One need not be a chamber to be haunted.
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material Place.
Emily Dickinson
Superman landed near the front porch of Ben Hubbard's house and bent over with his hands on his knees as if everything had become just too much to bear. He stayed there a moment not moving as if going over everything in his head one last time.
Jason came bounding out of the house, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" his face still showed signs of the tears he had shed.
Lois came to the screen door seeing Superman obviously in great turmoil pushed through the door and followed Jason.
Jason ran and as he got closer Superman stood up. Jason jumped into his waiting arms as Lois came to his side and put her arms around both of them in a quiet embrace. Mother, son and father each drawing strength from the other none wanting to break the bond, they stood like that for several seconds.
Lois finally broke away looking into Superman's eyes, eyes that looked lost.
"Lois, that was too close, I don't know if I can continue doing this. I almost lost you both. If that ever happened…there's no way I could go on living."
Lois again joined the embrace. "I know… I feel the same way."
Ben came to the doorway then went back into the room without saying anything just reflecting on what appeared to be happening out in the yard. Martha had filled him in on the troubled past of the couple now sharing what looked like an intimate embrace. He couldn't help but think it was justified under the circumstances.
Lois again was the one to break away. "Aren't you going to change into Clark?"
Superman patted his Speedo, "No pockets." With that they headed inside. Superman was still carrying Jason who seemed to be holding on as if his life depended on it with his arms wrapped tightly around Superman's neck and his legs around his mid section.
Ben called out. "I called Martha, she's gone to get Doc. Baker and should be here any time, that is if he isn't off fishing again. I don't know why that guy can't come into the 21 century and get a dang bern cell phone like everybody else."
As the three entered the house Richard turned slightly in the chair where he was sitting with one leg propped up. "You know, I'm going to have to sue you for breaking my leg not to mention my seaplane." He said then turned serious, "I really thought you were going to leave me there. And I wouldn't have blamed you if you had."
"It did cross my mind, the risk of trying to save all three of you was much greater than just saving Lois and Jason, but I couldn't leave you behind no matter what the risk. Lois and Jason would never have forgiven me or themselves if I had saved them but left you to die. I had to take the chance."
"What did you mean when you said: Are you ready for this?"
"Richard, your face was stark white, and I heard your heart beating erratically. I was afraid you were going to have a heart attack, plus you were making no effort to help me. Your seat belt was still attached for peat's sake. That's why you have a broken leg. You're just lucky it wasn't a broken back." Then lightening the mood, "...so sue yourself!"
Jason made no attempt to leave his daddy's strong comforting arms but his eyelids had grown heavy and his head found a resting place on those broad shoulders. Superman not wanting to let go of his son long enough to change just stood there slowly rocking hoping to sooth his son who seemed to still be trembling slightly even as his breathing slowed into slumber. Superman turned to Ben, "I take it you have introduced yourselves. "
"Yes, and everything is all set for them to stay here as long as they want. I've started moving what I need to Martha's. You're staying with us there, right?"
"I will be in and out most likely, but yes, I will stay till we get this sorted out."
Turning back to Lois and Richard, "I found Luthor. That beast is back in a cage where he belongs. I'm sure he rigged your gas tank to spring a leak somehow because he was watching from a yacht waiting for the crash. I saw him just before I reached your seaplane and made a split second decision to…well come inside the plane and just carry the three of you to safety while letting the plane crash. That way, I knew Luthor would think the three of you were dead. And by the way, it worked. I gave a little performance at the police station and he took it hook line and sinker."
Richard asked, "Does this mean we can go back to our lives."
Lois and Superman both voiced at the same time, "NO!"
He then filled them in on the bank incident with the fake K bullets and that Luthor had been behind it setting up the man as a contract killer promising him 5 million dollars if he killed Superman.
Superman continued. "We need to make sure the jail time sticks, besides just because he's locked up doesn't mean he's not a threat." Looking at Jason and seeing he had fallen fast asleep he said more softly, "Personally I will not feel any of us are truly safe, till that man is dead and in the ground."
Lois who was now sitting on the arm of Richards chair didn't remember ever seeing so much hate and loathing in Superman eyes but she didn't blame him. If she ever got the chance she would kill Luthor herself without a moment's hesitation or regret.
