Plot: Clark's trust in Lana is shattered after the Bizarro/Lana incident. Lois has just told Oliver it could never work. Both are drawn together by their situations; however events soon tear them apart. Will guilt and emotional turmoil keep their feelings under the surface or will they confront them...

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Lois was sitting in a darkened apartment, tucking into the one thing that usually made her feel better – Rocky Road Ice Cream, however on this particular evening it was not having the desire effect.

Clark had heard from Oliver about the latest Lois confrontation. He decided to head over to see how she was coping with the break up. Maybe he wasn't the best person to give relationship advice at the moment but he could offer her a shoulder to cry on.
His mind could not deal with Lana living with that monster for a month without realising he was a doppelganger. He wondered if this was a foreboding that their relationship was not meant to be.

He got to the apartment and tapped on the door gently...

"Enter at your own caloric risk." She sniffed, she had obviously been crying. Lois acted tough but deep down she was a very insecure, emotional mess.

Clark smiled. " How you doing?"

" Aside from the metaphor, I was hoping rocky road would help, but nothing, nada. Not even a dent. You know, I thought Grant would help me get over Ollie, and if that didn't end badly moment I was with Ollie again, all those feelings just came rushing right back up."

" Maybe it can still work between you two." Clark offered.

" You don't know Ollie like I do. There are parts of him you've never seen."

"That's a given." Clark smirked to try and cheer her up.

"I mean, sides of him." She repeated. " He's got this one side that I'm not sure I can live with."

" How would you know if you don't give it a chance?"

" We're not you and Lana. We're not the perfect couple. We are not destined for each other."

" Lois, this isn't like you. Normally, when things get challenging, that's when you get interested."

"This is different. My dad was a general. And he cared about me. But I learned really early that his role in the world was a lot more important than being a father. And you know what? For good reasons. And Ollie's life is demanding, too."

" Lois, just because someone's life has great responsibility doesn't mean your life has to take second place."

" Of course it does, Clark. Can you imagine what it would be like to look into somebody's eyes and know that their destiny is so much greater than yours that you will never compete? You will always be left behind."

" That would be hard for anyone, but."

" No, I can't be left behind one more time. You know, where Ollie's life is going, there's not room for me in it, and I know he'd never admit that, so... I had to. I just, um... I can't face another heartbreak down the road." She started to sob, Clark held her tightly.

After a few minutes she loosened her hug to look at him.

"Besides, you know, why settle for hot, rich, and famous when I can hang out with you?" she lightened the conversation but Clark could see the devastation in her eyes.

For some reason he felt her pain. Perhaps it was because of what he was going through with Lana, or maybe it was something else.

What he did next was inexplicable. He saw a rogue tear rolling down her cheek, so he moved his lips to intercept it. He gently made contact with her cheek. Instead of moving them away, he started to move his lips towards hers. Eventually they made contact. The feeling of the first touch was electrifying make him push his lips harder onto hers, to make the feelings more intense.

Lois panicked at the first touch of lips but soon she was drawn under his spell. She started to respond by kissing him deeper. Thoughts of Oliver were long gone, now she was overwhelmed by need. As insane as it sounded, she now suddenly needed the one person who she fought constantly with – Clark. Her hands started to wander across his hard torso up to his chest.

His hands were also exploring her stomach and moving upwards. Her cardigan soon fell victim and ended up on the floor, as did Clark's blue jacket. The tee shirts were almost next. but suddenly Clark heard footsteps. It was Chloe.

He pulled apart from Lois, grabbing his jacket and giving the cardigan back to her.
"We can't" he announced.

Clark could see the hurt and confusion on her face by what had just transpired, then Chloe burst in.

"Oh god.." Chloe said as she saw the state of Lois. "Are you ok? I heard what happened with Oliver."

Lois's expression went cold and resolute. "Clark, could you leave us alone?"

The look on Lois's face as he walked out of the door would stay with him forever. She hated him now...

Clark walked home. He did not run as he did not want to have to face Lana. His head was awash with conflicted feelings and emotions and he needed time to process them. The answer to one question had become foggy in the last twenty minutes. Was Lana the one he was destined to be with?

He walked through the door to a very quiet house, only to be greeted by Shelby with his tail and head down. It was times like these when he realised he missed a full house with his mom, dad and even Lois. It had been a strange atmosphere at the Kent Farm since his mom left and Lana moved in. Now with Kara missing in action, it was even worse.

