Ch. 7

Clark lifted the plates from the table and tossed them into the small sink. Their ensuing breakfast had been rather quiet, but it wasn't his fault. Lois always found the wrong time to say something completely out of reason. She should have know better than to talk about home, especially his home, but he did understand that she was pretty much a ditz when it came to opening her mouth before she thought. "It's okay Lois, I'm not mad." He turned on the tap and filled the sink with water.

"Yes you are. I can hear it in your voice. Not to mention the rigid look to your body." She finished her coffee and held the mug lazily in one hand. "I'm sorry Smallville, I don't know how many times I have to say it."

"None." He seethed. "I already told you not to worry about it."

"But I am." She shot back.

He just decided to ignore her. She wasn't going to drop it unless he did. Even if she thought she was being sincere, he knew full well that she was subconsciously trying to get the last word in. Sometimes he even wondered if the woman knew how flippant and genuinely annoying she was. Her voice was droning on in the background as he slapped the suds around the plate sin the sink. A soft whistle escaped his lips as a tune that was caught in his head made its way out.

"Smallville?" She asked for the tenth time. She could take him ignoring her, but when he went as far as to whistle a soft tune to distract himself, it pushed things over the edge. Grunting in frustration, she went up behind him and drew back her hand to grab his attention.

Clark continued whistling and turned to the right, making sure to keep his eyes on the dishes. He caught her oncoming fist without looking, his whistling stopping for a second. "Best not to hurt yourself Lois." He said, dropping her hand and turning back to the sink and his whistling.

Lois just stood there in mute surprise, her hands falling limply to her sides. How in the world did he know she was going to do that? Even with all his confessed abilities, he shouldn't have known she was doing that, she had even been deathly quiet. Her frustration grew even more as he picked up his whistling again. "Smallville." She growled.

This time he turned around, a dish in his hand and a towel wiping it dry. He casually looked at her and replied with a very condescending tone. "Yes?"

"Don't give me that tone mister."

Clark just raised a quizzical eyebrow and turned back around to the sink. He wasn't really in the mood for Lois's bickering. If anything he was incredibly tired from a long night of restless sleep on a bus. "Some of us didn't sleep nine hours last night."

Lois caught the hint of malaise in his voice, but she chose to ignore it. "Don't go trying to blame your grumpy attitude on that."

He just sighed and finished drying the plates. He picked them up and walked over to the tray, placing them on the gold platter. "I'm heading for that large tub, if I don't come out for a few hours, don't worry, I don't wrinkle."

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she watched him enter the large bathroom, the door closing noisily behind him. She had thoughts of joining him, but she remembered that they had decided to take things slow. Feeling a little free, she locked the hotel room door and closed all the drapes. She looked cautiously around the apartment, and then let her towel fall to the floor. Taking a deep breath, she stood in the middle of the main room, naked in all her glory. Clark was certainly missing out on something.

"Lois?" Clark hollered from in the bathroom.

"Yes?"

"Put something on, please."

Her eyes went wide as she quickly ran into the bedroom and searched through the dresser for a complimentary robe. "Damn you and your vision." She mumbled.

"I heard that!" He yelled.

"Shut Up!" She screamed at him through two walls.

"Put some clothes on first." He laughed back.

She just grumbled and found a red bath robe. Slipping it on, she strode back into the main room and found the TV remote. "I'm dressed." She stated angrily.

"Good, I don't think I could take looking at you naked anymore."

Lois could hear him chuckling through the wall. "What, you don't like my body?" Her voice was pouting and smug at the same time.

"Well, yes, I like your body, but my heat vision has this water ready to boil a lobster."

Lois laughed aloud at his comment. She remembered how it was exactly triggered. "My goodness Smallville, make sure not to melt the glue on the linoleum. I don't think falling walls would be appreciated by the hotel."

"Maybe your cold persona could cool this place down."

"Fine line Smallville." She hollered, turning on the television.

"Yes ma'am." He replied, sitting back in the tub as the water began to rise up to his chest. It was actually more like a hot tub, but either way, it was incredibly relaxing. He let his anxieties and his pain wash away with the relaxing sensation. "Ahhh." He breathed, slumping down even more in the tub. Before he knew it, his eyes had closed and his mind had shut down for a power nap.

