Lois woke up in a daze. Was this heaven? Was she dead?
Then her eyes started to focus a little better and she found herself staring at Chloe and an unfamiliar face.
"Chloe." She sat up too quickly and soon her head was spinning and she fell back on the bed.
"Lois, you're safe."
"Stay lying down Ms Lane. You are sedated. It won't take long for it to wear off."
"Who the hell are you and why am I sedated?"
"Lois, calm down. This is Emil Hamilton, he works for Oliver."
"Am I dead? Where are we? Where is Jen?"
"Lois, calm down. You need to rest. I will tell you everything."
Emil grabbed Lois a drink of water, and raised the back of the bed so she could sit up a little bit.
Lois noticed the small windows. She realised they were on a plane.
"Where are we? Are we flying?"
"Yes, we are on the Queen jet?"
"Why?"
"Lois you are not going to give up until I tell you?" Chloe smiled. "Right sit and listen."
"You were kidnapped by one of Paul Campbell's henchman. Seconds before he fired a shot at you, Oliver took you out with a small arrow to make it look like you had been shot."
"And he fell for it?"
"It was dark. He left in a hurry so he did not bother to check his handy work." Chloe explained.
"What are Jen?"
"I'm afraid she was not as lucky as you. Oliver did not get there in time to save her."
Lois was upset. "She didn't deserve it. We need to nail the bastards that did this."
Chloe nodded in agreement. "That is why we need to keep you safe. You are the star witness in any case against him. We need to protect you. Everyone thinks you are dead. We have covered up everything so no one will know your whereabouts until the trial."
"So my family think I am dead. And Clark?"
"There are a few people in the know. Your father knows. Oliver phoned him and told him the plan. His influence in the Government comes in handy. Martha knows, but no-one else and that is the way it needs to stay."
Lois was upset. It was all too much for her for her to take in. "How could this happen? So where are we going?"
"We are going to Amstel. It is a small community in Virginia. Oliver used to spend his childhood holidays there so he was able to set up the perfect cover for you."
"So how long am I going to be in this village for?" Lois asked.
"The trial will probably be hurried through as quickly as possible. There is 100% certainity that Campbell will get bail and they cannot risk him being on the streets for longer than necessary. I would say six weeks max." Emil explained.
"So I am going to have to break contact for six weeks with everyone and everything I know."
"Not quite everybody but I need to explain everything and then I will get to that part."
"Right your new name is Joanna Devlin. You are 25 yrs old. You have just come to settle in Amstel because you grew up in a small village in Canada and this reminded you of your home."
"I hope you have written all this down. I was never very good at taking lots of information in. So do I work? Please give me a job I can actually do."
"No, you don't need to. Your husband Chris Devlin works away in Europe but comes home a few times a year. You haven't seen him for months."
"Ah...I see, so he won't be home the time I am there." Lois added.
"Actually he is due home in a few days for six weeks."
Lois almost fainted. "You mean I have to spend six weeks with some actor I don't know."
Chloe smiled trying to reassure her. "Actually the man in question was handpicked by your father. He would not go along with the plan otherwise."
"Oh great, I am stuck in a backwards village, living with a man I have never met before but I am expected to act as though I love him."
"Well that is the twist. I thought I would add some dimensions to the story. Prior to Chris coming home, Joanna found out that he has been having an affair whilst away on business and he is coming home to save their relationship. I suggested this so people don't question why you aren't getting on so well. I have already started spreading the gossip." Chloe seemed pleased with herself.
"Great Chloe, anything else you fancy adding to this fantasy or should I say horror story." Lois asked, clearly not impressed. "Like I am married to an alien or something?"
Chloe laughed to herself at the irony of that statement. "Well, you are a seasoned bickerer. You should be fine."
"Yeah , I am with Smallville but not..." she was stopped midsentence by the telltale look on her cousin's face. "No, please tell me you haven't."
Chloe nodded and smiled. "Your father asked for him personally. He has always appreciated his family taking you in."
"What did Clark say to all this?"
"He doesn't know yet. Oliver and your father will tell him after your funeral tomorrow."
"My funeral! Think it will be your funeral Chloe when he finds out..."
Clark did not waste any time and decided to corner Oliver at the wake, but just as he was about to, he felt an arm linking his.
"Clark, are you going to get me a drink?" Lana smiled.
