A/N: Phew! Just under the wire! I told you I'd have it up sometime this weekend.
Very Special Thank You: to my two betas (not sure if you both knew you were my betas…Hope this isn't awkward) drvr8 and Sarah AKA jobookjunkie…Seriously guys, I would have been at a total loss without you…You're the best …*hugs*
OK. Enjoy!
Chapter 7
Just a Little Change
Clark stared around the empty farmhouse and sighed, heavily. It was quiet, too quiet and too empty and too isolated and-just too much like a farm. Clark glanced at the clock on the wall, it was only eight o'clock and he had already finished his chores, using his super speed- something he hadn't done in a very long time. But it felt good to use his powers, freeing almost. And ever since he'd saved Lois he had been itching to try to fly again.
This is dumb, he thought. History showed that Clark Kent and the hero business just did not mix. Who was he to play God, anyway? Just because he had special abilities didn't mean- how many times was he going to have this argument with himself? Clark's eye caught the Daily Planet application hanging in the center of the fridge. Lois had put it there months ago. She'd purposely moved all the clutter out of the way and situated the arrow magnets to point to it.
Maybe it was time for a change. Farm life wasn't exactly fulfilling. And, admittedly, he did miss journalism- maybe a move to the city would be good for him and- and if he used his powers only for the simple things, like helping old ladies cross the street or rescuing kitten's trapped in trees or the occasional mugging or fire, it wasn't really playing God- it was exercising his right as a citizen, being a Good Samaritan. Yeah, that was it.
And the farm would be taken care of, Ben Hubbard had already told him he would look after it, not that there was that much to look after anymore. And moving to the city meant being closer to his friends- to Chloe and Oliver- and Lois.
Yep. This idea was sounding better and better by the second. Clark rose from his chair and snatched the application off the fridge. Guess it was time to cash in on that favor Perry White owed him
********
When Archie Reynolds called her, Saturday morning, Lois was leaning against the island in her new kitchen enjoying her first cup of coffee and picking at some toast she'd burnt in her new toaster. Hers. It was all hers! Lois took a moment to revel in how wonderful it felt to be a home owner- well an almost homeowner, anyway.
Then the phone rang and when Lois grabbed it, Archie Reynolds said, "Ms. Lane?"
And Lois answered, "Yes."
"I'm calling regarding your loan?"
"Yes." Lois perked up.
"There's a slight problem. We're going to need a twenty percent down payment, instead of ten."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your loan Miss Lane," he said slowly, "we're holding your first check until the closing date, and you can just bring us the rest by then." He paused for a beat then added, "you know how it is, you being a single woman and all, we just need a little more up front."
"Hey!-"And before Lois could call him a sexist pig, he hung up.
She didn't have the money. Lois slumped into her new kitchen chairs, feeling scared and angry. "OK," she said patting Shelby's head. He put his paw on her legs in a gesture of comfort. "We can figure this out," she told him.
The most obvious choice was to ask Chloe and Oliver for the money, but that was out of the question. Her pride wouldn't let her do that. She could do this on her own. She was independent and successful and-broke, at the moment- very broke.
Lois chewed her bottom lip. She still had a few thousand in her savings and if she could get a three thousand cash advance on her visa- she groaned thinking of the interest- then all she would need to do was win the lottery or rob a bank.
Fuck.
Lois put her head in her hands and Shelby whined. Last week she didn't even know she'd wanted a house and now she was terrified of losing it! OK. Pull yourself together Lois! She chastised her self, draining the rest of her coffee. She needed a plan. Maybe she could pick up a second job for a few weeks? Lois snorted, in what spare time? She asked herself. She was always at The Planet. In fact, if she didn't get moving she was going to be late.
Maybe she could ask Perry for a raise or an advance in her paycheck? It was worth a shot. Hopefully he would be in a good mood, today.
********
Phil was upset when Archie told him that the best he could do was have Lois put down more money, instead of turning down her loan completely. But at least that bought him a little time. Lois might even come to him for the money, which he wouldn't give her, of course. However, it would give him a chance to talk some sense into her.
Then she would see how foolish she was being, a single woman living on that side of town, in that house with no protection, no security? It was idiotic! And that's exactly what Phil planned on telling her, which was why he was standing outside her office waiting for her when she opened the door. Lois jumped back a little when she saw him.
