Doe For President

Folc4evernaday | Rated: M | Chapter 1

Two Months Later…

Lois fingered her husband's hand gingerly as she leaned back against the thin sheet that covered the exam table. This was it. In just a few minutes they were going to see their beautiful child once more on the ultrasound and hear his or her heartbeat…and hopefully find out if it was a boy or girl. So much had happened over the last few months.

Clark was still struggling to regain his powers. He'd never gone so long without being at one hundred percent. Superman had been missing for two months and people were beginning to talk. After the incident with Randy Goode and the rumors being thrown around about her and Superman's 'affair,' she had kept the announcement of their little Lane Kent's existence under wraps with just family and friends.

They still hadn't told her parents yet. Her parents had been traveling and would be coming back in town this weekend. Hopefully, she'd be able to tell them the baby's gender when they revealed the pregnancy to them. It had been a hard few months…

She still was dealing with the aftermath of the accusations from a lot of the paparazzi regarding her relationship with Superman. Clark had been struggling with it as much as she had. Despite the press conference a few months ago there were some that just wanted to believe the worst…

Clark blamed himself. If he was still able to BE Superman he'd have been able to nip everything in the bud, but now he couldn't… He could barely fly a few inches off the ground or light a candle… He said he would be okay…That being Clark Kent, her husband and father to their child was all he needed, but she knew it was killing him not being able to do what he was born to do.

"Okay, let's see if baby wants to cooperate today," the technician teased as she squeezed the warm gel on her small bump and rolled the ultrasound wand over her bump.

"This is it. Sure you don't want to place bets…" Clark whispered, teasing her as he kissed her cheek.

"Healthy baby," she said quietly.

"Healthy baby," he repeated.

The sound of their child's heartbeat filled the room. Lois took a deep breath, sighing heavily as she tightened her grasp on Clark's hand. She never thought she could love someone so much without meeting them. This was her and Clark's child squirming around on the screen and from the looks of it …trying to wave at them. "Honey, look…"

"Looks like someone is waving 'hi' to mom and dad," the technician grinned back at them. She turned to look back at the screen, taking some pictures as Lois and Clark watched in anticipation. "You look to be right at twenty weeks…"

Lois smiled back at Clark. It had taken both her and Clark by surprise when they'd learned she was already twelve weeks along when she'd had her first appointment after the attack from Randy Goode. It definitely added to the apprehension she'd felt about impending motherhood but there was also something so amazing about seeing their child for the first time…a child she and Clark had created.

"…everything looks healthy. Do you want to know the gender?"

"Yes!" Lois and Clark said in unison, grinning at each other a moment before turning back to the screen.

The technician smiled, "Well, let's see here…"

Lois gazed happily at the ultrasound picture in her hand as they exited the office. "A boy…"

"I know," Clark whispered in amazement, placing his hands on each side of the small bump where their unborn child was growing.

"A little boy…" she grinned back at him, happily.

"Our son," he kissed her softly.

Later that day, Lois stared at the walls of the courtroom shakily. It had taken them two months to get here. There were so many things she'd rather be doing than sitting in this courtroom.

"How does the defendant plead?" The judge asked.

"Guilty, your honor."

Lois watched in disbelief as the woman she and Clark had come to know as Samantha Roberts entered her plea for attempted murder. Samantha had made both her and Clark's lives a living hell two months earlier. She had worked with Randy Goode in trying to slander Superman's reputation by fabricating a smear campaign accusing Lois of having an affair with Superman.

The desperation with which Randy Goode and Samantha had pursued the campaign was what had landed them here in this courtroom today. Samantha had pulled a gun on both her and Clark and attempted to kill a potential witness against her. Jimmy had luckily intervened, stopping the situation from escalating out of control and helping to distract everyone so Clark's secret was still safe.

"Do you think he'll decide on the verdict now?" Jimmy whispered in her ear.

Lois shrugged, looking back at her young friend. She was no wiser to what the judge's decision would be than he was.

"Samantha Roberts, do you understand that by pleading guilty you are waiving your right to a speedy trial by a jury of your peers?"

"Yes, your honor," Samantha nodded.

The judge glanced at the file in front of him, then looked back up. "I'm ready to give my ruling."

Lois looked at Jimmy with a half smile. 'That was fast,' she mouthed.

Dr. Klein placed ten paper clips in various positions on the counter of his lab. After assuring himself that the paper clips were secure, he nodded at Superman. "Melt the paper clips." He watched in anticipation, but nothing happened. "Uh, I meant you can start now."

"I am starting," Clark replied through gritted teeth.

"Oh," Dr. Klein sighed, realizing Superman was attempting to melt the paper clips but didn't appear to be having any effect on any of the paperclips.

"Forget it," Superman shook his head, pacing around the lab. "It's useless. They're never coming back."

