Outsiders

A/N; Please read the message in bold at the top of my profile regarding updates. Please enjoy.

Chapter 16; Lost chance

Immediately afterwards

Josh smiled at the man that had rescued him from a fate of being Lionel Luthor’s experiment even though neither Oliver Queen nor Lionel Luthor had known that the Leviathan in their tank had been anything to do with a human being at the time.

Oliver smiled at him brightly and Josh shook his hand as soon as he was level with them. “Josh. Bart.” Oliver smiled. “I’m glad you called me.”

“As much as I hate to admit it I didn’t have many options at the last moment.” Josh told him. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Oliver nodded before glancing at Ryan curiously who instantly stepped into Josh’s side.

“Oliver, this is my younger brother, Ryan.” Josh introduced.

Oliver smiled at him and offered his hand to the sixteen year old. “Welcome to my home.” Oliver told him. “Maybe we should go talk about what brought this on so suddenly. You said you needed to hide from someone?”

Josh nodded and glanced at Oliver’s personal assistant and Oliver nodded and turned to her. “We’ll be in the lounge, Joanna.” Oliver told her. “Could you make sure the kitchen is setting up for an extra three for dinner?”

“Of course.” Joanna nodded before excusing herself.

“The lounge is upstairs.” Oliver told them. “You can leave your bags down here if you wish and I’ll have them taken up to your rooms. I’ve had three rooms put aside near the back of the house.”

“Ryan and I will share.” Josh told him, half reminding him and half testing him.

“I thought so but I didn’t want to... you know... assume.” Bart snorted in amusement as Oliver went just the slightest shade of red. Ryan laughed as well but Josh just smiled at Oliver who waved them towards the stairs and led them up to the upper floor and down a corridor to a small lounge. Well small for a mansion like this but it had a brilliant view of the gardens.

As soon as they were inside the room Oliver shut the door and before anyone could say anything Ryan leaned into Josh’s ear to whisper so that Bart and Oliver couldn’t hear, not that he minded Josh’s boyfriend hearing. “He’s not a bad person. He’s curious about what you and Bart can do but he doesn’t want to hurt you.”

Josh turned his head to look at his little brother and nodded before leaning in to whisper back. “It’s up to you whether to bring what you can do to light. I trust him with our secrets.”

Ryan nodded but didn’t hint at whether he would or not. “You alright?” Oliver asked.

“We’re fine.” Josh told him before he sent Ryan to sit down and with that told Oliver that he would explain. “You remember I told you about my Uncle?” Josh asked.

“You said he was murdered.” Oliver frowned in confusion before that confusion turned into concern. “Did they come back for you? Are you alright?”

“We’re fine.” Josh told him.

“The guy that showed up was slightly different to the one that...” Ryan trailed off. “He just wanted to talk to Josh. Get him to go back to Josh’s rightful home.”

“I’m in my rightful home, Ry.” Josh told him, picking up the small amount of concern. “What they think I need isn’t what’s best for me.”

“You have a home somewhere else?” Oliver asked and frowned when Bart and Ryan both narrowed their eyes at him. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Josh announced. “You’re taking us in so I guess you deserve a little of the truth.”

“Josh, you shouldn’t have to...” Bart started but Josh shook his head to cut him off.

“The people that killed Uncle Kev have been hunting me ever since I was eight.” Josh started and Oliver leaned forwards in the chairs they were sitting in to give Josh his whole attention. By the reactions of the others he knew it was important and that he wouldn’t be getting a retelling. “After my mum and dad were murdered when I was fifteen months old the people now hunting me put me with my mother’s sister. My Aunt. Her husband...”

Bart grabbed his hand when Josh’s throat went dry and took over this bit for him. “His actual Uncle abused and neglected him until he was eight when he decided that Josh was too much of a hassle regardless of the pleasure that sick son-of-a-bitch got out of it and he took Josh to a multi-story car park and...”

Bart winced as Oliver’s eyes snapped to Josh’s neck in horror as he realised where this was going. Josh settled into Bart’s side as his boyfriend put an arm over his shoulders. “He severed the artery in my neck. If Uncle Kev hadn’t been following us I would have died.” Josh continued. “He’d been watching the abuse and because he worked with kids with the same sort of thing he knew what he was looking at. He took me to the hospital and as soon as I was healthy and the doctors started talking about finding my family and returning me to them he took me from the hospital and we ran.”

“That’s kidnapping.” Oliver frowned though it was obvious he didn’t disapprove.

“He didn’t care.” Ryan told him. “And nobody else in their right mind would either.”

“Even so.” Josh spoke up. “Uncle Kev was charged with kidnapping and six months later gave himself up knowing that running with me for my whole life would be too much. With the facts of the case he was pardoned by the court for the crime and I was given into his custody legally.”

“So anyway.” Josh continued. “Those people that put me there have been trying to find me and take me from Uncle Kev and caught up to our trail in Metropolis and found Uncle Kev. As soon as I found out I left Ryan there because they didn’t know about him and I ran away until I could protect myself and him.”

“That’s when I rescued you?” Oliver asked and Josh nodded. “When did you get home again?”

“Back in February.” Josh admitted easily. “The man that killed my Uncle found out about Ryan somehow and...”

“What?” Oliver asked.

Josh glanced at Ryan who stared at Oliver for a moment before looking at Josh and nodding. “He tortured him.” Josh told Oliver abruptly. “He broke Ryan’s arm and three of his ribs and tore apart some of his muscles with a way they have to create utter agony.”

Oliver looked over at Ryan who tilted his head. “If you want to know what Josh did to him then you should just ask.” Ryan told Oliver before glancing at Josh. “He thinks you should have killed him.”

“How...?” Oliver frowned.

“Later.” Josh told Oliver. “And I did.”

“Did what?” Oliver asked before his eyes widened.

“I lost control when I found Ryan like that and the guy was killed.” Josh told him.

“How?” Oliver asked.

“You haven’t seen the half of what I can do.” Josh sighed. “But I don’t know whether you should know that much yet.”

“What about Ryan?” Oliver asked. “What did he just do?”

“Do you want to tell him that story?” Josh asked his little brother. “He knows about my healing powers.”

Ryan bit his lip for a moment before nodding and turning to Oliver. “A couple of years back, before Josh arrived in Smallville I ended up there when I ran away from my step mum and her new husband. They found me a place to go but when she found out about me she couldn’t deal with it. She sent me to Summerholt to have a look at.”

“Summerholt is a research centre that studies the brain in particular.” Oliver frowned. “And they’re one of the ones I’ve been trying to put out of commission.”

“Same here.” Josh told him bluntly.

“What did you have for them to take note?” Oliver asked Ryan.

Ryan glanced at Josh. It had been a long time since he’d admitted his abilities to anyone. Josh nodded to him slowly and he turned back to Oliver. “I had a tumour that was triggering a certain composition of chemicals that allowed me to read surface thoughts from anyone near me.”

Oliver’s eyebrows shot up and Ryan looked at Josh pleadingly to finish the story. “They gave him injections that sped up the progress of the tumour so that they could study it without having to wait. They shortened his lifespan by several years but Ryan managed to get word to a friend he made in Smallville who broke him out. Ryan collapsed in Smallville and I met him in the Medical Centre.” Josh explained before pausing. “To put an end to the story I healed the tumour in his brain. It took a few months but his brain found a way to mimic the mind reading ability without the damage. I’ve had to heal major headaches a few times because of imbalanced chemicals but his body is beginning to regulate them itself.”

