Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Chapter 10: Trick or Treat

"If I knew you were so inept at driving I would have sent Kitty to get the takeout." Lex eyed one of his thugs, Ralph, angrily. "And we all know how well she handles herself behind the wheel."

Kitty spoke up in indignation. "If you recall correctly, Lex, the only time I had trouble driving was when you decided to work on the brakes. Honestly," she looked to Ralph with disgust, "who runs over a pedestrian?"

Lex turned back to Ralph. "Does the word 'covert' mean anything to you?" Lex paused. "No, of course not. In lieu of loaning you a dictionary, let me explain. Nobody is supposed to know we're here. Running over people undoubtedly attracts attention. See, I don't really need the authorities linking an oaf like you back to me. You left witnesses, and if any of them has a brain and an ink pen, chances are they've got your license plate number." He punctuated each word with a pause, "Get rid of that car."

On the way back to Lois' apartment, Clark insisted they stop for coffee at 7-11. It might not have be as satisfying as The Coffee Bean or Starbucks, but it had the ability to nudge Lois out of her martini-induced haze and invite her slowly back into caffeinated reality.

"This tastes…like mud," she grimaced.

"It'll do you good." Clark assured. "See?" he took a sip from her cup, swallowing the bitter liquid with considerable effort. "Not so bad."

"I can't believe I am out in public dressed like this." She frowned and took another swig of coffee. "At least you look like an actual doctor. I just look like one of your mental patients who thinks she's prom queen. Can we get going now?"

Clark laughed. "Yeah, you're starting to sound like your old self again. You're drinking that whole thing, by the way."

They arrived at Lois' door at around 12:30. Ms. Fitzgerald, who had put the chain on, opened the door when Lois knocked and ushered both Lois and Clark into the apartment. Apparently she was still under the impression that they were dating.

The redness in Lois' eyes and the coffee cup in her hand tipped off the old woman as to how the night had gone.

"Didn't listen when I said not to have too much fun, hmm?" she smiled. She seemed to get a great deal of happiness living vicariously through others, even if what she imagined to happen wasn't the whole truth. For Ms. Fitzgerald, the days of staying out until midnight dancing and drinking were long over. She'd take whatever she could get.

"Oh, it was more fun than I expected it to be, and I think it raised a lot of money. How was Jason?" Lois asked.

As was to be anticipated, Jason showed exemplary behavior that night. So would anyone who was baked for and catered to for hours. He was now tucked cozily into bed, his blankie and footie pajamas keeping him warm.

And bed was exactly where Lois Lane needed to be. She might have miscounted the number of martinis she had. She also had work to look forward to the next day.

Lois paid Ms. Fitzgerald, checked on Jason and promptly tripped over the rug. Luckily Clark was able to catch her before she ended up splayed out spectacularly on the living room floor.

"Uhh, here," he said as he put an arm around her and led her to her room. He set her alarm clock for her before speaking. "Uh, thanks for asking me to come with you. It was, um, well, I won't forget it." He smiled his crooked smile as he pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.

"Thanks, Clark. Sorry I, um, well whatever. I'm kind of tipsy. So, sorry?" If Lois Lane was up-front regularly, it was nothing compared to how she was addled by alcohol.

Clark laughed. "Don't worry about it. I don't mind taking care of you." He realized he was accidentally slipping into Superman mode. "B-but you probably want to sleep. Uh, s-see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, and thanks for a great night, Clark," Lois said as she hugged him goodbye. "Next time I won't step on your toes."

Next time? Clark thought hopefully.

"Seriously, people, I just don't understand how a man can nearly get flattened by a hit and run 40 feet away from half the staff and nobody gets the scoop." Perry looked around the conference room table where the Daily Planet staff anxiously stood. They were waiting for the lecture on how 'a reporter never rests' or how 'you've always got to be looking for the story.' "Now, I'm not going to chew you out because I missed it too," he continued. Perry knew when not to lecture.

However, Perry also knew when to lecture.

"Just remember…you're reporters. Just because you're not on assignment doesn't mean you're not working. You're always working; a reporter never rests! You're always looking for the story. All right, that's enough. Back to work," he dismissed the staff.

"Lois! Clark!" he called. "I want you two to see if anyone has figured out who that lunatic was. Find some witnesses. And find that doctor. It'll make for a nice feature story if we've got a personal slant."

"Sure thing, Chief," said Clark.

"I didn't know anything about that hit and run," Lois confessed as they left the conference room. She seemed to be fully recovered from last night's event. "It happened just a few minutes after we got to the museum. If only we'd waited a little longer we would have seen the whole thing."

"Uh, yeah, too bad," Clark agreed.

Clark was somewhat anxious about finding witnesses considering any witness to the accident was probably a witness to his charade as a doctor as well. Nevertheless, he and Lois spent the rest of the day and half of the next tracking down eyewitnesses and knocking on the doors of residents across the street from the museum. Clark spent a lot of the time looking to the ground or intently taking notes without making eye contact. He let Lois do most of the talking. She liked to be in charge.

Aside from neighbors and eyewitnesses, they also spoke with the officer who took the police report. Apparently a car with a smashed front fender had just turned up in a junkyard outside of town. It matched the description of the car involved in the hit and run.

"We ran the prints found in the car, just a couple of petty criminals," the police officer told them. "Here, let me show you what came up." Officer Getty opened the folder on his desk to reveal mug shots and criminal records for a certain Ralph Robinson, previously booked for assault and battery, theft and DUI; and a Ms. Katherine Kowalski, charged a few years ago for using a stolen credit card. No other usable prints were found. "We figure one of them got spooked about going to jail and ditched the car in the junkyard assuming nobody would notice an extra heap."

Lois recognized Kitty's photograph at once. "No clue as to where they are? Who they're with?" she asked.

"Not yet, but we just started on this thing. We have information that Ms. Kowalski may have ties to Lex Luthor. We'll let you know if we come up with anything more. But, uh, you didn't hear this from me."

"Of course not. Well, thank you." Lois grabbed Clark's sleeve and pulled him out of the office. "That lady, that Katherine Kowalski, she is close with Lex Luthor, I'm positive," she informed him.

Clark nodded. "I know, I recognized her too, I…I think I've seen her picture before." Clark, of course, actually recognized her from elsewhere. He had saved her life in front of that same museum when Lex cut her brakes, and he also noticed her presence on Lex's manmade island.

"Aren't they supposed to be hiding out in Europe or something?" Lois went on. "If she is in Metropolis who is to say Luthor isn't, too? And who is this Ralph guy? Maybe Luthor's got a new band of followers to do his dirty work."

The prospect of Lex Luthor being so close to home made Lois uneasy. She reckoned he was alive and well when she read Richard's article. Lex Luthor had withdrawn millions of dollars from a London bank account. Now, she figured, he had probably done it to point the authorities in the wrong direction. Who would think he'd be dumb enough to be defeated in Metropolis and then come back weeks later and try to pull some stunt in the same city?

Lex Luthor had always had an affinity for oceanfront property; Europe would have been a great place to make an investment. However, Luthor was also one to persevere when things went badly. He wasn't one to give up. Normally an admirable quality in the average person, the ability to get back on the saddle was an unfortunate facet of Lex Luthor's character. He would want revenge on Superman once again. And what would become of Jason if Lex knew Superman was his father? Lois suddenly became very eager to pick up Jason from school. She also wanted to inform Superman that Lex might be close by, in case he didn't already know.

The afternoon couldn't come fast enough. Lois left work early, picked Jason up promptly at 3:15 and drove them straight home. She eyed the pedestrians nervously, trying to spot anyone suspicious. Tonight was Halloween so it would be difficult to pick out dubious characters in the crowd. She only hoped that Kitty Kowalski was long gone somewhere with Lex Luthor.

"Mommy, when is Superman coming?" Jason asked later that night as Lois helped him into his Halloween costume.

"I don't know sweetie, he has a lot of important things to do. But he said he would come and visit so don't worry. I know he wants to see you in your costume. There," Lois declared as she buttoned his last button, "looks like you're ready."

Jason looked quite dapper for his age. He was dressed in black pants and a little shirt and coat. He had a bowtie on à la Jimmy Olsen and a black top hat. He also carried a black wand tipped in white and wore a red cummerbund. The crowning glory, however, was the black cloak lined with a shiny red fabric. He made quite the little magician.

