SHOUTOUTS\ANSWERS
December.morning: Yeah, I know what you mean. Glad you liked. I will.
Windyfontaine: Thanks. Exactly. It creates a subplot for the future. Thanks. Well, I don't know about Family Legacies, but I plan on doing a sequel for Not What it Seems. Yes, it will. No problem.
SVOC Luva: Thanks. Yeah, I wasn't sure if that would rank or tank. Glad it ranked. Stay tuned. All of that will be covered in future stories. Here's another update. Sorry it's not soon enough.
Spuffyshipper: Thanks. It'll be covered in a future story. Sorry this update isn't soon enough.
Whiteninjetti: Hey, new reviewer! Awesome! Glad you like it. Here's more.
DISCLAIMER
Smallville belongs to the WB. I only own the plot. Since I'm gonna continue this as a series, I should warn you some stuff in here is gonna be tweaked to my preferences. First, Jonathan Kent will never die. Second, I don't like the way they've portrayed Jor-El in here, so I'm making him more like the movies. That said, Clark's been discovering who he is, but Jor-El's not trying to dictate him. Third, I'm going to be slowly restoring Clark and Lex's friendship. And yes, I realize that the shortness of time for Genevieve's sentencing is unrealistic, but after everything I've put them through, the Smallville gang could use some good news. Resubmitted due to an omission that was buggin' me.
ONE WEEK LATER
Lex, Lois, Jason, Lana, Chloe, Martha, and Clark sat at a table in the Kents' backyard as Jonathan cooked burgers.
"Mr. Kent, are you sure we can't help?" Lex queried.
"Lex, I've told you, I've got everything under control," Jonathan insisted. Almost as if to belie his statement, smoke immediately poured from the grill. Everyone laughed.
"Oh, you have everything under control all right," Martha said dryly.
"Dang it. That doesn't usually happen," Jonathan grumbled.
"Let me give you a hand, Dad," Clark stated, standing up. He walked over to the grill, and when no one was looking, put the smoke out and heated up the burgers.
"Thank you," Jonathan said softly.
"No problem," Clark smiled. Together, they put the meat on a plate.
"Burgers are up," Jonathan announced, as he and Clark came back to the table.
"Great. Just how badly did you burn them, Mr. Kent?" Lois asked.
"Lois!" Chloe chided, jabbing her cousin with an elbow.
"What? You saw that smoke," Lois defended herself.
"Lana, do you want lettuce and tomatoes?" Jonathan asked.
"Yes, please, Mr. Kent," Lana responded. He put the ingredients onto the bun.
"Chloe, would you like some pickles?" Martha questioned.
"Please," Chloe grinned. Mrs. Kent knew what she liked. The girl took the offered jar and placed the pickle slices on her burger. Lex acquired the mustard bottle and spurted some of the condiment on his hamburger bun.
"Could you pass that?" Lana asked.
"Of course," Lex answered, doing so.
"How 'bout you, Jason?" Martha questioned, preparing another burger.
"Uh, four patties, some ketchup, and some mustard," Jason requested. Everyone stared.
"What?" Jason wondered.
"Maybe next time we should just kill a whole cow for you," Lex joked.
"Hey. I'm a growing boy," Jason defended himself.
"Yeah, but which way?" Lana teased, poking him in the ribs.
"Hey!" Jason protested. Everyone laughed.
"Pass the relish please," Chloe requested. Lex did so. As the food was passed around, the group continued to talk, laugh, and eat. Just then, they heard the sound of an engine approaching.
"What's going on?" Chloe wondered.
"I don't know. Stay here, I'll go check it out," Jonathan told them. With that, he walked back into the house. Instead of staying put, everyone followed him to the front door which was promptly opened.
"Sheriff Adams," Jonathan said in surprise.
"Sorry to bother you. I just thought you'd want to know the jury's verdict," the sheriff stated. Lex hadn't been able to attend the trial due to severe head trauma and Jason had only appeared when necessary.
"If it's good news for us, heck yeah," Jason responded.
"Well, Mr. Teague, I'm sure you'll be pleased then," Sheriff Adams told him.
"She was found guilty?" Lex queried.
"As a fox in a hen house," Sheriff Adams confirmed.
"YES!" Jason cheered. His jubilant cries were joined by everybody else's. Seeing the scene, the law woman tipped her hat and turned to go.
"Sheriff, why don't you join us for some burgers?" Clark invited.
"Thank you, but I couldn't impose," Sheriff Adams replied.
"You wouldn't be. We insist," Martha stated.
"Okay," Sheriff Adams agreed. She joined the group in the backyard where they resumed their meal. Presently, she noticed Jason's burger.
"Mr. Teague, what did you do? Kill an entire cow?" she queried. Jason's jaw dropped and everybody laughed heartily.
THE END
WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT TIME
Next time on Smallville: a rash of thefts has the sheriff's department busy scrambling around Smallville. Then Clark learns that the thief's not exactly human. Can the thief be stopped before it's too late? Find out next time on: Smallville.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Okay, so I got the first cow line from an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger. So sue me. Actually, don't. You won't get anything.
If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually abused, contact RAINN'S National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
