Similis

"Well, if that's the case then I suppose that I'll have to come." Martha said dubiously, "But I was supposed to be taking Haze somewhere this afternoon. It's all been arranged." She sighed. "No, I realise that you're conducting an official investigation and we're expected to co-operate, and that’s what we will do. Of course, I understand that this sort of thing can't be easily postponed, what with all the personnel involved. Yes. Well, I'll be there. At two pm." Putting the telephone back in its cradle, she looked at Haze.



"Apparently I have to go to that Government Office and try to help them establish whether the people who we think tried to abduct you and Clark are actually part of their team." She told him.



Haze nodded, signing that it was all right, and that he would be fine making his own way to the school.



"Oh, no." Martha shook her head, "I'm sorry Sweetie, I know that you were looking forward to going, but in case this turns out to be yet another trick, I'm not going to play into their hands. Oh, how paranoid is that? You're practically an adult after all. And you've more than proved that you're not helpless …" She let out a heavy sigh. "But in case that I'm not just being ridiculous about this, I obviously can't take you with me this afternoon, and I won't leave you alone here on the farm either. So what shall we do with you?"



"Mrs Kent?" A polite knock sounded from the door.



"Sheriff Adams? Is everything all right?"



"As far as I know, it should be, Mrs Kent. I got asked to come out and reassure you that the call from the Child and Family Services is quite legitimate."



"Are you sure?" Martha still looked worried.



"I reckon so." Sheriff Adams nodded sagely. "However I can understand why everyone would be concerned, after the shenanigans the last time." She glanced at Haze. "How you doing, kiddo?"



Haze grinned.



"So what's on your plan for today?" Adams asked.



Haze signed that he had been looking forward to going to meet up with Clark at the High School, but that seeing the Sheriff was just as good.



"You're wasting your time if you're trying to charm me?" She warned him with a faint smile. "I'm like your mother, impervious to all of that old flannel. Course if you suddenly find you also have an older cousin, say mid-to late thirties and with the family looks, then I might be in the market … "



Haze hugged Martha, who was laughing openly at the pair of them.



"Now, I'm prepared to bet that if you try that on some of the pretty girls at the High School, you'll get a real result." The Sheriff smiled.



"It's a pity he can't go there now." Martha agreed. "It would have been very educational."



"Why can't Haze go there?" Adams sounded surprised. "Last time we spoke you told me that you'd got it all set up with the Principal?"



"We had, but there isn't time for me to drop Haze at the High School, and still make the appointment." Martha glanced at her watch. "I'll have to ring the school and postpone it."



The other woman's eyes narrowed. "So where's Haze going to be, while you're out?"



"I was thinking that Haze might go to Lex's place. He should be safe enough there, with all those guards." Martha replied.



"Pish. Don't you hate to think about Haze being cooped up in that damn draughty stone box?"



"We-ell…" Martha clearly wanted to say 'yes', but felt that she shouldn't.



The Sheriff raised an eyebrow. "I know I’m poking my nose in, but it seems to me that what the boy needs is to go see his brother and have a little fun, get a little company his own age. Wouldn’t you like that Haze?"



Haze shrugged and signed that it was up to Martha, and that he would accept whatever she decided.



"Haze, you are a real angel." Martha smiled, teasing him. Haze blushed scarlet, making both women giggle.



"If it would help, Mrs Kent, I could drop him off there on my way?" Adams offered. "Kinda protective custody call? The two boys will be fine making their own way back, they can hop the school bus together."



"Well, it does solve a problem." Martha agreed. "If you're sure you don't mind, Sheriff?"



"Don't mind at all." Adams assured her. "We'll be fine, won't we Haze?"



Haze signed that a ride in the Sheriff's car would be great, as long as he didn't have to sit in the back, or put the cuffs on.



"Nah." Adams grinned. "I don't think that'll be necessary… Mind you, if you misbehave I might change my mind?"



Haze laughed silently and picking up his coat, followed the Sheriff out of the door and over to her car.