“So you can read minds?” Oliver asked.

“Not as loud as I used to but I couldn’t really concentrate on them before.” Ryan told him. “I know you’re more interested in our safety than anything we may be able to do for you.”

Ryan glanced at Josh with a look of acceptance in his face and Josh relaxed slightly. “So, now that you trust me what can I do for you?” Oliver asked.

“Right now my only concern is Ryan’s safety.” Josh told him.

“What about you and Bart?” Oliver asked.

“Well, Bart can move so fast they’d blink and miss him. He’s not an easy person to track down either.” Josh admitted with a glance at his boyfriend.

“And when the day comes that Josh worries more about himself than anyone else then I’ll take the bus.” Bart announced with a laugh.

“But seriously.” Josh looked at Oliver. “You’ve seen a small version of what I can turn into so I can get myself out of a tight spot if I need to.”

“Yet you needed me to rescue you the last time.” Oliver frowned.

“Getting himself out of trouble like that has other consequences.” Bart pointed out. “Letting Lionel Luthor see what he can do for starters.”

“That said I was in trouble and I would have needed a lot of luck to get out.” Josh told him. “I do owe you for saving me.”

“You don’t owe me.” Oliver told him. “And I don’t need anything from you if you did.”

“In return for that I’m trusting you.” Josh told him. “And Ryan just proved you can be trusted.”

“So if Ryan’s safety is your major concern, what is it that I can do?” Oliver asked. “I can set somewhere up for you to go. A safe house maybe?”

“We’ll have to think about it.” Josh sighed. “Ryan’s had a lot to deal with and taking him away from his friends in Smallville isn’t necessarily the best thing to do. Plus he’s got people there that will protect him if he’s in danger. If they catch up to us anywhere else then we won’t have that sort of protection.”

“What sort of protection?” Ryan asked with a concerned frown.

“I’m well aware that Clark has a knack for protecting you.” Josh chuckled. “Whether he has a power like we do or not isn’t really in it. There is admittedly something rather extraordinary about his ability to be wherever danger lurks and if there is something I’m in no doubt that you know what it is, Ry.” Josh laughed at Ryan’s surprised look at being confronted about something that they’d both known had hung between them. “The point I’m trying to make is that if we go anywhere else you’ve only got me to protect you. If we stay in Smallville then you have other people to look after you. And if something happens to me then you have people to take you in.”

“Nothing’s...” Ryan started.

“Something could, Ryan.” Josh argued. “How many times have I gotten myself laid up in hospital these last two years?”

“Barely any of those were your own injuries.” Ryan argued. “Two were from healing me!”

“Healing him?” Oliver frowned.

“I take on a smaller version of the symptoms of the people I heal.” Josh explained quickly.

“One of which was a sniper bullet!” Ryan argued.

“My point exactly, Ryan.” Josh sighed. “If I heal people I make the conscious decision to render myself unable to protect you or myself. Some people might say that’s a stupid thing to do but they’re heartless. I can’t watch people die when I can save them, especially not people like you, Ryan. If I did that anywhere else you’d have to look after yourself.”

“I think I get it.” Oliver nodded. “Dinner should be soon but we’ll get together tomorrow at some point and look at ways to get you back to Smallville without being found out.”

Josh nodded and followed Oliver as he stood up. Bart stood up and took his hand and Ryan, still rather unnerved, stood as well. Just as they were about to walk out of the room to head for dinner Josh’s cell phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket. The name on the front wasn’t one that he recognised. “I’ll catch up if that’s okay?” Josh asked.

Oliver nodded. “Just follow the hallway down to the main entrance and then head into the dining room.”

Josh answered as Bart closed the door to give him some privacy. “Hello?” He asked.

“Is that Joshua Ackervey?” A woman’s voice asked.

“Sure.” Josh grunted. “And this is?”

“This is the Smallville Sherriff’s department.” She told him. “I’m going to put your call through to the Sherriff, please hold.”

There was a moment where Josh could only hear a dull tone before he was put through to another cell phone and this time he recognised the voice that called his name. “Mr. Ackervey?”

“Sherriff Adams?” Josh asked. “What is it?”

“Firstly, Mr. Ackervey, are you and your brother in any trouble?” She asked.

“We’re safe, Sherriff. What’s the problem?”

“We were concerned when we went to your house and found signs that somebody had ransacked your home.” She told him. “We tried the Kent farm but we couldn’t get an answer so we’re just heading over there now.”

Josh was quiet for a moment. “We’re staying with a friend out of town for a while.” Josh announced.

“Care to tell me why?” She asked.

“Just needed a break, Sherriff.” Josh tried.

“Nice try, Mr. Ackervey.” She scoffed. “But I just tried the Medical Centre and as far as they are aware you should be in tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, Sherriff.” Josh sighed. “You want the truth?”

“It would be nice, Mr. Ackervey. I’ve got other problems to deal with today.” She did actually sound rather strained though she was clearly relieved that he and Ryan were alive and well.

“The people that killed my Uncle and attacked Ryan and me when I returned from running away showed up in town.” Josh told her bluntly. “I did the only thing I could to keep Ryan safe and that was leaving town as fast as possible.”

“This is a matter for the police, Mr. Ackervey.” She told him sternly. “You can’t just take off and leave. If you want them caught you have to call my office.”

“You can’t catch them, Sherriff.” Josh told her. “My Uncle tried that approach to start with.”

“I’m going to need more to prove your safe, Mr. Ackervey.” She sighed. “I can’t just ignore such a blatant ransacking of your home and this disappearance.”

“I’ll speak to my lawyer and have him sort something out.” Josh sighed. “You met him I believe when the Luthors tried to seize control of Ryan.”

“Of course.” She sighed. “And, Josh, there’s something else you need to know. Since you’ve left...”

“What is it?” Josh asked hearing the tone of her voice as she trailed off.

“You were aware of the trial of Lionel Luthor?” She asked.

“Of course, Lex Luthor was working with the FBI on it. Chloe and Clark were testifying earlier today. Ryan and I didn’t go because of the restraining orders and our old history. Our testimonies were there but...” Josh trailed off. “I thought he’d been convicted?”

“He has.” She clearly winced there. “Lex Luthor has been admitted to the Medical Centre after being poisoned at home and two hours ago the safe house Chloe Sullivan and her father were sent to exploded.”

“Exploded...?” Josh whispered in shock. “A bomb?”

“The cause isn’t yet clear.” She told him. “I was concerned over finding your whereabouts in case you had been targeted.”

“We might have been.” Josh bit his lip. “But we left before the trial was over.”

“Listen, Mr. Ackervey.” The Sherriff sighed refocusing the conversation. “I’m sorry to tell you that Miss. Sullivan and her father had just arrived at the house when the explosion happened. They were caught in the explosion.”

“They’re in hospital though right?” Josh tried but he knew better than that.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Ackervey. They were killed.” She told him and Josh choked but didn’t say anything. “Mr. Ackervey. Are you still there?”

“I’m here.” Josh choked out. “I just got tied up with thinking about how I’m going to tell Ryan.”

“I am sorry.” She sighed.

