Clark had gotten up early and cut his hair like Chloe suggested. He had to have a pair of scissors made out of Kryptonian metal made up at the Fortress. He got it cut to what he thought was a good length and flew back to Smallville. He found his mother and Chloe at the kitchen table having breakfast.

Martha looks up when Clark entered. Thank god he cut his hair. Chloe had filled her in on the plan. She wasn't sure they could pull it off, especially now, with his eyes that striking colour. Maybe coloured contact lenses, no the heat vision would melt them. Wait, glasses. He had worn glasses before when he recovered from losing his sight. Perhaps she could have a pair made with a tint that would hide his eye colour. She could do it while Clark and Chloe were out shopping, make it a surprise.

Chloe eats her breakfast. She is nearly exploding with excitement. She has her friend back and what's more if this worked she could bring Metropolis its saviour. The truth was the good guys were losing and it needed someone extraordinary to save the city. "So Clark ready. Busy day ahead. Whole new wardrobe"

Clark looks at Chloe nervously. Sure he wanted to help but come on, make over. "Sure Chloe. I'm ready whenever you are"

Chloe finishes and she and Clark leave. Martha gets up and goes on the hunt for those glasses. She knows she had kept them somewhere. She knows someone who could add the tint to the lenses. She similes. Maybe the three of them could pull this off.

Clark is getting changed into a 3 piece suit. He thinks the waistcoat is a bit over the top. Chloe had picked it out. Wait is this slightly too big? He checks the label. It's a whole size too big. "Chloe" Clark sticks his head out the curtain.

Chloe walks up to Clark "What?"

"It's a size too big"

"Of course it is. So you can hide.." Chloe leans in and whispers "your other suit under it"

Realisation hits Clark "Oh right" Well he supposes that that might work.

Clark finishes changing and walks out. Chloe looks him over "Perfect" She then turns to the assistant "We'll take half a dozen"

Clark rather alarmed "Chloe no. I can't ask you to pay for all this"

"Nonsense besides you can pay me back when you start work at the Planet"

Oh that. Clark still wasn't sure about that. Wait a minute "What do mean when? Not if"

"Oh you'll get the job. Perry White's the editor now. You remember him"

Perry White. Oh yeah. He had come through Smallville. Despite his pursuit of Clark for a story, Clark had seen he was a good person.

Chloe continues her story "Well anyway after Lex sold the Planet they were only a few decent reporters left. Perry was the most senior so the new owners made him editor. He's done everything he could to hire honest reporters. I'm afraid they aren't as many of us as there used to be. Perry believes in delivering the truth no matter the consequences. As I remember he likes you"

"Well I wouldn't go that far"

"You don't need that Clark, your work is good, Perry will think so especially after I mailed it to him this morning along with your resume"

"You what!" Clark couldn't believe this.

Chloe just smirks. "He'll be expecting you first thing Monday"

Oh great. Only six days to get ready.

"Don't worry Clark I'll tutor you. First piece of advise, he likes to be called chief". Chloe wonders if Clark would actually buy that. Only one reporter could get away with calling him that; a certain Lois 'Mad Dog' Lane. Oh this is going to be good.

Later back on the farm Clark is in front of a mirror trying on his new suit over his other suit. He has to admit it seems to work. Chloe comes in "Ok change from one to the other"

Clark has been trying to work out how he could do that. Perhaps if he spins on the spot at superspeed, he would just be a blur. With that Clark spins. In a few seconds his suit is folded neatly on the bed and he stands in front of the mirror in the red and blue suit.

Chloe watches rather amazed as Clark dissolves into a blur and reappears in his hero suit. Damn they needed to come up with a name. It's not enough. There isn't enough difference. Perhaps his hair. "You need to change your hair"

"Excuse me"

"You don't look different enough. You still have Clark's rather messy hair"

"My hair's messy?" Clark asks rather insulted at Chloe's comment.

"Clark! Just change it"

"Fine." He quickly gets a comb and swaps the parting in his hair over. Once it is flat he notices that a single curly strand drops down across his forehead. He is about to sort it when Chloe cuts in "Leave it. It looks good"

Clark looks at himself in the mirror "Really?"

"Yeah, now change back into Clark"

With a shrug Clark begins to spin. He puts his suit back on and messes up his hair. Chloe looks at him "Change back"

Clark changes again. Chloe shakes her head. "It's not right. Change back"

Clark shakes his head and with a quick spin is back in his new suit.