"Lois, I really think we should talk," Phil said sternly.
Lois sighed heavily, "I really don't have time for this-"
"It's about that house." He continued, ignoring the scowl on her face, "I don't think it's safe we should-"
But Lois cut him off, seething, "The house is fine. And for the last time there is no we, Phil. There is you and there is me, but there is no we, us, or ours! Now. Go. Away." Then she stalked off hell bound for the elevator.
Phil sighed.
It was frustrating because Lois was now putting all of her energy into some damn story and when she threw herself into her work there was no reasoning with her. If she weren't so focused, she would have talked to him, she would have listened.
He would have to make her listen.
Reaching a decision, Phil told Alex that he had to run an errand and he'd be back in about hour then he went to the house.
He parked on a side street then let himself into her yard through the alley gate. He eyed the house with disgust. It was such an eyesore, standing there looking dirty and ugly and gray and derelict. The paint was chipping, the porch steps were crooked; the thing had blue shutters for crying out loud!
There had to be something dangerously wrong with this poor excuse for a house. He walked around the building surveying the foundation and the drainpipes, which were a little rusty. It wasn't enough. He had to get inside. He had to see the awful hazards that waited for her there, and all the possibilities of convincing her to get out and move back to the apartment, where she belonged. Where he could keep her safe.
Phil jiggled the handle on the front door. Locked. He put some weight into the door to see if he could budge it, but all that did was alert the damn dog to his presence. Shelby appeared in the large front window snarling and growling at him. That dog was dangerous, Phil realized. It could turn on Lois, attack her or even, Phil shuddered at the thought, bite her. And he wouldn't be here to stop it if it did. Damn animal should be put down.
After giving up on the front door, Phil went around to the side with the vacant lot and tried the side door, but it was locked too. He tried the basement windows and after he put enough pressure on one of them the frame gave out and he was able to reach his hand inside and unlock it. It was a tight fit, but Phil managed to squeeze inside without further damaging the pane.
As he climbed the basement stairs he could hear the dog going crazy, barking and growling and clawing at the door. But Phil wasn't intimidated. As soon as he opened the door, he lunged for the mutt, but Shelby quickly retreated under the kitchen table, still bearing his teeth.
Phil gave up on the beast for a moment and walked around the kitchen. It smelled like fresh paint and burnt toast and coffee. Lois had her three favorite mugs hanging in a row off hooks by the stove, red, blue and yellow. Just like at the apartment. Maybe if he painted the kitchen in the apartment this color she would be happy and come back.
As Phil pondered the idea he accidentally walked too close to the kitchen table and Shelby snapped at his heels. Fed up and itching to get his hands on the mongrel, Phil grabbed the golden retriever by the collar through the legs of a chair and hauled him out in the open. Shelby yelped, but Phil didn't seem to notice as he kicked the dog out into the backyard. "And stay out!" He slammed the door.
Now back to business, Phil strolled through the first floor of the house noting all the dangers. Unfortunately, plaster cracks and paint drippings weren't exactly cause for evacuation.
He needed something more.
Phil moved into the living room. There were two blue Lay-z boy recliners, divided by an octagon shaped table. Phil recognized this furniture. They were in the apartment Lois had had before they moved in together. Underneath the table, where he knew they'd be, were Lois's magazine's stacked haphazardly on top of one another.
Phil smiled. Just like at home.
Her magazines weren't delivered to the apartment anymore and he kind of missed them. Well, he missed watching Lois leafing through them, curling up with the afghan Clark's mother had knitted for her and trying on the perfume samples or circling the items she wanted or reading over the latest celebrity gossip.
Phil let his hand glide over the sleek leather of the chairs, feeling its cool, silky texture on his fingertips. Then he touched the smooth glass surface of the table, and the glossy covers and bindings a few of the magazines. If he touched these things, they would be his, too.
On the other side of the room was the old green chaise from Chloe and Oliver's apartment. It was worn and tacky looking and didn't go with the decor. But if Lois wanted it she could have it at the apartment. With a nice slip cover, of course. Phil cocked his head to the side.