“Thank you for checking on us. We hope to be back in Smallville soon but if something changes I’ll be sure to let you know.” Josh told her rather emotionlessly.

“I understand, Mr. Ackervey.” She sighed. There was a moments silence before the line went dead and Josh hung up.

Josh fell back to sit on the sofa and pressed his face into his hands. He gathered himself before opening his phone again and selecting the Kent Farm from the list. The phone rang until he was sure it was about to go onto the answering machine before it was picked up. “Hello?” It was Martha and she sounded absolutely terrible.

“Mrs. Kent?” Josh asked not knowing what he was supposed to say. He knew that they’d be effected by Chloe’s death and so would Clark.

“Oh thank heavens!” She almost shouted. “You’re alright? Tell me you and Ryan are alright!”

“We’re fine.” Josh assured her. “We’re at the home of a friend of mine.”

“Oh, Josh...” She was crying.

“I know about Chloe.” Josh sighed. “The Sherriff called. Our house was ransacked by the people that came for me I think and she was concerned that we were in trouble.”

“Have you told Ryan?” She asked.

“Not yet. I just got off of the phone.” Josh sighed but forced himself to deal with it calmly so he could tell Ryan without crying because that would make it worse. “I just wanted you, Mr. Kent and Clark to know that me and Ryan are safe.”

“Oh, Josh.” Martha sobbed. “They... Clark, he...”

“Mrs. Kent?” Josh asked as Martha struggled to contain herself. “Mrs. Kent? Is Clark alright?” He didn’t get a response straightaway. “Mrs. Kent! What happened to Clark? Is he alright?”

“We don’t know yet, Josh.” She gasped. “He ran away.”

“Ran away?” Josh was shocked. “Why? Where to?”

“He... Jonathan’s in a coma in the hospital. They were together and Clark ran away.” She sobbed.

“You’re sure he ran away and that Luthor didn’t do something to him?” Josh asked trying to distract her from her husband being in a coma though the new topic wasn’t much better.

“We’re sure that this didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Chloe.” She told him.

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Kent. Do you want...” He started but she interrupted him.

“Now listen to me, Josh. You keep Ryan safe and you do that for as long as you need to. Don’t come back here until you’re sure it’s safe to do so. Nobody wants you or Ryan to get hurt, especially Jonathan and Clark. I’ll manage and Clark’s done these sorts of things before. He’ll be back and Jonathan will recover.”

“Yeah.” Josh nodded to himself. “I’ll have my phone on me all the time so you’ll let me know if you hear anything at all and you have to tell me everything they say about Mr. Kent.”

“Of course.” She muttered. “You be safe.”

Josh hung up the phone and stood up and paced in front of the windows nervously, trying to keep himself calm and find a way to tell Ryan without Ryan breaking down. He couldn’t take losing Chloe, Clark and Mr. Kent in the same day, not after the threat of Josh getting caught as well.

In the end Josh found his way down to the dining room where the others were already eating. Oliver and Joanna sitting on the other side of the table saw him first and Oliver half stood when he saw the look on Josh’s face and undoubtedly his saddened eyes. That of course drew Bart and Ryan’s attention to him and Bart only just stopped himself from revealing to Joanna what he could do. It took him more than the normal split second but he was in front of Josh in only a couple of seconds regardless. He hugged Josh who hugged him back.

“What’s wrong?” Bart asked but Josh knew that he couldn’t tell Bart, even whisper it to him, until Ryan knew or his little brother would take it from Bart’s mind, accidentally or not.

Josh pulled away and looked at Ryan and headed over to him. “I’m sorry, Oliver, but I need a minute or so with Ryan.”

“Of course, Josh.” Oliver stood up and touched him on the shoulder as he left the room with Joanna, obviously seeing that something was seriously wrong enough to leave their dinners till later.

Josh hugged Ryan as soon as his brother was standing. “Josh, you’re scaring me.” Ryan told him.

“I’m sorry, Ryan.” Josh sighed and pulled back. “Something bad happened back in Smallville.”

“What?” Ryan asked, going pale.

“There was an explosion.” Josh sighed and looked down. “Chloe and her father were caught in the blast. I’m sorry, Ry, they didn’t make it.” Ryan gulped painfully and Josh reached out as Ryan went limp and he held him up. “I’m so sorry, Ryan, but something happened to Clark and Mr. Kent. Mr. Kent is in a coma at the medical centre and Clark ran away again. Mrs. Kent doesn’t know where he went or what happened.”

Ryan looked up at him but his eyes had tears in them and he didn’t say anything and merely buried his head into Josh’s chest and hung onto him. Josh sighed and pressed his face into Ryan’s hair even as Bart hugged him from behind, giving Josh the support even as he gave it to Ryan.

Right now Josh would merely allow himself to grieve and only once he was sure Ryan was alright would he start worrying about what they were going to do.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two weeks later

Josh leaned on the window looking out towards the stables where Ryan was trying to teach Bart how to ride under the watchful eye of Oliver’s stable hand and Arthur who had arrived earlier in the week. He smiled when Bart’s horse cantered sideways and Bart almost fell off. What made him smile was the way that Ryan burst out laughing and almost fell off of his own horse as he giggled.

“It’s good to see you smiling again.” Oliver told him and Josh almost jumped, he hadn’t noticed the older man’s arrival. “You live for him don’t you?”

It was more of a statement than anything else and Josh turned to look at him. “We all have to protect something in life. Ryan’s the person that I have to protect so it hurts me to see him upset.”

“Being upset is understandable, Josh.” Oliver pointed out. “He and Chloe were good friends as I hear it.”

“They were.” Josh nodded.

“It’s come to my attention that the explosion might not have been an accident.” Oliver sighed and sat on the edge of his desk. Josh looked at him and shrugged. “You knew that didn’t you?”

Again it was a statement. Josh hadn’t really told Oliver the whole story about how they were involved in the Luthors after they had been given the news. “It’s not exactly subtle.” Josh grunted. “She testified against him in court and she was the strongest witness. My own testimony against him was against other crimes but hers was against him for murder and that was what got her killed.”

Oliver sighed and it was a few minutes before he spoke again. “I think I’ve got an idea how to put you back in Smallville. I don’t know how long you’ll get anonymously from these guys that are chasing you but it’s an idea.”

“What have you got in mind?”

“You say these guys track the old fashioned way?” Oliver pressed. “Following paper trails and so on rather than hiring investigators and such?” Josh nodded. “Well I was thinking that if your home was property of someone else then they’d have trouble tracking it. We can sell your home in Smallville and empty it as if you’ve had your things picked up and brought to you. We can easily reroute everything you own back into Smallville in smaller amounts so they can’t be tracked and we can make a paper trail and use the money you get from selling the house to buy something in another city and put them off the trail. That way we can keep selling and buying houses and lead them on a chase around the country.”

“And where do we go?”

“That’s the good bit.” Oliver grinned. “I’ll put up the money to buy a house in Smallville in a few months and you and Ryan can move into it. That way the house belongs to me personally and not to you. If it’s several months before you move in then they’ll have long since chased you across the country and even if they suspect it you’ve done this sort of thing before and they’d hardly think it more likely for you to stay put.”

