BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER

"I was painting my nails and I got some on the desk by accident… so I started painting the desk and…" Kara lowered her gaze and let her voice trail off.

Clark lowered his gaze also, to Kara's hands. "There's nail polish all over you, except on your nails."

Kara wouldn't look at him. She turned to the side and her eyes filled with tears. "I'll clean it up."

"I already did. Don't worry about it. Let's forget about the nail polish." Clark placed his hands gently on her shoulders and turned her to face him. She was still looking downwards, so he lowered himself onto the couch and turned her some more so she was looking at him. "This is not about the nail polish. This is about… really bad men that hurt you and… "

Kara started sobbing. She put her hands around Clark's neck and rested her forehead against his.

"I'm calling a therapist tomorrow and I'll make you an appointment. She's going to talk to you. She's going to help you."

"And who's going to help you?" Kara sobbed.

Clark furrowed his brow. "You're worried about me?"

Kara nodded, her forehead still pressed against his. She started hiccupping from crying so hard.

"You shouldn't be worrying about me."

"But I can feel your pain," Kara said haltingly through her hiccups. "When we were outside yesterday, and today with Dr. Hamilton. It hurt worse than the knife."

Clark paused to contemplate that for a moment. Kryptonians could sometimes sense each other's crystalprints that would impart a vague sense of their nearby presence. It appeared that on Earth, his signals were so strong, Kara was able to feel his emotions too. Thankfully, on Earth, he also had the ability to dampen the signals. "I'm sorry. I didn't expect that to happen. I won't let it happen again." Clark gently pulled Kara down onto his lap, positioning her so her cheek rested against his. Kara stiffened for a moment, and then relaxed and let out a sigh.

"And… I'm sorry about… having to cut you like that."

"I was really scared, and I wanted to cry." Kara's hiccups started subsiding. "I used to cry a lot more, especially before I could talk so well. Things still seem new and scary sometimes, and it makes me feel like a scaredy-cat."

"You're not a scaredy-cat. You were very brave." Clark tenderly stroked Kara's hair.

"Being brave means doing what needs to be done even when you're scared. The fire chief once came to our school to talk to us about fire safety. He said that. One of the girls asked him if fighting fires was scary sometimes. He said it was always scary, and anyone who didn't think it was scary shouldn't be a firefighter because they wouldn't be normal."

"He's right."

"I'm sorry about the nail polish. I don't know why I did it. I just didn't know what to do with the pain. I needed to… put it somewhere…" Kara grimaced, not sure what she was saying made any sense.

"Did it help?"

"A little bit."

"OK. Good… I guess. But you still need a therapist."

"Why can't I just talk to you?" Kara pleaded softly.

"You can always talk to me, about anything. But I won't be able to help you with your trauma because… because what they did you to traumatized me too. And I won't be able to talk about it without feeling enormous anger and guilt. It would be like what happened today. My own pain and emotions will get in the way and will only make things worse. Do you understand?"

Kara nodded her head, rubbing her cheek on his.

They were both silent for a while.

"Clark," Kara began timidly, "when Mr. Luthor told me… I mean when Luthor told me about the vulnerablide, I couldn't think. I mean, I didn't realize what he meant about turning humans into Kryptonians. But I was thinking about it and…Do you think he'll actually do it?"

"He's going to try."

"What if he turns Jiggy and Adden and Rockler and the rest of his friends into Kryptonians? Could they hurt you?"

"I don't want you worrying about that."

Kara pulled away a bit to look at Clark. She furrowed her brow. "That wasn't a 'no.'"

"Kara, they're not your problem anymore. I'm not going to let them hurt you again."

"But what if they hurt other people? What if they hurt you?" She continued in a whisper. "It'll be all my fault."

"How's that?"

"I gave Luthor the vulnerablide."

"You didn't give it to him. And he was only able to take it from you because…" Clark stopped himself. Kara was already suffering from experiencing his feelings of guilt. He shouldn't bring it up again. "None of this is your fault or anything you should be worrying about. You're 11 years old. You should be worrying about things that 11-year-old girls are supposed to worry about like… boys I guess."

Kara stiffened and bit her lip. Maybe he shouldn't have said that.

"You know… stupid vacuous boys, and loud vociferous boys, not the malicious vindictive ones." Clark grinned at her and stroked her cheek.

Kara smiled weakly.

"But everything else… let me handle it. Let me do all the worrying from now on, OK. I'll be your bridge over troubled water." Clark pulled Kara back against him and started stroking her hair again. "When tears are in your eyes. I will dry them all," he murmured softly. He paused for a moment. "You know, that's a song?" He started singing. "I will comfort you, I'll take your part. Oh, when darkness comes, and pain is all around. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down."

Kara pulled away a little bit and stared at Clark in amazement. "Wow! I've never heard anything like that before. Is singing one of your superpowers?"

Clark was glad had succeeded in distracting her. "Sort of. I have precise control over my vocal cords and the airflow."

"You could be a professional singer."

Clark grinned at her. "Do you think I missed my calling?"

"It would be so cool. I bet you could be the most famous singer in the world."

She seemed so serious and enamored with the idea. Clark chuckled. "That would be cool."

Kara giggled and snuggled against him again. "Sing some more, please."

"Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine. All your dreams are on their way. See how they shine. Oh, if you need a friend, I'm sailing right behind. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind."