A/N: OK, so I'm really nervous about this story..So be nice, please..It's different...
Summary/Disclaimer: This is loosely based off a book also called Crazy For You by Jennifer Cruisie. So I own nothing..I'm just interweaving a Superman story and a loose interpretation of her awesome book, into one. Lois decides she's going to keep a dog she accidentally hits. A story about how making one small change can set off chain reactions that can change your life. This is an AU/Futurefic.
Pairings: Clois,(yes Lois starts out with someone else in the beginning, but I get rid of him pretty quick ) Chlollie
Rating: T
Warning: This isn't beta'd so grammar mistakes are abundant. Sorry
Chapter 1
Wednesday Night Pizza Dinners
"I'll be home at seven." Lois told her significant other for the millionth time. He smiled at her, leaning in the doorway of her office. "Just making sure." He said sweetly, flashing his too perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth. This should have made Lois feel warm inside. He was checking up on her. He was being the attentive boyfriend that every woman wanted. However, at that particular moment, Lois wanted to take a swing at him.
It was Wednesday. He knew every Wednesday she left work an hour early to go have pizza with Chloe and Clark. This had been a tradition long before him. But, then again he was just being Phil- considerate, caring, understanding, Phil. The dipshit really was the perfect boyfriend.
Lois watched as he checked his watch. "I'll go bring the car around for you." He stated. Lois smiled appreciatively, "thanks."
It really was nice of him to walk all the way down to the garage and warm her car up and bring it to the curb. Lois felt guilty for wanting to sock him a second ago. She was really, very lucky to have him. At least that's what she kept telling herself.
She imagined him taking the elevator to the basement, pushing through the revolving doors. Then walking confidently across the icy Metropolis streets to the parking garage, not the least bit worried about falling or slipping. Nope. Not calm always in control, Phil.
Not the Office big shot. The Daily Planet's darling. He had been the most successful sport's writer for the past five years. He was at the top of his game and everybody loved him.
So why was Lois having doubts about their relationship? He did, do some things that didn't quite sit right with her. For instance, after Phil found her car he was going to use his key, instead of hers to unlock the door. That still bothered her.
Two years ago, when they first started dating, Phil made a copy of her car and house keys without her permission. She didn't make a big deal out of it because since then he had been spending hundreds of dollars to make sure her gas tank was always full. And it was illogical to be mad at a guy who fixed the garbage disposal at her old apartment, without being asked.
She was being ridiculous. Phil was a great guy. She could have ended up with someone like her father, an emotionally distant man who never had time for her. Or someone like, her best friend, Clark Kent: the commitment phobe.
He hadn't been in a serious relationship since his divorce almost ten years ago. He had married his high school sweetheart, Lana Lang the summer after they graduated Smallville High. And it had lasted about six months, before they both realized they wanted different things out of life. She wanted to stay in Smallville and have kids. And Clark, Lois could only guess because he never talked about it, didn't want that. So they split, amicably, in fact, Lois was pretty sure they were still good friends.
Lana remarried about five years ago. She lived in Paris and had two kids. And Clark was still single. He hardly ever dated. Lois didn't understand why, though. He wasn't bad looking by any stretch of the imagination. He was probably the most decent man she'd ever met. And had a certain dorky charm, about him. And he made her laugh. Phil never made her laugh.
But then again Clark would have probably dumped her after a couple of months out of boredom. And dumping someone out of boredom was an awful thing to do. If it wasn't she would have gotten rid of Phil a while ago. ,
Her cell phone buzzed on her desk. She didn't have to read it. It was Phil, telling her that 'her chariot awaits,' that's what he always texted her when he brought the car around. Every. Single. Time. And every single time, it irritated her for some reason.
Lois gathered her bag and papers. She had to remember to make an appointment with the head of sanitation tomorrow for her story. This should have excited her. The prospect of a new story, exposing the secrets of the city sewer systems and finding out whether or not the factories were taking the proper precautions to make sure the city's water supply was kept sanitary.
But she felt nothing. Seven years ago, the old Lois Lane would have come up with a crazy half-baked scheme to break into the sanitation office and look through their private documents. The old Lois would have told Phil to screw off and demand he relinquish the keys she never said he could have. The old Lois would have laughed in her face when she told her she was making an 'appointment.'
Lois sighed. She missed that Lois Lane. What had happened to her?