-

Lois had sat and watched the news for almost three hours. There wasn't anything on in the morning and at some point she had dozed off. Her mind jerked awake as she heard a nasal voice from the television. She grumbled at herself for falling asleep. She had just slept for nine hours, yet she had dozed off before noon. She cursed herself for starting to act like a true farmer. At that, she suddenly realized that Clark was nowhere in sight. Smiling to herself, she got up off the couch and walked to the bathroom. "Smallville, you asleep in there?" When she heard no noise from behind the doorway, she grinned and walked over to the kitchen. Fumbling her way through drawer after drawer, she found what she was looking for. Holding up a fork triumphantly, she quickly bent three of the four pieces on the counter edge. Eyeing her masterpiece, she went back to the bathroom door. She was about to unlock it with the fork, but Clark opened it.

He looked down at Lois's improvised lock pick. "That anxious to see me naked huh?"

Lois was still bent down, her eyes directed right at the waistband of his pajama pants. Her gaze lingered on his taut stomach as she brought her eyes slowly upwards to his face. "You're awake." She almost gasped.

"Well, all that noise you made in the kitchen a moment ago was enough to wake a hibernating bear." He smiled at her as he moved out of her way, still rubbing the towel through his wet hair. The pajama shirt was still lying in the bathroom. It was too small to be even remotely comfortable.

"You forgot your shirt." Lois said as she peered into the bathroom.

"Too small." Clark commented, walking into the bedroom and laying down on the slightly ruffled blankets. The power nap hadn't been enough, he was still tired. His eyes were almost shut, but he suddenly heard Lois shout out.

"When's the laundry supposed to be back?" She yelled from inside the other room.

"How should I know?" He growled. When he heard a snort from her, he just shot back with a lame backup. "It'll be back tonight after the days work. Just be patient Lois."

"Patient? How in the world are we supposed to pass an afternoon?" She asked, walking up to the doorway and looking at Clark, who was sprawled out on the bed.

"I don't know, order some candy and pig out." He suggested.

"Or." Lois began, her voice becoming low and seductive.

Clark lifted his head to see Lois standing at the doorway in her robe. She was twirling one of the sashes around like a baton. "Or what?" He asked with a meek voice.

"We could always put that mattress to use." She looked dangerously at him, his cheeks reddening and his adam's apple bobbing like a scuba diver.

He was at a loss for words. His throat had tightened so tight he thought he had lost all contact with the outside air. Inhaling sharply, he continued to stare right at her. She didn't seem very affected by her own words, but they were certainly tearing him apart. "Lois." He croaked. "I thought we agreed-."

"To take it slow, yeah, I know." She said with an exasperated gasp. "I'm just bored." She resigned, leaning up against the doorframe and fingering it softly.

"Well, I'm planning on taking a snooze. You're welcome to join me here." He smiled and dropped his head back onto the pillow.

Lois smiled to herself as she made her was forward. The room was dark, but the morning light was still strong enough to illuminate the room through the blinds.

Clark closed his eyes a second later. They opened suddenly as he felt Lois get up on the foot of the bed. Bending his head up again; he watched her crawl on her hands and knees towards him. The look on her face was nothing less than of pure evil. The smirk she sported was unlike anything he had ever seen. It wasn't her regular smirk, it signaled pure lust. He gulped loudly as she crawled over his legs, her breasts touching his knees. He couldn't keep his eyes from drifting to her robe that was hanging loosely. Her breasts were clearly visible. A small croak escaped his throat as he watched her continue forward, her hands now firmly planted to either side of his shoulders.

"What Smallville, cat got your tongue?" She dangerously brought her right knee up between his legs. She was careful enough not to touch anything but his inner thigh.

"I-I-I." He stammered. There wasn't a thing in the world that could break his gaze away from the look on her face.

"Relax." Lois laughed, falling over on to her side in a fit of mirth.

Clark didn't think it was too funny, he just laid there unmoving. "Lois, that was not funny."

"The look on your face made my day." She replied, another laugh escaping her. Soon she was sprawled out on the king size bed beside him, her chest falling up and down with every laugh.

"I don't know what to say about the look you just gave me?" Clark said, his voice still a little shaky.

"Scared you, didn't I?" She rolled onto her left side and propped herself up on an elbow.

Clark turned his head to see her gazing at him with a tight smirk. "In more than one way." He eyed her suspiciously, but she just continued to smirk. "You should wear your hair loose more often."

Lois frowned at him and laughed. "When did you suddenly become a hairstylist?" Her tone was mocking, but she was only playing with him.

Reaching out, he took a strand of her semi-damp hair and rubbed it in his fingers. "Ever since I realized I like it hanging loosely. I won't force you to keep it like that, just thought I'd tell you that you look radiant."