Chloe still doesn't think it's right. "It's not enough. It's missing something"

"Maybe I can help" Martha walks in. She had only heard Chloe's last statement.

"Here" Martha stretches her arm out holding something. Clark looks down at what she is holding "My glasses?"

"Put them on"

Clark takes them and puts them on. He looks in the mirror. Hey that is different. Chloe notices it too. "Your eyes, their colour"

Martha walks up behind Clark "They're tinted to drain your eye colour"

Clark looks at them. His eyes are now almost grey in colour. Chloe's voice interrupts his staring "Ok now change. Mrs Kent you have to see this"

Martha stands back as Clark spins into a blur and reappears in a red and blue suit with a cape. Wow he really looked different but still his gestures and posture were still the same to say nothing about his voice. "Clark you're meant to be a hero, someone intimidating to the unlawful, straighten up, you're slouching"

Clark corrects his posture. He hadn't noticed he was slouching. He straightens up and by instinct folds his arms across his chest. Hey he likes this look.

"Ok change back" It's Chloe. For the who knows how many times now he changes back into his suit.

Martha goes up to him and reaches for his shoulders "Ok when you're in public you should slouch" Clark did so "It makes you seem slightly shorter than you are"

Chloe has to say Mrs Kent is onto something. "You should be bumbling"

Clark looks at her "What?"

"Bumbling. No-one would think a hero would be bumbling. You should bump into things and trip over your feet occasionally"

Martha cuts in "and your voice, you should change it, from one to the other"

His voice. What could he do? Well a hero should have a low commanding voice, therefore he should make his Clark voice the opposite, slightly higher pitched than his normal voice. Good grief he was going to have 3 voices. "Ok how's this" Clark then proceeds to try his 2 different voices.

Martha smiles "That's great but how did you do that?"

"Precise muscle control, I can even copy other people's voices"

Chloe snorts "Yeah right"

Clark then imitates Chloe's voice exactly "Yeah right"

Chloe opens her mouth flabbergasted. "That's creepy"

Clark smiles. "Yeah but great for prank calls"

Martha gives him her disapproving look. Clark notices it "I'm kidding"

Chloe thinks they're making great progress "So that leaves just a name, I think, for your hero alter ego. Any thoughts?"

Clark shakes his head "Not really and I don't think Kal-El quite rolls off the tongue"

"No, not really" Chloe is going to have to give this some thought.

"Well it's time for dinner. I'll go put it on" Martha exits the room.

Clark takes his glasses off and looks in the mirror at himself. He puts the glasses back on. Strange how something so simple could make him look so different. He is going to have to practice. If like Chloe suggests he's going to be bumbling, he would have to practice it so he could bump into things without shattering them into a million pieces. Then it occurs to him, in six days outside the privacy of his home the Clark Kent everyone use to know would be dead and this one looking at him in the mirror would be the only one people would get to see. Chloe comes up to him "Clark what is it?"

"It's just that the Clark Kent everyone use to know is not going to exist after Monday. Outside of being in the privacy of my own home this one" he looks in the mirror "is the only one that will exist. By the way if I get this job I'm going to need an apartment, you don't have any suggestions do you?"

"Are you kidding I live in the same block as Lois. Can't afford anywhere much on my salary. You know I think there are a few vacancies."

In the same block as Lois! That's not a good idea. "I'm not sure Chloe, I'll need a balcony to, you know, fly off on my rescues"

Ooh good point. "Well I'll help you look."

"Thanks Chloe"

"What are friends for?"

"Friends don't leave for 5 years without checking in. Are you and Jimmy still seeing each other?" He really should of found 5 minutes to fly in and check up on her.

"No, my other work cuts into my time too much" Chloe says with some sadness.

"Other work?"

"You know helping Oliver" Blast him, he ruins all her relationships. She really should say no every so often.

"You're still doing that!?" Clark hated that Chloe did that. Her life was dangerous enough.

"Helping him is all that keeps the forces of darkness from consuming Metropolis"

"Is it really that bad?"

Chloe doesn't answer. Clark takes that as a yes.

