Chapter 7
Clark slowly opened his eyes to find himself shackled to a chair across from Lois with electrodes and wires attached to his stomach and wrists while cables were connected to the chair and the machine. His head felt like it was going to explode and his breathing was heavy because of the glowing green Kryptonite in the wrist and ankle shackles. When he looked across at Lois he saw she had a dark purple and black bruise on her left cheek, her lip was bleeding and she was looking at him with a worried but fearful expression.
"Lois? Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" He asked, his voice filled with deep concern as he struggled to break the shackles and chains that were wrapped around his wrists and ankles.
"Do I look alright?" She saw him roll his eyes at her sarcastic response. "I'm fine," she answered with a small smile. "Just a little bloody, bruised, chained up, that's all. How about you? Are you alright?"
"I'm ok, just chained up too," he answered breathlessly as he continued to try and break free.
They were silent for a few seconds; only the sound of the chains clanging as they both struggled to break free was heard. Lois looked around wondering where their captors were and Clark continued to try and break from the hold.
"How did you find me?" Lois asked him curiously.
"Ma—"
"I'm guessing good ole Mayor Harold Johnson told him." Jarrod answered instead as he re entered the room, Jason following behind him. As he walked into the light he glanced at Clark and said, "Nice of you to join us."
"Jarrod just let us go and we can talk about this." Clark begged. "I know what Sarah did to you and how much it must've hurt but—"
Jarrod quickly walked over, leaned into Clark's face and angrily said, "Do not say you know how much it hurts because you have no idea."
"I do have an inkling Jarrod. My ex-girlfriend broke up with me by DVD and it hurt." Clark said as he looked over at Lois. "But I found someone else and you will too."
Jarrod looked at Lois and then turned back to Clark. "Well that would hurt but not as much as mine did. And good for you, finding someone else but the thing is . . . I don't want anyone else. I want Sarah and now I have her. So," he raised his left fist and punched Clark hard in the face, "Now get ready to play what I call Rucker's Truth and Torture game."
"Truth and Torture game? This should be fun." Lois said sarcastically.
"Oh it is . . . well not for you two but for me." Jarrod said pointing to himself. "Here's how it works. The bands around your stomach and wrists are electrodes and wires . . . well those are all hooked up to the machine my cousin is operating and so are these two buzzers I'm holding in my hand."
"How will you know if we're telling the truth or lying?" Clark asked as he looked at the buzzer in Jarrod's hand.
"Oh that . . . let's just say I have a special gift at knowing if people are lying."
"Oh great, we become some psycho's play toy." Lois said rolling her eyes in disgust.
"Careful Lois, I'm in control here. I could kill you or . . . I could kill your lover boy." Jarrod threatened as he threw a heated glance at Clark. "Now, the rules, because every game has to have its rules. I ask you each a question and you answer with yes or no. Here's the fun part. If either of you lie, your dear loved one gets zapped."
"What if you tell the truth?" Clark asked while he looked across at Lois and saw her biting her lip which meant she was scared.
"Well you don't get zapped and that parts not that fun for me." Rucker replied calmly.
"Now I see why it's called Truth and Torture. You ask questions and we have to put up with your voice." Lois commented rolling her eyes. "You really are a sick man Rucker."
"Lo-iss." Clark exclaimed in a stern voice.
"I know. I should really get some help . . . but I don't want to. Now, are you ready to play?" He asked excitedly looking back and forth at them. He then looked at his cousin and asked, "Jason could you turn the machine on please?"
Jason reluctantly nodded his head as he flicked a red switch and then stood with his arms folded across his chest. God, I hate this.
"Good." Jarrod looked at them both. "Let's begin with a test. I'd like you both to lie for this first question." He faced Lois and asked, "Is your name Lois Lane?
"I'm not going to answer just so you can get your rocks off by shocking us." Lois responded annoyed.
"Answer the question Lois." Jarrod ordered her.
Lois saw Clark mouth at her to do it and nodded his head emphasizing it was ok. "Fine. No." Lois answered and then cringed as Clark screamed from being shocked.
"Very good." Jarrod smiled and then faced Clark. "Is your name Clark Kent?"
"No." Clark answered as he closed his eyes waiting for Lois to scream only it never came. When he looked over at her she looked confused and so did Jarrod. Clark had told the truth. His real name is Kal-El.
Jarrod looked at Clark curiously and said, "You're telling the truth, I can tell. If your name isn't Clark Kent then what is it?"
