Chapter 10

Ashram Monastery

Oliver stared at the Ashram Monastery, a place he has not been too in years. After everything that happened with the island, Tess, Sandra and Vordigan. He needed to go to a place to find himself. To figure out who he was and the man he wanted to become. He had made a promise on that island and so far hadn't lived up to it. The one thing he did know was he did not want to become a man like Vordigan, a dark soul.

After his stay he returned to Star City to carry on his fathers business where he would later become the hero known, as Green Arrow. He never imagined that his life would lead him back to here, back to the son he had walked away from all those years ago. His heart never beated so fast before. Behind these walls he would find his son Connor Hawke, not that he had the right to call him his son. Sharing the same DNA did not make him his father and he knew that Connor would have every right to be angry with him.

"So are we just going to stand here or are we going to in," announced Conner. "I didn't fly on a plane with you just to take in the scenery."

It had been Oliver's decision to bring Conner along, as backup instead of Jay. While he was sure he could trust Jay he wanted someone he knew he could count on if things got out of hand. He didn't know Jay.

"Sorry," Oliver replied, as he turned to the young man. "I needed time to think and flying 'Air Conner' wouldn't have given me any time to think what I'm going to say to him."

"What are you going to say?" questioned Conner.

"I have absolutely no idea," exclaimed Oliver. What could he say to the son he walked away from? He had held him in his arms looking into those small innocent eyes and left him in his mothers arms never looking back. Sure he had made sure Connor would be taken care of, but money can't replace having a father. He should know that better then anyone. He had to grow up without both of his parents.

"I know it's not exactly the same thing, but I would tell him the truth," Conner told him with a faint smile. "Even if it could hurt him. I know I would have liked Clark to tell me the truth about who I was and where I came from, instead of the way it did happen."

Recalling back to when he had been a young teenager and just learning about his abilities and learning that he shared DNA with Clark, but what he had not been told was about his other half of DNA. DNA that had come from Clark's one time friend Lex Luther. He had learned the hidden truth while overhearing Clark talking with Lois and then ran away from home straight into the arms of Lionel Luther who had turned him to his darkside. Hadn't it been for Clark he didn't want to think what could have happened or what he would have done to Lois.

Oliver smiled. He was grateful for Conner's support. The kid had come a long way from being a angry and trouble youth. "Thanks," he replied, as he gripped the young mans shoulder. "But Clark didn't tell you the whole truth because he trying to protect you. What I did ….walking away, I wasn't doing it to protect him. I left because I was a selfish bastard who didn't care about anyone, but himself."

"Maybe, but maybe on some level that you weren't even aware of. You thought you were doing the right thing by him by leaving."

Oliver shook his head giving Conner a faint smile. "It's amazing how much like Clark you really are. Trying to find the best in people even when they've been complete asses."

"None of us our perfect Oliver. You can't change what happened. You can only try to make things right."

"And what if I can't make things right with him?"

"You'll never know if you don't go inside."

It was true. He wouldn't. He would have to mustard up to courage and face the decision of his past. Face the son he left behind. He would have to look into his face and see those same small eyes he had seen all those years ago. Only this time those eyes would be of a man and not a small helpless child. Oliver took a deep breath. He was ready …..as ready, as he could be.

Metropolis

Clocktower

Tuesday

"Hey you're up," Chloe smiled when she saw Jay sit down on a stool in the kitchen, while she was cleaning up. "I can warm you up some breakfast that was left over."

"No. I'm fine, I'll just have some juice for now," he replied, as he poured himself a glass. He took a sip looking around the room, but saw no one else. "Where are the boys?"

"In Roy's room playing video games. They wanted to get you up an hour ago, but I told them to let you sleep." It hadn't been an easy task to convince them to leave Jay alone, especially when every time she turned her back Chris would whoosh in behind her. It was hard enough keeping track of two energetic boys, but when one of them has superpowers. It's like a job. She had no idea how Lois was going to handle it once the baby was born, but she was sure if anyone could handle it. It would be here. "You looked like you could use your rest."