"Superman, don't get frustrated. You've never had this kind of exposure to Kryptonite before. It's going to take some time."

"How much time?" he asked. "Everyone is asking questions! I've been out of commission now for almost two months!"

"I don't know," Dr. Klein shrugged his shoulders. "Are you able to do anything right now?"

"I can do this," he said, floating about an inch off the ground. "Pretty pathetic, huh?"

"No, no," Dr. Klein soothed. "It's a start."

A woman that everyone had come to know as Angela Cross made her way through the smoke-filled bar, looking for her partner, Mr. Smith. They were supposed to meet regarding their plan to destroy the Daily Planet's famous reporting duo, Lois Lane, and Clark Kent. Unfortunately, it seemed Mr. Smith was nowhere to be found. "Ms. Cross?" An unfamiliar voice called out from behind her.

She turned around looking for whoever had called her name. "Yes?"

A tall man with curly brown hair and a crisp blue suit approached her with his hand extended towards her. "Pleased to meet you, I'm Leslie Luckabee."

She scrunched her nose at him, uncertain who he was and how he had recognized her. "Who are you?"

"I'm sorry," Leslie apologized. "I'm Mr. Smith's partner." He motioned to the table behind him, "Shall we?"

"Probation?! Time served at Shady Brook?" Lois shrieked as she stomped down the stairs of the courthouse. "Are you kidding me?"

"The judge said—" Jimmy began.

"I know what the judge said!" she snapped. "Of all the pea-brained, ignorant, feeble-minded…" she muttered. "The woman almost killed us, and they let her off with probation?"

"Hey, she had to go to Shady Brook," Jimmy chipped in. "That's something. She's obviously disturbed."

"Yeah, right, so what happens when they discharge her?" Lois asked.

"I…"

"Exactly," Lois said, "She gets off scott-free."

Echoes of maniacal laughter could be heard through the halls of the Metropolis Sanitarium. Some laughed with the voices while others were frightened. Samantha scanned the hallway she was led down. Her attorney had urged her to take the insanity plea and serve her sentence in the Metropolis Sanitarium rather than the Penitentiary. He had promised she'd be released whenever the doctors found her mentally fit to rejoin society.

Another echo of laughter filled the hall. She just wasn't sure if she could remain sane in a place like this.

The guard behind her laughed, "You think this is bad? You should see Arkham in Gotham City."

Across the hall, Tempus yawned in boredom as he listened to the laughter-filled halls. "Doesn't this bother you?" his cellmate asked, agitated.

"He'll be out in a few minutes," Tempus remarked dryly.

"How do you know?" His cellmate then rolled his eyes and snapped sarcastically, "Oh, I forgot. You're from the future."

"Not 'from'…I'm a part of the future. Your present is my history. I always loved history…I'm going to miss it when I'm gone."

"Gone?"

"Yes, I have to return to my time to face the penalty for my crimes."

"Like robbing that bank?"

"That, and kidnapping, attempted murder… I tried to kill Superman as a baby, you know?" He stood up, ignoring the man's doubtful look, and glanced at the wall of his cell. "The Peacekeeper should be showing up any moment now."

"If this is all true, then why are you telling me?"

"Because you are, in a word, Looney Tunes," Tempus replied with a smile.

"Looney Tunes is two words," the man said.

"Not if you say it fast."

"How do you know this peacekeeper guy is going to show up?"

A window appeared in the cell, revealing a man in his early 60s dressed in a dark red robe. He had white hair, pale skin, and piercing blue eyes. "Citizen Tempus, I am Andrus, peacekeeper of the future Utopia. I have a warrant for your extradition. I will read from the list of charges."

"I don't know. How did I know he was going to show?" Tempus grinned at his stunned cellmate and struck him in the head, causing him to fall to the ground in pain.

"I see you haven't changed your ways, Tempus," Andrus reprimanded.

"I know. I know. Crimes against humanity, blatant disregard for human life, blah, blah, blah…" A sinister look came over his face. "Can we just go?"

"I leave in your place this replica." Andrus pressed a button on a small silver device, and another Tempus appeared on the bed. "This replica will keep the people of this time period from asking too many questions." Andrus stepped into the time window with Tempus and pressed a button on the device once more.

Tempus looked over Andrus' shoulder and pointed. "What's that?"

Andrus, turning back to look at Tempus asked, "What's what?"

Tempus hit Andrus upside the head, and the elderly man fell inside the time window as the window closed.

Angela Cross laughed "You really think purchasing the Daily Planet will work? It's been attempted before. Stern won't sell to ANYONE."

Leslie smiled, taking a puff of his cigar as he leaned back in his chair. "Well, he hasn't received an offer from me."

Clark stood in an empty room, taking in his surroundings. He was alone and uncertain of where he was. A light glowed in the middle of the room, revealing a large statue of a man's fist sat on display. He was alone.