"Yeah, and I've got a cape, too, just like him," Jason said as he swished around in costume.

"Uh huh, only I guess your mommy isn't as good a seamstress as his. Your cape came from a store."

"Oh. Well, that's okay. It's still fun." He swished around some more.

"Well, I'm glad you approve," Lois said with a grin. "Ok, no more spinning. Spinning plus candy probably isn't a good combination. And, you've got two places to Trick-or-Treat today. First, the party in the park, then daddy is going to take you to get more candy on Riverside Drive before you stay there for the weekend. How lucky is that?"

Jason nodded in excitement. "Two Halloweens!" It was his favorite holiday next to Christmas.

Just then, a familiar tapping at the window caught Lois' attention.

Superman appeared at her fire escape at least once a week. He liked visiting Lois and Jason when he was passing by. He missed years of watching Jason grow up with Lois, and he wished he could make up for lost time. So, on his last visit, he promised to come see them for Halloween.

Lois opened the window.

"Superman! Look, I have a cape just like you," Jason announced proudly.

"Wow, look at that, I almost didn't recognize you," Superman said to Jason. "Hello Lois. No costume?" The image of the French maid's outfit appeared in his head once again.

"No, no. No costume for me," she shook her head. "I've had enough dressing up. There was a charity the other night," she explained. "I looked like I had an accident at a sequin factory."

"She was a princess," Jason supplied.

"Too bad I missed it," Superman smiled.

"She's still got the outfit." Jason was trying to be helpful.

"Ok, Jason, never mind about that," Lois said as Superman tried to keep a straight face. It was still fascinating to him how she could be completely comfortable with Clark but get flustered when it is suggested that she wear her Halloween costume in front of Superman.

"Are you coming with us?" Jason asked. "I'll share my candy with you," he persuaded.

"Well, I….hmm…" Superman paused in thought. Lois thought he looked adorable when he pondered.

Superman had been planning on an average visit. He'd stop by, see Jason's costume, talk with Lois, and be on his way. Now, as he recounted all the press coverage he had been getting lately, he thought he just might be able to afford a night out. Superman, he noted, was becoming somewhat of an icon. He had even seen a cheap looking Superman Halloween costume in the window of a costume shop downtown. No, he wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't the only "Superman" walking around that night.

"You know, that sounds like fun."

"Really?" Jason asked in excitement.

"Really?" Lois asked in disbelief.

"Well, if you mom doesn't mind," Superman said. Both he and Jason gave Lois their saddest puppy dog eyes.

"Oh, don't give me that look, you know I don't mind," Lois smirked. "Jason, why don't you go get your pumpkin pail and your flashlight." As Jason ran off to his room, Lois continued. "Won't people recognize you?" she asked.

"I'm sure they will, but I don't think I'll be the only 'Superman' out tonight."

"Ah," Lois grinned, "planning on winning the costume contest?"

"Now, Lois, that would be cheating," he said sincerely.

Lois laughed. He was always so serious at the wrong times.

"If it'll make you feel better, here," he said as he messed up his hair a bit, leaving his trademark curl in tact. His 'do looked like a cross between his Clark coif and his Superman look.

"You think a new hairdo is going to fool people?" she asked skeptically.

"Lois, you'd be surprised."

For a moment she wondered how he did disguise himself when he wasn't flying around being super. Maybe he's blond. Maybe he wears his hair curly. Maybe he's got a bunch of wigs like Lex Luthor… Then she remembered there was a reason she sent Jason to his room. "Um, anyway, there's something else I wanted to tell you. I'm doing a story about a hit and run. I don't know if you know, but the police found a car the other day. It's got prints in it from a Ms. Katherine Kowalski. So, I'm worried – wondering, I'm wondering –," she corrected, "if she's around maybe Lex Luthor might be too."

Superman nodded, knowingly. "I've wondered when he would show up again. I've been looking and listening for any sign of him. He's gotten quite good at hiding." He paused and read Lois' expression. "You're worried about Jason."

She nodded. "And about you."

"I'll be fine," he said as he wrapped his arms around Lois. "And Jason will be, too. I'll keep an eye out tonight. Don't worry about anything."

Lois nodded again as she held Superman close, letting the warmth from his body diffuse through her own. The world could be falling apart but if Superman said everything would be fine she couldn't help but trust him.

