Now what?

Summary: Read to find out

The day's turned into weeks, weeks into months Jimmy was finally stable enough to leave the hospital. Lois was grateful though the coward part of her wanted to hide down in this hospital room. Each passing day gave her a little more strength, now she would be ready to face Clark. Still a sliver sized part hoped Clark Kent would walk up the hospital hallway and come admit his love for her. He never came and she stopped waiting.

As they left Star City Lois felt kind of sad, she'd grown used to people around her especially the handsome . Who bravely defied the hospital rules and asked Lois out but she turned him down, she wouldn't be thinking about love for a long time.

Next morning Lois looked at the Daily Planet building and took a deep breath.

"The day is mine," whispered Lois and strolled into the building.

Lois sat her on her desk it felt as if had she never left. Lois smiled and switched her computer on, she slipped into her chair everything felt right. Then her eyes fell on the table opposite her, the seat was empty, he was late as usual. Lois started clearing her table after that she started typing her first article.

"Lois," came Clark Kent's clearly surprised voice.

Lois looked up and gave a slight smile, 'Morning, Smallville. How are you?"

"Lois..." Clark said again he felt speechless and Lois looked so pretty. Her hair was pulled back in a French bun, loose tendrils fell around her face.

Needless to say Clark Kent was not prepared to face Lois Lane. Lois was more than prepared, she had done nothing but prepare herself the past month for this moment.

"Here,' she handed him a folder and continued typing. A feeling of triumph settled on her, Clark was still standing as she pounded away on her keyboard.

Clark stood still for a minute and then finally sat on his chair and gazed at Lois.

"Look Smallville, I know I'm a Goddess. But how about if you show your appreciation by doing some work for her highness," suggested Lois.

"Lois, how are you? I didn't think you'd be back to work so soon."

"Neither did I. I'm done being sisterly nurse towards Jimmy, now I have to nab the red-blue blur for an exclusive that will sky rocket my career," said Lois without looking up from her work.

"I missed you,' said Clark quietly.

Lois' heart leaped but her brain scolded her for being stupid and the image of Lana and him flashed in front of her eyes.

"So, did I," replied Lois vaguely.

Clark continued gazing at her, it hurt him that she wouldn't even look at him. He expected her to avoid him like the last time they were squared in with romantic feelings but she didn't even seem to care. Clark decided he would take Lois out to lunch she would have to talk to him them. The worked side by side for three hours without exchanging a word. Clark tried talking Lois would answer briefly, he had never been good at keeping a conversation going. Finally it was lunch time but in walked a tall man with dark hair, brown eyes and an impeccable style of dress code. He put a bag down on Lois' table she looked up at him and smiled, "Dr. Drake."

"Lois, you forgot your coat in the hospital, I thought I should return it to you personally."

"That's a long way to come just to return a coat," said Clark.

"It not's just a coat," said Dr. Drake he frowned and looked at Clark and said, "and you are?"

"Clark Kent," he extended his hand and grasped 's hand tightly in his own. flinched and freed his hand from Clark's painfully tight grasp. He turned his attention to Lois and said, "How about lunch?"

"Lunch sounds great," said Lois, she grabbed her jacket, purse and left with him . Clark was left standing there as he looked at Lois' retreating back.

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The rest of the day flew by Lois came back from looking quite cheerful.

"Done," said Lois and put away her folders as she got up to leave.

"Lois one moment," said Clark.

He got his coat and together they walked towards the elevator.

"Lois I want to talk to you about what nearly happen at Chloe's wedding."

"I'm listening," replied Lois.

Clark didn't expect to hear that from Lois, he expected her to make some excuse or defend her actions. They stepped into the elevator and he pressed one.

"Lois, my feelings for you have changed. I can't deny them any more than you could. When you were gone I couldn't stop thinking about you. I was waiting for you to come back so I could admit the way I felt."

Lois was silent the elevator opened but neither of them moved to leave.

Finally Lois said, 'Remember that maniac who played truth or dare with us? – I lied an electrocuted you the first time."

"Yes."

"The second time I didn't lie, I didn't remove the censor from my finger.'

"What? Lois…,"stammered Clark.

"No! Let me finish," said Lois her voice rising, she was afraid she would burst out crying.

"You said you missed, I find it hard to believe. I mean nothing more to you than I did a year ago. You're just trying to move on from Lana and I'm closet thing to move on to. You know what I did the past months Clark? I waited, I waited for you to come and tell me I wasn't a fool to show my true feelings. But you never came and somewhere along the line I…I stopped waiting."

Long silence followed, Lois fought the urge to cry. Clark looked stunned he opened his mouth to speak but shut it again, finally.

"Lois, I'm so sorry"

"Don't be, you showed me what a fool I was. "

"No, Lois I'm the fool here. I didn't understand."

"Yes, I was you had enough of me to break my heart. I gave you that power over me that will never ever happen again"

He was quiet for a moment and said, "We can fix that."

"How?"

"We can give us a try," he said moving timidly closer.

"No," said Lois.

"You broke my heart, made me feel so small, so... pathetic." She whispered the last word. She remembered the night she wandered off into that dark alley. She would never tell anyone how broken she felt, not even Chloe. Lois felt ashamed to realize how helpless she felt then. Clark also didn't know she had seen him kissing Lana.

"Just cause I'm rude and loud doesn't mean I don't have real feeling,' said Lois.

"Whatever was between us it's gone, this is never going to happen, Clark."

Saying that she walked out of elevator leaving Clark Kent standing there. As she walked out she felt light and free again, she hadn't felt like that in a long time.