He could imagine Lois stretching out on it at night, relaxing and watching late night shows, and the news after they put Phil Jr. to sleep. And then he could turn the T.V. off and reach for her-
Phil immediately squashed the thought. He and Lois were not about sex. They'd never been about sex. They were about things that mattered. Things that were important and lasting like work and family. He turned his attention back to the recliners- they were safer to focus on.
Phil went back to the small octagon table and reached beneath it and pulled out an old magazine, one Lois wouldn't miss. He rolled it up and stuck it in his back pocket. Just a little keepsake until she returned home. As he looked up his eyes caught the face of the clock on the mantel.
He was running out of time, he had to hurry. His hand was on the front door, before he remembered that he had parked in the back. He was about to turn around when he saw four neat hooks hanging by the door with keys on them. He took the first one and tried it in the door and dead bolt. It was a match.
Of course Lois would keep a spare house key. Most of the doors had glass windows she had to have a key for both sides. And keeping it near the front door was convenient.
Phil closed his fingers around the key and felt its heat in his palm.
If he had his own key he could come anytime and look around. He could make sure everything was set for their future together.
But Lois would notice if the key was gone and he had to get back to The Planet, he was already late.
On his way out Phil opened the gate long enough so that the dumb dog would be trapped on the outside. Then he dropped the key off at a local hardware store where he knew the manager and asked for a duplicate.
When he got to back to The Planet he went into the phone booth in the lobby, shut the door, and called the pound to report a dangerous golden retriever that had bitten him, running wild on Apple Court. Yes, the dog had broken skin and should be put down. He told them his name was Harold Beck and gave a phony address so that the report would be official.
When he hung up, Phil felt a lot better, as though he'd accomplished something important. Even though he hadn't found anything wrong with the house, at least he had finally gotten rid of that damned dog, for good.
A few hours later, Phil returned to the hardware store and picked up his key, and went back to Lois's. The mutt was nowhere to be found, thank God. And his replica worked perfectly in the front door. He put the original key back in its place and as he was driving back to The Planet, Kathy Wright, from Animal Control called him and told him his dog had been picked up. Apparently, he had reportedly bitten someone.
"We've been having problems with him," Phil told her, "I really hate to say this, but it would probably be easier on everyone if you just put him down. I'll be in tomorrow morning to pay the fee." Phil hung up. He hadn't lied. Not really. The dog had been giving him trouble and once everything went back to normal, the way it was supposed to be, life really would be easier on everyone.
********
Lois was officially having the day from hell. Not only did she somehow have to pull eight thousand dollars out of her ass, oh no, if that wasn't enough to ruin her day, her editor had also denied her request for a pay advance. Even after she'd told him she was on to something big, something that would, as cheesy as it sounded, change the world. Change everything! Perry of course, had told her to show him, not tell him. And that's exactly what she planned on doing, if she could ever find a decent lead!
For the last three days her ear had been glued to the police scanner. And sure a couple of minor bank robberies and a small electrical fire were enough to keep her busy, but there had been absolutely zilch on mysterious flying men. But then again what had she expected? The Lime Light was obviously not this guy's, M.O. Not that she blamed him, but- she needed to find him. Not just for a story, but for herself.
There was just so many questions she had to ask, so many things she had to know-
Lois looked at her cell phone and sighed. She should go home and see Shelby, it was an hour past lunch, but she couldn't chance missing something on the scanner. OK, she was officially obsessed. She'd take Shelby on an extra long walk when she go home to make up for her absence. He would understand. Lois sat back in her chair and chewed on the stirring straw from her coffee. She was getting restless; she was going to have to do something desperate soon, maybe-
Jenna burst through the door holding a sandwich and looking somber. "Here," she said handing the brunette the sandwich, "you need to eat." Lois took it, "thanks. What's wrong, kid?"
"Wrong? Oh, nothing- just men!"
"Oh, well. Just so you know that never gets any easier." Lois answered thinking of a particular farm boy.
"Oh, great!" Jenna collapsed into a chair.
"Are you going to tell me what happened or what?" Lois asked, turning the scanner off for the first time in three days. She was going to have to come up with something else a bit more hands on, to lure her mark.
"It's Jimmy-"
"Olsen?"
