Disclaimer: DC Comics/Warner Brothers owns these characters. No profit is being made from this story. This is strictly for my own amusement.

Author's Notes: In this next chapter which will begin Act II, Clark cannot be revived, Lois is beyond distraught, Martha tries to keep her husband alive and later, a savior appears. Please read and review this chapter. Thanks, everyone! :D

~o~o~

ACT II: Seven Days

Chapter 10: Savior

After entering the mirror universe several times before, Clark Kent realized that each time had been different. He had absolutely no idea where he would land, but those times had been unplanned and unexpected. But this time, he may just have a bit of control. Then he planted a single thought inside his mind and willed it to happen and hopefully, he would end up exactly in the right spot. A mere few seconds could mean life or death.

Seconds later, he opened his eyes and he was in the cornfield steps away from Martha Kent. Relieved, he rushed over to them. Martha was in tears and Jonathan's pulse was very weak.

"Clark?" Martha murmured unbelieving that he was there and in a new costume. She shook her head thinking for a moment that she was imagining this, that Jonathan was fine and that they were both back at the farmhouse fixing breakfast. "Clark?" She whispered again, still unbelieving that he was actually there, but also wishing that it were true.

"It's me, Mrs. Kent. I have to go. He's holding on, but not for much longer." He picked Jonathan up and as he hovered in the sky he said, "Meet me at the hospital, and hurry." Then, in a flash, he was gone.

Shocked into silence, Martha suddenly realized the truth, shook her head and whispered, "It's the other one." Rising to her feet, she ran back to the house, gathered her bag, and hurried out to the truck.

All during her drive over to the hospital, Martha whispered a prayer not only for her husband but for her son as well. She couldn't help but think that maybe everything would turn out alright, that her husband would recover and that Clark, their Clark, would be alright too. "Please God, help them please help them."

~o~o~

Meanwhile, back in Metropolis:

Mere minutes had passed and the paramedics had arrived. Rushing over to the fallen hero, they tried to revive him, but they couldn't find a pulse. The defibrillator was useless as both times they tried to use it, sparks flew from the machine as Clark's chest rose from the ground then back down again, but still no pulse.

Lois, Perry, Jimmy, curious onlookers, and the Justice League members all stood by hoping beyond hope that he would wake up, but it was not to be.

The paramedics stopped working on him. He wasn't breathing, then Lois collapsed to the ground in tears. Bruce came over to her and pulled her up and held her close.

They picked up their hero, put him inside a body bag but before they could completely zip up the bag, Lois ran to her love.

"Wait, please." Shaking and sobbing, Lois leaned down, tears streaming from her eyes to land on his dear face. Stroking his hair, she whispered in his ear. "Goodbye, my love." She kissed his lips one last time then she nodded to the paramedics. They zipped up the bag and loaded him inside the ambulance.

Lois just stood there and watched as they drove away. She thought she could actually feel her heart being torn from her chest going with him. "No, this can't be happening. He can't be gone, he can't." She covered her eyes as tears fell freely now, streaming down her face unchecked until she began to think she would never get over this, not ever.

Bruce put his arm around her shoulders. "There's nothing you can do." He paused. "I'll take you home."

The Justice League members were in shock. Carter spoke up first. Holding his aching arm and standing up a little straighter, he said, "We still have work to do. We have to make sure that … thing is dead and he has to be burned until there's nothing left."

They got busy helping the military and the police to do exactly that. After the monster had been completely destroyed, Carter and the rest of the gang had one more thing to do, so they headed back to the mine. The police and military were there ready to set the explosives and destroy it.

Cyborg walked over to them and gave them an update. "As you can see, all the bodies have been removed and the scientists' records of what happened here were recovered and given to the authorities." He paused as he watched their faces. "So, it's true. He didn't make it?" The police had given him the unfortunate news.

"Yes, it's true," Carter sadly replied. "But he did kill the monster. He saved all of us."

"I still can't believe it," Wally said. "Everyone is in shock and Ms. Lane …" He couldn't finish. "We have to help her somehow."

