Martha and Jonathan were back on the jet making their way back to New York again. She had been back home to help Jonathan with the farm for only one day; one day and she was going to be back at Clark's side. Seriously! He had to wake for the one day she was gone. When the jet showed up in their field during daylight hours, she was shocked, as they had planned pickup and drop offs for night to dissuade suspicions. Scott informed them with the news that Clark had woke up. She was anxious yet again and praying that Clark does not run again.
"Martha..." Jonathan said next to him timidly. "Martha, there is something I have been wanting to tell you."
She looked over at her husband who had fear and worry on his face. She automatically reached her hand out to grab his hand. He was shaking, she looked up at him, what could it possibly be? "Jonathan, what is it?"
"It's my fault, Martha. It's my fault that Clark ran away in the first place." He took his hand from hers and hunched over with his elbows on his knees and his hands folded.
"Jonathan… how could it be your fault?"
He took a deep breath, "After the accident I was so angry, you were hurt and unconscious. I had just learned we had lost the baby. I said things to Clark that I shouldn't have." He started to stumble over his words and his voice wavered. "I essentially told him it was his fault that you were in the hospital."
"Jonathan..." She laid her hand on his back and with her other hand softly grabbed the side of his face and gently turned his head to where he was looking at her. His eyes were filled with tears. "It's alright, Jonathan, it's not your fault." Jonathan broke down sobbing and Martha just held him.
Chloe looked over her new information she has been trying to put together. She was looking at the news articles of Lex's disappearance and search. She knew she had made a deal with Lionel to investigate Clark, but her head was becoming more clear and she was starting to recognize the wrongs of investigating her best friend. Besides Lex's story felt more pressing and full of mystery.
She had all the articles laying across her bed. "Lana, you're never going to believe who has returned. Helen. That's right, Lex's wife Helen. The thing is she returned without Lex."
Lana walked into their room and sat on her bed.
"Did you hear me, Lana?" Great now she was giving her the cold shoulder. Chloe stuffed the articles into her bag mumbling something about plans. Chloe made it to the door and turned the handle before her journalistic skills activated. She turned to Lana, "Are you ok?"
Lana had a dumbfounded look on her face. "I just witnessed something that doesn't make sense. I was going over to the Kents to see if there was an update on Clark. There was a plane in their field."
Chloe felt a pang in her chest at the mention of Clark, "Wait, a plane in their field?" As her curiosity outweighed her jealousy.
"I watched as the Kents got onto it and then the plane lifted straight into the air and flew away. I have never seen a plane like that before."
"It lifted straight into the air?" Chloe said as she walked back over and sat on her own bed across from Lana.
"Where would the Kents be going? And why on a fancy jet like that?"
"Jet? You said plane."
"Jet...plane, what's the difference? Chloe, the point is what is going on?" Lana said exasperated.
"That is part of the mystery that is Clark Kent, I guess." Chloe said as she thought of the research wall at the Torch, she felt a pang of guilt. She shook her head as if she could just shake the guilt away. "Can you describe the jet? Was it government?"
"How should I know if it was government. It was a black jet, a shiny, black jet."
Chloe's mind started to run over what ways she could research this. It had to be connected to Clark's disappearance.
Pete was sitting upstairs on the couch staring off at nothing. "Penny for your thoughts." Pete looked up to see Bobby or Ice Man, as he had learned was his other name, looking down at him. Pete thought about that morning when he finally got the courage to ask those at the table what their abilities were. He was afraid they would be upset that he had asked them. Like how it is hard to ask someone how they lost a limb. You don't want to make them feel bad or drudge up bad memories.
Everyone just stared at him in silence. Great now you've done it Pete. "Sorry, can we act like I didn't ask that?" He wanted to disappear into nothing.
They looked at one another and Kitty spoke first. "Um… Professor Xavier said not to use or talk of our powers in front of you. He said he didn't want us to scare you."
Pete chuckled and some of the kids looked taken aback. "I'm sorry I don't mean to disrespect you, but my best friend is an alien. I already know Kurt can teleport, Kitty can walk through solid objects. This is a school full of gifted students. If I was going to be scared it would have happened a long time ago."
The kids looked around at each other apprehensively. "Peter's power is to turn into steel." An unknown voice yelled.
"Hey." Peter yelled looking behind him. "Tell your own power!"
