Similis

"Good afternoon, Mrs Kent. I wonder if you'd mind if I asked your two young men a few more questions?"



Wiping the flour from her hands, Martha pulled the door open. "Of course not, Sheriff, come right in." She smiled. "I'm not sure where they are, but if you'll wait I'll just give them a call?" Walking to the bottom of the stairs she looked upwards. "Haze! Clark! Are you up there?"



The Sheriff raised an eyebrow.



"Clark was around a minute ago." Martha told her, "I told him to get Haze and go take a shower. They do get awfully dirty doing chores, and they both know I won't have dirt in the house." Raising her voice again, she called up the stairs. "Haze? If you're already up there, Sheriff Adams would like a word with you, can you get Clark and come down when you're done?"



There was only an echoing silence in response.



Martha sighed. "Looks like they went back out." She decided, "Time to get out the secret weapon." Pulling out a rack of muffins, she piled them on a plate and set them in the middle of the table. "Bait." She told the Sheriff cryptically. "In the meantime, can I offer you a coffee?"



"Hhmm, actually, I will, thanks." Adams took the seat that was being offered, and waited. Almost at once the outside door opened smoothly, and one of the boys walked in, shirtless and with streaks of dirt all over his lightly tanned skin. He smiled cheekily at Martha.



"I thought that the muffins might do the trick." Martha assessed him speculatively. "The Sheriff wants to talk to the two of you." She announced.



A brilliant grin appeared on the dusty face, and the green eyes lit up with mischief. Turning, the youth gestured behind him and a second, apparently identical, lad appeared in the same doorway. This version also wore an expression of equal mischief and roughly the same amount of dirt.



"Which is which?" Adams asked, looking from one to the other.



"That's what they want you to wonder." Martha told her. "Jonathan and I call it 'Baffle the Parent', and it's been their favourite game ever since Haze arrived." She smiled in delight. "Well, it doesn’t matter which is which … now that I can see that you are both filthy, my previous ruling stands. Neither one of you is getting anything off that plate until you're both clean. So jump to it!"



The two youths smiled and slapped hands in a silent high five.



"Shower!" Martha ordered.



Still grinning at each other, the two lads padded away and up the stairs. A few seconds later the sounds of running water echoed through the house.



"So how is your houseguest turning out?" The Sheriff asked idly.



"Like he's always been here really." Martha told her. "Haze is very sweet, he's tidy, polite, and absolutely no trouble."



"Sounds like a real angel." Adams replied dubiously.



Martha swallowed a hastily inhaled crumb. "Oh, you could say that." She managed to say.



"Any progress with his speech?" The other woman asked.



"Uhm, no. Did you expect there would be?"



"Just wondering." Came the steady reply.



"So are we." Martha told her honestly. "We borrowed a few videos from the public lending library on how to use basic sign language, and we've all been watching them together. Actually it's quite fun."



Adams nodded and seemed to be about to comment when the sound of the water cut off and the pattering of not so tiny feet echoed along the upstairs hall, along with muffled complaints of towel snatching, and what might have been a muffled giggle.



Smiling to themselves, both women waited for the return of the boys.







A few moments later and two very clean young men ambled down the stairs and settled down at the table.



"Okay." The Sheriff collected her thoughts and fished her notepad out. "Now, Clark." She didn't bother looking up.



"Yes ma'am." The voice came from the boy on the left.



A satisfied smile appeared on the Sheriff's face, "You mind helping out here, in case we get stuck?"



"No ma'am."



"Good. Then that'll save me having to go over any of this again later won't it?"



"I guess." Clark answered doubtfully.



"Right." Adams looked over at the youth on the right. "Haze, have you anything extra to add to what you told me last time I was here?"



Haze shook his head.



"Nothing? No gut feelings? Flashbacks? Memories?" Adams persisted.



Again a firm shake of the head.



"Oh well, that makes my job a bit easier I guess." The Sheriff looked at the two bemused faces. "Saves me having to do any extra paperwork." She explained. "Now, as you know, I posted your face, well both your faces technically, and your description out on the law enforcement network last week, and it seems like no one's ever seen you. Which leaves me with nothing useful to report back here, apart from being certain that neither of you has any charges against them…" She gave a wry smile. "Not that I thought you would… However it also leaves Haze without any form of identification,"



Haze simply nodded.



