A/N: Thank you guys for all the comments! You know I eat it up!

Chapter 10

Leaps of Faith

Phil let out a sigh of relief when he saw the blurry lines of Clark's truck hurl out of Lois's driveway, through the slightly foggy, rain-streaked windshield. He knew he didn't have to worry about Clark, as a romantic threat. But Lois's neighbors didn't know their relationship like he did. If Clark stayed too late they might start getting ideas. And, he didn't want Lois's reputation ruined. Phil let out a breath as he wiggled uncomfortably in the small front seat of the Camry.

Tom was a lot lankier than he was. He regretted not asking someone else a little closer to his body type for their car. Like Rob from accounting, he drove an SUV. But it was too late for that now. He'd been parked infront of Lois's wretched shack, for twenty minutes, already. He purposely borrowed a different car for his impromptu stakeout. There was no way he could've brought his own; Lois or Clark would have noticed and Lois would probably be mad if she knew he was watching her house.

Besides, he hadn't meant to come out to the house tonight, anyway. But after he heard Lois's angry message on his phone, he felt he should check on her. And not to mention, it was a moonless night and this neighborhood was bad and the house could collapse at any moment. He just needed to see she was OK.

He'd had to fight the urge to storm the porch and make her come with him back to their apartment, several times. It was taking longer than he thought to convince her they belonged together. She'd been like this at the start of their relationship, too independent-too stubborn to know what was best for her. It had taken patience then to break her down and that was exactly what it would take to break her, again. This was just a phase, he reassured himself while subconsciously stroking the magazine he'd taken from her house, through the nylon of his jacket.

He'd already thumbed through it, countless times and felt its glossy smoothness with every digit of his hand. It made him feel connected to her. Like they were still together. Like she was still living with him. When he got home he'd place it under the coffee table, just like Lois would have done- will do, again. He corrected himself. Now that, that damn dog was going to be destroyed tomorrow, everything would go back to normal. Tomorrow, Lois would tell him she was sorry and that she wasn't buying that awful house and that she wanted to come back home.

And if she didn't, maybe he would have to show her how dangerous it was when a woman lived on her own. He wouldn't do anything horrible or sadistic. He wasn't some sicko. He didn't want to see Lois get hurt, but if it finally knocked some sense into her-

He'd just show her that she needed him to protect her, that's all. Something small, but significant so that she would finally open her eyes and realize that without him she wasn't safe in that house or anywhere else. Yes, that was it. He'd just have to make her see, and then she'd come home to him. She'd probably beg him to take her back!

He held onto that last thought, gripping it like a life preserver. Maybe she would cry? Fling herself into his arms? Fall to her knees?

With only his fantasies keeping him warm, Phil watched the house, unable to keep the grin from his thin lips. He didn't leave until hours later when he finally saw the light in Lois's upstairs bedroom, shut off.

********

Clark was about half way home when what he'd just done finally sank in, completely. Pulling the car over to the curb, with the hazards flashing, he sat there in the dark and listened to the icy rain hit the top of his truck in a hard, thundering staccato.

Lois wanted him. The thought alone sent his pulse into overdrive and blood rushing southward. She'd been more than willing to tear off all of her clothes and throw caution to the wind! And what had he done? He'd panicked and ran. Everything had happened so fast- he hadn't had to think- and when he'd finally gotten control over his raging hormones, the fear and doubt and guilt started to seep into his conscious. Now, he just had to figure out why.

Wasn't this something he'd, always wanted? For Lois to tell him to kiss her- no champagne, no Red-K, just Lois looking up at him with trusting, wide eyes swimming with desire. Just Lois, laid out on that damn chaise like some wet-dream fantasy meal, waiting for him to devour her- he could almost hear her sighing into his mouth, feel her solid warmth, writhing under the palms of his hand- her sweet eager lips straining against his- Clark let out a frustrated growl. He clenched his hands tightly in his lap, so his wouldn't smash the dashboard into pieces. What the hell was his problem? Taking a few deep breaths, Clark thought back to the issues he'd had in his previous relationships.

With Alicia it had been a simple matter of trust, or lack there of. He'd never been able to pin point why he'd never felt completely comfortable with when they'd been alone together, something just always felt- off. Perhaps, it was because every time she flashed that sugary sweet smile or kissed him too hard, he felt like she was trying to manipulate him. Into doing what? He hadn't stuck around long enough to find out.

With Lana, it was different, she'd found out his secret long before they were married. He had no reason not to trust Lana. Even though, she'd been a little uneasy about his heritage when he'd first told her, they'd worked through it and she proved to be an exceptional secret keeper. The problem with him and Lana was that their entire relationship had been nothing more than a pipe dream. He'd fallen in love an idealistic fantasy of what he thought Lana was- and not the real woman. And when the masks had been lifted, neither had liked what they saw.

