The Key To A Chew Toy
Shelby was scratching at the screen door, wanting to go out, when Clark came down stairs after answering a few hundred of Kara's questions. Opening the door, he followed Shelby out and sat on the milking stool Lois kept dragging to the porch to rest her feet on when she's sitting on the bench swing.
Leaning his head back against the house, he wondered if there is something about him that attracts inquisitive females. Closing his eyes, he let the weariness he felt pull him into a light almost sleep that was interrupted by man's best friend.
Shelby was noisily gnawing on a new rawhide bone. Suddenly he tossed it aside, pounced on it, and batted it with his front paws a few times before settling down to gnaw some more.
"What have you got there, Shelby?"
Looking toward his tall friend, he let out a snort and went back to playing.
"It looks new."
Shelby picked his chew toy up and turned around to start gnawing again.
Smiling at his canine friend's determination, Clark closed his eyes and tried to doze again, only to feel a pain in his neck as the sound of a familiar engine stopped in front of the farm house.
He didn't bother to look as very familiar footsteps approached.
"Hey there, Shelb's, enjoying Clarkie?"
Without opening his eyes, Clark answered. "Lois, you can see he's nowhere near me."
"I know, Plow Boy." Came her reply as she sat on the bench swing and put her feet on Clark's lap. "He's playing with the chew toy I gave him. We call it Clarkie."
Wearily, he looked at her. "We?"
"I held it out and asked if he wanted to play with Clarkie. He took it, so it's name is Clarkie."
The simpleness and almost innocence of her answer, combined with his already drowsy state led him right into her clutches. "And what do you call your chew toy?"
Kicking off her shoes, she wiggled her toes in a silent question for a foot rub. When he complied, she relaxed and smiled sweetly.
He turned to face her and began using his thumbs on the sole of her right foot. "Why did you come out here?"
"Not happy to see me?"
"No…" Realizing that was wrong he amended, "Yes…" That sounded wrong also. "What did you ask?"
Staring at him, she gave him a big 'only for you' smile and asked straight, "Are you happy to see me?"
Finding just the right spot on her foot he pressed in with his thumb, as her eyes widened, he answered. "Yeah, I guess I am."
"Wow, Smallville, you could do this for a living."
"I don't think so."
"No, really. Where did you learn how to massage feet?"
"I read a book."
"It must have been recent."
"Why do you think that?"
"If you ever did this to Lana, she never would have…" She stopped herself as Clark stopped and held up his hands.
"I'm sorry Clark. I promise no more talk about the ex.!"
"OK, Lois." Was all he said as he started massaging her toes.
They sat there for several minutes with no sound between them except for an occasional sigh from Lois. When he started massaging her heels she decided to say something.
"Clark."
"What?"
"You asked."
"What did I ask?"
"What I call my chew toy."
Glaring at her, he raised her feet until she had to grab the back of the bench to keep from sliding off.
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The End
A/N: While not being a spoiler, this story was inspired by a line Lois said in 7x02.