"Thanks." It was true. He had been tired. Ever since he had arrived here he had been working nonstop, running on only a few hours of sleep. With so much happening around him sleep had been the furthest thing from his mind. He kept on telling himself sleep could wait. That stopping Zod and protecting the future was more important then his well being. "And Lois?" While he knew Lois loved to play video games he highly doubted she was in there with them.

"She went into the office."

"You let her leave?" exclaimed Jay. "Zod's still out there." He couldn't believe that Chloe had stopped the boys from waking him up, but she didn't stop Lois from leaving. Did she not realize what could happen if Zod found her. What he would do to her? What he would do when he learned she was pregnant with the child of his enemy. Zod wouldn't think twice about killing her.

"I told her that," replied Chloe not appreciating that Jay made it sound like she just let her cousin walk out the door. "But you know Lois, once she gets something in her head there's no stopping her." She looked Jay hard in the eyes. "Kind of like someone else I know."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jay announced, not willing to admit anything.

"You keep telling yourself that, but you can't fool me," Chloe replied. "I've seen the way you've looked at her."

"Last I checked there's no crimes against looking at someone," Jay answered playing it cool. He knew what Chloe was trying to do. She was drawling him in trying to get him to let his guard down. It was one thing to have her assume something, but it was another thing for him to admit to it.

"No," Chloe smiled. "But I know that look, it's the same look Roy gives me when he knows I'm upset."

"Well maybe you should get your eyes checked," he answered, as he got up from the stool starting towards elevator. "I'm going to go out for a walk, be back in a little while."

Chloe knew that Jay would never willing admit who he was to her. He wouldn't risk revealing too much of the future then he already has. So she wouldn't push him too far, but there was one question lingering on the tip of her tongue that she needed to be answered. Not just for her sake, but for all of theirs.

"Just answer me this one question..."

With the elevator door open with one foot in Jay didn't dare to turn to face her. He knew what the question was. It was the very reason he wouldn't admit who he was to any of them, because they would want to ask him. "Is he alright?" her heard her say.

Jay stared at his ring, no doubtingly the reason behind the question. He sighed heavily before heading all the way in. "You have all the answers you need." Was all he said before he pushed the button to lower the elevator to the bottom floor.

It wasn't exactly the answer she was looking for, but it was as close to an answer as she was going to get. Jay had his reasons for keeping them all in the dark, but there was one thing he couldn't hide. He was afraid. Afraid he would fail. Afraid that he may never make it home again.

Chloe had thought that if she was able to convince him to reveal his true identity it would help make things easier for him, but it seemed that Jay felt like he had to do this all on his own. Something that she knew he couldn't, no matter how strong he things he maybe. He couldn't do this alone. He needed help and until he admitted that to himself there was little she could do for him.

-..-

Metropolis

Daily Planet- Lois and Clark's Office

Tuesday

Lois was busy at her computer typing away. With everything that has happened in the past few days she needed to get away from things, so like always when things got complicated she threw herself in her work.

Both Perry and Jimmy had stopped by her office urging her to go home, but she had replied telling them that she couldn't just sit around doing nothing. ...They didn't understand. They both still thought, both kept telling her, giving her hope. 'Clark's still out there'. 'He'll be back home before you know it'.

….But she knew the truth, Clark wasn't out there. He was gone and he wasn't coming home. No matter how much she wanted him to. No matter how much it still felt like he was still here with her, in this office sitting across from her smiling that smile she loved so much with those lips she longed to touch with her own.

'Stop it, Lois. He's gone. You have to accept that.'

She turned back to her computer screen staring at the screen. She blinked her eyes several times staring at what she had typed. None of it made since. Most of it weren't even words and practicably everything was one sentience. She hadn't even been paying attention to what she had been doing. 'What the hell is wrong with me!'

She turned her chair around staring at the wall. Her face fell, as a tear ran down her cheek. "Clark..." she whispered. "Why did you leave me?"

Seconds later she heard her office door open. She quickly brushed away the tears before turning her chair back around. "Perry, I was just-" Her heart skipped a beat when her eyes came face to face with the man before him.