"Yes. I-I kind of- well I asked him to lunch and he turned me down."
"Idiot."
"I know. I mean I've known Jimmy for a while and I just thought- well really I was just kind of, you know, using him."
"Using him?"
"Yeah. Its just look at you! I mean you've changed Lois. When I first started working here you were, well you weren't as," she paused trying to find the right word, "colorful."
"Colorful?"
"Yeah, I mean I've been a fan of your work for a long time! I even cut out some of your college articles, and I was so excited when they assigned me to be your intern. But, all I kept hearing about was 'Phil's girlfriend the reporter.' But for the last couple of days it's just seemed like you've got your old fire back. You seem really- focused."
Lois blinked at her, "so what does that have to do with you and Olsen?"
"I wanted a change, too. I was sick of being the 'flighty intern'-"
"You're not flighty."
"Anyway, so I asked Jimmy out because he was older and more experienced and I thought, you know he would be exciting, but the safe kind of exciting, because he has that bowtie look about him."
"So," Lois said, "let me get this straight, you wanted to basically do a watered down version of the 'wild child' thing?"
"Yes. I mean my life right now is this internship and school. I go here and then I go home and study and study. And my mom is calling me every night asking me why I'm not taking harder course and I just-"
"Wanted something different." Lois finished, "Look, all I can tell you is- don't settle for what other people want for you, go after whatever it is you want."
Jenna gave her a small smile.
"Now scoot. I've got to do some important reportery stuff."
"What are you working on, anyway?" Jenna asked, at the door.
Lois smiled. "Something big."
********
While Lois was having her heart to heart with Jenna, Chloe was across town trying to pick her jaw up off the floor. It was impossible. There was no way on God's green earth she was seeing what she thought she was seeing. No, this was some sort of pregnancy-induced mirage.
Cat Grant, in all of her long legged, tight-skirted glory was walking briskly across the freshly waxed linoleum floors sporting a new hair doo. Her hair doo- well not exactly her hair doo. Cat's was more sophisticated and layered and glossy. And when she walked it bounced like she just walked out of a Pantene commercial.
Chloe glanced at herself in the mirror at her desk. Her hair was flat and straight and definitely not bouncy.
Cat Grant was going after her husband. Her husband! The horror in that thought alone sent Chloe's already raging hormones into over drive. She felt the tears on the rim of her eyelids, but refused to let them fall. That horse's ass!
"Look at that skank," Eloise Mitchell whispered next to her. "Her husband just died and now it looks like she's on the prowl for her next victim. Poor bastard."
Chloe nodded, numbly, poor bastard indeed. She watched The Skank slink toward Oliver's office. She was perfect. She had all the right curves in all the right places and her face was pretty and the color of her hair reminded Chloe of red-gold and it looked like it probably felt like silk.
And there she was, Chloe Sullivan-Queen, five months pregnant, short-legged, tired looking and hormonal, with boring hair. She couldn't blame him if he went for Cat.
Yes, she could.
Panicked and unsure of what else to do, Chloe grabbed her cell phone and dialed.
"Oliver is cheating on me!" Chloe said as soon as her cousin said hello.
"Who is this?" Lois asked.
"Your cousin! How many Oliver's do you know?"
"First off, calm down Chloe and secondly, Oliver is not cheating on you."
"Yes he is."
"With who?"
"Cat "The Skank" Grant. Where are you?"
"Who?" Lois asked again, still unsure of what was going on. "I'm at work. Now tell me who this Cat person is."
"She's the skank who goes after married men, like my husband!" Chloe was almost hysterical now.
"Did you catch him in the act or something?"
"Well, no. But he's changed Lois. He's changed ever since he found out about the baby."
"What do you mean?" Lois asked wondering where the hell this was all coming from.
But Chloe acted like hadn't heard her. "And today, that skank walked right into the office with my hair cut! Can you believe it? That's how she got her last husband, you know. She tried to be a better version of his wife. Similar haircut and clothing, and that dumbass had fallen for it! And now she's trying to put the moves on my dumbass!"
"What? Chlo breathe. Calm down."
But Chloe started sobbing into the receiver. "That's it, I'm coming over." Lois said.
"No!" Chloe shrieked. "I'm fine. Stay where you are. I can handle this. I'm OK, I promise."