He walked through to the kitchen and saw Lana all dressed up as though she was going out and then he noticed the bag.

"I will come and get the rest of my stuff tomorrow. I am going to Chloe's to stay for a few days until I figure out what to do." Lana announced.

Clark was about to stop her but then a niggling doubt in his head began to grow bigger and bigger. Should he do what he usually did and take the blame for Lana's behaviour or should he let her walk out of the door and even out of his life for that matter.

"Lana, I'm anything but perfect, and I know that it's hard to live with me, especially when... not everyone can handle the double-sided life I live."

"Clark, I think that you doubt whether I'm the one you're really going to end up with."

"I can't tell you the future, Lana. Honestly, I don't know what's gonna happen to us but for the moment I think a break will be good for us." He had planned to ask her to reconsider but then spoke with his heart.

"So you're breaking up with me."

"No, taking a break. I need time to get my head around you being with that monster."

"I don't know what else to say to you. I thought that he was you." Lana defended herself.

"Lana, you're supposed to know me better than anyone."

" And that's why you're here with me right now."

" But it was easier with him, wasn't it?" Clark pushed her.

" Yes. It was easier, Clark. He was more affectionate. He was more understanding. Is that really what you want to hear? I can't even look at you without you taking it the wrong way."

" Because you're looking at me like you wished I was someone else."

" Every transgression that I have made, you have answered with a hypocritical judgment. No one can live up to your self-righteous standards. Do you have any idea how it feels to wake up every morning, knowing that you're going to fail in the eyes of the only person you've ever really loved?"

" And you're the one who fell in love with Lex... and then fell for that killer. I don't think it's me you can't face. I am not taking the blame for this one, Lana. You made your choices and you need to accept some responsibility for them."

"Ok, if that's how you feel. We are over." She grabbed her bag and ran out of the door.

Clark thought he would feel guilty but he didn't, he felt relieved, no longer suffocated by the spectre of Lana. He could see by her expression that she was expecting him to blame himself and then come running back to her, but it was not going to happen.

Lana stormed through the door at the Talon apartment. "Chloe, I'm staying here for a few days." She hadn't even noticed the red faced Lois sitting next to Chloe.

"What's up Lana?" Chloe was surprised by her arrival.

Lana took one look at Lois. "What's wrong Lois. I heard Oliver dumped you. Well if it is any consolation, Clark and I have split up and we have been together so much longer than you and Oliver."

"What happened?" Chloe asked.

"I'll tell you later, Chloe." Lana looked at Lois. "I really need to talk to you in private. Sorry Lois but there is so much you don't know about my relationship."

Lana burst into tears. "Lois..." she sobbed. "Is there any chance that you could move in with Clark for a few days. I hate to point this out but this is my apartment after all and you were only ever a guest."

Lois had no wish to stay and listen to the latest trials and tribulations of Lana's love life but she did not want to talk to Clark either. It was obvious by these developments that Clark had come onto her because he had rowed with Lana.

She was not in fit state to look after herself, never mind nurse Clark with his broken heart. However when tossing up her two options, the Kent Farm would win everytime. She could just avoid him for the next few days, how hard could it be?

Clark slumped in his chair at the Farm and wondered what he would do next. His dad had died, his mom had moved away, Chloe had Jimmy, Lana had left but strangely the thing bothering him the most was the fact Lois hated him.

Why had he shifted the basis of their relationship by kissing her, what had compelled him to do it. He could not work it out but he needed to give her space. The kiss had not been what he had expected. It had been electrifying and full of desire on both their parts. He and Lana rarely kissed these days, in fact since they had moved in together there had not been much of anything.

Lana always seemed preoccupied with something, or to be at Aunt Nell's and he was worried if they pushed things to far he would hurt her. That was what really hurt him, the fact Lana had slept with Bizarro and not realised his true identity. Why hadn't she questioned the whole change of personality. Chloe had tried to warn her but she would not listen to reason, remaining adamant that he was the real Clark.

He could still remember clearly the look on Lana's face when she realised she had been living with Bizarro for almost a month, but in retrospect was that look due to embarrassment, horror or was it disappointment because she loved the monster more than Clark. He tended to believe the latter after Lana's latest confession of her feelings for the monster.