“Even if they come back it still buys me more time to find a way to permanently send them packing.” Josh sighed before he turned back to look out of the window at Bart and Ryan. It was a long time before he spoke again and when he turned to look at Oliver the man was sitting behind his desk reading some papers from his company. “Alright, Oliver.” Josh sighed and the man looked up at him. “I’ll let you help but when it comes to cheques and balances I don’t want you out of pocket. You’re already helping us out enough.”

“Josh. I have money and I want to use it to help people.” Oliver laughed. “You have an ability and you use it without regards to payback and it’s the same for my money. Even so the beauty of this idea is that the first house you can buy can be one of my developments. That way you’re paying me back.”

Josh chuckled. “You’re a very strange man, Oliver Queen.”

“I’m not nearly as strange as you are, Josh.” Oliver laughed and glanced over Josh’s clothing.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two months later – September

Oliver had been true to his word and after weeks of planning and work and with Simon’s help they sold the house in Smallville, bought one in San Francisco, and then sent people to collect all of their belongings and transport them, by plane so they couldn’t be tracked, out of Smallville. They’d found a house in Smallville out in the farms rather than in town and over the last month of summer they shipped everything they had back to Smallville in smaller parts and into the new house. The house that Oliver had bought with the money that they’d spent on the house in San Francisco.

And thus a week before the school year was due to start they’d moved back to Smallville with just Josh’s Jeep with Bart, Josh and Ryan in it. Josh was due to start his shift at the Medical Centre in only an hour and Ryan was at the Kent farm like he had been at every available moment since arriving back in the small town. To be with the Mrs. Kent, and to care for Kite who had become rather lonely without Ryan, Clark or Lana around.

Josh walked into the Medical Centre with a wary air about him not knowing what he was supposed to expect from his work friends after he had disappeared yet again. He realised he needn’t have worried though since as soon as he walked into the nurses’ station he was sent flying backwards as Anne hugged him. He heard laughing and she pulled away and let Josh look around at the eight nurses watching him with smiles.

He went around for a few minutes accepting greetings before a code blue broke through the atmosphere and half the nurses rushed away. Josh sat in one of the newly vacated chairs and crossed his ankles as he picked up the patients roster and scanned it as Michael perched himself on the table in front of him.

“Nobody wants to really ask but why’d you come back?” Josh looked up at him as Michael spoke and saw confusion in his eyes but didn’t say anything until the older man explained what he meant. Michael chuckled. “I mean it’s obvious that something spooked you again and you took off to make sure Ryan was alright but you spent years jumping from place to place, why not just do that again? Why come back to a place that’s only taken so much from you?”

Josh sighed and stood up and before Michael could say anything he hugged him and put his head on his shoulder. Michael was surprised but didn’t say anything and merely welcomed Josh back properly. Josh eventually pulled away. “Because nowhere else in the country can I be sure that Ryan has people that will watch out for him if I’m gone.”

“I suppose, but still...” Michael started.

“It’s a risk, yes.” Josh nodded. “But we didn’t do this on a whim, we spent months covering our tracks. I’m not saying that I’m completely safe but I’ve bought myself a little more time for Ryan to grow up without the aggravations of moving every few months and not being able to have friends. I want Ryan to have the childhood he was never allowed to have.”

“And you’d pay for that with your own safety?” Michael asked.

“I’m as safe here as anywhere else if they catch up to us.” Josh told him.

“Who’s they exactly?” Michael pressed.

“I can’t tell you that, Michael.” Josh sighed.

“You mean the people that killed your Uncle?” Michael pushed him regardless.

“Yes, Michael.” Josh sighed. “The people that I know killed my Uncle and the same people that came for Ryan and I when I got back and hospitalised me.”

Michael sighed and shook his head sadly but didn’t carry on the depressing conversation for any longer. “Is there anyone you think I should check in on?” Josh asked putting the conversation back onto work. Michael sighed again but grabbed the list from Josh and started catching him up on the current patients and which ones Josh could possibly help.

It was a couple of hours later that Josh walked out of the rooms and into the main waiting room to see something that shocked him. Clark was standing in the middle of the room with a red blanket around his shoulders but that did little to hide the fact he was obviously very naked under the blanket. He was about to call out to him when Clark turned and looked right at him before his gaze slid straight on by completely ignoring him. He frowned and his moment’s pause was all that was needed for a girl that looked slightly older than him to cut in front of him to get to the Admissions Nurse that had just exited from behind the desk.

“Look, he’s nothing to do with me!” She blurted angrily. “I just found him in the middle of the field. He doesn’t even know his own name!”

“It’s just the way it works.” The male Nurse pressed. “Until we can admit him he’s your responsibility. Now I need to call a deputy and get your statement.”

Just as Josh was about to turn around and say something Clark reached out to look at something and his blanket slid out of his hands to pool at his feet, baring his naked form for all to see. There was a shocked gasp from an older lady who was the only other person in the room.

“Perhaps we should find him some clothes first?” Josh glanced at the girl and the Nurse, Brian, with a smirk.

Brian rolled his eyes at Josh who smirked. Josh made his decision then that he’d ‘not recognise’ Clark until he had a better idea what was happening and could get Martha there. Hopefully she was still visiting Jonathan in his room and hadn’t gone to pick up Ryan and take him to the farm from Jordan Cross’ home. “So you can take him off my hands?” The girl asked.

“I can’t do that.” Josh told her. “You have to wait with him until the deputy takes your statement. It’s the law.”

“Josh? Take them up to room eighteen and get the boy some clothes.” Brian sighed and Josh chuckled before heading over to the still naked Clark and lifting the blanket.

“You’d better keep that around you, mate.” Josh told him and Clark took the blanket and after a pause where he studied Josh intently he wrapped it around himself.

“I need to go.” Clark told him in a tone that Josh had never heard before from him. It was one that suggested it didn’t really matter what people thought of him as long as he got his objectives done.

“You can go as soon as we get you checked out.” Josh told him and let the girl take Clark’s arm and he led the two up to the elevator to take them up to the next floor.

“Josh right?” The girl asked as soon as they were in the right room. Josh glanced at her and saw her eyes assessing his appearance. Even being summer at the moment the hospital was a little chilly so he was wearing a long sleeved dark blue t-shirt under the scrubs he tended to put over the top to make him look like he worked there and also in case he got something on him. Apart from that though he didn’t look like he belonged there. He was wearing a pair of baggy black, and torn, jeans and black vans on his feet as well as his normal black sweat band around his messed up hair. The last place her eyes settled was where everybody eventually looked, his neck, with the second of only two things that his relatives had given to him.

She wasn’t stupid either, it took her all of a second to recognise something in the scar and her eyes widened. “You don’t look old enough to work here.” She settled on instead of asking about the scar which was good for her otherwise Josh wouldn’t have tried to be nice. He always slipped back into his rebel attitude when dealing with someone that stuck their nose into his scars. Children were the only exception though obviously he never told them the truth.

“Clearly I am.” Josh smirked at her but then flicked his ID tag with his thumb where it hung on his scrubs.

“You’re a volunteer?” She asked.

“That’s what it says.” Josh chuckled before he pulled out a set of clean hospital wear from one of the draws and passed it to a silent Clark. “Put those on.” Josh ordered and Clark dropped the blanket to change.

“He doesn’t seem shy.” She announced before she looked at him sharply. “You from around here?” She asked almost hopefully.

“That’s a lousy way to start a conversation.” Josh snorted in amusement. “Perhaps a name would be good.”