She melted at his sweet comment. "Well, I really should have combed it after my shower, but I thought I'd go Clark Kent today, all un-kept and messy."

"Hey, in my defense, I can't comb my hair."

"I know, but that doesn't mean I can't bug you about it." She slapped him playfully on the arm. "I'll keep it loose if you stop shaving." She rubbed the back of her hand down his cheek. "I like your stubble."

"You better, because I don't have a meteor rock with me. I sort of lack the necessary means to shave."

"You mean you use a meteor rock to shave?"

"Yes." Clark said. "Just a tiny one, almost the size of a marble."

"I thought you said just the slightest piece caused you pain. Why would you try to shave yourself with a blade if it makes you sick? You must cut yourself constantly." She turned her hand over to place a caring hand on his cheek.

"Believe me; I cut myself plenty, but not anymore." He watched her frown, so he continued. "This is going to sound pretty pathetic, but my mom shaves me."

Lois let out a throaty laugh as she dropped her head from her hand and let her arm straighten out. Her fit of laughter lasted longer than she thought it would, but at least Clark had gotten caught up in it too. "Smallville, that's the most pathetic, but strangely cute thing I've ever heard."

Clark couldn't help but smile, her laughter was too infectious. "It's sad, I know, but I haven't figured out a way to do it without hurting myself. I may be invulnerable, and my wounds may heal up right away, but that doesn't mean I don't feel the nicks."

"Awe, you're such a softy." She laughed. Her hand leaving his face lay on the bed in front of herself. Once again she had her left elbow bent and her head resting on her knuckles.

He just bit his tongue at her words. They were meant to be sincere, but there was some mocking tossed in. "So, what are you up for tonight?" He asked suddenly.

Caught off guard by the sudden question, she stared at him blankly. "I don't know, maybe some clothes or something." She saw Clark's expression darken. "Don't worry; I'm sure they have plaid around here somewhere." She smirked wildly at him.

Clark just laughed as he continued to lie on his back. "We'll see, first off I'd like to get my clean clothes back from laundry before I go wandering outside this hotel room."

"Oh come one, wouldn't we look like quite the pair walking down the street in only a pajama bottom and a bath robe."

"Yes, we would be quite the pair." He rolled his eyes. "I think they'd capture us and throw us in the loony bin." He paused to close one eye, to make it look as if he was scrutinizing her. "Well, maybe just you."

"Hey." She yelped, swatting him again for good measure. This time she didn't get away with it though, as he grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him.

Clark pulled her towards him as he turned to his right and kissed her suddenly. Whether or not she had been waiting do that as long as he had been, he didn't know, but damn it tasted good. Pulling back, he smiled devilishly. "Catch you by surprise?" He asked.

"Only a little." She replied, pushing him onto his back as she crawled neatly onto his chest. Only her robe separated her bare chest from his. In the heat of the moment, neither of them held back, their fingers groping each other's face's as they explored one another's mouth. "Mmm." Lois moaned, her eyes closed and her face just a little flustered. "You're a good kisser." She complimented, pulling her lips from his.

"You're not too bad yourself." He replied, draping his arms around her protectively.

She felt safe in his arms, secure from the outside world. Laying her head on his chest, she allowed him to just hold her. Mumbling something incoherent, she nuzzled into him some more, her damp hair spreading across his chest loosely.

Clark felt himself drifting off to sleep, his heart beating slower and slower with each passing minute. By the sound of Lois's breathing, she was either asleep, or nearly there.

-

Lex sat at his desk and rubbed his weary eyes. He had spent all night at the hospital, coming to grips with everything he had heard. It wasn't a complete shock, but it had rattled him. Sighing deeply, he got up and left the mansion, the skid marks from his car tires the only evidence he had indeed returned the night before.

-

Chloe leaned her elbows on her desk, her head in her upright palms. She had spent half the night at the hospital with Martha and Lex, and then the rest night and morning at the Torch, looking for any sign as to where Lois and Clark had ran off to. Reaching for her coffee, she shook it. To her dissatisfaction, it was empty. She tossed the paper cup into the trash as she leaned back in her chair.

"Need a refill?"

She opened up her eyes to see Lex standing at the doorway, a tray of fresh Talon coffee adorning his hands. "Please." She replied, taking a cup from him as he took one himself and set the tray with the other two in it on the desk.

"Long night huh?"

"You can say that again." Chloe sighed in frustration. "At least we know Mr. Kent is going to be okay. I couldn't picture how this world would go on without the man."

Lex could only nod in agreement. "It would have been nice if Clark or Lois had taken a cell phone with them, for I'm sure they would have come back if they knew what was happening."

