Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville

CHAPTER FOUR

00 x-ray 00

I was walking down the street with Clark when I noticed an event I never thought would occur without the presence of some life-endangering catastrophe.

Lex Luthor was running.

Not in an exercise way, not in a light jog, and not even with the inherent grace that Lex was unconsciously exluding at all times (or maybe it was conscious, I didn't know what Lionel Luthor thought were life-lessons-to-learn). He was wearing a business suit and running like he was in a track race. In fact he was running so fast that he barreled over a woman holding flowers and into Clark.

"Lex, what's going on?" Clark asked.

I went over to Lex's other side, noticing absently that Lex wasn't wearing his usual cologne and that he was carrying a red and black back pack over his shoulder. "Is there something wrong?" I asked.

"Get out of my way!" cried Lex, before throwing us both aside, Clark into a store window and me into the (thankfully empty) street, before running away.

I breifly considered that Lex might be taking some mood altering drug that also enhanced strength as I pulled myself to my feet, only to stop and hiss when I tried to put weight on my left wrist, feeling a stabbing pain that was now starting to throb. I examined it and determined it a sprain, not a fracture, as I had plenty of experience with both.

I walked over to the store Clark had been through into and smiled wryly at him, "Do you have an explanation for that that your not telling me?"

I had a feeling this was going to be a long week.

0000

As it turns out, Clark had no clue, and neither did anyone else.

"This is incredible, why would Lex Luthor need to rob a bank?" asked mom from behind the morning paper.

"I've seen some strange things in my day, but this definitely takes the cake." Dad said, as Clark moved next to him, drawing his line of vision, "Well almost."

"He got away with $100,000," read mom.

Clark shook his head, "I know Lex, It wasn't him." I nodded my head in agreement, finishing off my last pancake.

"I know that he's a friend of yours, but you saw him with your own eyes."

"I don't know what I saw."

"There must be some kind of reasonable explanation for this I hope."

"I'm leaning between shape shifting imposter and the idea that Lex has been using experimental drugs." I said shrugging.

"Well, I'm not on any drugs." I turned to see Lex standing outside our screen door.

I smiled brightly as I got up to open it for him, "Then what was your theory?"

"Evil twin, but I'm hoping to be disproved."

"Lex, we didn't hear you pull up."

"May I come in?" I held the door open as a silent answer, "I promise I'm not packing heat."

"Lex, how did you get out of jail?"

Lex scoffed, "Because I was hosting a reception fro 200 fertilizer distributors in Metropolis at the time of the robbery."

"The police have any leads?"

"None. That's why I wanted to talk to you two. Your names were on the witness list. Did you actually see this person?"

"Yeah, he looked just like you," Clark said.

"Except his fingerprints and signature didn't match mine."

"Makes sense, whoever he was, he wasn't a very good actor, but that still doesn't rule out any of the four theories."

"Are you sure your eyes weren't playing tricks on you?" Lex asked Clark before turning to me, "What's the fourth theory?"

"Unsatisfied with his first son, Lionel Luthor started cloning replacements, only for one to escape and use it's appearance to a rob a bank," I droned dramatically. At Lex's incredulous look a shrugged, "From what I've heard of your father, it's at least possible, besides it's better than your evil twin theory," I scoffed, " You're a Luthor, you're your own evil twin."

"Thanks," Lex said sarcastically.

"Come on, it's a compliment, not everyone can claim to be their both their good and evil twin without a Multiple Personality Disorder to go with it."

"Ignoring Clara's insanity, what's going to happen now?"

"Well, hopefully the money will turn up. In the meantime the Metropolis tabloids will have a field day, and I'm sure some people's opinions will be cemented in stone," Lex finished, looking pointedly at dad.

"I gotta get to work," Dad said, walking out.

Lex turned to us, "I'm sorry you got hurt Clara, and I'm sorry you got thrown through that window Clark."