"None of your business," Clark said glaring at him.
Jarrod glared back at him and smiled coldly as he pressed the button shocking Lois. Clark cringed as he heard Lois scream out in pain from the electricity coursing throughout her body.
"Doesn't matter anyway, I know the machine works. Now let's play. First question." He looked Lois deeply into her eyes and asked, "Do you trust Clark?"
"Yes." Lois answered unquestionably.
He realized she was telling the truth so he turned to Clark. "Clark, do you trust Lois?"
"Yes." Clark answered smiling at Lois.
Jarrod rolled his eyes annoyed. "Well that's good that you trust each other, but not fun for me. So let's move on to the next question." He turned to Lois and grinned. "Lois, do you still have feelings for an old boyfriend and don't say you don't have one because a hot babe like you has probably left a trail of broken hearts in her wake."
Lois glared at him through narrowed eyes as she ground out a biting, "No."
Suddenly Clark screamed and jerked back in the seat as he felt a strong shock travel throughout his body. After it stopped and the pain resided he looked at Lois with a hurt expression. "You still have feelings for Oliver?"
"No, of course I don't." Lois cringed as Clark was shocked again and became worried when he began to cough uncontrollably and a drop of blood dripped from his nose.
"You didn't ask a question Rucker, so stop shocking him." Lois screamed.
He shrugged his shoulders and smugly said, "Can you see why I love this game?"
"Shut up psycho." Lois shouted angrily before looking directly at Clark. "Are you ok?" She could see something wasn't right.
"I'm fine." He answered heaving and struggling to breathe. "Do you still . . . have feelings for Oliver?"
"Yes I do still have feelings for him but . . . only as a friend."
"She's telling the truth Clark." Jarrod said looking into Lois' eyes.
Clark sighed deeply, looked up at Lois and asked, "Really?"
"Yes, really. You know how I feel about you," Lois said passionately and meaningfully. Then she remembered Jarrod thought they were engaged so she quickly covered with, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have said yes to your proposal."
Clark bowed his head down in shame and apologetically said, "Sorry."
"Just don't let it happen again." She said sternly.
Jarrod stood watching them back and forth like he were at a tennis match, listening to them shout and glare angrily at one another. But then seconds later he shook his head in disgust as they forgave each other so quickly.
"What? That's it. No I hate you's? Ah come on Clark, she said she's still got feelings for her ex. Doesn't that piss you off?" Jarrod inquired, his voice rising in annoyance.
"No." Clark smiled when Lois didn't get shocked. "I trust her and can see in her eyes that she's telling the truth."
"Well isn't that just great." He said sarcastically as he faced Clark with an angry scowl. "How about you Clark? Do you still have feelings for an ex girlfriend?"
"Yes . . . but only as a friend," Clark answered with conviction.
Jarrod exhaled and rolled his eyes in frustration. "You're not even going to bother lying? All the other couples lied their asses off."
"What would be the point? You'll just find a reason to shock us anyway."
"Fine. Whatever." Jarrod waved his hand dismissively. "Next question. Lois, have you ever deceived Clark?"
Lois shook her head and answered openly, "No. Never."
He looked at Clark and sighed in frustration. "Ok Clark, have you ever deceived Lois?"
Clark looked down not wanting to look at Lois as his mind wandered to the two times he had deceived her. There was the night in the alley when he had pretended to be Green Arrow and they ended up kissing. Then there was the Valentines debacle when Lois had asked if he remembered what had gone on between them and he deceived her by telling her he didn't, to cover his secret. Then he realized that he deceived her everyday when he had to race off to make a save while she tried to track down the red and blue blur not knowing it was him.
"Ooh, careful Lois, he seems intensely deep in thought, which means he's deciding whether to lie or tell the truth." Rucker warned her.
"Do you ever get sick and tired of your own voice, Rucker? Because I know I am." Lois commented which made Jarrod so angry he walked over and backhanded her across the face splitting her lip.
Lois glared at him, turned her head to the side and spat blood out. Then she faced him with a knowing grin and said, "That's going to cost you, Rucker."
He grinned maliciously at her and turned to face an irate Clark who had stood up in a threatening position when he saw Jarrod backhand Lois. "Tick tock, tick tock, Clark," he said walking over and shoving Clark back in his seat.
Clark looked at Lois and saw her split lip. Then he hesitantly said, "No."
"Wrong answer. Jarrod said as he pressed down on the button.
