Thanks again to Sparkling Stone and great Beta work! I appreciate anyone out there who has been patiently waiting for a new chapter...it's a long one so I've broken it up into two parts. Part 2 will be posted soon.
Chapter 7: Proximity part 1
Lois had failed at her engagement. Her inability to maintain a healthy relationship plagued her; it had been an underlying insecurity in her life since the Man of Steel had left. His return did not safeguard her inadequacies, rather it provided a compounding factor to the dismal undertones that tainted her relationship with Richard.
From the moment she started dating him, Lois knew within the pit of her being that he held Superman's place. Nothing more. It was a naive choice and a guarded vulnerability which she fatefully chose to share with Clark who consequently, with his abrupt departure, had ripped open her underbelly. The ability to humiliate the steely reporter was something few individuals had been able to achieve in her life, yet her partner had managed to do so in one swift move. It did not feel pleasant.
The maimed woman struggled to keep her vision clear as she blinked through tears that overflowed during her drive home. At a red light she regained enough composure to dial a familiar number. Lois hastily blew her nose when the answering machine picked up.
"It's me, Lois," she paused to swallow. "I know you're busy, but, I need you. Look, I'm sorry..." her voice wobbled "Please. Come over. I'll call you when I get home and explain better."
Her wiper blades that rhythmically swished back and forth and the rain that hammered on the roof were the only sounds in the Audi for the remainder of the drive.
A black Jeep Grand Cherokee blocked Lois's access to the garage. The surprise of the familiar vehicle in the driveway triggered her hands to dig into the steering wheel. Lois attempted to delay the inevitable as she contorted herself over the seats for an umbrella in the back.
After a fruitless search, Lois turned up her coat to face the damp weather. As she scurried to the front door, the piano music that drifted through the wet air ceased. Her frozen hands fumbled for the keys as the front door flew open, casting a warm glow onto the front porch.
"Where have you been? You should have been home hours ago. I thought you'd gotten into an accident!"
Ella Lane's slender silhouette stood in the doorway as she scolded her bewildered daughter.
"Mother, what are you doing here?"
Ella's stern hazel eyes bore into the back of Lois as she entered the house.
"Don't play that game with me; you know exactly why I'm here…. Where's Richard by the way?"
Lois fell into the couch and sighed. She was in no mood to have a confrontation with her mother. However, Ella clearly had opposite intentions.
"You know what Mom? The past few days have been a bit rough and I could really do without a verbal attack… please. Leave it."
"Do you really think I'm one to sit and wait? You've got some serious ground to cover with me Lois. Why didn't you tell me that Jason is Superman's son?"
Ella began to pace as the decibel level of her voice increased. She went straight to the point of her visit. There was no sense or reason to make light conversation before addressing the heart of the matter.
Lois countered flatly as she watched a senior version of herself tread back and forth.
"The fewer people that know, the better."
"Lois…I'm your mother and you need to tell me these things. Jason doesn't understand what he's capable of, and it would be helpful when I watch him to be informed as to what he is able to do."
"I don't know."
"What don't you know?" Ella sharply interjected.
"I don't know what Jason's capable of. Neither does his father." Her voice rose to match her mother's. "He's half human and what traits of his father's that he has are inconsistent. I have no idea when and what to expect next. In fact, neither of us knew Jason was his until six months ago…"
"Fabulous!" Ella's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I'm thrilled your father and I raised you with such high morals. You didn't even know who his father was!" Her hands flew up in exasperation.
"Mom it's not like that." Lois groaned.
"Then what is it like?"
"It's complicated."
"I guess that shouldn't surprise me, with you Lois, nothing has ever been simple." She crossed her arms and sat on the couch. Ella stared expectantly at her daughter. "I have the time. Tell me."
Ella had been furious with her daughter's secrecy but beneath the tough veneer and anger, she was terrified. Perhaps Jason would innocently use his ability and consequently provoke an extremely public reveal. Paranoia also haunted her thoughts with the real potential possibility that anyone could spontaneously identify the strong resemblance the young boy bore to his famous father. They were as plain as day once Ella knew that Richard was not Jason's father. His unearthly blue eyes and handsome facial structure were telling. At least he had his mother's hair color, perhaps that might throw someone off.