"Mommy? I have everything."

Lois jumped back out of Superman's arms. Her gut reaction was to feel uneasy showing affection for someone who wasn't Richard in front of Jason.

"Oh, ok sweetie. Let's get going."

The Halloween party in Siegel Park was a yearly event held especially for the children of Metropolis. If you lived in the downtown area there was not much door-to-door trick-or-treating to be done. Here there were booths set up all along the sidewalks with games, storytelling, a hay maze and, of course, tons of candy.

Superman knew he was being reckless heading out in public with Lois and Jason, but chances were Lex probably knew about Jason already. The piano incident would make it difficult to deny the boy had otherworldly strength. He would be safer with Superman nearby. As for his choice of Clark-esque hairstyle? Maybe Superman was really trying to look less like himself to fool the crowd. Or, maybe he was trying to look more like himself because, in his heart, he wanted Lois to know both sides of him.

"Well, it looks like nobody suspects so far," Lois said as she looked around the crowd at the park. It felt strange to Lois, strolling through the park with Superman like it was nothing unusual. "Oh, look!" she pointed to a man desperately trying to fill out his Superman costume. "I guess you were right, you're not the only Superman out tonight." She paused and looked between the two of them. "The suit looks much better on you though."

"Thank you. It's a shame I didn't get to see you in your costume," he said darkly.

The butterflies that had been hibernating somewhere in the region of Lois' stomach fluttered into motion. If she thought Superman was adorable when he pondered, it was nothing compared to when he was all salacious and suave and flirty.

"Jason, don't run off!" she called. He had headed straight for the first table of candy. "Come back here," she said as he approached, looking rather sad he was still without his sweets. "Hold onto my hand, there's a lot of people here." Surprisingly, Jason situated himself in between Superman and Lois taking one of their hands into each of his.

Darkness had nearly fallen by the time the three of them completed their rounds at the candy tables. Jason was weighed down considerably by the fullness of his candy bucket so he turned it over to Superman while they hit the rest of the booths. Next up was face painting.

The face painter was dressed like a clown. He had on big floppy shoes and a curly rainbow wig. Jason thought he and the painter could probably be in an act together someday. Jason skimmed the sheet of paintings the clown could do. There was a unicorn — Yuck, he thought — a rainbow, a flower… This was getting ridiculous.

"I want that," he said.

"What?"

"That" Jason pointed. The clown followed Jason's gesture and ended up staring straight at a bright red "S" backed with yellow and blue. Jason had been pointing to the "S" shield on Superman's suit.

"Oh," the clown laughed. "Sure, I can do that." He dipped his brush into the yellow paint. "That's a pretty nice costume you've got there," he addressed Superman. "Rental?"

"Oh, no, it's not a rental."

"Hm. So where'd you get it?"

Lois watched the exchange with great amusement.

"Well, it's…" he was drawing a blank. Just think of a store…any store!

"I made it for him," Lois supplied. "Yep, I'm quite the seamstress. I sew. Like, all the time. Yeah."

"Right. She made it." Superman looked to Lois. "Nice job," he complimented as he smoothed out his cape.

The clown nodded as he began to add the red to Jason's cheek. "So, we've got a master magician, Superman…and what is mom dressed as?"

"Oh, I'm dressed as Lois Lane."

Superman laughed. "She's always writing about him," he said. "We think she needs a hobby."

Now it was Lois' turn to laugh. Thankfully Jason's artwork was now complete and they could be on their way before things got any more ridiculous.

The next stop was the hay maze. It was considerably easier than it should have been considering every time they got lost Jason asked Superman to look through the stacks and find correct turn. Superman wondered how long it would be before Jason would start seeing through things himself.

Finally, at 7:30 it was time for the scary storytelling. There was a small platform set up for the storyteller and kids and parents gathered around on the grass, ready to listen. Superman sat down first and Lois found it amusing seeing Superman sitting cross-legged on the grass with messy hair and a pumpkin bucket full of candy. Jason took a seat on his lap and Lois, thrilled to see her son so comfortable with his father, sat down on his left. He draped his cape around her when he saw her shiver in the cold October air. She scooted closer, resting her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her arm up and down, keeping the goose bumps at bay. She remembered that he was always warmer than a normal person. Lois closed her eyes, not paying attention to the story and wished that time would stop. Could tonight be any more perfect?