The Sheriff evidently wasn’t expecting anything more. "Therefore I'll have to set in motion the necessary processes, but it shouldn’t be too hard to get something arranged for you." She suggested. "I still can't believe how alike you two look." There was a pause as she took another sip of coffee.



"Delicious cake, Mrs Kent, and thank you. My gut feeling," She continued, sipping the steaming liquid with care, "is that you two have to be brothers, identical twins is my guess, and I seriously doubt that anyone seeing you together like this would even attempt to argue otherwise." She looked at Martha. "Clark must be nearly eighteen, correct?"



"That's right." Martha nodded. "Clark's official birthday is in a month's time."



"Then whether we find any traces of Haze's previous legal guardians or not, on Clark's birthday Haze will have the right to choose where he wants to live."



"Haze knows that he is more than welcome to stay with us, Sheriff." Martha reached for one of the muffins on the plate resting in the centre of the table.



Clark wondered why his mother was baking so much stuff today? Nerves?



"I rather thought that might be the case." Adams supposed, eyeing the remaining muffins with interest.



"Do help yourself to another, Sheriff." Martha urged, before retreating to the kitchen. "Before the boys get them all."



Passing one to the Sheriff, and one to Martha, Haze popped a third muffin on a plate for Clark before helping himself to one. Tucking into the treats, both boys watched the Sheriff watching them.



* * * * *



Clark forced another nail into place with the pad of his thumb. He preferred doing it that way since it made the task of replacing the roof tiles almost silent. Normal hammering had become highly unpleasant for him, ever since his special hearing had kicked in, even though Clark found kneeling up here and fixing the lower eaves of the barn quite relaxing in all other respects. Of course he still had the hammer to hand, Jonathan liked it kept inside the nail bucket, just in case of an ‘emergency’.



"Ahem?" Someone called from a little way off.



Warily, Clark turned, spotting an emergency coming along the dirt track. Making out like he had been using the hammer all the time, and just testing the fit of the tiles with his fingers, he eyed their visitor with polite, if slightly forced, interest. "Can I help you?"



"Mr Kent?" The newcomer was short, and scrawny.



"That's my father." Clark told him politely.



"No, are you Mr Clark Kent?"



"Oh," Clark caught on, "Sure. That's me."



The small man squinted up at him. "I take it you are fully aware of current safety ordinances governing aerial repairs in an agricultural setting?" He asked.



"Yep." Clark nodded. Just what he needed, a regulation-quoting Jobsworth. Thankfully he was done anyway. Turning, he closed the lid on the bucket, making sure that the hammer was tucked safely inside, and then descending the ladder rung by rung rather than jumping, he stepped down onto the hard packed earth. "Why?"



"I'm Ephraim Arkley, from Family and Child Protection Services," The man held out an identity card. "I would like to ask you a few questions about the situation here."



"Situation?" Something about the man immediately set Clark's senses screaming.



"I believe your adopted parents recently took on the care of another young man, uh," Arkley squinted at a sheet of typescript.



"Haze." Clark supplied, not wanting to spend any more time than absolutely necessary with this frankly creepy stranger.



"Oh yes. Haze." Arkley agreed.



"What about Haze?" Clark asked.



"We don't seem to have a picture of him. Only two almost identical pictures, which now I have met you, are obviously both images of you. I came to try and correct the error." Arkley said unctuously. "Here." He held out two documents, both of which had a small colour snapshot attached to the upper right corner.



Clark studied them both carefully, subtly committing the entire sheet to memory while pretending to simply compare the pictures. "No, that's Haze." He said after a few seconds, and handed the sheets back. "I'm the one in the blue t-shirt."



"Really? How curious. And where is Haze right now?"



"Last time I saw him Haze was in our house, helping my mother." Clark replied carefully.



"Would you be so good as to escort me to the house then?"



Clark suddenly had a thought. Was the man trying to get the two boys together so that he could compare them for himself? Clark didn't like that idea, but then again it didn't seem like a particularly good idea to have this weirdo wandering around unsupervised either, there was no knowing what Arkley might 'chance' upon. Best play it cagey.