Heavy footsteps rumbled overhead and thundered down the stairs. Jason ran through the living room and sliced the tension that hung between the two women.
"Mommy! You're home!" Jason's mop-head of chestnut hair nestled against his mother's chest. Lois inhaled deeply, comforted by her son's presence.
"Hey baby," she cooed. Her lips brushed across his forehead. "I've missed you so much. Have you been having fun staying at Grandma's house?" Her fingers raked through his thick hair.
"Yes," came muffled from Jason in her embrace. "I've been good. Did you know we went to the zoo? Giraffes have purple tongues!" Lois nodded as her face warmed. "Grandma even got me a T-shirt….see?"
He pulled away from Lois to proudly display the blue shirt with a monkey and "Metropolis Zoo" on the front.
"I picked it out," he beamed. "All by myself. Can I wear it to bed tonight instead of my pajamas? Please?"
"Sure Jason, only if you promise to go to bed when you're supposed to. No arguments..." Lois glanced at her watch. "Looks like it's just about that time hon. I guess you and Grandma had better get back to her house for your special big week." Lois fired a subtle warning shot in her mother's direction.
Ella refused to allow Lois's manipulation of the situation with her Grandson as bait.
"Jason, why don't you change up in your room and lay down for a bit, if you fall asleep it's okay. Mom and I need to have a talk about some things before we go, it may take awhile….okay?"
Concern appeared in a crinkled brow. Jason's young blue eyes blinked curiously.
"Honey, go upstairs and get ready for bed here, it's alright. If you fall asleep before Grandma and I are finished, we'll wake you to go to Grandma's house. I promise."
"Okay." One small bare foot rested hesitantly on the bottom stair. "I still get to wear my shirt to bed, right? You said I could."
"Yes Jason, now upstairs alright? Wash up and brush your teeth."
"Mommy? Is Daddy working late again? I miss him."
Ella could not help but notice the color drain from her daughter's face and the tight smile that formed at the mention of Richard. Ella had seen the expression repeatedly when Lois was caught in a lie. It was quite a frequent occurrence when she was an adolescent.
"Sorry baby. He's not home, but he told me to tell you goodnight and he loves you."
"Okay." His footsteps ascended the stairs and stopped halfway. "When you see Daddy later, tell him goodnight."
When Ella went to the kitchen and retrieved a glass of water, Lois waited anxiously for the judge and jury to return. The clock ticked as her mother sighed. The spring in her step was absent, her eyes heavy with worry.
"Where's Richard, Lois."
She already knew the answer. He was probably not coming back tonight, if ever, but she would not let Lois evade that subject further.
"He's not here." Lois kicked her heels off and rubbed her temples.
"Yes Lois. I can see that. Would you care to tell me where he is and what's going on? Or are you going to keep lying to myself and your fiancé…"
"I didn't lie to him!" She thundered.
Lois had remained calm until her powder keg temper exploded.
"I found out only six months ago Richard wasn't Jason's father when my son threw a grand piano across a room and saved my life. Hell, I don't even remember having slept with his father…how about that? And no. I'm not making it up. I really don't remember which is an entirely different issue and conversation altogether that I need to have with Superman."
Superman. A chill ran down Ella's spine at the mention of Jason's father. Lois Lane, her daughter, had Superman's child.
Lois stood and began to pace as Ella had done earlier. Her mother opened her mouth to speak but Lois threw up a defiant index finger to pre-empt her mother.
"Oh, I'm not finished. Do you know how many nights I have lost sleep trying to think of a way to tell Richard that Jason wasn't his?" She laughed. "Well, I guess it was a completely unnecessary concern because you told him for me. Which you had no business doing, of course."
