Angela and Clark sat in the kitchen pouring over their homework when the phone began to ring. Rising up Angela answered the phone, shocked to hear the scared voice of their friend Ryan on the other end.

"Ry what's wrong?,"

"You have to help me please Ang and Clark, get me out of here I'm at the SummerHolt Institute," he managed to get out before the line went dead.

"We have to save him Clark, Ryan is only a kid, one we promised to look after,"

"I got a email not too long ago saying everything was ok but let's get the family to help us."

After including their parents and Lex, they had discovered that Ryan and his aunt had gone missing.

When they had went back to school Angela had gone to Chloe asking for her help too. Which ended up providing information on the insititute.

They had discovered that SummerHolt Institute was actually a controversial brain research lab in Metropolis. Angela knew Lex was currently busy with the mayor while she was in school but she knew that where they couldn't get to, he could.

As the school day ended Angela headed home to the mansion to speak to Lex about SummerHolt and Ryan.

When she arrived he was waiting out front, and got in the Audi as she pulled up.

"Clark texted me wants us all to talk over at the farm,"

"Oh ok Lex," Angela turned the car around heading to the farm.

"We've hit nothing but dead ends," Jonathon announced about the search for Ryan.

"I could have my people try, they know ways of getting into dark corners,"

"It might be our only chance,"

"Or I could just go to SummerHolt?,"

"No Clark, you can't just go tearing down doors," Martha replied as they all decided instead to have Lex's men take care of it.

The following day Angela was getting her stuff ready for school when Clark walked into the study followed by none other then Ryan.

"Ryan!,"

"Angela," Ryan said excitedly as he was wrapped up in a hug by her.

"But how?,"

"I tore down doors,"

"Clark!,"

"I wasn't leaving him there,"

"I know, I wouldn't either he's our little brother in a way," Angela agreed.

Sitting down on the couch they decided to play hooky from school to spend time with Ryan. As they began catching up Lex entered the study looking shocked they were still there.

"Don't you have school? and Who's this?,"

"Yes but skipping, and this is Ryan,"

"The missing Ryan?,"

"Which one of you?,"

"Clark,"

"Of course," Lex replied shaking his head at the foolishness at the risk he took.

"He can stay here it's safer then the farm unfortunatly,"

"I agree," Angela replied kissing his cheek.

"So what happened Ryan?," Clark asked knowing it was the one question in everyones mind.

"A couple of months ago I began getting nosebleeds and migraines, my aunt couldn't handle the medicial bills so when a Dr Garner offered to take me in and treat me she jumped right on it,"

"With no references? With no knowledge about the man,"

"Yeah," Ryan replied as Angela began shaking her head.

When it got later in the evening Clark headed home, Angela had set up Ryan in a guest room a few doors down from their room, and Lex had begun to start on something he hoped would help.

The next morning Clark had called telling them they needed to bring Ryan over under threat from Garner. So they got in the Hummer and headed over to the farm.

When they arrived Garner and Sheriff Miller were waiting, and Angela was worried as she turned her head back and gave Ryan a sad smile. As the three of them exited the Hummer Lex walked forward first with Angela and Ryan behind him.

"I should charge you all with Kidnapping,"

"No you won't be," Lex replied handing the Sheriff a paper.

"He's right Dr Garner, this here is a restraining order allowing Ryan to stay with the kents and the Luthors,"

"No that can't be right!,"

"Sorry but it is,"

"It is now get lost," and with that said Garner sped off angrily.

Later that day they headed over to the Talon, where all Ryan's friends, had set up a welcome home party for him.

He was really enjoying the party he was people who really liked him, and dare he said cared about him. He had read Angela's mind and knew she really thought of his as their little brother and that made him so happy. Pete had shown up and had let them in on the little secret that his mom had been the one to sign the restraining order for them. Ryan though then informs them that Pete is having a hard time keeping their secret. Clark gets the biggest shock of all when Ryan tells him Lana is moving to Metropolis.

The following day Clark and Angela couldn't get out of school this time and so they left Ryan with their mother.

As the day went on with Ryan making small talk and Martha doing paperwork, it was midafternoon when Lex showed up.

He offered to give Martha a break from babysitting duties since he had finished his work for the day and figured a little guy time would be good for him.

Lex had taken him back to the mansion so he could get to know Angela's 'brother' more.

"This is my Warrior Angel collection,"

"This is so cool," Ryan exclaimed as he began checking it out.

"I figured you would think so comic books are every young mans go to,"

"Oh yeah cant ever get bored of comics," Ryan agreed.

Lex knew the young man could read minds and had started to witness that when Ryan began agreeing early to the little things he pointed out in the comic he was reading. It was then he noticed Ryan's nose had started bleeding.

"Ryan are you ok?,"

"I think so this happens all the time," Ryan pointed out before flat out fainting in front of Lex.