"Okay." He pointed in the right direction. "This way."



As they walked the older man continued to watch Clark with an unpleasantly keen interest. "I want you to know that you can tell me absolutely anything." Arkley said unexpectedly. "Anything at all, no matter how … unpleasant, or odd."



By now Clark was beginning to get a very uneasy feeling about this person. He had taken an uncharacteristic and immediate dislike to the stranger, and he certainly didn't want him trying this sort of tactic on Haze. The angel was bewildered enough already, without having someone playing head games with him.



"Actually, there is something…" Clark said softly.



The man leant closer.



"I really don’t like you, and I'm not saying another word to you unless my parents are present. I am still a minor, and I have rights." He told him. "We were told that in school." He added, thoroughly enjoying the look of pure vexation on the little man's face.







As they rounded the corner, Clark's spirits rose. Martha was putting out the last of the morning's washing on the line. "What exactly is going on here? Clark?" She asked, seeing the stranger walking beside him. The large metal peg bucket in her hand suddenly took on a whole new meaning.



"As I was telling your son, I'm from Family and Child Protection Services…" Arkley began.



Martha cut him off. "And as I said to you, or your colleague, on the telephone, you are welcome to speak to either of the boys providing that either my husband or I are warned in advance so that at least one of us can be present. However as it seems that your department has no intention of respecting our wishes in this, kindly leave our property."



"I can get an order …"



"Then that is exactly what you will have to do now." Martha was adamant. "We were prepared to co-operate to the full, however I am not having the boys harassed by anyone."



Arkley went, muttering to himself as he strode along the path and out to the lane where he finally climbed into a dark car and drove off.







"What was he saying?" Martha looked at Clark.



Clark blinked. "When?"



"Don't give me that innocent look," His mother warned. "You were tuning in to him."



"I'm not going to get yelled at?"



"Not if you tell me everything."



"Everything?" Clark worried. "Even the swear words?"



"I think you can leave those out." His mother suggested. "Now start talking."



"He swore under his breath until he got to the gate, then he said that we'd be sorry, and that he was going to find a way to get what he wanted, then he swore again about not being able to find the keys to the rental car, then he found them and drove off."



"Hmmm."



"Mom, what do you think Family and Child Protection Services want with us?" Clark asked the question that had been weighing on his mind for the past few minutes.



"Not all of us," Martha said thoughtfully. "Just you and Haze. If it even is Family and Child Protection Services?"



* * * * *



It was a typical shopping day, boring as anything and going glacially slowly.



"Okay, you boys go and pick up those last few things, I'll queue at the deli and meet you both over by the checkouts." Martha instructed.



Clark and Haze exchanged glances. They could get this whole torture session over a lot quicker if they split up.



"Are you sure that you know what cereal we need?" Clark worried. "Only Mom always gets that horrible,"



Haze cut him off with a gesture. An image appeared in Clark's head of one of his favourite cereals. Once it was going through the checkout, Martha wouldn't stop to quibble about changing the box for a cheaper version, to avoid the embarrassment she would just pay for the thing and go. The one Clark preferred was a tiny bit more expensive, but at least it didn't taste as much like cardboard.



"Yeah." Clark grinned, "Okay, then you get the cereal and I'll do the freezer section."



Nodding, Haze wandered off along the aisle and turned the corner.



Clark set about searching for the required items on his part of the list, ticking them off methodically as he went. Of course, it would have been nice to be able to use his 'extra' speed to complete the shopping, but there were far too many people around in the area, and the store security cameras might be watching.



And it would hurt Haze… Clark reminded himself, and that was more important than anything else really. Despite the time it was taking him to adjust to the idea that somehow there was a link between himself and the other youth, Clark didn't mind. He liked having Haze around and he particularly liked that Haze was as different in his own way as Clark was in his. Dabbling his fingers comfortably into the icy depths of the freezer, Clark enjoyed one of the more positive aspects of being his kind of alien… ,i> Wonder if Haze can do this too?