"Lois, I had no idea he didn't already know. You could have warned me…"
"What? I should have told you? I should have also put your life at risk then?" Lois nodded. "Lex Luthor knows, Mom… He knows that Jason is Superman's son. That nut job is out there somewhere with that information, and by the way, no one can find him!" Her words were soaked with genuine fear. "At some point, he will come for the two of us. Don't think for a moment that Luthor wouldn't hesitate to harm or kill anyone to get to Jason."
Ella blanched. "Lex Luthor knows?"
"Yes." Lois stated flatly. "He knows. He held a piece of kryptonite inches away from Jason's face. Asshole's eyes practically danced with delight as Jason's face paled from exposure."
Lois placed her head in her hands and slumped into the couch.
"Lois, just what kind of woman do you take me for?"
Her hand lightly rubbed her daughter's back that had begun to heave. Lois lifted her head and her red rimmed eyes turned toward Ella as they sought consolation.
"Sweetie… you may have inherited your father's stubbornness, but you've forgotten that I chose to marry him. It takes a hell of a lot to make me back down from anything." Her eyes glimmered in a familiar flash of devious defiance.
"Mom, I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you just because you knew anything…"
"Just stop, please. Do you really think that if Lex Luthor was determined to destroy you and Superman that he would actually hesitate to use me or anyone else to get to you?"
Lois digested her mother's revelation. "I don't suppose he would."
"It wouldn't matter if I knew or not. In fact, it's better off this way." Her concern vanished. "Besides, if I can handle a crabby two star general, I can handle babysitting Superman's son."
The older woman brushed away loose pieces of her daughter's hair from her face before she stood and returned to the kitchen. Lois wordlessly followed. It was a relief to have an ally who appeared just as uncertain about Jason's amazing capabilities.
"About the babysitting. You and Richard really should take a night this weekend and spend some time together. Alone. The two of you need it, not that I'm one to give relationship advice--"
Lois snorted at her mother's remark. Like hell she kept opinions about relationships to herself.
"What?"
"Never mind Mom. Anyway, about Richard and I needing your services to baby-sit…"
The tight blank expression had returned to the younger woman's face. She stiffened at the mention of Richard. There it was, her daughter was keeping something from her again. Ella made the decision to prod Lois and pick apart her stubborn seams.
"I know, this weekend is fine, you have that Pulitzer ceremony that was postponed? I'll just keep Jason until Sunday.""It's really not necessary. We don't need-"
"Really Lois, relax and enjoy the award dinner. I know how hard you worked for it; you deserve a nice evening out with your fiancé. Especially with all the stress between the two of you recently."
Lois had retrieved her cigarettes from the large black purse on the countertop. The worn copper lighter weaved back and forth between her fingers. The other hand swiftly had slid a slim cigarette out of the pack. The silver-haired woman glanced at the cigarette and lighter disapprovingly before Lois spoke.
"I'm not going."
Her mother put down the dishes from Jason's dinner.
"You've been obsessed about that damn award, you've risked your life countless times in pursuit of it, and now you're not going?"
"No. I'm not. Richard and I..." she swallowed. "We had a long discussion and…" her mother slowly turned to face her.
"Damn it Lois, don't be so evasive. Do you really think I can't tell when you're avoiding an issue?"
"Richard and I have called off our engagement." The clock ticked. Faint sounds of Jason's snoring seeped through the ceiling. "I'm sorry Mom. It's for the best. Really."
"It is." Ella was doubtful.
"Yes Mother, it is and it's not a decision we made so easily."
"Fine Lois, keep telling yourself that if it's what you need to do to provide some validation for the poor choices you've made in life."
Lois's eyes narrowed as her head flung in Ella's direction. "I do not need to justify myself to you or anyone else. You know a bare minimum of what's happened. How dare you judge me" she spat.
"You're my daughter!" Ella countered as she inched closer to her fuming child. "I did not raise you to live your life this way!"
"Well, newsflash mom, I can live my life however I choose. I never was able to live up to Dad's standards so I'd really hate to be so damn inconsistent and actually meet yours! At least you can predict disappointment with me! Thank goodness Lucy turned out well."
