Chapter 9 [State Road—Two Miles Away]

Clark pressed the blazer down the road. His eyes bounced between the speedometer, the road and Lana. Her anxiety overwhelmed him. Somehow, he managed to keep their speed reasonably close to the posted limit. Preference would've left the vehicle at the Talon, run her back to the farm and then return for her vehicle. Still, too many things could've gone wrong. Luck didn't need to be pushed (again).

Besides, Lana needed him right there.

"Mmm…it's okay, Clark." She rubbed her forehead. Distance brought relief from the energies' backlash. She managed to relax. "Sorry I freaked out back there."

"It happens. When we get new abilities, we have to figure them out." He shrugged for her benefit. "I'm just figuring out what to tell Mom and Dad."

MARTHA KENT KNOWS ALREADY, MY SON. SO DOES THE SWANN HUMAN.

Great. You just had to tell her. Didn't you? Clark rolled his eyes. So much for putting it the right way. Dad's going to have a fit! He ground his teeth at Jonathan's potential reaction.

"Clark, it's good that they know. Sorry but you kind of have a rough track record with new abilities. Seems like I am too." She exhaled a deep breath. Her eyes spied the familiar sign and mailbox. "We'll talk with your Mom. It'll be okay."

"Hope so, Lana." Worry ate at him. "I'd just like to know what caused you to go off like that." He turned into the driveway and headed toward the house and barn. She loves the Talon. What'll happen if she can't go back there? It's a movie theater. What happened there?

DO NOT ASSUME! YOU BOTH WERE TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER! JONATHAN AND MARTHA KENT KNOW. YOUR FRIEND REFERRED TO THAT INCIDENT AS WELL, KAL-EL. HIS SHOULDER.

Shoulder? She glanced at Clark.

Clark shook his head. "Lex was complaining about his shoulder earlier at the cemetery. He hurt it when he was a kid. He said Mom and Dad would know about it."

"Your Mom and Dad? Clark, Lex only came to Smallville two years ago. His Dad bought up all of that land right around the time of the meteor shower." She quirked an eyebrow. Once more, something hinted at more. Memoria remained a blur. Instinct however felt a connection albeit covered up. "Maybe later? That just gave me a headache."

Clark nodded. What's going on? I have to figure out how to get this sensitivity under control. How will she go to work or school if she can't deal with it? He saw Martha standing by the house. "Mom's waiting for us. It's going to be okay, Lana. We'll figure it out."

His support buoyed her spirits. "Thanks, Clark." Rosy Pink streaked her cheeks. Her heart lightened. She rubbed his hand. "Let's just hope we didn't expose ourselves in the process. Hope your Mom's okay."

Clark allowed the vehicle to come to a stop. "Let's just hope she's okay. It's my Dad I'm really worried about." He handed Lana the keys. "Give me a sec. I'll come around." He started to get out.

Lana shook his offer off. She let herself out and closed the door behind herself. "I'm fine now, Clark." The phone buzzed at her. "Now what?" She glanced at it. "Miri?" She looked at the screen:

"Hey, Boss,

We had to close the Talon. Mr. Luthor's on his way to the Med Center. Chloe found out he's been poisoned. You rest up. Maybe Captain Plaid can make an appearance at the Med Center later?

Hope you're feeling better. We really need to talk. That includes Clark too.

Miri"

Miri want to talk to Clark AND me? She must've seen him at that gas station! I tried to be careful. I was having that attack but I didn't show any super abilities! This is kind of weird! Lana frowned. She looked up at Martha and Clark. "Lex has been poisoned. They took him to the Med Center. I can't go near the Talon right now. We had to close up."

"He seemed okay in the cemetery and on the way over. His shoulder was acting up." Clark turned to Martha. "He injured his left shoulder. He said Dad and you would know?"

Martha conceded a deep breath and a nod. "That's not something we need to talk about right now. We have a couple of other things to discuss, Clark. You do know that Jor-El and Dr. Swann are watching this farm? They know about what we're doing?"

"Clark, you didn't tell them?" Lana raised an eyebrow. "No. Of course you didn't. Mrs. Kent, Dr. Swann said that he's interested in the really big things going on around here. Clark's known by more people than we think."

"More…?" Martha threw her hands up in the air. "Your father and I went through all of that trouble to keep you safe. That red meteor exposed us. And you, Lana? What happened this morning? Are you all right?"

"Now I am. It was so weird. I felt fine at the Sullivans. When I got to the Talon though, everything got so intense!" Lana rubbed the back of her neck. "I know I'm sensitive to emotions and energy. When I got to the Talon this morning, I felt pain and being overwhelmed. I looked to the street and remembered my parents' deaths from years ago." She trembled. Her hands covered her face. "I…I never knew."

