Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or these characters.
Author's Note: Okay, so maybe I am developing something of a plot. I have no idea where this is going. I'm just going to work with it.
Thank you to my reviewers for your kind comments.
Martha carried Clark into the barn and sat him on a bale of hay by the barn door. He was still sipping his sippy cup. "Clark, sweetheart, Mommy has to help Daddy. You just stay right here-" she pointed to the bale of hay—"and don't move." She shook her head no.
Clark didn't seem like he was interested in moving. Satisfied, Martha went over to the tractor. Jonathan was on lying on his back with a wrench in one hand, examining the bottom. His legs were sticking out of the side of the tractor.
"Martha, I want you to climb up on top and try to start the engine," her husband yelled to her. "It won't start, but I think that if you try, I'll be able to see what the problem is."
"Okay, honey." Martha climbed up onto the tractor. Just a few years ago, she had been a young coed in Metropolis, never imagining she'd eventually become a farm wife. But operating the tractor wasn't as hard as it looked…at least, not after a few years of practice.
Martha turned the key in the ignition. The engine seemed to sputter, and there was a weird sound coming from underneath.
Martha saw Jonathan's legs disappear from the side of the tractor. He was crawling even further underneath it. "Again, Martha!"
Keeping her eye on Clark, who was still sitting on his bale of hay, Martha started the tractor again, to no avail. This time, though, she heard a clunk coming from underneath; it sounded like Jonathan was knocking on something with a wrench.
"One more time, Martha!"
Martha had to start the tractor about four more times, but each time, it sounded better and better. Finally, with one final whack of the wrench, Martha saw a large chunk of green meteor rock expelled from underneath. It shot out from the bottom of the tractor and landed near where Clark was sitting. "OWWW!" came Jonathan's yell from underneath.
"Jonathan!" Martha hopped down from the tractor and pulled on her husband's leg. Jonathan crawled out; his face was filthy, and he had a large bloody gash on the side of his right arm.
"Something cut me," he told his wife. "Something sharp, from underneath. But I think I fixed it. There was a chunk of meteor rock cut in there. Must have gotten caught up in the engine somewhere."
"Jonathan, that cut looks serious," Martha said worriedly. "I think you might need stitches. It looks pretty deep."
Meanwhile, over on the bale of hay, Clark began crying.
"It's okay, sport," Jonathan smiled, reaching for an old dishtowel nearby. He wrapped it around his arm. "Daddy looks hurt, but he'll be okay. I'm fine, Clark."
Clark continued to cry. He hadn't spilled his milk or dropped his sippy cup; the cup was still held in both of his hands. But tears were streaming down his face, and he looked as if he were in pain.
"Clark, sweetie, everything's okay!" Martha said brightly. She went over to the hay and picked the distressed toddler up in her arms. "Clark, calm down! Daddy's fine!" She hugged him tighter, then looked over at her husband in alarm. "Jonathan, he's burning up! Feel him!"
Jonathan went over to his wife, and felt his son's forehead with his free hand. "Well, he's crying, Martha. Of course he's going to be warm. Let's just go inside and try to bandage my arm up. Maybe that'll calm him down."
Martha nodded and continued to hug her son worriedly. Finally, she felt him go limp in her arms. She looked down at him in alarm. "Jonathan…I think he's passed out!"