About a month later...

Jonathan was attending the agricultural market in Topeka for a few days, so it was just me and Clark at home. I finished mucking out some stalls and hurried inside the house. The sky had become a strange greenish dark gray, and the wind was picking up, blowing my hair into a tangled mess. A storm was coming.

And in Smallville, the first thing to go out are always the lights at the Kent farm. Just that Kent luck, I suppose. I checked everywhere for batteries for our flashlights and electric lanterns. Strange, we're usually the best prepared people I know, but unfortunately, we were out..

But some decent candles, some apple cider, a big comfy quilt, and a bed time story were enough to keep Clark and I happy. I sent him to bed, and stayed up reading by candle light myself, until I was about to call it a night.

Then the phone rang. I jumped a little when I heard it. Phones always do that to me now. Who would be calling, its almost 11:00pm? I noticed it had started sprinkling outside as I picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Martha? Thank goodness. I had thought you were out of town."

"Nell?"

"Yes. Our power's out over here and...I...thought...I know this is a little odd, but do you think Lana and I could spend the night?"

"Um...I don't see why not, Nell is ther-"

"Great! Just have Jonathan pick us up. We'll be ready when he pulls up."

"Actually, Jonathan's in Topeka for a few days, but I can pick you up."

"Oh, well, then, okay, thanks Martha, you're a life saver."

"It's no problem."

Why in the world would that woman want to stay here because of some flickering lights? And why doesn't she just drive over here herself? Martha, stop that, and don't judge.

I look upstairs, where Clark is sleeping. Dare I leave him alone for ten minutes? I teeter totter on the lowest step.

I can't. I walk up to his room, and see him, already fast asleep under his big red comforter. He looks so peaceful, decked out in his blue power ranger pajamas. I can almost hear his little breaths echo throughout the quiet of our house. And as I stand there watching him, I realize how tranquil I feel.

When Clark entered our home, yes, he brought a great deal of stress with him. But he also brought comfort. A new kind of peace, I've never felt before. It's almost as if, with Clark there, somehow I know everything's going to be alright. It's strange to think that a tiny child's presence reassures me, but it does.

I sigh as I daintily step over to his bed and gently wake him. His eyelashes flutter softly as he looks at me, but then continues to slumber. I smile as I bundle him up. He's already such a big kid, it's a struggle to get him downstairs.

But somehow he stays asleep. I grab my keys and go out to our truck, and lay him on the passenger side. He opens his eyes slightly, "Mommy" he whispers, a smile on his cherry lips.

We pull up to Nell's house. And without the lights on, I have to admit their house is a little scary. She is just a single woman with a small child in a large, dark house. Then again, so am I right now.

Maybe it's just the fact of Jonathan's presence on our home that makes the difference. Or maybe, oh, I don't know. Don't ask me to explain the differences between me and Nell. I don't like thinking it, but I've never liked her for as long as I've known her. Which is a horrible thing to say. Generally, I do pretty much like everyone. I don't know why I can't like Nell, too.

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that she and Jonathan used to date. Maybe it was that snobbish attitude she gave me when I moved to Smallville with Jonathan. The only redeeming quality I see in her is that she adopted Lana after her parents were killed. Of, course, she did get the Lang's home, and the money, which was considerable. Martha! Shame on you. Stop thinking such things!

I wave to the figures I see on the porch as I get out.

"Martha, thank you so much for doing this. You don't know how much it means."

She hands me their bags and I place them under the seat, and then slide Clark over to the middle.

"Hi Lana."

I grin at the sleepy little girl who Nell's picked up in her arms. The corners of her mouth turn up into a smile, while her eyes remained closed. I haven't seen Lana all day. It being a teacher workday, Nell had finally decided to spend some time with her niece. Nell gets in with Lana on her lap. I close their door and we head home.

I start lighting what leftover odd candle stumps I can find, and now the house is an odd mixture of scents, ranging from pumpkin to citrus, and many in between. I look back over my shoulder at Nell, who's sitting at our dining table with a nice warm cup of apple cider in her hands.

Her dark hair for once looks a little frizzy and unkempt. And her forehead is wrinkled in a frown of concentration. Maybe I was wrong about her wanting to come over here just because her power went out. Nell usually has a beautiful, pristine appearance. I finish lighting the candles as I say,

"Well, I don't see what's wrong with a little dark."

