A.N: There will be a bit of a pause inbetween updates. Hopefully not too long, just not as quick as you all are used to. Sorry about that, but I'm starting the Summer Camp Monday and I'm still taking my classes online. Plus I'm trying to get my Summer reading out of the way for my college transfer applications, so yeah. I be busy, yo. LOL. But I have not forgotten you. I want quality over quanity so please be patient, and don't give up on us... Thank you. As always, read and review. =] Enjoy!
Chapter 2
February 5, 2009
"Mr. Luthor", Dr. Murphy was saying, "I'm not sure why this is necessary. We don't need that suit. It won't accomplish anything."
"That suit, Doctor", he sneered, "Is the only way I'll ever walk again. Now who else had access to Dr. Ghroll's lab?"
"Tess Mercer", Dr. Murphy sighed, "But Mr. Luthor, she doesn't have the suit."
"Then who does", he asked evilly.
"Lana Lang, sir."
"Lana?"
"Yes, sir", Dr. Murphy said, "It seems Miss Lang and Dr. Ghroll were on speaking terms, even long after she'd left Smallville. She's known of the suit for quite a while, sir."
"The suit is created to absorb meteor rock, isn't it, Doctor?"
"Yes, but it won't make her any weaker…"
"Maybe not", Lex said, "But it certainly won't make her stronger. Plant the bomb on top of the Daily Planet."
"Yes sir", Dr. Murphy nodded, "Right away sir…"
"And Dr. Murphy", Lex called him back, "We're going to need one of those models we created in Reeves Dam… if there are any left."
"There's one model left sir", Dr. Murphy nodded, "We just need meteor rock to revive it."
"Then do it", Lex sneered.
~*~
"So you're planning an attack", she asked.
"Lois", Oliver said walking up to her, "You shouldn't be here right now… Clark wouldn't want you to be a part of this…"
"Clark isn't here right now, Ollie", Lois glared, "And if I'm the only one who can draw out that psycho who brought that monster to us… then so be it."
Oliver looked at her and sighed.
"What do I do", she asked nodding.
"Lois-"
"Um, Miss Lane is it", Bruce walked up to her and extended his hand, "I'm Bruce Wayne, a friend of Oliver's…"
She shook his hand slowly.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise", he said smiling.
Oliver cleared his throat and glared at him.
Bruce smirked.
"So what's the plan, boys", she smiled at Dinah, "and girl?"
Dinah glared at her.
"There is no plan", Oliver was saying, "You're not going out there."
Lois smirked at him.
"I'm sorry, have you forgotten who you are talking to", she asked sarcastically.
"No, I remember very well, thank you", he retorted, "And that's why you're not going."
"Oliver, you're not my father", she said crossing her arms, "I don't need your permission."
"Lois, you're being stubborn."
"And you're being", she clenched her teeth in anger, "Pig headed?"
"Now you're calling me a pig?"
"If the snout fits", she shrugged.
"You're unbelievable", he glared, "I'm trying to protect you…"
"I don't remember asking for your protection…"
"You didn't", he yelled in anger, "But Clark did and damn it Lois I'm keeping my promise to him!"
She opened her mouth to say something, and closed it quickly. She bit her lip sadly. She reached her arms and drew him into a tight hug. He wrapped his arms around her upper torso and leaned into her shoulder.
"You're a good friend, Ollie", she whispered into his ear before pulling away and looking up smiling at him, "But I'm still doing this."
~*~
February 5, 2009
Lex watched them on the screen as they said their goodbyes with just one look. The star crossed lovers, doomed from the start, Clark Kent and Lana Lang. He watched as she absorbed all that kryptonite, hoping for the first in all the time he'd known her, that the meteor rock would kill her in the suit. If he couldn't have her, no one could, and especially not Clark Kent.
"No", he said lowly, "No…"
But she wasn't dead. She was still alive. She still had his suit and the only lifeline he had left. He picked up his phone nearby, and dialed Dr. Murphy.
"Set up the trace", he said quickly, "Make sure they find the truck. If the meteor rock doesn't kill her, the blast will."
"Sir", Dr. Murphy asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Dr. Murphy", Lex said angrily, "One way or another Clark Kent will live without Lana Lang."
~*~
Lois folded her arms across her chest while sitting at round table, surrounded by Oliver's team. He'd been talking for what felt like hours, and she'd drowned him out almost ten minutes ago. Every now and again, Bart would kick her leg, to let her know Oliver was looking directly at her. So she'd smile and nod and he'd keep going.
Bart had just kicked her leg, but Oliver wasn't just looking at her anymore. Now he was actually asking something.
Should have made up a different code for that one, she thought.
"Um", she said, "yes."
"Yes what", Oliver asked.
"Yes, do it", she asked.
"Lois, I didn't ask you a question."
"Oh then why are you staring at me", she asked.
"I was telling you where we're going to be posted when you go into that lab", he said, "Are you even listening?"
"Um, yes", she grinned and he rolled his eyes.
Everyone else laughed and she smiled.
"Oliver, relax", she said, "I trust you guys. I know I'll be okay."
