Chapter Six

Clark was sitting on the couch thinking of all that had occurred lately. Furrowing his brow trying to understand why the scientist they were to interview had tried to kill Lois Lane. Usually when Lois would end up in danger, it would be because she had already uncovered a story to publish. And as usual, as the Blur he would always come to her rescue. But as far as he was aware, she hadn't even begun to interview the scientist yet. So why drug, kidnap and attempt to kill her.

No longer able to sit Clark began to pace back and forth in his loft. He tried to keep calm but his frustration grew stronger. He would like nothing more than pummel that son of a bitch who did that to Lois. The problem was that he couldn't go anywhere near him not when he knew his weakness and no doubt Dr. Jenkins would have kryptonite on him at all times. He would need Chloe's help on figuring out this one. He didn't want Lois anywhere near that crazy lunatic, besides Trent believed that Lois was dead so for now Clark wanted to keep it that way.

Right now all he could think about was Lois. She was on his mind a lot lately. Refusing to think about what he would have done if he had lost her. But it was Lois's kiss that really got him. Something he has wanted to do for a long time now but never finding the courage to actually do it. Almost getting his chance at Chloe's and Jimmy's wedding. Then out of the blue Lana showed up, which really threw him off. Sure he was happy to see her but was also curious to see if his friendship with Lois would lead to something more. Unfortunately that day did not end well. Chloe was abducted by Doomsday and Lois left for Star City to be by Jimmy's side while he lay in the hospital recuperating from his wounds. Lana was the only one left and once again he fell back into his old routine with her.

Remembering the pain in Lois's eyes when she left, he wasn't sure if she would ever return. Lana of course wanted him back, she convinced him that this time it would be different and of course like a fool he fell for it once again. After all she was the only girl he pined for the longest time, even though their relationship never lasted more than a few months at a time. He had to admit, one of the reasons why he went back to Lana was because he was scared to be alone. He truly did believe back then, that because he was so different no one would want him and even if they did he was to afraid of hurting them. Now that Lana had powers similar to his because of the power suit, Clark felt he owed it to her and to himself to try and make their relationship work, even though Lois was still on his mind.

As always their relationship was doomed to fail, even if it was the ultimatum that Lex imposed on them. Either Lana had to absorb the Kryptonite from the bomb that Lex planted on the Daily Planet's rooftop that would devastate the city or they can pursue their relationship at the costs of thousands of lives. It just seemed that no matter what, his relationship with Lana Lang was just not meant to be.

When Lana left he was surprised at how quickly he was able to get over her especially at how miserable he felt when they said their last goodbyes. In his younger years all he ever thought and talked about was Lana. Spending all his free time up in his loft just brooding over her.

Shorty after Lana's departure, Lois came back to Metropolis and he quickly learned however, that she didn't want anything more than friendship. Well that was alright with him, as long as Lois was back that's all that really mattered. Her friendship meant everything to him, he felt complete around her. Never has anyone made him feel the way she did. Sure they argued and bickered and teased each other to no end, but it was all in good fun and never with bad intent. It just seemed natural with her. She gave him a kind of inner strength that he never felt with anyone before. Her confidence was definitely rubbing off on him. So it was better to have her friendship than nothing at all.

Lately however he wasn't so sure that all Lois wanted was friendship from him. It seemed that they were getting closer now more than ever. He tried very subtly, several times to see if he can get their relationship past the friendship stage but never actually succeeding.

A smile crept up on his lips as he thought of her, instantly putting him in a better mood than he was currently in. He's never met anyone like her before. Even though she had a tendency of putting her foot in her mouth and losing her temper on the smallest thing, Lois was nonetheless the most thoughtful and loyal person he's ever known. She would never hurt anyone close to her, always there for the ones she cared for. He guessed that's why he loved her. That revelation should have come to a shock to him but he guessed he had known all along, just too afraid to admit it. He finally acknowledged to himself the depth of his true feelings for her. Just as he was thinking of a ways of asking Lois out that would not scare her off, he heard Chloe coming up into his loft in the barn.

"Hey Chlo, how're you doing?" Clark saw the weariness in her eyes from spending the night in the hospital with Lois.

"Tired, but otherwise fine, I just left the medical center and the doctors say that she should be okay to go home tomorrow" Plopping herself down on the couch and propping her feet up on the old coffee table, she asked, "How about you, you seem to be lost in thought."

"I was just thinking about what happened, thank goodness she's okay, I don't know what I would've done if I lost her" admitted Clark.

"Oh, is Clark Kent finally acknowledging he has feelings for Lois?" Chloe asked with a smirk and a twinkle in her eye. Noticing Clark's surprised expression on his face she said "What, you think I don't know you have feelings for my cousin? The chemistry between the two of you is kind of obvious."

Was it really that obvious? Clark wondered to himself

"As much as I would love to talk about you and Lois, I actually came here because I have some important news about Dr. Jenkins."

"What did you find out Chloe?" Considering her resources he wasn't surprised that she already found something on him.