What Lois didn't know was Richard was thinking the exact same thing. All the while taking note of his son appearing so natural sleeping in Superman's…no, in his father's arms.
Lois also noticing Jason had finally fallen asleep gently took him from Superman and carried him up to his temporary bedroom and tucked him in for the night. Obviously the evening had taken a heavy toll on the little guy.
When Lois re-entered the room the mood had lightened and she heard Superman say, "But, if I had known you were going to be so uncooperative I would've just flown the whole seaplane to safety. You really do need to take some lessons on victim rescue cooperation techniques from Lois. Her seat belt was already off, but then she has had a lot more practice." Superman said laughing. "By the way, sorry about your plane."
Lois smiled as she realized the two men she loved most in the whole world were becoming best friends. She could tell. The tone in their voices in these little exchanges reminded her of how it had been between her and Clark before he left. The bantering had a way of easing the tension in the air and also showed the level of comfort now growing between them. She smiled but at the same time looked haunted as she realized she loved them both in vastly different ways. She knew she could only choose one in the end. Would she choose passion and a deep unfulfilled longing or comfort, stability and the familiar?
Superman took on a far-off look as he turned back toward the road. The others following his gaze but he was just looking towards a blank wall as far as they could tell. All they could do was just wait for his reaction. Soon they could hear a truck coming up the road towards the house and then entering the dirt driveway. Superman relaxed almost immediately seeing his mother with Doc. Baker in the passenger seat. Running to his cape which was draped on one of the kitchen chairs he became Clark before anyone had even seen him move.
Lois noticing he had suddenly changed into Clark and seeing the cape was missing from where it had just been, laughed and smiled at him. "That's right, you said the cape has a pocket. I don't remember feeling anything in it though when we were all wrapped up like a rug."
"Lois, surely you don't expect me to divulge all my secrets."
Not in on the earlier Speedo comment, Ben and Richard didn't get the joke that Lois had just shared with Clark.
Martha came running into the house with Doc Baker not too far behind.
After examining Richard's leg he confirmed it most likely was indeed broken but only a simple fracture. Being a country doctor he put a cast on it right there and recommended they come to his office the next day for x-rays and additional treatment if needed. Then he was on his way.
Clark in the meantime had introduced Lois to his mother and the two women went upstairs. Martha had to see her grandson and was not going to wait any longer. She told Lois she could introduce her to Richard later, after the doctor was gone. Lois smiled at Martha's reaction to the sleeping child. Martha had gone over and placed her hand on his check and smiled with tears in her eyes.
"I know having this child was hard on you with everything that happened. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You can't imagine what this means to me. I was afraid I would never know the joy of having a grandchild."
Lois was truly touched and just smiled. Putting her arm around the older woman she thought, I wish my mother was alive to feel that same joy.
By the time the women came back down the stairs Richard was asking Clark what was next. He was worried about his family being told the three of them had died.
They decided Clark would go as Superman and clue in Perry. At the same time Superman would tell Perry that Clark was also with them in hiding. Perry in turn was to let Richard's parents know what was going on emphasizing the importance of playing along with the plan. For the time being at least Lois, Jason and Richard where to remain missing and presumed dead.
Just as he was approaching the house on his return from talking with Perry he heard a cell phone ring coming from inside the house. Superman raced in to find his mom answer her phone. His expression relaxed somewhat.
Looking from Richard to Lois he said urgently, "If they're on, TURN OFF you phones now and don't try to use them, period. If anyone tries to call you they must receive a message that the phone is not available at this time or whatever message the company uses for dead phones. You haven't used them since you got here have you?"
Seeing them both shake their heads he was satisfied but he couldn't help but wonder if there was anything else he might have missed.
Deciding it was late everyone said goodnight with plans to meet up early the next morning. Martha and Ben left with Clark and headed a short way down the road to what was now Ben and Martha's farm.
On the way Martha started, "Clark, that was Rachel Walker on the phone calling me back. She opened a little gently worn consignment store in town a few years ago. She's going to open up early and let us shop for some things tomorrow morning for Lois, Richard and Jason since at this point none of them have a thing to wear except what they have on their backs. Do you think it's safe for them to go or should Ben and I go by ourselves?"