After a small silence Chloe quips "Hey at least thanks to Oliver I know 3 forms of unarmed combat"

Clark doesn't laugh "Chloe, I'm going to get that job at the Planet and I'm going to save Metropolis"

Chloe is startled by the seriousness in Clark's voice. In a soft tone she answers "Ok"

Next Monday Lois is coming into work. She's happy for 2 reasons. One, Chloe is back from her holiday in Smallville, if you can call that a holiday. She hadn't been back in 5 years not since he left. She didn't want to think about him, he obviously didn't care enough to come visit her, he hadn't even wrote to her. Anyway moving on to reason 2, she had finally exposed Luthor and his shady dealings. This morning's article would expose his illegal arms sales and cost him the deal with the US military. She has written a follow up piece for tomorrow and is going to hand it in to Perry. When she gets into the bullpen she notices some guy in Perry's office. Probably some wannabe trying to get a job. Well her story is more important so as usual she barges in. "Hey chief here's my follow up piece on Luthor"

Perry shakes his head. Lois better be glad she's that damn good. "Lois firstly don't call me chief"

Lois just nods in agreement.

"And secondly say hello to your new partner" Perry points to the guy sitting down.

Lois pays him no attention. Partner! Not again. Perry had been trying to match her with someone for months. "Chief, the only partner I need is Chloe"

"Lois, as good as Sullivan is, your writing styles simply don't complement each other. Lets face facts you're too similar to each other" Perry had made this point about a hundred times. He continues "Lois not only does this guy have a snappy, punchy prose style, not only does he knows how to treat his Editor in Chief with the proper respect. He is the fastest typist I have ever seen." Perry explains.

"But chief…" Lois whines.

"That's Mr White and this isn't up for debate. Lois Lane meet Clark Kent"

Clark Kent!! No, no, no, it can't be him. There is no way, not possible, can not be him, not in a million years. Lois then looks at him for the first time. He looks good, well apart from the glasses. She studies the man she used to know. He looks so different. He isn't in plaid for starters, he's in a suit. Have his eyes changed colour or is her memory going? Finally Lois speaks "Smallville?"

Clark hadn't seen Lois enter he didn't need to. He had been both dreading and anticipating this moment when he would see her again. Yesterday he had thought about not coming at all because he would see Lois but Metropolis needed him and so did Chloe and Lois. God from Chloe's stories he's amazed Lois is still alive. She breezes past him, not noticing he's there. Well at least that hadn't changed. He peers over his glasses at her. She's even more beautiful than he remembers and he has a perfect memory which means she has indeed got lovelier. She's talking to Perry and then he announces that they're to be partners. Partners! How the heck is he going to pull off his saving the city bit with Lois around? He wants to protest but remembers his new persona requires him to be mild mannered and polite. Finally Lois looks at him, Clark feels warmth rise in his body. She speaks like she isn't sure it's him, which is the point of his new look. Finally he replies "Hi Lois"

Perry looks on "You two know each other?"

Lois doesn't seem to want to answer so Clark does "Yes, Mr White. Chloe was my best friend in school and well meeting Lois was inevitable at some point" Clark says with a rather cheeky tone.

Perry chuckles. Yep you can't miss Lois. He takes the smirk off his face when Lois starts glowering at him. "Well then that settles it. Lois why don't you show Kent around" Perry ushers them out.

Lois could not believe this as she was practically shoved out of Perry's office. She glares at Clark who gives her a goofy smile and pushes his glasses up his nose. He points "Hey there's Chloe"

Lois looks. Chloe walks up "Hey couz. Who's your friend?" Chloe has a cheeky, knowing look on her face.

Lois stares at her cousin "You knew didn't you?"

Chloe gives a wide eyed innocent look "Knew what?"

"Don't give me that. You knew that Clark was starting work here" Lois accuses her.

Chloe can't hold out and bursts out laughing. "Who do you think picked his wardrobe. If he had had his way he would still be wearing those plaid shirts"

Clark snorts "That's if Lois hadn't stolen them all"

"I did no such thing and why the hell am I defending myself against you two. It's you two who should be apologising to me" Lois is angry now.

"Calm down Lois" Chloe says. Honestly she's overreacting just a tad.

Lois gathers herself "I am perfectly calm and now that you're here you can show him around. I have stories to write without being slowed down by Smallville here" With that Lois heads off to her desk

Chloe looks at Clark "What was that about?"

Clark sighs "Mr White made us partners"

Chloe can't believe that. She had been trying to persuade Perry to team her up with Lois for ages "Really, why?"

