Burn

Author: vikinggoddss

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, they are all owned by DC Comics, CW & WB. This is purely for entertainment value.

A/N: I know I just posted, but Jen got this back to me so fast…I decided you guys deserve a double treat. 2 chapters in just a few days! Yay right? I love how this chapter turned out. Let me know what you think. Also, you all are simply the best for supporting this story and for being so loyal. Whoo! 140 Reviews. Wow! I love you all and everyone who takes the time to leave a comment is so awesome-this chapter is for you. :)

To my new reviewers…thank you. Every time I see a new name on there it just feeds my muse. Feedback really does make the creativity flow. :)

Ok, so this is totally going A/U here, folks. Hope you enjoy…

Part 10: Tangled Webs of Delusions

Things had always come easy for Lana Lang. Whether it was learning to ride her first horse, making friends, (or enemies) getting a boy's attention or school work. It was simply a way of life for her—if she wanted it—she got it. Lana had only known true sorrow a couple of times in her young life. One of those was the loss of her parents and the other was her breakup with Clark Kent. After seeing him last week, she couldn't seem to stop thinking about him. Maybe it was because, for the first time ever, he hadn't looked at her with that sad longing expression he usually wore whenever their eyes met. He'd said he was moving on and Lana just couldn't seem to process that. Clark was hers. He'd always been hers, no matter who he had dated—or who she was dating. It had never changed. All she had to do was give him some attention and he was right there, ready to take her back. Lana couldn't understand how he was moving past her, when she was still stuck in the same emotional turmoil, loving him and (almost) hating him for keeping so much of his life from her.

She was supposed to marry Lex in two weeks, but there was a huge part of her that felt sick each and every time she thought of saying 'I do' with the bald billionaire. He wasn't the one she wanted standing next to her at that altar. She knew that now. Tears filled her eyes. If only she'd realized that before she'd ever turned to him in the first place. She did love him, (in her way) and in some respects, they were a good match. They were both stubborn and relentless in a quest and Lord knows they both shared the same obsession—Clark. However, Lana had hoped Lex could figure out what Clark was hiding, that was why she started spending time with him to begin with. Lex believed Clark had a secret, (just like she did) and he was determined to figure it out. Lana had figured Lex was her best bet at unraveling the Clark Kent mystery. But, then things changed, and she started having feelings for Lex. She'd foolishly thought she was 'in love', but it was crystal clear to her now… Lex was a rebound relationship, just like Clark had said. With the wedding looming over the horizon; and neither she nor Lex closer to solving the riddle of Clark's secret…Lana didn't know what to do. She only knew she couldn't lose Clark.

There was a way to keep him. She had resisted using it… but she was desperate. And desperate times called for desperate measures. Ever since she'd been taken over by her long dead ancestor Isabelle, Lana had become fascinated with the occult and witchcraft. At first, it was just to understand the magic that had (at times) flowed through her body, but the more she read, the more intrigued she became. With Lex's money at her fingertips, she'd been able to track down several ancient books on the subject. One of which had even been written in Isabelle's own hand. She'd devoured the information, reading anything and everything she could get her hands on, until it became an obsession, second only to her burning need to figure out what Clark was hiding from her.

Lana debated a moment more, before leaping from her bed, decision made. She locked her door and then rushed into the huge walk in closet that she had designed and Lex had paid to have installed in the lavish suite she called her own. She pushed a button and several floor to ceiling shoe racks slid to the side to reveal a secret panel. Lex had taught her well. Hide what you hold dearest or what could be used against you. She pressed her thumb against the digital print scanner, and after confirming her identity, the metal door opened with a soft swish. Lana walked inside the secret room. There were shelves upon shelves built into the walls. Some held books, some held other things—crystals, talismans and ingredients needed to perform the magic Lana had been practicing for the last six months. After pushing the button that would redeem her closet to its normal appearance on the outside, Lana entered the code that would secure her inside her safe room and make entry from the outside impossible. Once she was sure no one could find her, she headed straight for Isabelle's book. She had always felt more drawn to this ancient tome than any of the others she's uncovered. She supposed it was because she almost felt like she knew Isabelle in some way. After all they had shared the same body a time or two.

She took the book to the table where she performed her small acts of witchcraft. The spell she wanted to invoke tonight was bigger than anything she had ever tried, but when she considered the rewards vs. the risks, Lana didn't even hesitate. She set the book down, lit a few candles and started searching for the spell that would bring her lost love back to her and bind him to her.

****Clois****

Lois and Clark were still arguing when they arrived (super speed) at the Kent Farm.

"Lois, don't you think you're overreacting just a bit," Clark said, setting her bags down inside the door.

Lois, holding Charlie in her arms, firmly disagreed with his notion. "I'm overreacting? You're turning into a domineering Neanderthal, but I'm the one overreacting!" she snorted.

Clark took a calming breath. They'd been at it since Florida. "Yes, you are. I'm only trying to keep you safe, but you're acting like I'm trying to keep you chained in my basement," he replied.

