My father would say that my biggest weakness is being ruled by my emotions.

The town of Smallville seems to agree.

I was having a really bad day. I had a pounding headache, I was late for two different events for which I was supposed to be present. I took a minute to stop by the Talon and get some caffeine in my system in the hopes that it would help the headache.

Instead, the headache increased.

I wasn't inside more than five minutes, and when I came out I was in the process of getting a ticket. I tried to be reasonable, explaining to the meteor maid that I was late, busy, and simply didn't have time to deal with him or his little ticket. He broke into this town's typical 'rich people do nothing' spiel, claiming that some people actually had to work for a living.

So I grabbed one of the golf clubs I'd been planning to give away to charity, and instead used it to smash in his cars windows. I also took the time to explain to him that the jobs I provided allowed people to pay taxes that gave him his salary. After advising him that he should look into getting a real job, I left.

Of course, it didn't end there. After a tedious day in court, I was assigned to anger management.

I managed my anger just fine, if you ask me.

Still, I chose not to buy my way out of it. I figured it would lessen the bad P.R. if I paid my "debt" to society like any other citizen.

After I finally got home, it was to a message on my machine from Clark. He said his dad had a broken leg. I put in a call to a specialist in Metropolis, then headed towards the hospital. I searched for ten minutes, then finally located the doctor in charge of Mr. Kent's case. When I told her to call the specialist in case of complications, she got offended. As soon as Clark showed up she stormed off.

I asked Clark how his father was, but he was more concerned about his mom. He said that she was blaming herself for the accident. I told Clark that she'd taken a lot on, and was probably just searching for a balance. Clark proceeded to tease me about my most recent method for relieving stress.

I can't say I minded.

The next day I heard the six words I hate the most when used consecutively. I was at the first of my required anger management sessions when I spotted Mr. Kent's doctor, Helen Bryce. I went over to say hello, and we began to have a nice conversation. However, as soon as I asked if she wanted to have lunch after class, she responded with the dreaded question.

"You don't remember me, do you?"

I hate that question. It never ends well for me.

Before I could ask what horrible first impression I'd made and forgotten, the class began.

After it was over, I began to do some research on the young Ms. Bryce. I'd have been finished earlier if not for Clark. He'd left me a message asking that I do some research for him, as well, on one of his classmates. I sent it off to him, then continued on my own personal project.

I found out that Helen used to work at Metropolis General, and her father was a big-shot who ran a lucrative practice in the city. I continued to think it over, and eventually came up with a hazy memory of being very, very drunk. I'd been admitted to the hospital, as there was some concern over alcohol poisoning. Helen was the one who got stuck baby-sitting.

Armed with information, I returned to the local hospital and tracked her down. She confirmed my vague memory, and claimed it was cases like mine which convinced her to leave Metropolis for Smallville. It was mentioning her father, however, that really broke the ice.

If there's anything I can relate to, it's father issues.

She said it sounded as if I spoke from experience, and I admitted that was very true. Actually, I told her that she witnessed my self-destructive phase, then I almost let my father die, and now I was trying to beat him at his own game. She asked how it was going. I told her I terrorized meteor maids.

I knew instantly I had her attention.

Rather than ask her out again, I chose to walk away, mentally counting down from ten. She called out that she got off in ten minutes just as I reached one.

Sometimes, it's almost too easy.

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