A brilliant flash of white light enveloped the room, and Lois was there with him. "Lois?"

She opened her mouth to speak , but nothing came out. He looked at her in concern. Something was wrong. She began to drift away. He ran towards her but was unable to reach her. "Lois! No!"

She continued to drift away; just out of reach. An invisible force kept him from her, from his family. "No! Lois!" A mysterious man appeared in the shadows behind her and pulled her through a window that had appeared, taking her from him.

"Clark!" Lois shook his shoulder, trying to wake him. "It's a dream," she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his eyes shoot open.

"Lois?"

"I'm right here." She reassured him, placing a hand on his bare chest. His breathing was heavy; beads of sweat poured down his back. He slowly became more alert of his surroundings, reassured that she was there with him. He breathed a sigh of relief as he sank back against the headboard, pulling her with him. He held her close, placing a kiss against her temple.

Nightmares. They'd been haunting him ever since the ordeal with Randy Goode. He would awaken, calling her name—just as he had tonight. He never seemed to recall the details of the dreams.

"Lois…" he rasped out in between shallow breaths.

"I'm right here." She repeated. His body relaxed against her touch, and she rested her head against his chest, holding him close. "Clark—"

"I don't know," he said solemnly before she could finish her question. "I can't remember."

"It's okay."

"No, it's not," he muttered. He then turned his attention towards her and looked at her in concern. "Are you okay? I didn't…?"

"No." She reassured him. "I'm fine; the baby's fine. You just startled me," she reached her hand up to caress his cheek, reassuring him that she was indeed fine.

He tilted her chin with his hand to look at her. She smiled weakly when she saw the love and concern in his eyes. "I don't know what I would do if anything happened and…" He wrapped his arms securely around her, pulling her towards him.

She guided his hand to the small bump on her abdomen where their child was growing. She smiled up at him. "It was just a dream." She leaned up to kiss him, caressing the sides of his face as she pulled him into a deeper embrace.

Franklin Stern sat in his office, looking over the final legalities of the contract before him. "So, you want to buy the Daily Planet, Mister—?"

"Luckabee. Leslie Luckabee." The man held out his hand to Franklin. "I would very much like to purchase the Daily Planet. Just name your price."

Tempus exited a time window, a rolled-up poster in hand. He walked down the streets of Suicide Slum. On a nearby telephone pole, a sign advocating "Garner for President" in large letters was posted in large letters with a picture of President Garner in the middle. Tempus eyed the poster critically then unfolded the poster in his hand and placed it over Garner's poster. The new poster read, "John Doe for President."

He walked away with a smile, leaving a homeless man to stare on in astonishment.

The newsroom was filled with chaos as reporters scurried about, chasing leads and trying to make deadlines. Perry White smiled as he walked through the bullpen, content that the Daily Planet would be making the deadline for the evening edition. He walked over to Lois and Clark and motioned for them to follow him.

They quietly followed Perry into his office. "What's up, Chief?"Clark asked.

"Security guard." Perry handed them a file.

"Security guard?" Lois asked.

"Jumped to his death about twenty minutes ago."

"What?"

Clark read through the information in the file. "Malcolm Garrett. Age thirty-five. Worked at the Metropolis Communication Towers' Satellite Relay Station for fifteen years as head of security."

Perry nodded. A long pause fell between the trio, and he looked at them expectantly. "Well? What are you still doing here? Page one news story! Get!"

"Right," Lois nodded, grabbing Clark's arm as they headed out. "Well, I guess we can get caught up on the run."

The day dragged on with very little evidence pointing to anything but suicide in Garrett's death. The police had closed the case, but Lois was convinced there was more to it than that. Officer Garrett had made plans with friends for the next week; not the actions of a suicidal man. Clark was consumed with his guilt over Officer Garrett's death. He was convinced he was to blame for not hearing the cries for help.

"Clark, it is not your fault. You couldn't hear the cries for help. There's nothing you could have done."

"Lois, I still feel guilty. I was given these powers for a reason: to help. Now, I can't even do that anymore. What if my powers never return? I'll be stuck in this limbo forever."

"Clark…" She gently stroked his cheek and pulled him into an embrace.

He kissed her forehead lightly and pulled her on his lap. "You can't blame yourself. You nearly died. My God, I'm counting my blessings that you didn't." She took his hand and placed his hand on her abdomen. "You are alive, and our baby is healthy. Don't push so hard. I know this has to be frustrating."

"Lois…" She knew he was going to argue with her further. A knock at the door interrupted whatever argument was on his mind.

"I wonder who that is." Lois got up to answer the door with Clark right behind her. "Mother!" Lois exclaimed, surprised to see her mother on the other side of the door.