I smiled at him in hopes of alleviating the tension that had gathered in his shoulders, "No worries, it's just a light sprain, and not even in my dominant had," No kidding, nothing on Earth could crack that metal, literally, "But since I am hurt, Clark is going to take care of all my chores, isn't he." I smiled threateningly at Clark until he nodded.

"Anyway, I'm sorry about all this, I promise I'm not a criminal mastermind."

"I know, a criminal mastermind would have worn a mask," Clark said seriously, before looking at Lex and smiling.

"Oh, did you just make a joke?" I ran over and hugged him, "I am so proud!"

Clark shrugged me off him, but his smile showed he wasn't annoyed.

0000

That day after school the Kent family had a sit down discussion that was mandatory whenever Clark exhibited a new power.

In this case it was x-ray vision.

"So when you have these flashes, you can see through anything? People, objects?"

"Something I can see through things, other times it's like an x-ray."

"Huh, x-ray vision, that's new," I mused.

"There's no warning, it just happens?" asked dad.

"Well, I get a headache, and then it hits me. The first time I thought I was hallucinating, then it happened again."

"Clark, I'm sure there's some way to control this," said mom.

"You guys I can see through things. How do you control that?" Clark yelled.

"Well by not yelling," I said snidely, "and never looking at me with your no-clothes vision. " I got up and went to the fridge to get some ice for my wrist that was throbbing again.

"You gotta practice, Clark. Your eyes have muscles just like your legs."

"Your mom's right, son. All you have to do is figure out a way to, uh, to condition them so that you don't get these random flashes," said dad calmly.

"That sounds great," said Clark sarcastically, "How am I going to do that?" asked Clark as he could walk out of the house.

I rolled me eyes at his dramatics before heading out to my workshop, intent on drawing some more designs for an environmentally friendly car.

0000

Later, when we went shopping with mom, Clark's x-ray vision happened again.

We were walking past the movie theater when Clark abruptly stopped and put his finger at his temple's. I immediately went to stand next to him, out of his direct vision path, unwilling for him to spot my irregularities. "Is it happening again?"

Clark didn't answer, instead choosing to watch a woman walk by in wonder. Then his eyes narrowed in concentration at none other than Tina Greer.

"Something up with Tina?" I asked curiously.

Before he could answer mom came out of the store she had been visiting.

"Did it happen again?" she asked.

Clark shook his head while I nodded in confirmation.

"Lets go home."

"No, I'm okay. Didn't you need to go to the antique store?"

Mom nodded and we continued shopping.

Inside the antique store it appeared to be empty.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Kent—I mean, Martha. How are you?" asked Mrs. Greer when she came out of the back, and I frowned at the inconsistent address.

"Good, how's business?" asked mom.

"Couldn't be better. I'm doing so many estate sales in Metropolis I'm thinking of selling the place."

"That would be a shame, I thought you loved this store."

"Not really. I never wanted this life. I just kind of happened." Mrs. Greer replied blithely.

"Is Tina around? I thought I saw her come in." asked Clark.

"She's at Lana's. They're inseparable these days." Lie, we just saw he enter the store, but why would Mrs. Greer lie?

"Really I could have sworn that—," Clark began.

"You must be seeing things," Mrs. Greer interrupted sharply.

"I need some air. I'm going to go for a walk," He turned to me but I shook my head, Mrs. Greer's odd behavior had attracted my attention.

Mom patted Clark on the shoulder and then turned to Mrs. Greer, "I came by to pick up the lamp."

"Lamp?" Mrs. Greer asked uncomprehendingly.

"The one you were restoring for Jonathan?" Mom prompted helpfully.

"Oh, silly me. It's in the back." She said walking away.

When she was gone mom went over to admire a mirror while I took a peek behind the counter.

"Clara," I turned around to see mom looking at a stack of money partway underneath a drawer.

I walked over and picked up the money, showing it to mom. It had a band from Smallville Savings and Loan, and the bills were consequential.