"Basement—bed…at this point, it's almost the same thing," she snapped as she set Charlie down on the floor in the kitchen and put some kibble in a bowl for the little guy.

The thought of chaining Lois to his bed made Clark's blue/green gaze darken with arousal. "I highly doubt you really mean that," he told her, a small smile playing around his lips. "I think you might enjoy one a little more than the other."

Lois glanced back at him over her shoulder and rolled her eyes at his comment. Once she was sure Charlie was munching happily on his food, she went back to Clark. "Look, I know you're just trying to protect me and I think it's sweet. I do. But, what are you going to do? Wrap me in bubble wrap and put me in the closet to make sure I never get bumped or broken?" She cupped his face in her hands. "Clark, part of who I am is my need to discover the truth and be a part of the action. I wouldn't be me if I didn't follow my instincts." She took a step back and crossed her arms. "Or maybe you want me to start playing the damsel in distress. Is that what you want? Because, if it is…you've picked the wrong gal here, Smallville, and maybe you might want to take another look at your perfect little princess, Lana. I bet she'd be right here willing to hide under your wing if she was in this situation."

That stopped Clark dead in his tracks. Was that it? Was he expecting Lois to act like Lana? It floored him to realize Lois might be on to something and he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. After a moment, he sighed. "I'm sorry," he said finally. "You're right. One of the things I've always admired in you is your courage. It scares me sometimes, but I wouldn't want you to change." He went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, happy when she didn't pull away. "How about we work this investigation together? You handle finding this Danny Draper or Daniel Price, or whatever he's calling himself, and when we find him, you let me handle the muscle in getting the lead bracelet on him." He smiled, trying for charming. "Would that work?"

Lois beamed up at him, looping her arms around his neck and rolling up on her tip toes to place a kiss on his lips. "Now that is *by far* the smartest thing you've said all day, Smallville."

Suddenly all the lights in the house flickered. A clap of thunder sounded in the distance and the air got thick…like a lingering mist or fog was present, but unseen. Lois's arms broke out in goose-bumps.

"Okay, what was that?" Lois asked softly.

Clark shook his head, something was happening to him. He felt like he was suffocating for a moment. He gasped, his eyes widening, and then just as quickly as the sensation appeared, it was gone. But, in its wake, Clark was overcome with the most compelling urge to tell her everything that was in his heart.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and hauled her up to him. He felt urgent; his need to confess overwhelming his steely control. "Lois, I-the reason I'm so worried is…I love you," he blurted out. "I am completely in love with you and I don't know why I'm telling you this right now, but I just need you to know."

As soon as the words left his lips, Clark wanted to clap a hand over his mouth.

Where the hell had that come from?!

He'd sworn to himself he wouldn't drop that bomb any time soon. And yet, despite being horrified at what he was saying, he couldn't seem to control his tongue from running away from him. "I love you so much that I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." His hand went to the back of her neck and he held her still so he could look deeply into her eyes. "You're the one. I just need you to be safe. Please let me keep you safe."

Lois's face showed her own shock at his confession, but she too felt the same overwhelming need to spill her guts, and despite her best efforts to the contrary, it seemed her mouth refused to listen to her head.

"I do understand, Clark, because I love you, too. I tried not to. I told myself it was just the sex, but it isn't. It's…it's just so much more than that."

They were in each other's arms in seconds. "You love me?" Clark breathed, sliding his big hand along the soft curve of her cheek.

Lois bit her lip, puzzled at how she couldn't seem to stop herself from speaking what was in her heart; however, since it was out—she rolled with it. "I wasn't quite ready to tell you that, but yeah, I do."

The smile that lit up Clark's face made Lois's heart sing. Clark lowered his head, brushing his soft, full lips against hers and Lois moaned softly, opening for him and allowing him access. He immediately took advantage and slid his tongue inside the warm cavern of her mouth to entangle against hers in a mating ritual as old as Adam and Eve. They kissed deeply, both giving and taking the dominant position in the kiss as it heated up.

And, as always betwen them, the tension exploded.

Clark's hands went under her shirt to cup her breats, while Lois started to tug at his shirt, wanting it off him so she could see his amazing chest.

Suddenly Clark stopped and pulled back. He glanced down and scowled. Lois tried to bring him back for another kiss, but Clark shook his head and turned her attention to his leg. There was Charlie, a mouthful of Clark's pant leg, gnawing and tugging like he was some kind of bulldog or something.

"Um…Lois, if he's going to live here…first rule on the Farm…the animals don't stay in the house."

"But he's just a baby," Lois said as Clark leaned down and pulled Charlie off his jeans and scooped him into one brawny arm.

"He can sleep in the barn with the horses."

The little goat made a sound of distress and Lois's heart melted. "Can't we make him up a place in the laundry room? He's not used to sleeping outside," she said, not above whining to get her way.

Clark rolled his eyes. "Lo, he's a goat. He'll get used to it."

"But he's a baby," she said again, giving Clark a soft smile and batting her lashes (also not above using her feminine wiles to get her way). "Please," she added for good measure.