"Smart boy. Glad to see you putting your safety belt on." Adams approved. "I see far too many people hurt in RTA's when a bit of common sense would have prevented it."



As they rolled along the empty road, Haze stared out of the window. It occurred to him that when he had tampered with the Sheriff's responses he might just have gotten a little carried away. Clark never missed an opportunity to bring up the subject every time they saw the Sheriff. Perhaps Clark was actually right about that?



"How's your brother?" Adams asked, almost as if she had read Haze's mind. Haze signed that Clark was fine, and thanked her for asking.



"Strange kid, your brother." She said, checking the rear view mirror idly and glancing across at Haze in the same motion. "I hope you two don't mind me referring to you as brothers?"



Haze shrugged, it was not a thing that he ever gave a thought to really. He knew exactly what his connection to Clark was, and that was enough for him.



"I mean," Adams continued. "I know we couldn’t turn up one scrap of paperwork to prove that you two are related, but I can't see how any right-minded person could doubt it. Anyhow, I don't know what it is about Clark, but somehow he and I never seemed to hit it off quite right." She said off-handedly. "It's curious, because I don't find any problem in talking to you. You find that at all odd, Haze?"



Feeling just the tiniest bit guilty, Haze signed that he didn't.



"Nah, maybe you don't. You seem a lot more laid back than Clark. My guess is that it's something to do with that 'deer in the headlights' look he always gives me whenever we meet, that sort of thing just makes me naturally start to wonder what a person's hiding? In my job that's the way it is. Makes getting to know people socially a bit awkward at times."



Haze nodded.



"Of course, I don't really think for a second that Clark is actually hiding anything, or even trying to." Adams assured him. "Boy's too honest to be able to carry that off. Keeps his feelings on the surface."



Haze smiled and let her ramble.



"Yeah, you would know exactly what I mean by that. You can't exactly miss it, can you?" She mused.



He shrugged.



"Nah. I don't expect you to answer." The Sheriff smiled, her eyes firmly on the road. "You're a good kid, Haze. I'm glad you ended up with the Kent's, they're nice people. If a bit on the weird side…"



Haze couldn't stop himself from laughing at that, even if he couldn't make the proper noises.



Adams noticed his amusement and laughed too. "Now don't you go letting any of them know that I said that, will you?"



Signing that he wouldn’t, Haze relaxed back and enjoyed watching the scenery roll by.







"We should be there in a few minutes." Adams finally informed him, reducing speed as they approached the outskirts of the town. "I'll stay around long enough to see you inside the school, and then I'll get back on patrol. You need anything, you ask someone in the school, and you don't go wandering around outside for anything, you hear?"



Haze indicated that he understood.



"Good. Because I don't want Mrs Kent bending my ear about you getting misplaced anywhere." She smiled at him. "Your new mother is one fierce lady, and she's kindly trusting me with your safety."



Nodding at the Sheriff, Haze recognised the school building just ahead.



"Well, here we are." The car drew to a halt in the large car park outside the main entrance. Adams was just getting out when someone hurried down the stairs.



"Sheriff? Is there any problem?" The fussy looking woman asked, stopping beside the patrol car and glancing in the window. "Clark Kent? Why aren't you in class?" Without giving Haze a chance to explain, she looked at the Sheriff expectantly.



"No trouble, Ma'am." Adams was cool but firm. "This is Clark's brother Haze, come in at the Principal's request. Mrs Kent got called away unexpectedly and I offered to drop Haze off here on my way past."



"Oh." The woman stared at Haze, making him feel a little uneasy. Opening the car door, he climbed out, thankful for the advantage of height, if not authority.



"Haze? You set?" Adams stood so she could watch his reply.



Haze signed that he was fine, and thanked her for bringing him.



"Is the boy deaf?" The other woman asked.



"No, Haze hears just fine." Adams said sharply. "He simply isn't able to speak." She gave the woman a rather stony look. "I reckon he'll have no problem in making his needs known even so…" She offered.



"No. Quite." The other woman agreed uncomfortably.



"Do you sign?" The Sheriff asked, lessening the fierceness of her glare just a little.