Clark cringed and despised himself for making Lois scream out in agonizing pain. "Lois!" he screamed out. "Yes. Yes, I have. Just please don't hurt her," he said deeply emotional as he admitted the truth.
"You . . . what?" Lois growled in pain and confusion.
"I'm sorry," Clark softly said.
"You deceived me? How Clark?" Lois asked with an intense frown.
"Could we talk about this when we're alone?" He pleaded.
"Now is as good a time as ever. I'm chained up so I can't get loose to kill you," she seriously said. "Tell me, how have you deceived me?"
Jarrod interrupts them by laughing maniacally. "Ooh and the game just took a major twist. First it was Lois lying which caused Clark to get shocked and now it's Clark, which caused Lois to get shocked." He glanced at Jason and excitedly said, "God I love this game."
"Shut up!" Lois and Clark barked in unison.
"I have a funny feeling this wedding is going to be off."
"When I get out of these chains and shackles and trust me I will, you're going down Game boy." Lois threatened him and then turned her attention back to Clark. "Exactly how have you deceived me?" Lois asked, seething with anger.
"Sure you don't want to wait until we're alone?" Clark inquired hopefully but when he saw her glaring at him, he knew the answer. "Think green leather, a dark alley and also a certain hearts and cupids night which we both were "supposed" to have forgotten." Clark explained calmly as he rattled the shackles and chains still trying to break free.
Lois frowned as she tried to piece together what he meant. Green leather and a dark alley? What did he mean by that? After a few seconds of deep thought it suddenly hit her. "You son of a bitch. That was you he hired?"
"Yes but we only did it to protect you, Lois. Honestly."
"He's telling the truth."
"Shut. Up." Lois seethed through clenched teeth as she tried to lunge at Jarrod but was immediately jerked back by the shackles and chains. She then sighed disappointed, sat back down and looked up at Clark. "Do you really remember everything that happened Valentine's night?"
"Yes." Clark said nodding his head shamefully.
"Did we . . . you know?" She asked looking directly at him and gulped nervously. "Or did you lie about that as well?"
Clark heard her heart racing with panic and anger, so he shook his head and said, "No. No we didn't."
"Thank God." She exhaled the breath of air she had been holding in.
Clark was sorry he had deceived her. "I'm sorry Lois," he said apologetically.
"This isn't finished by a long shot, Smallville. You've got a lot of explaining to do."
"Oops, sounds like you're in trouble Clark. See this is what I mean. You always lie to the one you love." Jarrod said dryly.
"Is that why you did all this Jarrod? Because Sarah lied to you?" Lois asked curiously.
"Lied? No she didn't just lie. She deceived me . . . well her and my best friend. Now Marcus can feel the same pain I felt when she left me there in the middle of the restaurant on one knee, holding a ring out to her." He explained angrily, his voice breaking as the memory hit him.
"I'm sorry that happened to you Jarrod, that's worse than being broken up over a DVD." He took a breath and then continued, "But that doesn't excuse you for kidnapping and torturing couples. Mayor Johnson told me that Sarah was going to end it properly . . . but you proposed before she had a chance to." Clark explained, remaining calm.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better, Clark?" Jarrod asked as he walked over and gripped his wrists tightly.
The green glow from the bracelets around Jarrod's wrists burned through his skin making him clench his teeth and close his eyes in agony.
"Because guess what, it doesn't. It just makes me madder." He punched Clark hard in the face twice splitting his lip, wiped the blood off his hand then took a deep breath and smiled as if nothing had happened. "Now, here's your last question and trust me, after what you two just discussed, I really have no idea how this one is going to turn out."
"Just get on with it Rucker." Clark said weakly. He knew that if he didn't escape soon, he and Lois would probably die.
"Ok, if you wish." Jarrod shrugged his shoulders coldly, walked over, stood next to Lois and stared her in the eyes. He wanted to be close for the answer to the last question, it was the most important one to him. "Lois, do you love Clark . . . and I mean deeply enough that you would be willing to die for him?"
Lois looked at Clark and saw he wasn't fairing well. He looked sick, weak and was bleeding and actually looked like he could die which made her heart ache but she also saw him fighting to escape from the shackles. Then he looked directly into her eyes and smiled reassuringly at her.
She turned and glared at Jarrod and said, "I refuse to answer that question to you."