Clark was not in the mood. He had learnt more in past 24 hrs about Lana than he had in the past 8 yrs. Was he so blind? She was so needy and self absorbed. "Lana, what do you think it is – a party?"
"I was only asking. I can't wait to get on with our lives and make a difference in this world." Lana snapped.
"Lana, is that powersuit going to your head?"
"Clark, did you forget what happened on that roof yesterday. We agreed to patrol together, do everything together."
"Lois is dead and you expect me to carry on as though nothing has changed." Clark asked angrily.
She pulled him round to look at her. "Clark, the important thing in your life is standing right in front of you. Why are you acting as though Lois meant anything to you?"
"Lana, that's it. Get out of my life before I say something I will regret."
Lana sped off in a temper. He would come back tail between his legs, begging forgiveness like he always did.
Clark found Oliver talking to Martha and the General in the corner of the bar.
His mom walked over to him. "How are you doing?"
"Oliver, I need to talk to you in private." Clark replied.
"We need to talk to you too. Can we go for a drive in my car?" Oliver asked.
The four of them climbed in the stretched limo and drove off down the road.
"Is Lana gone?" Martha asked.
"Yeah we had a fight." Clark replied.
"Good." The General stated. "Now we can get down to business."
"What business and since when did you all become so friendly?" Clark asked suspiciously.
"Since we joined forces to protect Lois." The General replied.
Clark glared at them. "Well you didn't do a very good job. She's dead remember."
Oliver looked guilty. "Clark, we are sorry to have put you through this but Lois's life was at risk. Lois is not dead. She is in hiding under an assumed name."
"Where is she? Can I see her? Why?"
Martha joined in. "Lois is the only witness who can bring Campbell down at trial. It is the only way we could protect her."
"So how do you know she will stay safe?"
The General actually managed a smile. "That is where you come in. I have picked you as the person I want to stay with her. I trust you and your family with her life."
"So you want me to go and watch out for her."
"Something like that." The General added. "I will leave the fine details to Mr Queen. Now if you don't mind, I have to get back and look like a grieved father before everyone wonders what is going on." The General was dropped off, but before he got out he turned to Clark. "Please look after my little girl."
Clark nodded and smiled.
"So Oliver, how is Lois coping with the news?" he asked.
"I don't know. I have not spoken to Chloe yet."
"I guess my super powers will come in handy so I can watch out for her. So what is my cover?"
"You are Christopher Devlin, a business man who sells local farm produce around Europe. He lives with his wife Joanna..."
"Oliver, can I just stop you there. Did you say wife? Me and Lois married. She hates me."
"Don't worry. Chloe has covered that. Joanna has just found out that you have had an affair abroad so you are not getting on at the moment."
"This is crazy." Clark snapped. "No-one will fall for it."
"Well, there is no other choice. Do you want to protect her or not?"
Clark just looked at him in disbelief. "What do you think? I would do anything for Lois."
"Does that include dumping her the minute your ex comes back on the scene?" Oliver said without thinking.
"Whatever you thought you saw Oliver, you don't know the full story." Clark replied.
"That's funny because the version I got from Lois seemed pretty detailed." Oliver fired back.
"She told you. I shouldn't have led her on. It must have been the effect of the wedding. I will apologise when I see her."
Martha interrupted the spat between the two friends. "I would maybe leave it for Lois to bring up. You will have plenty of time to talk when you are living with her for six weeks."
"I guess so."
Oliver realised he had spoken out of turn. "Sorry Clark. I was out of order, it's just Lois was so upset that night."
Clark felt guilty from that last comment. "I will make it up to her."
Martha handed Clark a box. "This has all the information you need and your birth certificate, license and other documents plus your wedding ring."
"When do I need to be there?" Clark asked.
"Sometime this afternoon, but I think we need to sort Lana first. She will come looking for you otherwise." Oliver replied.
"Let me deal with that." Martha smiled. "I have an idea. I will tell her you have gone training with Jor-el for a few months, but you wouldn't say why."
"You don't mind telling her a lie." Clark asked.
"Not if it is to protect Lois." She smiled.
"So how do I get there?"
"Run as usual but I have arranged for you to pick a car up at Charlottesville airport. Lois has a car as well. They are both untraceable. I have covered your tracks as best as I could."