Suddenly, Superman's hand stopped its trail up her arm and Lois felt him tense up. She looked up at him in concern. He had his head slightly turned to one side and his brow was furrowed in concentration. She could tell he was listening intently to something only he could hear.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. I-" he paused, listening. It was definitely a scream. "I think I have to go."

"So go," Lois said. She couldn't figure out why he wasn't already airborne.

Superman looked around at all the people. His cover would be blown.

"Go," she insisted.

He wasn't one to argue with Lois Lane. He picked Jason up off his lap and set him on Lois'. The disturbance in the crowd drew some people's attention but there was nothing he could do. Someone was in trouble and he had to do something about it. Superman looked around once more judging the direction his flight should take. He pointed his fists in the air and the woman behind him let out a snicker. A grown man pretending he can fly… With a backwards glance at her, Superman's feet left the ground as he took to the sky.

The woman stopped laughing. The crowd stopped listening. The storyteller stopped storytelling. The clown stopped painting.

"Bye!" Jason called.

Lois noticed a few hundred pairs of eyes on her. Yep. It was definitely time to go. She stood up and took Jason's hand. Next stop, Riverside Drive.

They had neared the end of the park when Lois felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around only to find herself face-to-face with Mr. Clown.

"You made that costume?" he asked.

Lois had dropped Jason off for his second round of Trick-or-Treating at Richard's house about fifteen minutes ago. She was getting used to the quiet in the apartment on weekends when he was away. It didn't mean she liked it though. That is why she was relieved when the familiar tapping was heard at her window once more.

"Hi," she said as she welcomed Superman inside. "How did it go?"

"Oh, it turned out fine." He shook his head as they headed to the living room. "I just don't understand people sometimes. I'm sorry I had to go, I was having a great time."

"Me too. But you had to go."

Superman looked around the apartment. "Is Jason already gone?"

"Yeah, I'm picking him up after school Monday."

Superman frowned. "I didn't get to say goodbye. I just took off."

"He's smart, he understands. Anyway, I think he's really warming up to you," Lois smiled. "Holding your hand, sitting on you lap and, of course, that wonderful face painting. It was nice today," she paused, "I've missed you."

"I'm right here now," he took her hand in his.

"I know…I just never know how long it will be until you have to fly away. I know you have to, but it still makes me anxious. It's hard to relax when you're just anticipating the end, you know? But today made up for it. It was so normal; I felt like we had all the time in the world. Nobody knew who you were; we just got to be together, all three of us. For a few hours it was like you were just a guy. Grounded and mine. It was nice. I wish we had more days like this."

"So do I," he said as he lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. "I'm grounded now," he continued. "And, Lois, I've always been yours. I don't know if you can even fathom how much I love you."

Lois closed her eyes and let the words replay in her mind. He had finally said it. Lois had noticed that he hadn't reciprocated the avowal all those weeks ago when she confessed she was still in love with him. He had certainly kissed her in response, but hearing those words made it certain. She opened her eyes when she felt him brush a stray strand of hair out of her face.

"Can I…kiss you?" he asked innocently.

Lois wanted nothing more than for him to kiss her, but she also wanted to make him pay a little for making her wait so long to hear those three words.

"You didn't ask last time," she chided.

"Last time I couldn't help myself," he admitted.

She pulled him closer to her. "And you can help yourself this time?"

He felt every inch of her pressed against him. His breath was hot on her neck when he next spoke. "Uh, not really."

"Good," she smiled devilishly as her hand snaked up his back and she looked him in the eyes. "Then kiss me."

He didn't need to be told twice.

Meanwhile, Luthor's search had turned skyward. No useful pieces of his new continent were found on the bottom of the ocean floor. None of the rock fragments they found contained any of the leftover crystals or Kryptonite. Luthor had hoped that something would be found, as the alternative search location was much more vast. The crystals, he knew now, were complete somewhere. The only problem was, that somewhere happened to be all of outer space. It was time for plan B.

"The boy…"

A/N: Reveiws, pleeeease. I love them as much as Jason loves Halloween.