Clark couldn't say no to that look. Lois didn't use it often—if ever, and Clark found himself utterly captivated. "Okay, but only for tonight. He will have to become a farm animal at some time," he said, trying to sound firm and not the lily livered wimp who'd just fallen prey to a pair of pleading hazel eyes.

Lois nodded. "Okay. I'll fix him a bed." Within minutes Lois had Mrs. K's big wicker laundry basket settled on the floor of the laundry room with a soft blanket snuggled inside. She also had placed Charlie's kibble bowl and a bowl of fresh water on the floor of the laundry room.

Clark shook his head, If his father could see him now…but he put the little goat in the bed as Lois wanted and left the light on for him too, before shutting the door and trapping the little beast inside.

He turned to Lois and his eyes got smoky with desire. "Okay…now where were we?" he purred.

Lois's entire body clenched with lust. When Clark Kent gave her those bedroom eyes—she was a goner. She loved him. Although, she hadn't meant to confess that secret, it was liberating and she was glad it was finally out there. She ran to him and threw herself into his arms. "Right here," she said and kissed him for all she was worth.

Clark caught her easily. His hands rested on her curvy ass as he kissed her back with equal fervor. Their mouths mated hotly, while he walked her towards the stairs, eager to get her to his bedroom.

Lois's phone began to jingle from the back pocket of her jeans and Clark groaned against her lips. "Don't answer it," he panted, pausing at the bottom of the stairs and placing hot, wet kisses down her neck.

"It…oh God…could be my…editor," Lois replied, just as breathless.

"Lois…" He knew he was whining, but the woman he loved had just said she loved him too and now he wanted to 'make-love' to her. "I love you." He kissed her. "I need you." He kissed her again, deeper this time.

Lois moaned and gave herself over to him. Her editor could wait. "I love you, too," she moaned against his lips.

The phone stopped ringing and they both grinned happily and began to make their way up the stairs, kissing again, but Clark had barely made it half way when the phone went off again.

Lois pulled back, her brows lowered in both aggravation at being disturbed yet again and worry—because obviously this might be important. "I think that means I better get this," Lois said, pouting just a tad.

Clark gave a loud sigh of disappointment as he headed back down the stairs to the kitchen and let her slide down his body. However, he kept his hands on her hips, staring at her hungrily while she fished out her phone.

"Um…kinda need some space," Lois said, biting her lip.

He picked her up and propped her up on the kitchen island. He placed his hands on her thighs, spreading them as he stepped between them. "Just pretend I'm not here," he said with a teasing smile as his hands slid up and down her jean clad legs.

Lois glanced down to where the bulge in his jeans was just inches away from where her center met her thighs. "Yeah, like that's possible," she said and pushed him back a foot. She glanced at the screen on her phone and her brows drew down. "It's Chloe," she told him. "She was supposed to go by my place—maybe something happened."

That brought Clark back to reality with a thud and his shoulders tensed as he watched Lois answer the call.

"Hey Chlo, please tell me my place hasn't been ransacked."

On the other end of the line, Chloe was sitting on Lois's couch a worried frown creasing her face. "No. Nothing like that, but…" she hesitated and Lois got antsy.

"What?" she asked. "Just spit it out, Chloe. You know I can't stand uncomfortable silences."

"I think you and Clark need to get over here and see what I found."

Having heard that, Clark took the phone from Lois. "Chloe, what is it?" he asked, his voice deep with concern.

"Clark, I found letters and pictures…this guy has been following Lois's every move and it hasn't been for just a couple days. Some of these pictures go back a couple months and the letters he's been writing her…especially the one he wrote after you and Lois's uh…wild night…let's just say this guy isn't playing with a full deck," Chloe said, and Clark could hear the fear in her voice. His eyes met Lois's and he didn't like the brief flash of fear he saw there, even though she'd never admit it.

"What does it say?" he asked, stepping closer to Lois again, but this time to offer the comfort of his presence, instead of the baser urges that had been driving him only moments ago.

"I think you need to see it for yourself," Chloe replied mysteriously.

Clark nodded gravely. "We'll be right there," he told her, but before he hung up, he told Chloe the information they'd gathered in Florida. "See if you can find anything on either a Danny Draper or Daniel Price. Those are the names he's using—at least the one's we've found so far."

Chloe said she'd get right on it and they disconnected the call.

"I guess this means we'll have to table our reunion till later, huh?" Lois quipped, trying to ignore the pulsing between her legs that was dying to forget this whole situation, and just get Clark upstairs, naked and inside her.

Clark was just as frustrated. "I'm afraid so," he said, obvious in his disappointment. His jaw ticked. It scared him how badly he wanted to make this guy pay. He hadn't felt this out of control since Alicia was killed. He watched Lois pull herself together, and adjusted his jeans, trying to ease the ache of the hard on that didn't seem to want to go away. He'd been so close…

Clark suddenly scooped Lois off the counter and up into his arms. She gave a little *whoo* as he held her to his chest.

