Title: SUPER

Disclaimer: I do not own anything. All rights belong to Warner Brothers and DC Comics. Though original characters and plotlines are of my invention I am not profiting from this story.

SUMMARY: It's been 20 years since Superman has been seen flying the skies and saving the day. There has been much speculation over the course of the years as to why the man of steel has hung up his cape. Many have tried to make sense of the mystery but it remains unsolved, left with nothing more than a few half-baked conspiracy theories. Could it have been the mysterious death of star reporter Lois Lane that sent the hero packing? And whatever happened to Lois's mild mannered husband Clark Kent? Now all that remains of the hero in blue are the memories of those he's forgotten. Suddenly more of the world's heroes are beginning to disappear, and a great evil appears to be looming in the horizon. Without heroes who will save us? Along comes Abby Olsen, a quirky journalism student at Metropolis University determined to get to the truth and find justice. Her discoveries lead her to Smallville, Kansas where she meet's JP Kent the only son of Lois and Clark. After the death of his Mother and the disappearance of his Father, Jonathan Perry Kent has lived a life of recluse on a farm, raised by his grandmother Martha. Abby and JP immediately clash as her abrasive nature annoys JP, and his simple farm boy mentality really gets under Abby's skin. However, Abby is starting to wonder if there is more to this farm boy then meets the eye. The two must put aside their differences and work together to solve the World's greatest mystery, and along the way they find their own destinies are more intertwined then they could possibly imagine.

There really is not enough coffee in the world, Abby thought to herself as she downed her third cup of the night. The caffeine seemed to have no effect on her as her eyelids began to droop. She figured she must be developing caffeine intolerance due the extreme amount she had consumed over the past few months. Abby looked around the library and realized besides a small group of Pre-Med students huddled in the corner she was the only one still up at and working. She glanced at her watch, and realized it was 4am. No wonder she felt like she was about to pass out from exhaustion. Abby Olsen was a first year journalism student at Metropolis University and while most of her fellow students spent there Saturday nights partying, Abby had a life plan to stick to.

Step 1: Become the youngest editor and chief in the history of the MET U Gazette

Step 2: Get into the Bull Pen at the Daly Planet

Step 3: Get the corner office on the 8th floor and become the greatest reporter the Planet has seen since Lois Lane.

Step 4 ?

Well Abby hadn't gotten that far yet.

Therefore she usually spent her weekend's knee deep in the library archives researching her next great story. Unfortunately due to her lowly freshman status the only great stories assigned to her were fluff fillers that usually fell on page 10 between the gossip column and the weather. Her current assignment a heartfelt piece on the University animal rights group protest over the school mascot Billy the Bulldog. Apparently Billy has an impending Vet appointment to get his balls chopped off. Needless to say the Club is not happy about it. Still despite its ridiculousness Abby was determined to make it the best Billy the Bulldog story this side of Kansas. After adding some last minute touches, and using a must needed spell check Abby decided the piece was brilliant and emailed it to her editor. Abby began to close up shop when an update on the Daily Planet website caught her eye:

"Daily Planet Remembers Superman!-Today marks the 20th year anniversary since the world last saw The Man of Steel"

It's been twenty years but the man in blue still makes headlines, Abby thought to herself. Abby wasn't even born before Superman disappeared but she took enough history classes over the years to know of his many adventures. In fact her favorite Uncle Jimmy used to be a photographer at the Daily Planet during Superman's rein. Abby would fall asleep listening to him regal the heroic tales of the Man who could fly. Listening to his stories as he described working alongside the famous tag team Lois and Clark was the reason Abby decided to become a reporter.

Abby began to scan the article and came across a picture of a beautiful brunette woman sporting a blazer and a Daily Planet badge. Underneath the caption read "Rest in Peace Lois Lane."

Abby felt a twinge of sadness as she remembered the pained look that always graces her Uncle's face whenever the subject of Lois and Clark comes up. Her Uncle always described his two best friends' as more then friends; he always said they were his family. After Lois's death, Jimmy searched for months for his best friend CK. Tragically, after the police investigation closed and Clark Kent was presumed dead, Jimmy packed away his camera and left the Daily Planet for good. Abby always believed the reason was because the memories her Uncle associated with the Planet were just too sad. He now lives a quiet life in Smallville, located a few hours outside Metropolis. He teaches English at the local High School and lives a pretty loner existence. Abby only got to see her Uncle when he came to Metropolis for Holidays and special occasions, but they kept in frequent touch emailing almost every week.

