Jonathan was up early the next morning, placing his son's feet back on the couch, he smiled as he looked at Martha. She was leaning against the arm rest, her head resting on her left arm, the other hand resting on Clark's chest.

He hurried upstairs, waking each of his children, but Katie, allowing her to remain fast asleep. Kara muttered something about not wanting to wake up and the twins seemed to still be fast asleep.

He headed back downstairs and began making breakfast when Clark slowly moved into the room, his eyes down cast to the floor. Jonathan watched him for a moment and sighed, he reached out touching the boy's shoulder. Clark quickly drew back.

"Want some breakfast?" Jonathan asked, deciding against asking Clark how he was doing.

"No....I'm not hungry," whispered Clark.

"You know Clark, we're gonna have to talk about it sometime, not now obviously unless you're up to it, but at some point. These things don't go away," Jonathan said gently.

"I just wish...I don't know, I should go get ready for school..."

"Clark, I'd rather you stayed home today."

"Dad, if I don't go to school people will think I meant to kill that boy and they'll hate me more, I have to dad."

"Clark, you have to grieve, you can't keep this inside of you."

"I'm not dad, I'm just trying to get past it."

"Clark, you can't get past it if you haven't even faced it yet," Clark shrugged and headed up the stairs to get a shower. Martha sighed and came into the kitchen.

"Stubborn as his father," she chuckled.

"Yeah...right, God help that boy because I'm not sure I know how," whispered Jonathan.

"All we can do now is love him Jonathan. We're his parents our job is to be here when his wall falls down."

"Just like always, it's the waiting that I hate," muttered Jonathan.

"Hopefully we won't have to wait long, but this is hard Jonathan."

"Maybe I should tell Clark about..."

"Just wait Jon, let him try to handle this, if he can't then I agree tell him about your experience."

"Bye mom, bye dad!" Kara called as she opened the door.

"Hold it, where are you going?" Jonathan asked the young girl.

"To school, duh," she replied. Martha tried to hide her grin at the girls' comment.

"Thank you captain, you haven't had any breakfast."

"Um, I'm not hungry...don't worry dad, I'll get something for lunch," she explained. Jonathan looked over at Martha.

"All right, well do I at least get a hug?" He asked. She smiled and hugged him tightly, then Martha and headed outside.

"One down, three to go," just as Martha had spoke it the twins came hurrying down the stairs. Martha grinned as she lifted them both into her arms and plopped them down into their seats.

"Breakfast is served," stated Jonathan placing the bowls of oatmeal in front of them.

"Bye mom, bye dad," whispered Clark as he hurried past them. Martha stopped him by grabbing his arm and looked at him.

"We love you sweetheart," she whispered. Clark forced a small smile and headed to school. He had already missed the bus.

"Hey Clark," greeted Pete, the kids had all heard by now, it had been on the news this morning.

"Hi Pete," whispered Clark.

"How are you?" Chloe asked as she walked beside her boyfriend. He shrugged slightly.

"Depends, I haven't heard what people are saying about me yet," he whispered.

"Clark, no matter what they say it isn't true, we know you didn't mean to hit the kid, even the news admits to that," explained Pete gently.

"Thanks guys...but no matter what you guys believe it still won't stop people from believe what they want."

"Well we're here," Chloe said gently grasping his hands. He smiled gently and entwined their fingers.

They walked through the doors of Smallville high school, Chloe and Pete with an air of pride and will around them, as though challenging anyone to really try to pick on Clark. Clark however seemed defeated and saddened. He already noticed the stares and the people talking.

"Clark, man come on," Pete said gently.

"Murder," Clark heard someone whispered.

"He just hit that kid," muttered another kid. Clark felt tears fill his eyes, he suddenly realized why his father had wanted him to stay home.

"He should be locked up," Clark heard a final person, it cracked him, suddenly he couldn't handle the accusations that were running through his very own mind at the moment.

"I...I gotta go, Chloe I..." he turned and ran as fast as he could from the building without using super speed. As soon as he was out of sight he zipped away.

Jonathan was standing by the tractor trying to start it when he saw the blur out of the corner of his eye rush into the barn, "oh boy," he thought quietly to himself.

"Martha," he called towards the house, and then turned on his heel and headed into the barn. Martha wasn't far behind, she had just been coming out to get Jonathan for lunch when she heard him call to her.

Clark sat in one corner of his Fortress of Solitudes, long arms wrapped around his long legs.

"Clark?" He heard Jonathan call.

"Please...go away," he whispered. Jonathan felt his heart breaking at the strain and pain in the young man's voice.

"I can't do that son, you need me..."

"I need to be left alone...I don't deserve to be loved."

"Clark..." Jonathan's voice was stern and serious as he approached the boy, he looked so lost and alone.

"Please dad...why...why did he do it?" cried Clark. Jonathan sighed as he sat down in front of his son and placed a hand on his knees.

"I don't know son, but it's not your fault..."

"Then who's fault was it dad? I was driving the car, I didn't see him, good god dad I have x-ray vision and I didn't see him!"

"Clark, the kid was wearing black!" stated Jonathan.

"I was driving dad, I had control over the car I shoulder have seen him!"

"Son..."

"I'm a murder," whispered Clark gently.

"What should you have done Clark! You weren't expecting him! There's nothing wrong with what you did!"

"Jonathan," the stern voice came, he looked back at his wife, she sighed and shook her head.

"Let me try," she whispered gently. He nodded and gazed at his son one last time before turning around and heading down the stairs. Martha came over and looked at him.

"Do you remember when you were a little boy, probably five or six and you accidentally dropped the baby bird out of the tree?" Clark looked up at her and nodded slowly, "remember when dad told you that it was an accident and that we knew you hadn't meant to drop the bird, you were only trying to help it?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Clark, could you even see him?" Clark shook his head.

"I saw his wheel when it came in front of my head lights, but by then I had hit him."

"You slammed on the brake didn't you? You didn't hit the gas?"

"Of course not..."

"Then Clark, it wasn't your fault, you weren't going over the speed limit, you had your high beams on, you did everything right. I realize how hard this is going to be, and you're welcome to stay home for as long as you want, but remember Clark, once you start running away it's hard to turn and come back."

"I'm...I'm scared, I'm afraid I'll wake up one morning the Ethan will come in and say he was wrong that I did murder the boy, that I was framed or something. I'm scared," Martha sighed and pulled him close.

"Don't be, you didn't do anything wrong; Ethan told you that, your father and I told you that. Clark we're here to help you get through this."

"I know, I just need...I need to forgive myself too."

"I know baby, but remember we'll be here when you want to talk, now...seeing as you're skipping school, there's a grilled cheese sandwich with some tomato soup; just the way you like it; on the table inside."

"You always make lunch for me when I'm at school," she chuckled as she gently wiped his tears from his face and grinned.

"Only on special occasions, come on honey," she stuck out her hand, Clark instantly grabbed it, as though looking for the loving strength she had to give him.

"I love you mom." She smiled gently.

"I love you too sweetheart, more than you may ever know."