Here you are kids. New story, little darker tone. Hoping to move some storylines along. Enjoy.

/

The heavy doors burst inward, spraying the floor of the office with the remains of ornate stained glass. Heavy boot steps crunched over the shattered glass as the pissed off intruder made his way further into the room. "Luthor!"

The high-backed leather chair turned slowly, showing the grinning face of the man seated behind the desk. "Sheriff Kent. Something I can help you with?"

Clark walked up to the desk quickly, eyes flickering with rage. "Yea there is." Tossing his hand out, a loud clatter rang out on the glass top desk. "Get up."

Looking down, the smiling figure noticed the badge still spinning on top of the desk. Cutting his eyes back up to the sheriff he put his hands on the desk. "Get up?"

Clark nodded. "I'm gonna beat the hell out of you Luthor. And I won't enjoy it as much if you're already halfway to the ground."

/

48 hours earlier

Clark stopped in front of the door for a moment, hesitating as he went to knock. Taking a deep breath, he rapped twice before hearing the bellowed "Enter" from inside the office. Stepping in quickly, Clark found himself face to face with General Sam Lane once again.

The General never even looked up from his ledger. "Kent. What are you doing here?"

Clark gritted his teeth, forcing himself to look past the obvious disdain in the man's voice. "Thank you for seeing me General. I hope I'm not taking up too much of your time."

General Lane scoffed. "No, I'm sure the nation can do with me taking a break now and then instead of doing my job. What can I do for you?" Finally shutting the ledger, the General clasped his hands and looked up at the sheriff. Gesturing to one of the chairs in front of the desk, he leaned back in his own.

Clark slid into one of the chairs. "Well sir, there was something I wanted to discuss with you. About Lois."

"How are things going in your town… Littleville was it?" the General barreled ahead, ignoring what Clark had said.

Clark bit his lip again. "Smallville, sir. And things are going very well."

Reaching to the humidor on his desk, General Lane pulled a cigar from inside, offering it to Clark. Clark shook his head. "No thank you sir, I'm not much of a smoker."

General Lane arched his brow before shutting the humidor and pulling his clipper from beside it. Lighting his cigar he leaned back. "I heard reports that you went and got yourself apprehended awhile back."

Clark could taste blood now from having to bite his lip. "Someone figured to make his name by taking me out, yes sir."

"One of your own former employees, I believe? Doesn't say much for your personnel selection out there in Littleville, Kent."

Clark bit back a smirk as he replied, "Well General Lane, I'm sure you of all people can understand a former employee wanting bad things to happen to you. With as stressful a job as this is."

Sam raised his brow. "So who watched over the town while you were otherwise engaged?"

"My people did a fine job while I was gone. Most of the deputies watched over the town while Whitney and several others looked for me."

General Lane chuckled. "Yes, the Marine. Sounds like a dream team I'd want in charge of looking for me."

Popping his neck slightly, Clark smirked. "Well sir, between Whitney, our chief forensic scientist Ian, and your daughter… I'd say I was in the best hands. Wouldn't you?"

Sam glared back at Clark for a moment before taking a puff of his cigar. "So what is it that you came to see me about? I don't mean to rush, but I have important business to get to when we're done here."

Resituating himself in his seat, Clark opened his mouth just as his cell phone started to buzz. Exhaling deeply, he looked up at the General as he reached for his belt. "One moment sir, let me tell them I'm busy."

General Lane grunted. "Still haven't learned basic etiquette I see." At that moment however, his own phone rang and Sam grabbed for it quickly.

"What is it Whitney?"

"Bossman, we have a situation back at Smallville Med…"

"General Lane."

"General Lane, this is Nurse Rollins at Smallville Medical…"

Both men disconnected their calls at the same moment, eyes meeting across the desk.

General Lane was on his feet reaching for his jacket. "I can have a chopper prepped in ten minutes."

Clark was already to the door. "I can get us there faster sir." He looked back to see the General staring back at him as he picked the phone up, disbelief on his face. "Trust me, just this once."

The General let the phone fall back into place. "Just this once. Let's go."

/

The Charger pulled into the Emergency Room parking lot, tires squealing and siren blaring. Whipping into one of the spots reserved for Law Enforcement, Clark shut the engine off and was out of the car quickly. General Lane was right behind him. "Not bad Kent, considering the blatant abuse of power there."

Clark didn't even look back at him. "I don't hear you complaining. Besides, weren't you about to hijack a helicopter?"

