Spoilers: Set in season 4

Plot: Ever since her close encounter with a naked Clark, Lois has become obsessed with all things alien, much to the annoyance of her friends. To help her overcome her obsession, Chloe decides to arrange for the gang to go on a trip with a difference for Spring Break Week – spending a week with some real alien hunters who are touring Kansas seeing the sights affected by the meteor shower. What Lois doesn't realise is that she is about to have a close encounter with an alien and she does not even know it...

A/N - Jason is good, there is no back story to him.
Pete and Chloe are sort of dating but this has been awkward since he moved away
Pete knows the secret but Chloe does not...

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Clark sighed. Lois had not let up for weeks now. It was all because of that flyer she had picked up at school, asking for anyone with experiences of the unexplained kind. Lois had all but forgotten about her first meeting with Clark in the field. She had been convinced that the fires and flashes of light had been caused by the thunder storm and that Clark had fallen over, hit his head and lost his memory.

The flyer had led her to the school library where she had read everything she could about aliens, then she had progressed onto the topic of alien abductions. The fires, flashes of lights and loss of memories were now being attributed to the fact Clark had been abducted by aliens and then returned to that field when they had finished with him.

"What do you remember?" she asked him as he tried to get on with his chores in the barn.

He looked at her impatiently. "Lois, for the millionth time...I have no memories of what happened to me on that day." Luckily his parents had covered for the fact he had gone missing for a while before his reappearance. It was explained that he was away at Pete's for a while.

"I think you had your mind altered whilst you were on the spaceship, and they took away your memories."

Clark laughed, although deep down, he was worried by her prying. Lois was determined and would not give up until she had uncovered the truth.

"Lois, you're crazy. It is time you worked out the difference between science fiction and real life." He smirked.

"Do you believe in aliens?" she asked him directly.

"I have never really given it much consideration." He replied. "To be honest if you go on about it much more, I will be hoping you get a first-hand experience of an alien abduction."

Lois gave him that look. "You need to deal with the fact I am going to get to the bottom of it. I have an essay to finish now but rest assured this is not the last you have heard of this."

He knew that. Lois left, only to be replaced by Chloe a few minutes later.

Clark looked at her. "Hi Chloe, how did you get spared? She has spent the last hour grilling me again."

"Clark, I have put up with as much as you for the past three weeks. She thinks that as the curator of the Wall of Weird that I must know everything about alien abduction."

Chloe loved delving into the mystery of meteor powers, but she had not made the break-through she wanted. Lois was barking up the wrong tree asking Clark, as he had not exactly shown a lot of interest in things which could not be explained.

"I have a plan." She said.

He perked up. "I'm listening. In fact you don't even have to tell me what it is; if it will stop Lois talking about aliens, that's fine by me."

"Ok...I have booked Lois on a trip next week for Spring Break. It involves travelling around Kansas with the local alien/meteor shower fanatics to investigate strange sightings and events."

"And...how will that help exactly." he asked.

"Clark, have you met the real fanatics? Lois has nothing on them. All these people could recite every line from every X-Files episode ever made. They live, breathe and sleep the world of the unexplained."

He smiled. "It could work, if she realises how sad it is to be so obsessive."

"There is a catch though. The tour cannot go ahead without 18 participants or it will not be financially possible to hire a bus. They only have 12, so I have put some other people on the list to make up the numbers."

Clark started to make connections. "Don't tell me...I feature on this list, don't I?"

Chloe nodded. "But if it makes you feel any better, I do as well, plus...Pete."

"Pete, is he coming?" Clark started to get more interested as it had been ages since he had seen him. Then he realised it would not be such a bad idea to go as he could ensure the fanatics did not find out anything which may lead them to him.

"Who else is coming?" He asked expecting her to name a few other friends.

"It's Jason and...Lana." she announced, waiting for the fallout.

"Lana, what did you and invite her along for. Anyone but her!" Clark replied.

"Clark, she helped me come with the idea, and now Jason has been fired from Smallville High there is no reason for them to hide their relationship anymore. She has moved on Clark, maybe it is time you did the same thing." Chloe tried to give advice, but it always seemed to come out the wrong way.

He was silent for a second. "I suppose it will be worth it if Lois can move on from her obsession. How long is it for and when do we leave?"

"We leave on Monday and we are away until Thurs. You need to pay $50 for transport and we are camping but they will supply all the camping equipment." Chloe explained. "I will go and tell Lois."

"Tell Lois what?" Her cousin asked as she entered the barn.

"Lois, I was telling Clark that I think it is time we took your fascination seriously, so I have booked us all on a trip with some ET hunters leaving Monday. You, me, Pete, Clark, Lana and Jason."

