Chapter Three

In the relative safe-haven that was Oliver Queen's clock tower penthouse in Metropolis, it had taken Clark nearly a week to fully recover from the effects of the device that Lex had wielded against him in the Fortress.

Although Clark had been led to believe that the device could be used to control him, his Arctic encounter had left no apparent long-term effects, only the temporary loss of his abilities.

While he recovered Clark and J'onn had discussed what the Brain Interactive Construct might have done with the missing Kara.

" … Placed her in the Phantom Zone?" J'onn questioned one afternoon.

"That's what he did to me, when I wouldn't agree to be his vessel for Zod. Kara won't have her abilities there," Clark explained through a tired breath.

"Yes," J'onn agreed. "But you escaped using the shield of the House of El. As your blood, Kara would also be able to use it to gain her freedom."

"Right, but how?" Clark asked weakly as he attempted to sit up straighter against the couch cushions. "The shield's at the farm, but with the Fortress destroyed … I don't know any other way to get there."

"I can find her, Kal-El," J'onn assured him. "That is what I do, after all," he said warmly.

Clark was grateful for his friend's help, his own guilt over Kara's abduction, and his failure to realise the extent of the danger she was in, until it was way too late, gnawed at him constantly.

-8-

J'onn had certainly lived up to his name and reputation as a man hunter when he returned to Metropolis with Kara three-days later. Unfortunately, those three days on Earth had been closer to three-weeks within the Phantom Zone, and Kara had been there for even longer than that. Alone.

Having to, literally, fight for her life on a daily basis had tilted Kara's worldview onto its axis.

She was already pissed at Clark for not figuring out her predicament earlier, and her anger grew when Clark brought her up to speed on the home front: Lionel's death; Lex's disappearance; Chloe's arrest by the DDS and Lois having to call in Oliver Queen to see if he had enough influence to find her, never mind get her off any likely charges; and his girlfriend, Lana, dumping him via a DVD message.

It wasn't an impressive homecoming.

"I can't stay here, Kal-El," she'd admitted.

"What are you talking about?"

"These last few days, since he brought me back, I've been talking to J'onn, and after everything's that happened, I just need some time to figure out where I belong."

"Kara, you belong here," Clark said forcefully.

Kara shook her head, blond hair whipping around her shoulders. "No. You're not that little kid I was sent here to protect, Kal-El. You don't really need me to look out for you.

"J'onn knows some people in Minnesota I can stay with … while I … while I work things out."

Clark turned surprised eyes onto the Manhunter. "What are you doing?" he accused.

J'onn stood silently and impassively, his features hidden in the shadows of the setting sun.

"Don't blame him for this," Kara interjected. "We both need to find our own places in this world, Kal-El. You and me," she clarified. "And right now, I think I need to be somewhere else. Somewhere other than Smallville or Metropolis."

"Kara, I know you're mad at me, and I'm sorry about that, but think about this, you cant—"

"I have been thinking about this!" she shouted. "I've been thinking about this every day while I was stuck in that place. Do you know what it's like to have to kill to survive, Kal-El? Do you?" Kara demanded, her blues eyes flashing like flint on steel.

Too stunned by this latest revelation to speak, Clark had no answer.

"I need to leave, Kal-El. I really do."

Finally nodding in acceptance, Clark asked tentatively, "Keep in touch?"

"Sure," she nodded, her eyes never meeting his.

"Kara—"

"Don't," she shook her head quickly and held up a warning hand to forestall another apology. "If you need me, I'll be around. Just ... wait a couple of weeks before you call, okay?" she finished with a small but tired smile.

… to be continued …

Please leave feedback!