Haze strolled purposefully along the aisle where the cereals were laid out. He still hadn't quite mastered the skill of reading, but with access to Clark's memories that wasn't a major inconvenience. Finding the colour of the box that Clark liked best, and checking that the picture on the front matched the one in Clark's memories, he looked for the largest available size. Intent on the task in hand, Haze didn't immediately notice the person watching him. Reaching out, he lifted the box from the shelf.



"Ah, Mr Kent. We finally meet." A woman's voice announced. Turning, Haze found a stranger standing uncomfortably close. Something about her began to alarm him. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small rectangle with rows of writing on it, and waved it past his face. Haze tried instinctively to step away, however the shelf was too close and he had nowhere to go.



"Now you've seen my ID, I'm sure you'll realise how important it is that we talk? I just want to ask you a few questions, young man." The woman said.



Uncomfortable with the close proximity of the stranger, Haze shook his head.



"Oh, I assure you that you will co-operate." She told him. "One way or the other."



Haze looked around, but none of the people around him were in the least familiar. He could feel Clark at the edge of his mind. The other youth was several aisles away, and preoccupied with the groceries. Haze's own thoughts were still in a whirl from the settling in process, leaving the experiences that he had absorbed from Clark dominant. Clark's memories suggested that being talked to by strangers in suits was a bad thing, and that something even worse might be in store for the unwary.



Thoroughly unsettled Haze stepped along the shelving, edging away from the woman.



"As you saw from my card, we are authorised to employ somewhat … extreme … measures if we deem it necessary." The woman said smoothly. "Now, don't make a fuss. Just come with me."



Haze shook his head. Panic began to rise in him as emotions that were not his own, but copied from Clark, surged through him, fragmenting the link that he had with the other youth.



Urgently, Haze tried to clamp down on the surging feelings, however without his normal control he was left at the mercy of both the internal and external problems. Too much emotion and he would lose the link altogether! That knowledge only added to his distress.







"Mrs Kent?"



Martha looked up to find the older brother of one of Clark's classmates standing close-by. "Yes?" She read the label on his uniform just to be sure she got the name right, but the face was familiar enough. "Joey?"



"Well, I don't want you to think I'm being nosy or nothing, Mrs Kent, but there's a really weird woman over in the cereals aisle, and I think she's got Clark's new brother cornered." The older youth explained, looking concerned. "I would have thought it was Clark she was talking to, 'cept I already spoke to him today, and they aren't wearing the same clothes … I, uh, thought you might want to know, only it went round the school that Clark's brother looks just like him, and that he's uh, special …"



A surge of protectiveness ran through Martha. "Thank you, Joey." She said firmly. "I appreciate your telling me this. You're right that Haze is special, he's mute: he can hear, but he can't talk…"



"The woman had on a classy suit, like the revenue agents wear?" Joey fidgeted. "And Haze? Well, he seemed real scared, is all."



Martha thought that over. "Joey, could you do me a favour?" She asked. "Could you put my groceries aside somewhere safe for a while, and have store security meet me over there? I'll go and check on Haze."



"Sure thing, Mrs Kent." Joey smiled. "No one in my family will ever forget all the good work you did at the community centre after the tornadoes, or how you helped my little sister."



"I'm glad I was able to be of assistance." Martha told him, watching him start to wheel the trolley off into the staff-only section. Hurrying, she made urgently for the cereal aisle.







Worried, Clark straightened up and glanced around. There didn't seem to be anything for him to actually be anxious about, nevertheless the sensation persisted. In fact it seemed to be getting stronger.



Why is this happening? Am I getting a new power or something? Regardless of the cause, Clark definitely felt worried about something. Which was ridiculous, wasn’t it? Suddenly it occurred to him that HE might not actually be the source at all, and that being the case, this creepy feeling might very well have a basis in fact.



"Haze!" He muttered softly under his breath, and leaving the frozen items where they were, Clark hurried down the aisle and headed off to where Haze should be. Rounding the corner he saw that he was right. Haze was standing right up against the shelf, anxiety practically radiating from him. Clark closed the distance between them at extreme, but still very much human, speed.



"What are you doing with my brother?" He demanded.