"Really? Can I see it?" Pete had asked wondering how it would look.
Peter stood and his skin slowly turned metallic and shiny, he looked like he grew a couple inches as well. He moved and picked up the chair that had Kitty sitting in it over his head.
Pete smiled, "Wow!" His reaction seemed to start a show and tell of powers. He then watched as Bobby froze his drink. A girl made small fireworks with her hands. Talent after talent was exposed and each time Pete was impressed.
"What is going on here?" All the students froze and turned toward the voice. Pete turned and it was Professor Xavier.
"It was Pete's idea," a voice called from the back. Pete tried to look as innocent as he could.
Professor Xavier had taken him to his office and explained the importance of anonymity. Which was really not needed as he already understood the importance of Clark's secret.
Pete pulled out of his memory. "Huh?"
"Sorry old saying, it means what's on your mind?" Bobby sat down next to him.
"I was just thinking of Clark. I don't think he is going to forgive himself. He's down there sulking and beating himself up. I don't know what to do for him." Pete was never good at this kind of stuff.
"Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is to just be there. Give them time to work through their thoughts." Bobby said, "But let them know that you are there and you care. A skill I am developing myself, with Rogue."
"What's the deal with Rogue anyway?" Pete instantly regretted asking the question. "I'm sorry… I… great, good one, Pete."
"No, it's ok."
"I mean it's been a week and no one has told me what she did to Clark."
"She absorbed his energy, basically his life force. She has Clark's abilities now. Usually by now they are dissipating, but this time they seem to be staying."
"She has his powers?" Pete asked in amazement. "But if that is the case, how come she hasn't started any fires or broken anything?"
Bobby laughed a little, "Well actually she did start a fire the other day, but…" He frosted a glass next to them, "I put it out. Also she did break her bedroom door. She isn't causing more damage than that because she also absorbed his memories, his characteristics, and more."
"Oh, so that is the reason she has been acting like a loner."
"Actually she acted like that before Clark came along."
"Oh, okay." They both looked out the window as they saw the jet descend into the basketball court.
Clark laid on the bed and stared into the darkness. He was trying to decide what to do. Should he stay here and give these people a chance? But how would they ever forgive him after what he did? He had nearly killed Ororo. How could they ever trust him after he had attacked them? How could he trust himself?
He didn't deserve forgiveness. He couldn't go home; he couldn't face his parents. Not after what he did to them. Maybe he could just run and live at the north pole. At least there weren't any people there that he could hurt again.
He sat up in bed. I need to get out of here, he thought as he sat up in bed. He used his x-ray vision to see if the coast was clear. There was no one around. He planned his path to leave that would create a path with little chance of passing someone along the way. That was when he saw the jet. It was also when his new hearing went crazy.
He slammed his hands against his ears and groaned in pain as the sound of jet engines roared in his ears. Then a crowd of voices bombarded him from every side and he fell to his knees. The pain was as bad as when that girl had screamed. He curled in a ball trying not to retch. It felt like it lasted forever. Then suddenly everything went silent. He opened his eyes and the light was on. Why is the light on? He looked up and saw his parents faces as they stood in the doorway.
I can't do this, I can't do this. He wanted to get away, but didn't want to hurt them to get by.
"Clark," his mother said. "Please, don't run." She said quickly anticipating him. She walked up to him and knelt on the floor next to him. "Clark honey, we want you to come home."
"I don't want to hurt you, Mom."
He felt her hand on his shoulder, he pulled away and her hand was on him again, "Clark honey, you won't hurt me."
"I hurt everyone around me. I am dangerous. I shouldn't be around anyone. All I ever do is hurt people and bring misery."
"Clark, you bring joy," she started to cry as she continued on, "Without you we never would have known what it was like to have a child, a family. You are everything to us."
He felt his dad's hand on his shoulder and he stood, Martha standing at the same time. He looked his father in his eyes and could see he had tears in them. "Son, I am so sorry. I should not have said those things to you. Will you forgive me?"
"Forgive you? I should be the one asking for forgiveness. It's my fault, all of it. Everything is my fault. Why should I deserve forgiveness?"
Both of his parents wrapped their arms around him, "Oh son, we forgive you." his dad said with a quivering voice and for the first time since everything started, the dam broke, and he let himself cry.