Clark was almost asleep when a sound from next door woke him up. It sounded like crying. He wasn't supposed to get out of bed after Dad turned out the lights, but if Lex was crying, Clark had to help him. He climbed out of bed and tiptoed across the cold floor into Lex's room.

Lex shot up in bed and flicked on the lamp. His eyes were swollen. "Clark?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just . . . nightmare."

"Oh!" Clark knew what to do about that. "Mo-om!" he yelled.

Panic filled Lex's eyes. "Sh, sh! What are you doing?"

"You had a nightmeer. You need Mom." Lex was supposed to know that. He was thirteen!

Clark heard the door to his own bedroom open—Mom must have thought he was calling from there—then the door to Lex's room opened. Mom was in her pajamas, and she looked worried. "Clark, what are you doing in here?"

Lex scooted back against his headboard. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Kent, I tried to—"

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"He had a nightmeer," Clark said. She had to help him make the bad thoughts go away.

Mom nodded. "Are you okay, Lex?"

"I'm fine, you can go back to bed."

"No!" Clark said. "You have to tell her what the dream was about!" Lex at least needed a snuggle.

Mom frowned. "Clark, Lex is a big kid. He'll call me for help if he needs it."

"But—but I heard him crying."

"I wasn't crying!" Lex's voice crackled.

"Was so!"

Mom took a deep breath, then went over to sit on the edge of Lex's bed. "Is there anything you want to talk about?" she said softly.

"I'm fine. I just . . . I miss my dad."

Mom nodded slowly, though she looked kind of upset. "Of course." She gently rubbed Lex's back. Clark didn't think that was as good as a snuggle, but it was better than nothing, and Lex seemed to relax a little.

"Sorry, Mrs. Kent."

"You have nothing to be sorry for."

Lex laid down, and Mom tucked the covers around him, then she turned off the lamp. She reached down and picked up Clark, carrying him into his own bedroom and placing him on his bed.

"Where's his dad?" Clark crawled under the covers.

"He's in jail." Mom tucked him in.

"Jail?"

"Yes. But don't talk to Lex about it unless he brings it up."

"Why not?"

"Because you'll be in big trouble if you do."

Clark pouted.

"I mean it, Clark Jerome Kent."

"Fine." Clark knew Mom only used all three names when it was important. "Is Lex gonna be okay?"

"I think so. If you want to, you can say a little prayer for him before you go to sleep." Mom kissed him on the forehead.

"Okay, Mom." Clark nodded and closed his eyes.