A STEP AT A TIME

Disclaimer: Sigh nothing changes, still don't own anything to do with Smallville or Superman™ or anything to do with the CW. And yep I am still just a poor writer and student ... no money to be made here.

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CHAPTER TWO – Who's afraid of the big 'little' Clark?

Clark stumbled from his bed, sleepy-eyed and aching, he looked down at his bandaged shoulder and ripped the bandaging away the injury now scarring and no longer needed to be covered.

'Mom?' he yelled out confused he trotted downstairs to find his mom and Chloe in the kitchen.

'Good morning Clark.' Chloe beamed at him glad to see him up and about at least.

'Mornin,' Clark grumbled as he dropped himself down on one of the chairs and glared at Chloe.

'Clark honey what's wrong?'

'Why do we have girls in the house for mom?' Clark asked petulantly.

'Chloe is your friend Clark.' Martha said unsure of her son's latest behaviour.

'Don't have girls for friends, where's Pete?'

'Pete doesn't live in Smallville anymore Clark.' Martha said gently sitting next to her son, 'Clark how do you feel today?'

'M'fine mom why?'

'You were hurt last night...'

'Whatcha mean hurt? Is that why I had those stupid bandages on?' Clark said, 'Mom do I have school today?'

'Why sweetheart?'

'Coz I didn't do my homework an' Miss Grant will be mad.'

Martha stared at Clark growing more confused each moment; Miss Grant was Clark's third grade teacher. 'Honey how old are you now? Mommy's forgotten.'

'Geeze mom I'm eight now.' Clark shook his head in disgust, 'can I have Cheerio's for breakfast?'

'Sure ... how's your shoulder Clark?'

'Sore, I don't understand nothing is right.'

'What do you mean Clark?'

'I don't feel right in here.' Clark cried out hitting his head repeatedly, 'don't feel right.' Angrily he pushed away from the table and ran outside away from the so-called friend who's a girl and his weird mom.

Stomping up the steps to his loft Clark threw himself on the couch and started to toss his baseball into the air. 'Geeze Dad where are you?' he muttered.

'Clark?' Martha called from below, grumbling under his breath he got up and went to the railing.

'Yes mom?'

'Honey I want you to come inside for a while.'

'Why?'

'Because you're not well and you need to rest.'

'Why?'

'Because it is different this time, you're not ... Clark please come down.'

'Why?'

'Clark Kent get down here now.'

'Why?'

'If you don't then I will come up there to you.' Martha threatened remembering how Clark used to hate any girl even his mom invading his loft.

'Aw alright geeze mom.' Clark mumbled, 'I feel fine.'

'You might honey but your head is still hurt.'

'I don't get hurt mom.'

'Well this time ... it was different this time a creature hurt you.'

'So why do I have to come inside?'

'I want to keep an eye on you that's all.' Martha said smiling slightly at her overgrown eight year old.

'Geeze mom, can't a guy do anything around here?' Clark fumed feeling an all-consuming anger descend over him again. He turned a furious stare at Chloe who still sat in the kitchen. 'Go away.' He thundered pushing her hard.

Chloe felt herself flying backwards before she had registered what had just happened. Crashing into a cupboard she winced as a corner bit into her back, breathlessly she squinted up at Clark towering over her with his fists clenched.

'Clark Kent go to your room now.' Martha yelled hurrying over to help Chloe up.

Muttering under his breath Clark stomped up the stairs and slammed his bedroom door shut. His head hurt so much, flopping down on the bed he curled up with Shelby and closed his eyes. Just for a few minutes, until that girl left. Two distinctive voices startled him and he stared around trying to see where they came from. As he listened, his realised that they were the voices of his mom and Chloe.

Frowning he slid down the wall and rested against it, his knees pulled up to his chest and listened to the two women talking about the attack and the injuries Clark had sustained. They were both worried that he would be a child permanently in a man's body.

'Not a man.' Clark mumbled looking at himself, he realised that his body was too big, and that he was wearing dumb clothes. 'What's wrong with me?' he grumbled putting his burning forehead on his knees he tried to block out all of the sounds but he could hear everything making his head ache even more.

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Martha looked at the man standing in her doorway with an undisguised look of surprise, how would he even know where she was?

'Martha you're looking a little ... perturbed is something wrong?'

'What, what are you doing here Lionel?'

'I ah must confess I was in Washington and went to see you when I discovered that you have taken some time out to look after your ill son. Please tell me is something wrong with Clark?'

'You had better come in Lionel.' Martha sighed knowing that once Lionel had whiff of something that he would not let it go.

'Miss Sullivan, I did not expect to see you here.' Lionel stared at Chloe and then turned his attention back to Martha. 'What has happened Martha?'

'Good to see you too Mister Luthor.' Chloe chimed in, her sarcasm evident in her tone of voice, 'I'm gonna go and check on Clark Mrs Kent.'

