Chapter 4 [Daily Planet Bullpen—7:57 AM]

After a long night of restless sleep, Clark pulled himself into the office and his computer. He hoped that something would come up and allow him to bury himself in a story. Even if his police scanner went off, he'd be happy to do some good as the Red and Blue Blur for that matter. All remained quiet.

Quiet at least for a bustling newsroom that is….

He opened the desk drawer and eyed Lois' Rules to Reporting. This applies to life too. Wish I could be that thorough. Maybe I would've figured something out before the bomb happened. He shook his head.

"Hey, Kent!"

Clark turned to see a balding middle aged man in a white shirt and brown tie approaching him. "Hi, Rick. How are you?"

"Ready to face another day, Kid?" Rick slapped a copy of that morning's edition and a coffee in front of him. "You made Page 1 with that Brooksmeyer piece. Congratulations!"

Clark picked up the paper and considered the article. He knew it would be important but not that important. "Thanks. My first headline."

"Everyone needs a first in this biz, Kent." Rick considered the younger man. For the previous few days, he and everyone else had noticed his moods. "Everything okay at home? You don't seem as focused."

Clark shrugged. "Parents are having issues on the farm. Thanks for the concern."

"Sure Lane doesn't have anything to do with it? She can be over the top," Rick presumed over a sip of his coffee.

Clark fought down an urge to go defensive. Despite their bickering and her sometimes overbearing attitude, she was a friend. "Lois and I are okay, Rick. You just need to know how she ticks is all."

Rick nodded. "Right." He considered that insight on the rookie's part. "Remember, if you want to talk, the door's open. Okay?"

Clark smiled. Rick and Lois didn't get along. He knew that much. However he also knew that the man was a genuine guy from their run ins over the previous six months. "I'll definitely remember that. Thank you for the coffee and the good wishes."

"Keep up the good work," Rick concluded before taking off.

Clark considered the paper again. His first front page. He'd done it. It was a special moment. A milestone away from the farm.

But it still felt hollow.

He knew Lois would be happy. He expected Chloe to gush about it.

But Lana wasn't there to enjoy the moment with him.

He sighed and reached for the coffee again. He wiped his eyes to beat back the tears again. Suck it up. You know Lois will give you one of *those* lectures if she sees you like this. The thought of his partner turning advice columnist again made his stomach lurch.

Right on cue, Lois marched into the bullpen in a blue blazer and slacks. As always, she sipped on her triple foam cappuccino and clacked toward her computer in her flats across the floor. "You're in a mood, Smallville. Another one of those nights?"

He covered his mood forcing a smile…almost. "Good morning, Lois. Sleep well yourself?"

"Not really. Chloe's really going through hell dealing with the divorce thing. And then I'd like to know what's going on with Davis," she replied while eyeing the paper turned upside down to his right. "That this morning's edition?"

"Yeah. Take a look." He kept a poker face as she took the paper.

"Hope my corruption piece will scream from the headlines this morning. I…." Her eyes went wide. "Clark! Have you seen this? How the Hell did you make Page 1?"

"Never tell your secrets. Your fifth rule." He allowed himself a grin on that note.

She read over the piece and nodded. "Not bad, Smallville. Your first front page." She eyed him pointedly. "Don't let it go to your head." She gave him a saucy grin.

Clark noted how the other reporters were rolling their eyes behind her back at her brusqueness. However, as he had told Rick, he knew Lois was praising him in her own way. "Gotta start somewhere, right? Your piece is on Page 4 by the way."

"Every dog gets his or her day," she conceded. "We have the press conference with Oliver this morning you know."

"At eleven," he recalled while checking his watch. "No rest for the weary."

"Damn straight," she concurred. I don't know what happened but this time you aren't getting back in, Lana. No way. "Chop, chop, Smallville. We do have our notes to go over first. Can't have you going soft in there now, can we?"

He arched his eyebrow. "I think I can handle Oliver, Lois."

"Yeah well. This here's the big city. Leave it to the experts to lead you up and out of here," she fired back almost teacher-like.

He shrugged. "I'll handle it. You deal with getting that interview with the Blur."

She glared at that point.

Just then, the familiar brown suited bald black man marched into the bullpen. "Kent! Boss wants to see you!"

Lois shook her head. Of all the people in the world, Clark seemed to get called into the principal's office more than anyone. She rolled her eyes at the rumors that something seemed to be going on between him and their boss, Tess Mercer. "Now what did you do, Smallville?"

"Guess I'll find out. Enjoy the paper, Lois." Clark followed the other man out of the room.

Lois turned her computer on. Some day I'll find out what you and Mercer are talking about up there, Clark. Count on that!

****

[Main Office—Several floors up]

Tess Mercer read over a file with intense interest. It had been a busy year for the former regional LuthorCorp VP turned heiress to the empire. She'd dealt with finding Lex and getting him to a safe healing place. Queen Industries had taken over the company's controlling interest. Lana had absconded with the power suit. And then there was the Traveler matter….

She tapped her finger on the oak desk in front of her. After spending only a little time around Clark, she could definitely understand Lex's obsession with him. The new reporter had good instincts even if he was a bit on the naïve side. He definitely could be a peacemaker—definitely a plus for working with/managing Lois Lane. He played his cards admirably close to the vest and could definitely lie with the best. I'd hate to play poker with him. She knew she needed to get Clark onboard before Doomsday went nuts again.

She set the file down and looked at her laptop's screen. Just an hour before, the Planet's Washington correspondent, Winnie LaTravers, had sent this footage to her. While the reporter had no idea who the 'Raven Blur' was, Tess very well could guess. Given the fact that Martha Kent was the victim of the crime in progress, it was clear that Lana was the new Blur. What is she doing in Washington when he's here? Lex followed through on his threat. Hearing a knock at the door, she ran her hands through her red hair and beckoned, "Enter."