Abby gazed at the photo of Lois and noticed how she really was every bit as beautiful as her Uncle Jimmy described. It was easy to see how even a Super hero like Superman could fall for her. Of course it was only speculation that the reporter and the hero were ever in fact item, Lois was married after all. Uncle Jimmy told Abby once that he never bought it for a second that Lois and Superman were having some sort of sordid affair as the tabloids stipulated. He always said that Lois respected Superman and was even perhaps a bit infatuated with him, but she loved Clark. He told her that he had never seen two people more in love then Lois and Clark. He said even though there constant bickering was legendary they were so in sync it was scary, they looked out for one another and always had each other's back no matter what. They were the perfect team.

Abby remembered seeing some of her Uncle's pictures of the late great Clark Kent. While he was a bit on the nerdy side and in desperate need of a hair stylist, Abby could see the sex appeal from behind his wire-rimmed glasses, plus his articles for the Daily Planet were stellar so he was definitely smart. Still despite Clark's noble attributes Abby could hardly blame Lois if she did in fact have a little thing on the side with Superman. Even though that red and blue number was not exactly fashion forward his smoldering good looks stood the test of time. It will take a lot more than twenty years for that dark hair and baby blue eyes to not be considered the epitome of sexy. Abby always had a bit of a schoolgirl crush on the red and blue alien boy, well her and most of the female population, probably a good portion of the male's too.

Still, as much as the World still seemed to associate the hero as some sort of God it was always done so with a hint of bitterness. It was a truth that Abby herself could not quite understand because she never actually saw Superman fly, or save a child from a burning building. He was the world's greatest savior, yet he abandoned us, disappearing without a trace. He never even said goodbye. Abby remembered the horror in her Mother's eyes when she watched two airplanes crash into the Star Tower in Star City on the television. She cried for weeks yelling to Superman as if he could hear her.

"Why didn't you stop it?" she asked. "You are the only man alive who can fly, yet you abandoned the sky when we needed you the most." That was the day Abby's Mother lost faith in heroes, as did many others. Not to say that other hero's haven't had their moments of glory. Who could forget Batman's noble saves in Gotham City? Or Aquaman's quest to keep our planet's ocean's thriving? Batman's identity was discovered five years ago as the stealthy billionaire announced his retirement from wearing the mask. While he is always there to lend a helping hand to other heroes, he's grown older and can hardly be expected to continue swinging from building to building. Aquaman still shows up from time to time when he is needed, but now that he is King of Atlantis it makes it a bit difficult to make it to Metropolis, even if he is a really fast swimmer. Despite all the heroes best efforts they just have not thrived the same way they once did under the leadership of Superman. Abby remembered an article she read in the Daily Planet a few years ago citing an interview with Oliver Queen, also known as the Green Arrow. Ollie stated that why he felt that dressing up in green leather and shooting arrows was a calling, it was not necessarily his destiny. He said he believed it to be the right thing to do and if he had the power to help people he would do it. But he said he was only human and that is why the world needs Superman.

"He's not like the rest of us" Oliver stated.

That quote always hit home for Abby but mainly because it made her sad. Abby always wanted to think that Superman was more Man then God. How lonely it must have been for him to be the only one left of his kind, the last son of Krypton. Abby always liked to believe that Superman just put on the cape as a job but then came home to someone who loved him, and maybe she was the reason he gave it all up. She knew it was a ridiculous notion but sometimes the romantic side came out. Whatever his reason may have been for leaving Abby believed that he was still out there. Of course many people believe him to be dead and gone but she still had faith that one day he would save the world again.

Abby glanced at the watch again as it blinked a bright 4:30 am. "Great" she thought to herself. She had a writing class at 9:00 am leaving very little time to sleep. Abby began to pack up her stuff, throwing books in her tattered back-pack and headed for the door. Just has her hand grasped the handle she heard an earth shattering scream.