Part 1

Lois inhaled sharply, trying to sum up her best acting abilities before strutting into the large log cabin.

As she entered her eyes scanned the room. To her left there was what looked like a waiting area furnished with a large couch, one lazy-chair and two armchairs surrounding a small wooden table. A couple of magazines were scattered over the surface. Directly in front of the door was the reception.

Putting on a toothy-smile she walked over to the counter and greeted the woman who sat behind it.

'Hi!'

There was no reaction as the woman continued to flip trough the magazine she held in her hands.

'Hi, there!' Lois repeated a little louder, wondering if the woman was deaf.

Nothing.

'Hello!' She continued, this time waving her hand in front of the woman.

That seemed to work as the fifty-year-old-looking blonde looked up with a bored expression.

'Yeah?'

Lois ignored the rude reply and forced the smile back on her lips.

'Hi… Ruth,' She read the nametag that was now visible. 'I'd like a room please.'

There was a moment of pause in which Ruth seemed to size up Lois. Looking her up and down before diverting her eyes. Lois tried to follow her gaze but whatever held Ruth's attention was safely hidden behind the counter.

Focussing back on her magazine she mumbled:

'We're completely booked.'

'What do you mean? The sign outside said you had rooms available.' Lois protested.

'It's an old sign.' Ruth pursued her study of Cosmo undisturbed.

'But-' Lois stopped in mid-sentence when she realised that moping was not going to have the desired effect on frost-lady. Maybe… flattery? 'Oh, surely you have one room vacant. I've heard so many wonderful things about your…' she searched for a euphemism to describe the rapidly decaying group of log cabins that formed the 'Tranquil Oaks'. '…um, quaint resort.'

'It's a spiritual retreat.' Ruth grumpily corrected.

'Exactly what I need! I've just been so stressed with work and-'

'Look lady, I've told you already. There are no rooms!' Ruth practically growled finally looking up from the pages of the magazine.

'Hey!' The feisty side of Lois' character bubbled to the surface. 'I don't know what kind of business you are running here, but all I see are four miserable, mouldy huts lost in the middle of the forest. Plus, some highly questionable construction quality and a funky smell and you expect me to believe that you're all booked! You couldn't have people staying here if you paid them! You think-'

'Lois!'

Her ranting was cut short by a voice coming from the door. Turning around she frowned. What was he doing here?

'Smallville? What are you-'

Closing the distance between them, Clark grabbed her arm and flashing a smile in Ruth direction, pulled Lois toward the waiting area.

'What are you doing here?' He asked between clenched teeth.

'I should be asking you that. I thought you were against my plan.' Lois raised an eyebrow.

'And I am. It's a kamikaze mission.'

'And what am I supposed to do? Just sit at my cousin's bedside and wait while she slowly turns into a human vegetable?' She hissed back.

'The doctors are-'

'With all the head scratching going on in that hospital I doubt they'll figure out what's wrong with Chloe in time. The only clue we have is this place. When she came here she was perfectly fine and when she returned she was…' Lois trailed off at the painful memory of her cousin.

Chloe had ended up at the 'Tranquil Oaks' following a lead for a story. It seemed that over the last two years a series of guests at the spiritual retreat had mysteriously died. Family members and friends of the victims had reported out of character behaviours. After their stay, the former guests just seemed to… 'refuse to life', that had been the way a mother had described it. They refused to eat, drink or even sleep. They'd simply walk around almost blindly, barely saying a word, apathetic to any exterior stimulus. Eventually, they'd ended up in the hospital, but even with expert medical care, they're bodies seemed to reject any form of nourishment and the victims ultimately died of dehydration and inanition.

When Lois left the hospital that morning Chloe was already unconscious and in critical condition.

Shaking away the memory of her cousin laying in a hospital bed hocked up to an IV she continued:

'Something happened to her here and I'm going to figure out what it was. With or without your help.' She added boldly. 'Now, if you'll excuse me I was about to get a room.' Lois started to walk back to the counter, but Clark's hand on her arm stopped her.

'You can't do this. It's too dangerous, like most of your harebrained schemes.'

Tilting her head sideways she gave him a forced smile.

'Then what do you suggest? And don't tell me go home, cause I ain't doing that.' She anticipated his predictable reply.

'I told you. I'll check into the-'

'And I'll stand on the sidelines cheering for my big, strong Alfa male. Oh, let me just get my pompoms!' She mocked waving her hands energetically with invisible pompoms.

'You're just pigheaded, aren't you?'

'And you have to get over this superhero complex. I'm not the one who needs saving here.'

As the two continued to argue, Ruth seemed suddenly interested in the two strangers. Wide-eyed, her gaze alternated from the stone hidden behind the counter to the couple and back. She watched in awe as the small fragment flashed bright red as a clear reaction to the argument taking place.

'These two are a goldmine.' She thought.

'Fine, we'll both check in.' Clark finally relented.