"I would rather you and Ben go alone. We all need to keep a low profile, you know how people talk in small towns. They should be safe here and in town but I want to keep it that way. If I don't have to worry about them I can concentrate on making sure Luthor continues to be contained."
As he changed the subject, Martha could see annoyance in her son's face. "Perry insisted I not forget that First Person Account I promised. You should see the ads he's already plastered all over town. I'm beginning to wonder what I got myself into. I specifically remember just committing to the account of that crystal monstrosity. Perry has signs everywhere announcing a two part account the first being my Return to Krypton." At that he rolled his eyes as if thinking, what's next? "I plan to work on it tomorrow, maybe if I just get it done I can finally forget about that whole blasted trip."
Martha could tell he was more than just stressed, he was in fact near infuriated at having to relive that ill-advised voyage of his. She felt anger towards Perry for taking advantage of her son, especially now in light of everything else. Hadn't he been through enough?
Arriving home Ben and Martha decided to retire. Clark on the other hand turned on the news to see what, if anything was being reported about the day's events. The first thing that came on the screen was an advertisement, "Announcing the Daily Planet Exclusive coming in the Sunday Special…." before he knew what he was doing he threw the remote at the TV breaking the screen.
Ben came running out of the bedroom he now shared with Martha who was close behind. Ben was half dressed with a bat in his hand. Seeing the broken TV screen with a remote sticking out they turned and looked at Clark who was just sitting on the couch looking sheepishly up at them.
"Sorry mom, would you believe it was an accident?" They all three laughed. "I think Superman is going to go out for a while before he gets grounded." He said as he walked to the door and quickly left.
Martha looked at Ben both still laughing, "You see what I've been missing for the past five years?"
Superman flew to Metropolis and verified Luthor was still in custody. He thought about going in and asking to see Kitty Kowalski but decided it was too late, maybe tomorrow. He remembered how she had acted towards him the night he had rescued her and flown her to the hospital. Maybe he could finesse some information from her if he played it right. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try.
Restless but deciding he had had enough for one day he headed back to the farm. Flying over the old Hubbard farmhouse he hesitated then flew down and decided to check on Jason but the window was locked so he contented himself with just hovering for a long while watching the little chest move ever so slightly up and down, up and down. Later, back in his old room, laying in bed he again was thinking of how close he had been to losing that little boy forever and Lois too.
Finally he let himself fall asleep but just before dawn he heard Jason screaming.
"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, noooooooooo it's the bald man Daddy, I'm scarred help me."
He raced to his son "Thought they would be safe here huh, playing dead, well Lois is really dead now and this little brat is next. You just try and stop me this time?" Luthor had two sharp pointed Kryptonite shards in his hands one was at Jason's throat. He threw the second shard directly at Superman hitting him square in the stomach. Luthor's aim wasn't meant to kill him, only keep him from saving Jason.
Superman fell to the ground paralyzed. As he was falling he saw Lois and Richard lying together in a bloody heap. He was unable to move or even scream as his world fell apart and was laid bare in front of his eyes. Luthor howled his delight as he then killed the precious little boy with a quick slice of the throat. Superman had no will left to even try and pull the shard out of his stomach. He just wanted everything to just be over. He wanted nothing more than for the darkness to take him so he could join his loved ones in death. The sharp stabbing pain coming from the wound in his stomach was nothing compared to the sharp pain that had pierced so deeply into his heart.
"Now you can hold that picture in your mind for the rest of your life. Bet you wish I would kill you now, But this is so much better. This way is much more fun, yes Stoop-er-man, I live to see your anguish… Ha, HA, HA" Luthor pulled the shard out of Superman and left, wanting him to live with the images of his dead lover and son seared in his mind.
Clark moaned in his sleep and woke up with a start looking around quickly, disoriented it took him a moment to realize it had only been another nightmare. He still felt numb, and utterly compelled to make sure everyone was ok, starting with Jason. He quickly confirmed everyone was safely asleep in their beds. He was thankful at least he hadn't frightened his mother this time. Hearing Ben snoring in the bedroom down the hall he realized that had probably kept her from once again running to his room to see if he was ok. He got dressed and went to the barn deciding if he had to spend the night having nightmares it might as well be one of his own making.
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