Chloe did not know what reaction to expect, but she did not expect a hug. "Thanks Chlo. I am so excited. How long are we going for?"

"Four days."

Lois was hyper. "I have to go and pack. We are leaving in two days and I have to make sure we have everything." She ran out the barn.

Clark looked at Chloe. "Are you sure this plan is not going to backfire?"

Clark was seriously starting to worry about her level of excitement about this trip. Lois had spent the whole day yesterday packing and unpacking.

"I hope they have towels at the hotel tomorrow." Lois stated. "I cannot fit them in my case."

Clark smirked. "Didn't Chloe tell you...we are camping."

"Like in tents. You are joking right" She studied his face.

"No joke!"

"Damn." She sighed. "Guess I will have to unpack and have a total rethink." She ran upstairs to get sorted out.

Jonathan approached from the living room to see Clark with a smile on his face. "It is so nice to see you smile Clark."

"I am smiling through gritted teeth. Lois drives me up the wall and knows exactly which buttons to press to annoy me."

Jonathan smiled. "Well, if she annoys you so much why do you let her press them? When is Pete arriving?"

"First thing in the morning. We leave at 10am, but he said he would love a Martha Kent breakfast before we leave. He says that is the only thing he has missed since he left Smallville."

His dad's face turned serious. "I hope you know what you are doing on this trip."

"Lois is determined to find something with these fanatics so I will just make sure they don't make any major discoveries. " Clark explained.

"Ok...I sure you know what you are doing? At least Pete can help you protect your secret."

"I guess so. It will be great to see him again. I am not looking forward to seeing Lana and Jason together."

"Son, I know you love Lana but maybe it is time you accept that it is time to move on."

"That's funny. Chloe said the same thing." Clark replied. "It is not that easy. I am sure we are meant to end up together just like you and mom. I often wonder if things would have been different if I had been completely honest with her from the beginning."

His dad looked worried. "I hope you are not planning to tell her your secret to win her back."

"Why not?" Clark asked him. "Maybe I have been unfair to her from the beginning, expecting her to deal with the fact I am hiding something this major from her."

"Don't do anything rash, Clark. If I am being honest, I think you have been so much happier and settled since Lana left for Paris, and got together with Jason. "

"Perhaps I am just good at hiding my feelings." Clark replied. "I am just going to check on the horses."

Pete arrived bright and early the following morning, much to Lois's dismay. She was trying to sleep but Pete's car was loud. She got up and looked out the window to see an old modified 1980's corvette with enough exhausts and attachments to open a body shop.

She got back into bed and buried her head under the pillow to dampen down the noise but there was little hope when Clark got behind the wheel and started revving the engine as though his life depended on it.

"This is awesome, Pete." Clark told him excitedly. "This must have taken ages to build."

"One of my friends in Wichita builds them, but don't worry I only attend legal races these days."

"I wish you still lived around here. I miss having you about." Clark patted Pete on the shoulder.

"I miss Smallville but life isn't so bad in Wichita. I was thrilled when Chloe rang and asked me to come on this trip. Did I ever tell you how much I believe in aliens these days?" Pete smiled.

"You can help me make sure that they don't find anything especially Lois."

"I can't wait to meet Lois. She sounds like a real firecracker from the amount of time she spends rubbing you up the wrong way."

Clark looked past Pete. "Well looks like this is your chance." He pointed at the angry looking figure standing on the veranda.

Lois looked so pissed, but it was hard to take her anger seriously when she was stood there in her teddy bear pyjamas and bunny slippers.

"Lois, can I introduce you to Pete?" Clark said trying to test the water.

Lois approached Pete, although Clark was not sure if she would slug him one or shake his hand. Luckily for Pete, it was the latter. "Nice to meet you Pete.! Clark has told me so much about you, although he did not mention what an annoying loud car you have. Can I have a look inside?"

Pete looked at her in disbelief, but agreed. Lois climbed in the car, grabbed the ignition keys and then ran off back into the house with them, announcing on the way. "Now I am going to take a shower and get ready. I would appreciate if you did not disturb me."

"She is a firecracker, but a stunning one at that." Pete commented.

"Stunning? Are we talking about the same Lois?"

"Are you blind? How many women can pull off the pyjama and bunny slipper look and still look amazing." Pete replied.

"You can have her. Why don't you woo her and take her back to Wichita with you." He smiled hopefully.

"I am here to spend time with Chloe. I have missed her." Pete smiled. "Maybe you and Lois could get to know each other better considering you are the only two single people amongst us."

"Hell will freeze over before that will ever happen..." Clark exclaimed.

Pete looked at him, but he was not convinced...