"Come on Lois, look at your fiancé, he's in agonizing pain over there. If you answer this question you'll be free. Well ok not free but you won't be chained up; you'll just be locked up with everyone else . . . unless of course I decide to kill you." Jarrod said dispassionately.
"Jarrod, you said nobody would die." Jason reacted speaking up for the first time.
"So I lied. Oh the irony of it all," Jarrod chuckled. "What's it gonna be Lois. Do you love him enough to die for him?" When Lois didn't answer but only glared at him, it infuriated Jarrod that he looked directly at her as he pressed and held the button down endlessly shocking Clark.
"Clark!" Lois cried out tears streaming down her face as his loud raw screams echoed throughout the building. Yes she was mad at him for the deceit but she loved him more than anything.
"What's it gonna be Lois? You going to answer or am I going to have to shock him again?" Jarrod asked pressing the buzzer and shocking Clark again letting Lois know he meant business.
She looked at Jarrod with tears streaming down her face and passionately said, "Yes . . . Yes, I do." Then she looked at Clark and they stared directly at one another while she said, "I love you Clark."
He looked at her and then when she smiled and mouthed I'm in love you while looking deeply into his eyes; Clark felt the power coursing through his veins and his breathing steady as he felt his strength return. He glanced at Lois and silently conveyed to her to create a distraction. She picked up on what he wanted and nodded her head just a fraction to let him know she got his silent message loud and clear.
"See . . . now that wasn't too hard was it." Jarrod said tapping her cheek sadistically oblivious to their secret plan.
"You are a sick bastard you know that. You really do take pleasure in causing people pain all because your girlfriend dumped your ass."
"Watch your mouth Lois or I will kill you." He threatened her.
"Go ahead. I don't think you have it in you game boy. I think you and your sidekick are all talk," Lois said smirking at him while she watched Clark struggling with his wrist shackles. He nodded at her to continue so she did. "If you wanted to kill me or Clark, you would've done it already. Instead, all you're doing is playing with your little toy. Now I can see why Sarah turned her love elsewhere."
Jarrod snapped at the sound of Sarah's name. "Shut up, shut up, shut up, SHUT UP," he screamed gripping Lois' cheek's hard. He then withdrew a gun out of the back of his jeans, cocked it and held it to her head. "Or I'll shut you up."
Clark saw the gun aimed at Lois' head and it made him furious and even more determined to escape.
"Jarrod, No." Jason cried out running over to stop him.
While both Jarrod and Jason's back were turned to him, Clark saw it as his chance to escape. Seeing the gun pointed at Lois' head, the terror in her eyes and remembering how she said I love you to him three times, gave him all the strength he needed to break not only the physical shackles but also the invisible shackles of the Kryptonite. With only Lois' and the other couples safety in mind, Clark screamed as he snapped the wrist and ankle shackles then super sped over, knocking the gun out of Jarrod's hand and knocking them out unconscious.
When Clark came to a stop in front of Lois she was staring at him with a completely baffled look as he freed her from the shackles. "How . . . what?" But then she quickly snapped out of her daze and pushed his hand away as he reached out to tenderly touch her cheek where the bruise was. "Don't touch me, I'm fine. You're not out of the dog house yet, Smallville. You have a lot of explaining to do starting with what the hell just happened," she said glaring at him.
Clark decided not to push her knowing she had every right to feel angry and hurt, so he made himself busy by binding Jarrod and Jason, who were just coming to, in the chairs. "We need to find Chloe, Jimmy and the other couples."
Lois nodded her head in agreement and then walked over and tapped Jarrod's face a few times. "Wake up, Rucker. Where is everyone else?"
"Like I'm gonna tell you." He replied groggily.
She felt it was time for a bit of payback, so Lois picked up the buzzer and looked directly at him. "Tell us or you'll feel every bit of pain you have inflicted," she threatened him in a rough determined voice.
"You wouldn't dare."
Lois leaned in close to his face, kept her thumb on the button and said, "Won't I? You're the one who can tell if I'm lying. So am I lying, Jarrod?"
"I'd tell her Jarrod. I've seen that look. It's the Mad Dog Lane look." Clark said receiving a warning glare from Lois.
Jarrod could tell she was telling the truth but he still remained silent.
Jason looked at his cousin and shook his head at how obstinate he was being. He wanted it all to end now.
"I know where they are, Mr. Kent. There are two keys in my left top shirt pocket. One is for the ladies cell and the other is for the men," he explained receiving a hateful glare from Jarrod. "I never wanted to do any of this but Jarrod threatened to kill me so I stupidly went along with it."