But he knew Lois. Lois was the most in-your-face person he'd ever met. It was one of the things that used to grind his nerves, when they'd first met. She was just so- real. She was the girl without any secrets, the one person he could always count on to be direct, honest and forth coming, even when he didn't want her to be.

In hindsight, he was more jealous of that aspect of her than irritated. He knew every single one of her flaws, inside and out and loved her more because of them. She was rude and bossy and stuck up- but she was also, brilliant and passionate and loyal to a fault. Trust wasn't an issue, either. He trusted her implicitly. She may have a big mouth, but she would never betray someone she cared about. Perhaps, he was hesitant because he was afraid of what she would think of him when he told her.

He remembered Lana's deafening silence and terror filled expression when he'd told her and now the image of Lois's face scrunched up in fear as she ran screaming from him, flashed in his mind. He cringed away from the thought.

Could he risk scaring her away? Lois was the strongest person he knew, but even she had her limits. Telling your best friend you're an extraterrestrial was not something he could take lightly. There had to be a way he could show Lois his- less than human side, without her knowing that it was really him. He wouldn't be able to take it if she rejected him or worse, was afraid of him.

But if he wanted Lois, it was a risk he would have to take- before he jumped into bed with her. And if he'd stayed with her tonight, that definitely would not have happened. He already had enough guilt in his life as it was, he didn't need to add to his generous supply.

Making up his mind. Clark decided he'd stick to his semi-plan to become a low-key hero- perhaps he'd be able to kill two birds with one stone. Lois would get a few leads on the flying man that saved her and he would get his story for Perry White. It was worth a shot. And if it turned out, Lois was not afraid of him- that side of him- then he'd tell her- everything; then he'd finish what they started at her house on that damn green chaise.

********

The next day, Clark entered a place he'd been avoiding like the plague for years, the First Bank on Second Street- the bank that his ex, Alicia, worked at. He knew she didn't owe him any favors, but he had to try, for Lois's sake.

He walked hesitantly toward her desk watching cautiously while she was scanning over some paper work. She looked exactly the way she used to, young and beautiful and nothing he wanted.

Finally finding his courage he cleared his throat quietly, "Excuse me." He saw her eyes freeze on the document in her hands. It was several moments before she glared up at him.

"What do you want?"

Clark sat down across from her. "I need some information." He ventured.

"Bank related?" She asked, her voice crisp and frigid.

"Yes, but not about my accounts," he started, but Alicia cut him off.

"You're here about Lois, aren't you?" She sounded somewhere between disgusted, envious, and in awe.

"How did you know?"

She gave him a look. "Because I know they upped her down payment and I know you've been in love with her for what, Clark? Ten years, now?"

"Uh," Clark wasn't sure how to respond to that. "Look, I know you're still mad at me-" He began, but once again the blonde cut him with a scoff.

"I am completely over you Clark Kent, don't flatter yourself!"

Crap. That had been the wrong move. She looked furious, of course she didn't have the talent that Lois had for summoning all the fires of hell, but she was still a woman he didn't want to enrage.

Attempting to do some damage control, Clark went straight to the point. "Why did they raise Lois's down, payment?"

Alicia shrugged and sat back in her chair. "I'm not sure. All I know is someone called Mr. Reynolds about the loan a few days ago and all he said he could do was up the down payment." She lowered her voice and leaned forward. "This isn't exactly the first time this sort of thing has happened, either. Well, the first time with Lois, but a whole lot of other clients, too. Mr. Reynolds has his thumbs in a lot of pies."

Clark absorbed the information. "How much did Lois's payment increase?"

Alicia wrote a number down on a piece of paper, folded it once and slid it over to him. Clark opened the scrap up and whistled lowly. "Damn." He looked up at his ex-girlfriend, "and you're not sure who called."

The blonde shrugged and shook her head, "sorry."

All right. If he couldn't find the culprit, he'd do the next best thing. He knew Lois. She would rather listen to ABBA's greatest hits on loop than ask Chloe and Oliver for money. And God knows she'd never approach him- so there was only one thing to do.

Clark smiled his best heart warming smile. "Listen, Alicia I know things between us didn't end smoothly. And I know I have no reason to ask you any favors, but-"

"Clark Kent you are not going to ask me what I think your going to ask me. There is no way I can transfer-"

"It's nothing major. And I know you can make it look legit," he hoped appeasing to her ego would help.

"I could lose my job!"

"Lois could lose her house!"

"Clark-"

"Think about all those clients who got screwed over, Alicia, all the big wigs that made money off of other people's calculated bad luck. Do you really want them to win?"