Clark shrugs "Something about our writing styles complementing each other"

"Ok then"

At this point Jimmy walks over "Morning Chloe, is this the new guy?"

Wow Jimmy couldn't recognise Clark, her make over skills were good. "Jimmy you remember my friend Clark"

Jimmy looks at the guy, hey it is Clark. "Sure, how are you doing CK?"

"Fine" Clark leans over to Chloe "CK?"

"Oh he does that to everyone" except to her because she would kill him if he dared.

"Olsen! Where are my pictures?" Perry bellows.

"Coming Chief!" Jimmy replies and then turns back to Clark. "Well it was nice seeing you again" he shakes Clark's hand and is off.

"Well lets get you set up" Chloe then proceeds to drag Clark off to his desk.

Clark has finished his first day and is house hunting with Chloe. Some day. His so called partner Lois barely spoke to him. He was really going to have to work on their friendship. He at least wanted that back. Anyway here they are on apartment number 5 on the list. It's not too bad. It has a small balcony which is good and it's only a few blocks from where Chloe and Lois live.

"So what do you think Clark?" Chloe asks him.

"It seems nice" He's scanning through the walls to make sure the landlord isn't trying to paper over the cracks or something.

"Well it's just within your price range and hey it's even close to me" she says with a grin.

"That wasn't on my list of priorities in choosing apartments Chloe" Clark chuckles as Chloe pouts at him "That aside I think this one is the best one we've seen"

"I think so too. So put an offer in then?"

"Yep"

Clark and Chloe come out of the apartment block to find Lois waiting there. "Finally, I've been trying to reach you for ages"

Chloe looks at her "I've been helping Clark look for an apartment"

"Yeah and why do I have to find these things out from Jimmy?"

"Well maybe because you haven't talked to me all day" Clark mutters under his breath.

"What was that Smallville?" Lois was sure he had just made a sarcastic comment at her, just like the good old days. She almost smiled. Snap out of it Lane, your mad at him.

"Nothing Lois" Clark replies.

"Ok then" Before she could speak anymore a would be mugger steps out the shadows pointing a gun "Hand over your purses and wallets"

Chloe rolls her eyes "Not again"

Clark looks at her. Again! Boy he is really needed. Lois throws her bag down and when the mugger bends down to pick it up she kicks him. His gun goes off and he runs off.

"Lois are you insane?" Clark asks.

Lois looks at him "What?"

"Was it really worth risking your life over 10 dollars, 2 credit cards, a hair brush and lipstick?"

"How did you do that?" Lois asks with some amazement in her voice.

"Do what?" Clark asks innocently.

"You just described the exact contents of my purse"

"I did?" Clark shrugs and pushes his glasses up his nose. "Wild guess"

Lois walks off and Clark opens his hand holding the bullet he caught. Chloe walks up from behind and sees the bullet "Would he have hit her?"

Clark nods affirmatively.

Chloe smiles "That's your first heroic deed and no-one even saw you do it. Speaking of which have you come up with a name yet?"

"No and I know I need to work on it but I have no intention of revealing myself just yet. It would be better if my alter ego's public debut was a few weeks after Clark's return"

Chloe couldn't argue with the logic of that. Lois pops her head back round the corner of the building "Are you two coming? I've got work to do you know" With that she's off again.

Clark sighs "Does she realise she hasn't told us what we're doing yet?"

Chloe sighs as well "No but do what I do and just go along for the ride"

Clark and Chloe then walk off in pursuit of Lois.

Meanwhile the mugger is waiting inside a warehouse. A voice booms out "You failed"

"I'm sorry Mr Luthor"

Lex walks out the shadows. "Sorry doesn't cut it. Ms Lane has cost me a several billion dollar defence contract. I ask you to do one simple job, to kill her and you don't do it"

The mugger tries to explain "She surprised me and I did shoot at her..."

"But you obviously missed. The people I have following her have already told me she's investigating one of the companies I own as we speak" Lex shakes his head in disgust "Mercy..."

Lex's personal assistant Mercy walks out the shadows, pulls out a gun and kills the mugger.

"Thank you, Mercy"

Mercy puts the gun back in the holster under her jacket "Lane"

"Just keep an eye on her for now. I'll think of another way to deal with her" One way or another Lex was going to deal with Ms Lane. That woman had become the bane of his existence and soon, very soon he would be rid of her.