Lois clutched her lighter and cigarettes as she stormed through the kitchen to the back of the house.
"You can't always shut me out of what's going on in your life, hasn't it occurred to you that I can see right through your shoddy excuses and that you aren't happy?" Ella's sharp tongue caused her daughter to freeze as she attempted to escape to the backyard for a cigarette.
Lois had not been content with her life and as much as she had attempted to keep up appearances, her mother had easily sliced through them.
"It's late Lois, you're upset and I'm not leaving so deal with it. I don't want to wake Jason up for a forty-five minute drive. We'll talk about this in the morning once you've slept on it.
"No, we're through," Lois responded coldly. I'd prefer you to leave, without your grandson if need be. You've said your piece."
Ella dug in. Her daughter's threats fell flat. Her mother appeared impervious to Lois's tactics of intimidation.
"Oh bull-shit Lois. I'm not leaving. I'm staying in the guest bedroom. I'll make sure Jason is in bed before I turn in. Goodnight."
Lois exhaled in frustration, banged her forehead against the doorframe to the mud room. The door groaned on its hinges in the cold and slammed shut, rattling the windows in their panes. Outside, she fastened the tie to her thick sweater as icy wind cut through. Lois shut her eyes and reflexively lit a cigarette.
A gust of wind caused the rain to stray and smatter her face beneath the eave. "Great," she muttered as the cigarette clung to her lips. "It's still raining."
The salty damp air of the brackish river pressed up on her and the chill triggered a shiver. After the cigarette was finished, her foot snubbed out the fading embers. She sighed pensively as her fingers rubbed the bridge of her nose. A sound in the night sky caused her to pause from her session of self pity mediation.
A whisper of footsteps in the grass caused her lonely eyes to move toward the sound. As her breath hitched, Lois's heart skipped a beat in that predictable intoxicating way. A haunting pair of calm blue eyes peered from behind pieces of jet black hair that dripped with rain. He made no attempt to brush away the water that ran down his strong features. Superman moved forward slowly to close the distance between them. The wooden stairs creaked as he ascended each step.
"We have a lot to talk about," Lois murmured slowly despite the rapid rate of her heart she was sure he could detect. "I'm glad you're here."
Richard sat in a worn leather chair, his shoulders slumped as he listlessly swirled the contents of a coffee cup between his legs. An old Daily Planet logo from the 1970's had faded, but was still legible. Sounds from dinner dishes being washed drifted into the darkened den.
Earthy cigar smoke hung just below the high ceiling. Richard had remained quiet since he arrived. The old man knew why his nephew had come. After Perry White came home from work, he had waited for him. Perry was the first to speak
"Alice makes a mean beef burgundy. Always end up eating myself sick. Have you had enough?"
"Yeah Perry, dinner was good. Thank you again on such short notice." The blue bags under Richard's eyes became more apparent when he bent forward to sip his coffee. He had not slept well last night, and probably would not for some time.
A fire burned in the fireplace and crackled. Its amber flame reflections danced upon the hardwood floor and in Richard's bloodshot eyes that stared blankly into it.
"Richard, I'm sorry."
"I don't quite follow."
"It's alright son. I know you didn't come over for my dinner company. Alice made up the spare room, you can stay as long as you like."
"Thanks." He swallowed more of the coffee before he spoke again. "I take it that Lois told you about the two of us, didn't she…" The older man nodded. His nephew proceeded. "I just don't see how things fell apart, where we went wrong."
Perry's own chair groaned as he leaned back. "Nothing went wrong Richard, it's just that from the beginning, the two of you just weren't right for each other."
Richard looked up in surprise. His uncle was damn perceptive and at the moment, seemingly more so than himself. Perry cleared his throat.
"I wasn't sure if things would end well when the two of you started dating but I've stayed out of it. You didn't know Lois before Superman left."