"I know that", he mumbled, "I just can't let anything happen to you…"
"You're not my guardian", she said softly standing up and walking up to him, "I appreciate it but you can't protect me forever."
"I can try", he said leaning forward on the table.
"And that's all he and I could ever ask of you", she smiled, "That you try."
"Lois, I just", he said, "It's the last thing he asked of me… and the one thing I'd rather not screw up."
"You know how many things, Smallville, asked from me before he died", she asked, "Do you even know how he thought I felt about him? I may not remember Ollie, but you told me what that witch did. And just knowing that he died believing that, well… do you know how that feels?"
"No", he whispered.
"Exactly", she said, "So believe me when I say, I have to do this. I've got to stop Zod. I've got to somehow fix it."
"Lois…", he asked, "What are you saying?"
"Nothing", she smiled, "Now… where are you going to be posted when I go in?"
~*~
She sat in the loft staring at the picture frame in her hand. It was a picture of her and Clark, the night of Chloe's wedding. Right after the ceremony, the photographer had asked for a picture of the best man and maid of honor. She'd rolled her eyes at the cliché then, but now frowned realizing it was the last photo she and Clark had ever taken together.
She bit her lip as she felt a tear slide down her cheek.
"I know you're mad", she whispered smiling slightly, "wherever you are. You are seriously pissed. I know it. But I have to do this. I can't let Zod or Lex, whoever he is, not pay for what he did to us. I miss you… I never thought I'd say this to you. But I do, Clark, I miss you so much."
She placed the frame on the desk in front of her and stared at his smiling face looking back at her.
"What if my soul-mate comes along and I'm too blind to see it."
"I don't know Smallville, I think, that when the right girl walks into your life… you'll know."
She smiled sadly.
That conversation could have easily been for her benefit too. He had been right in front of her the whole time. He'd been rescuing her since the moment she'd arrived in Smallville. He had saved her. He was the only one, she'd ever let see her vulnerability. He was her best friend. He was also her soul-mate.
What did that mean for her? Was she now destined to be alone forever? What was she supposed to do now? Settle down because it's what she had to do, regardless if it wasn't with the one person she wanted to do it with.
"Hey, how are you doing?"
She looked up and smiled.
"Hey Chloe", she said nodding toward the picture, "Just thinking…"
Chloe nodded and smiled sitting next to her cousin on the couch, noticing for the first time the picture Lois was looking at.
"I remember that day", she said grinning.
"You should", Lois rolled her eyes smiling, "It was your wedding day."
"I guess what I meant was, I remember when this picture was taken…"
"It wasn't that memorable", Lois shook her head, "Photographer wanted a photop so we posed for one."
Chloe nodded.
"Yeah, except you didn't make it easy on the poor guy", she said laughing.
"What do you want me to say", Lois laughed, "Jimmy hired an amateur."
"I was talking about Clark", Chloe smiled.
"Hey can I get a picture of the best man and the maid of honor", the photographer asked smiling, "its tradition."
Chloe and Jimmy were dancing in center of the dance floor with other guests and Lois smiled seeing everything was still going smooth.
"What about the couple, Spielberg", she asked, "You're supposed to be filming them not the extras…"
"Chloe and Jimmy sent me to take it", the young photographer shrugged, "Do you really want to be the one the puts a frown on the faces of the happy couple because you refused their only request?"
He smirked and she glared.
"Come on Lois, how bad can it be", Clark smiled from his position next to her.
"Don't patronize me, Smallville, taking a picture with you is like", she tried finding the words and smiled, "Charity…."
"Charity", he asked.
"Sure, I'm the second most beautiful girl in the room", she shrugged, "and if other girls here see me taking a picture with you, they flock over here like wild geese to try and dance with you."
"Well, it wouldn't matter because I don't want to dance with any of them", he smiled at her shrugging.
She looked at him in the eyes and saw the mischief there.
"Don't even think about it, Kent", she warned.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Lane", he grinned at her with his boyish grin. The one that turned her knees into jelly lately without warning and so she smiled to cover that up.
He held out his hand and she stared at it. She rolled her eyes and took it. She slipped forward when he pulled her tightly against his body. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, sending chills down her spine.
"Smile."
And so she did.
And now, over a year later, she and her cousin were staring at that very picture.
"I think he gave me a much harder time than I gave him", she groaned.
"I remember that too", Chloe said smiling brightly.
"Chlo", Lois said leaning her head on Chloe's shoulder, "Does it ever get easier?"
"I don't think so", Chloe said honestly, "Lois, I wish I could take this pain away from you. I'd bear it in a heartbeat."
Lois smiled. "I know you would. But I wouldn't wish this upon anyone."
Chloe smiled.
"Well, I came up here for a reason", Chloe said, "To ask you something…?"
Lois sat up straight. "What is it?"
"Well, Jimmy and I have been talking and he's moving back to the Talon", Chloe said quickly.
"And you wanted my permission", Lois nodded.
"Well, you've been staying there and here", Chloe nodded, "I wanted to make sure it was okay."
"I've been meaning to talk to you too."
"Why?"
"Mrs. Kent offered me a room here", she said slowly, "And I took her up on her offer. I'm moving to the Kent Farm… permanently."
