Review Comments:

SerenadingSerendipity - Jonathan is one of my favorite characters, and I love getting to write him, but I'm especially excited because my favorite Jonathan scenes from the comics are when Clark is already Superman. I'm excited that I'll get to write those kinds of scenes in this story.

cherylnixon - They're going to play a rather interesting role in this story, especially with whom they bond with early on.

C.A.M.S 22 - I'm glad you liked it!

LoisNClark4Ever - I think you're going to enjoy his role in this story, especially with whom he bonds with quite early on in the story, which will create tons of havoc for poor Clark, haha. Oh, no, I wouldn't bring back Clana, hahaha. Though I won't say she isn't a part of the story, I will say that Clark already has his hands full with a certain other LL, haha.

I think you'll see several familiar faces in this one, but there's one that will stand out the most, haha. Yes, the changes that were brought on by Pandora brought together the Vertigo (Zatanna, Constantine, Swamp Thing, etc.), DC (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc.) and Wildstorm (Team 7, Grifter, WildC.A.T.S. etc.) universes together and ultimately ended the marriage between Lois and Clark. Honestly, I don't think anyone knows which side she is on, though she does clearly want to help the DCNU save themselves from whatever war is coming this summer, haha.

Jas-El - I'm glad that you liked it! And I'm hoping Jonathan's survival will be a key focal point in what people like about the change, because I'm sure there will be some that aren't as popular, though fingers crossed! haha.

Katlynne - You be crazy, you know that?

Tomarisun - Only time will tell! haha. Lois will make her first appearance in this chapter.

Author: CaptainTightPants12

Rating: K

Disclaimer: If I owned Superman, his story lines, or any related characters, you'd be seeing this story in the pages of the this month's issue of Superman and not for free on FanFiction. Ditto any DC Comics characters or storylines.

Summary: After Barry Allen changes history to save the world, Clark Kent faces an uncertain destiny in a new world.

Chapter: #3, Partners?

Author's Note: I know this one is a little late, but here we go! Dive in with me! Enjoy!

He wasn't usually the one for sweating. Ever.

But this wasn't what you'd call a usual situation for Clark Kent. He was a small-town guy who spent most days in what seemed like infinite fields. Now he was in one of the biggest cities in the world, crammed into the back office of the most prolific newspaper ever printed. To make matters worse, the editor was staring him down at the moment.

A cigar swaying in his mouth, eyes hopping from his resume to the four-eyed hopeful reporter sitting nervously. A quick glance with his x-ray vision told him that he'd flipped to resume from the Smallville Torch.

'I really hope Chloe gave me that glowing review she promised,' he swallowed and fidgeted with his collar.

The editor started to mutter under his breath, "Snappy prose... Fast typist..."

"I'm uh," he swallowed again. "I'm really honored to be here, sir... Growing up back home, the Planet was the only paper they even bothered to sell at the market. It's really the only paper I could ever see myself working for-"

He jumped out of his chair, waving his hands in the air. "Don't kiss my ass, Kent," he appeased as he knocked the ashes off his cigar into the ashtray. "You've already got the job. What you need to be worried about is the fact that the newspaper industry is dying, and we need a big story. A 'Moses Talks To God' kind of story."

Clark pushed his glasses back up his nose, "I see, sir."

"We need something to put us back on the map. That damned Luthor has been trying to buy us out for years, but I'm not about to pander to some playboy in a suit who wants to tell me what I can put in my own damn paper!"

His brow furrowed, "Lu- You mean Lex Luthor?"

"Is there any other Luthor, Kent?"

"I guess not," blinked Clark.

Taking his surprise for nervousness of a big name like Lex Luthor, he felt the need to calm him down. "Look, I know that's a big name to drop, and it's not the only one you're going to hear around here. We're all impressed with you, Kent. When she brought me your little blog, I thought she was kidding, but you've got the right stuff!"

"She?"

The office door flung open, and a fiery brunette stood tall. "What the hell, Perry?!"

Perry White pointed a finger at the door and shook his head, "Don't even start with me!"

"What did I do now?!"

He growled, "The same thing you always do! Except this time, you got Olsen involved!"

She looked at him in shock, "He doesn't even have a scratch!"

"He has a broken arm!"

Rolling her eyes, she gave him an unimpressed look. "Real journalism comes at a price, Chief! Olsen knew what he was getting himself into, and besides, it's not like he can't do his job! That's what the camera strap is for, you only need one hand to snap a picture!"

