"Thanks for being here and helping me clean up, Gabriel. You didn't have to do that."

"Think nothing of it. It's the least I could do. In a way, you could say it's partially my fault."

It's 9:30 a.m. the next morning and Gabriel and Tess are just finishing up the cleaning project while drinking coffee.

"Don't think like that. You're not responsible for anything that monster does. You're nothing like him."

"I know that. Doesn't make me feel any less guilty."

Tess sipped her coffee and stayed quiet for a moment.

"So are you going to meet up with Clark later and resume your search?"

"Soon, but I thought in the meantime you might want to…hang out with me?"

"You want to hang out with me? At a time like this?"

"Why not? I figured we could take a walk in the park, maybe?"

"Um…sure. I'll go grab my coat."

Tess. How do I tell her that I want to spend time with her because I'm afraid I may not have much left? He'll kill me. Somehow I know that.

"Ready to go?"

At the Kent farm, Clark was waiting anxiously for his mother to arrive. He made sure the house was clean and that his chores were done so that he could give her his full attention. There was no hiding the smile on his face when she pulled in the drive way.

"Mom!"

"Clark! I've missed you."

"I've missed you, too. Go inside. I'll get your bags."

After a few minutes, Martha Kent began cooking French toast, bacon and eggs for their brunch. While she cooked, Clark stayed in the kitchen and talked to her, and even helped her a little with the cooking when she allowed it. They talked about the Senate, Jonathan, Lana, and Clark's vigilante activities.

"I'm so proud you're finally being proactive. No one's seen your face though, have they?"

"No, Mom, I make sure to move fast so I can't be seen."

"Good. We don't need any more crooked cops or journalists trying to expose you. But I think what I brought you can fix that. Maybe you finally start shaking the hands of the people you save."

"Is this about the outfit you said you were bringing?"

"Everything's finished here. Why don't I go grab it?"

Martha walked to her bedroom. When she got back to the kitchen, Clark couldn't believe what he saw.

"Just a little something I've been working on in my spare time. What do you think?

Clark was stunned. In her right hand, she held a blue body suit with red trunks, a red cape and a stylized 's' that looked similar to the symbol that had been burned on his chest during his wild summer in Metropolis. In her left hand, she held red knee-high boots. Clark tried to put his thoughts as delicately as he could.

"Mom, is this a joke? That looks so…lame."

At that moment Chloe walked into the house.

"Mrs. Kent, how are you? And what is that in your hands?"

"My mom actually expects me to wear that when I save people."

"I actually think it looks nice."

"Thanks, Chloe."

"Did all women decide to take a crazy day and not tell me?"

Martha and Chloe both gave him their best evil eye.

"Sorry. Let's say I did wear it. I don't want to wear a mask when I help people. How do I live a normal life?"

"I thought of that."

Martha took a pair of glasses out of her pocket and placed them on Clark's face.

"They belonged to your father. Could never get him to wear them, though."

"Mom, how's a pair of glasses gonna fool anyone?"

"No, Clark, I think your mom's on to something. If you slouch a little bit like this, wear looser clothes to hide your physique, and maybe do something different with your hair, you could pull off being two different people."

"I don't know, Chloe."

"She's right, Clark. As long as you act completely different than when you're out in costume, it could work."

Clark pondered for a second about everything Chloe and his mother had just said.

"I may be open to the idea. I need time to think about it"

"Take all the time you need, son. In the meantime…let's eat."

Sylar felt like staying somewhere comfortable after his battle, so he had broken into a hotel room. When he arrived at Westfield's lab at noon the next day, he was ready for an afternoon pick-me-up.

"So doc, you have my prescription?"

"Here's your list. What took you so long?"

"I slept. Apparently you didn't. What have you been working on?"

"I've been working on a theory. In Smallville, there've been a number of people who've been given abilities from meteors that fell from the sky in 1989 and 2005."

"Tell me this theory while I'm still interested."

"I think these people are really metahumans like you. I think that the meteors just awakened abilities that were dormant inside them."

"So that means…more abilities for me take. Goodie. I'm gonna go acquaint myself with the locals. Don't go anywhere."

Dr. Paul Westfield just sat there, working, completely oblivious to the horror he just unleashed upon the world.