Clark glanced at Lois then walked over, carefully reached into the pocket Jason gestured at and pulled out a silver and gold key. "You were scared for your life, that's why you went along with it but it still doesn't condone what either of you did. Now where are they?" Clark asked holding up the keys.
Jason gestured with a small nod to the door Clark had entered. "Go out that door, turn right then walk a few feet and turn left, take another right and then left and you'll come to a room and see two hallways. The gold key opens the door down the left hallway, which is where the men are being held and the silver key opens the door on the right, where the women are."
"Thank you, Jason." Clark said appreciatively. Then he turned to Lois and said, "Let's go."
Lois smiled at Jarrod Rucker and held down the button shocking him for five seconds straight. "Oops," she said shrugging her shoulders and then grinned mischievously as she shocked him six more times.
"Lo-is."
"What?" Lois said as she pressed and held the buzzer down a little longer.
"Is that really necessary?" Clark queried shaking his head at her.
"Yes," she said affirmatively. She looked at Jarrod who was sweating and struggling to breathe and said, "That's for each couple you tortured, you jackass," as she dropped the buzzer to the ground. As she walked over to Clark she saw him frowning at her. "Come on he deserved that. Besides, he's still alive."
Clark smiled and chuckled as they began to walk down the hallway, but then he surprised her by handing her the keys, scooping her into his arms and super speeding them in the direction Jason had instructed them to go.
************
Within seconds they came to a stop in the middle of a dark room that had just enough sunlight shining through the dusty windows, to make out the two hallways Jason had told them about. Lois tossed him the gold key and then without a word said headed down her hallway.
Clark hated the cold shoulder he was receiving from Lois but shook it off and super sped down the hallway. When he came to a stop outside of a steel barred door, he placed the key in and it clicked open to reveal several determined men looking angry and determined at him.
"Come on out. You're safe now."
"How do we know that's true? For all we know it's another trick to torture us." A man with a deep croaky voice said doubtfully.
Jimmy stood in a dark corner as he heard a familiar voice. "C.K, is that you?" he asked as he stepped out from behind the other guys. "It is you," he said as he limped over to him.
"Jimmy, are you ok?" Clark asked concerned as he walked towards him and placed an arm around his waist to steady him.
"I've been better." Jimmy said with a chuckle.
"You know this guy," a deep scratchy voice asked from the shadows of the cell.
"Yeah, he's my friend. He's a good guy." Jimmy reassured them receiving a gentle pat of appreciation on the back from Clark.
"I assure you all I'm not here to hurt you. Your captors have been caught and your partners are being rescued by my friend as we speak."
"Lois?" Jimmy asked receiving a nod in return. "Is Chloe alright, C.K? Those guys hurt her badly. Her screams tore into my heart." He turned and looked at the other guys. "They hurt us all."
"I know Jimmy." Clark said sympathetically.
"Yeah, are the girls alright?" The guys chorused in concern.
"I don't know, I'm sorry. Follow me and you'll be back with the ones you love, I promise." Clark said as he gestured up the hallway. When he realized they weren't following, he turned around and said, "Trust me, please."
Jimmy leaned on Clark and saw that the other guys were apprehensive because of everything they had been through. He smiled reassuringly at them, gestured towards the hallway and said, "Guy's, trust him."
They all looked at one another, nodded their heads and decided to trust Clark. As they followed him up the hallway they all breathed a sigh of relief to be out of the cell and were excited about getting to see their partners.
************
Lois quickly ran down the hallway and came to a stop in front of a steel barred door. She quickly placed the key in the lock and when it opened up she saw several very fearful women staring at her. She sighed relieved to see that everyone was ok.
"Hi. My name is Lois." she said cautiously walking into the cell. As she was about to say something else, she came to a standstill and felt tears burn in her eyes as her eyes locked onto the one face that meant so much to her.
"Chloe!?"
"Lo?" Chloe asked broken. Then she cried tears of happiness and ran into her cousins' embrace. "Oh God, Lo."
Lois flinched in pain as Chloe threw herself in her arms but she ignored it and focused her attention on her cousin and everyone else. "Shh, its ok baby, I got you." Then Lois looked at everyone else and encouragingly said, "Come on, you're safe now. Jarrod and Jason have been captured and I personally gave Jarrod a taste of his own medicine."
