Thanks for the reviews ...props to Kate again...if you guys thought you were shock now...read this chapter..please R/R

Chapter 8

Chloe looked at Bruce, then at Clark who held his head in his hands. She wondered how long it would take before Clark broke down again because she, herself, was close to her breaking point. Bruce hugged Chloe from behind trying to give her some comfort, letting her know he was there. Chloe smiled gratefully at the gesture. The couple looked at Clark trying to figure out what he was going to do next.

Clark breathed deeply. He wasn't a person to encourage violence, but he was on the verge of hurting Lex. Not killing him, but hurting him deeply. Maybe a little torture would do the trick. No, that was not Clark. If Lex wanted to play then Clark would play, even follow the man's rules, as long Lois was safe. Clark smiled despite the situation. He looked at Chloe and Bruce.

Chloe and Bruce got weird looks on their faces, "Uh, Chloe," Bruce whispered, "did Clark crack? I mean the man is smiling!"

Chloe shook her head and shrugged. Clark glared at the couple, "You know I can hear you right?"

"We know," they both said in unison. Bruce knew Clark's secret and in turn, Clark knew Bruce was Batman. They hoped sometime to team up and stop crime.

"Look I didn't crack! I just think we should play along with Lex's game."

"Why?" Chloe asked.

"He wants to play, we'll play, and we will win. He can't take my rights."

The couple coughed and Chloe looked at Clark, "Lex can't take your rights, but the General can."

"What?"

"Don't you watch Law & Order or Court TV?"

Clark shook his head.

"Look the General can, I don't know why he wants to though." Chloe had a far away look on her face, "It looks like he has lost hope, just like with Lucy."

"What do you mean?" Bruce asked.

"I mean he gave up on finding Lucy so he put it on Lois to find her. He actually put everything on Lois. Lois was Lucy's mother and father. I know he loves both them deeply though."

Clark stood up and began pacing, "So you're telling me I could lose this court battle and lose my wife."

Chloe nodded her head as she sat down beside Lois, "Don't worry, big cuz, we'll get you out of this mess, just hang in there."

"Look, I will hire the best lawyers. We will win. I know for sure that Lex will be playing dirty and might even pay the judge so we need to be ahead of him," Bruce said encouragingly.

"Of course Lex will be playing dirty, he's a Luthor," Clark said.

Chloe eyes brightened and a smile appeared on her face, "That means we have to think like a Luthor..." she stood up quickly and whipped out her cell phone, "and to think like Luthor why don't we ask the devil himself?"

"You want Lionel Luthor in this?" Bruce asked.

"The man has shown he can be trusted so why not?" Clark said.

"He may have shown he was trustworthy, but what does he gain out of this?"

"Look, Bruce, he has kept my secret and I trust him."

"All right, Chloe and I will talk to Lionel and come up with a game plan. Chloe, you ready?"

"Yeah," she gave her cousin a kiss on the cheek and Clark a hug, "We'll let you know what's going on tomorrow. By the way, you should talk to your mother and tell her what's going on."

"Yeah, I know," Clark said feeling a little guilty that he didn't tell his mother first, "I just don't want to leave Lois."

"Just talk to your mother, then come back here. I know Lois will be fine. If it will make you feel better, I'll stay here while Bruce does his business then you can take me home."

"You sure?" Clark asked.

"Yeah, that will be good. Most likely I'll have to do some police business anyway so I'll just be leaving," Bruce said giving Chloe a kiss and Clark a nod.

"Thanks, Chloe."

"No problem. Besides, Lois and I need to do some cousin bonding, so get going," she said with a smile.

He looks at his wife and gives her a kiss on the forehead and sped to the Kent Farm.

Clark explained to his mother what had happened earlier. She was shocked, but she was also pissed. Clark felt guilty about not telling her first, but he didn't regret his decision especially when Lois' life was in danger. She finally calmed down and she admitted that she was somewhat proud of her son. He did what he had to do keep the woman he loved safe. As his mother, she knew Clark had grown to love Lois, but how would Lois feel?

She knew Clark's biggest fear was rejection, and if Lois rejected him, she didn't know what he might do.

"What are you going to do next?" Martha asked.

"Well, Chloe and Bruce will come up with a game plan that we will use in court," Clark said.

Martha nodded, "Do you love her?"

Clark head snapped up at the question, "Honestly, I don't know. I mean I think I do, but I just don't know."

Martha nodded. She knew Clark had more things to say so she waited patiently. Clark stood up and started pacing, "I know I really care for her, and she means a lot to me. I know we've had our moments where we can't stand each other, but there other times when I need her." He looked at his mother, "Why does she have to suffer? Why does a beautiful girl like her have to suffer the way she is now?"

Before Martha could answer Clark started up again, "I mean she doesn't deserve this. She has a lot to live for. She's beautiful, smart, confident, compassionate, and so much more."

Clark sat down again and looked at his mother, "So when you ask do I love her, I just don't know yet."

Martha looked at her son taking his hands in hers, "When the time is right you will know, but remember Lois may not be the same person she was before."

"I-I don't understand."

Martha sighed. She was worried about Lois and how this experience may change her mentally and physically.

Clark looked at his mother, "You're worried that she might not feel the same way I do."

"No, honey, I'm worried when Lois wakes how she will be physically and mentally."

Clark gave her a hug, "I know she will be okay," he whispered.

He hugged her once more and then sped off to the hospital to bring Chloe home. After taking her home he went back to the hospital to watch Lois until sleep overcame him.

Clark woke up in a white room, "What the hell?"

He looked at his surroundings, which was nothing. The lights flickered and then went out making the room go dark until the lights turned on again. Clark saw a hallway and he didn't know why but he felt he needed to go down this hallway. The lights continued flickering on and off wherever Clark was. The place reeked of darkness, and despair. He felt a chill go down his spine.

He noticed a door down the hallway. When he reached the door, heard someone crying on the other side. He opened it wanting to find the source. It was then that he saw a woman on a white bed wearing a white gown.

"H-Hello?" Clark said nervously.

The woman didn't answer.

"Hello, do you need any help?" he said a little louder.

The woman looked up hazel eyes glistening. Clark's eyes widened.

"L-Lois?"