"I'm afraid not." Came the somewhat apologetic reply.



"This lady is the assistant School secretary, Haze." Adams looked at Haze. "Miss Bentley, wasn't it?" She asked. The other woman nodded, then glanced at her watch. While Miss Bentley's attention was diverted, Adams gave a quick hand sign and winked slyly at Haze.



Haze laughed, agreeing that the over-fussy woman did look like a horse's family parts.



"Right then, I'm off." Adams announced. "Haze, I'll be seeing you around."



Waving, Haze followed the secretary into the building. Inside, the corridors were full of kids and the level of activity was unbelievable.



"It's nearly lunch period." Miss Bentley announced. "Now, Haze, you'll need to wait by the office for a few minutes while I have Clark fetched and tell Ms Johnson that you're here."







"Oi, Kent."



Haze turned, to see a thickset boy lounging against the wall beside him.



"I heard your retard brother is coming to visit today. That right?" The boy jeered.



Ignoring the idiot, Haze smiled instead at the rather pretty woman sitting at a computer just inside the office. She smiled back.



"You hear me, Kent?" The boy was evidently determined to be as obnoxious as possible.



"I think everyone can hear you, Mr Gillespie." A sharp voice said sternly. "A little louder and we won't need to use the tannoy, we can have you announce the bulletins across the entire school. Think what that will save us in electricity? In fact you may have found yourself a career opening there."



Flushing bright scarlet, Gillespie fled.



Turning, Haze found himself facing an immaculately dressed woman. She gave Haze a warm smile and positioned herself where he could see her clearly. "I'm the Principal's secretary, Sarah Johnson." She told him. "But you can call me Sarah." She added, signing her own call sign, and then spelling her name out.



'Sarah.' Haze signed back. 'Meeting you, good. Haze, me. Sign, no need. Hearing, me.'



"Your 'accent' is a little strange." Sarah smiled. "Where did you learn to sign?"



'Out of town.' Haze responded politely, thinking that as the Kent farm was out of town he was only stretching the truth a little.



"Ah." Sarah nodded. "Well, Mr Brown thought that you might appreciate a guided tour before joining the lesson. The Principal wants me to apologise to you for him not coming to meet you in person. He's been unavoidably detained."



Haze signed that he understood, and that these things happened. Sarah nodded. "It was an inspired idea of your brother's to invite you as the guest for this week's Disability Awareness forum. So many of us take our senses for granted."



As he wasn't sure how to respond to that, Haze simply walked along at her side, letting her set the pace. As he strolled along, something in the back of his mind began firing off little alarms.







Curious, Haze turned and scanned the corridor, finding nothing of immediate concern.



"Are you okay?" Sarah was asking.



Haze nodded. Whatever had set him off had moved away, at least for the moment. Reaching out a bit further, he detected the warm solid feeling of Clark and knew that his 'twin' was close by.



"This is the refectory. I asked Clark to meet us here." Sarah said, opening the door and entering. "Ah, there he is." Raising her voice slightly she called to Clark, before turning back to Haze. "Ah well, I'll leave you with your brother and if there is anything I can do, then please feel free to ask."



Haze signed thanks and stepped in through the door.



Across the room, Clark looked up and waved. "Hi Haze." He called, "Come on over. I saved you a seat."



Total silence descended on the room as practically every person in there stopped what they were doing and stared. Were there really two Clark Kent's?



"Haze!" Chloe yelled, and effectively launched herself into his arms. Not at all unhappy with a sudden armful of Chloe, Haze complied readily with what was obviously a demand for a hug.



"Unsubtle much?" Pete muttered, from the other side of Clark. "Gees, Chloe, let the guy break for air, huh?’ He said, more loudly than he had intended. His voice carried across the unnaturally quiet room.



Haze shrugged, and continued to wrap his arms easily around the effervescent blonde. Chloe was giving out happy vibes, but Haze wasn't sure about Clark. Clark, as usual, was worried.



"Don't think he minds." Someone called.