"It's not quite ready, it's-," Mrs. Greer began, walking out of the back, only to stop short at sight of the money in my hands.

"We found it under the chest," Mom explained.

"I'm such an airhead," Mrs. Greer said quickly, taking the money from me, "A client paid me in cash. I've been looking for it all day."

"That's a lot of money. You should be careful."

"Thanks. Why don't you stop by next week? It'll be ready then."

We started to walk out, only to be stopped at the door, "Mrs. Kent, you forgot your purse."

Mrs. Greer walked over and handed mom her purse, "Looks like we're both airheads today," mom said laughing.

I held the door open, turning back to Mrs. Greer, "Just out of curiosity, how do you think the money got under the chest?"

"No clue," she sweetly.

"Bye," I said walking over to where mom was waiting, "Looks like Lex's not the only one acting strangely."

0000

A little while later my mother and I were walking down the sidewalk when our truck came onto it and off the road to come straight at it. Behind the wheel was none other than my brother, wearing a sadistic smile on his face.

"Clark!" my mom cried, but I had experience in cars heading straight for me, so I grabbed mom and dove to the side, in between two parallel parked cars, not bothering to look twice to confirm the face in the driver's seat, and narrowly avoiding being run over.

We watched our truck speed away only to be surprised by Clark coming from behind us.

"Mom! Clara! Are you alright?"

"Clark!" cried out mom, before hugging him.

I rubbed my arms, trying to work out the hum of adrenaline, "I'm thinking my shape shifter theory just got a whole lot more plausible."

0000

"Police found the truck, abandoned out by the Stewart farm," said dad as he put down the phone.

"Did anyone else see the driver?" asked Clark.

"No."

"Small mercies, that would have been hard to explain to the police," I said.

"I could have sworn it was you, Clark."

"I guess I'm not the only one with a vision problem," joked Clark.

I sighed, "Say it with me, shape shifter. Shape-shif-ter."

"What I don't understand, is how they got your keys," said Dad.

I chewed my lip in thought, going through the day's events, before reaching an epiphany, "Mrs. Greer!" I cried triumphantly, and seeing their confused looks I elaborated. "She had your purse, remember? Also, the entire time we were there she was acting oddly, she didn't remember your lamp, she kept calling you Mrs. Kent, the money, and she lied about where Tina was."

"Tina. You don't think…?" dad asked, leaving off the ending.

"She robbed the bank?" I finished, nodding.

Mom picked up my train of thought. "I found five thousand dollars in cash under a chest. It had a Smallville Savings and Loan band on it. She said a customer paid her, but—"

"Wait, are we seriously considering that Tina can shape shift, and that she transformed into her mother, took your keys, and tried to run you two down as Clark?" asked dad incredulously.

"And she robbed a bank as Lex." I added helpfully.

Mom sighed and shook her head, "I know it's crazy."

"I don't think so," said Clark, getting up from the table. "I saw a flash of Tina Greer's skeleton. It was weird and green. It didn't look human. You know, like in one of those anatomy books?"

"That's probably because Tina was born with a soft-bone disease," explained mom, "They had that poor girl on all those experimental drugs. The doctors didn't think she'd live to first grade."

"She did get better though," continued dad, "right around her third birthday."

"Right after the meteor shower, wasn't it?" questioned Clark.

"Yeah."

"Crap," I said, banging my head onto the table, before asking, "have you ever seen this skeleton before?"

"Right after the robbery—I think," He grimaced, "I just wish I could control this."

"What if you tried focusing it, you know, like a telescope?" asked mom.

Dad got up and reached into his left pant pocket, "You could start with something small." He held up a closed fist, "Try to tell me what I have in my hand right now."

Clark looked down, "It's your pocketknife."

Dad looked triumphant as he opened his hand and held up the knife, "You could see through my hand."

"No, you always carry your knife in that pocket." Clark said seriously before smiling.