"Hello Lois," Zod smile that charming smile of his. "Mr. White decided to take an early lunch, but he told me to tell you to take the rest of the day off, especially when I told him your old friend Zod, who traveled a long way came to visit you during this troubling time." Humans were so easy to deceive, you just have to smile and say exactly what they want to hear and you'll have them eating right out of your hands

"What the hell do you want?" she snarled not daring to take her eyes off of him. She had done that once before and it nearly cost her, her life. She wouldn't be fooled by him again. Zod was no one to be trusted. He was a a coldblooded murderer. How many lives had been lost because of this man? How many more would have been lost if Clark hadn't stopped him all those years ago?

"Is that any way to treat an old friend?" he asked, as he walked around Clark's desk over to hers.

"Really?" Lois replied fiercely. "Is that after or before you tried to kill me?"

"That's all in the past now," Zod replied calmly, as he leaned down against her desk his eyes never leaving hers. "Holding onto all that resentment isn't good for you."

"You would know," Lois shot right back all the while knowing full well that he could snap her neck at any moment, but she wasn't about to show him any sign of fear. "You tried to kill Clark, because Jor-El denied your request for cloning your son. I wonder what he would think about the man his father became?" Lois knew that before the war started on Krypton that Zod had once been a respected solider and loyal friend to Clark's father, but that all changed after the deaths of his wife and son.

"Don't you..." Zod started, but quickly caught what Lois was trying to do. No... He wouldn't be play by a human and human emotions. He smiled a sly devious grin upon her one that could send shivers down your back.

"It must sicken you to be staring into the face of the one who created the beast that killed the man you loved." He watched, as the fearless Lois Lane began to unwind before him. "It was his whole purpose you know, that is why I sent him with Kal-El's ship, so that when it landed he would kill Kal-El the moment they arrived on earth." He leaned closer to Lois his hot breath breathing onto her face. "It may not have happened as I planned it to, but my son did accomplish what I had set out for him all those years ago. I just wish I was there to watch Kal-El scream. His bones broken, as his blood ran out of him."

Images of Clark's lifeless bloody body flashed before her eyes. She could still seeing him taking his last breath, his eyes on her, as he struggled to tell her he loved her with his final breath. Uncontrollable tears streamed down her face. Zod had done it. He had found her breaking point. He knew exactly what to say to break her. Why couldn't she have been stronger? Why couldn't she have save the man she loved? "What do you want?" she cried.

"That's better," Zod smiled, as he stepped back from her and sat on top of her desk. "I'm looking for someone and I thought who better to help me then the reporter who has her nose in everything."

Lois's heart skipped a beat. He was looking for Chris, the child she has recently devoted her life to. She had promised Chris that she would never let his father hurt him again. She had no plans breaking that promise now. "What do you need me for? When you could have searched the whole city in less then a minute for him."

"Who said anything about it being a him?"

Crap! Realizing her mistake. Zod know she knew who he was looking for. She slowly started to reach under her desk, but Zod quickly caught her. He grabbed her wrist, as he flung it across the room. A green glowing rock fell out of the black box falling near the wall away from Zod.

"Nice try, but you're going to have to do better then that." He grabbed a hold of her wrist twisting it tightly knowing full well that she wouldn't cry for help. Not when she knew he could kill anyone that stepped through that door in seconds. "Now you're going to tell me where Lor-Zod is or I will take away the one thing you have left of Kal-El's."

Lois eyes widened, as she looked into Zod's eyes. If she hadn't been afraid before. She was now.

"Yes," he responded coldly with a slivering sly grin. "I know you're carrying his child, I can hear his little heart beating." He had heard it the moment he stepped foot inside. The first thought that came through his mind was to kill the child, but then another thought of taking the child, as his own and raising it. How ironic would he be to have the human destroyed by the son of the man who swore to protect them? He knew he held all the cards if he played the life of her child over her head. "Which child's life is more important to you

Lor-Zod or the one growing inside you? Who's life are you willing to sacrifice?"

"Hey!" exclaimed Jay, as he stepped inside closing the door behind him. He quickly noticed the green glowing rock in the corner. "Why don't you pick on someone you own size!" He announced, as he played with his ring.

"You again!" exclaimed Zod, as he released Lois and faced Jay. "Didn't you learn your lesson the last time?"