Chloe leaned forward, her head scant inches from her computer monitor. A sudden pop up came on screen and she clicked. Her eyes went wide as she read the message.

Lex, seeing Chloe's eyes go wide, looked at the computer screen over her shoulder. "California?" He asked. "That can't be right."

She clicked to verify, and it was true. "Lois used her credit card at a hotel in Los Angeles." Her eyes went even wider as more information came into her sight. "They got the honeymoon suite." Her eyes trailed up to Lex, who was staring intently at the screen.

"Maybe they did run off to get married. From what Martha told us, it's all within the realm of possibilities when it comes to Clark's inner Kryptonian." Lex studied the message and the information a little more. "Hmm, why don't you try calling the concierge desk and see if you can get through to their room?"

"Good idea." She said, picking up the phone and dialing the required number. "Yes? hello. I was wondering if I could be forwarded through to the honeymoon suite."

"I'm sorry miss, but I cannot forward the call unless I have been given instructions by the occupants to allow them."

"The man who is in that room, his father has had a heart attack. I need to talk to him." Chloe was feeling suddenly desperate.

"That's certainly important enough to let you through, but first I'll need you to tell me who the room is booked under. Just a little security measure."

"It should be under Lois Lane." She said heatedly. Her patience was wearing thin, and combined with her tiredness, she was getting increasingly irritable.

"Right miss, one second and I'll have you transferred post hast."

"Thank you." Chloe said to the man on the other end of the phone. She looked at the computer screen and saw that it was about eleven O'clock on the west coast. The phone began to ring on the other end as she looked up at Lex. "It's ringing." She smiled. She turned it onto speaker phone for Lex's benefit.

After nearly the sixth ring, a groggy voice appeared on the other end. "Yeah?" It asked gruffly.

"Clark?"

"Yeah?"

Chloe was about to speak again, but a voice in the background could be heard. It was Lois.

"Smallville, hang up the phone and come back to bed."

Chloe almost screamed into the phone, but Lex's reassuring hand on her shoulder kept her calm. "Clark Kent, this is-."

"Wait just a minute." He turned away from the phone. "Lois, keep quiet, I'm on the phone. Gees, can't you wait just a few minutes, I'll be back under the covers in no time."

"But it's already getting cold in here." Lois whined

"Then tie your bath robe back up!" He shot back.

"You undid it."

"And that makes me liable to do it back up?" He rolled his eyes and ignored her. He turned his attention back to the phone. "Yeah, you got my attention again."

Lex took his turn, "Clark, this is-." But he was cut off just like Chloe. The sound of Lois's voice was a little closer to the phone this time.

"Smallville?"

Both Chloe and Lex could hear the pure seductiveness in her voice. They both looked at each other in disbelief. Clark's voice was once again audible, but instead of words, there were just croaks and groans.

"I-uh-I got to go."

They heard Clark gulp loudly, and the next thing they knew, the phone was hung up. Once again, they just stared at each other in disbelief. "Tell me that that didn't sound at all like I thought it did?"

Lex looked at her helplessly. There wasn't really any other answer for it.

His silence told her everything. "Oh my god!" She gasped, her hand flying over her mouth. "My god." She repeated in disbelief.

All Lex could do was smile, but he carefully hid that from Lois's cousin. Whatever Clark was on, he was seemingly getting somewhere no normal Clark Kent would get. "Come on Chloe, I'll take you back to the Mansion, Lucy is there, and you can take a well needed nap. It's almost two in the afternoon and you haven't slept in over twenty-eight hours."

"Neither have you." She argued as he helped her out of the chair. Chloe grabbed the tray of coffees as he ushered out of the Torch and into the hallways.

"No, I haven't slept either, but I'll get my rest on the jet." Lex guided her out of the school and towards his car.

"Where are you going?" She asked lazily, already half asleep.

"California." He said passively. She seemed not to register what he said, which didn't surprise him, she was almost completely asleep as he put her seat belt on for her. "Don't worry Chloe, we'll get them back." With that, he sped off to the mansion, and his ever awaiting leer jet.

-

Clark stood there with his mouth agape. In the doorframe stood Lois, her left arm leaning up against it as her right hip jutted out. Her robe hung loosely open as she stood there, her left breast clearly exposed. "Uh, Lois."

"Just come here Clark." She said.

"What about slow?" He asked timidly, his hand finally leaving the phone.

"Screw slow!" She replied

Clark got another good look at her and swallowed hard. He walked towards her suddenly. "Right, screw it."