"So, I take it we're going by 'Clark Kent Express'?"

He leaned down and nuzzled her neck. "I'm faster than the truck and the quicker we get there—the quicker we can get back here," he murmured against her neck.

Lois shivered. "Then what are we waiting for…giddy-up speedy!"

His brow shot up. "Giddey-up?" He snorted. "I'm not a horse, Lois," he said, though he was smiling.

She glanced down at the (still) huge and obvious erection in his jeans. "Sure about that?"

Clark's cheeks flushed and Lois grinned. "Glad to see I can still make you blush, Smallville. For a minute there…I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever see that again!" she teased flippantly.

Clark couldn't help but flush even more, but he laughed softly, loving her wit. "You are a handful, Lois Lane," he said, "but now I know it's one of the things I love about you."

Lois melted in his arms. "I love you, too, Smallville," she murmured; the words coming easily now. She kissed him on the mouth. "Ready when you are."

Clark held her tight to his chest. "Hold on—this is going to be fast."

And, in continuing with what was now a running joke with them, Lois quipped, "But not too fast, right?"

He laughed. "Never too fast with you, Lois," he said, and with that, he blurred them out of the farm house and back to The Talon in just a few seconds.

Lois squealed with giddy excitement when they came to an abrupt stop in the alley around the corner of The Talon. Her hair was windblown, her eyes sparkled and her face glowed. Her smile was megawatt happy, and in that instant, Clark was thunderstruck at how beautiful she was. His heart pounded with love for her.

"I gotta tell you," Lois was saying, "you're better than any roller coaster I've ever been on and I've ridden the best all round the world!"

He chuckled as he let her slide down his body, slightly unwilling to let her out of his embrace. "I do aim to please," he teased, brushing a brief kiss across her mouth. "I love making you smile like that," he told her and he knew it was sappy, but he couldn't seem to control his mouth tonight. It had a mind of its own and Clark was possessed to admit everything—even if some of his confessions were things he'd barely admitted to himself.

Lois beamed. "And you succeed," she told him, kissing him back, "In spades."

Ridiculously happy, considering the situation, Clark and Lois entered The Talon. They held hands, their bodies brushing against one another teasingly, barely restraining from kissing in public as they made their way up the stairs—totally oblivious to anyone else, but them and their newfound love.

***Clois***

Inside the Talon, at a table in the back, Lex Luthor set down his coffee cup, watching the happy couple as they headed for Lois's apartment. In that instant, Lex realized Clark's feelings for Lois Lane weren't just a passing fancy or a decoy to make Lana think he was moving on. He really had moved on. Lex could see the attraction. Lois Lane was a gorgeous woman, it was easy to see why Clark would want to sleep with her, but Lex knew the honorable Clark Kent better than that. This wasn't just sex. Lex's interest was sparked. How had Lois captured his heart so quickly? Officially intrigued and (with nearly anything concerning Clark) Lex quickly became determined to see what it was about the Lane woman that had so thoroughly enraptured (steadfast and true) Clark Kent enough that he'd jumped ship from the 'Lana Lang Love Boat' and was now firmly on board the 'Lovely Lois Lane Mystery Cruise'.

***Clois***

Chloe was waiting for them when they entered the apartment. She jumped up from the couch as soon as the couple entered. "Okay, you both know I've seen weird and I've seen weirder than weird, but Lois…this guy takes the cake on creepy," she told her cousin.

Chloe's fear was palpable and Clark felt his own tension rise. "Chloe, what is it? What did you find?"

Chloe pointed to the coffee table and Clark and Lois went over to the couch and sat down. Clark reached out and picked up a few of the photos Chloe had spread out there. Lois did the same, and as they started to examine the pictures and letters arranged there, they both felt their fear and anger spike.

"I've kind of put them in order…" Chloe pointed to one photo. It was of Lois on her date with that creep Graham—the 'Invisible Hit-Man'.

Lois was stunned. "Great, like that is a moment I want to relive," she muttered tossing the picture aside.

"Lo, this guy has been watching you for a while—a long while."

"Yeah, kind-a seeing that," Lois said, pulling another picture from the pile. It was of her running in blue shorts and a blue sports bra. From the road she could tell it was her jogging on the back roads of the Kent Farm. "Oh my God…" she said softly, showing Clark the picture. "This is your property."

Clark scowled fiercely. He sorted through another stack of photos, picking up one of Lois in a gorgeous black evening gown on the arm of Oliver Queen. He remembered this night—it was the first night he'd met Oliver. In the photo Oliver's face was scratched out, but Lois looked gorgeous. He glanced her way as she took note of the picture, her brows drawing down into a worried frown.

"Okay, so this guy definitely gets points for being a world record stalker, but why did he suddenly snap and come after me physically?"

Chloe handed Lois a group of photos. "I think this is what made him go ballistic," she said softly.