"I don't know what we could do," Carter said. "Except maybe be there for her to help her move on ..."

Wally interrupted him. "How can she move on from this, watching someone you love beaten to death and then to have him die in your arms?"

"I know it will take time, a lot of time, but she's a strong lady," Carter thoughtfully said and of course he thought of Shiera. He was also thinking that it was time to take their relationship to next level … way past time.

"I hope you're right about Ms. Lane," Wally murmured, truly worried about her.

~o~o~

Back in Metropolis:

Hovering high over the towering skyscrapers, Clark thoughtfully watched the tragic scene and wondered if it would be best not to reveal himself at least not right away, but wait until he could collect the body and take it to the Fortress.

And so he followed the ambulance, quietly watched as it entered the hospital emergency area and waited for the paramedics to take it to the morgue. He waited patiently for a few minutes until no one was around and then he entered the morgue and removed the body.

Minutes later, he was at the Fortress calling to his Father. "Jor-El, I need you."

"My Son," Jor-El responded, as he appeared before him.

Clark was thinking. It can't end this way, it can't. He stood there with Clark Luthor's body in his arms. "I can't find a pulse, he's not breathing. Please help him."

After a minute of silence, a crystal chamber opened. "Place him inside and I will examine him."

Clark did as he said and placed him inside the chamber. Moments later, a light shined upon the beaten and battered body for a few moments.

A few long minutes passed. Clark couldn't wait anymore. His heart was pounding with equal beats of hope and dread at what his Father would say. "Well, is he alive?"

A moment or two, then, "Yes, he's alive," Jor-El finally replied.

Clark was so relieved, he felt like falling to his knees and giving thanks. He was truly startled by his emotions, but he knew now what it was that had brought him back to this place. They were brothers, inexplicably connected in some strange way.

"How long … how long before he wakes up?" Clark was anxious and still very worried.

"A week will be sufficient for his recovery," Jor-El responded.

"A week, but …" I can't be away from Lois that long, although she does know where I am and the circumstances could cause me to stay for a while. She'll understand.

Jor-El sensed his unease. "Will you stay?"

Clark hesitated but only for a moment. "Yes, I'll stay, but I will need your help to return to my world, and I have to see someone first."

"I understand but … Kal-El, wait a moment," Jor-El said.

"Yes, Father, what is it?"

"What we've done here, there may be a price," Jor-El said sounding cryptic.

"But it wasn't his time to die. He's alive, he wasn't truly dead," Clark explained it to him, and then thoughts of his Earth Father and the night that he had died. "Oh, no, I have to go."

He lifted up into the sky and flew back to Metropolis, to the crowds of devastated family and friends who truly cared about Clark Luthor.

~o~o~

Meanwhile, in the hospital ICU:

Jonathan was still not out of the woods yet. The orderlies had just brought him into the ICU to recuperate from emergency surgery. The doctors were able to repair the damage to this heart and they felt he would recover. Martha had just been given the good news. Happy tears blinded her as she entered the ICU.

She sat down next to him, picked up his hand and kissed it. "You're a strong man, Mr. Kent, but I knew you would be alright. As soon as I saw him, I knew."

"Mrs. Kent, this gentleman says that he's your son." The nurse was skeptical.

Martha stood up and held out her arms. "Yes, he's my son."

Clark held her close for a moment, becoming emotional then he pulled back. "How is he?" He was anxious and afraid as he walked over to the bed.

"It took some time, but the doctors were able to repair the damage to his heart," she replied as she stared at her husband. Then she turned to him. "But it was you who saved him. The doctors said only a few minutes and he would have been gone."

Clark stood beside the bed so relieved that he wanted to cry and so he did. Martha touched his arm. "He's going to be alright, Clark." She understood what he was feeling. "Jonathan told me about your Father and how he had died. I'm so sorry, Clark."

"Thank you, Mrs. Kent." Regaining his composure, Clark closed his eyes for a moment. "I have news. Your Clark … he's not dead."

