As an apology for my lateness in updating (Read last chapter's AN for details/explanation) I have created a lovely present for you. It's a crossover between Clara and Clark's universe. It's silly, breaks the fourth wall, and makes fun of a lot of Smallville stuff. Check it out on my profile, called Clark Meets Clara.

Hourglass Part 2

Lex POV

Clara passed by me as I entered the retirement home. Her face was streaked with tears and she looked like she'd just seen her puppy get shot. I frowned. I called out to her but she was already gone. My frown turned into a scowl. I had a guess on what, or rather who, had made Clara upset. I stepped into the building. I decide to check out this Cassandra Carver for myself. Maybe she could give me some insight into why Clara was so...different.

And not just because she saved me. I didn't have many friends, but Clara had somehow become one. She was special...and now she was crying? That didn't sound like her at all. Maybe this psychic had something to do with it. The nurse pointed me in the right direction of Miss Carver.

There was a woman sitting outside on the patio chairs. I walked up behind her and grabbed a flower out of one of the pots. Doesn't hurt. I glanced at her. "Cassandra Carver?"

She froze. "Do those expensive shoes come with a name?"

I glanced down at my shoes. Do they really sound that different...? "Lex Luthor."

The woman looked unimpressed. "Oh. Of Luthor Everything Incorporated?"

I smiled a bit. She had spunk, much like Clara. "More or less."

"And what does the Savior of Smallville want with an old blind woman?"

I frowned. "You seem to have made a real impression on my friend Clara. Do you happen to be the reason she ran out of here crying?"

"If she wants to tell you, she will. Although I must warn you that trust is a two way street, Mr. Luthor...Now, did you just come here to stick up for her or was there another reason?"

I sat down across from her. "Clara's not an idiot, and she doesn't cry easily. If she says you know things, there must be something that made her think that. Now what did you tell her to make her so upset...besides the whole 'somebody close to you is going to die' thing."

Cassandra pursed her lips. "What I tell Clara is her business. Now, something tells me you aren't here for stock tips, Mr. Luthor..."

I leaned across the table. "Call me Lex. I was hoping you could give me some insight into Clara."

She frowned. "And you call her a friend, do you?"

I scowled. "She saved my life, but she's also a mystery." Cassandra laughed. "If women were meant to be understood they wouldn't be interesting."

She just wasn't getting it. I got a bit desperate. I had to know. "I'm willing to treat this as a professional service."

"Save your money. I couldn't tell you about Clara, even if I wanted to. I only see the future of the person I touch." She held out her hand. I rolled my eyes.

This was a waste of time. "I don't need to know my future."

"Why? Because your father already has it mapped out for you?" That hurt.

I leaned across the table and spoke lowly, barely containing my anger. "I believe we make our own destiny."

"And don't you want a glimpse of what it is you'll make? Maybe I'll see your friend Clara...or maybe I'll see something else."

I stood up abruptly. What was she implying? "I don't care if you are a fraud or the real thing. If you upset Clara again with your stories then you will most certainly regret it. Yes, I do call her friend, but I'm also curious. Goodbye, Miss Carver. It's been... enlightening."

As I walked away she called to me. "Come back again, hmmm? When you're ready?" I didn't respond. It wasn't worth it. I needed to check on Clara.

Clara POV

I was in a very serious moping mood, contemplating whether or not to go for a run, when who do know but Lex himself stopped me. "Clara, I've been looking for you everywhere."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

He frowned. "I saw you at the retirement center. You looked pretty upset."

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What were you doing-oh, Lex, that's rich. You went to see Cassandra didn't you?"

He shrugged. "I was curious, I'll admit, but quit trying to change the subject. What did she say to make you so upset?"

I smirked. It was petty, I know, but I always resorted to sarcastic humor when I didn't want to deal with something. "Well aren't you just my knight in shining armor." Ooh. I realized the "shining" pun too late. Oh well.