Suddenly the Kent house felt very cold and lonely. He decided he needed to try and find Kara. Chloe and he had tracked her but there was no sign. He wondered if it was because she did not want to be found. After all they had not had the closest relationship since their first meeting six months ago. He was just about to have a look again at the stuff Kara had left, in case he had missed some clue to her whereabouts.

Just then there was a knock at the door. He went downstairs convinced it was Lana coming to make another attempt at giving him a guilt trip. He was shocked when he opened the door to see Lois standing at the door with a hopeful smile on her face,

"Hey Smallville, fancy a lodger?" she asked coyly.

Clark looked at her. "Actually this is bad timing I have just broken up with Lana."

"And guess what, I'm the fallout." She joked. "Lana has kicked me out of the apartment so she can talk to Chloe. So in a roundabout sort of way it is your fault that I am homeless."

Clark smiled. "Ok, then. Take the guest room."

She barged past him and headed up the stairs with her bag. "The other six are in the car, if you don't mind."

Clark felt better already. The old Lois was back and he realised he had missed her.

After taking the rest of the belongings upstairs he went back down to see Lois already settled on the sofa with the TV on.

"Back to normal, are we?" he joked.

Lois patted the seat for Clark to join him. "I want to talk to you about the new house rules I have imposed."

"Wait a minute, you have house rules, but this is my house."

"Clark, do you want an easier life without me moaning, I am sure you had enough of that with Lana."
Before he had the chance to answer she jumped in. "I thought not..." she handed him a piece of paper.
He read it:

No moping about previous relationships, move forward.
If you have secrets, the other person must respect that you may not want them to know.
Only Rock Road ice cream allowed in the house
Clark must walk Shelby and groom him to reduce risk of allergies
Chores split 50-50 (well only house chores!)
No walking around the house naked
The toilet seat to remain down and cap to remain on toothpaste.
No mention of what happened at the Talon or repeat performance.

He laughed, took the pen and signed it. "About what did happen at the Talon..." he started.

Lois panicked, pointed at the list and Clark shut up immediately. "I would love a coffee since you are offering." She smiled.

Clark got up and headed to the kitchen. He remembered the good things about living with Lois, even though she could be totally annoying most of the time.

He went back with the coffee and took a seat next to her. "Stay as long as you want."
"I will be leaving tomorrow. I have a story I need to follow." Lois explained.

"What story?"

"Secrets..remember!" Lois smiled at him.

"How long will you be gone?"

"A few days at least. So you will have your peace and quiet restored for a while. This journalism thing is getting to me, I'm hooked." Lois explained.

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow!"

"Are you flying?"

"Stop asking questions Clark."

"I only wanted to know because I was going to offer to take you to the airport." Clark remarked.

"Ok, I am flying and a lift would be great. Well, I'm beat. I am going to head to bed. Sleep well." Lois took off upstairs.

Clark was worried by Lois's job as it tended to get her into trouble. He was thinking about following her but knew it would be invasion of her privacy so he backed off.

Lois lay in the bed. She loved the smell of the farm, well not particularly the one which emanated from the cows, rather the smell of fresh grass. She fell asleep to the sound of the crickets in the nearby pastures.

Next morning Clark drove Lois to Metropolis Airport. "So where do you check in?"

"That doesn't matter. You can just drop me here. That will be fine." She smiled and touched his knee as she climbed out of the truck. He moved his hand to meet hers.

"Lois, thanks for being a great friend" and then he moved his hand so he could climb out of the truck and help her with her bags.

Lois kissed him on the cheek and walked off to check in. He didn't mean to but he x-rayed to see which desk she was heading towards. He noticed she was going to number 31. He did a quick scan of the information board which showed the destination to be Detroit.

He had to let go of her, she was a grown woman, so why was he suddenly obsessed with her safety?

Clark headed back to the Farm. He was back to square one for the next few days at least. The house was empty. His breath of fresh air had gone, and Lois certainly was that. He had kissed her, knocked her off her kilter and she had looked at him with such hurt when he had rejected her due to Chloe's arrival.

Yet one day later she had breezed into the farmhouse, bringing warmth and humour with her. Gone was the disappointment and it was replaced with laughter and serenity.
In the same position Lana would have dwelled on it and make him pay for it for years. That was the difference between Lois and Lana. Lois was selfless without even realising it. He just hoped she would extend her stay at the farm past a few days because she was the tonic he needed at the moment.