"Don't think I would either." Another boy yelled back. The noise level in the room resumed its previous volume.



Across the table, Clark finally relaxed.



Haze grinned, and lifting Chloe clean off the floor, kissed her delicately on the forehead before gently setting her down again. There was a definite murmur of approval from several of the groups of girls seated at intervals around the room, while most of the boys simply continued to sit and goggle.







Wandering over to Clark, Haze settled into the empty seat beside his 'twin' and examined his surroundings with interest. He already knew what to expect of the place thanks to the memories he shared with Clark, however food was always an attention grabber.



"Want an apple?" Chloe asked, holding out a juicy red fruit.



"Watch it!" Pete quipped. "That's how Adam got in trouble in the Garden of Eden!"



Haze signed that since he was an angel, he would naturally be counted on the side of the Righteous, and therefore didn't really feel that he had much to worry about on that score.



"I sorta followed some of that." Pete admitted, "But you lost me at the end of the second part."



"Haze was just being a smart arse." Clark chuckled, recognising that there was little danger of anyone here really understanding what Haze meant. "Sort of a private joke." He added.



"I guess it loses something in the translation?" Chloe suggested. She smiled sweetly at Haze. "Looked like wings though."



Haze grinned wolfishly.



"I bet you were saying that you wouldn't have been Adam, you'd have been the Angel!" Chloe said suddenly. “Actually, you’d make a cute angel.”



Clark swallowed hard, but no one else seemed to have noticed.







Taking Chloe's hand in his, Haze kissed the back of her hand, making her giggle. Nudging the corner of the table hard, he bounced the apple into his outstretched palm and bit into it with relish, eyes twinkling with mischief.



"Sneaky!" Pete approved enthusiastically.



"I did offer it to Haze." Chloe reminded him, digging him in the ribs. "Haze, you want to come to the Torch office and see the Wall of Weird?" She offered hopefully. Haze immediately glanced toward Clark. "Clark's not on it." Chloe giggled, anticipating the question. "Though maybe he should be?"



"Okay, We'll come." Clark grumbled. "But only for a minute. We have to get to class on time. Haze is the guest speaker."



"How's that going to work?" Pete wondered. "I mean, no offence Haze, but you don't speak?"



"I'll be there to do the translating." Clark reminded him.



"That should be fun." Pete announced dubiously. "Especially if Lana just happens to be around…"



"Shut up Pete!" Cuffing his friend lightly around the head, Clark gathered up his stuff and the two boys followed Chloe and Haze out of the room.



Pete rolled his eyes as Chloe practically towed Haze across the polished floor. "Eager much?"



Clark only grinned.







Standing on a ladder outside the main office, the man apparently cleaning the windows dipped one hand into the bucket he was holding and pulled out, not just a sudsy cloth, but also a securely-bagged cell-phone.



"Sir, I have positive identification. Target is definitely at school today and apparently suspects nothing. What are your orders?" He asked quietly, while wiping along the window sill.



"Do not even attempt to acquire the target until later." Came the immediate reply. "Our contact has assured me that appropriate pressure has been applied and that even as we speak, the officials who were handling the matter are already being dissuaded from further action. Their field teams are being recalled, and by the end of the day the departmental investigation will be quietly closed down. However it is imperative that we do not set off any sort of public incident, or else interest is bound to be rekindled. Implement back-up plan B."



"Roger." The fake cleaner confirmed, ending the call. Speed dialling another number, he waited.



"Don't bother getting out of bed." He told the person at the other end, when the call was finally answered. "The boss says that he’s gotten our guy on the inside to put the squeeze on those Government bastards, but the Boss doesn’t want us to draw any attention to the kid. His orders are for us to wait for the package to arrive, and then go for Plan B. Good thing too - there are just too many nosy parkers around here anyway. I saw that bitch of a Sheriff driving away just a few minutes ago."



The brief bout of cussing that emerged from the earpiece suggested that the information was not being well received.



"Yeah, me too.” The called agreed. “But this way we avoid her. Plus you get a bit longer to work on your tan, huh?”