He stopped me by stepping directly in my path. If I really wanted to get by it wouldn't be a problem, but the body language was loud and clear. "Clara, I'm serious. If this thing is a hoax, then it's really cruel for her to do this. If it's real...I want to help."

I snorted. "You can't help Lex. I'm pretty sure this is gonna happen." I frowned, more to myself than to Lex. "It wasn't even a psychic vision. It just made me realize the inevitable, the unavoidable and stuff I can't escape no matter how hard I try." He looked very concerned and even more confused.

I sighed. "Sorry I'm being so cryptic. It's just some stuff I need to work through on my own."

"Not even with your parents?" Lex questioned. Poor Lex. When would he realize I relied on him just as much (if not more) than my parents.

I scowled. "They don't understand. They don't even believe me about Cassandra, and-" I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I frowned. "Chloe? Hold on. She only calls me for emergencies." Lex nodded in understanding.

"Hello, Clara?" Chloe's voice sounded frantic.

"Chloe? What's going on?" She sighed. "Look, I just need you to come by the torch, like now. It's huge and I think you'll want to take a look at this."

I frowned. "Well, okay-" She cut me off. "Good see you and a few. Bye!"

The line went dead and I frowned. "Well that wasn't cryptic at all..."

I glanced at Lex. He waved me off. "Go. We'll talk later." I smiled at him. I turned to go but he grabbed my arm before I could leave. "And we will talk, Clara." I bit my lip before nodding. I gave him a quick hug goodbye. I obviously couldn't tell him everything, at least not yet, but he was always there for me. He was a good friend...albeit a bit too curious for my liking. Why is it that I, who has the most secrets of anyone, get the most curious and suspicious friends?

I'd deal with that grizzly bear when it was growling in my face. Right now I had to get to school.

When I'd finally arrived at school, it was to find Luke. He was having a panic attack over Chloe's 'Wall of Weird'. I still felt guilty about the meteor. Even though it was something I couldn't control it feels like my fault. I felt like I had caused all of this weird stuff to happen...even Luke's parents dying.

Anyways, Luke stormed out, angry that he was on Chloe's wall. I felt sorry for him that he'd lost his parents, honest, but I thought he was being a little immature. Chloe was just trying to figure it all out. Sometimes remembering bad things wasn't fun, but it didn't mean they hadn't happened. I of all people understood that. I was pulled out of my thoughts by Pete. "Hey Clara! There you are."

I smiled at him. "Hey Pete."

Chloe frowned. "Where's Luke?"

I shrugged. "Left. I think he's had enough weirdness for one day." I glanced at the papers that Pete was holding. "What've you got?"

Pete grinned. "So look. This guy was found dead. Blindfolded and strangled with a piano wire."

Chloe nodded. "Same signature Harry Volk used in 1945."

I nodded. "Sounds like a copy-cat to me."

Chloe raised an eyebrow. "A copy-cat of a murder that happened sixty years ago? Two days after the original killer disappears? I don't think so."

I shrugged. "Harry's in a wheelchair. Not really in any condition to play serial killer any time soon."

Chloe had her 'I know something you don't' look. I sighed. "Fine. Tell me what you know..." She handed me a picture. "Harry from the 40s."

I frowned. "Looks exactly like the kid from The Beanery."

Pete looked at it. "Grandson?"

Chloe smiled. "Or it's Harry himself."

I tilted my head, considering."Oh, yeah. Let's go ask the retirement center if we can take a look at the time machine they keep out back."

Chloe frowned. "Well, fine. What do you think?"

I shrugged. "Let's go back to Harry's room. If somebody is playing copy-cat, maybe they sent fan mail." We rushed to the retirement center. Well, I say rushed. I sometimes forget how it feels to travel like normal people...I giggle to myself. Like the Doctor having to live time linearly with the Ponds. Had I really just compared my life to Doctor Who?

"Okay, what's with the creepy laugh?" I rolled my eyes at Pete. "Just a nerdy moment. Go about your business."