Lois and Clark leaned in and started to sort through the pictures of themselves from the other week when they were high on the love potion and Red K. There were a few pictures of Lois and Clark in the Daily Planet phone booth. They were kissing heatedly. There were more of them on the roof top and standing on the ledge of the Planet's building. Then there was the coup 'de grâce; the pictures of Clark leaping off the building with Lois in his arms and soaring into the sky. They were obviously shot with a high powered camera with quick shutter speed, because they captured each image, one after another, of Clark and Lois sailing up in the sky with the moon in the background until they landed on Ollie's balcony. If you flipped the pictures, it would be like a movie reel of their flight.

At that all three of them looked at each other. All of them shared the same nervous expressions on their faces'.

"Shit," Lois said softly, echoing all their thoughts. She turned to Clark. "This isn't good. Now he knows your secrets as well as mine."

While disturbed that someone had physical proof of his abilities, Clark honestly didn't feel like this guy was going to use the pictures to hurt him—he felt like he was using them as a way to get to Lois. "If he wanted to come after me, Lois, He would have. He sent these to you for a reason. I think he's telling you he could spill my secret if he wanted to…"

"To get to me; right?" Lois muttered and Chloe and Clark shared a look, before Clark nodded solemnly.

Chloe stated what they all were thinking. "Clark isn't his target—well, he is in a way," she said as she pointed out that in several pictures—especially the ones from Oliver's outside patio where he and Lois were half naked and kissing. In those pictures Clark's image was obliterated so violently that the photo paper shredded. "He really doesn't like you," she said, stating the obvious.

Lois shivered and Clark wrapped an arm around her shoulder, rubbing her arm with his hand. "He isn't going to print these pictures. He just wants to use them to intimidate you."

Lois snorted. "Well, he's doing a damned good job. Clark, this guy has the like last four months of my life documented here. It's beyond creepy now."

Clark gathered the pictures and put them away. They only made everyone uncomfortable. "Chloe, were you able to pull anything up on the names I gave you?"

Chloe nodded. "Nothing on Daniel Price. It's an alias, but Daniel Draper is another story…he was born April 1st, 1981 in Smallville. His father worked for Luther Corp."

"What?" Clark exclaimed.

"Yeah," Chloe said. "Joseph Neil Draper worked for Luther Corp. from 1980 to 2000. He became ill and was put on disability at that time. He died in 2004. That's all it says as far as public records."

Lois snorted. "That doesn't mean it's the truth though."

Clark and Chloe both agreed. They were all very familiar with how the Luthor press machine worked. It put just enough of the truth in a report to make it believable and then buried the rest.

Chloe punched a few more keys. "Um…okay, so Danny seems normal—more than normal actually," Chloe said as she started to relay what she'd learned. "Daniel Robert Draper graduated from Smallville High in 1999. After that he went into the military in 2000—stationed out of Fort Bragg," she said looking at Lois. "Wasn't your father at Fort Bragg in 2000?" Lois nodded. "And the plot thickens," Chloe muttered, "Moving on. Draper was trained as a sniper and he has several commendations in his military dossier that says he was good at his job. He went to Iraq in 2003, and during that tour, Corporal Draper was awarded the Army's Distinguished Service Cross for risking his life in combat above and beyond the call of duty."

Already stunned at a possible connection to her dad, Lois's eyes widened at hearing her stalker had received the 2nd highest Medal of Valor the Army had to offer. It was hard to see the guy who had tried to kidnap her earlier as a hero. "Seriously?" she asked, leaning forward to look at Chloe's notes and at the picture of Daniel Draper—just to make sure it was the same guy. "That's him," she said softly, more to herself than anything else.

"Yeah, apparently he single handedly rescued three of his squad members after they were attacked by enemy fire and cut off from the rest of their team."

Clark was looking at the picture of Draper too. It was definitely the same guy from earlier. "Well, he can teleport so maybe that's how he did it," he said, not exactly liking how Lois's stalker (who he wanted to crush) was becoming human to him—more than that, he was becoming honorable. The whole thing made no sense—what went wrong with Daniel Draper to turn him from a war hero to a stalker?

"Okay, so what happened to make G.I Joe turn into crazy stalker guy?" Lois asked, voicing Clark's thoughts aloud.

Chloe tapped away at the keyboard. "Well, his father died in 2004 while he was overseas. It seems that's where things started to go bad for him. He was dishonorably discharged from the military for conduct unbecoming when he got into a fist fight with his commanding officer. It looks like his previous record kept him from being Court Martialed, but it was still a dishonorable discharge, so his military career was over at that point. And, a few months later showed up in Metropolis." Chloe opened another page on her laptop. "That's when he filed a wrongful death suit against Lex and Luthor Corp. saying the Smallville Plant made his father sick. But, Lex's lawyers had the case thrown out."

Lois made a rude sound. "Yeah, of course they did. God forbid a Luthor ever take responsibility for their crimes!"

Chloe opened another file. "After the case was dismissed…there's nothing. It's like he falls off the grid. That is until this year when he got the job at Parcel Posts. His address in in Metropolis and…" Chloe sucked in a sharp breath when the final page loaded. "Um…Lois…he lists you as his emergency contact."

