Chapter 14

[A/N: Get ready for a surprise. Seems one of our newbies has (still) more than advertised!]

There are more like them? Curiosity and Guilt juxtaposed with each other inside of Jill's head. Lana did say she'd be right back. But there are more? Really? I know I shouldn't but…. She put her backpack back in the blazer. She looked around. Concentration knitted itself in lines and creases across her face. She closed her eyes and set her jaw.

Her form shimmered. Skin went from pinkish-white to gray for a couple of heartbeats. More shimmers changed her again. Where a girl had stood, a bird flew between the house and barn. It followed the vibrations' trail up to and through the upper barn door. It soared into the Loft and came to roost on one of the higher beams. From there, Observation without being spotted could occur.

Clark spoke with a dark haired woman. "….I keep forgetting that. Guess that just makes this farm more important, Professor Dubois?" He rubbed the back of his neck. Excuses piled on top of each other akin to the hay bales nearby. "I want to do those things and work on my abilities too."

"Yes. Those things are important. Quit beating yourself up, Clark. Life's about balance. Lana and you have a lot on your plate. She's really doing well. So are you. Jor-El may want you to practice more. Your way is the middle way. He and Jonathan need to deal with that." Irritation cleared Dubois' throat. Previous arguments with both father figures rang in her ears.

Her remark elicited an eye roll. "Good luck on that. Jor-El thinks we're communicating like primitives right now. Dad doesn't like me flying around or trying to be more Kryptonian. Even Lana's not happy about it." He sucked in a deep breath. "Glad you're here. Lana and I were going to see you when we're in New York."

Kryptonian? Where's that? And who's that Jor-El? Is Clark adopted too? And what abilities are those? Do they mean this mind stuff? Or can they do other things? Interest kept Jill's attention riveted on Dubois and Clark.

"We can do that." Dubois' fingers glided over the laptop's edge. "I'd like to speak with you both. Lex and the Parkers as well. This weekend will be fine for that." She looked him deep in the eye. "And there's Chloe Sullivan to think about too."

Chloe? What's she got to do with this? Jill blinked. Her mind tried to connect the blonde reporter with the conversation below. Chloe's aura felt human-normal unlike the others' strange auras.

"Chloe?" He narrowed his eyes. Determination, Journalistic Ethics and Inbred Secrets pushed that possibility away.

"She's the only one of your inner circle that doesn't know. You two spend more time evading her." She shook her head. His thought-out objections stood out to her loud and clear. "Maybe you should just tell her already?"

Denial and excuses raised his eyebrow. Frown curled his lip. "You don't know Chloe. She…"

"She's what? Actually growing up? Maybe learning about the implications of her actions? Clark, she's going to find out eventually. Maybe Lana and you should have a talk with her about trust? It's a prudent move. She's not going to betray Lana or you. She just wants to know. You should pick the time. Watch and assess."

"Watch and assess what?" Lana stepped away from the stairs and onto the floor. Curiosity and Intrigue drew her closer. Questions bubbled up in her mind. "You should've let us know you were coming. I'd have brought something from the Talon. What's going on?"

"She thinks we should tell Chloe about everything." Skepticism soured his tone. "You know Mom and Dad would never go for it."

Lana shrugged. "Your Dad would hate it. Your Mom would understand. I agree with Professor Dubois about it. Besides, think about how closely Peter's going to be working with Chloe. He's got enough to worry about without evading her too." Her hand rubbed his arm. "It's time, Clark. Last year, I'd have agreed with you. Now? It would make things easier. Everyone else knows. Chloe's our friend. She can deal with it."

He rubbed his chin. Consideration tossed that notion around in his head. "It would make things easier." A heavy sigh escaped his lips. "You need to go back to the Talon?"

"Sandra's working with Renee and Nadia tonight. I'm good for now. Jill's waiting in front of the house." Lana took her cell from her pocket. She pressed a button and put it to her ear. "Let's see what Chloe's doing and…." She shut it in her hand.

Dubois looked about the area. "We're not alone." Her earlier words stung at her. We're being watched.

She felt me! HOW? That's never happened before! Jill clenched her beak. Temptation would've had her fly for the door. Luck might've allowed her to clear it, the fields and lose whoever in the woods. On the other hand, Trouble might've found her through Pursuit from within or without. Indecision tore at her.

He raised an eyebrow. Since Mr. Arighatto, I've tried to be careful! He looked about the Loft.

"I'll check downstairs." Lana hustled down the stairs. Stay on with me, Clark!

Always! He surveyed the area. First Glance detected nothing out of the ordinary. Jor-El?

SHE IS CORRECT, KAL-EL. YOU ARE BEING WATCHED! LOOK ABOVE YOU!

Pain stabbed at Jill's overwhelmed senses. That's Clark's Dad? I thought they said he's dead? She strained to control that pain. She tried to stiffen and set herself. She tried to bury her pain….

…Instead it spiked….

No! They found me! Jill froze in place. Nobody's done that!

WE ARE NOT MERE HUMAN TELEPATHS! COME DOWN, CREATURE!

Above? What? Clark studied the roof beams and underside. Nothing seemed unusual to the eye.