"Are you sure?" Lois asked her story could wait if her cousin needed her.
"I'm sure," Chloe sniffed.
"OK. What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to rip my husband a new one then we'll either both see you later or you're going to have to help me get rid of the body, tonight."
********
Chloe shut her phone and watched as Cat waltzed into her husband's office, then immediately stared at the clock, counting the seconds, then minutes. Exactly, six minutes and thirty-seven seconds later, The Skank slid out of Ollie's door and Chloe strode across the room and barged in.
"Chloe?" Oliver looked up from his paper work.
"Care to explain?"
"About?"
"That woman!"
"What about her?"
"She wants you." Chloe stated, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Well, I don't want her," he said.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to stress out about something that didn't matter. It's not good for the baby."
"But it does matter! I have a right to know when a skank is going after my husband!"
"But I don't want her!" He reiterated, "I'm not stupid Chloe, even if I did want her, which I don't, cheating would only get me a divorce and you half my stuff, plus I have my future family to think about," he said.
Chloe glared harder, "Well, your future family and I appreciate your gallant sacrifice."
"And I love you and the baby, of course," he added on too late.
Chloe rolled her eyes, which were rapidly refilling with tears. Damn her stupid hormones!
Oliver stood up and went to her, putting his arms around her waist and pecking her affectionately on the cheek. "I would never cheat on you. I love you." She felt the truth in his statement all the way down to her bones, and after several seconds she leaned into him, because he was warm and he felt solid. Like a husband should. And she was filled with so much love for him at that moment that she let her emotions have complete control of her body and without warning she attacked him.
Her lips crashed into his and she threw her weight into him and he was so surprised that he lost his balance and they ended up half way on his desk.
"I want you." Chloe said against his lips. "Now."
"Here?" His voice cracked like an adolescent.
"Yes." She pressed against him more as her hands tore at the buttons on his shirt.
He caught her wrist. "Anyone could walk in."
Chloe thought, that hasn't stopped us before.
She furrowed her eyebrows at him, and wrenched her wrist from his gasp. "So?" Her mouth assaulted his neck. But Oliver gently pushed her away from him, "this room isn't exactly sound proof, hun," he rationalized, like he had been the past five months. Chloe stared at him with a blank expression trying to remember when she and her husband had become boring. Well, she hadn't, he had.
Dragging her to all those miserable business dinners and tedious board meetings. She remembered when they used to make up ridiculous excuses to avoid those kinds of events and spend the evening in bed with take out, not anymore. Now he dragged her to every. Single. One. And they usually stayed the entire time!
He hadn't touched her in months! And suddenly it struck her like lightening. She slid off of him and took several steps back feeling cold with rejection. He didn't want her. Not anymore. Not when she looked like a blonde blimp!
She'd read about this. She'd done her research, just like she had on Cat Grant. Lots of guys weren't attracted to their wives during pregnancy. A lot of them cheated. And Ollie didn't have the greatest track record before he'd met her.
Maybe he was just putting on a show. Telling her what she wanted to hear. Making her believe him. Maybe he was really seeing That Skank!
No. Chloe shook her head. She believed him when he told her he didn't want Cat. But he obviously didn't want her either. She knew he loved her, but like Tina Turner said, what's love got to do with it? And what if they ended up like one of those couples trapped in a passionless marriage? Staring at each other across the breakfast table wishing to be anywhere else, but there. Oh, God. This was what Lois had been talking about. She was right. What's the point of love without umph?
"Chloe?" Oliver's voice was soft.
They needed a change.
"I'm fine. I'm going." She said, her voice hard and determined.
"What's wrong, now?" He asked. He recognized that look; it was the 'you-are-in-so-much-trouble-but-I'm-not-going-to-tell-you-that' look.
"Nothing." The blonde replied, distractedly as she left. Chloe would use the nightgown Lois had given her, tonight. Let's see him say no to her in that! And if she played her cards right they would miss that stupid business dinner. It was murder going to those things and not being able to drink. Travis could take detailed notes.
********
TBC
A/N: All right. You know what to do- Press that lovely green button and talk to me! Good/bad/indifferent, please let me know what you think. Thanks!