Alicia hesitated a moment then shrugged in defeat. "Fine. I'll do it." She gave him a poignant look. "But you owe me."

********

While Clark was downtown persuading Alicia, Jimmy Olsen was on the roof of the Daily Planet trying to do the same thing with Lois.

"This isn't a good idea, in fact, I'll go so far as to say this is a really bad idea." The cub photographer looked as though he were about to wet himself.

Lois rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a wimp, Olsen. Nothings going to happen to me I'll be fine. You'll see." The reporter was presently standing on the ledge of the Daily Planet rooftop, peering timidly over the edge. God, it was a long way down.

"Look, Ms. Lane- I mean Lois- it's not that I don't believe you about this, uh flying man- er, but what if he's busy else where? You know saving F1-50's from crashing or something." It was his final plea to talk a little reason into Mad Dog Lane.

"Listen, Olsen I know what I saw- experienced. This guy is fast- I mean super fast. As long as he hears me screaming, he'll come." Hopefully. She tagged the last part on silently. There was a small, insignificant, chance that her flying man could not show up in the nick of time to sweep her off her feet-

However, she couldn't think about that possibility, or she'd lose her nerve. Like Clark lost his last night. Crap! She promised herself she wasn't going to think about Clark. Was it her fault the guy had some weird complex? She knew what she was getting in to she knew all about his phobia of commitment, she wasn't naïve. And she hadn't asked anything of him besides his body. It wasn't like she'd spouted off marriage and long-term relationship babble or anything.

Lois Lane and Clark Kent in a relationship, why did that thought have sound so appealing to her? She knew it was never going to happen. The man wouldn't even have sex with her! Still, she couldn't help but let her imagination indulge momentarily. She'd trap him in her new King sized four-poster and never let him escape.

"Lois?" Jimmy Olsen's slightly high voice brought her back to reality. She had to stop thinking about Clark. He was in denial and she could figure out what to do about him later. Right now she had bigger things to focus on.

"I'm fine, Jimmy. Look, I don't know what else to do, this guy has been a complete ghost ever since he saved me. I mean you would think a guy with abilities like that would be out trying to save the world or something?"

Jimmy shrugged and fidgeted with his camera. "I don't know. But I do know throwing yourself off a roof, could be misconstrued into suicide. And I'd probably be arrested because they'd say I was an accomplice and-"

"Will you please do me a favor, and locate your balls Olsen? This could be your big break. First exclusive picture of "the flying man" by James Olsen, Perry would finally stop making you do doughnut and coffee runs. Hell, you might even get your own desk in the basement."

That made Jimmy pause, thoughtfully for a moment. Lois could see his eyes shining at the prospect. She knew that look well; it was the look she wore when she broke her first major story. It had been Raymond Sacks, a corrupt DA. She'd had the headline framed. It had been her first front pager, and had earned her, her first Kerth award.

Jimmy face changed from hopeful to anxious, as he pointed out quietly, "what if you wind up flattened on the pavement?"

Well, on the Brightside she'd never have to face Clark, again. "That's not going to happen. I'm telling you, he'll come."

"And you've checked out every available resource?"

"Of, course. Look, I can't sit around listening to police radio, all day. That's not my style. I've been a reporter for a long time and if there's anything I've learned its, you can't wait for the news to come to you, you have to go out and find it."

"Well, I will say this," Jimmy started, trying to lighten the mood. "One way or another, you jumping off this building with definitely turn out to be news."

"Yeah," Lois muttered, "let's just hope it's not the obituaries." She took a deep breath and told herself not to look down again- as she looked down, anyway.

Perhaps, she was putting a little too much faith in this guy; it wasn't as though he was speeding around town rescuing kittens from trees or anything. The sensible thing to do was-

She stopped her thought right there, mortified with herself, the sensible thing? The rational thing- the practical thing-What was she thinking? That wasn't her. She'd always done the passionate thing- the gutsy thing- the risky thing! She did what she had to do to get the story. It was one of her rules for crying out loud!

What she was about to do may be considered lunacy, but at least it was something that was completely Lois Lane. No one could say she didn't go, doing what she loved. In fact, she would bet anything, no one would be shocked to know she'd killed herself trying to get a story. It was how she always thought she'd die, anyway.

All doubt and feasible reasoning evaporated from her brain. She was going to be OK. She just knew it, somehow. Her flying man would save her. She could feel it in her gut. She'd get her interview and most likely her third Pulitzer. In life, a person had to take risks to get what they wanted. Last night, she'd taken one and it had turned out badly. She imagined she was due for a little good luck. With a final deep breath, the brunette turned to Jimmy, "get your camera ready, you're not going to want to miss this." Then without hesitation she stepped off the edge.

TBC

********

A/N: OK. Starving woman here- feed me!