"Sequester. Not hijack."

Both men reached the Nurse's desk. "Lois Lane's room."

The nurse in charge looked up as both of them spoke at the same time. "Who's asking?"

"Her father, Sam Lane." Clark grit his teeth as he was beat to the punch this time.

The nurse led them back through the halls and to Lois' room. As they entered, both men were stopped short by the sight of the woman they cared about lying on the bed.

Lois' left eye was swollen and bruised. Her lips were split and puffy . A nasty gash crossed the right side of her face and bruises were visible across her throat. Her arms that were visible were also covered in bruises.

Clark walked over to the far side of her bed, his hand reaching for hers but stopping, afraid it might hurt. "What happened?"

The nurse stepped further into the room. "She was found in the alley behind the Smallville Sheriff's Department. Someone driving by saw her and called 911, she was brought here immediately."

Clark shook his head. "Why didn't anyone call me before now?"

"It was… hard to see who she was at first bossman." Whitney stepped into the room, hat held in his hands. "The boys couldn't recognize her, she didn't have ID on her."

General Lane stood on the opposite side of the bed. "What do you mean it was hard to see her?"

Whitney sighed. "She was covered in blood. Her face was, and most of her jacket and shirt. She's had two transfusions since she got here."

"You're welcome by the way."

Clark looked to the door to see Lana walk in with a bandage around her elbow. "You gave her…?"

Lana nodded. "Matching blood types. I gave the first, they got the rest from storage."

Clark walked over quickly, picking the tiny woman up in a big hug. "Thank you… I can't say it enough."

Lana laughed. "You're welcome. Now let me go or the bandage is going to pop off Clark."

Clark sat her back down and walked back to the side of Lois' bed. General Lane sighed and glanced across the bed. "Get out of here."

Looking up, Clark's eyes flared again. "What?"

"You heard me. She was assaulted outside of your office, this is obviously because of you. Get out of here before I have you thrown out."

Clark didn't move from his spot next to Lois. "I'm not going anywhere. You don't get to run in from the sidelines and try to take control of Lois' life. I'm going to find out what happened to her after I know she's alright."

The General stared Clark down, his face not betraying anything. "Deputy Fordman."

Whitney looked up from his spot next to Lana at the foot of the bed. "Y-yes sir?"

"Escort Clark Kent from my daughter's room. He is not wanted here." The General looked as if he wanted to smile as he said the words.

Whitney stared at the General wide eyed, Lana made a sound somewhere between a gasp and a squeak, and Clark didn't move. Walking over, Whitney turned his back towards the General and leaned in closer to his friend. "Bossman, you know I don't want to… but he has grounds. He's got legal rights you don't, unless Lois has listed you on the forms?" Whitney turned to look at the nurse.

Nurse Rollins flipped through the folder and shook her head. "The listed next of kin is Samuel Lane."

Clark stared back at the General, then turned to his friend. "It's fine. I understand. Legalities." Looking back to the General, he crossed his arms. "Do you have a problem with her friends visiting? They all care about Lois a lot."

General Lane looked over to Lana, then back to Clark. "I don't see a problem with them being here. Within reason."

Clark gave a curt nod. "Thank you for that at least." Reaching out he touched Lois' hand gently and leaned over, barely pressing his lips against the unmarked skin near her temple. "I'll be back. Trust me."

Moving quickly, Clark walked out of the room not giving the General the pleasure of seeing him upset. Whitney walked out with him, reaching back to shut the door… and stopping short when he turned back, almost running right into Clark. "Whoa… stopped short there didn't ya?"

Clark didn't answer. He looked Whitney right in the eyes. "Can Lana stick around here for a while?"

Whitney nodded quickly. "Sure thing. As long as she doesn't sass the Army man in there. She looked pretty PO'ed when he told me to kick you out."

Clark just nodded. "Tell her thanks. I'll call mom and see if she can come by." Clark turned and walked back toward the entrance, leaving Whitney to run trying to catch up.

"Where you going Bossman?"

"I'm gonna find whoever did this to Lois."

Whitney fell into step beside him. "And bring them in, right?"

Clark looked over to his second in command, not saying a word… and then he was out the door heading for his car.

Whitney watched the door swing shut and sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. "Shit. Almost feel sorry for that bastard." Looking back down the hall he noticed Lana and the nurse standing outside of Lois' room, Lana rubbing her arm where they took the blood. His eyes met his wife's and he nodded to her slightly before he glanced at the door to the lot once more. "Almost."