Lana is being stalked by another student, Jake, who nearly drowns her in the school pool. He is shot dead during the attack, and a rock with the word "Freak" is thrown next to him by his killer.
Chloe investigates Jake, finding that he had gills. He was exposed to meteor rock and she already has a "wall of the weird" file in her computer on him and others in Smallville. Mending their friendship, Chloe welcomes Clark back to help with The Torch. She tries to resign from The Daily Planet to avoid Lionel's blackmail tactics, but he tries to get under her skin again. Later Lionel visits Chloe at The Torch office. She realizes that Lionel and LuthorCorp have access to her computer files. Lionel warns Chloe to never again investigate a member of his family.
Clark suspects Jake's friend Van is the shooter. Van's father was a Marine recruiter killed by Tina Grier. Clark's theory is that Van is hunting those affected by meteor rocks to avenge his father's death. Clark finds Van's target list, taken from Chloe's "wall of the weird" files with Lex marked as the next victim. He rushes to Metropolis just in time to stop the bullet aimed at Lex's head, shot from Van's rifle. Van witnesses Clark's ability and his weakness to meteor rock. Van manufactures kryptonite bullets to kill Clark. He shoots him in daylight at the farm. The bullet penetrates Clark's hand and shoulder. Jonathan removes the bullet. Clark quickly recovers.
Lex realizes he has never been ill since the meteor shower. He has survived many near-death experiences. Now he thinks he really may be a freak too, without any logical answers to explain his survival but those found within himself.
Van finds Lana, looking for help to escape the police. He tells Lana she is being fooled, and Clark is a bulletproof freak. Van captures Lana and locks her in his trunk. He goes off to confront Clark again. Van drags Lana inside. Her hands are bound. They find Clark. Van throws Lana down, and shoots Clark several times in the chest as Lana witnesses. From behind, Lana kicks Van down. Clark reveals a lead shield under his shirt that has stopped the kryptonite bullets. Van ends up in a psychiatric ward.
Later Lana visits Clark at the farm. She tells him "Open up to the people who love you or you'll always be alone." "I may not have a choice," Clark replies. Lana disagrees, "You always have a choice."
Starring: Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), Sam Jones III (Pete Ross), Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan), John Glover (Lionel Luthor), Annette O'Toole (Martha Kent), John Schneider (Jonathan Kent)
Guest Starring: Jesse Metcalfe (Van McNulty), Camille Mitchell (Sheriff Nancy Adams), Harris Allan (Jake Pollan)
Written by Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer
Directed by Michael Katleman