“Oh... Lois.” She offered her hand. “Lois Lane.”

“That’s the name...” Josh trailed off suddenly with a frown. When Chloe had been writing articles for the Daily Planet she’d used the name Lois Lane to cover herself. “You’re Chloe’s cousin?”

“You know Chloe?” She asked. “So you are from around here?”

“I knew Chloe.” Josh sighed. “We were friends. I’m sorry about what happened.”

“What’s your name?” She asked.

“Josh Ackervey.” Josh told her simply.

“I remember reading your name on the evidence list for Lionel Luthor’s bail hearing.” Lois seemed to leap at anything she could get out of Josh. “You’re supposed to stand witness to his trial next week.”

“I’m a character witness, nothing more.” Josh grunted. “Without Chloe he’ll walk free. Blackmail isn’t enough to lock him away for.”

She seemed almost ready to ask about that more but then thought better of it. “Look Lois, I don’t know why you’re here but there are a lot of people in this town that loved Chloe. She and I might have had a few falling outs over some of her investigative methods but I do miss her and she’ll be missed.”

“I’m not here to miss her. I’m here to find a way to prove that Lionel did this so she didn’t die for nothing.” She told him looking rather upset.

Josh sighed and reached into his pocket for his pad of paper and pen and scribbled down his cell phone number. “I don’t know what else you expect to be able to scrounge up but give me a call tomorrow and I’ll do what I can to help.” Josh sighed again and handed her the note which she glanced at for a moment before slipping it into her pocket. “I need to go find this deputy. Don’t let him go anywhere.”

Josh quickly left the room and headed straight up the stairs towards the upper floor where the long term Intensive Care wards were and straight to Jonathan’s just in time for Martha to walk out and nearly walk straight into him. “Josh!” She gasped in surprise though she was clearly a little upset, probably about the state of her husband. He’d been into the hospital to see Jonathan in the last couple of weeks to take a look at him but there was nothing he could do for the comatose man.

“Mrs. Kent.” Josh grabbed her shoulders. “Clark’s just been brought in by a girl that found him lying near the road.”

“Clark!” Martha almost cried.

“Mrs. Kent. Hold on a second.” Josh held her in place. “I’ve just been with him for the last ten minutes since he was brought in and he didn’t recognise me. Not my face and not my name and the girl says he doesn’t know his own name either.”

“How?” Martha gasped and Josh saw the relief vanish from her expression and he knew how painful this had to be for her. She had a husband in a coma and a son who had been missing for two months and now that he was back had amnesia.

“I don’t know how, maybe a head impact or mental trauma.” Josh sighed. “There are a thousand different things that can cause it and I haven’t had a chance to have a look yet and if he doesn’t recognise me he is going to freak out if I try.”

“We have to get him home.” Martha announced. Josh paused, weighing the pros and cons before finally settling on agreement.

“Alright.” Josh nodded. “Get Clark home. I’ll get out of work soon and come take a look at him. I’ll call Ryan on the way and get him to stay at Jordan’s for a little bit more so he doesn’t have to see Clark this way. At least until I know what’s wrong with him.”

“Oh Josh.” Martha sighed in gratitude and kissed him on the cheek.

“He’s this way.” Josh told her before leading her back down through the hospital to where he’d left Lois and Clark only to find the room empty. He turned away from the door and saw Lois just duck around a corner, chasing somebody and shouting after them and he and Martha took off at a run and got around the corner in time to see Clark.

“Clark!” Martha cried and dashed forward even as Lois grabbed Clark on the arm and turned him back around. Martha grabbed his hands and Lois backed away in bemusement and looked at Josh as he arrived. “Oh, it’s good to see you.”

“Who are you?” Clark asked and Martha, even though she’d known, flinched.

“It’s me...” Martha choked out. “Mom.”

“Don’t take it personally. He doesn’t even know his own name.” Lois added helpfully. “My name’s Lois.” She introduced.

“Thank you, Lois.” Martha told her before turning to lead Clark away down the corridor.

“Hang on.” Lois called after her.

“Let her take him, Lois.” Josh told her gently and touched her on the arm. “She’s got her husband upstairs who’s been in a coma since Clark disappeared.”

“Wait! You knew who he was?” Lois rounded on him and Josh just shrugged at her.

“And you knew she...” Lois frowned. “You knew she was his mother?”

“Who Mrs. Kent?” Josh chuckled. “She’s been like a mother to me and my younger brother since my Uncle was killed.”

“Wait!” She shouted again. “Kent? As in Clark Kent?”

“That’s how it works I guess.” Josh pointed out sarcastically but before he could even finish she was off down the corridor after Martha and Clark who had long since disappeared. Josh disappeared quickly afterwards to find Michael and tell him he had to take off.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The Kent Farm

Josh drove into the driveway of the farm and quickly left his car to walk up to the kitchen door and seeing Martha inside opened the door even as he knocked on the frame. She smiled at him and he glanced around. “Where’s Clark?”

“I left him in his room for a bit to change into some of his clothes.” She sighed.

“He hasn’t recognised anything then?” Josh asked wearily and she shook her head. “I can take a look but he’s likely to freak out if he doesn’t remember me. He might have just hit his head on something a while back.”

She nodded just as Clark walked down the stairs and Josh turned to look at him with a smile as Clark studied him even as he stopped at the bottom and didn’t say a word. Josh had the feeling he was being assessed. “I’ll just be upstairs for a moment.” Martha told them and paused only long enough beside Clark to touch his arm.

“Do you feel any pain at all, Clark?” Josh asked as he moved forwards.

“No.” Clark told him. “Do I know you?”

“Yeah.” Josh sighed. “For the last few years. I’m sure it’ll all come back to you soon.”

“Why are you here?” Clark asked.

“To see if I can do anything to speed this along.” Josh told him and finally came to stand just in front of Clark. “This might freak you out a little but you’ve seen this before. I’m just going to try to heal you.”

Josh reached out his hand and touched the side of Clark’s head. Clark merely frowned at him without moving and Josh’s hand glowed white. Josh was just able to find out that Clark was perfectly healthy when his hand snaked up so fast Josh didn’t even see it. Clark grabbed his wrist and forced his hand away. His grip was so tight that Josh gasped in pain as he felt pain shoot up his arm.

“Clark, you’re hurting me!” Josh gritted his teeth but Clark merely glared at him.

“Your kind won’t succeed.” Clark hissed at him. “They don’t belong to you.”

“Clark! I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Josh gasped trying to free his arm and failing.

“Leave!” Clark growled and shoved Josh away from him and straight back into the counter top behind him. His back struck the edge and pain shot up his back and he had to hold himself up.

“Josh!” Martha almost shrieked as she ran into the room, grabbing Clark’s arm. Josh knew she’d missed everything though, possibly only seen Clark shove him away.

“It’s alright, Mrs. Kent.” Josh sighed and straightened up. “I was just leaving.”

“Are you alright?” Martha asked and Josh just nodded and turned for the door.