Chloe seemed to be hesitating as we neared our destination. "What if somebody sees us searching Harry's room?"

I smirked. "Please, Chloe. We're practically professional snoopers. We won't get seen in the first place."

"Clara? Is that you?" I froze as I recognized Cassandra's voice. I glanced at my friends and told them to go on ahead. I hesitantly walked towards Cassandra. "You left in a hurry before. Sit." Mechanically I sat in the chair beside her. She swallowed nervously. "I uh, hoped you'd come back."

I blushed. "Sorry...I just really freaked out."

She nodded. "Your young man was very concerned about you."

I frowned. "Who?"

She smiled. "That Luthor fellow. He seems nice, if not a bit odd. Then again, the rich are allowed to be a bit eccentric."

I frowned. "Lex? You're mistaken, he's not my- I mean, we're just friends."

"Hmm..." She said disbelievingly. "For now, maybe." I felt my eyes widen, but she kept speaking. "I want to know how you saw that."

I shrugged. "I don't know. Wasn't I supposed to?"

She shook her head. "Nobody ever has."

I thought this over. Maybe because of my connection to the meteors. This conversation wasn't going to end well. "Why me?"

She smiled. "We both know, Clara. You're not like other people."

I pulled away, panicked. "Yes I am."

She just smiled. "No, Clara. I've seen you...before we ever met. More than once, I've touched people, and I've seen such pain and despair in their future...but then you arrived, and the pain was gone." She turned towards me. "I think that's your destiny, Clara...to help people. To save them from fear and darkness."

I sucked in a quick breath, feeling like the weight of the world had just been placed on my shoulders...maybe it had. Could I do all of those things? "How?"

"That's what you have to find out. You can fear the future, or you can embrace it...the choice is yours." She held out her hand to me. I took it; a bit more prepared and less scared than the first time. I saw flashes and fire...people screaming and more fire...

I pulled my hand away. "Who are those people?"

She turned towards me and seemed to be peering into my soul. "People who need your help."

I sighed. "How am I supposed to help them if I don't even know who they are?"

She scowled at me. "I'm not a radio. I don't pick up continuous transmissions. That's all I have...except for this." I waited patiently for her to continue."This young man of yours..." I opened my mouth to object but she put her hand up. "As I was saying, watch him. He's much too curious for his own good...and yours. But from what I can sense through you he is good at heart. Just make sure he stays that way, okay young lady?"

I let out a deep breath. "Yes, Ma'am. Don't worry. I don't think I could ever see Lex doing bad. If he does...I'll figure it out. Thanks Miss Carver."

She nodded towards me. "I'll tell you what I told him. Trust is a two way straight. You want loyalty, you got to give it. And don't you worry. Your secret's safe with me."

Why did she keep referring to Lex as 'mine'? It didn't make any sense. We were just friends, good friends. Nothing more. Like Pete and me...well, maybe not. Pete was more my brother. Lex was...well, Lex. I didn't really have another word to describe him. Did it really matter? Maybe I was just reading into this way too much. Yes, that was it. Had to be, right? Me and Lex? Sounded way too far fetched.

I smiled and went to go help Chloe and Pete. Maybe we'd find a lead. Maybe I'd be able to help at least one person today.

? POV

Cassandra Carver. His records showed that she'd been admitted to Bellreave shortly after the meteor shower. Her daughter had been wary to let her go to a normal nursing home, but it turned out to be for the best. Miss Carver had been fine, enjoying the peace and quiet and giving the nurses the occasional spook. In other words, she hadn't posed a problem.

Until now. She was getting too close to his child. Who knew when she might accidentally let something slip he didn't want known? Usually he didn't bother with people like her, but this was an exception.

His child must be blinded to the future...at least for now. And right now everything was already uncertain, especially since his child had acquired that unusual new friend. He couldn't take the risk of all his planning ruined because of one psychic senile lady.

No, Miss Carver had to go. He would see to that soon.