"He what?" Lois and Clark said at the same time.

Chloe nodded. "I know and it gets weirder, right?"

Clark stood up and paced. "Okay Chloe, see what you can dig up with his father and the Luthors'. What was the lawsuit he filed against Luther Corp. about? Obviously his Dad's death made him snap, but why did he fixate on Lois? Maybe if we can trace back and find out what happened to his dad, we can figure out a way to reason with him."

Lois nodded. "Do you know what department his father worked in at Luther Corp.?"

Chloe shook her head. "No, but I'll find out."

Lois and Clark stood up. At least they knew now more than they did earlier. Although, neither of them could say this knowledge made them feel any better. If anything, it just made the situation murkier and even more worrisome. If Draper really had snapped—he had ARMY training, along with his meteor powers. He could be a very serious threat.

"Chloe, you shouldn't stay here alone tonight," Clark said.

"Yeah, I've already got it covered. Jimmy will be here soon."

Lois sighed. "Chloe, this is my place—maybe you guys shouldn't be here at all. What if he comes here looking for me?"

"He doesn't want me or Jimmy, Lo. If he were to come here, I think he'd leave us alone." Chloe pointed to his military file. "I don't think this guy is a killer—you said he could have killed Lois's guide right?" Clark nodded. "But he didn't. I think the meteor rock has infected him and he's fixated on Lois. But my gut is telling me that we need to help this guy, Clark. I don't really think he's a bad guy, just lost and maybe angry too."

Clark and Lois both agreed. "Okay, so see what you can find between Joseph Draper and the Luthors," he said, taking Lois's hand again. "I'm taking Lois back to the farm. I can protect her better there."

"Good idea," Chloe said and after a few more moments of planning, Clark had Lois in his arms and was zipping her away from the Talon and back to the farm again.

****Clois****

Lana woke up next day bright and early. She had a smile on her face and a spring in her step as she showered and meticulously did her hair and makeup. She wanted to look her very best when she visited him. By 8:15 am Lana was ready. She wrote Lex a note about going to Metropolis to run errands for the wedding and left the Luthor mansion by 8:30. However, instead of taking the highway to Metropolis, she headed for the Kent Farm. She took her own car, rather than the Limo and driver, not wanting any of Lex's men to know where she was actually going.

Throughout the entire drive she could barely control her excitement. The thought of being held in his big, strong arms again kept assaulting her mind, making her body react. Her sex life with Lex was fine; after all, Lex was an experienced lover, but, it still didn't compare to the feelings Clark had given her. He'd made her body and her soul sing with bliss. Lana wanted that back. She hated the very idea that Lois Lane had touched him, had put her hands on him and made use of his beautiful body. Lana hoped the sex was terrible! Just the thought of Lois with *her* Clark made Lana's stomach cramp with jealousy. Lana was convinced Lois was a rebound—just like Lex. That's what she told herself to excuse her actions. Clark didn't really love Lois—he was simply hurting. Really, by casting the spell, she was saving him from making the same mistake she'd made—saving them both actually.

***Clois***

Clark came down the stairs dressed in pajama bottoms and a white tee-shirt. Lois was still upstairs sleeping. They'd made love well into the night. It had been spectacular and Clark was pretty pleased with himself for thoroughly wearing her out last night. He poured himself a glass of orange juice and put some coffee on for Lois—knowing she'd want a cup first thing. After getting the coffee started, he picked up his phone to call Chloe and see what she'd found out.

She answered on the second ring. "Clark it's 8:30 on Saturday…you're lucky I couldn't sleep and was already on the case of our mysteriously heroic stalker, or else I might be a little put out with you," Chloe said by way of hello.

"Sorry," he apologized, "It's just I'm worried. There are so many things about this guy that doesn't add up. Yesterday at Lois's tent—this guy seemed like a maniac and all the pictures…but after looking at his past…it makes me wonder what happened to him to make him go bad. Or maybe he isn't bad. Maybe he's just misguided like Alicia and we can save him."

"Clark, I love that you always see the good in people and I think in this instance you may actually be right."

"Did you find out anything more on his father's death and how it might be related to Luther Corp.?" he asked eagerly.

"I did. As a matter of fact, I think I found the proof Draper could have used to prove his case."

"What did you find?"

"I hacked into Lionel's files and uncovered an old work order from the Luther Corp. Plant in Smallville," Chloe said. She paused and then asked, "Clark, do you remember years ago when we were held hostage there on that field trip?"

Clark was nodding. "Yeah, by Earl—he was a friend of my Dad's. He'd been working on a secret level of the Plant and had been contaminated by the meteor rock he was working around."

"Mmhm, and remember how at first everyone was saying that there never was a Level 3?"

Clark flashed back to that time for a moment. He and Lex had been friends then-or so he'd thought. "I remember. But, I punched through the wall hiding the elevator and we found out it did exist and Earl was cleared."

"Exactly, well you'll never believe this, but according to this file, Joseph Draper worked at the Luthor Plant on Level 3 as a horticulturist. His specialty was corn. Wasn't that what Earl said they were growing?"