Shocked, Martha gasped, but she wasn't totally surprised. "You saved him, didn't you?"

"Yes, but I had a feeling he wasn't truly dead. He's going to be alright. He's at the Fortress, but he will return in about a week."

Martha didn't know what to say. She glanced at her husband again then back at Clark, then covered her eyes and started to cry.

He pulled her close again. "Everything's is fine now. I'm just so glad your Jonathan and Clark will be Ok."

"Thanks to you," Martha said, truly grateful to him.

He pulled her close again then his mind suddenly went to Lois knowing what she must be going through. He had to see her. "I need to see Lois now, but I'll be back in a little while."

"Thank you, Clark," she whispered then leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I'll see you later."

He squeezed her hand and then Clark was gone.

~o~o~

High over the skies of Metropolis:

Hovering over Lois' apartment building, Clark wondered if he should appear before her as himself, as Kal-El, or as Clark Kent. He suddenly flashed back to the few times they had met in the past, and of course, he couldn't help how his heart pounded at seeing her again.

Clark understood it was only that she looked exactly like his true love, but he and this Lois would always share a connection, an undeniable connection, and so he squared his shoulders and walked up to her door as Clark Kent and knocked. Closing his eyes for a moment, he could hear her crying.

"Who is it?" Lois managed to ask between sniffles.

"It's Clark Kent," he answered softly as not to startle her.

Shocked to hear his voice again, she gasped, wiped her tears away with a tissue and slowly walked over to the door. What could this mean? Why was he here?

She slowly opened the door.

"Hello, Lois, may I come in?" Clark asked.

Still in a bit of a daze, she stared at him, then opened the door wider for him. He entered her apartment. It was uncanny how similar her apartment was to his place in the other universe.

"Mr. Kent, why are you here?" Then she thought about it. "It's because of my Clark isn't it?"

He hid a smile. "Yes, it's because of him."

"But I don't understand." She paused to gather her composure. "He's dead."

He came closer. "No, he's not dead."

Stunned, Lois shook her head and backed away from him. "Please don't please don't do this to me. I saw him die. They couldn't … they tried to bring him back but … he died."

He took by the shoulders to steady her so she wouldn't collapse. "No, Lois, he's alive. I took him to the Fortress and Jor-El examined him. He has a heartbeat but he will need time to recover. He will return to you in a week."

Shaking her head, Lois couldn't take it, then she fainted. He caught her, picked her up and laid her on the sofa. He went to get some water, splashed a little in her face. She woke up suddenly and saw her Clark and he was alive. Confused and disoriented, she grabbed him and kissed him.

Clark was so shocked and surprised, he didn't know what to do then he pulled her arms from around his neck and held her away from him.

Surprised at what she had done, Lois covered her eyes and couldn't look at him then she started to cry. "I'm so sorry. I thought ... I thought for a second that you were him. I'm sorry."

He touched her shoulder, wanting to pull her close, but he refrained. "It's Ok." And then he had a thought if only to cheer her up. "Would you like to see him? I can take you there."

Lois' eyes lit like the sun. Clark was enthralled, as he stared at her.

"Truly? Can we go now?"

"Of course we can. Go get changed and then we'll leave."

"Give me five minutes." She hopped up from the sofa, but then she turned back to him. Eyes shining, she whispered, "I don't know what to say, just … thank you, Clark."

He smiled at her. "Go on now."

Clark sighed, leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes. He touched is lips and thought about his Lois. "I'll be home soon."

~o~o~

Minutes later at the Fortress:

After they landed, Clark put her down. He was about to lead her to the spot, but Lois saw her Clark and ran to him, careful of the jagged rocks and boulders. "Oh, Clark." The chamber covered him from head to toe, so she couldn't touch him. "Can I please touch him, please?"

"I'm sorry, but it's best that he stay in a controlled environment," Clark sadly replied.

Lois was so disappointed, but he was alive. "How did you know?" Lois asked, still staring at her love.

"The mirror box," he replied.

She turned to him slightly. "The mirror box, but what's that?"

"He never told you about it? That's surprising."