"And miss the chance to see your ugly face again," smirked Jay.

Zod would respond by throwing a punch right at Jay's jaw. He was more then shocked to see that other then a bloody lip Jay appeared fine. What the hell? He had punched the young man with enough force that would have sent him flying across the room.

"First one's free, next one is going to cost you," Jay replied, as he rubbed his chin still smiling. He looked his attacker right in the eyes knowing full well what was going on in Zods mind. "Something wrong there Zod. You don't seem like yourself."

Zod wasn't about to let the boy taunt him, but until he knew what was going on he had to back off. He turned towards Lois. "I'll be in touch. One way or another I will have my son back." With those final words Zod left the office.

Shortly after Zod left Jimmy entered into the officer. "Is everything okay Ms. Lane, should I call security?" asked Jimmy who had seen the last few seconds of the altercation that happened in her office.

"No Jimmy, that wont be necessary," answered Lois. "But thank you."

"You're sure?" Jimmy asked, as he turned to face Jay seeing the cut on his lip.

"Yeah, I think we got it from here Jim," announced Jay, as he gripped Jimmy's shoulder. "It was just a misunderstanding. Critics, what are you going to do."

"Yeah, ….right." answered Jimmy. "And you are."

"Lois's cousin, Jay." He put out his hand. "I flew into town after I learned that Clark was missing."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you Jay."

"You too," he shook Jimmy's hand.

"Well I'll leave two alone, I'm sure you have a lot to talk about," announced Jimmy, as he left Lois's office.

"You alright?" Jay asked, as he handed Lois the black box with the green rock placed back inside.

"Yeah. Thanks." Lois answered, as she took the box back from him. "Clark thought it would be a good idea having this around in case I ever had to use it. I guess I should have been more careful with it."

"Even without the kryptonite, I would say Zod has his hands full when it comes to Lois Lane."

"Until he threatens the lives of those I care about," she answered, as she placed her hand onto of her belly where her unborn child was growing inside.

Jay placed his hand on top of her shoulder. "I promise you, nothing bad is going to happen to your baby. I would never allow that to happen."

"The last time someone promised me anything they ended up dying..."

"I'm not going anywhere, not until all this is over and Zod is back in the hole he crawled out of it," Jay announced. "Everything is going to be okay."

Lois looked into his eyes. There was something so familiar about him. It was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't put her finger on it. But she trusted his words. 'Everything is going to be okay'.

Metropolis

Downtown

Tuesday

Downtown Metropolis was still a mess, but Zod paid no mind to it. He was more curious, as to what had gone wrong with his powers. Everything seemed fine now, but just a few moments ago when he had punched Jay. His punch barely did any damage. The boy should be dead or at the very least be lying on the floor in a pool of blood unconscious. So why wasn't that the case? What was so special about this boy?

Zod continued to analyzed everything that happened in Lois Lanes office. He had been talking to her. Told her he knew she was carrying Kal-El's child and that if she didn't return him his son that he would kill hers. That was when Jay had shown up and confronted him. He then punched Jay who had taken the punch gracefully, as if he knew that the force of the punch wouldn't be strong enough to harm him.

"What am I missing?" Zod questioned himself, as the whole ordeal played over and over in his head. Until... His eyes widen. "Wait..." It was then he remembered that Jay had done something with the ring that he wore around his finger. There had been a small blue light. "Blue kryptonite, I should have known." That was why his powers didn't work after Jay had shown up.

'But what would a human be doing with blue kryptonite? Surely anyone human that knows about Kyptonians would choose green over blue.' So then why did this human choose to use blue and not green. It only took Zod a mere matter of seconds to figure out why Jay had chosen to use blue and not green. "Of course, I should have seen it before..." he exclaimed, as a wide eyed grinned appeared on his face. Everything was starting to make sense now, starting with his first encounter with Jay where they both got sucked into the portal.

He laughed amusingly, content with himself that he had figured it out. He also knew why Darkseid had left out that piece of information. He wanted the boy for himself to be his dark pawn to take over the earth, but Zod wouldn't allow that to happen. He had other plans in mind.