'Thanks Chloe.' Martha sighed, 'we are taking care of things Lionel.'

'I am here only to lend my support to you Martha, and offer my services should Clark need...'

'No thanks Lionel it is not like that.' Martha said, 'Clark was attacked by one of the things from the phantom zone.'

'Oh my ...'

'Lionel please we are ... handling it.' Martha said her gaze drifting to the stairs almost willing Clark to stay put up there but then suddenly there was a hard thump and a door slam. Heavy footfalls sounded as he ran down the stairs, skidding to a halt he glared at Lionel.

'What's he doing here mom?' Clark snarled angrily.

'He just came to see how you are going Clark.' Martha said watching Clark carefully.

'Don't want him here.' Clark pouted.

'Clark son ...'

'I aint your son, you sent my Dad away I hate you.' Clark yelled turning on his heels he disappeared out of the door before either adult could say anything.

Clark stopped running finally and stared around him, he was in a woods but he had no idea where it was, in Kansas or even another state altogether. His chest burnt from the exertion and his still healing wounds but his anger still boiled.

An overwhelming need to keep moving made Clark start to walk in a direction he wasn't sure, where it was taking him but that it was calling to him. As he moved into the cave, Clark felt something so familiar about this place even though it was really cool there he was scared.

His heart pounding against his chest Clark walked deeper into the caves with the strange drawings on the walls. 'Man where's Pete.' Clark mumbled as he moved in an almost trance like state, pulling him deeper into the caves.

'I don't want to be here anymore.' Clark yelled and tried to find his way back out but the cave walls seemed to be closing in on him. 'Who, who's there?' He called out watching the strange shadows on the walls, 'what do you want?'

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Chloe stumbled out of Clark's bedroom holding her aching head, 'gonna have to get accident insurance.' She mumbled softly making her way downstairs where Martha was and hopefully where Clark was too.

'Chloe what happened?' Martha asked immediately seeing the young woman's pained expression and the way she was holding herself. 'Did Clark hurt you again?'

'Umm, well he kindof got mad.' Chloe tried to shrug it off, 'told me that I was nothing but a stupid girl and shoved me backwards again, I guess I hit my head on the edge of his desk when I came too he was gone.'

'He saw Lionel and got even more upset he ran out of here so fast and he's not in the loft.'

'What is wrong with Clark?' Lionel asked with an air of innocence, 'he would not deliberately hurt you would he Miss Sullivan?'

'No, no never he's just not himself at the moment.' Chloe answered a little too defensively and too quickly for her own liking.

'Clark is a little confused and he doesn't understand it.' Martha said 'Lionel I appreciate your concern but for now I have to worry about my son.'

'Certainly I understand Martha, perhaps I could help with the search. Put my best people on it.'

'Thank you but under the circumstances I think it would only make Clark worse.' Martha sighed.

'Why ... Martha I cannot help you if you do not talk to me.'

'Clark has reverted to childlike behaviour since he got hurt.' Martha finally admitted hating the way it sounded.

'Childlike?'

'When he first regained consciousness, he was acting and talking like he was six years old again, a very angry and frustrated six year old, this morning he is acting like a very angry eight year old. It is these anger outbursts I worry of.'

'A child in Clark's body?' Lionel breathed his eyes wide and glittering dangerously, 'and his ahh gifts.'

'He still has them and doesn't understand them.' Martha said as she finished dressing Chloe's wounds. 'Maybe you should go home Chloe and get some rest.'

'Good idea Mrs Kent, I'll let you know if Clark turns up at the Talon or anything.' Chloe said casting a suspicious look at Lionel, 'will you be okay here on your own?'

'I'll be fine, thank you for everything Chloe.'

'We'll find him Mrs Kent and we'll get Clark back.'

'I know, I just hope that he doesn't do anything stupid until then.' Martha admitted walking the young woman out, 'please get some rest Chloe.'

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'Welcome home Clark or should I say Kal El?' A vaguely familiar voice said from the shadows.

'I'm not allowed to talk to strangers, and my name is Clark not Kal whatever.'

'If I am a stranger then why do I know your name?'

'Then why are you hiding like that?' Clark answered, 'I don't like this game.'

'I am sorry but I had to make sure that you are alone.' The voice replied. 'Come closer and you will see me.'

'No, I wanna go home.' Clark pouted.

'You are home Clark.'

'No, no you're a bad man and Mom said that I should stay away from strangers.' Clark cried out and turned to run out of the cave when a hand grabbed him and started to drag him backwards deeper into the caves.

Clark struggled but couldn't loosen the grip holding his arm, 'let go.' He yelled scrambling to pull away but the grip only tightened. 'Let me go I wanna go home.'

'No, no I need you here with me.' The voice said 'you are mine now.'

TBC