's hand. She walked her over to the car had her write down everything that Billy had told her, and what the teacher had said this morning.
"That's a very brave thing you did Kara, I know it's hard, and I know you're scared, but you could save Billy's life," she nodded.
"Our friendship is probably over," she cried. Clark and Pete joined them. Clark leaned down by his sister and sighed.
"What's more important the life of your friend or the friendship you have?" She looked at him, "Kara both are important, and one day Billy will see that you saved his life and he'll be grateful. You may suffer now, but we're here okay?" She nodded and hugged Clark tightly.
"I'll go talk to the sheriff, I'll give you guys a call," Clark nodded as he watched Abby and Pete leave. Clark sighed and looked at Kara.
"Are you mad?" He asked her.
"No, you're right not telling would get Billy hurt worse, but he's going to hate me," she whimpered. Clark sighed and nodded.
"Maybe, but think of it this way, what are you risking if you hadn't told?" She nodded.
"You gonna tell mom and dad?" Clark shook his head.
"Not if everything works out, we solved this one by ourselves sweetie, you're a big girl for what you did. An adult knows and Billy will be safe." Kara nodded as they headed back to the barn, where they went to Clark's loft.
"Dinner's almost ready guys," called Jonathan.
Kara walked into the kitchen, as her father sat down, food being dished out already, Clark sat down next to his dad, as Kara grabbed him around the waits and hugged him as tightly as she could. He chuckled and hugged her back.
"What's that for?" He asked.
"Nothing, I just felt like it," he smiled and hugged her back tightly, kissing her cheek.
"I'll take a free hug from you anytime babe," he said smiling. Kara sat down on the other side of her dad. She eyed Clark as her father said the prayer, he winked at her and smiled as they both said their own little prayer for Billy and his dad.