Lucy returned to the table. "She is just taking an important call, Clark. I am sure we can keep busy until she gets back."
"I'm sure." Clark replied as he squirmed in his chair.
"So what do you think of Interlaken?" she asked in a slightly flirty manner.
"It seems nice, exactly like Lo described it. I am looking forward to seeing the sights. " Clark explained.
"I bet you are." She smirked. "Where are you two lovebirds staying?"
"In an apartment down by the lake. It is lovely. "
"Maybe you could join me and some classmates for some swimming tomorrow. Wednesday afternoon has free periods so we head down to the lido and the lake. " Lucy was flirting full on now, so Clark decided to damper her down.
"We'll see." Clark suggested. "I am letting Lois decide what we are doing, as she really wants to show me around. Why don't you suggest it to her?"
"So, she's the boss." Lucy laughed annoyingly. "There is a lot more fun to be had around here other than spending time with Lois. She shocked me last week by how boring she has become. It must be living in that backwater in Kansas. Let's face it, Smallville is not exactly the most exciting place."
Clark smiled at that comment. "Actually you would be surprised. Sometimes I wished it was quieter than it was."
"Yeah right." Lucy replied and rolled her eyes.
Clark could see what Lois meant by her sister's arrogant attitude and she was obviously not remorseful for stealing Lex's money. If only she knew why Lois and he were in town.
Lois suddenly appeared with a look of concern in her eyes. Just then, another blond girl arrived. "Lucy, are you going to introduce to this fabulous man?" She asked, completing ignoring the presence of Lois.
Clark remembered in horror how Lucy's boarding school was an all-girls one and suddenly had visions of 100's girls chasing him through the streets. He was almost tempted to go and ask for a complete re-style on his hair and to revert back to his old clothes.
"Gretchen, this is Clark or should I say God…" Lucy almost drooled over him.
Clark got and shook her hand. "Hello Gretchen, nice to meet you."
"Gretchen, take a seat." Lucy pulled out a chair for her friend.
Clark took a deep breath knowing Lois wanted to talk to him. "Actually if you would excuse Lois and I; we are going to go back to the apartment for a sleep. It was a bumpy flight."
Lucy looked jealous. "Yeah I bet Lois is going to give you a bumpy ride back at the apartment."
Lois was annoyed. "Lucy, when are you going to grow up?" She took Clark's hand and led him away. "See you around, sis."
Once back at the apartment, Clark took a seat next to Lois. "Are you okay, Lo? Who was that on the phone?"
"It was the man who kidnapped me. I would know his voice anywhere. He goes by the name of Klaus and he must be watching as he knew I was inside the café."
"So what instructions does he have?"
"I told him, we had been in contact with Lex and that he is looking into options to give us the money. "
"He did not really say much else except to say, he would make contact in person sometime tomorrow evening and he reminded us of what was at stake." Lois said with a shaky voice.
"At least, we have got past the first hurdle, Lucy believed us." He smiled and hugged her tightly.
After a few moments, she pulled away and held his gaze. "Do you mind if I have an hour or so before going out for dinner. I am very tired." She climbed onto the bed.
"Do you want to join me? It is a big bed and you do look tired." She suggested innocently.
He nodded, realising the differing time-zones and his new experiences of being human were catching up with him. He gently lay down next to Lois and they were both soon asleep.
A few hours later, Lois woke up; something had jolted her awake. She felt the whole bed shake, and looked over to see Clark covered in sweat, thrashing out.
"Father, you are mistaken. Being human is a blessing." Clark cried out. Just then, Lois noticed an arm heading towards her face but she was powerless to stop it. It made contact with her lip, making it bleed almost immediately.
"Clark wake up." She screamed in response.
His eyes burst open and he sat up, looking across at Lois who was standing looking in the mirror in the bathroom.
"What's wrong, Lo." He asked in a panic.
"It's fine." She shouted back at him.
Clark could hear the stress in her voice. He got up and went into the bathroom. "Lo, tell me what's…." then he noticed the bruised bleeding lip forming.
She was dabbing it with a piece of tissue. "It's ok, Clark. You were thrashing out in your sleep, saying something about being a human was a blessing. It sounded very strange."
He grabbed the tissue out of her hand, and ushered her to sit down on the edge of the bed. She did and looked at the look at devastation in his face. "Please don't be upset. Everyone has a nightmare from time to time."