"Well, we haven't been together very long, but he would have told me about it eventually."

Clark nodded. "I'm sure he would have."

"So what is it?" Lois asked again.

He walked over to her and stood on the other side of the ice chamber that contained the man she loved. "It's a Kryptonian device that enables either of us to travel from one dimension to another." Sighing, he looked around the ice Fortress. "This place also exists where I come from, just as your Clark exists."

"That's incredible, and of course, there's another Lois … for you, isn't there?"

"Yes, there's another Lois."

She smiled understanding. "You two are in love, right?"

"Of course we are, just as you two are."

"I see," she said and stared at her love again. Frowning, she understood. "My world is not the same as yours."

She was very perceptive. "Yes, there are similarities, but I suppose you could describe them as … night and day."

"We're the dark, aren't we?" Lois knew that was true.

"Yes, you are," Clark reluctantly admitted.

She reached out and touched the ice chamber. "It's true that Clark and I have had a lot to overcome, but I love him and he loves me. This second chance that we've been given we're not going to throw it away. We're going to make the most of it. We'll get married and have a family and …"

"Oh, well … ummm …" Clark was thoughtful.

"You don't believe me? We will get together, and we will have it all. I know he loves me."

Clark sighed. He didn't want to burst her bubble. "Of course, he loves you, but …"

Lois stiffened. "There is no but. We love each other and that's never going to change."

Clark gave up. She was so much like his Lois, and he knew he wouldn't be able to change her mind, not about this. "I know. " He paused. "Are you ready to go back now?"

Lois frowned and shook her head.

"But you can't stay here."

"Why not? I can't leave him."

"Lois, you can't stay here. It's cold and there's no food."

"I know, you could bring me a few things. I don't need a lot, just the essentials."

He shook his head. "No, Lois, I'll take you back now."

"But I have to be here when he wakes up. I have to, please." Lois wasn't beyond begging.

"No, Lois, Jor-El said one week. I'll bring you back in a week. Now come on, let's go," he told her firmly.

Lois sighed. He knew he was right. She kissed her fingers and touched the chamber above his head. "I love you."

Clark picked her up and took her back to Metropolis. On their flight back to the city, Clark told her about Jonathan Kent's heart attack. He had hoped that she could be there for Martha.

"Oh, Clark, of course, I will. Drop me at the apartment to change and then we can both be there for her," Lois said.

Once they had discreetly entered her apartment, Clark waited for her to change. "Lois, I've been thinking, and …" He began but then she walked in wearing a lovely outfit that fit her to a tee. He swallowed. Clark had changed back into his jeans and plaid and of course his glasses.

"What were you thinking?" Lois asked as she walked in but she couldn't fix her necklace. "Would you mind?" She handed him the necklace, turned around, moved her hair aside and waited. "What were you thinking?" She asked again.

He tried to steady his breathing. "Oh, I was thinking that … ummm … it would probably be best that no one see me in the suit. I don't want anyone else to know that I'm here. It's alright that Mr. and Mrs. Kent see me and you of course, but no one else."

Straightening her necklace, Lois frowned then she turned around to face him. "But why?"

"This is your world, Lois, not mine. Once your Clark has recovered, I'll leave. No one else should know about me or what your Clark will become. Do you understand?"

She thought about it for a moment. "Alright, I understand."

"Good, now are you ready? We'll take the stairs then we'll head out the back way."

Once out into the hall, Lois was about to lock the door, when the League members stepped off the elevator. Clark had his back turned at the moment.

"Clark!?" Bruce murmured unbelieving.

Clark groaned to himself then he slowly turned to face them.

Everyone just stared at each other, not knowing what to say.

TBC!

~o~o~

Song Inspiration: Breathe Again, Toni Braxton.

A/N: I thought that was a cute way to end this chapter, especially after all the tears and heartache in the beginning. Now, Clark Kent remaining in Metropolis for a while should be interesting, as evidenced by that 'surprise kiss' and the League members seeing him. Stay tuned for more and thanks for reading everyone.