********
Phil had offered to drive her to Chloe's, but Lois refused. She needed to be alone. She needed to think. She needed to take a step back and seriously reconsider the choices she'd made the past couple of years. She loved her job. She relished in being a reporter. It was her element, her niche. She was damn good at it, too. Or at least she used to be. Lately, it seemed like she was in a rut.
She needed a change. In college, Lois had vowed before Chloe and Clark and God that by the time she was thirty she was going to be the Daily Planet's top reporter. She won her first Kerth award when she was twenty-three, and back then it seemed like nothing could stop her. She was making strides at her job. She moved up from the basement's bullpen to having her own corner office in a matter of three years.
Then, she met Phil and at first everything seemed to be going her way, but-
Lois was so caught up in her own thoughts she didn't see the dog until it was too late. "Crap!" Lois cringed as she felt, more than heard a loud 'thud' against the passenger side of her car. She slammed on her brakes as her eyes darted to the review mirror; there in the middle of the road, was large, dark dog-shaped lump.
'No!" She hadn't meant to hit him. He'd come out of nowhere! The brunette sprang from her car and sprinted toward the poor animal. She crouched down next to it. It didn't seem to be hurt too badly, at least there was no blood. That was a good sign, right?
"I'm so sorry." She whispered. The golden retriever's warm, liquid chocolate eyes looked up at her as if saying help me, save me, fix my life! The reporter felt her heart lurch for the mutt. "Don't worry. No one I've hit has ever died." she assured it. "You're going to be fine. I'm going to take care of you."
Lois scooped up the large dog into her arms and carried him to her SUV. She gingerly placed him across the back seat. For a moment, she observed him under the dim illumination of her car light. He was a beautiful dog. Despite the clumps of dirt and grimy smudges covering her fur, she could still tell his coat was a deep shade of amber. All he needed was a bath. She placed a hand on his stomach and gasped. His ribs were protruding through his skin. The poor animal probably hadn't eaten in weeks!
Lois had never considered her self to be the maternal type. No matter how hard Phil tried to convince her she'd make the perfect housewife. She wasn't good with kids and not even the Jaws of Life could budge her from her Daily Planet office. But at that moment the twenty-eight year old woman couldn't deny the instinctual want to protect and nurture the creature lying in the back seat of her car.
When she was sure the dog was secure and comfortable, Lois situated her self into the drivers seat. "It's OK. I'm going to take you home with me. Everything going to be fine," she reassured the dog. But first she had to meet her friends for pizza.
Lois glanced at the clock on the dashboard. She was already almost a half hour late. Hopefully, her pregnant cousin wouldn't be too upset.
The animal whined in response. Lois started the car and sped off.
Lois parked on the curve outside the Queen's penthouse. She bit her lip and twisted around to stare into the baleful eyes of her new dog.
She couldn't leave him in here. That would be cruel. Lois exited the vehicle and opened the trunk of her car. She had to have a rope or something, right? She rummaged through the contents, which mostly consisted of the completely unnecessary roadside assistant kit Phil had gotten her one Monday afternoon, six months ago.
"Just in case," he had told her smiling. Lois had tried to grin back, but she was pretty sure it turned itself into a glare. She had already had a roadside assistant kit. True, it wasn't as lavish as Phil's kit, but what the hell did she need a flare gun for, anyway? Did he think she was going to break down on a desert island?
Aha! Eureka! Lois pulled out three stretchy cables with hooks on either end. They were the kind of cables you used to hold things down on top of your car. She'd make it work.
Lois tentatively opened the back door at looked at the dog. The possibility of it being dangerous never crossed her mind until that moment. She was pretty sure he wasn't rabid.
"Hey, boy," she soothed hoping the dog was in fact, male. The dog acknowledged her presence and started to stand up. Lois stepped back a little bit and let it jump out onto the pavement. It sat down by her feet, tongue hanging out of its mouth, gazing at her expectantly.
"Well, you seem to be trained." Lois observed, cautiously attaching one of the cables around his neck. It was a little big, but it would have to do. Lois patted the dog's head, "good, boy."
The brunette hooked another cable onto the first and the last onto the second and viola! A makes-shift leash!
"C'mon," Lois tugged the leash gently, beckoning the mutt to follow her, and it did.
Lois led the dog into the elevator. Chloe and Clark were going be quite surprised.
********
Lois opened the door of the elevator and stepped into the Penthouse. "Hey Lo," Clark greeted he turned his gaze down and furrowed his eyebrows, "and dog?"
"Yeah." Lois smiled brightly "where's Chlo?"
"I'm right- Lois what the hell is that!" Chloe was so taken aback she almost dropped the tray of cheese and crackers. Clark came to the rescue and gently took the plate from her.