A victory smile took over her lips.

When Lois stuck something in her head, it was impossible to dissuade her. All one could do was go along for the ride and hope both got out of it unharmed.

'Now, all we have to do is convince old Ruthie there to give us a room.' She tilted her head toward the reception area.

'Two rooms!' Clark quickly corrected.

'Alright, Smallville, don't get frantic. I'm not going to jump your bones in the middle of the night.' Lois assured him as the two walked over to the counter.

'I'll do the talking. Good evening.' Clark started politely.

But before he could go any further Ruth cut him off.

'We have a room.'

'What? I thought you were all booked.' Lois protested.

'We just got a cancellation.' Ruth explained quickly.

'I didn't hear the phone ring.' Lois argued.

'I didn't say that someone phoned to cancel.' Ruth pointed out and before Lois could continue she added: 'It's in lodge C. Come, I'll show you.'

Lois and Clark exchanged frowns and followed the receptionist.

Leaving the main lodge they turned left and entered a smaller one.

'Here we go. This is the living room.' Ruth announced unenthusiastically as they entered the cottage. 'The fireplace isn't working. Something's clogging up the chimney.'

'Probably Santa. Got stuck while rushing to flee this cesspool.' Lois muttered, earning an elbow nudge from Clark.

As a reply she lifted the dust covered index finger she had ran over the kitchen counter. Clark simply rolled his eyes at her and mouthed: 'Be nice.'

In the meantime, Ruth continued oblivious to the two guests.

'This is the kitchenette. Sometimes the sink clogs up too.'

'What a surprise…' Lois mumbled sarcastically.

'You'll be sharing the cabin with the Berkleys.'

Both Clark and Lois frowned at that, but Ruth continued nonchalantly.

'You're room is the one to the right at the top of the stairs. Theirs is the one on the left. Bathroom's the door in the middle.'

'We're sharing the cabin?' Lois started her protest.

'That's what I said.' Ruth grumbled.

'And there's only one bathroom. You're joking, right?'

'Do I look like I'm joking, young lady?' Ruth asked crossing her arms over her chest.

'A-are you sure you don't have another cabin?' Clark intervened, strategically placing himself between the two women when he saw the rage bubbling in Lois' eyes.

'This is all we have, take it or leave it.'

'Well, you can take this cabin and just shove it-'

'We'll take it!' Clark quickly cut her off. 'Thank you.'

'Alright.' Ruth agreed, still eyeing Lois, who looked like she was about to pounce.

There was an uncomfortable silence as the two women engaged in a stare down contest.

'W-we'll just get settled in and I'll meet you at the reception.' Clark stuttered.

Ruth nodded, handing Clark a set of keys before leaving the cottage.

'Are you insane?! Do you know what kind of people stay in these places? The Berkleys are probably axe murderers. I'm not sharing a cabin with them! Not to mention y-chromosome deprived Norman Bates over there.' Lois fumed letting her bag drop onto the couch causing a small cloud of dust to pop up. 'Death by axe cough or couch asphyxia! couch Perfect!'

The corner of Clark's mouth rose for a half smirk as he watched Lois protest her way even through a couching fit.

'Look, I'm not exactly giddy about the whole situation either. But it was the only way.' He argued.

Clark watched as Lois muttered all the way up the stares.

'Oh, great!'

He heard her exclaim and followed her to the first floor of the cottage.

'Guess what?' She asked over shoulder.

'What?'

'There is only one bed.'

The two stood at the doorway staring at the cramped space, furnished with a wooden cupboard, a nightstand table and a double bed.

'Well, we are officially checked in.' He announced as he came back from the main cottage to find her in the kitchenette.

Every single cabinet and drawer was open.

'What are you doing?' He asked frowning and hesitantly leaning over the counter to find her kneeling in front of the sink.

'Looking for clues.' She said seemingly oblivious to him as she continued her search.

'In the kitchen?'

'Been through the bedroom and the bathroom. Kitchen seemed like the next logical step.' She answered offhandedly continuing to rummage through the pots and pans.

'What exactly do you expect to find?' He questioned, sitting at the counter.

'Anything…' She sighed giving up when she didn't find anything remotely incriminating. 'There's nothing here.' She breathed out, putting up both hands in defeat.

'What's this?' He asked when he noticed a series of labelled jars filled with clear liquid.

'Water samples from every faucet in the cabin. I'm going into town tomorrow to get them analyzed.' She explained. 'Maybe it's something in the water... or the food?'

'Maybe.' He agreed. 'Did the Berkleys get here?'

'Nope. I tried getting into their room. It was locked.'

He shook his head at that.

'Don't give me that look.' She warned him coming out from behind the counter to stand in front of him, adopting the growingly familiar stance with her arms crossed.

'Anything on old Ruthie?'

'I don't think she likes you very much.' He smirked.

She, however, ignored it.