“I need to pick up Ryan anyway. Sorry I couldn’t help.” Josh sighed and let the door shut behind him and was in his car before he let himself pull up the sleeve of his shirt and studying the dark shade of his right arm where it was already starting to bruise. Clark’s grip had been like a metal vice closing relentlessly over his pliable flesh. He’d known that Clark was strong for their age but this was even more than he’d expected from the farm grown Clark Kent. Clark was clearly not himself and until he was he’d have to keep Ryan away from him which wouldn’t go down well with his little brother.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next morning

Josh grabbed his shirt as he heard the door open and shut downstairs. He’d been checking the bruises on his back in the mirror but he didn’t want Ryan to see it if he could help it. Josh headed downstairs to find his brother taking a can of coke from the fridge. “Hey runt.” Josh greeted.

“Git.” Ryan replied automatically before grabbing another can and handing it to Josh. Josh took it without really thinking about it and the motion exposed the skin of his right arm. He hadn’t tried to hide it but he’d been planning on explaining it first. Ryan gasped and grabbed his hand. “What happened to you?”

Josh sighed and sat down with a wince that was partly because he had to explain this and half because it pulled at the muscles on his back. “Clark is back.” Josh told Ryan.

“Really?” Ryan smiled brightly. “Wait, don’t change the subject.”

“I’m not.” Josh sighed. “Something’s happened to him and he doesn’t remember anything at the moment. I went around to the Kent Farm to have a look and when I tried to use my healing powers on him he grabbed my arm.”

“Clark did that?” Ryan went pale.

“And shoved me into the counter.” Josh sighed. “I’ve got a pretty bad bruise on my back too.”

“He wouldn’t...” Ryan looked lost.

“He’s just not himself, Ryan.” Josh put in. “He’s just stronger than I expected.”

“So you can’t heal him?” Ryan asked.

“There’s nothing actually wrong with him.” Josh explained. “Maybe time will do it but until then I don’t know what he’s going to act like. Could you...”

“You want me to stay away from him?” Josh frowned.

“I wish you could run over there right now but I don’t want him acting strange and hurting you.” Josh sighed.

“Alright.” Ryan sat down opposite Josh and rested his head on his crossed arms with a miserable sigh. Josh got up and put a hand on the back of his neck comfortingly.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next few days were probably among the more interesting in Josh’s life when it came to surprising events. He’d been walking past Jonathan’s room at the Medical Centre when he’d heard a clambering from inside and dashed inside to find Jonathan struggling against all of the wiring and the incubator down his throat. The next morning he’d gotten a phone call from Martha telling him that Clark had regained his memories and not two days later Clark, Ryan and Lois, Chloe’s cousin, had discovered that Chloe hadn’t been killed in the explosion and that her and her father had been whisked away by Lois’ father, a general in the army, and into hiding until the trial.

To celebrate Chloe’s return Martha had demanded that Josh bring Ryan over to the Farm for dinner and that was why on the last night before school started again he was walking into the kitchen at the farm. It was the first time he had been over since the encounter with Clark but he’d dropped Ryan off a few times. Ryan hugged Martha as she came into the kitchen from the front room and saw them.

“Hi, Mrs. Kent.” Josh greeted with a smile and she hugged him. He tensed with a wince that she noted. “It’s nothing, Mrs. Kent.” Josh promised not wanting to tell her that her son had gripped his arm and shoved him into a counter so hard that his bruises were still running full bloom.

“Where’s Clark?” Ryan asked eagerly.

“Front room with Lois, Jonathan and Chloe.” She smiled at Ryan as he ran off to find Clark. Josh chuckled. Martha sighed contently as well.

“What’s up, Mrs. Kent?” Josh asked curiously.

“Just thankful that this summer is over.” She sighed. “First Chloe’s death, you and Ryan’s disappearance, Clark’s running away and Jonathan’s coma.”

“I honestly don’t know how you coped.” Josh told her honestly. “I mean I completely went to pieces when I felt Uncle Kev’s pain.”

“Nobody blames you for that, Josh.” Martha sighed. “Your Uncle gave you a life and protected you. To lose something that was your entire life takes a toll on you.”

“Thanks.” Josh nodded.

“What’s the bandage for?” Martha asked as Josh pulled off his jacket and put it on the hook beside the door. Josh glanced at his method of covering the bruise on his arm.

“Um...” Josh didn’t really know what to say. “It’s just a bruise.”

“Under a bandage?” She asked in surprise. “That’s not going to do any good, Josh.”

“I know.” Josh laughed. “But it’s a bad one and I don’t want Clark to see it.”

“Clark?” She asked. “He’s not going to care about a...”

Josh smiled grimly as she realised what he meant and she went pale. “Clark freaked out a little when I tried to heal him the other day. He’s got a stronger grip than I thought possible. I just don’t want him feeling guilty.”

Even as he said it he turned to walk through to the other room and came up short as he realised the door was blocked by Clark who had clearly come to help his mother out. Josh winced at Clark’s guilty look. “Clark?” Martha asked.

“Josh. I’m really...” Clark started.

“You don’t have to apologise, Clark. I freaked you out obviously.” Josh waved off the complaint.

“Is it really bad?” Clark asked still looking rather guilty.

“Nothing that causes more than a little pain. The one on my back’s a little more inhibiting but they’ll heal in a week or two.” Josh shrugged.

“Your back?” Clark winced.

“You shoved me into the counter.” Josh bit his lip. “I think you tried to shove me through it. Perhaps I’m lucky you don’t have that sort of strength.” Josh tried to joke but by the look of horror on Clark’s face he didn’t find it as amusing. “Look, Clark, it’s no big deal. You didn’t have your memories and I can’t imagine how scary that must have been especially when some guy you don’t know starts using freaky powers on your head.”

Clark tried to chuckle nervously and Josh grinned at him. “Come on Farm Boy Wonder.” Josh spun him around and back into the other room. “Time to have some fun.”

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A week later

Josh sat on one of the benches with Ryan at his side. The school day had ended slightly early for the Pep Rally for the start of the football season and since they had nothing better to do Ryan and Josh had come outside to watch the festivities. He was sitting on the bench cross legged with his sketch book open on his lap and his wax pencils nearby. He had the white one held between his lips since it, and the green one he was currently using, were the more common ones. Ryan sat on the bench beside him seemingly paying more attention to the cheerleaders, football jocks and the crowds.

Josh glanced up from the picture he was drawing when Ryan leaned over but apart from the fact he was drawing the cheerleaders it wasn’t clear who in particular he was sketching and Ryan knew better than to comment on it. Josh paused briefly as enthusiastic cheering started as people began cheering Lois on as she tried to throw the ball hard enough and accurately enough to send Clark into the swimming pool.

“Dinner says she can’t do it.” Ryan tempted Josh who glanced at him even as Lois missed the second shot out of three.

Josh studied them for a moment as Lois seemed to talk herself up to the challenge and he smirked. “Deal.” Josh spoke around his wax pencil and a second later Lois threw the ball, hitting the target dead centre, and sent Clark down into the swimming pool. He took the pencil out of his mouth before speaking. “You can always trust people like Lois to be predictable.”

“What’s that mean?” Ryan laughed.

“She doesn’t want to let Clark show her up.” Josh glanced at Ryan before swapping his pencils to finer ones to put on the details. “Clark keeps putting her out because she thinks he’s just a run-of-the-mill farm boy and he keeps proving her wrong.”

“You’re just saying that because she keeps treating you like a vagrant.” Ryan laughed.

“Vagrant?” Josh twitched a smile at Ryan. “Now who’s been paying attention in class?”

