"???" Lenny carefully dismantled and packed up the equipment and placed in it's carrying case on the off chance that they'd have to pick up and relocate again in a hurry. The first time they'd had to vacate the premises they'd been unprepared, and valuable paraphernalia had been left behind in their haste. Their Boss had had the funds to have them replaced, but he drilled it into them to be better prepared to leave at a moment's notice in the future.

His eyes kept darting to the bloodstained spot on the floor in the center of the room where the chair and it's occupant had been some forty-five minutes earlier. The Boss had ordered Bruce to mop it off but the thug was working on his own schedule. He's probably doping up in his room getting ready for another round…he thought as his eyes feel to the blood on the floor yet again.

"Getting a bit squeamish there, Leonard?" the man in the suit asked as he strolled back into the room. His white button-up was splattered and stained in places, while his knuckles were beginning to swell; there would surely be bruises tomorrow, but the man didn't care about the consequences.

"No…no Sir, not at all."

"Good good, we wouldn't want that now would we?"

"Absolutely not, Sir."

"And you've packed the tools away! It's good to see that one among you has more brains than a bread basket…" Lenny grimaced at the backhanded compliment and moved the cases to the corner of the room near an exit.

"Will that be all, Sir?" he asked as the man strolled toward the liquor cart and poured himself a brandy. The amber liquid splashed around inside and he sipped it before raising the glass to his lips. The fiery sensation flashed down his throat and brought a menacing smile to his lips.

"Yes, Leonard, that will be all thank you…" he replied, dismissing him with a wave of his hands before turning to the flat screen TV nestled amongst the bookshelves. Lenny walked out of the room as the sounds of a Channel 9 news bulletin blared back at him.

Daily Planet, May 18, 2007. Clark stretched out in his chair and eyed the clock. Seeing as how it was a 5:30 on a Friday and not many other people were around he thought he would head home, fix himself a quick dinner then go out for a tour or two of duty before calling it a night. He was debating over where to stop off to get some food when the ding of the elevator caught his attention. He looked over hoping to see Lois but instead saw an impeccably dressed Perry White carrying a small duffel bag and holding Jason by the hand.

"Oh good, Kent, you're still here, look I'm glad I caught you," Perry said somewhat distractedly. He looked like the Chief but Clark quickly ascertained that he was not acting like himself at all. "I forgot about this fundraiser at the Art Museum that I have to go to—I'm representing the Daily Planet after all, and I can't back out, especially at the last minute, but I have no one to watch Jason. Listen, Kent," he looked around suspiciously before leaning in and saying in a barely audible whisper, "I'm desperate here. I can't take him to a black and white affair and I can't leave him home alone. Damn me for sending Lois out of town this week of all weeks! Can you please take him? It's only for the night, and I know you've looked after him before…"

"Sure Chief, it won't be a problem."

Perry stared back at the young man in astonishment. "Really, that easy huh? You know, lesser men would have milked it for all it was worth, but you…well, thanks a lot, Kent, thanks a lot….you've really helped me out between a rock and a hard place. I'll get in touch with Lois and let her know he's with you—I only hope the message gets through, her cell phone reception hasn't been that great. Anyhow, here are his things, and I'll call you tomorrow around lunchtime to arrange a pick-up time if that's ok with you."

"Absolutely," Clark replied, his back to Perry as he knelt down to Jason's eye level. "How about you come home with me tonight, Kiddo, what do you say to that?"

"Yeah!" exclaimed the five year old enthusiastically.

Clark slung the miniature duffel bag Perry handed him easily over his shoulder, then scooped up his son in the other and grabbed the briefcase on the desk. He walked over to the elevator bay with such confidence and grace that the Editor-in-Chief almost did a double-take, his stride and stance were that un-Clark like.

"Thanks again, Kent!" he called out to the two of them as Clark put Jason down and they entered a waiting elevator. Then, under his breath, Perry muttered "I owe you one."

Clark caught the comment and grinned in spite of himself. He turned to his son, asking, "So, what do you want to get for dinner tonight, Jason? Have anything in particular in mind?"

The boy thought for a moment before crying out "Burritos!" He was swinging their locked hands back and forth and looking up at his Dad with smiling blue eyes and a grin on his face. It filled Clark's heart to the brim.

"Burritos it is then," he replied, an equally endearing smile plastered to his face as well as the bell rang and they stepped out into the Daily Planet lobby together.

Metropolis, May 19, 2007. Lois' flight landed very early in the morning that Saturday, and she hailed a cab and headed directly to her house so she could get to work on the article. Perry still had Jason and besides, he didn't know she was back, so she could really devote herself to the piece for several hours or even a whole day if she needed to.

Fortunately for her she had outlined and written a good portion of the story in Smallville and on the plane ride home, so she finished typing around 5 am. Now all she had to do was get some sleep, then surprise her Editor by picking her son up a day early, and finally proof-read the article and have it ready first thing Monday morning. Piece of cake…Lois thought to herself as she went over her mental To-Do list. She made sure the shades were drawn tight and crawled into bed.

Lois unexpectedly woke herself up out of a deep sleep around 10 am. She groaned as she saw the time and thought about rolling over and catching a few more hours' worth of zzz's but decided against it. Instead she pulled herself out of bed, turned the coffee pot on, and then stepped into the shower. Damn I'm productive today! she reflected to herself, a smile crossing her features as she turned to face the shower head.

She pulled into the guest spot in the garage underneath Perry's apartment building and rode up to the 15th floor in silence. I really should make a habit of calling first, she chided herself with as she strode down the hallway. Knocking boldly on the door, she casually crossed her arms in front of her chest and waited. Perry kept the chain on and opened it to see who was there. "Lois?" he asked groggily.

"Hi Chief," she replied. He closed the door and released the chain before re-opening it and letting her enter. Perry looked about as disheveled and out of character as Lois had ever seen him; what little hair he had left on his head stuck up in a cowlick on one side, his shirt was half-tucked into his trousers and he had dark circles under his eyes. Lois wondered if Jason was the culprit of his tiredness.

"I hope Jason hasn't been too much trouble for you…I really appreciate you watching him and all, but next time if you give me a little more warning I'll be able to find a more suitable long term sitter."

Perry appeared to be having a hard time catching on. "Jason?" he asked hesitantly.

"Yes, Jason, my son…" she took a quick look around the apartment. There were no little shoes kicked off in the hallway, or toys strewn about…the only evidence that he'd been there somewhat recently hung with the pictures on the refrigerator. Knowing Luthor was out there and that he knew Jason's secret she became almost hysterical, "PERRY WHERE IS HE?!? WHERE'S JASON!?!?" she cried, grabbing his shirt collar roughly. The screaming and the grabbing woke Perry out of his drowsy, semi-drunken stupor.

"Lois, I had a function last night…forgot all about it until the last minute…"

"Listen to me, Perry, I don't care, just tell me where Jason is!"

"HE'S WITH KENT! He agreed to watch him for the night." That seemed to do the trick as she relinquished the death grip she had on his shirt.

"Honestly, Chief! And with Lex Luthor on the loose too…" she was speaking more to herself than to him at this point, "You can't just pass my son around like a hot potato just because it's inconvenient to you! Geez!!!" And with that she stormed out of the apartment and back down to the garage to head over to Clark's. Perry stood stunned in the middle of the living room, only partially registering what had just transpired. He clasped a hand to his aching head.

"I shouldn't have let Miranda from the Messenger keep offering to refill my drink last night," he said to no one in particular before going to lock the front door and shuffling back to bed.