"Sorry to disturb you, Miss Mercer," Clark apologized while entering the office.

She minimized the video feed and shrugged, not giving him anything one way or the other. "I told you that my door is open to you, Clark. Besides I sent for you." She motioned with her head toward the black man.

The lackey nodded and shut the door, insuring their privacy.

Tess got up and smoothed her blouse and beige skirt. "I wanted to start by congratulating you on the front page story." She picked up that morning's paper and smiled. "Very nice work. You do continue to amaze."

"I appreciate that," Clark expressed guardedly. Despite her willingness to open doors for him, he didn't trust her. "I'll keep working hard to make the most of my opportunities."

"I have no doubt that you will," she agreed. "Of course such opportunities extend to all parts of your life."

He took a deep breath. "I keep telling you that I'm not the Traveler."

She of course wasn't buying it. But she didn't press the point. "I wasn't getting at that. Have you heard from your mother this morning, Clark?"

"Mom? What happened?" He immediately panicked.

Tess took a deep breath. "Take a seat, Clark." She motioned to the chair on the other side of her desk before sitting in hers. "I received a call from Winnie LaTravers. Apparently three men tried to mug your mother early this morning outside of her office."

"Tried? Is she all right?" he asked with concern.

"She's fine. More so though, I think you might find the whole incident very revealing," she indicated while enlarging the video feed again. "This came from a security camera."

Clark watched as the muggers surrounded his mother. Then he saw the figure sweep in and wipe the alley with the attackers before taking Martha out of the camera's range. "I wish I knew who that was. I owe them a thank you."

"You most certainly do, Clark. Since the Red and Blue Blur was sighted here about the same time, I'd say the only candidate is your girlfriend, Lana Lang. That Prometheus suit is something else," she assumed with a smile. Seeing him bristle, she put her hands up to reassure him. "I'm not looking to hunt her down. I just wanted you to know what happened." She took a deep breath. "I also know what Lex did to you both."

"Excuse me?" Clark queried both in shock and disbelief.

Tess leaned over the desk low and stared right into his eyes. "You do have a thing for denying the important parts of your life, don't you?" She pressed two buttons on the laptop's keyboard. "Listen."

Lex's voice came over the computer's speakers, damning Clark with the horrid choice once more.

He ground his teeth. "Enough. What do you want?"

"Want?" Tess reclined in her seat. "I don't want anything." Then she let the point hang in the air for a couple of seconds before reconsidering that particular statement. "Well maybe for you to start taking more responsibility for what's going on around you. You have a bigger destiny than just playing Farmer Brown on some dust bowl farm, Clark. You let people take the important parts of your life away. Take control. Go to Washington and bring her back here. You and she both need to deal with Davis Bloome at some point."

"Is this an assignment?" he asked pointedly.

"That's the official story. I want you to get an interview with the Raven Blur. I've instructed LaTravers to back off of that one. Unofficially of course, it's maybe a nudge in the right direction you might say. Consider it payback for getting us down safely from that damaged plane," she declared while handing him an envelope. "Oliver knows you're missing his press conference already. I'll let Lane handle that. You go and make sure everything's all right. Maybe bring me back that story?"

"And what's to stop you from exposing Lana and me on Page 1? You know Lois wants that right," he supposed.

She shook her head. "Because it isn't in my best interests to do so, Clark. You want more reasons? Fine. The world needs you. You need Miss Lang at your side. I don't think playing caddy to Lois Lane is much of a future. Besides I also found out about Lex's true intentions from her. Then it was Lex's dying wish that you two be kept apart." Her eyes blazed and she smiled coldly. "If I can thwart that, Clark, it'll be worth it. Trust me or not. That's not my concern." She considered his poker face again. "But do something for a change."

He looked over the envelope again. "When do I leave?"

"Immediately of course. You do want to see her, I trust?" Tess saw his hesitancy. "Clark, the bomb did something to her. It was on the security footage from the roof cameras. I watched and then deleted the tapes. Whatever that was, you both need help. Oliver touches on that in there. My car is waiting downstairs to take you to the airport. Have a great trip."

He stood and calmly considered her. Despite the calm exterior, he was nervous on the inside. How does she know all of this? "Thank you, Miss Mercer. I appreciate this."

"Of course, Clark. Do give my best to your mother and Miss Lang, will you? Talk to you in a few days," Tess concluded.

He nodded and left the room. He knew something was going on under the surface. Not for the first time, he was reminded of his meetings with Lionel and Lex. While the motives seemed altruistic and above board, something stank under the surface. I really need to keep an eye on her. He rode the elevator downstairs and walked out the front door to where the dark limo waited.

After getting in, he sat back and opened the envelope. It read:

"Hey Clark,

I talked with Tess about the situation with Lana. Don't worry about the press conference. Lois and the other reporters can handle that. You just worry about checking on your mother and Lana. Despite what I said to her, I still have my best people checking on ways to deal with the kryptonite charge in Lana's suit. Remember what I said the other night. Have faith.

Don't worry about paying me back for this. You've helped me and the other members of the Justice League plenty. Victor said it best. Even if things didn't work out between Katherine and him, he's pulling for Lana and you. Bart and Dinah send their best as well.

Maybe we might sit down when you get back for that one on one interview? That way, we can help each other out. I'll admit that I wouldn't mind seeing you and Lana fighting side by side with the JLA when we finally confront Bloome.

Go for the gusto, Clark.

Oliver"

I wish it were that easy. How can I talk to her when I can't even get in the same room as her? Clark frowned as the car pressed down the road.

It was going to be a long flight.