Lex had quickly ripped his phone out of his pocket dialed for an ambulance, and then sent a mass text telling all of their friends to get to the hospital.

It was later that evening when Clark and Angela had chosen to stay at Ryan's bedside in the hospital waiting for him to wake up. When he had they weren't expecting to find out what was going on.

"Are you ok little man,"

"Yeah I'm ok Angela,"

"You sure," Clark insisted worried.

"I read the doctor's mind,"

"What did he say?,"

"I have a brain tumor, he says i'm going to die," with those words announced Angela's eyes welled up in tears.

When the nurse informed them visiting hours were over Clark headed back to the farm and Angela to the mansion. Lex knew something wasn't right and so he didn't push her for information.

Angela had kept to herself had taken a bubblebath, got dressed in her fluffiest pajamas, and went to bed early.

The next day Clark, Lex, and Angela were sitting in the study discussing the situation.

"There is a doctor in Hub City who has done work in these types of situations but he is due to fly out of the country in a few hours. But truthfully Clark I've done this too when it was my mother's situation, and you know what I wish I had done differently? I just wish I had spent time with her instead,"

"I won't give up trying," Clark replied superspeeding out of the mansion to go to Hub City.

"What a fool," Angela called her own brother.

"He thinks he is doing what's right love,"

"Well it's not, I'm going to Ryan,"

"I'll come with you I have a gift for him," Lex said picking up the comic book on the table before they headed out getting in the Audi to go to the hospital.

They arrived an hour later, Angela headed in first while Lex parked the car ready to just spend time with him.

She hugged Ryan tight when she entered the room making him smile to see her. Lex entered a few minutes later.

"How you feeling buddy?,"

"Good, thanks for coming by,"

"Your family Ry you knew I would be back,"

"I know,"

"I have a gift for you," Lex spoke up handing Ryan the comic book in his hands.

"This is the rarest Warrior Angel issue,"

"Yep, figured you would enjoy seeing it,"

"No one expected him to turn evil, but as its quoted "darkness is a journey, not a light switch" remember that Lex no matter what," Ryan said making Lex smile at how much he knew.

About an hour later Clark came in with a smile on his face.

"What Clark,"

"The doctor agreed to do the surgery,"

"What surgery?,"

"One that will help you Ryan," Clark replied making Lex shake his head.

"We'll see," Angela replied briskly.

The doctor had arrived a short time later and went right into surgery with Ryan. Angela sat in the waiting room a mess of nerves. Clark, Chloe, Lana, Jonathon, Martha, and Lex sat with herall of them hoping for good news.

Sadly the doctor called over their parents giving them the update to inform the kids.

Angela could tell it wasn't good and began crying as Lex hugged her tight.

When it was ok to Angela and Clark went into the room where Ryan was recovering.

"Hey,"

"Hey little brother how you feeling?,"

"Everything is too loud,"

"I know i'm sorry Ry,"

"You know something i wish i had a aerodrome like Warrior Angel,"

"Oh yeah why's that?,"

"So I could fly above everything, and escape all my problems,"

"I understand Ryan,"

"Me too Ry," Angela said kissing his forehead before leaving the room for a moment.

In the hall Lex kissed her making her feel a little better despite the situation. She knew what she wanted to do for Ryan, and Lex was the only one she trusted to set it up for them.

The doctor had given them permisson to take Ryan out of the hospital, and they were determiend to make it the best last few days of his life.

They started with a pizza dinner and a movie day, then visiting Lana at the Talon for treats, and then a nice homemade dinner at the farm.

For the last day Angela had had Lex set up an ride in the sky with an air balloon. As they began ascending Ryan hugged them both.

"I still think you both should watch out for Lex,"

"Why Ry?,"

"He seems off balance, I would hate to see you get hurt sis,"

"I know and I am grateful for you watching out for me," Angela smiled as she kissed his forehead and hugged him tight again.

"This is the best thing ever,"

"We're happy you're enjoying this Ryan,"

"We wanted things perfect for you,"

"It is," with that agreed on they all just settled in peaceful quiet to enjoy the sight and the time left together.

Sadly Ryan died the next day. Angela was a total wreck, and Clark was left with going to Ryans hospital room to collect his belongings. Lex was trying to make sure Angela took care of herself but she wasn't hungry, and all she wanted to do was stay in bed for the next couple of days.

Lex had taken it upon himself to set up the arrangements for Ryans funeral. He bought a small plot under a great oak tree in the Smallville cemetary. Had a headstone produced in the shape of Warrior Angel, and had set up the service for the following weekend.

It was a somber event. Lex, Angela, Clark, Pete, Lana, Chloe, and the Kents were present at the service. It was short but sweet, and as his true famiy they laid Ryan to peace.