A little yellow car pulls up somewhere in a misty, foresty area. It's Chloe and she's meeting Clark. He tells her she has to leave because the Feds are after her. The car radio announces that authorities are after Clark, too, and advises people to stay inside. Chloe gets out of the car, asking if they know about the "meteor rocks." They do now, thanks. Clark says they have to leave town, separately. Chloe is worried: "Am I losing you, Clark?" He promises to find her when things calm down. Chloe asks if they can't just ask Jor-El to undo everything, but Clark says Jor-El has been gone since the Fortress went dark. Chloe says, "Unless you're hiding some latent power to turn back time, then I'm out of ideas." A little light bulb goes on over Clark's head, and he explains in detail exactly where he's hidden the Legion's time-travel ring in the barn, just in case any nearby villains need to overhear him. Chloe reminds him that there's always a consequence for turning back time, like a substitute recapper might run out of booze. Clark says he doesn't have a choice, because as long as people fear him, he can't help them. Clark and Chloe exchange long, sad looks. Linda, hiding in the bushes and having overheard the whole damn conversation, smiles.

Daily Planet. Lois is trying to reach Clark by cell phone, promising to "fire back" against whatever trash people are spreading about him. The City Editor drops the latest paper on her desk and says, "You sit across from the guy, Lane. How slow are you?" She looks at the headline: "Clark Kent: Murderer". The legal budget must be huge if they're not worried about libel suits at all. Hilariously, next to the pictures of Clark and Lex, there's an article about how the bus system won't be expanded this year. Lois charges off, pissed about either Clark being accused of murder or the prospect of not being able to find a good seat on the bus. She runs into the elevator and sees Linda there, on her phone. Lois accuses Linda of not printing the facts and promises that Tess will run a rebuttal. Linda makes a big show of having to call "Katie" back because her connection just took on a "terrible, whining sound." "Katie Couric," Linda name-drops for Lois' benefit. Lois says to her, "You see a parade and you just have to rain on it, don't you?" Oh, no. Don't get started on the rain again. She also says that Clark could have been the hero people needed. Linda: "Funny thing about people -- the only thing they love more than building up heroes is tearing them down." Lois goes storming into Tess Mercer's office, but she's greeted by the DDS guys. They want to speak with her, but Lois refuses without her lawyer. They level taser guns at her and she turns on her heel. Clark whooshes in to snatch her away and superzip her back to the farm.