His own blood association with Richard aside, Perry admired Lois's choice in a future spouse. Apart from Superman himself, she could not have had a better man who was Jason's father. The heartbreaking information regarding Lois weighed heavily on Perry. He knew he had to share it with his nephew.
"She was…well," he sighed. "Richard, when you met Lois, she had gone through a rough few months." The fire popped before he spoke. Richard had to lean forward to hear his uncle's low voice. "When Superman left, she was…she was devastated. She's never been the same. That is, until six months ago."
"I know they had a pretty significant relationship Perry. She's never said as much, but I'm certain they were important to each other. She seemed to be his closest friend. It must have been difficult."
"Son, I don't think you know Lois as well as you think you do. Since Superman's returned, she has…well, you had to have noticed a change."
"Yeah. I've noticed." Richard's words hung bitterly.
"I thought she was so damn mad at him or any other man in existence for that matter, I didn't think she'd date anyone again."
"Dated?…" Richard's voice rose in surprise.
"Richard, c'mon. Grow up. 'Why the World Doesn't Need Superman' screamed 'Woman Scorned.' But you know what? Earned the paper a Pulitzer. She and the big blue boy scout can have it out about that and if they do, I hope to heaven she gets the exclusive."
"Perry," The younger man winced.
"To be honest, I was surprised she agreed to marry you, but to hell with what I knew. I'm just an old man."
Richard shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Yeah, Perry was perceptive alright, but he also knew how to twist a knife almost as well as Lois.
Perry knew Richard squirmed with unease, but the boy had to hear him out. Just like a band aid, the faster he heard it, the less it would hurt. "I had hoped I was wrong." He drew on the cigar again. "I wish I had been."
"You're not the only one. I need to share something with you."
His uncle leaned forward, brown eyes fully focused on Richard.
"Look, I know how much Lois means to you. She's the world to me, but it's not fair to her. Don't make her out to be the cause of the problem. If you must know, I was the one who ended it. We didn't belong together; I had to let her go. She was determined to prove to everyone that we could make our relationship succeed in spite of ourselves."
"Go on." A ring of smoke circled near the ceiling.
"I know some will think badly of me for it, but I hope you can understand. I could feel the distance between us. It had been growing and I tried to brush it aside, but it addition to some surprising new information that came to light, everything was just too much." His voice broke off and he set the cup onto the table. He buried his head in his hands.
Perry's eyes widened as his jaw hung open. "Great Caesar's Ghost…Jason's not yours, is he?"
Richard nodded silently.
"You know who the father is."
"I do, and I won't say. I never will...it's better off I don't."
"And he's come back." Perry's eyes shown in the low light of the fire as Richard looked at him in amazement and alarm.
"How did you…"
"I'm old. I'm not stupid. Superman wasn't the only one Lois was pissed at when he left. She spent a lot of time cursing her old partner. As a matter of fact, I could have sworn a voodoo doll on her desk had Kent's name on it."
"Hmmm."
"It's as clear as day. His hair, his eyes. Jason's practically a carbon copy…at least that would explain the 'D' in gym class."
Richard exhaled in relief. He remained silent and allowed his uncle entertain the wild notion that Clark Kent was Jason's father. It was an absurd conclusion indeed. Lois barely glanced at him the first few months he had been back at work, only recently had she talked with him. When she had, it was more out of necessity for stories that were assigned to them than anything else.
Perry couldn't be completely on the mark all the time. Lois had Clark Kent's child. Right. It was the most ridiculous thing he had heard in years, damn funny too. He knew without any doubt that Clark Kent was most certainly not Jason's father.
Perry's gruff voice disrupted his thoughts.
"By the way, You're taking the day off tomorrow. Sort things out with Lois at home and be done with it. Understand?"
"Yeah, Perry. I've got you, loud and clear."
"The bullpen's a place for news, not a soap opera." Richard began to regret the idea of staying with his uncle. Perry was perceptive, not sensitive.
Let me know what you think about Part 1! Please revew, thanks. Part 2 will be posted within the next few days. It's either a threat or a promise, however you like it.