Now that Superman had returned the people of Earth fell back on their old habit of calling upon him whenever they needed help; whether it was to put out an oil fire, stop a bank robbery, or rescue a cat from a tree, no circumstance was too great or small to stop the people from crying out "Superman, help!" However, what many quickly forgot in the wake of his return was that for the last five years they had relied on one another for aid in their time of need.
June 2007. Clark Kent had been sitting at his desk, pretending to pore over some old notes while stealing glances of Lois at her cubicle. Even though he'd been back for almost a year Perry more often than not put them on different assignments, instead of re-assembling the crack reporting team of Lane & Kent. Clark suspected that this was Richard's doing, while Perry simply informed him that Lois' writing style had evolved while he was away, and that more often than not a partner was a hindrance rather than a help to her. Either way, it did make the times that they did get to work together all the sweeter.
"Lane, Olsen, my office, now!"
"Yes Chief!" cried Jimmy as he scrambled out of his chair.
"Coming Chief," said Lois, a little reluctantly.
As soon as the door closed behind the pair Clark tuned in to their conversation. He was giving them an assignment…an award ceremony across town for a notable surgeon at Metropolis General. They had to leave now if they were going to make it in time…
The door to Perry's office swung open "…And Olsen, make sure you get me some good photos of this one! I want every speech, every bigwig, every handshake…in short, everything! And keep it in focus! Your last batch was sloppy!"
Jimmy cringed at that last remark as he slunk out of the office behind Lois. "Yes Chief; anything you say Chief!"
Lois very adeptly retrieved her jacket, purse and handheld audio recorder all in one fell swoop before making her way over to the elevator. Jimmy, of course, bolted in the opposite direction to retrieve his camera and camera bag, knocking over a young page in the process, before scrambling to catch up with her at the elevator. Poor guy, thought Clark as he watched them exit the Planet's offices, he thinks he can move at super-speed.
Two and a half hours later Clark was just about to wrap up his story when he heard a rumbling sound coming from the West, followed by a few short screams. A second went by in which he focused more intentionally on the suspicious sounds. More screams, this time louder, reached his ears, as well as the crashing of cars and the collapse of debris from several large buildings. He quickly discerned that there was an earthquake in progress out in Southern California, and the people needed rescuing. Clark hastily saved his story to his desktop before scurrying to the broom closet to change and fly West, where he was needed. As clichéd as it was, he couldn't help but think to himself that this was indeed a job for Superman.
Right around the time that Superman was zooming over Colorado, Lois and Jimmy found themselves back on the street hailing a cab to the Planet. The ceremony they had attended was honorable, hailing a physician who had done much for the community, but it was also dull and predictable. After the last shot had been captured and the last quote from a senior official had been collected the duo decided it was time to call it quits.
