Chapter Two

"You didn't have to bring me here, Clark." Lois said as they were sitting in the waiting room at the Smallville Medical Hospital.

She held a bandage to her head, but there was barely any colour left in her face and she was obviously feeling woozy because she kept swaying. He checked his watch again, just how long was she going to have to wait to see a doctor? Okay it was fairly busy this morning, but shouldn't head wounds take precedent?

"I could've come by myself."

Clark rolled his eyes and smiled. "Lois, I know it goes against every instinct you have, but just for once, let me help you."

She opened her mouth to reply but before she could say anything, a nurse appeared in the doorway opposite. "Lois Lane?"

"That's me." she said.

Clark snaked an arm around her waist as she stood because she looked like she was about to fall over. He waited for the inevitable 'I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself' look, but it didn't come. She simply smiled gratefully and leaned on him as he guided her across the room. She really must be feeling bad, Clark thought.

"Now Miss Lane, what on earth have you been up to?" The nurse asked as Lois sat on the examination table.

"A wrestling match with a rock, I think the rock won." she replied with a grimace as the nurse pulled the temporary bandage off to take a look.

The short, blonde haired woman smiled as she studied the wound. "Mm, yes I can see that. Looks like you've got some debris in there, I'll have to wash it out before we stitch you up. Now, how are you feeling? Dizzy, nauseas?"

"Uh, a little of both I guess."

The nurse frowned as Lois swayed a little. "You do look pale. Okay, here's what we're going to do. I'm going to send you for a scan…"

"Is that really necessary?"

"I'm afraid so, I can't be sure you didn't do any damage and from the looks of things, you hit your head pretty hard. Was there any loss of consciousness?"

Lois blew out a breath and shrugged. Clark stepped up to the side of her. "Yes, she was unconscious when I found her. She couldn't have been out for more than five minutes though."

"Okay, well I'd still like to do that scan, just in case. But let's get you cleaned up first."

Lois winced. "Is it going to hurt?"

"No, I'll give you a local anaesthetic, you won't feel a thing."

If Clark hadn't known any better, he would've sworn that was fear in Lois' eyes. But Lois wasn't afraid of needles or…well of anything really. Was she?

"It's okay Lois, you'll be just fine." he said, trying to be soothing and was surprised when she turned her head slowly and just smiled at him.

It was a sweet smile, one that he didn't see very often, but it was one that had the power to knock the breath right out of him. Even though her eyes were clearly telling him she was in pain, she had never looked as beautiful as she did right then.

The nurse looked back and forth between the two of them, and smiled. "Okay then, shall we get started?"

~~~~~~~

Later that morning, Lois walked out of Metropolis General Hospital, with a dressing on her forehead and a splitting headache. But that wasn't what was troubling her.

Just how exactly was she able to witness herself walking away with Clark earlier? What on earth had happened? Knowing Smallville's history, it couldn't be anything good. She felt different, but couldn't put a finger on why.

As she flagged down a taxi and gave the Daily Planet's address, she wondered whether the impostor with Clark was some sort of meteor freak, capable of stealing someone's identity. It wouldn't be the first time. She'd heard all sorts of stories from Chloe before she'd arrived there.

As soon as she got to her desk, she booted up her computer and started searching for any of Chloe's old Torch articles that might be able to help her. There was an article about a young girl who could change her body to look pretty much like anyone. Could that be what had happened to her? Was the girl that was currently with Clark this Tina Greer?

She searched for more, but came up with nothing and the more she tried to concentrate, the more her head pounded. She switched her computer off again and headed for the exit, what she needed right now was a very stiff drink. She would figure all this out later.

~~~~~~~

Clark pulled his truck up outside the farmhouse and cut the engine off. He glanced over at Lois, who was sleeping in the passenger seat.

"Lois," he said, nudging her gently. "Lois, we're here."

"Where's here?" she asked without opening her eyes.

He chuckled. "At the farm remember? You're going to stay with me for a day or two, until you're better."

"Oh, right."

Slowly her eyes fluttered open and landed on him. She looked so fragile, so small, and Clark almost laughed at the ridiculous thought. Lois was anything but fragile. She would probably kick his butt just for thinking it. And yet, here she was, accepting his help without a single argument.

"Thanks Clark."

"For what?"

"For coming with me earlier. I'm not a big fan of hospitals, not since-" She stopped and pressed her lips together, as if to stop herself from revealing too much. Clark felt a surge of protectiveness rise up in his chest.

"Lois, you don't have to thank me, that's what friends are for. And I know that it kills you to admit it, but we are friends." he said with a chuckle as he got out of the truck.

When he opened her door, she was smiling at him.

"I know I don't say it a lot, but I do like being your friend Clark."

He gave her a sceptical glance as he helped her out of the truck and then walked ahead of her to unlock the back door. Just as they got inside, Shelby came bouncing up to Lois, wagging his tail rapidly.

"Shelby! Hey boy, did you miss me?" Lois said cheerfully, crouching down to rub his head.

Clark stood there smiling, waiting for the inevitable sneeze, and then it came. "Achoo!"

"Lois why don't you go into the living room and I'll make us some lunch?" he said as she stood up again.

"I could help." she offered.

Clark almost laughed until he realised that she was being serious. "Uh, that's okay, you should be resting anyway."

She shifted awkwardly. "Oh, okay. Well I'll just go and uh…yeah." She walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa.

Clark watched her for a minute because her reaction had puzzled him. Had she actually been disappointed that he didn't take her offer to help? That was how it seemed but he'd obviously been imagining it. Surely.

Shaking his head, he went over to the fridge to get something for them both to eat. But his mind kept going back to the hospital. When the nurse had been stitching her wound, Lois had held onto his hand. He was pretty sure she didn't even know she'd done it, but he couldn't figure it out.

But then again, she was injured, maybe that was just a part of it. He had to admit, it felt nice, being needed like that. Lois was always so strong, so tough, and she very rarely let her guard down. But today, he'd been seeing glimpses behind the curtain, and it was very intriguing.

"Clark?"

He peered into the living room to see Lois standing next to the TV. "Yeah?"

"Would you like to watch a movie with me?"

She was asking him? Politely? That was new, normally she just ordered him to watch one with her. Not that he minded either way, he still enjoyed spending time with her.

"Uh, sure."

"What do you want to watch?"

"You're giving me a choice?" he asked, blinking.

She smiled at him, again with that sweet smile that made his heart beat just a little bit faster, and said. "Yeah, come on. Which one?"

He picked out a movie and then went back to making their lunch, smiling to himself. He kept expecting a sarcastic barb or a witty comment, but none came. Lois Lane was certainly a mystery, and the more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to unravel that mystery.