"It's more than that, Lo." He said as he started to dab the tissue on her battered lip. "These nightmares have been going on since the meteor shower. Have you ever wanted something so much and then when you get it, you are left disappointed? I have tried to deny my heritage for so long, burying it whenever I could and pretending to lead a normal life. All I have only ever wanted to fit in. All I wanted was to be normal. Now, I am… deep down, the reality has not matched the dream and I crave my previous life. But now I have no choice but to live the life I have chased for so long."
Lois just sat there listening intently as here was her best friend spilling his heart to her, but she had no clue what he was talking about. She had never heard such vulnerability in his voice and such a need to open the floodgates and let his emotions go.
Clark suddenly snapped out of his story. "I am so sorry, Lo. I did not mean to burden you with my crazy thoughts. I think I am just more affected by the meteor shower than I thought. Please don't take any notice of my maniacal ramblings."
Lois knew that this was the tip of the iceberg concerning his emotions, so decided to back off and allow him to offload further in his own time. Something major had happened to Clark during the past few weeks and it was going to take him a while to share his feelings, if indeed he ever would. She had no idea what he was referring to, but whatever it was, was totally consuming him.
Clark smiled at her. "I am sorry about your lip." She could see his eyes were fixed on her mouth and then he started moving his lips towards her. Ever so gently he pressed his lips to the small bruise that had formed. Slowly but surely he applied more pressure until she suddenly flinched with pain. In response, he jumped off the bed, muttering… "Sorry….sorry. I will go and get some ice from reception to bring down the swelling."
As soon as he was gone, Lois flopped back on the bed wondering what the hell had just happened.
Clark took a deep breath as he left the reception to head back up to their apartment. He wondered why he had felt a need to spill everything to Lois; in fact if he hadn't have stopped himself, he would have told her everything. There was something very special about Lois, but this past day he was having problems defining his relationship with her. Why had he kissed her a few moments ago? Had he wanted to comfort her or was there more to it than that?
He realised in his confusion that he was starting to lose track of the real reasons why he and Lois had come to Switzerland. He was becoming lost in his inner conflict between humanity and his Kryptonian heritage, and he knew he had to re-focus on what really mattered – saving a spoilt brat called Lucy.
Clark walked into the room to find Lois sitting reading a tourist pamphlet on Interlaken. "Lois, can I say something?"
Lois looked up. "Yes, go ahead."
"I think the jetlag and the recurrent nightmares are taking their toll. I did not mean to kiss you; it was a mistake. Can we just agree to get on with the task at hand and ensure that Lucy is kept safe?"
Lois let out a relieved sigh. "Yes, totally. We are definitely on the same wave length and I think the stress of the situation is making us both act a bit crazy."
Both knew that was not true; but neither felt ready to take a step into the abyss of their true feelings, well not yet anyway.
"Chloe, have you got anything yet?" Clark asked as they talked to her on speakerphone.
"I am looking but there is nothing to go on. As soon as you can take a photo, text it to me and I should be able to find out more. Klaus may be an alias or a made-up name, so just keep your ears open for more names. I have spent most of the day scanning emails from that area of Switzerland for buzz words but have drawn a blank as yet."
"Thanks, Chloe." Lois talked into the cell. "I feel much more confident with you on the case."
"I am looking into the chances of this being linked in with the Italian mafia as apparently some gangs are starting to get a foothold in Switzerland with gun-running and drug dealing. The strong economy and easy access to anonymity in the Swiss Banks makes it an ideal place to carry out illegal activities." Chloe explained. "I have also been considering some of Marcus Becker's contacts, but again…. Nothing. I will keep trying."
"Chloe, how did my parents take the news?"
"Not too well at first. I think they are worried for obvious reasons but I did manage to talk them out of calling the General."
"I owe you one, Chloe. The last thing we need is my father breathing down our necks and complicating the situation."
After the call, Lois and Clark headed out on the town to grab some pizza. "So Lois! What are you going to do to protect me from the frenzied women that Lucy seems to go to school with?" He asked, as they finished their dessert.
Lois smiled, the few glasses of wine starting to go to her head. "I don't know. It is partly my fault as I helped you turn into one of the hottest guys around here."
He started to blush. "I don't think a haircut and a few pieces of fashion have turned me into this Adonis everyone seems to think I am. I am just plain old Clark Kent."