"Never knew what? Lana? A random meteor crushed them during the meteor shower." Clark embraced her. "I wish I knew them. They were great people from what everyone says."

"But, Clark, it wasn't random. You know how everything's blurry around that point? Today, I remembered. I…saw this glowing woman with long hair and a white gown or something. She bragged to me that there are no happy endings and…." Lana stopped at Martha's staring at her. "Mrs. Kent?"

"Mom?"

Martha shook her head. "When your Aunt Nell told us that you didn't remember, Mr. Kent, her and I hoped it would stay buried, Lana. I'm sorry. You're right. It wasn't random. That woman did kill your parents. We…Mr. Kent and I…weren't there. We'd left town after seeing you at Nell's Shop. You heard my wish and waved your wand. Remember?" She sucked in a deep breath. "We…Mr. Kent and I…were going past Chandler's Field. An impact nearly hit our truck. We were upside down and then the strangest sight greeted us." A little smile creased her lips. "A little dark haired boy wandered up to us from nowhere. The rest was history."

"That boy was you, Clark?" Lana nodded. Her mind put those pieces together. "So, you came to Earth in the meteor shower? That's why all of the mystery that's Clark Kent?" She rubbed her forehead. Residual energies from days earlier still stirred up her senses. "Mmm…I'm still feeling that stuff from the Ship. But back to the Talon, I felt something really intense about the front window and sidewalk?" An incredulous cough escaped from her mouth. "But it's a theater. Right?"

"On the surface, yes." Martha rubbed her chin. "There's a lot more that's happened there. I'd rather we talked about that some other time. Right now, Lana, you have to get control over your sensitivity. We're here to help you." She put her hands on Lana's shoulders. "You don't have to do this alone. Clark knows about dealing with new abilities. Mr. Kent and I can provide support." She sucked in another deep breath. "Dr. Swann wanted to talk with us tonight. Apparently, your discovery did attract attention this morning."

"Dr. Swann called you, Mrs. Kent?" Lana grimaced at that thought. "I…Oh wow. It was just Miranda and me in there. She helped me into the café. I didn't do anything super or whatever…."

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO, LANA LANG. YOUR FRIEND IS A TELE-EMPATH AS MUCH AS YOU ARE. AS MUCH AS KAL-EL *SHOULD BE*. IT IS SHE THAT I TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT. I PRESUME THE SWANN HUMAN KNOWS AS WELL. I AGREE, MARTHA KENT, THAT YOU SHOULD TALK WITH THIS SWANN. HE DOES KNOW ABOUT KRYPTONIAN CULTURE, Jor-El interjected. YOU ARE EXHAUSTED. PERHAPS YOU MIGHT REST?

Martha rolled her eyes slightly at Jor-El's butting in on her parental turf. Jonathan's going to lose his temper if Jor-El starts an argument and tries to tell the kids what to do in front of us. I hope Dr. Swann can help!

"By the way, Mrs. Kent, Miranda asked to talk with Clark and me. I think Jor-El's right that she knows something. Maybe we can invite her to dinner? She doesn't have to talk with Dr. Swann. Maybe she can talk to us and Mr. Kent?"

"Can't hurt, Mom. We can see what she knows." Clark muddled over Miranda's apparent Kal sighting. Where did she see Kal? How much does she know? Suspicions and questions bubbled over in his mind.

SHE KNOWS A GREAT DEAL, KAL-EL. I REALIZE THAT YOU WERE NOT YOURSELF. HOWEVER, THAT IS IRRELEVANT. THIS HUMAN DISCOVERED YOU. WE NEED TO SEE IF SHE IS AN ALLY OR A THREAT.

Excuse me? Miranda's a friend! Jor-El, we should listen! Lana shook her head. "Mrs. Kent, maybe I can get a nap in? Then, maybe I can help out around here?"

"That's a good idea. Maybe we can figure out some way to get some focusing and concentration exercises in? Clark, since you're caught up with chores, maybe you can see how Lex is doing?" Martha motioned toward the driveway.

"Right. Good idea, Mom. If they ask about Lana, she's resting out here." Clark turned to his girlfriend. "Get some good rest. We both need to work on that focusing stuff." He embraced her. "As Mom said, we're all here for you."

"I know that, Clark. Give Lex our best. All right?" Lana looked him right in the eye. "You be careful too. Okay? Tell Miranda that we'll talk to her." She pressed her lips against his cheek. "I'll see you later. I really need that sleep." She stepped back from him.

Clark rushed off down the driveway. He blurred out of view well before residual breeze blew through in his wake.

"I've got that guest room all ready for you, Lana. It'll be all right. We'll talk to her." Martha looked toward town. I just wish I felt as sure as I sound. She guided Lana toward the house.

Lana shook her head. She picked up on Doubt's presence. She tried to keep a straight face. Just believe it'll be okay. We can do this!

Crises piled atop one another….