I snorted.

0000

The next day at school Clark spent (what I thought) an unnecessary amount of time staring at Tina, trying to see her abnormal skeleton. I avoided him, instead choosing to hack into Tina's medical records to find more about the experimental treatment. (Some of it was interesting, the rest was just horrifying.) Clark did finally manage to get his x-ray vision to work, and was able to find the money inside her locker, but was unfortunately caught by Tina, who was probably already paranoid at how he had been staring at her like a creep all day.

Clark had ran home (missing class!) to tell our parents who then called it in as an anonymous tip to the police.

Also apparently Tina had come to the barn later that night and attacked Clark as Lana, and I had apparently slept right through it.

I learned all of this the next day as Clark dragged Pete and I along to Tina's house after the cops had been sent away by Rose Greer.

"So your telling me that Tina Greer can bend her bones like a contortionist and become anybody she wants," said Pete as we walked down the street to the antique store.

"Yes," I answered dully.

"I saw it with my own eyes."

"I'm sorry this is usually Chloe's territory. I cover girls, football and general guy stuff. She does the tails of the unexplained. Why not give her a call?"

"I did. She said she was busy with something else."

"Besides," I said, "I explain the unexplained, and as long as we don't run into someone I'm not supposed to insult, there shouldn't be a problem."

As usual, Pete ignored me, "Being turned down by Chloe… That's like being turned down by The National Enquirer."

"Tell me again why we're friends."

"Because even when I think your whacked, I show up to rumble." Pete answered Clark. We reached the front door of the store, as well as the closed sign on it. "Great, it's closed."

"It shouldn't be," I muttered and Clark looked through the glass, furrowing his brow in a way I was beginning to associate with x-ray vision.

"Clark, man, haven't you ever watched Cops? That last place Tina will hide out is in her mother's store." Clark's expression suddenly turned form concentrated to horrified, "Earth to Clark." Pete said, waving his hand in front of Clark's face, causing him to to loose concentration. "Is everything okay?"

"We need to get in here," Clark said gripping the door handle.

"Why?"

"Just—It's just a hunch." I wanted desperately to say something but Clark had made it clear that Pete know nothing about his irregularities a long time ago.

We went around the back and entered the store that way.

"Hey, Clark, what are we looking for?" asked Pete.

"What did you see?" I whispered as Clark went over to a cabinet almost as tall as Clark and opened it.

I jumped back when the dead body of Rose Greer fell out, disgusted and surprised.

"Woah, who's that?" asked Pete.

"It's Tina's mom," said Clark.

I got down next to the body and noticed she had gone through all the stages of rigor and had defiantly began to smell. "She's been dead for a while, at least two days. Tina must have been transforming into her mother to keep off suspicion."

"Damn, how'd yu know she was in there?"

"Because I can see right through the door, Pete."

"Very funny Sherlock. How do you think she died."

I reached down and felt her body for wounds, "Broken neck."

"My call Tina's already on a bus to Metropolis."

"I don't think so," Clark said before walking over to the counter, where Lana Lang had been written over and over again on a pad of paper.

"Why's she writing Lana's signature?" asked Pete.

"You said Lana's obsessed with her. She's gonna take it to the next level," said Clark.

"She's going to kill her?"

"Worse. She wants to become Lana," Clark and I said in unison, and then Clark was gone, presumably to save Lana, with Pete following.

I looked around at the empty store and the dead body before sighing. He left me with the dead body, again. I walked back to the front of the store and called the police anonymously before ditching the scene, not wanting to deal with breaking and entering charges on top of everything else.

0000

Par for the course, Clark had stopped the psychologically disturbed meteor augmented ability, saved the girl, and left me with no ride home. I ignored the police cars and the ambulance next door in favor of passing out on the couch to a Beverly Hillbillies marathon, and an empty bowl of popcorn. It wasn't my problem.

I was curious how they were going to explain Tina's ability to the cops, though.