Ryan was probably right though, Josh did look like a rebel. He was wearing torn black combat trousers with an open red shirt that exposed a tight black t-shirt underneath. With the four metal bands around his right wrist, his red sweatband around his head and his ruffled black hair with their newly applied silver streaks like he’d had when he’d arrived in Smallville, he looked completely out of place in the small town.

Josh and Ryan both looked up as Clark climbed out of the swimming pool and his wet t-shirt and shorts didn’t leave much to the imagination about how much work he did on the farm and Ryan laughed at the cat whistles from some of the girls. “Maybe Clark should invest in a few tighter cloths.” Josh chuckled and Ryan looked at him in surprise. “What, it’s not like he’s not hot.” Josh outright laughed at Ryan’s look of horror.

“Don’t say stuff like that, Josh!” Ryan groaned. “I do not want to imagine you having a crush on Clark!”

“No, you’d rather think about your own crush on Lindsey Gaville.” Josh smirked as Ryan gaped at him. “I don’t need your mind-reading abilities to see you staring at her all the time.” Josh laughed before tearing off the page of his sketch book and handing the newly completed wax artistry to his younger brother. It was of the cheerleaders but the only one in proper focus was Lindsey Gaville, dead centre and in incredible detail.

“Wow.” Ryan looked between the picture and Lindsey just as the cheerleaders gathered into a group laughing. Just then Lindsey looked up and saw Ryan and Josh watching her but her eyes landed more on Ryan and he ducked his head and when Josh turned to him he was blushing down at his lap. Josh laughed. “Poor Ryan, maybe Bart and I should have a chat with you.”

“Don’t you dare!” Ryan looked at him in horror with turned into indignation when he saw that Josh was making fun of him. Ryan went to hand the picture back but Josh shook his head and motioned for him to keep it. “Really?” Josh nodded. “But you don’t let anyone else have your pictures!” In fact the only picture Josh had ever drawn that he hadn’t kept had been the one that now sat in his Uncle’s hand in his grave and he’d clung to that for almost nine years before giving it up.

“I think I can make an exception for you, Ry.” Josh smiled. Ryan grinned back at him brightly before turning back to the laughing and cheering crowds and Josh followed his gaze to where Lois was laughing at Clark. He spotted Chloe who looked rather a little bit sadder than the situation really required and he frowned. He felt a little sorry for Chloe sometimes. She was a person that had given up on ever having the attention of the person she wanted it the most from. Josh just hoped she got over Clark soon but he knew that it would take time.

“That obvious isn’t it.” Ryan sighed.

“You haven’t been snooping again have you?” Josh asked though he knew Ryan couldn’t help it.

“She knows I’ve picked up on how she feels, she talks to me about it.” Ryan shrugged.

“That’s sweet of you, Ry.” Josh smiled at him.

“It’s just she gets hurt every time Clark goes of lovey-dovey for Lana.” Ryan sighed. “And right now Lana is off the available list anyway.”

“I didn’t know that.” Josh frowned and looked at his younger brother.

Ryan shrugged. “It’s not like they can tell anyone but Lana fell in love with him over the summer.”

“Who?” Josh asked. “I haven’t seen her spending any more time with anybody at school or at the Talon.”

“That’s because Coach Teag can’t really be seen with her.” Ryan said quietly making Josh turn and look at him. “I only haven’t mentioned it before because their relationship doesn’t have anything to do with school. He just loves her enough to find a job in Smallville to be around her.”

“Then why’d she leave Paris to come back if it meant leaving him behind?” Josh asked.

“I’m not sure.” Ryan frowned. “It’s not like I’m trying to pry, this is all just stuff I pick up randomly. I think something really scared her. A shape or picture or something but I can only hear her thoughts and not see her memories.”

“Don’t worry about it, Ry.” Josh touched him on the shoulder before scooping all of his things into his satchel. “You can listen to people’s thoughts but it’s their lives they are living.” Ryan nodded and stood up and stretched. Josh stood up and turned to Ryan with a smirk. “So, since you’re cooking tonight did you want to invite Lindsey?”

Ryan stared at him for a moment before Josh started laughing at Ryan who went bright red and leapt at Josh, tackling him to the ground and trying to wrestle Josh who was laughing too hard to fend him off.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Three days later

Ryan dropped the mail on the table in front of Josh’s breakfast and Josh glanced at the two envelopes. One was a telephone bill but the other had the printed labels that he was used to seeing on anything from Simon. He put the bill aside for later and opened the one from his lawyer and pulled out the hand written note and the clip from a Seattle newspaper. He read the note first but it was short and simple, merely a greeting and telling him that the obituary had caught his eye and that he was sorry.

Josh frowned not knowing who else in the world Simon could think he needed to know had died and turned over the clip to see a column of obituaries with one highlighted for him. Margaret and Robert Allen. Josh winced and dropped the note and the clipping.

“What is it?” Ryan asked in surprised and reached for the clipping. “Allen? Who...” He trailed off as he realised. “Bart?”

“Bart’s parents.” Josh clarified unnecessarily. “Simon must have checked up on them again and found out. This is dated two months ago.”

“Are you going to call Bart?” Ryan asked and Josh sighed and nodded.

“I don’t know how he’ll react.” Josh sighed. “They didn’t exactly kick him out after his accident but they didn’t treat him like Bart anymore. That really hurt him and part of the reason he acts like he does is because of that rejection. I don’t know what he’ll do when he finds out he’s lost the chance to make up with them.”

“I don’t think he sees them as family anymore.” Ryan frowned. “But it’s going to hurt him.”

Josh stood up, ignoring the rest of his breakfast now that he didn’t feel like eating, and headed for his cell phone. Bart’s phone was out of signal which meant he was running so he tried Arthur’s only to find out from him that he hadn’t met up with Bart since they’d said goodbye to Josh and Ryan at Oliver Queen’s house. He tried Bart again and sighed in relief when the phone started ringing and Bart answered.

“What’s up?” Bart asked and Josh was partly surprised by Bart’s cavalier attitude but then heard somebody ask who it was. An older man by the sounds of the voice. Bart was fencing something again but Josh didn’t care what Bart got up to as long as he was happy doing it which part of him knew he wasn’t.

“I need to talk to you as soon as possible, Bart.” Josh told him. “It’s not urgent but it’s important.”

“I’ll be there.” Bart told him and hung up. Josh sighed and made his way back into the kitchen and sat down. It was about ten minutes before Bart appeared in the middle of the kitchen.

“Hey love.” Bart stood behind Josh and rested his arms around Josh’s shoulders.

“Hey love.” Josh replied almost automatically.

“What’s the matter?” Bart asked obviously hearing the tenseness in Josh’s voice.

Josh took his hands with his own. “You know Simon keeps an ear out for things concerning us right?” Bart nodded and Josh let go of one of his hands to pick up the obituary and gave it to Bart to read. Josh didn’t let go of Bart’s right hand even when Bart stilled rather unnaturally.

Josh stood up when Bart dropped the clipping and turned to hug his boyfriend. “Why do you think I care?” Bart asked. “I don’t.”

Josh didn’t respond and merely rested his head against Bart’s and felt Bart relax slightly but he still shook his head. “It doesn’t make a difference.” Bart told him as he pulled away. “They weren’t part of my life anymore.”

“But it still hurts to lose them.” Josh told him.