"Clark, there is nothing plain about you. I must admit even I come into the barn in a morning sometimes to get a look at your body." She suddenly covered her mouth, realising the alcohol was lowering her inhibitions with every sip. Then she started to giggle.
Clark blushed and then he gave her one of his mega-watt smiles. The few beers he had drank were starting to affect him too and even worse, he was not used to it. "You are kidding, Lo. The only reason you come into the barn is to annoy me."
"Don't believe, Smallville. Anyway I will be stopping any future visits to the barn as I don't want to walk in on you and Lana 'doing the deed'." She laughed.
He smiled. "Not sure that will ever happen anyway. We left our last meeting on bad terms, so she may keep me waiting for punishment, but to be honest if you have never had it, how do you know what you are missing."
She looked at him and nodded. "Yeah I think you are right Clark. For all we know, it may be overhyped by TV and movies. Why waste our time on what could be such a mundane experience." Lois was beginning to slur.
Clark was shocked by her admission. "You mean you have never…."
Lois finished his sentence. "No, Clark! I have never done the horizontal lambada or got down and dirty with anyone."
"Ok, well that makes two of us and you know what it doesn't bother me. To be honest, I have barely thought about Lana since we arrived here. You are much more fun than she will ever be. You make me laugh so much, Lo. " He replied.
Lois looked down and noticed Clark had downed the three shots of schnapps she had bought him as a dare.
"Shall we go onto a club or something? The night is still young and there is so much fun to be had." Lois announced as she grabbed his hand, pulling him out of his chair.
"How can I turn down such an inviting offer? " He felt like he was on Red K but much more calm and laid back than he ever was with the meteor rock. Lois was opening his eyes to what life as a human could offer and he liked it.
They arrived at the club and hit the dance floor immediately. "I didn't know you could dance, Smallville."
"Well, I have many talents you have never seen before." He whispered suggestively in her ear.
Lois was taken aback by his openly flirtatious remarks. "Like what!" she shouted so she could be heard over the loud music.
"Wait and see." He moved his body closer to her, so close in fact she was having problems focusing on anything about from his gorgeous eyes fixed on hers. Unwilling to wait, she brushed her lips gently across his and waited for reaction. It did not take long. She felt his large hands come across the nape of her neck as he brought her mouth closer to his to allow him full access.
Boldly, her tongue started to play with his, as they began to kiss even more passionately. She could taste the peach schnapps, driving her tongue on to taste more of his mouth.
"Lo, you drive me crazy. I have never wanted anyone as much as I want you now. But we are drunk and are not thinking straight." Clark tried to talk sense, but the constant assault of Lois's lips was making it very difficult to get his words out.
"Clark, shut up! Let's go back to the apartment and finish what we have started." She grinned as she led him out of the club on the three minute walk to the lake.
He groaned, knowing he was powerless to stop her. He stopped half way back and pushed her up against the nearest building, kissing her with such intensity that it almost knocked her off her feet.
"Not here, Clark." Lois explained. "We are only moments away from our bed." He stopped kissing her and grinned at her. He had such a look of desire on his face.
They ran back up to their apartment. As soon as the door was closed, Lois clamped her legs around his waist as he moved them over to the bed. He laid her down gently ensuring he did not put his full weight on top of her. The kisses quickly deepened.
Lois started to run her hands up Clark's back, desperate to get his t-shirt off.
Without thinking, Clark blurted out his secret. "This is why I wanted to be human." He groaned as he knelt on bed to remove his t-shirt.
Lois could feel herself freezing but did not want to betray her confusion at his comment. She looked up at him and wanted this more than anything, but something about his announcement was making her hold back. She distracted him. "Clark, do you have any protection?"
His face turned serious. "No, I didn't think this would be happening. I will go down to the pub and grab something."
Clark grabbed his t-shirt and headed out of the apartment. It was only after a few yards, that the reality hit him. What was he and Lois doing? He wanted her to be with her but not whilst under the influence of far too much alcohol. He decided to go back up to the room to explain his change of heart.
He entered the room and found Lois fast asleep and snoring on the bed. He smiled and climbed in next to her.
Lois felt Clark's body cuddling up to her, but knew deep down that taking it further was a mistake, at least until they were both sober and perhaps even more importantly that Clark opened up about his strange comment….