Chloe saw the bruise on Lois face. "Lois, did they hurt you as well?"
Lois dismissively answered, "It looks worse than it feels." She smiled reassuringly at Chloe and the others and then gestured out of the room up the hallway. "My friend Clark is rescuing the men as we speak. Please trust and follow me and you'll be back in their arms before you know it."
Chloe looked at everyone and reassured them. "This is my cousin and Clark is my friend. You can trust her and you can trust Clark as well. If she says we're safe, she means it."
"I . . . I don't know." A blond hair girl who had bruises and cuts on her face and looked tired and weak spoke up quivering fearfully.
Lois walked away from Chloe and cautiously approached the girl. "What's your name?" Then she recognized the face and understood her fear. "It's ok Sarah. I assure you; Jarrod won't and can't hurt you anymore. That goes for all of you."
"How do you know my name?" Sarah asked curiously looking at Lois.
"From your father, Mayor Harold Johnson. You're Sarah Johnson," she explained holding a hand out to help her up off the dusty concrete floor.
Sarah extended her hand and slowly stood up. She could see the kindness and sincerity in Lois' eyes and she had come to know Chloe and the girls and they all seemed to trust her, so she did as well.
"Now, what do you say we get the hell out of this place? Don't know about you all but this dust is getting up my nose and affecting my allergies." Lois said nods of agreement from everyone.
Lois and Chloe looked at one another, shared another quick hug and then everyone followed her up the hallway, happy to get out of the cell and looking forward to be back with their fiancés.
*********
Seconds later Lois and Clark reached the hallway entrance at the same time and then slowly moved aside allowing everyone to see one another. Clark patted him on the back and then looked at the other men and nodded towards the women.
The couples stood in silence staring at one another thinking it was all a dream but then took slow steps forwards out of the hallway. When they realized it was real, that they were free and their partners were within their reach, it didn't take them long to run over and embrace their partners. Choruses of "Oh God, I missed you" "Are you alright" "I'll never let them hurt you again" and "I love you" along with tears of relief and joy, were heard as everyone reunited.
Clark smiled pleased with what they had accomplished and then shoved his hands in his pockets, walked over and stood beside Lois. They stood in silence for a few seconds and then he said, "Good job."
"You too," she whispered back as she stood with her arms folded across her chest.
"The police should be here soon, so I think we should get them out of here." Clark commented as he heard the sound of sirens approaching with his super hearing. He glanced at Lois and saw her frowning at him curiously so he explained, "I gave Mayor Johnson, Detective Sawyer's card before I came here and asked him to tell her where I was heading."
Lois nodded her head and then replied, "Give them another minute."
Clark nodded his head and they stood in a cold silence watching Jimmy, Chloe and everyone hold and comfort each other. He saw the Mayor's daughter leaning against the wall looking at everyone else sadly because nobody was there for her so he walked over towards her.
"Hi Sarah. I'm Clark Kent. I spoke to your father and your grandmother. They're both fine by the way just worried about you," he explained.
"I'm fine. Is what your friend said true? Have Jarrod and Jason really been caught?" She inquired hopefully.
Clark chuckled and nodded his head. "Yes they have. They're both a little . . . chained up."
Sarah wiped a few tears away and said, "Good. They deserve it. I've been locked up for six months and just want out, now."
Clark nodded his head understandingly and then carefully reached out and wiped the few tears that were falling down her cheeks away. She smiled at him appreciatively and suddenly everything she has been through the last six months came flooding back and she broke down crying in Clark's arms openly telling him what had been done to her. Clark pulled her into his arms and allowed her to cry freely hoping that when they arrived outside someone would be waiting for her.
Lois sighed as her eyes traveled around the room watching all the couples holding one another and then she saw Clark comforting Sarah and smiled at his compassion. She unconsciously spun the engagement ring around her finger as she thought about everything they had admitted back in the game room. She knew in her heart that she was in love with him and that hadn't changed but she also felt hurt that he had deceived her and made a fool of her, so until they spoke she needed to guard her heart from the intense feelings.
Minutes later Clark smiled at Sarah assuring and then walked around everyone back over to Lois. "Uh, excuse me everyone. The police will be arriving soon, so what do you say we get out of here?"
Everyone nodded their heads and then held one close as they slowly followed behind Lois and Clark. As Chloe walked with an arm wrapped around Jimmy's waist she saw him smiling and wondered why but then the bright lights on the ceiling in the hallway glinted off of something which made Chloe gasp in shock.