"I felt that. Someone knows they're caught." Fear and Panic strummed across Dubois' senses. You might as well come down. Her eyes rested on a beam closest to the roof. I can feel your emotions. I've got your aura. Either come down now or we track you down later.

Lana, that spy's up here! He walked over to Dubois' side. Up there?

Up there. Get the door. I'll watch the stairs. Emotions peaked over the connection. Dubois pointed toward the upper door. Telepathic too? Interesting.

He headed toward the door in question. "Okay. Now what?"

"That's up to our intruder." Dubois raised an eyebrow. Just come down. You're surrounded.

Lana hustled back up the stairs. "So where?" She surveyed the Loft again. "I don't see anyone but us. And what could get to the roof? There aren't any birds up there now."

"There's one." Dubois shook her head. "Or at least something that seems like a bird." She stopped right underneath Jill's position. "She's a telepath."

So, she can hear us? Lana followed Dubois' eyes. Fear and Trepidation flooded her senses. It's okay. We just want to talk. Just come down. We need to know who knows about us.

Jill bowed her head. Escape's impulse tempted her. Yet, she'd been discovered. Her classmates knew about her now. She flapped her wings and descended from the beam. Okay. Here I come. Just don't hurt me. I have so many questions….

Shock stiffened him. "JILL?"

"That's her voice!" Lana watched the dove alight on the old sofa. "But it's a bird." She scratched her head.

"Is she a skinwalker like Kyla was?" He crept a couple of steps away from the door.

Skinwalker? I don't know what that is…. The bird's form shimmered once again. The feathers shrank and disappeared. Bird's face softened. Skin took on its gray hue. Stringy dark hair flowed down her back. Her head extended into a distorted oval shape with a small chin and an oversized cranium. Canary glowed in her eyes. "This is what I am, Guys. I'm sorry." Sobs choked her voice. Tears ran down her cheeks. "I heard you all in my mind. I wasn't trying to listen in. Then, I felt that you were different than everyone else! I know these things. I just don't know how!"

Dubois put her hand on Jill's shoulder. "It's all right." She shook her head at Clark and Lana. What have we told you about being careful? A sharp breath rasped from her mouth. "Perhaps you might introduce me?"

"Sorry. I'm Jillian Muggins. Social Services gave Mom and me new identities years ago. I'm not supposed to say anything, but you know the rest anyway." Jill ground her teeth. "We didn't do anything wrong. Mom wanted a fresh start. Since I'm busted, you are?"

"I'm Jennifer Dubois. I'm a professor back in New York City. I'm similar to them." Dubois motioned toward them. "The voice you're hearing comes from a place close by. He's an ally. He gave me a chance. I don't see why he wouldn't do the same for you." She assessed Jill's appearance. "I can't say what race you are."

Lana raised an eyebrow. Adjustment required a moment to process the new scenario. "And the other way we've known you?"

Jill shook her head. "It's a mask I wear. I can't go out like this! Mom freaks when I don't have my 'regular appearance'. Just a minute." Focus once again closed her eyes. Once again, her form shimmered. The process repeated itself. Her former appearance reasserted itself. "There. Now, I'm Jillian again." Sad snort. "I fit in just like you two do now. I can look normal even if I'm not normal."

"Hey! Stop that!" Lana curled her lip. "Sounds like you know you aren't the only one who's different around here." Guilt ate at her over Cyrus Krupp and her previous year's reaction to him.

"We just need to figure everything out. You're Jillian either way. Sorry. Being careful's a good thing." Clark cleared his throat.

I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

"There's that voice again!" Jill jumped to her feet. "I hear him in my mind. Where is Jor-El? Is he your real Dad, Clark?"

"Terrific." Clark checked his watch. Jor-El, what's the answer?

SHE IS A HYBRID MUCH AS LANA WAS, KAL-EL. SHE IS DESCENDED FROM HUMANS AND A RACE CALLED THE DIRE WRAITHS!

Kal-El? What? Shock stiffened Jill. Her eyes went wide. Concentration lapsed. She reverted to her gray form again. "I'm…I'm alien?"

"Part alien. It's okay, Jill." Lana glanced at Clark and Dubois. "Looks like you're staying for dinner too, Professor." Her eyes rolled knowing how Jonathan and she got along *so well*.

"This should be some conversation. Maybe we should let her mother know?" Dubois bit her lip.

"Mom will say no. Sorry but I've waited for answers!" Jill efforted herself off the couch. Her squat legs limped toward the stairs. "Guess you know why I'm such a klutz around stairs?" Tears welled in her eyes once again. "I know what Rudolph feels like when he gets the dirt cap over his nose."

"We know all about that too. It's okay. Your Mom and you are good." Lana suppressed her urge to dig deeper. "Just do me a favor? No more spying on us."

"O…okay," Jill agreed. "This'll make it easier for your parents to deal with me, Clark. By the way, Kal-El?"

Clark sucked in a deep breath. "That's my birth name. I'm adopted. Come on. Mom and Dad are waiting." He led them down the stairs and toward the house.

An interesting dinner awaited. That was for sure….