Clark took this time as an opportunity to decide what he was doing with his life but two days later he was no closer to making a decision. He had not heard from Lois since she left but then he reminded himself that he had no reason to hear from her.

They weren't exactly a couple, but he sometimes wished he did date someone like Lois. She was beautiful, sexy, funny and caring - what else could someone ask for in a partner. His mind started to delve deeper into this idea but his thoughts were interrupted by a phone call from Lionel. He was needed at the hospital.

" Lionel, how is he?" Clarked asked as he arrived.

"He's in a coma. Thank god we got him medivac'd back here from Detroit. The neurosurgeon managed to remove the bullet. He says that there is a very strong possibility that Lex... may never regain consciousness." He could hear the emotion in Lionel's voice.

" I'm sorry." Clark replied until he suddenly backtracked over Lionel's words. "Did you say Detroit?"

"Yeah Detroit? Listen, I have a friend in Detroit, a cop. He called me when I found out about Lex. He let me borrow this." He showed Clark a cell with a photo of Lex and Kara talking.

" Kara's alive? That's Lois's cell isn't it." He looked at Chloe who nodded.

"That picture was taken less than 12 hours ago but there is no sign of anyone else." Lionel explained.

"Kara's wearing a bandage. She may be hurt, which means she doesn't have her powers. And whoever Lex was dealing with wasn't playing around, which means that if Lois and Kara were with him... then they're in danger. We need to find them."

Chloe looked at Clark knowing exactly how he would react to her suggestion. " I'll use my healing powers on Lex, and he can tell us where Lois and Kara went."

"Chloe, the last time you used your powers, I pulled you out of a morgue refrigerator." Clark tried to talk sense into her.

" Yeah, and then I walked out of there with a clean bill of health and some cold feet."

" Chloe, if you use your powers again, you could die, permanently."

" Or I could just be adjusting to the growing pains. I mean, we don't know. Nothing happened when I healed Jimmy. We have no choice. The only clues we have to where they might be are trapped inside Lex's mind."

Two hours later they were in a lab. Clark had another idea which would not threaten his health. He had asked Lana for some help, something she would not let him forget. Clark was going to be linked to Lex's mind to see if he could delve into the events surrounding the shooting. It was not without risks but he needed to find Kara and Lois. He could not lose either of them.

He was transported to a diner he did not recognise. Lex was talking to Kara. He listened in for a few minutes and it was obvious that she had suffered amnesia as she had no clue who she was.

Clark's anger rose when he realised that Lex was playing the white knight, swooping into save Kara and no doubt turn her into a lab rat. Kara had decided to accompany Lex back to Kansas, and went to tell her boss. Just then Clark heard a familiar voice.

" Quite the charmer, aren't you?" Lois fired at Lex.

Lex just smirked. " You're a little out of your way for a club sandwich, Lois. What the hell are you doing here?"

" Well, I figured you weren't in Detroit for the electric-car show, but I never would have guessed a secret rendezvous with Clark's cousin."

"I'm helping her."

" I never heard that one before, Lex."

Lex smiled. " Look, I don't expect you to understand."

" You're right. I work better with visual aids. And now that I think about it, Clark does, too." She took her cell and took a photo so she could send it to Clark.

Lex grabbed the cell. "Who made you Clark's little lap dog? Why isn't he here with you. Shows how concerned he is for Kara."

"Don't play that one Lex? Clark does not know I am here and I am sure he will fly out the moment he finds out about Kara."

"You're acting a little desperate to attract him aren't you. He can't stand you Lois and he'll never see past Lana."

"I know that...Lex and that is why he will never discover my true feelings." Lois admitted to Clark's astonishment.

Suddenly there was a scream and Lex and Lois responded.

Seconds later Clark was transported to a scene where Lex was lying unconscious on the ground. Clark noticed a GPS handset next to him and noticed a flashing dot. It must have been the tracker on Kara. It gave him the information he needed.

After a struggle he extricated himself from Lex's subconscious. He sped to Detroit just in time to take out Finley.

Speeding back to Smallville he now had two urgent matters to deal with - Kara's safety and Lois's secret feelings...