Spinning round the woman stared up at him. "Good lord! The pictures were right… You two really are absolutely identical…"



"No, we're not." Clark said curtly. "Because Haze can't talk. He doesn't know who you are and you're scaring him. Back off!"



"I followed procedures." The woman replied curtly. "I showed him my ID."



"Then you can show me too." Clark told her, glaring at the ID card that she immediately held out toward him. "Thank you, but I want to read it for myself." He lifted it from her fingers and inspected it with a show of thoroughness. "Fine, Agent Curtis. It looks official, not that that probably means anything." Subtly he wiped all the prints from it before handing the card back.



"It is genuine." Curtis smirked. "And your brother should know that too by now."



"It doesn't really matter whether you waved your little bits of writing under Haze's nose or not." Clark told her with unaccustomed sharpness. "Since you obviously didn't think to check whether Haze could actually read?" He didn’t like her attitude, although it was likely that she wasn't too impressed with his either. Clark didn't care. He may have been raised to be respectful and polite, but he was starting to get annoyed with these people.



"Just so we're clear on this," He said firmly. "Whatever happened to Haze on his way to us, it affected his memory. Right now he doesn't remember about how to do a lot of things that most people take for granted, including how to read, or write."



The agent appeared a lot less smug on hearing that.



"Which means that as far as Haze is concerned, he was being singled out and harassed by a total stranger." Clark continued. "I don't think Sheriff Adams would be too happy to hear that. She's rather fond of Haze." He added. "We're very hot on people's rights here in Smallville, and I don't think the Judge would be thrilled to find out that you were using your position to bully a minor."



"Bullying? This is an official investigation."



"Into what?" Clark demanded. "Haze is part of our family now, and you've got no reason to get him all upset."



"Upset?" Curtis looked at Haze. She had to lift her head to meet his eyes. "He's hardly a child! I'm sure he is quite capable of handling a little interview."



"Haze, you okay buddy?" Clark was becoming increasingly aware of the lack of activity from his 'twin'. "Haze?"



The other youth's eyes were open, but he didn't seem to be looking at anything. Clark didn't have much medical training beyond basic first aid, but he did know that everything was not right with Haze.



"I don't know what you did to Haze," He stepped forward purposefully. "But you'd better get out of my way."



Curtis blocked him. "No. I think not." She said softly.



"It would be very interesting to see how the pair of them cope with continued stress." Clark heard a man's voice say lazily.



Where is that coming from?



It was then that Clark realised that the woman was wearing an earpiece. Another human would not have noticed the sounds, but Clark's extra sensitive hearing had zoned in on it easily.



She's getting her instructions from someone else! There have to be more of them around here somewhere!



Clark's instincts cranked up into overdrive. This wasn't just a couple of cranks from some Government office being officious, it was looking more and more like another plot to check into him. And now they're after Haze too!







"Boys? Are you both all right? Clark, has something happened to Haze?" Martha's voice cut through Clark's rising unease. "What exactly do you think that you are doing with my boys? And just who are you anyway?"



"Agent Madeline Curtis." The woman held out the card.



Martha took a close look. "I'll be sure and remember that," She said, "For when I make an official complaint about this matter."



"Complaint?"



"Your department is harassing us, and I intend to seek legal counsel."



"With your father's firm?"



"Maybe." There was a cold glint in Martha's eyes. "Or maybe I'll just take young Lex up on his offer of assistance in this? He was very concerned when Clark confided in him about how upsetting it was that Mr Arkley just turned up unexpectedly on the farm, and that he deliberately set out to talk to Clark without our consent. Lex rang me up and told me that if we were going to take it further then he would be glad to have his own legal team look into it for us. Assuming you have permission to check our phone records, I think you'll find that it was around midday Saturday on the weekend after your colleague was sent packing."



"Lex … Luthor?" The woman looked distinctly uneasy.



"I would be very surprised if you weren't already aware that Lex and Clark have been friends for years. It's hardly a secret around here, after all." Martha was obviously on the warpath, and taking no prisoners. "If you aren't then you certainly aren't doing your job properly, whatever that job actually is?" She added. "And I can see the local press having a field day when they find out that you are purposely hounding a trauma victim. And they will find out… I intend to give Chloe an exclusive for the school paper. She's another of Clark's friends." The sweet smile she gave the other woman left no doubt as to the potential for that happening, and very soon.