'Yeah, I know. There was no way she was letting me stay here and then you show up and suddenly she rolls out the welcoming mat. What was that all about?'

'Maybe it was my overwhelming charm.'

'Yeah, right...' She rolled her eyes. 'Don't get me wrong, Smallville, but she strikes me as more of the Aileen Wuornos predator variety than the Mary Kay Letourneau one. I think you're safe.' She mockingly assured him.

Clapping her hands together she carried on:

'What time do you think she hits the pillows?'

'Who? Ruth?'

She nodded.

'How should I know?' He frowned.

'Small-town folk affinities?'

The confused look remained on Clark's face. Disregarding it, she continued with her musings:

'She probably has to get up really early to chop wood or something, so she should be in bed by nine, huh?'

'Maybe...' Clark reluctantly agreed, watching her pace around in front of him.

'So, around ten, we can go over and check the place out.' She concluded.

Before he could say anything she exclaimed:

'Perfect!' And was making her way up the stairs, the wide grin on her face proof of her satisfaction with the plan she'd devised.

'What about the kitchen?' He yelled out as he turned to see the chaos she had left behind.

He sighed when he heard the door to their bedroom slam shut. 'Their' bedroom. That was another thing they had to figure out he thought as he got up to fix her mess.

'I'm starving.' She groaned pacing around the room, her hand covering her stomach.

'You're the one who didn't want to eat. I told you dinner was served at seven.' He replied from his stop on the bed.

'Are you insane? I'm not eating anything that woman cooks up.' She exclaimed.

'So the plan was to starve yourself to death during your stay here?'

'No… I just… forgot to bring supplies.' She admitted reluctantly. 'God, doesn't that woman sleep?' She practically growled as she looked out their window to find the main cabin's front porch light still on. 'It's almost midnight.'

Clark simply shook his head. She had been nervously pacing around for two hours. It had gotten worst over the last thirty minutes. He smiled to himself when he heard her stomach rumble for the umpteenth time. Standing up he decided:

'I'll go into town and buy something at a 7-eleven.'

'Are you insane? It's a two hour drive to Metropolis.' She pointed out.

Oh, right! He had planed on super speeding into town and had forgotten about the time discrepancy issue.

'Right. Silly me.' He back-pedalled nervously. Reaching for the keys to his truck on the nightstand table he lied: 'I think I've got something to eat in my truck. I'll be right back.'

He left the room with Lois sitting on the windowsill staring intently at the porch light, willing it to turn itself off.

Five minutes later he was back to find her in the same exact position.

'What took you so long?' She asked annoyed, quickly coming over to snatch the plastic bag from his hands.

He rolled his eyes. He could superspeed but it wasn't his fault the teller at the 7-eleven couldn't. He watched as she rummaged through the assortment of goodies he'd bought.

'Oh…um.. thank… um… God!' She was able to say between mouthfuls of a Twinkie bar as she proceeded to raid the bag. 'Twinkies? um Butterfingers?'

Clark couldn't help the smile on his face at the sight of her sitting on the bed, legs crossed, surrounded by chocolates and candy and acting like a giddy kid on Christmas morning. He was startled when she suddenly stopped her frenzy and let out a high-pitched shriek:

'Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Oh, my God!'

She was off the bed and with her arms wrapped around his neck in an instant.

'Thank you!'

Clark's eyes widened and his mouth closed stiffly. His hands oddly hovered around her, undecided on whether to return the unexpected embrace. His heartbeat was racing, he realised. But it seemed to come to a screeching halt at Lois' next move.

He swallowed hard at the feel of her lips on his cheek. Remaining frozen on the spot, he tried desperately not to seem affected by her when she finally let go of him and went back to her chocolaty haven on the bed.

She wasn't usually this affectionate. Actually, he couldn't remember her ever being hands on at all. A friendly punch on the shoulder here and there was the most affection she seemed to be able to show him physically. Well, except that one time, at Chloe's birthday, when she was possessed… or when she was possessed by Dawn. Come to think of it, so far grabby-Lois equalled possessed-Lois.

'Powdered blueberry filled. My favourite!' She yelped hurriedly getting rid of the wrapping and biting into one of them as if her life depended on it.

'I know.' He thought to himself. That's what had taken him a while longer.

As she savoured the delicacy she let out a low satisfied mown and closed her eyes. Reactively, his widened as the sight and sound of her suddenly sent a rush down his spine.

'What was…'

'I can't believe… um… you carry all this junk in your car.' She said with her mouth full. 'God, this is sooo good!' This time she actually growled which elicited in yet another gut twisting feeling in him.

'This is so not good.' He concluded in his mind. 'What's happening? Since when-?' His thoughts were interrupted by her question.

'Aren't you going to eat?' She took another satisfied bite.

He swallowed dryly.

'I-I'm not that hungry.' He replied, quickly rushing out of the bedroom and into the bathroom.

Lois remained on top of the bed merrily surrounded by heaven.