"Is there a guest bathroom I could use?" Lois asked trying to sound casual. "Preferably one with a big tub?"
It took Lois and Clark a half hour to wash and dry Lois's new furry four-legged friend. Clark was there just in case Fido didn't like water and someone had to hold him down. However, the dog was more than happy sitting in the middle of the oversized Jacuzzi tub being gently messaged by warm soapy water. Lois was careful not to get soap in his eyes or ears.
After, the wash the dog shook the excess water off his fur and generously sprayed Lois and Clark. "Arrgh!" Clark exclaimed. Lois's giggle turned into a sneeze.
Lois grabbed a fluffy, oversized towel and started rubbing the dog's fur dry. The sensation must have felt good, because not one minute after Lois started patting the creature dry, it immediately lied down and rolled over on its back "Well," Clark laughed, "He's definitely a boy." Lois smiled and grabbed the blow dryer from the cabinet under the sink. She didn't want to mutt running around the Penthouse, wet, Chloe and Oliver probably wouldn't be happy about that.
Chloe was setting the pizza boxes down on the small table in the kitchen when Lois and Clark and the dog finally came strolling through the doorway
"Finally," Chloe commented.
"Sorry," Lois said, "I wanted the mutt to be clean for dinner." She exchanged smirks with her cousin.
"Well, I'm starved." Clark sat down in his usual spot at the kitchen table.
"Me too." Lois took the seat next to him, "T.G.I.W."
Clark raised his eyebrow at her.
"Thank God it's Wednesday." She smiled.
"Boo." Clark shook his head, "that was a terrible joke."
"Shut up."
"Well, let's get this Wednesday night pizza dinner started then." Chloe took a big gooey slice out the 'Antonio's' box.
They always had 'Antonio's pizza.
Wednesday night pizza dinner was a tradition the three friends had been sharing for almost ten years. It went back to their college days. Even when Clark took off on his two year 'round the world trip following graduation, they still kept the tradition alive. He would call from wherever he was or sometimes set up a live feed over the Internet.
They had only missed a handful of Wednesday night pizza dinners. When Chloe and Clark were both on their respective honeymoons and when Clark's father, Jonathon Kent passed away, cutting Clark's trip abroad short.
Wednesday night pizza dinners were a chance for the three friends to catch up on each other's lives. No spouses, girlfriends/boyfriends, or any other kind of 'outsiders' were allowed. This was their time together.
"So," Chloe said casually. "I'm just going to come right out and ask, what's with the dog, Lo?"
"Well," Lois began a bit sheepishly. "On my way over here I accidentally hit him-"
"With your car?" Clark interjected in a shocked tone.
"No, with my fist." Lois snapped sarcastically. Clark rolled his eyes.
"I just couldn't leave him in the middle of the street," Lois said.
"So, what are you going to do with him?" Chloe asked taking a bite of her pizza.
Lois gnawed on her bottom lip thoughtfully and observed the dog at her feet. He wasn't begging for food he just wanted to be near her. She had been wrong about the color of his coat earlier in the car. It was even more beautiful than she imagined. It was the color of autumn. A deep reddish-brown highlighted with ale colored undertones, shiny and soft. He looked even more radiant surrounded by the green décor of the kitchen.
"I'm going to keep him," Lois told her friends.
Clark cocked an eyebrow. "How does Phil feel about that?"
Lois's face fell. Oh, right him.
"Uh-er I don't know," she admitted frowning. She didn't even know if Phil liked dogs or cats or any type of animal. She turned her head away from the table and sneezed, again.
"Lois, you can't keep him. You're allergic!" Chloe pointed out.
"The marvels of modern medicine my dear little cousin. I'll just go to the doctor and they can stick me with a needle or give me some pills or something." Lois replied scratching her dog behind the ear. "I'm going to keep him. He's mine."
"What are you going to call him?" Clark asked.
"Shelby."
The name just came to her.
"Why Shelby?"
"Because that's his name." Lois answered simply. She tore a small bit of pizza off her slice and fed it to her new dog. "Good boy, Shelby." The dog rubbed against her thigh in reply. Lois took the gesture as a sign that he liked his new name.
"Does Phil even know about the dog?" Chloe asked.
"No." Her cousin replied then quickly changed the subject. "So enough about my life." Lois said directing the conversation toward Chloe. "Quit stalling Chlo, what type of bun is in your oven? Are Clark and I going to have a godson or a goddaughter?"