"As I told your son, we're only looking for a few answers." Curtis stated.



"Isn’t everyone?" Martha murmured. "Only I can't imagine how you were expecting to be able to extract anything from Haze? He can't speak, and he hasn't relearned how to communicate in writing yet. So how could he possibly be of assistance to you?"



"I have to remind you that this is an official investigation, Mrs Kent." Curtis tried.







Letting his mother handle the conversation, Clark concentrated on the other woman. From her heartbeat Agent Curtis obviously believed what she was saying, although of course that didn't mean that it was necessarily the full truth. It wouldn't be the first time that someone high up had been involved in questionable activities. The workers on the ground were usually the last to know.



"Investigation! Into what?" Martha interrupted coldly, moving closer to the two boys. "Does your department usually haunt the hospitals for trauma victims and amnesiacs? Or are they trawling for kidnap victims? I do a lot of community work and I've never seen you, or your colleague Mr Arkley, around here before. Neither has anyone else that I've spoken to." She glared at the other woman. "Or is there something specific on your agenda?"



"I…"



"Mrs Kent." A familiar voice filled in the pause. "What seems to be the trouble?"



"Sheriff Adams. I am SO glad to see you." Martha turned triumphantly. "It appears that we have another one of those situations we were discussing before."



"I thought," Adams pursed her lips in disapproval. Clark held his breath. "That we had settled this matter, Agent Curtis? I believe my exact phrasing was 'don't get anywhere near either of those boys without myself or one of my colleagues being present', and yet here you are …"



"You have no jurisdiction over me." Curtis said firmly.



"We'll see." The Sheriff smiled at Martha. "Mrs Kent, will you be filing charges in this matter?"



"I do believe I have to, Sheriff. We can’t have the boys being terrorised at every turn, after all…" Martha stated firmly.



"Then since a complaint is being filed, this just became my business." Adams looked at the agent and rested her hand on the hilt of her gun. "Now, are you going to go quietly with my deputy, or are we going to have to do this the hard way?" She made it quite plain that she wouldn't be bothered whichever way it turned out.



"No. I'll go. I'm assuming that someone can call my office when I get there? So we can sort out the paperwork?" The agent asked numbly.



"Sure." Adams nodded. "Now you just go on ahead there." She cocked her head at the deputy standing beside her. "I'll finish up here, and then get back to the station as soon as I'm satisfied that everything is under control."



"Righto Sheriff." The deputy lumbered off along the aisle, the woman in his custody having to hurry to keep up with him.



"Haze?" Clark stared anxiously at his 'twin'. Haze was pale, and his hands were shaking.







"I'll get the truck." Martha decided. "Forget the shopping, we'll have to come back another time and do it."



Adams looked at her. "If I might suggest something, why don't you take the time to finish your shopping now, Mrs Kent?" She said quietly. "There's nothing here that needs seeing to instantly, these kids'll need a few minutes to just unwind, and you might find you need a bit of time yourself before driving and all? Besides, it'd be a shame to come all this way and not finish the job, not to mention a waste of fuel. Give folks time to stop nosing around too… It'll also give us a chance to check that there aren’t any other people out there waiting to meet you or the boys."



"You're quite right." Martha sighed. "I'll sort out the rest of the shopping, and then come back for the boys. Is there anywhere they can sit, until Haze feels a bit more robust?"



"I'd be glad to help, Mrs Kent?" Joey had returned, with the Store Manager.



"Sheriff?" The Manager looked concerned.



"We need somewhere for this lad to sit down for a few minutes. He's just had a nasty shock." Adams decided. "Could we use your staff room, Bill, rather than your office? I don't want anyone to think that these boys are in any trouble."



"Certainly, Sheriff Adams. I'll let you in myself. Joey, please go and help Mrs Kent with whatever she needs, and see that her shopping is loaded." When Martha started to protest he smiled. "It's really no trouble, you're one of our longest standing customers…"







"Come on, Haze. Brave face." Adams whispered, and wrapping an arm around Haze's shoulder, she stepped off after the Manager.