"It was," Clark said as he remembered his father's friend and the problems he'd faced. Those tremors had killed a man and nearly made him kill an entire class of Smallville students! Clark rubbed the back of his neck.

"And there's more," Chloe said, "According to Joseph's personnel file—in 1989 he had an extreme amount of absences because his son, Danny was hospitalized for almost a month from exposure to some toxin that made his bones weak. According to the doctor's report attached, it seems Danny's bones had turned soft; like rubber almost. The doctors couldn't find a reason for it, but he couldn't stand and had to go through extensive rehabilitation to learn to walk again."

Clark ran a hand through his hair, sighing. It was times like these he felt so guilty. "So, this guy almost lost the ability to walk because of the meteor shower," he said softly, dangerously close to falling into what Lois would call a 'brood session'.

"Yes, but he recovered a little over a year later—miraculously. I also found the court records on the lawsuit he filed. On December 1st 2004, Daniel Draper filed a claim against Luther Corp. saying that their use of meteor rock while trying to create a new strand of 'super corn' had led to his father's death. His claim said he felt the effects of whatever they were using to grow the corn had changed him and his father. From the sounds of the lawsuit, I think Danny was also exposed to that as well as the shower…that could be why he's infected the way he is. Maybe that much exposure just made his mind wrong, Clark."

Clark huffed out a breath. It was hard to hate someone when he felt guilty. "How did he find Lois?" he asked.

"It looks like it was pure chance. Danny Draper took the job with Parcel Post last year and after a month requested to be put on delivering the Inquisitor's mail directly. Maybe it started as a crush, but with his exposure to meteor rocks—it seems to have developed into an obsession. I don't see any violence in his record, Clark. But with his military training and after what you told me he did to her boat captain…I can't be sure of anything anymore. All we can say for sure is he's definitely meteor infected and his father was too. And…" she added. "He definitely hates the Luthors'. Maybe we can use that to focus his attention on them rather than Lois."

Lois was making her way down the stairs in nothing more than his Smallville High football jersey and Clark was immediately distracted. He swallowed hard. "Uh…Chloe that's amazing work. See if you can get a new address on Draper. Maybe a relative's house—or maybe he has land here in Smallville…" he said, his eyes drinking in her slender calves, her long smooth thighs and that sexy 'I am so satisfied' smirk on her beautiful face.

"On it, Clark," Chloe said. She paused. "Hey, don't feel guilty. This isn't your fault."

He exhaled hard, his lust rising and taking over his guilt. "I-uh-yeah…Lois is always telling me that."

"Telling you what?" Lois asked, grabbing a strawberry out of the bowl on the island and cutting it in half.

Chloe heard her cousin's voice in the background and knew Clark was useless at this point. "Okay, well when I have something new—I'll call you, okay?"

"Uh…yeah, um…thank you, Chloe," Clark murmured, totally focused on Lois and how she was sucking the strawberry into her mouth and nibbling on it.

Chloe hung up and Clark set the phone down, his eyes glued to Lois and her mouth. She looked so damned good in his jersey—it made him feel possessive seeing his name on her back. He watched her arrange some fruit on the table.

"So, what are you in the mood for?" he asked, his smile heated and a little dirty.

Lois picked up a banana and peeled it. "Oh, I'm in a mood…" she said, and proceeded to slide the fruit down her throat a bit, in and out, teasing him. "Just not for breakfast," she added with a flirtatious smile.

Clark gripped the counter and groaned loudly. "Yeah, I can see that," he whispered, his dick hardening to the point of being painful. "So, what are you in the mood for?" His voice had lowered to a husky growl.

She finally bit off a small piece of the banana, moaning softly as she chewed and then swallowed. Clark about snapped the counter in two. Lois smirked and grabbed a grape, sliding it between her lips. "Oh, I don't know…I'm looking for something with a little more…protein," she said, munching on the grape as she sauntered towards the living room.

"Lois," he said, his eyes sparkling with lust and love. "The bedroom is upstairs."

Lois hugged one of the pillars in the kitchen. "Yeah, I know. But the porch swing is out here," she said brazenly, giving him a come hither look before turning around and walking towards the door to the porch, her hips swaying provocatively.

Turned on beyond belief, Clark zipped ahead of her and pinned her against the door. He grabbed her wrists and held them above her head as he kissed her. Lois moaned and let him take control as she wrapped her legs around his hips. Clark moaned releasing her wrists in order to grab hold of her hips and keep her in place. He thrust against her, rubbing his rigid length against her hot sex. Gasping with lust as he pumped against her, Lois went to work on getting rid of his white Tee-shirt. She grabbed the hem and yanked the shirt up. Clark obediently raised his arms and she pulled it off him, tossing it aside without any thought to where it landed.

"I want you-right here," he growled. "We can initiate the porch swing later."

He grabbed the bottom of his jersey and was raising it over her head when a knock sounded at the door, startling them both.