Clark and Pete stood outside the farmhouse, all packed and ready for the drive to the school where they would meet the others and pick up the bus.

"She will never be ready." Clark smirked. "Lois Lane could not pack quickly if her life depended on it."

"Most women are like that." Pete suggested.

Much to Clark's disbelief Lois arrived at the door, all packed with only one bag.

"What the hell!" he shouted. "Don't tell me the other four are in the house and you want us to bring them out to the truck for you."

Lois made a face. "Don't be sarcastic, Smallville. I do know the meaning of packing light. Anyway we are only going for three days."

Jonathan and Martha came out. "Are you ready to be dropped off?" his dad asked as he climbed in the truck. His mom hugged them all goodbye.

Clark lifted his bag into the back of the truck but something seemed strange. It seemed to have gained quite a few pounds. "This is heavier than I remember." He said, and then looked up to notice Lois looking guilty.

He opened it up and pulled out some underwear. Pete laughed. "Whoa Clark. I have been for your friends since we were in first grade, but you never told me your secret."

Lois tried not to laugh. "Smallville, I had no choice. There is no way I can survive on one bag. I did you a favour anyway. I mean how plaid shirts can a farm boy need for three days away."

Jonathan glanced at his watch. "Kids, if we don't go soon, we will be late."

Clark threw the bag in the back of the truck in a bad mood. "Ok, let's go."

They arrived to see the others were obviously all on the bus. A young man climbed off the bus. The T-shirt read Take me to your leader...you found him!

"I would guess that he is the boss." Lois laughed.

"No, what makes you say that." Clark snapped back, obviously still annoyed by Lois's trick.

"Come on children, I hope you can agree to get on for the next few days." Pete got involved.

The man approached them. "I'm Brad, and you're late." He announced sharply. "You need to be on the bus now. We have an itinerary to keep to."

The three of them walked along the aisle of the bus like scolded children, the looks they were getting left them in no doubt that the other passengers were not impressed with their tardiness. The only three not glaring at them were Chloe, Lana and Jason who were sat at the back of the bus laughing at them.

"Have you been naughty?" Chloe asked, as Pete sat next to her and hugged her.

That left one seat for Clark and Lois. "Pete, you and Clark must have loads to catch up on." Lois said not impressed with the idea of sitting next to Clark.

They were interrupted by the sound of Brad's voice coming over the speaker, which seemed over the top considering it was a small minibus.

"Hi fellow Alienators." He announced.

Lois smirked. "Is that what they call themselves?"

Clark nudged her to be quiet.

Brad glared at her, and then continued. "Welcome to our fifth annual alien hunt! I would just like to welcome you all on the trip and set out the rules, especially for those new members joining us. Now, if you have a look at the piece of paper I am passing back now, it tells you all our ground rules."

Lois grabbed the card and looked at it. It was all about respect, listening to other people's opinions, but then she set her eyes on the 20th and last rule.

She put her hand up and Brad nodded for her to talk. "Brad, can I just ask about rule number 20. There is no way I am sharing a tent with Clark."

"Lois, is it? You don't have a choice. You must share with the person you are seated next to. After the drama of our first trip and all the constant tent swapping that went on, I decided this was the best way to keep the peace."

"It's ok. Pete and Clark can share and me and Chloe." She smiled.

"If you do not comply with these rules, you can leave the trip now. But I would like to remind everyone the $50 fee is non refundable." Brad was becoming impatient with her attitude.

Lois sank back in her seat and looked at Clark who was as horrified as her at the idea.

The bus set off. Clark and Lois were not speaking to each other leaving the others acting as mediators.

After an hour, Chloe had had enough. "Look, if you don't get on, you can leave the trip now. We have all paid for this trip and it is not fair if you spoil it for everyone else." She lectured.

Lois and Clark looked at each other and agreed. "Ok, we will leave this until we get home." Lois replied.

"So now that is sorted out." Brad spoke loudly to silence the squabbling at the back of the bus. "Right, the route we have decided to take this time is to travel north east towards Salina today and then stay overnight at Kanopolis State Park where there has been numerous UFO sightings. Then Tuesday morning we travel west towards Ellis, another hotspot and stay overnight at Cedar Bluff Lake. Wednesday we head south west towards Smallville. We will camp overnight en route and then I have a surprise for you. Sources have told me that they believe a real life alien is living as a human less than 100 miles from Smallville. I won't give any more details at the moment, but just think, how amazing it would be if we can get the first one on one interview with a real intergalactic traveller."

At the very mention of a face to face alien encounter the cheers went up in the bus. The only one who didn't was Clark. He was more concerned by the sincerity in Brad's face when he made the announcement. What if he wasn't the only alien on Earth...