I hear her breathe a heavy sigh. "Martha. The reason I called you wasn't just because of the lights."

I paused, Nell and I have never really had a serious conversation before. I sat down beside her.

"It's alright Nell, you can tell me."

"Well, my...my ex-boyfriend is...is a psycho. We just broke up a few days ago, and already he's showing me this aggressive, violent side of him I had never really seen. I thought I could handle it, but ...he really scared me today when he pushed me. And then threatened us both, me and Lana. He said he would..."

Her voice trails off in a weak whisper. I can see the tears in her eyes as she stares at her mug.

"Have you told the police?"

"He is the police! He's a cop, the deputy sherif, in fact."

"Our Brian, the deputy?!"

"See? I know no one would believe me."

"No, no, I believe you Nell."

She looks at me, wondering if I really do. And I do. I can hear her sincerity in her voice, and I can sense her fear in her quick cut movements.

"This evening at my flower shop, I was cleaning and he showed up. We started fighting, and - and after he pushed me, I grabbed Lana and bolted for the door. Only then did I realize I had left my keys on the counter.

I paid for a taxi to take Lana and I home. But I think he took my keys, and I was frightened. I don't know if he's going to come after us right now or not. Finally I just decided to call you. I was scared Martha, I didn't know what to do. I thought Jonathan would be here...I'm sorry I'm bothering you with this."

"Nell, you did the right thing. But I think we should call the police."

"No! That's what he's waiting for, so he'll know where to find me. He'll never think to look here."

"Why not?"

"Frankly, he's intimidated by Jonathan. And he knows you and I aren't exactly best friends. There are a bunch of other places he'll check first."

A silence passes between us. We both sip our cider as we take in what's just transpired between us. Nell Potter, is trusting me with her life, so to speak.

I turn my head to the family room to check on Clark and Lana. We had just dropped them off on the couch, together. They were still there, bundled up, sleeping peacefully, next to one another. Lana coughed, and then coughed some more.

I looked back at Nell. She looked concerned. Lana groaned and coughed again. Nell got up, went over and kneeled next to her.

"She woke up pretty sick today. You should probably move Clark so he won't catch anything."

Resting her hand against Lana's forehead, she exclaimed, "She's burning up! I think she has a fever."

I pull a washcloth out of a drawer in the kitchen and wet it. And then gently place it on Lana's little head. She did feel warm.

"Martha, where's your medicine? Do you have kids tylenol or something?"

"Umm, no. We don't have any...children's medicine."

"What? What do you do when Clark gets sick?"

I don't answer. Nell gets up and starts rummaging through one of their bags for medicine. Lana continues to cough, followed by small weak gasps. She looks red in the face. Clark begins to wake up.

"Lana?" He says sleepily.

"It's alright, she's just a little sick."

Quickly, he sits up and looks at her. "She's sick?"

Lana's red eyes shift over to Clark, who reaches out and takes her small hand in his. She smiles at him but then begins to start coughing again. The strain from coughing on her tiny frame causes her to have tears in her eyes. Clark looks more concerned then I've ever seen him.

He takes his other hand and gently places it on Lana's smooth cheek. And to my wonder, Lana's wheezes slowly become subdued. My jaw literally dropped. I watch on in amazement, as Lana's little body calms down to the point where she stops coughing completely. I can see her small chest peacefully rise up and down. Relief is in her eyes.

"Martha, don't you have any more candles?"

Nell brakes me out of my trance as I look up and notice my sorry candles aren't going to make it through the night.

"No, unfortunately."

Nell's voice begins to have a twinge of hysteria. "Um, we need candles, Martha. We can't stay in complete darkness, i-i-if Brian somehow makes it here, then we need light. And..and..and Lana, she needs medicine. I'd go buy some, but I left my keys..."

I sigh. "Alright Nell, I'll go into town."

"But it's almost midnight."

"Will you be alright when I'm gone?"

Nell nods her head. I grab my jacket and begin to take Clark away from Lana. Their hands stay intertwined as long as possible.

"Why don't you just leave Clark here? I'll watch him."

Why did I get Clark up? It would make more sense to leave him here. And it seemed as though his touch had helped her. But he's never been out of my care at nighttime. Dare I leave him alone with someone else? I look outside into the rain and the dark. For some strange reason I can't explain, I need him beside me tonight.