"Oh, hi, baby!" Ellen pushed her way past Lois and Clark, entering the townhome with two grocery bags in her arms. "I know you two must have gone through so much these past few months. I just got into town and figured I'd check on you. I still cannot believe that awful woman. You must have been mortified to find out someone was watching you while you were…oh, my, I would be devastated."

"We're fine, Mother, really." Lois said, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. Discussing the incidents from a few months ago was not what she wanted to do.

"Nonsense. Now, I thought I'd cook up some …."

"Uh, how about if we just order in? You just got back into town, and I really don't want you overworking yourself, Mother." Lois really didn't want her mother to cook for them. She loved her mother, but Ellen's cooking was worse than her own.

"But—"

"No 'buts.' I insist," Clark replied, moving Ellen Lane out of the kitchen.

"So, where's daddy?" Lois asked, trying to distract Ellen from her cooking project while Clark called for take-out.

"Oh, working. We just got back yesterday and he got a new partner: Miza? Or, was it Mesha? I can't remember. Anyway, he's working on some project, 'Breasts in a Bottle'…No, I'm not making this up." Ellen continued to ramble on.

"Uh-huh."

"They'll be here in twenty minutes," Clark joined the conversation, standing next to Lois.

"Well, that's too bad, Mother. We were actually wanting to have you and Daddy over…." Lois glanced at Clark with a smile, "…and share some news."

"Really? Why? What's wrong?" Ellen asked panicked.

"Nothing's wrong, Mother."

"We had some news that we wanted to share with you both," Clark replied.

"I guess we'll have to tell you both separately," Lois shrugged her shoulders. "How do I say this? When I was in the hospital a few weeks back the doctors did some tests, and we found out..."

"I…I I…I…I…Oh, God, it's not cancer is it…You're Aunt Liza had that…Oh, no, no, no…." Ellen rubbed her temples, trying to ease the anxiety that was building in her head.

"No, no, nothing like that," Lois reassured her. "You remember when I fainted a few months ago?"

"Yes. You were arguing with that awful Barry Dunning. That man has no shame! The way he kept hounding you…I admire you for not knocking him out, Clark. Okay, I'm sorry. I'm interrupting again. You were saying?"

"Right. Lois passed out, and I took her to the hospital. The doctors ran some tests to find out why she had passed out."

"What was it?"

"Well, they said I was dehydrated…." Lois explained.

"Lois, I've told you a hundred times you've got to slow down…" Ellen chastised.

"I passed out from the dehydration and all the stress I was under."

"Well, I can imagine. Having your marriage dissected by the media can be stressful for anyone. I know when your father and I split up, the people at the hospital were constantly gossiping about his affairs and my drinking. It was horrible!" Ellen shook her head at the bitter memory.

"Anyway, so they ran a battery of tests on you and…?"

"And the tests came back with some interesting results," Lois said, savoring the suspense for just a moment longer.

"Well?" Ellen pressed impatiently.

"Lois is pregnant." Clark beamed.

"Pregnant?" Ellen gasped, covering her mouth, "You mean I'm going to be a…?" She looked at Lois and Clark for confirmation. When they nodded, she whispered inaudibly to herself, closing her eyes to savor the moment. "A grandmother? Really?" She got up from the couch and embraced both Lois and Clark, tears of joy streaming down her face. "Oh, I'm so happy for you two! We have got to get started. We have to plan the nursery and the baby shower and…"

"Mother, slow down," Lois said, feigning patience.

"Lois, you only have nine months to plan," Ellen countered.

"Well, actually its closer to four…" Clark interjected.

Lois nodded, "The OB said I'm about twenty weeks now based on the last ultrasound."

"Four?" Ellen repeated. "Lo-is! You waited until you were TWENTY weeks to tell me?"

"If it makes you feel any better I was twelve weeks when I found out," Lois interjected. "I'm sorry. You and Daddy have been out of town the last few months…You didn't exactly leave any good contact information…"

"Well, we wanted to leave WORK here in Metropolis," Ellen explained. "So if memory serves me right you know what the baby is at twenty weeks…"

Clark grinned broadly, tightening his arms around her waist. They hadn't told anyone else yet. He was ready to burst. Lois grinned back at him, sharing his enthusiasm. There was no way she could wait. "Yes, we are having a little boy…"

Ellen placed two tentative hands on the small bump below Clark's hands. "A boy?" Lois nodded enthusiastically. She wrapped her arms around the both of them, holding them close.

The streets of Metropolis were dimly lit by the occasional street light. Tempus checked his watch and smiled to himself. He pulled out what looked like an ordinary tape recorder from his jacket pocket and spoke into the microphone:" Attention, people of Metropolis. John Doe is your new best friend. He can do no wrong. He is making changes for a better and newer Metropolis. Oh, yeah, and John Doe is a darn nice guy." He returned the device to his coat pocket and continued along his way.

Across Metropolis, the echo of Tempus's voice could be heard through the phone lines….

TBC...