Chloe conveniently took another bite of her pizza as her friends stared her down. She swallowed hard. "Actually, I decided I want to be surprised." Clark and Lois exchanged looks, both biting back groans. She had changed her mind- again.
"Ollie wants to be surprised to." The pregnant blonde defended. But she said it in such a way that Lois knew Oliver was going to be surprised whether he wanted to be or not.
Lois sighed exasperatingly. Chloe was never this indecisive before she was pregnant.
"It's healthy though, right?" Clark asked.
"Yes. Very healthy." Chloe smiled and rubbed her small bump affectionately. "But I'm getting fat. Lois we're going to have to go shopping for maternity clothes this weekend. I can only fit into my sweat pants. It's really annoying."
"We can go on Saturday." Lois said, "Phil's got to fly out to go to a game this weekend, so I'm free."
"Speaking of Phil, how are you two doing these days?" Chloe ventured.
Lois quickly twisted in her seat and redirected the conversation to Clark.
"So, Smallville? Anything new with the cows?" Lois smirked.
He gave her a look. "Nope. Same old. Same old." He replied.
"Smallville, do you really want to be a farmer for the rest of your life?" Lois asked curiously. They had both studied journalism in college and the only thing Clark had done with that degree was a few dozen free lance articles one his trip around the world.
Clark looked a bit taken aback by the question. Lois couldn't tell if he was seriously considering it or if he was just humoring her.
"I don't know." He finally answered sincerely. Before she could ask any follow up questions he rose from his seat, "Speaking of the farm-"
"Well, you and Chloe are sure channeling segues tonight-" Lois interjected. Clark ignored her.
"I hate to cut this Wednesday night pizza dinner short, but I've got some things to do at home." He kissed Chloe and Lois on the cheeks before making a quick exit.
"That was strange," Chloe, commented, when she heard the elevator door shut.
"Well, this is Smallville we're talking about," Lois pointed out.
"No, I mean it was strange how fast you changed the subject when I brought up Phil. Is everything OK? I mean really OK."
Lois patted her dog. "Yeah. Everything's fine."
********
Lois also left Chloe's house a little early. She wanted to stop by the pet store before it closed and pick up some basic supplies for Shelby. She grabbed a bag of dog chow and a chew toy and a couple of dog bowls and a collar and leash. That would have to do for now. She'd come back tomorrow on her lunch break for the rest.
Lois pulled into her parking spot infront of the apartment building she and Phil lived in. Their lease didn't allow dogs, especially big dogs. She was going to have to sneak him up and hope Mabel, the landlord, didn't see. Lois put her newly purchased leash and collar on Shelby.
"OK boy," She said opening the back door to let him out, "you have to be quiet." A thought suddenly occurred to Lois, she could use the fire escape! Yes, that was it! She grabbed her bags and snuck around to the side of the building, dog in tow. The brunette carefully lowered the ladder to the fire escape. She didn't have to go that far, she and Phil only lived on the third floor.
"Come on, Shelbs." She coaxed tugging at the leash. At first the golden retriever hesitated, unsure of how to approach the metal ladder. But after a minute he decided he was going to at least take a stab at climbing the strange looking contraption. Lois watched as he leaped onto the first step and used the momentum to climb the rest of the way. She had to let go of the leash so she didn't choke him as he rushed up the steps.
But, like the good dog that he was, he waited patiently for his new owner on every landing. He didn't move until he saw her start to climb first. What an intelligent dog, Lois couldn't help thinking proudly to herself.
Once they made it to the third landing Lois lifted the window and let herself and Shelby inside. Phil would have had an aneurism if he knew she liked to keep this window open during the day. He was always telling her how dangerous the city was and if she didn't lock every single entrance anybody could come in and hurt her, if he wasn't around. And she had let him talk to her that way. Like she was a fragile little china doll. Like she was damsel in distress that needed saving. Why had she let him do that?
Lois didn't have time to ponder the question for long, because as she and Shelby were emerging from the bedroom, her boyfriend was opening the front door. "Honey, I'm home," he called.
Lois took a deep a breath.
"Hi." She said brightly.
He kissed her on the cheek. "You'll never guess what Perry-" He stopped mid sentence upon seeing Shelby.
TBC
********
A/N: OK. Tell me what you think. Honestly. I need some feedback. Cuz if it sucks I'll delete it and we can pretend this little faux pas never happened…So please Review- Good or Bad. Thanks! But you know, be nice about it, if it's bad. I have a fragile ego.