“No, it doesn’t.” Bart argued. “This doesn’t change anything.”

“You don’t have to hide from me, Bart.” Josh told him in a whisper.

Bart let go of him. “Who says I’m hiding anything from you? I just don’t care. I never needed them!”

Josh just stared at him for a moment and saw the instant that Bart was about to break but was robbed from the chance to help him when the door burst open and Bart was gone. Josh sat down in his chair with a sigh.

“He didn’t want to have to rely on you.” Ryan told him.

“I know.” Josh sighed, not needing powers to read his boyfriend. “He wants to prove he doesn’t need anyone but we all need someone.”

Ryan just smiled at him and shrugged. “He’ll be back.” Josh chuckled at Ryan’s blasé attitude.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Two days later

Josh walked into the Talon to find it rather busy. It had only been open for a few days ever since Martha Kent had decided to manage it and it hadn’t lost any of its appeal in the changeover. As he approached the counter to order a drink so he could wait for Ryan to arrive from his own shopping he heard a very familiar voice. He’d tried to call Bart four times in the last few days and been ignored but he didn’t really mind knowing that Bart might need some time. He’d called more for the reminder to his boyfriend than anything else. It was a little bit of a shock to see him standing in the middle of the Talon with Clark and Chloe.

“Chloe, this is my friend Bart.” Clark introduced. “He’s from...”

“The future.” Bart smirked.

“The future?” Chloe scoffed though she was still slightly amused. Josh leaned on the counter behind Bart and Clark spared him a glance.

“Yeah, and I came all the way back here to tell you we’re still in love a hundred years from now.” Bart tried. Chloe burst out laughing.

“Oh man, that’s a bad pick up line.” Josh laughed and saw the instant that Bart recognised his amused tone and he spun around.

“Opps.” Bart winced. “Sorry.”

“For flirting?” Josh laughed before slinging his arm over Bart’s shoulder and hugging him with one arm. “You’ll never change.”

“Josh, you know Bart?” Clark asked in shock.

“I’d say so.” Josh grinned. “Though it’s a bit of a shock to see him show up with you in tow. You’re not exactly much alike.”

“We’re more alike than you know.” Bart sent a smirk at Clark who laughed nervously.

Josh glanced to the right as Ryan appeared through the crowds and his eyes widened as he saw Bart with Josh’s arm over his shoulder. “Uh...?” Ryan’s eyebrows arched up. “Did I miss something?”

“Hey brat.” Bart grinned.

“You know Ryan?” Clark asked in even more shock.

“I’ve been around a few times.” Bart grinned.

“I thought you didn’t like Smallville.” Clark pointed out.

“I don’t.” Bart laughed. “But the company’s alright.” He smirked.

Josh elbowed him less than subtly and Clark frowned. Chloe was distracted for a moment as she moved to order and drink and Josh leaned over to Clark. “Bart was one of the ones I spent that time with after Uncle Kev died.” Josh told him. “So what were you doing to run into Bart?” Josh asked him.

“He pushed my dad out of the way of a car.” Clark told him before his tone turned sour. “And stole his wallet.”

Josh laughed. “Don’t take it personally, Clark. It’s a habit of his.”

“Hey!” Bart moaned.

“We have to be off.” Josh declared before turning to Bart. “We need to talk later though.” Bart lost any humour in his face and sighed before nodding. “And don’t go getting Clark into trouble.”

“Too late.” Bart grinned. Josh sighed and shook his head before pulling Ryan along with him knowing that Ryan had homework to do. Clark had been getting more and more nervous throughout that conversation and he didn’t want to spoil Bart’s fun.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The next day

“That dude is cool.” Bart announced as he arrived in Josh’s bedroom. Josh was sitting on his bed with his sketchbook on his lap and a small lamp lighting him up. He was naked but he didn’t try to pull the cover up his chest as Bart shut the door after speed running inside.

“You think Clark is cool?” Josh asked without looking up. “I didn’t think you two would really hit it off.”

“Well we’ve got stuff in common.” Bart informed him before lying face down on the bed after removing his clothing. Josh glanced up and his eyes couldn’t help but follow the line of Bart’s body down over his neck, back, arse and legs. Bart grinned at him but didn’t try to cover himself up.

“So you saved Jonathan Kent?” Josh asked. “You’ve done stuff like that before and not followed them home.”

“Yeah well, Clark traced the credit card.” Bart grumbled.

“And you didn’t just run away?” Josh asked sceptically even as he turned the page resolving to come back to that drawing later in favour of sketching Bart lying like he was.

“Well I did but he intrigued me.” Bart shrugged.

“Are you hiding something from me?” Josh asked and Bart sighed and nodded. “You want to tell me?”

“It’s kinda not my thing to tell.” Bart told him.

“Oh, so you found out about whatever Clark’s power is?” Josh asked making Bart jump. Josh just continued to draw. “I’m not daft, Bart. I’ve been here two years now, I know Clark’s hiding a secret. I don’t know what his secret is but I know he’s got abilities. It’s the only way to explain the crazy stuff that goes on around him. I just don’t care to try to find out. Besides Ryan knows.”

“Yeah.” Bart sighed. “So you don’t need me to tell you?”

Josh laughed and shook his head and Bart made to get up to crawl up to Josh. “Stay there.” Josh ordered.

“Why?” Bart asked before blushing deeply. “Are you drawing me?” Josh nodded with a small grin and Bart buried his face for a moment.

“What happened today?” Josh asked.

“I got into a little trouble with a fence.” Bart admitted. “And Clark saved me.”

“Clark saved you?” Josh asked. “He gets around.”

“You have no idea.” Bart sighed. “He wanted me to stay around Smallville.”

“So do I.” Josh shrugged. “But I’m not going to ask you to and I don’t want to ask you to.”

“What’s that mean?” Bart asked.

“If I asked you to stay you might do just that and then I’d feel horrible for keeping you trapped here.” Josh sighed.

“If I stayed it would be because I wanted to be with you.” Bart told him sternly.

“But you’re happy running around.” Josh told him. “And I know that whenever you feel lonely you’ll find your way into my room. You always have.”

Bart nodded. “I’m going to give up stealing things.” He announced after a moment’s silence and that made Josh look up. “Clark convinced me.”

“Clark convinced you?” Josh laughed. “I can imagine that actually.”

“How come you never tried to stop me?” Bart asked.

“Because I wasn’t worried about you getting hurt and I knew you weren’t actually hurting anyone.” Josh told him. “And I knew that by stealing things you’d have the money to sleep in beds and not on the street.”

Bart sighed and relaxed down onto his arms. “I went to find their graves.” Bart said eventually and Josh stopped drawing for a moment to look up at his boyfriend.

“I know you’ve tried to forget about them but you miss the way they loved you.” Josh sighed.

“I didn’t miss the love.” Bart told him. “I had you for that. I just didn’t want to think that they hated me but I couldn’t find the courage to go back and find out what they thought of me.”

Josh sat in silence as he finished his drawing knowing that Bart didn’t need words right now and as soon as he put down the pencil and lifted up the cover Bart slid in beside him and looked over the drawing with a smile. Josh put the book to the side and slid down into the bed and turned off the light. Bart rolled onto his side and put a leg over Josh’s waist and they merely held each other. Josh kissed him and relaxed into Bart and merely enjoyed their closeness.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

End Chapter