And just like that, he was gone. He disappeared into the endless starry sky with the graceful exit that only Superman could accomplish. For a moment, Lois Lane found her mind drifting toward the past. The mind and heart do this funny thing at times, where you forget the heartache. You forget the pain. All that remains are the happy memories, the laughter and the love. She was in that place... for a moment.
She blinked herself back to reality and spun on her heel to face her son who appeared to be in a similar trance as he gazed out of his bedroom window into the night sky. She raised an eyebrow and grinned before he retreated into his bedroom with a giggle. She secured her robe around her chilled body and made her way back into her home. Knowing that he was well made the notion of sleep a possible one. After tucking Jason in one final time for the evening, she tiptoed into bed, where Richard White lay, sound asleep. It was time to reach out for help to get her life back on track and with the help of a certain billionaire extraordinaire, that's exactly what she'd do.
Superman quietly slipped into the same elevator shaft he had broken through only hours earlier during his quest to rescue Lois and Jason. He found his suit, coat and shoes laying atop of the lift where they'd eventually come to rest after a lengthy decent. It was a wonder they hadn't been shredded after his quick transition from mild-mannered reporter to superhero. After scooping them up, he lowered himself into the elevator car and performed a quick change. He pressed the button to the floor of the Daily Planet bullpen after composing himself. His appearance had to very Clark-like. He wasn't sloppy or disheveled but he also wasn't "super". He adjusted his glasses and placed a goofy, grin on his lips as the elevator doors opened.
He stepped off the lift and did a quick scan of his surrounding area, ascertaining his privacy. An elderly man operating the floor shiner briefly glanced Clark's way but didn't bother to acknowledge his presence. Clark offered his customary goofy smile and wave in hopes of making a new friend but the gentleman didn't look up. Clark's shoulders dropped with a slight head shake and he resumed his short trek to the bullpen and finally to the supply closet where his suitcase was hidden. I've got to get a place of my own, he thought as he released the latches to case. He knew that he'd be in a pickle if someone stumbled onto the spare suit he had tucked away in the case's secret compartment. He changed into a fresh set of clothes and made his way to his desk. Let the apartment hunt begin,he thought to himself. He needed to get that important detail squared away before laying down the roots he once only dreamed of. He had a son. A beautiful, happy, bright eyed son. He felt a smile form against his lips at the thought of Jason and closed his eyes as he honed his sense of hearing on the young boy's heartbeat. He could tell he was sound asleep once more. "Sweet dreams, my son", he whispered softly with a widening grin. He slowly opened his eyes and resumed his search until the wee hours of the morning; until he found what he was looking for. Home sweet home.