"Well, before visiting Lois at the hospital, I quickly went to Watchtower to confirm what I already suspected. Dr. Jenkins' name seemed familiar to me because he was one of the scientists involved in one of Lex's projects. Actually he was the main scientist involved in creating the power suit that Lana got her hands on"

"Have you learned anything else on him?" Clark asked, somehow not surprised that the scientist had some sort of affiliation with Lex.

"Not yet, but I'm working on it."

"So now we need to figure out why he attacked Lois and how he knows about my aversion to kryptonite?"

"Actually I'm processing the data at Watchtower on him, as we speak."

"Well you're nothing if not efficient" somewhat relieved that Chloe had the technical knowhow and the same investigative mind as Lois.

"Well thank you, I'll take that as a compliment" Smiling at Clark's praise of her.

Clark smiled back at her, thankful that throughout the years Chloe has remained the one constant in his life. She was always there for him, through thick and thin. He was truly grateful to have her as a friend.

Noticing that Chloe suddenly started to get a bit fidgety, wondering about the sudden change in her demeanour, arms crossed and brows lifted in curiosity Clark asked "Chloe is everything alright?"

"Well yeah, I guess" she said hesitantly. "Actually Clark, since we're talking about the power suit and kryptonite, um" stalling for a moment, but she had to tell him about Lana, she couldn't exactly keep it from him.

"Chloe, you're stalling. If you have something to say then say it, because if this involves Lois's life being in danger again then you better tell me." He was growing impatient by Chloe's sudden change in conduct. He wanted to know what she was keeping from him.

Staring at her hands, her fingers laced together and resting on her lap, she softly muttered "No Clark, it's not Lois, it's Lana."

"What about Lana?" Clark asked, perplexed, what does she have anything to do with this he wondered in confusion.

"I, um, spoke to Lana today" said Chloe, not sure how this news would affect Clark.

"You spoke to Lana, today, when?" He asked, bewildered. He hasn't seen or spoken to her since she left.

"She called me while I was on my way here. Actually she's back in town" mumbling the last part, still staring at her hands and avoiding his gaze.

"What! Lana is here, in Smallville?" Taken aback by Chloe's confession he didn't know how he should be feeling right now, a slew of emotions were running through him. Sure he was happy but he just hoped she didn't come back because of him. He wanted to keep their past in the past. The only reason why she would come back was because she was finally cured.

Finally meeting his gaze, Chloe got off the couch and approached him, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder, knowing that his mind must be racing with emotions. "She told me she was able to neutralize the suit"

"And, what else did she say?" Clenching his jaw trying to think what he would say to her when she came to visit him and he knew for certain that she would come.

"That's all really, we're supposed to get together later, she said she'll fill me in on the details when we meet" Shrugging her shoulders, sorry she couldn't give him any more information than that. "And how about you, Clark, considering all you been through and the circumstances of her leaving, are you going to try and pursue where you left off?" Chloe inquired, hoping that he wasn't going to fall into the Lana trap again. Not that she had anything against her. Lana was one of her oldest friends, except that she didn't want a rerun of the Clark and Lana soap opera. Besides, the chemistry between him and her cousin was undeniable.

"Well you seem very happy that she's back" Chloe added sarcastically.

"It's not that I'm not but what Lana and I had is in the past. To tell you the truth I thought because we had so much history together, that we owed it to ourselves to give it another shot at it. The truth is, I was too afraid to let go. It hurt to let her go, I was holding on to a love that was no longer there, for fear of being alone" finally disclosing his true feelings for Lana.

Chloe had suspected it for some time, but she was waiting for Clark to finally admit it himself. But assuming it and knowing it, wasn't the same.

Looking at his friend with a sheepish a smirk on his face. "Besides, I've wanted to ask Lois out for quite some time now" Clark confessed.

Tapping him on the shoulder and grinning widely at the admission to his feelings for her cousin. "Well good for you!' Chloe said sincerely . "Well I'm tired. Sleeping on a chair in Lois' hospital room is not exactly what I call getting a good night's rest. I'll speak to you later, I'm going home to catch up on some shut eye" yawning widely, as she disappeared down the loft stairs.

Clark supposed that Lana was back because of him. He remembered their heartfelt departure, right here in this loft. As much as it hurt to let her go, a part of him felt a kind of relief. He also realized it was time to let go of something he should have done a long time ago. Their last attempt at love, at least for him, was more out of desperation to hold on to something that was just not meant to be, for fear of always being alone. He no longer felt this way, he was more confident, more self assured and Lois was the only one who's ever made him feel this way. This time, he knew better than to let anyone get in his way of pursuing Lois, even Lana.

His feelings for Lois grew stronger and stronger day by day. He had come to that realization some time ago. They always had chemistry, even if at first it was like halibut and chocolate fudge as Lois had put it. Knowing how much Lois means to him, he finally decided that he's going to tell her truth. If he was going to have any chance with her he wanted her to know everything, his feelings and that he's the Blur. Regardless if she felt the same for him and he suspected she did. He didn't want to keep secrets from her anymore. He didn't want to hide who he was, he wanted Lois to know the real him.