Part 8
The trip back to the Kent farm seemed to pass quickly for Clark as he remained deep in thought regarding the impending conversation. Chloe thought about speaking to him several times on the way back to the farm, but thought better of it when she caught what had become known as the Kent Thousand Yard Stare. She knew whenever Clark had that look on his face that trying to engage him in meaningful conversation would be as auspicious as her getting through the day without coffee (well more to the point, caffeine). Instead Chloe took note of the scenery that passed her by, and took solace at being able to enjoy the ride – instead of worrying about some kind of cataclysm threatening them and those they cared for. Chloe smiled out the window with the thought, it's going to be a great day.
As Clark pulled the truck to a stop in front of the barn, he decided now would be as good a time as any to give his abilities a quick check. Clark tried his speed and found it responded normally, as he was able to get out of the truck and over to the passenger door to open it before Chloe had reached to unbuckle her seatbelt. Clark smiled to himself at this successful test, and decided that his other abilities could be tested later – he had more pressing concerns to attend to.
"Service with a smile!" Clark quipped as he helped Chloe out of the truck.
Playing along with the jest Chloe snarked, "Why thank you my good sir.", and even managed to perform a classic southern curtsy.
Taking Chloe's hand as they made their way to the farmhouse, Clark shifted to a decidedly serious/caring demeanor, as he turned to look her in the eye. Then, giving her one of his best (as Chloe tended to refer to them – Kent charm) grins he said, "You look beautiful, Chloe." He thought fondly back to the last time he had told her this, it was in response to her inquiry, What do you think, too pink?, just before leaving for the spring formal back in their freshman year of high school.
Chloe beamed back "Thank you!" in surprise, as she was not used to comments like that coming from Clark. Then, almost as if she could read Clark's thoughts, Chloe also remembered them standing at the picket fence surrounding the farmhouse before heading to the spring formal all those years ago. She squeezed Clark's hand at this memory, and as she had done those years ago, she replied – "You've cleaned up nicely yourself!" Both stood in silence - looking into each others eyes - conveying thoughts unspoken now, as they had then before the dance, only to be broken from their trance by a familiar bark.
Shelby, immediately wagging his tail, ran down the stairs from the porch to greet them as they neared the farmhouse. Dismissing Clark, Shelby ran right up to Chloe and sat down, his tail still wagging a mile-a-minute, awaiting praise for having learned to not jump up at guests arriving at the farm. Chloe laughed as she knelt down to greet Shelby and scratch behind his ears.
"Hey, what am I chopped liver? So much for man's best friend!" Clark playfully chided his dog.
"Don't be so hard on him Clark, he obviously has good taste!" Chloe quickly quipped back at Clark's remark.
Clark laughed at Chloe's comeback, went over and knelt down to pet Shelby.
"Okay buddy, Chloe's got me on that one, you're forgiven."
As soon as Clark starting petting him too, Shelby quickly took the opportunity flail out on his back to get his belly rubbed. This time both Clark and Chloe laughed at Shelby's silliness, but went ahead and rubbed his belly anyway. As if inducing a trance by this, Shelby closed his eyes and was quickly sleeping like a baby.
"Yup, this dog definitely has it made in the shade!" Chloe smirked quietly noting that Shelby was sawing logs.
Clark shook his head at Chloe's joke as he stood up, and held out his hand to Chloe to help her up. Then as they were going into the house, Clark couldn't help himself as he added, "Well, it's a rough life, there's no bones about it."
"Clark, don't quit your day job, and leave the bad puns to the late night talk show hosts!" Chloe snarked as she walked over to the kitchen sink to get washed up.
"Ouch! Touché Chloe, I yield!" Clark answered as he stepped into the hall bath to get washed up too.
Clark switched into super speed and had the leftovers set out in no time. Forgoing the oven Clark used his heat vision to warm everything up, but stopped shy of burning anything as the kitchen was filled with the smells of all the good food Martha Kent had made the night before. They quickly fixed their plates with a sundry of foods, and then sat down at the kitchen table.
Continuing on from when he arrived at the Luthor mansion, Clark explained that he saw an octagonal disk (somewhat reminiscent of the key to his own ship that carried him to Earth) spinning on Lex's laptop – engaged in some sort of download. Getting a drink of water, Clark explained he used his heat vision to destroy the octagonal disk only to be met by Zod yelling in disgust before rushing him as they both smashed out the window. Chloe continued taking all this in stride, as Clark continued how he and Zod flew a great distance, locked in hand-to-hand combat, with Zod having the upper hand because of his military background.
Seeing no way out of the situation, Clark explained how he played a bluff of surrender and was able to use Raya's crystal (Clark placed the crystal on the table for Chloe to examine) to extirpate Zod's phantom essence from Lex, and presumably sent it back to the Phantom Zone. The process resulted in Lex falling unconscious, and Clark continued, that he took him to SMC to be looked after before heading back to the farm.
"So, the way I figure it, with all the expenditures I was placing on my abilities with my fight with Zod, fixing up the farm, and then spending all night at full speed – coupled with the fact that I had not been back from the Phantom Zone long – I think my batteries ran out. Although, since I have been taking it easy lately, and spending time soaking up the sun, it seems like things are getting back to 'normal' for me. I mean, you saw my speed and heat vision appear back up to par."
Clark reached around and rubbed the back of his neck, happy to have that over with. Chloe stood up, walked behind his chair, and began rubbing his shoulders. Clark responded by leaning back in his chair, enjoying Chloe's relaxing touch.
"Wow, you've really had a time of it Clark!! Seesh, you're really tense, you're like iron for goodness sakes!"
"Steel." Clark moaned in a jovial manner, to which Chloe lightly slapped his shoulder, grinned, and went back to her chair.
"So, is this the first time your abilities have gone out like that?"
"Well, there was this one time a few of years ago – you remember when Perry White came to town?"
"How could I forget, it's not everyday that you get to meet Perry 'The Pit Bull' White?"
"Well, it was also around that same time that a comet collided with the sun, causing massive solar flares. My abilities started to glitch in time with those solar flares. One minute I would be out of gas, the next minute I was operating in overdrive."
"Which explains how your tractor wound up all over the highway, you know I never could figure how a tractor just falling off a flatbed would put it into so many pieces."
"Yeah, well it was the best Dad and I could come up with at the time. Anyhow, once the solar flares had subsided, my abilities were back to normal. I guess everything I can do is directly connected to the sun, a yellow sun, which would account for my fatigue and diminished capacity. It has just taken my body a while to recharge itself."
Chloe reached out, took Clark's hand, and stroking his palm said; "Then it's fortunate that your body had recharged itself enough for you to face Zod, Clark you had me so scared."
Clark felt a slight shiver of excitement go through his spine at Chloe's touch. He managed to steady himself as he replied; "I know Chloe, I'm sorry, the last thing I wanted in the world was for you to worry. Well, that's pretty much what I had started to tell you when I first came back to find you. However, there's one more thing I need to talk to you about…."