"Jimmy? Is that what I think it is on Lois' finger?" Chloe whispered.
"Yep," he said grinning ear to ear.
"But how? I mean . . . huh." Chloe was confused. "How could they be engaged when they look like they don't even like one another?"
"I think they've finally realized the chemistry I told you about, Chloe," he answered knowingly.
She looked at him and frowned but then looked ahead at Lois and Clark and softly chuckled. She had a feeling they weren't really engaged but judging by the sly glances they kept giving one another, that there was something else going on, so she smiled and nodded her head in agreement not wanting to dispute Jimmy at that moment.
After turning a few corners everyone saw the game room come into view. As they passed it they looked away and breathed deeply as memories hit them from what they had been put through. They sighed knowing that the days ahead were going to be rough as they recuperated from the torture but they also knew they would make it because their love was strong.
Seconds later they turned another corner and then watched in anticipation as Clark walked over and pulled open the steel doors to show the police and ambulance pulling up. As they walked passed Lois and Clark towards the entrance each person smiled and thanked their rescuers before walking over to get checked up on.
*********
Sarah walked up and stood in front of Clark then hugged him thanking him and surprised Lois by hugging her as well. She suddenly saw a smile grace Clark's face and was curious as to why and saw him gesture with a nod of his head behind her. When she turned around to see what he was looking at, her breath hitched and she broke down as she was swept up into strong arms.
"Oh god, Marcus," she cried happily and then sighed as she felt his lips crash down on hers.
"Are you alright? If he hurt you, I'm gonna hurt him," Marcus said as he gently touched her face and arms reassuring himself she was fine.
"I'm fine now that you're here," she sighed relieved. Then seconds later as she held onto him tightly, she smiled because her mom and dad were headed straight towards them.
Mayor Johnson hugged his daughter and chocked back on sobs of joy that she was ok. Then as his wife jumped in to hug her daughter, he saw Clark standing in the doorway and headed directly over towards him.
"Mr. Kent, Miss Lane, how can we ever thank you both? You not only saved my daughter but everyone else as well?"
Clark reached out and shook his hand. "No need to thank us. We're just glad everyone is safe."
"And Jarrod and Jason, where are they?" He asked curiously.
Lois smiled and answered, "They're a little tied up."
Sarah walked up next to her dad with her arms snuggly wrapped around a tall black haired guy's waist, looked at Lois and Clark and said, "This is my boyfriend Marcus."
Marcus extended his hand and shook both Lois and Clark's and smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, for getting Sarah back to me and her family, safely."
"You're welcome. You should go and get her checked out by the paramedics," Clark suggested concerned.
"We're actually taking her directly to the hospital. Thank you again." They shook hands once more and then the Mayor, his wife and Marcus and Sarah walked over and drove away from the scene.
***********
Chloe and Jimmy stood in the entrance doorway watching their friends smile shyly at one another but then watched Clark walk away frustrated and head over to talk to a police officer.
Lois walked up to them and saw them with confused expressions. "Are you two alright?"
"Yeah, we're fine cuz. However, I do have a question." Chloe said in a playful tone.
"What is it?"
Chloe smirked, reached over lifted up Lois' left hand, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Care to explain."
Lois gulped nervously, pulled her hand away and stammered, "Uh, it's umm . . . well ... it was you know, just for cover. We had to make it look real. It's not real, there's nothing going on."
Chloe and Jimmy grinned at her and then walked over to a paramedic chuckling at Lois' rambling.
"Seems like you two did it again," Sawyer said as she walked towards Lois. "Thank you."
Lois shrugged her shoulders, shook Sawyers hand and said, "You'll find psycho game boy and his trusty sidekick through that door." She pointed at the glass door. "Oh and they're a bit tied up. You might need to ask them where the key is to free them."
Sawyer chuckled and shook her head. "First you knee a guy in the groin and now you chain them up. Is there nothing you won't do?"
"They asked for it, especially after the torture they put everyone through." Lois sternly said as she looked at Sawyer who nodded her head in understanding.
"Go and get checked out by the paramedic's, Miss Lane and I'll take your statement when I get back out." She smiled at Lois and then ordered two police officers to follow her.
Lois sighed deeply as she watched Clark move around to talk to the police officers and the other couples getting quotes for their article. She shared a tentative look with him and then nodded her head before heading over to a paramedic to get checked up on before she got some quotes of her own.