Clark followed, and in a few seconds the little group entered a modest room at the back room of the store. It wasn't so bright in there, and there were a couple of padded benches along one wall. A line of empty mugs on a wall shelf suggested that this was where the staff went for their breaks.



"Sit down, Haze." Adams said gently. "Now, take your time and try and let me know exactly what happened."



Haze shuddered as she settled him down on the bench.



"Was it something she said to you?" The Sheriff asked, sitting down beside him.



Haze shivered and shook his head.



"Did she do anything to you?"



Again Haze shook his head. He looked at Clark beseechingly.



"Haze. What is it?" Clark reached out, and catching hold of Haze's hand, he squeezed it lightly. "What's wrong?" For a second there was a flush of something between them, something that was over too fast for Clark to really understand it.



Haze trembled again and bit nervously at his lower lip, toying with his fingers.



"I'm betting that Haze just experienced some sort of flashback." Adams said knowingly. "Is that it, Haze? You remembered some part of how you arrived at the Kent's again, and got frightened?"



Haze nodded miserably.



"Oh Haze!" Clark couldn't bear seeing his 'twin' in such distress, and without thinking about it he pulled Haze to him and wrapped both arms tightly around the other youth.



Pressing his face against Clark's shirt, Haze began to sob, deep, silent wracking spasms that tore at Clark. Tears began to brim in Clark's eyes, despite the presence of the normally forbidding Sheriff.



"You're safe now, Haze. I won't let anything happen to you." He promised, trying to broadcast feelings of comfort and reassurance through their link, knowing that no one besides themselves would be able to tell a thing.



"Easy, lad." Adams tenderly ruffled Haze's hair, and then settled for patting his back a few times. "Just let it all out. Nothing's going to get to you. Clark's right here for you."



Despite the awkwardness of the angle, Clark leaned back and let Haze rest on him, cushioning his head in the crook of Clark's neck. The other boy fitted against him perfectly, and Clark decided that it was worth any amount of discomfort to feel the pent-up tension rolling out of Haze and gradually dissipating.



"You're doing good, Clark." Adams whispered. "He's getting over it nicely."



Looking at the Sheriff, Clark met her eyes and for once found unequivocal approval there.



"I'll go check up on how your mother is doing, that'll give you boys time to sort yourselves out and get tidied up a little. I don't expect you'll want to worry your mother by letting her see Haze like this, huh?"



"No ma'am." Clark said politely.



She smiled at him. "Good boy."



As the Sheriff walked out of the door Clark decided that he felt a little like a puppy that someone had just unexpectedly praised. He wasn't sure if he liked it, but it sure beat having her complain at him. Haze shifted in his arms, returning the embrace briefly before pulling free.



"You okay now?" Clark worried. He knew it wouldn't be safe for them to let their guard down in here, more than likely there were security cameras hidden to spy on the off-duty employees. Wiping Haze's face dry with the back of his hand, he smiled at his 'brother'.



Squeezing Clark's other hand, Haze blinked, and gestured that he was better now.



"I'm glad." Clark told him, leaning over and pressing his forehead against Haze's. "I was worried about you." He told him.







The door opened and Sheriff Adams was back. "How're we doing?" She asked.



"Haze is feeling better." Clark told her, feeling a lot better himself.



"Good. Your mother's finished shopping and she's waiting outside with the truck. Everything seems okay, but I promised that I'd give you an escort to the farm, just in case anyone else has any funny ideas about bothering you any more today." Adams informed them. "So come on, let's be off." She paused. "Oh, and your mother said to tell you that she bought doughnuts."



"Doughnuts?" Clark blinked. "Jam? Custard? Sprinkles?"



"Don't know." Adams grinned. "Guess you'll have to get out there and find out."



That had an immediate effect. Both boys jumped to their feet automatically, but it was Haze who was first out of the door.



"Hey, stop dragging me, Haze!" Clark objected mildly.



"Why do I get the feeling that someone likes doughnuts?" Adams asked wryly as she strode along beside them.



"Gee, I don't know…" Clark rolled his eyes, as he let himself be pulled along. "I wonder?"