"I thought we had a talk about this after the incident with the Hage boy?!"

"Jeff was all in puppy love with me and was trying to impress me, how was I supposed to know that he was going to lose his cool and take a swing at Bruno Mannheim?!" she waved her arms in the air.

Perry shook his head, "Why couldn't you just cover the Star City kid's return? Or even Wayne's?!"

"I'm not going to cover some frat boy who fell off a boat and landed on an island, this isn't Lost! And I told you, Grant already shipped up to Gotham to cover that story! She's the one that likes pretty rich boys! Quite frankly, I'm surprised you didn't try and send me to Coast City to cover that stupid explosion at Ferris Aircraft and the disappearing test pilot!"

Before he could snap back, she blew out the door. With a quick head shake, he turned back to Clark, whom was too busy watching the brunette storm off. "Kent... Kent? ...Kent!"

Clark snapped back to reality. "Oh, sorry sir," he shot Perry a nervous look. "Uh... who was that?"

A thought occurred to Perry and he motioned for Clark to follow him into the bullpen. He spun in his chair, grabbing his bag and slipping his Smallville High ball cap back on and followed his new editor-in-chief into the trenches. They worked their way up the center row, Clark had to duck to avoid a football being tossed over the cubicles.

When Clark looked up, Perry had stopped dead in his tracks, causing Clark to bump into him, "Sorry, sir."

"Kent, this is Lois Lane. Lane, this is Clark Kent."

He turned to see the same fiery brunette sitting in the messiest cubicle Clark had ever seen in his entire life. She looked him up and down for a second, "Nice to meet you." She looked to Perry, "I'm meeting him why?"

"Kent is your new partner, Lane."

Both of their eyes doubled in size as they gave Perry crazed looks. Both shouting, "I don't need a partner!"

"Mr. White, I am really better off working on my own," Clark pleaded.

Lois turned on him, "Oh, so you think you're too good to be my partner..." she eyed his hat, "...Smallville? You're way out of your league in the big city. You might be Mr. Wizard online, but here? I'm top banana, got it?"

Clark gave her an unamused look, "You like to be on top, got it."

Perry smirked to himself, 'I'm so damn smart...'

"Funny," she growled. "Look, Chief, I don't do partners. You know that. At worst, I do Olsen," she paused for a moment and a snarl took over, "Shit down and shut your face, Lombard, before I shut it for you."

In the background, a saddened Steve Lombard sank back into his cubicle. Ron Troupe could be heard chuckling.

"You need to be a little more disciplined, Lane," Clark smirked before Perry turned on him. "And you need some fire, Kent. I think you two working together will help each other accomplish those goals."

Lois shook her head, "I don't have time for this. I have the LexCorp conference in an hour. He's introducing some new gizmo and I don't want to miss out on making bald jokes in front of the press corps. I don't have time for rookie training."

"Too bad, Lane," shrugged Perry as he walked away.

She turned on Clark, read to snap before having a moment of realization. "You're tall. Strong shoulders?"

"Excuse me?"

She smirked, "Luthor and I have a, well, we have a history. I might have prettied up one of his security thugs with a mean right hook, so we're probably going to have to break in. I'll need a lift, and Olsen's are a tad shaky."

"Uh..."

She took off before he could reply. Across the row, a red headed photographer in an arm cast chuckled, "Kent, right?" Clark nodded. "Good luck, man. Oh, and she gets real quiet? Duck. She's probably going to take a swing at you."

Clark gave him a funny look, unsure if he was serious or not. "Thanks."

He threw his bag over his shoulder, starting to take off with a bit of worry in his heart. She wasn't the only one with a bit of history with Lex Luthor, and he wasn't exactly sure how this was going to play out.

"Oh, and hey!" Clark turned back to see the red head again. "Welcome to the Daily Planet, CK."

Author's Note: Well, doesn't it feel better now that we have Lois in the fold? I don't know about you guys, but I love me some Lois and Clark rivalry. And in this one, we get a prime example of the kinds of references and call-backs that I love to slip in there with the 'Top Banana' line from the New Adventures of Lois & Clark. I'm sure I'll have tons of littles bits like that, and I love it when you guys catch 'em so make sure to let me know when you do! I love little easter eggs like that!

Anyways, you know the drill on this, make sure to let me know what you thought about Lois and Clark meeting for the first time. I love hearing from you guys and it's the thing that makes me wanna write more! Thanks!