They both froze, so close, nearly naked and breathing heavily. Their eyes met, totally puzzled at who would be at the Farm at 9:00 in the morning. Reluctantly, Clark let Lois slide down his body, groaning in disappointment when she left his arms. He opened the door and his jaw hit the floor when he saw who was standing there.

"Lana! What are you doing here?" he blurted out, too shocked at her sudden appearance to be polite, especially after the conversation he'd had with her and Lex just last week.

Stunned at seeing a half-naked Clark standing before, Lana was speechless for a good long moment as her eyes traveled over his spectacular body. Her breathing quickened and she found it difficult to breathe, much less talk or form a coherent thought.

"Lana?" he questioned again, "what's wrong. Why are you here?"

He didn't look at all excited or happy to see her and Lana's spirits fell at his reaction. He was surprised, but not in a good way. Had the spell not worked then? Her mind raced for a plausible excuse to be here, but living with Lex Luthor had taught Lana Lang how to think on her feet and she blended a bit of the truth with fiction. She gave him a tremulous smile, studiously avoiding the beauty that was his chest.

"I just thought…you know, Clark, after last week and the way things ended…it's just been bothering me, so I wanted to come by and see if there was any way we can at least mend our friendship."

Clark frowned. He really didn't think there was much left to say and he was uncomfortable with Lana being here. Lately he'd started to question Lana's motives. Her showing up here like this wasn't making it any easier to think she didn't have something else in mind besides just being friends.

Lana noticed Clark hadn't responded and was still standing in the doorway, his massive frame blocking her from entering the house. "Um…" she gave him a bright smile, "can I come in, or have we gone so far from friends that I'm not invited anymore?"

She tried to make it sound teasing, but Clark could see the pain in her eyes and it tugged at his heartstrings, however, he didn't really want her in his house, especially right at the moment. Lois took the decision out of his hands though when she peeked over his shoulder and said, "Sure Lana. Come on in."

Lana's expression was priceless as Lois moved around Clark to stand next to him in nothing but his high school jersey. "Me and Clark were about to have breakfast…would you like to join us?" she said as sweetly as she could, considering she wanted to tear Lana's hair out.

Clark simply hung his head at being in this situation. He hadn't wanted to hurt Lana, but he wasn't going to deny Lois's claim on him. He was hers. He loved her.

Lana, on the other hand, was so overwhelmed with emotion that she barely managed to keep her face calm. She was furious, hurt, devastated and insanely jealous! Bright red suffused her cheeks and she started to tremble. "I've obviously come at a bad time," she said, backing away as if it was painful to be near them. "I'm-I'm sorry. I should have called first…I-I don't know what I was thinking." Her eyes were filling with tears and Lana had to get away before she broke down. "I just…I mean, I wanted to tell you…" Tears started to spill over her eyes and run down her cheeks and Lana wiped them away quickly. "I'm sorry. This—something went wrong—I shouldn't have—this was a mistake," she babbled, before spinning on her heel and practically bolting down the porch steps to her car.

A part of Clark felt a need to rush after her, but he stayed put. Lana was his past. He hated seeing such pain on her face, but she had made her choice. And he had since made his own. He chose Lois. And it was her standing beside him that kept him firmly grounded on the doorstep, watching as Lana raced to her car, flung open the door and climbed inside. The engine gunned, and a second later she was peeling away, shooting gravel in all directions as her Mercedes barreled down the driveway as if the hounds of hell were after her!

Lois glanced up at him as Lana's car disappeared from view. "You know she isn't over you, right?" she muttered softly.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe not, but she doesn't have that choice anymore," he told her. "I love you, Lois," he said, his eyes roaming over the outfit she was wearing. "Nothing Lana says or does anymore will change that."

Lois noticed for once, he didn't mention the fact that Lana was marrying Lex as a reason for them not getting back together. He'd never done that before. Instead, this time his reasons were because of her.

Her heart fluttered wildly and Lois practically glowed with pleasure. "So…" she said, grabbing his hand, "how about we break in that porch swing?"

*****Clois*****

Okay guys, so now Clark and Lois both have stalkers! Hehe. Jen came up with the idea of Lana being witchy and I really liked it. It just made sense. After Lana killed Jason's mom, I think she found a dark side to herself—look what she did to Lionel in season 7—right? So, in this story, I've decided to expound on the potential for real darkness in Lana and I'm going to explore that a bit here. I think the show would have been a hell of a lot more interesting if they'd gone that way! ;) What do you think? Also…I was thinking it'd be fun to make Lana's spell be the catalyst to make them suddenly confess their love? Ha! How's that for payback, eh, bee-yatch?

Yes, Lois's stalker will be back, but I wanted Lana to see Clark wasn't hers anymore. It makes her a bit more desperate, plus Lex on the hunt for a new mystery is always fun, right?

Oh and just wait…Oliver's reaction to this whole shebang will be coming up very soon. Do you really think they destroyed *all* the cameras? ;)

Okay, so as I've said…reviews are like little bits of Hershey's Kisses and I love them… feed the muse people. :)